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^jlopez, Interpreter & windshawne...a very interesting conversation. When I purchased these 1974 photos I purchased them “blind”...so I didn’t know what I was getting until I received them. (I believe P.T. Barnum had a famous quote about me!) Anyway, when I saw today’s 1974 photo I was VERY happy to own it...I like seeing a nice aerial close-up shot of the old theater. I am used to seeing the theater off in the distance looking like a red blob. (So having this shot made up for some of the lesser shots that came in this set of photos.) 1974 I also like seeing Der Spinnen Keggers from this angle...you can almost picture Alice getting a little sick. 2011 This area has changed quite a bit. Here is what still exists: 1974 2011 So, where would I rather be today...I would say that today I would like to go back to 1974...but only because I never think I went into the theater...and if I did I can’t remember it. I am guessing that I would probably be disappointed once I did go in...but at least my curiosity would be ended.

...The new wave pool will have magnetic trim brakes? (I'm sorry! I couldn't resist!)

Considering some of the sites info hasn't been updated since 2007, yes Iv'e seen a downfall.

As long as, years from now, the next owner doesn't try to install Son of Wave Pool--it'll throw you for a loop!

I am actively planning a trip to Orlando right now for my honeymoon in May. We are staying at a 3 star resort for 6 nights, and have flex passes to the orlando parks (universal, islands of adventure, wet n wild, aquatica, and Sea World) For the hotel and the flex passes (which are good for 2 weeks) for two people it was 1000 dollars for the stay, and includes early access to IoA, but not flash passes. You can add Busch gardens to the flex pass for an extra 50 bucks a person.

I just went to the spirit song website.. that is the best lineup I have ever seen for Spirit Song.

If they'd ever revamp the gardens area, get the fountain working, etc.. rather than being a big smoking area, I'd say 2011 easy. I really wish they'd spruce up that area again. I think the arials are some of my favorites as they show vast areas of change and give you a bigger feel for the changes to the park over the years. regarding the topic above, one of the sadder things I saw this year was an elderly woman sitting a wheel chair completly by her self while walking back to the train one day this summer. She had the same glazed over look my grandmother had from her dimensia in the last year or so of her life. Its one thing (though not something I think is right) if I could have rationalized that she had the capability to tell her party, go ahead and I'll wait here and just people watch for awhile. This lady looked like she had no clue where she was/what she was doing, and it didn't appear there was anyone around keeping a specific eye on her, or even trying to talk to her. Thinking about it now, I wish I would have done something, see if she needed anything, just hung around until her family got back, something. I think there's a decent amount for a person to do that can't ride the rides. The train, Dino's alive, shows, etc are all solid, but frankly if you can't ride the rides, and don't have people that are willing to hang out with you while other members of your party venture off to ride their rides, I'm not sure why you're going to an amusement park. You have to know going in that much of the park is limited to you; if the shows and spending quality time with family are worth the price of admission, knock yourself out.

The theater reminds me of the mobile planetariums the bring around to schools. Thanks once again, standbyme!!

Hopefully it helps the off-season blues!

A webcam to watch them pour a big slab of concrete? Gee that that should be fun to watch. Can't wait until they go vertical with the walls!

There's so much that could be done to the ride given the ride budget towards themeing. The Inception music makes something pretty obvious - why not theme the ride to the movie Inception? building a circular "cityscape" around the ride (more along the lines of a Vekoma Madhouse like Alton Tower's Hex) would create an unimaginably disorienting experience. Especially if there were a "street" constructed on the back wall, with some cars sideways and trees growing down from the ceiling amid the curved skyscrapers. But again, that would involve a LOT of money and STILL the ride experience itself would be admittedly sub-par. As for why the lava, etc. was removed, I think there are two reasons. 1) It wreaked havoc on the ride itself. People here with far more information than me will tell you just how damaged that ride was due to its interactions with water. The leaping fountains, the mist, and the fog were too much to handle since the ride was not "weather proofed." It was not constructed to operate outdoors, because why should it? It was in a building, and would never come in contact with rain or snow or wind... Right? Also, mist and fog never set the fire alarm off before... Look at the photo I posted of the lava pits. You can literally see the red theater lights shining through the fog - that's how thick it was. And mist by definition is composed of water, so no fire alarms there... Maybe it depends on what the base of the fog is, water or chemical. 2) There is a very, very, very extensive protective copyright for Tomb Raider: The Ride. Really consider: would Cedar Fair have removed something they didn't have to remove? It cost them time and money to take down the stalactites from the ceiling, and if they could have stayed they doubtlessly would have. I have heard from the operations director of Rivertown that the ride was the most protected legally by Paramount Parks, to the extent that, without renewing the Tomb Raider license, the ride was forbidden to feature ANYTHING relating to Tomb Raider, including adventure, a jungle setting, seeking an ancient treasure, goddesses and gods, saving the world, a battle of the elements fire and ice... That being said, a "crypt" really is a pretty smart re-theme. Can you think of anything else that utilizes as much as possible without nearing a "tomb raider" theme? I certainly can't... And look at the ride now. It is not of the "adventure" genre, but of the "horror" genre. And there is no fire or ice. It's not jungle-y. And no goddesses. And no ancient treasure hunts... They've kept all that they could while removing only what they had to. And I agree whole-heartedly with The Bat demon. Frankly, I think it would be "Scarier" if it were turned off and painted like stone. As it is, it's truly the cherry on top of the joke... A clicking, hissing, barely-audible growling pink bat. Could it get any worse (did I mention it has nipples and armpit hair)? I have often said that (especially now that the pre-show room and antechamber are separately filled), it would make sense to have The Bat's raspy, demonic voice tell a short voiceover about how he is a fallen angel cursed to guard a crypt of evil spirits, and that you have been locked in. The only way out is to progress further in and challenge the spirits themselves. A 30 second, pre-recorded voiceover and at least the ride would have an inkling of theme. Then, the old "lava pits" are a pool of blood, the water-y lights on the goddess, the Inception music, and voila... At least a more well-rounded ride. Also, if it continued around and flipped even one more time, it would at least seem "worth it."