Richard

This one is a bit old. I never posted the first time so why not. I've been to: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (not open at the time, just wandered around the dead park) Universal Studios Hollywood Disneyland Disney's California Adventure Six Flags Magic Mountain Belmont Park SeaWorld of San Diego Circus Circus Nascar Cafe (Speed not operating due to weather) Stratosphere (rides not operating) Six Flags Over Texas Universal Studios Orlando Islands of Adventure Busch Gardens Tampa SeaWorld of Orlando Magic Kingdom Epcot Animal Kingdom Disney-MGM Studios Blizzard Beach (water park) Wet 'n Wild Orlando (water park) Next year Paramount's Kings Islands, Holiday World, Cedar Point, Coney Island (Astroland etc.) and one or two others will be added to that list. Kumba is a great, intense and smooth B&M. As with any B&M it's a great ride, though at the same time there's nothing about it that really stands out. I'd have to say the best thing about it is that it was a complete walk-on for my entire visit, and most reports suggest it is like this on any visit.

See, there's a reason I've vowed never to return to SFMM (and I'm doing my best to stick clear of the whole chain). I'm sure I told you not to waste your time there again too. It's funny that SFMM sounds like it's exploding with crowds while Disneyland Resort is empty. Reminds me of a park called Dreamworld, which overflows with crowds while two parks down the road cope fine, with no less than equal attendance. How is Disneyland? Is the worst of the "closed for rehab" over, or are there still plenty of shoeboxed attractions around the place? At any rate, your visit this year gave Disney an extra $100 to spend on getting the place extra shiny for my visit next year. I'm eager to try Tower of Terror, having done Florida's version. Judging by photos I've seen on Westcoaster and the like, I do think that Florida's will come out ahead, if not solely for the slightly better theming and the wonderful 5th dimension room. Good to see you also agree with me on the so-called "unthemed room" of the queue. I saw the photos of the room, and my thoughts were that it looked exactly like what you'd expect a back-of-house hallway to look like in a 1930s hotel. How's California Screamin' getting rough? When I was there nine months ago the loop was strangely shakey, but outside of that it was as smooth as you'd expect any Intamin coaster to be. I missed Moments with Lincoln too while I was there, simply because I had no idea it even existed. I made an effort to see Hall of Presidents at the Magic Kingdom, simply because "The Art of Walt Disney" (an outstanding book by Christopher Finch that I'd recommend to any Disney fan) goes into quite a lot of detail about it, and when I found out that the original was still at Disneyland, I was quite annoyed I missed it.

Superman: the Escape's sporadic operating is a result of two things. First and foremost is SFMM's lack of appropriate maintenance budgets, and then the "California power crisis". Tower of Terror has been operating at roughly the same speed it is today since the first year it opened. Don't make it sound like it's something new or something gradual, because it's not. It's worthwhile to note that Tower of Terror still runs at around 97% of the speed it is officially listed as.

The losses would be negligible in the scheme of things. Parts would be replaced on the ride before they become noticeably inefficient. The ride has been running at slightly reduced speeds since very early on, presumably for economic reasons alone. Could anyone honestly tell me that those few km/hr less really alter the ride experience at all?

An ageing computer system is not to blame for reductions in speed and height on Tower of Terror. If the ride were consuming the same power it did when it was running at full speed then it would go to the same height. That energy becomes two and only two things - motion and heat and any heat loss that has increased on the ride over the years would be a result of the effects of time and weather, not to power slowing computers. The actual ride and its controls are on completely different circuits for starters. It has been going to the same height pretty much since the ride opened. It's just unfortunate more than anything else that the 4-5km/hr they have knocked off the speed equates to a 15m reduction in the maximum height and gives the illusion that it's running at seriously reduced speeds.

Christopher Reeve will always be remembered through his ten years of work in raising awareness of paralysis. He will be remembered for his determination to walk again. Wearing a bad costume over 20 years ago is the last thing he should be remembered for. It would be one thing to put up some sort of sign documenting the evolution of Superman on-screen, including all the actors that have played the character from George Reeves right up to whoever they get for the 2006 movie. That's really the most you could realistically want or expect from a theme park, no less one that has no real connections to Reeve.

I have nothing but the utmost respect for a man who was a true inspiration. Having said that, it's downright ridiculous and insulting to even suggest that a Superman themed ride as a tribute to Christopher Reeve is at all appropriate.

Shares in Intamin will be a hot thing 1.5 million years from now when all the parks start ordering replacement magnets. There's no records associated with the 8-across seating system. Call it innovation at best.

Bringing the total images on Total Thrills to over 500, the SeaWorld of Orlando gallery has been added to the site. There's still galleries from about five more parks in Orlando to come, and who knows when that will happen. I'll aim to get them up before I fly off again next June.

I always assumed that the Outback Experience show had slowly morphed into what we see as Paradise Country. Interesting to hear they're still planning on going ahead with it.

Article: http://www.roller-coaster.com.au/article.php?aid=29

I really don't think that a few kids sending some letters will sway them when it comes to multi-million dollar investments. Rest assured that Dreamworld are all too aware of the quality of B&M's coasters.

Yeah, but most importantly, what about the theming on Tower of Terror? I mean seriously, it's like I go one day and it's completely fallen apart! As you'd guess, my vote went for Corkscrew. I guess smoothness really is important, because it's beaten by the other two in just about every possible way.

Tower of Terror would really be considered a 1996 addition. It was construction delays etc. that pushed the opening date back by a month. The two attractions were 23 months apart, which is good enough for me to be considered two years.

Muhahaha. I am the leader of the site.

If we're going to play that game adjack, it's no fair if you just list off every animal you can think of. I'm sure an announcement will be made some time soon. Until then, the Pigs among us will have to wait.

I think you should just stop before you dig yourself in any deeper.

What about the carnies that didn't tie down the marquee properly? I'd give them blame number one, and blame number two to the ride manufacturer. I'm not sure I'd give any blame to the operator. What was he supposed to do, keep the ride operating with a tent tangled in it?

steve$, please read the Community Guidelines and try to put at least some effort into your posts.

Feel free to discuss Space Probe in the Wonderland Sydney forum.

As mentioned above, there's an existing thread to discuss this particular attraction in the International Parks forum. Please take this discussion to the existing thread here.

And by all accounts, the clone of it at Paramount's Great America (a seasonal park) is one of the roughest coasters out there. Add me to the "I'll believe it when I see it" train of thought for the smoothness of Vekoma's newer stuff. They just seem to be catering for a class of theme park operator where initial cost is more important than long-term comfort of guests. Fair enough, just I don't want to see them at any of our parks unless their rides do prove themselves to be cheaply reliable in the long-term. So long as Dreamworld installs something high capacity I'll be happy. It could be a tunnel of love for all I care, so long as it alleviates stress on the footpaths and other attractions.

I think the problems with Bush Beast lay more in the fact that they never actually replaced any of the wood on it. I'm not sure I would like Dreamworld to get a wooden coaster anyway, and it wouldn't exactly fit in with their "cutting edge thrill rides" way of thinking.

Where'd this $250m figure come from? It sounds a little exaggerated and over-the-top to say the least.

This is directed to everyone - please take a read of the Community Guidelines if you've not already done so. In particular pay attention to the points about the use of correct spelling and punctuation. Capitals start sentences and proper nouns (i.e. person or place names). Full stops finish them and commas are used throughout to emphasise things. Don't use "chat shorthand". Split paragraphs with spaces. No one is asking for perfection, just make it easier for everyone else to read and then respond to your posts by making them as neat as possible.