RingMaster

Yeah, thanks for knocking Park Services and Landscaping and assuming we don't try our hardest to make the park look nice. Not to mention you just put the guys who re-decorated the water park (which looked like crap even BEFORE Paramount bought the parks), added the scenery on Tomb Raider and Flight of Fear and a few others, and decorated pretty much the entire park for FearFest to shame. But, then again, it's obvious that you don't come for the cleanliness of the park; you come for the Big Freakin' Massive Coasters of Awesomely Huge Bigness.

I noticed while both working in Rivertown and riding rides that there is a bit of indoor construction going on in a few of the RVT buildings. Particularly the Photorium building (where Antique Photos used to be) and inside Beast's queue. One of the doors to the Photorium was open right when the park opened. I took a quick glance inside and noticed a massive wooden wall being built that ran down the room and almost split it in half. If I'm not mistaken, it used to be all one big open room, didn't it? Then, while in line for The Beast, along the inside of The Beast Canyon Cold Drinks wall, there was a large opening and what appeared to be a hallway leading into the building that lie beside the second portion of Beast's queue. Both construction areas looked pretty recent, just like Panda Express inside the Festhaus. So, this gets me thinking....is there a possibility for semi-permanent locations for FearFest attractions? Portions of The Beast queue line could be used as part of a FF maze, like the regular entrance and that second part of the line (right where the line splits for the front and back of the train), and there's already plenty of space inside the Photorium. Maybe there might be some other unused locations that could use a Halloween touch-up, like the old Laser Tag building, the Back Porch Picnic Grove, and maybe the Nick Theater (although the Dora shows run until September 3rd and it's possible it might open again in October).

SeaWorld Worker Accused Of Threatening Va. Tech-Type Massacre At Theme Park Co-Workers Say Man Idolized Va. Tech Shooter POSTED: 2:21 pm EDT April 25, 2007 UPDATED: 8:39 am EDT April 26, 2007 Link to full story and photo of co-worker here: http://www.local6.com/news/13102809/detail.html Gilbert Alexander Garcia, 20, of Orlando, was arrested and charged with threatening to throw, place or discharge a destructive device and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. According to an Orange County Sheriff's Office report, a co-worker said in a statement that Garcia told her on Sunday that he was serious about the threat and would shoot everyone because he hated SeaWorld. Garcia was also accused by another co-worker of saying that the victims in the Virginia Tech shootings deserved to die because "they made the Korean guy feel like a loner." Garcia said he was going to shoot people in SeaWorld, and that he would be remembered for it nationwide, the report said. Garcia also stated to a co-worker that he wanted to kill himself and showed her a BB gun and a baseball bat in his car, the sheriff's report said. On Monday, Garcia was escorted to a security office at SeaWorld where he was informed that he was being investigated for the threats. Garcia admitted to officials that he told co-workers that he idolized the Virginia Tech shooter and wanted to shoot people but said he was only joking and had no intentions of following through, the report said. A search of Garcia's vehicle uncovered a paintball gun, several baseball bats, emblems of vehicles and a baton, the sheriff's report said. Two hours later, a co-worker recorded a phone conversation between herself and Garcia in which he allegedly stated that he would get revenge and blow up SeaWorld by dropping a bomb from a helicopter, according to the report. He also allegedly warned her to "stay out of his way" and "to duck if she saw an AK-47." The recording was taken into evidence, the report said. SeaWorld released a statement, saying: "The safety of SeaWorld employees and guests is our highest priority. We have zero tolerance for threats of violence. "As soon as we learned of the individual's comments, we took immediate action. He has been terminated and barred from entering SeaWorld property. The matter is being investigated by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. "We have appropriate security policies and practices in place, and our parks are safe for both visitors and employees. To maintain the integrity of our security procedures, we do not comment on them publicly." Watch Local 6 News for more on this story. *from WKMG Orlando Local 6 website*

Dude..... ....if Firehawk gets really cool and reliable crews like what Vortex and Beast have, then there's no need to worry about long lines. Crowded days at the park and the longest I've had to wait for Beast was, about, an hour and fifteen minutes. And that was with all the queues filled up.

Ohhh, okay. That handicap stall has a real bad habit of stopping up and overflowing at times. It's been doing that forever, since I started in '04. And we've been complaining to maintenance about it, but it has yet to be fixed. Just like the sinks in Front Gate Womens that have a bad leak. They have yet to fix that as well. Oh, and I've tried very VERY hard to scrub the graffiti off the walls with all the cleaning products we have, and they still don't come off. But, yeah, when I go in this Saturday I need to do some more complaining about the handicap stall in SOB 'cause there's been several times last year when there have been real bad overflows and we had to close the men's side down at one time.

