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Posts
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Dumb question, did SFA run two trains on Superman? Just curious if the brake run (insanely short) was good enough there to prevent bumping the train in the station, and if that could be a change made to Darien Lake's ROS. Because of how the park is run I don't anticipate them running two trains any time soon, but it would be nice if they could. -
Plenty of train parts now! I still hope Superman at SFA gets saved not scrapped! -
Screamscape is reporting that SFA's intamin trains showed up at SFDL. That would give them as many as 4 trains possibly on a ride where they only run 1. I know at least 1 is for parts, if not both, but it's a small start https://x.com/Fightingmoon342/status/2006265493662113793/photo/1 -
By thrillseeker4552 · Posted
Bumping this thread so I can echo a similar question. Which week(s) have the peak Spring Break crowds? I last visited in late April 2023 with minimal crowds and perfect weather. However, this was a couple weeks before Big Bear Mountain opened. Also, per usual at the time, Lightning Rod was closed on my visit, so I am itching to get back soon for these reasons. -
I would ride the crap out of that slow moving, suspended, Puss in Boots ride! someday, I've GOT to get to Singapore. -
By jedimaster1227 · Posted
A few days later I was able to take a day to explore Universal Studios Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa. This was one of the two remaining Universal resorts I'd yet to visit (Universal Studios Beijing is all that remains for now) but also my third Resorts World property (Resorts World Las Vegas and Resorts World Genting). Not unlike Resorts World Genting, Resorts World Sentosa is an integrated resort property centered around casinos but offering extensive choices in hotels, shopping, dining and attractions. The main anchors for Resorts World Sentosa are Universal Studios Singapore, the Singapore Oceanarium and the Adventure Cove Waterpark along with a few smaller attractions scattered throughout the property. In the remaining moments of downtime of my trip, I would try to check a few more of those off but with my one full day, I would focus on Universal Studios Singapore. Like the other parks, I knew a decent amount about what to expect. Universal Studios Singapore is a smaller park with a collection of "greatest hits" from the other Universal parks with a few exclusives thrown in the mix. The lands are mostly unique compared to the other parks but the attractions within are mostly found elsewhere. Not long before my visit Minions Land had opened in the plot of land that originally opened with the park as Madagascar. And you could absolutely feel the Minion fever throughout the park. At the heart of Resorts World Sentosa is the casino itself, and many of the methods of arrival to the complex lead directly to the casinos. Obligatory entrance shot. Obligatory globe photo. Just to the left of the park's entrance is a size-able construction plot where the future Super Nintendo World will be located. Work has been underway for some time, but they were working onsite throughout the evenings during each visit I had to this area. From the Universal Studios Singapore entrance plaza you can see the SkyHelix Sentosa in flight. One benefit of Sentosa's integrated resort approach is the inclusion of a resort monorail with stations dotting the entirety of the Sentosa island property. It was neat to see The Count helping with the rope-drop procedures at Universal Studios Singapore. The park's Hollywood section, along with much of the New York area are covered. Halloween merchandise could be found in the park's entrance shops. Minion Mart was one of many Minions-focused merchandise locations in the park. Similar but different. Well this is different. This tangled mess of Vekoma track is Battlestar Galactica: Human vs. Cylon. If there is one thing this version of Revenge of the Mummy has going for it, it is the scale and quality of the theming around it. Minions Land and Far Far Away are on the opposite side of the park. The Lost World is found between Ancient Egypt and Far Far Away and all lands encircle the park's small central lagoon. The Pantages hosts a variety of shows in Universal Studios parks around the globe. I didn't get to see this one during timing, but it was neat to see the theater being used for a totally different show than the Beetlejuice or Horror Make-Up shows I've seen in the other parks. Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase was an addition that joined the park's lineup several years after opening. Originally intended to be a Stage 28 walk through experience that was ultimately cancelled, the family-friend ride opened in its place in 2013. Sadly the ride was closed for refurbishment during our visit. Besides Spaghetti Space Chase, the other major attraction in the New York section of the park is Lights, Camera, Action! The land features a few shops plus their own take on Finnegan's, which was serving as a Blumhouse Bar during the Halloween Horror Nights season. I love this. Transformers: The Ride was the first version of the attraction to open. Somehow over the years I managed to ride each version in the reverse chronological order of their debut (excluding Beijing's) starting with Florida's, then Hollywood's and finally the one in Singapore. Battlestar Galactica was running two trains on each side, and while they weren't dueling, they were operating in such a way that you could sometimes see both sides running at roughly the same time. Overall I thought this was an interesting concept for a ride, that would have been more enjoyable if it was operated dueling. The Cylon (suspending) coaster was quite punchy and forceful where the Human (sit-down) side was far more tame and meandering. They were incredibly strict about loose articles in this park so I couldn't bring my camera into the queue, but I appreciated that the queue had a video loop playing that featured characters/actors from both the original Battlestar Galactica series as well as the more modern version that aired on SyFy in the early 2000's. The scale of the Ancient Egypt section of the park is truly impressive. As with Battlestar Galactica, lockers were a hard requirement for Revenge of the Mummy so I couldn't take any photos beyond this point. That said, it is in most ways, a copied and plussed version of Universal Studios Florida's attraction. The queue abandons the "making of a third Mummy movie" plot in favorite of a fully-themed Egyptian tomb, but most of the same beats of the Florida queue, right down to the staircase surrounding the statue leading to the station are nearly identical. The coaster's layout is identical to that of Florida's with minor story tweaks to account for the non-movie-set themed story. That said, the coaster was operating with minimal effects (no fire in any rooms) and the coaster seemed to crawl through its entire layout, including the launches. I'd heard many good things about this version, so I was disappointed to find it was my least favorite of the three, theming-aside. Up next... Not sure what all of these structures are meant to be for... I do love the Jurassic Park III influences in this land. Universal... Keeping Setpoint busy since 1999. Canopy Flyer has a higher capacity than Pteranodon Flyers, so it has that going for it. To its credit, the coaster spans most of The Lost World and even has an unusually forceful helix before its end. Of all of the "similar but different" things I was looking forward to in this park, it was this. Let the record show that while I enjoy water rides, I rarely experience them when I go to parks because I hate getting wet on otherwise dry park days. That said, I wasn't going to pass up a chance to experience the alternate universe Jurassic Park River Adventure. Still kind of a greatest hits of its sister rides, the choice of ride system and the Hydroelectric Plant drop finale make for a unique experience. And I got drenched for riding it. This ride's name amused me far more than it should have. It was a very cute take on a Dumbo-style flat ride though. Rather than having a dedicated meet and greet for Blue like some of the other Universal parks, Universal Studios Singapore brings her out on a roaming truck in Jurassic Park. Several other dinos were a part of the show too. I was very curious to see how a land, centered around Shrek 4-D could turn out... Scaffolding aside, this was pretty neat. Puss in Boots Giant Journey is another one of those strange, unique offerings at Universal Studios Singapore. It's like someone asked Zamperla to build a Volare (spiral lift included) replace the grill-rack flying coaster trains with a strange suspended seated train. The whole thing is slow, nonsensical and unique. A closer look at one of the ride's trains. Donkey Live! in Far Far Away is more like Stitch Encounter or Turtle Talk with Crush than the puppet-style versions you've seen in Florida or Hollywood. Sadly we didn't have time to experience this due to other time commitments before the park's early closing that day. Clever. It isn't just a clever gag from the film. Frier's Good Food is an actual eatery in Far Far Away. And it lives up to its name as having good food. They even had a delicious Gingy sundae! As we crossed the halfway point in our day, we started to realize we were fighting the clock to have time in Minions Land and to do the few more unique attractions that were exclusive to Universal Studios Singapore, so sadly, a showing of Shrek 4-D would not be in the cards. But there was still more to see and do... -
This is the one that really gets me, this looks just fantastic and what a way to really stamp the Vekoma redemption. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBahRIvA47I -
Hell yessss, that drop lives in my dreams.