....now we can walk up Coney Mall on a super-crowded day and be able to And who you calling least desirable? Eco rocks man (now Park Services). Hey, by all of the special effects, does this include onboard audio? I already know the copter works fine (better than before, it moves up AND down!), but so far, I can hear the sirens a mile away on the ride. I was just wondering if the onboard audio works. PS: We rock. ....which AZ restroom was supposedly dirty? And was it yesterday or Saturday?

.....so what they're saying is, if an eight-year-old can ride Adventure Express and IJ:ST, which are both 5s, then that means they can ride Son of Beast and Flight of Fear, which are also 5s. Adventure Express: Height-63 and 42 feet Speed-35 mph Length-2,963 feet -compared to- Son of Beast: Height-218 feet (first drop at 214 feet) Speed-78 mph Length-7,032 feet -------------------------------------------------------------- Italian Job: Stunt Track: Height-45 feet (first drop at 40 feet) Speed-40 mph Length-1,960 feet -compared to- Flight of Fear: Height-N/A (although I believe the first inversion clocks in at 70 or 80 feet) Speed-54 mph Length-2,705 feet -------------------------------------------------------------- Yeah, that sounds about right. They definitely need a new system. One that relies on realistic statistics and doesn't sound like a bunch of second guessing at times.

Paradise City and We're Not Gonna Take It are the only other two I can think of. Oh, and Hot for Teacher. Wait, there's also I Love Rock and Roll. I think that's it: 1. Cat Scratch Fever 2. Walk This Way 3. Heartbreaker 4. American Woman 5. Pour Some Sugar On Me 6. Smells Like Teen Spirit 7. Smoke on the Water 8. Paradise City 9. I Love Rock and Roll 10. Hot for Teacher 11. Back in Black 12. We're Not Gonna Take It 13. Rock and Roll I believe that was the order of the songs they played during the show. I saw it way too many times that I can remember this, sorry.

Permanent as in, we can walk past it and plainly say, "Hey, that looks like an entrance to a haunted house", in the middle of May?

.....that's a fun word to say, "swoosh." At least, technically, we'll be able to get close-up views of Firehawk construction when the park opens up since it's next door to FOF's queue. Even though they sort of halt construction when guests are in the park, I believe.

First, CP does not declare themselves a "Theme Park" like Paramount did. Yes, Disaster Transport has not recieved the TLC that is needed to keep up with it's themeing, but there is no reason to. The ride is horrible now, it was horrible as Avlanche Run, and it was horrible when it first opened as Disaster Transport. From Dick Kinzel himself. ...so if riders were unimpressed and he said "that ended [his] theming", then why didn't they just tear down the ride back in the day and replace it with another record-breaker? If this is a hint that CF wants to remove ALL theming from the themed rides at the Paramount Parks, then they just got rid of a good half, maybe three-quarters, of their attendance, just from the five Paramount Parks. I mean, yeah, creating a white-knuckle thrill ride that breaks records is the main gist of an amusement park like Cedar Point, but if you can THEME it to an idea, a movie, an animal, or even a comic book, and actually THEME it (just naming it after something is not considered theming *cough*Raptor*cough*), then you've just created an all-new experience that guests can enjoy for years to come. Perfect example is the HULK coaster at Islands of Adventure. First things first, no one here can say that this ride doesn't count because, oh, it's at a Universal park. For starters, the ride was made by the same developers behind a few of the more popular coasters at Cedar Point (Raptor, Mantis, Iron Dragon), so, of course, props to IOA there. They also made the ride a record-breaker by it being the world's first to introduce a launched lift hill instead of a traditional chained lift (the next coaster to use this would be, like, ten feet away as Revenge of the Mummy, but with a different coaster company). But people recognize and remember this coaster best when viewed from the perspective of the icon the ride is based off-the HULK. Guests feel exactly like Bruce Banner when he transforms into his massive and deadly alter-ego once they gain speed all-too-quickly and blast out of the angled tunnel and suddenly careening through three inversions back-to-back. It's little theming nuances that help parkgoers feel like they really ARE part of a completely separate world of a movie or a comic book. Which is why I think, however only a slight advantage, Dollywood's Mystery Mine will be the favorite over CP's Maverick. Sure, there's somewhat a theme to Maverick (a "sheriff" keeping a close eye on Frontiertown) and it's apparent that there will be some neat scenery included with the package, but it still kinda sticks out like a sore thumb and doesn't really set a theme that guests can remember from time to time. Mystery Mine, on the other hand, does a great job of hiding some of its track with elaborate theming...even though you can clearly see its inversions when walking towards it. But, once again, there's an ongoing theme that everyone can take with them and experience a story unlike anything before (the haunted mines teeming with hundreds of crows that's hiding some nasty secrets), as well as providing thrills to those who would like a white-knuckler at a park like Dollywood. My guess is, and this is only a guess, that this is about to be a quick end to smaller amusement parks attempting themed thrill rides similar to Universal/Disney (minus the massive funding from the two corporations), now that Cedar Fair has grabbed a hold of the reigns to the Paramount Parks. This could possibly be the last attempt at bringing back the bigger-faster-better montage CF is known for now that Six Flags has, unofficially, dropped out of the competition, and they have a few more parks with more than enough land to produce some world-class record-breakers. Dang, so much for an Indiana Jones Adventure-style dark ride or even a Spiderman clone.