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Day 9: Holiday Park (now, Plopsaland Deutschland) this one ended up being a long, but fantastic day. we got up in the morning at Europa Park and after breakfast met in the lobby to check out and hop on the bus. before leaving tho, I made sure to get some daytime pics of Hotel Colosseo. . our amazing resort hotel. after loading up the bus, and after a drive, we ended up in Haßloch Germany, home to what was called "Holiday Park" but has now been renamed as of mid 2025 "Plopsaland Deutschland" so this was my last visit to "Holiday Park" ever. . it's a medium sized park, with some nice thrills, a lot of wasted space/closed attractions, and a killer top coaster in Expedition GeForce. we were also there during the Halloween event, called "Halloween Fright Nights". . tho not certain if they are still doing that now that it's a Plopsa park. there were certainly signs it was transitioning more towards a "tweens" park tho. . . as you'll see below in comments. Front gates Front Gates with TPR, pic courtesy of Robb. loved the light fixture additions. they were cutsey, but fit this front area of the park. I believe this is/was the park's mascot. . tho never saw him really anywhere other than near the front and by one ride at the back of the park. this was the main reason for our stop tho. . the excellent Expedition GeForce - this amazing Intamin Mega coaster, with tons of airtime pops, and that fantastic curving first drop. TPR on GeForce. Hawk seems to imply it was a bit chilly this day. Happy TPR train on Expedition GeForce the Starflyer, which ran a so-so program in an area that was almost completely shut down/abandoned. it LOOKED like they were getting ready to do some construction over here tho, so hopefully Plopsa has put some $$ into adding a bunch of stuff. the other "big" ride at this park: Skyscream (a Premier Skyrocket). i pass on riding, as I've been on several (including this one) before. the queue is really well done tho, and they leaned into the Halloween Season for this area, as the queue already was in the realm of "spooky" I rode this, tho I wasn't as good as getting the planes to flip as others on the TPR trip were. but, yup, it's "Plane on Stick!" the only other place I saw this mascot in the park. This was back over by the Starflyer. . not opening until this year (so yeah, they've been working on it for a while), but per RCDB, it's a Gerstlauer Family coaster with a booster lift, a chain lift, and a roll back. the flume that's over by the "animated" section that was a big "tweens" area already in the park. it has a nice double dip drop. . tho doesn't get one super wet TPR on the flume! and they DIDN'T make us all cram into one log. this was my face upon discovering that my *favorite* ride in the park, is no longer there. oh, Expedition GeForce is my favorite coaster, but my favorite ride in Holiday Park was the Castle Frankenstein dark ride. It was kinda / sorta Haunted Mansion, but done just different enough it wasn't a direct rip off. even tho the ride system is the same. last time I was here? I rode this, easily, a dozen times. this time ? closed down. and why? they are turning it into a Smurfs ride !! SMURFS !!!! bahhhhhh! oh well, I'd drown my sorrow in food, as our day included a meal voucher (along with skip the line passes). not sure what the heck this was, but suitably freaky for the time of year. lunch was pretty good tho. . I had the Schnitzel and a ride on the Carousel will always cheer me up. since I had last been here, a new section of the park had opened up near the front. so we went to check it out. and yeah, it seemed targeting children as well.. so signs were there that the park was gonna get a name change. the scenery looked pretty tho and the rides were all "tween type" rides. mini drop tower, dumbo type ride, and a galloping horse type ride tho instead of horses, one would ride Grasshoppers. I thought it was adorable, but didn't want to try riding in case there was a weight limit. the indoor section is still there, and looks pretty much the same - with the same family rides, including the classic wood carved roundabout, the kiddie roller coaster, and the fairy flight ride. even Jon was willing to pose for a pic on the St. Bernard that's a WHOLE LOTTA SAUSAGE for a teeny tiny bun! tho we had planned to leave after a few hours, the park offered us admittance to the Haunts if we wanted. so a vote was taken, and tho we had been planning to get to Phantasialand earlier in the day, overwhelmingly we all voted to stay at Holiday Park for a few more hours. which meant we got to hang out and drink coffee, and enjoy the Parade. oh look.. there IS the Mascot! so I was incorrect. tho Andrew doesn't look too impressed 😛 hmm. this parade has a lot of little kids in it (tried my best to take pics around them), but it's pretty spooky. maybe this is gonna be really fun? Spoiler - it was! I've always found the scariest thing about the Grimm Reaper to be his Nike's really cool parade. . and as the sun started to set, the park was getting ready for the monsters to come out, and to open up the houses. this was the entrance to the first house we'd be going thru: Freak Circus but much like Six Flags has "the Arrival". . .Holiday Park has a show, that brings out all the haunt actors for the houses. TPR anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Monsters Sponsored by a local radio station. . . the "show" was about what