We should have a poll on which source you trust more between: -the Dippin Dots/Lemon Chill guy -the Town Drunk guy -the Wikipedia guy -the Screamscape guy (not in this particular thread, but should be noted as a contender) Oh, and KICentral doesn't count 'cause, then, it would just be too obvious...

Actually, they just changed the water park to just say Boomerang Bay, it's just not very noticeable at first. The sign out front just had the Crocodile Dundee portion removed, so it's an unofficial change that no one knows about...yet.

Speaking of new paint..... ....anyone wanna explain to me why there is a crane next to Ruunaway Reptar today? I don't have a picture of it, but I saw it on the way to HR to get "processed." I guess Reptar is in desperate need of a new shade of green, huh? Or maybe they're taking out the giant Reptar statue on the ride!

....How about a Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls-style ride? Maybe we should retheme the Wild Thornberrys ride to resemble Ripsaw Falls. I'd call it NickToons Falls or something like that. Since RF has a Mount Rushmore-thingy with the characters from Dudley Do-Right, NF would have a Mount Rushmore dedicated to the characters of the NickToons (SpongeBob, Tommy, Cosmo, and Wanda). Only here the setup of the ride would be similar to Splash Mountain. You know, where it's just a general romp through the world of NickToons. And it would have the quirky theme song from the Nick Celebration Parade. It doesn't really have a name, but you know what I'm talking about.

Thought there was already a Coaster Alley made? I guess they just decided to call it Action Zone instead; must've believed it was a better title.

.....so that would make it Stunt Turd then? I'm sorry, I just had to go there. Okay, I'm done. But IJ:ST's a cool ride, nontheless.

If that's the case, they'll probably do it during FearFest if they decide to run PsychoPath again. Now that Firehawk is next to FOF, talk about some major clutter during October, especially if The Asylum returns in the Red Shed next door. I was thinking somehow, that maintenance road beside The Racer would be a logical path to transport guests away from the dead end of the FOF/Hawk midway, and would make for a very interesting fear zone, perhaps the return of the WorkSite that actually LOOKS like a construction site. I still think Destruction Zone was a better name. I think the maint. road cuts behind the old Laser Tag building and the Launch Pad before making its way to the FX Theater. The only problem I see about that is when the trucks come through to do scheduled maintenance; then, it would be an issue. Unless they decide to move both PsychoPath and the Asylum away from FOF and Firehawk and put them somewhere else. That's my two cents.

Halloween Town-Int. Street Couldn't come up with a better name, but this is mainly the entry point and start-off to the REAL terror of FearFest. Mainly shows here instead of mazes/midways. Phantom Theater: R.I.P. (Reconstruction In Progress)-Paramount Theater Originally came up with the idea two years ago, but it basically stars the original cast of the Theater seeking vengeance for the sudden demolishing of their old home (expect an attempt by Scooby and the Gang to save the day, only to be met with an untimely demise). Breaking Point-Int. Street Bandstand My favorite year of Universal's Halloween Horror Nights (14) inspired me to come up with this game show, a hybrid of Fear Factor and Double Dare/Slime Time Live. Cue Jigsaw: "Oh, yes. There will be blood." Heckle & Howl-Beside Starbucks Coffee No need to explain this one. Monster Bash: Revenge From The Grave-Showplace Stage Again, no need to explain this one, except a live band is included, replacing the regular prerecorded music from before. GangLand-Action Zone/Oktoberfest Themed to a cross between the classic Paramount flick The Warriors, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series, and the scene from Batman Forever involving Robin squaring off against a gang of neon-colored freaks. The Cage-Festhaus The old Maze of Madness/Asylum house layout moved to Festhaus and given a freakish nightclub theme (Festhaus is renamed The Hive for FearFest). Nightmare Alley-TimberWolf Entrance from FaceOff/Drop Zone Midway set up to resemble a rundown alley in a haunted city. Facades are created to model old apartment buildings, decrepit drug stores, and a dilapidated police station. The Gauntlet-Sling Shot/Adventure Express Midway 2005's "WorkSite" midway (never received a name but I gave it the title of Gauntlet) extended to AE entrance and stopping just before reaching Viking Fury entrance. The Strip-Coney Mall The most elaborately themed scare zone in the park (at least that's what I think it would be). I believe the Games in CM really screw up the atmosphere of FearFest, which is why I'd have a majority of Games workers moved to Entertainment as extra scareactors/ushers (they're also the most "energetic" of all departments) and facades put up over the Games buildings to resemble city streets. It's pretty much a town under attack by zombies, plague, madmen, ghosts, anything you can think of. Also, there's a number of cars, trucks, vans, and a set of school and metro buses scattered across the zone that have either crashed into stuff or have blown up. Not to mention the amount of chaos in the air with sirens, strobe lights, fire, screams, tons of fog, and, of course, MONSTERS. House of a 1000 Screams-Paramount Story/Games Building beside Scrambler This one is billed as the scariest maze of the ones I have here. It's a complete redesign of the old House of Darkness/Massacre Manor so that it resembles much more of a decrepit mansion. The Paramount Story serves as the entrance to the maze as well as the gardens to the mansion itself, the mansion facade being massive and seen towering over Story ominously. The interiors include a library (where, like the original Maze of Madness, entire bookcases can be rotated to confuse guests) , a grand ballroom, a Trophy Room (), as well as the generic bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and more. What makes this actually scary is the use of truly ghastly creatures-boogeymen, Banshees, and the monsters that hide under your bed-that look and act downright disturbing. I need to go find some masks to show you what I mean. Maverik Asylum: The Maze of Madness-behind Racer/Arcade Almost an exact replica to Knott's Halloween Haunt rendition of an insane psychiatric ward-gone-bad, except the facade you enter actually "breathes" in and out as if it were actually alive. Destruction Zone-beside Flight of Fear My original idea from the end of 2005 before Entertainment actually used it and just changed the name to the WorkSite. The difference here is the use of real construction equipment that comes to life and wreaks havoc upon patrons, such as bulldozers, cranes, backhoes, dump trucks, and whatnot. PsychoPath2-behind Flight of Fear The 2 is supposed to mean 'squared' as in the maze has simply doubled in detail and quality. The majority of the props are from an older Halloween Haunt classic maze entitled Blood Bayou (now re-themed to 13 Axe Murder Manor), where you traverse a Louisiana swampland infested with an unruly cast of carnivorous creatures. Also stars a backwoods family that loves them some fresh human meat. Nightmare under the Big Top in 4D-Action FX Theater A first attempt at combining a 3D motion simulator ride with a walkthrough haunted maze in the form of an old circus appearing out of a thick fog. Guests first enter the FX Theater (themed to a giant Big Top Circus of EVIL) and ride the "Main Attraction"-a romp though the Three-Ring Scarecus and a nearby haunted amusement park. Then, they hop off and walk through the real draw of the attraction-the Fun House. This is a redesigned Circus of Horrors maze with props and talent from yet another Halloween Haunt maze, the Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns (otherwise known as C3). This can also be billed as the scariest maze of the event, if you have a certain fear towards clowns. Especially ones that eat you. I'm lazy so I'll type out the rest later, which encompasses Rivertown (The Woods) and the Picnic Grove (Headless Hollow).

Face/Off is a cheep way to have a invert and TR/TR is a old ride in a themed building. Go to Six Flags and go wait in line for about three or four hours in the hot summer heat to ride a two-minute ride in the middle of a concrete parking lot with just a bunch of water jets spraying out and nothing more. Oh, you don't like the fact that there's no air conditioning while riding and you never get a water jet to the face? Sorry, we don't bother investing time and money in creating a neat storyline, amazing lighting effects, a killer soundtrack, and great theming because you'd rather have more fun screaming in broad, scorching daylight than pitch, cool black...ness. Thank you, come again.

Long missing as in....Double Dare?

I think the "swoosh" track piece is more based on the fishtail portion of the Italian Job coaster minus the actual fishtail drag effect from the cars, and the banking is a bit more angled, I believe. But I'm just guessing here. Also, I think the old Nick Slime Bowl will finally be getting back their stadium seats and maybe some Slime Time show like Carowinds got when they redid their Nick area two years ago. Again, I'm just guessing.

And you think PKIC is??? No website is always relaible. Yeah, man, I TOTALLY get where you're coming from. I mean, dude, the Dayton Daily News is a more reliable source than PKICentral, brah. [/sarcasm]

I got this strange feeling that the "announcement" will occur before February 5th, if you know what I mean. (Rehires'll know what I mean. Hopefully. Otherwise, your mail carriers suck.)

Hey! I take offense to the Mason Comets joke! ....actually, no I don't, they do suck. Never mind.