you'd expect, but I loved that they leave the stage and weave thru the audience as they head towards their houses they have arrived and Bob looks amused. she was great! and ended up in the "Disco Ball Room" of the first haunt. so many flashing lights. in the Freak Circus house, they send you thru in small groups. (actually all the houses did that - groups of 6-8), and in one room the "ringmaster" yells to all get together and smile for a picture that they take, and then hand to you upon exiting. for all the posing and direction the ringmaster gives you, the pictures are hysterically awful - blurry/out of focus - and they got worse as the groups went. she even missed half the group. hysterical! snapping a pic of the drop tower that is a park icon as we passed by it. (it's more of a "floating drop" than a sharp drop. . but it's ok, and it looks great) yes. they have a "Titty Twister" house. and yes! staffed by Vampires, including a door guy who says absolutely FILTHY things to people as they wait to go thru (a'la Cheech Marin in the movie" what I found absolutely the most hysterical thing about this? most of the scare actors - and the park guide who was walking us thru - had NO IDEA this was based on a movie! they were just working off scripts and getting into character that way. HAHAHAHAHA and don't even ask about "Ms Mona". . . poor Jon. no pics allowed inside the houses, but it's an experience we'll never forget (and I bet Jon won't either). this is also brilliant - right next to Titty Twister. This is an actual park restaurant. They closed it down for the Halloween Season, and turned it into a cannibal restaurant house. so you really ARE walking thru a restaurant. lots of random scare actors hanging about outside the main houses. . but that was really the only areas. if you weren't nearby a house, you were "safe" the fourth "house" is an outdoor maze, that seemed to be themed to Rats mutated by toxic sludge, and out front in the queue were protestors arguing for rat's rights. funny. (not really "scary" tho) a peek into the animated Norse land I mentioned earlier that has been the central area in the park (and is also at Plopsa). . with a Disc-o, a splash battle, the flume and a couple of other family rides. of course, it was never a trip to Holiday Park if you didn't stop into the "pipi station" bathroom next to Expedition GeForce. I really hope they kept this! as we finished up with the last TPR group thru the outdoor house, we headed towards the front of the park. as we passed between two "houses". . there was a scare zone here. so some scare actors to interact with. and crossing across the main square by the front entrance, they had turned off the fountains, and had a DJ on stage getting a dance party going. a final shot as we headed to the parking lot to get on the bus. and a pic from either Robb or Andy (since my camera lightened up the above, and theirs captures the beautiful sky) and then back on the bus and continuing on to Phantasialand. . where we were staying at the Hotel Charles Lindbergh on property. I don't think I took any pics of the room this time, as I have stayed in this hotel on prior trips. But snagged some areas I probably didn't get before. like the steampunk registration desk: and the park entrance to the hotel (yup, that's F.L.Y. track on the right. it goes thru the hotel). a sunset shot from the rooftop of the hotel, with F.L.Y. track underneath. could be mine, but I suspect I have to thank Andy for this. time for dinner (included with our hotel stay), the place looks really great at night. hungry TPR ready to chow down. and the food here is so dang good! best part of staying in this hotel? the ride may shut down with the park, but the area (Rooksville) stays open for hotel guests to wander around in if they so please. so able to get some wonderful pics. and then it was off to bed. tomorrow was the 1st of two full days at Phantasialand to end the trip
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By prozach626 · Posted
I love when parks fly the flag when topping tracks. Beautiful. It really towers over the rest of the park from those angles. -
By prozach626 · Posted
Screw it. You're already supporting them every time you drive your car. I stopped paying attention to the outspoken mentality from businesses, corporations, and even some religions. There are so many anti-cop and anti-Christian organizations out there that it's exhausting to try to pay attention. I'm still benefitting the individuals working at these places who have nothing against me personally. I support the individuals who have jobs and lives. I suppose I've dealt with enough people who literally want me dead that people who are outspoken against me or my way of life don't bother me. It doesn't matter anyway, since a roller coaster isn't enough to get me to board a miserable intercontinental flight. -
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By prozach626 · Posted
It was in the tunnels in a quarry/mine. -
By jedimaster1227 · Posted
Festyland has announced a new, custom Vekoma family boomerang coaster, Valkyrie coming to the park in 2026! https://festyland.com/valkyrie-nouveaute-2026/ 🛡️ VALKYRIE – When the legend takes flight at Festyland! The skies of Normandy are about to tremble… and visitors to live a unique experience! In 2026, Festyland unveils VALKYRIE , a spectacular and unprecedented attraction in France, which transports the public to the heart of Norse mythology, where the legend comes to life. ⚔️ A breathtaking mythological adventure They once emerged from stormy skies to guide heroes to Valhalla… The Valkyries, divine warriors of Norse mythology, are reborn today in Festyland. From your very first steps, the atmosphere crackles with energy: mysterious mists, thundering lightning, and runic symbols herald the moment when the Lost Wings will unfurl once more. But this time, it is up to you, the visitors, to rekindle their memory: you become the Guardians of a legend , ready to embark on an adventure where myth and thrills become one. ⚡ A spectacular and immersive roller coaster Valkyrie will launch from the heart of the Viking district for a 460-meter journey , reaching a height of 27 meters and speeds of over 65 km/h . A breathtaking ride for a dizzying ascent… the 20 passengers will experience a thrilling round trip where adrenaline and wonder combine with the power of the wind and the magic of the scenery. 🪶 An unforgettable experience With VALKYRIE , Festyland isn't just offering something new, but an adventure to be experienced intensely , with friends, family, or a larger group. Between thrills, emotions, and living mythology , the experience promises to leave a lasting impression and etch a legend into the Norman sky, a legend just waiting to take flight! 🎢 VALKYRIE will open in 2026 at Festyland. 👉 Stay connected on our social media to follow all the stages of its construction and discover the first images of this legend in the making soon. -
By jedimaster1227 · Posted
Ballast Technologies has announced that Splash Summit Waterpark will launch a new VR Slide experience in the Summer of 2026. This new offering will be their 14th installation worldwide and the first in Utah. https://www.prlog.org/13111833-ballast-vr-and-splash-summit-waterpark-to-debut-utahs-first-vrslide-in-2026.html Ballast Technologies, Inc. is proud to announce that Splash Summit Waterpark will debut Utah's first VRSlide® experience in summer 2026. The installation will be the company's 14th VRSlide worldwide, joining popular locations across South Korea, Germany, major cruise line fleets, and others. VRSlide has become a global benchmark for immersive waterpark attractions, earning Best Waterslide by USA Today earlier this year, and its arrival in the Mountain West marks a significant milestone for both companies. "Immersive experiences are shaping the future of the attractions industry, and tech giants like Apple, Samsung, Meta, and Valve are reinforcing that direction with a wave of new headset launches," said Clay Talley, Vice President of Customer Experience and Marketing at Ballast VR. "Adding VRSlide positions Utah's premier waterpark as leader in this next phase of immersive entertainment." VRSlide transforms a waterslide by pairing it with a waterproof virtual reality headset that syncs real physical movement with a library of themed digital adventures. The system is engineered for continuous waterpark use and adheres to strict safety and manufacturer standards, delivering cutting-edge immersion, high reliability for daily high-volume operations, and a clear opportunity for additional revenue generation. "This project is a meaningful one for me," Clay added. "I began my career in the attractions industry at this park nearly twenty years ago, and having the opportunity to help introduce next-generation experiences here is incredibly special. It genuinely feels like a full-circle moment." The enhanced attraction is scheduled to open in May 2026, with presales and season pass information available later this year. For more information, visit splashsummit.com https://www.splashsummit.com/vrslide/ Experience VR Slide: Coming Summer 2026! What is VRSlide? The VR Slide combines a thrilling water slide with a virtual reality headset that immerses you in an exciting digital world while you ride. You’ll experience sights and sounds synced perfectly with the twists and turns of the slide — making it feel like you’ve entered another dimension! Is there an extra cost? Yes. The VR Slide requires a small additional fee to cover headset use and maintenance. Prices vary by day or pass type — check with guest services for current rates or click here to see rates. How does VRSlide work? Before your ride, you’ll receive a sanitized waterproof VR headset. Once you put it on, you’ll choose your virtual adventure (such as space, jungle, or one of a handful of other themes). The headset tracks your movement, matching what you see to the actual slide’s motion for a seamless experience. Is VRSlide Safe? Yes! Safety is our top priority at Splash Summit Waterpark. The headset is securely fastened and designed specifically for waterpark rides. Each unit is waterproof, sanitized after every use, and tested for safety. Lifeguards and attendants are stationed at the top and bottom of the slide to assist riders. Who can ride VRSlide? Riders must meet the minimum height and weight requirements for the slide. For safety, guests must be comfortable wearing a headset and able to follow Lifeguard instructions. Can I ride without a VR headset? Yes — if you prefer, you can ride Mudslide Gorge in the traditional way. The VR experience is optional. What themes are available? Current VR adventures include: TBA Where is VRSlide Located? The VR Slide is located on the Mudslide Gorge slide on the main tower. Look for the “Virtual Splash Adventure” signage.
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