RailRider

Say what you will about Avatar as a movie, Im luke warm, but Pandora coming a live at Animal Kingdom looks amazing. Really it makes perfect sense, originally phase 2 of AK was going to be a mythical land of dragons and unicorns, well Disney put that off and now they are developing a mythical land that is branded and has 3 new movies on the way. Brilliant marketing strategy if you ask me. The renderings look fantastic and AK at night is going to have a very unique feel. Night rides on Everest, should be awesome. Also the fact AK will be open later and have a night time show is great, I am really excited about this. Especially if it is a World of Color style show. This will also lessen nighttime crowds at the 3 other parks. AK has been in need of more attractions, honestly this park can be done and experienced by midday or you can get up late and skip rope drop here and you are ok. This is all going to change now and the new attractions will keep the park bustling all day. I am excited for more family attractions at AK. 2 major rides in Pandora and probably 2-3 more minor attractions as well. Now if the rumors hold true that Disney Studios is getting a Star Wars Land, hold on to your light saber.

I have noticed the raccoons up in the rafters of Festhaus later in the evening and especially during haunt. While KI has a very natural setting I am surprised they have not done some pest removal. After all raccoons and skunks are carriers of rabies and could cause quite a liability issue for the park.

Wow that was a bit harsh and I wasn't whining. Not sure where all of the hate came from on a post regarding something I greatly enjoy about this site, how the members can get on interesting diversions. But hey if I'm whining or complaining sorry, have a good rest of your Monday.

And here I thought this would be about the retro commercial, instead we are discussing 800#'s. Awesome, this site never fails to surprise me.

Nice TR, thanks for sharing. We were at the park on Saturday. Got their at opening and it will be our last time for the year. We wanted to take the Little Miss RR to HowlOpalozza and trick or treat with the Dinos. She also wanted one more round on the Big rides before the off season hits. We got to the park at opening and hit Beast (front row her favorite), Stunt Track, Vortex (her first time going upside down) and a few others before hitting HowlOpalozza and dino trick or treat and Ed Alonzo. We left the park a bit before 7, she wanted to see the Wall of Monsters, but the Easter Bunny was enough. I made the comment when we went in that morning that the park will probably be one of the largest crowds of the year with the perfect weather and holiday weekend. It was one of the largest I have ever seen at the park. When we left they were filling the overflow parking out in the grass by the old cinema and there were lines of traffic still flowing in.

Hmm I personally like the more natural feeling of Diamondback compared to the pool blue effect of Griffon Splashing down. Also the natural look fits Rivertown much nicer...

Swan Lake was pretty icky and gross.

I think this is the right decision by Disney. They are not making folks with disabilities wait in line, but instead providing them a window to return to the ride and walk on. They eliminated immediate access, yet are still providing them fair access that is still better than what a non disabled person receives. A standard park guest even when using the Fastpass system must follow the rules and guidelines of that system and is provided a specific window for return that will constantly change. This sounds like they will have a type of Fastpass system that is dedicated for them, almost a personal reservation system. I see no issue and the true ire should be focused on individuals paying disabled guests to tag along for the day.

2001 and 2002 saw the dismantling of Rivertown. This is when the Wildthornberries (dang that Jaguar and Elephant) took over the Kings Mill Log Flume along with other expansion from Nick Central in to Rivertown and The Box (TR:TR) was put in place of Kentons Cove Keelboat Canal. That is when Rivertown lost its charm and become a forgotten area of the park. That part of the park didn't receive any love until Diamondback was built with the new entry plaza, repurposing of the surrounding buildings (when was the last time the gem mining was open?) The dreadful Wings restaurant became the Reds Hall of Fame grill, why because of all the new traffic in Rivertown. Fencing, landscaping, pavers, and Vortex received a paint job because of Diamondback. Honestly you may think the area lost charm because of Diamondback, but it was dead before that because of Paramount.

Once Banshee takes off in to the valleys I am not sure the noise will be much of an issue.

Remember how River Town saw lots of love with Diamondback and Vortex got a paint job out of it also.

The Bat

Since I have read many comments that did not line up with what I saw Friday night here is my 2 cents. My wife and I and some good friends went Friday evening and had a great time. Crowds were light, the park was well staffed (actually made a mental note of the upped security presence, extra patrols in the park, metal detectors at the front, monitoring mazes and zones) and the crowd while skewed younger was well behaved from what I saw. We were at the park from open until almost close and if anything it was a pretty laid back atmosphere for haunt and there were no more losers in the crowd than there in Planet Snoopy during a regular operating day.

All I can say is that this season at KI was one of the best I can remember in some time. The park felt alive again very revitalized, to me that is a sign that things behind the scenes are going much better and smoother. I know the additions and direction the park seems to be going are a vast improvement from where it was headed the past decade.

I already imagine the vultures are starting to circle Holiday World. Not that the park is going out of business, but with the prolonged and painful legal proceedings, the family strife, and the potential these issues could have on operations and additions. Holiday World may be targeted as a park to acquire by some of the chains out there (Herschend). Maybe the Mayflower is a sign of things to come and maybe it isn't.

Wow that black on red text is painfully hard to read. Looking forward to our trip to haunt tomorrow night. May yell at ya Sam if we come through.

A sad and unfortunate turn of events for a lovely family business. Some times a family tragedy can either strengthen or tear a family apart. I can only imagine what they must feel and how the family may never recover. Let alone the business implications. One of the many reasons I never went in to the family business.

That is some first drop goodness. The drop looks very nasty and is steeper than I thought it would be. Not sure if it is just the perspective of the pictures or really is that steep. As this ride continues to go up I am more and more impressed with the overall size and scope. The renderings have not done it justice. If only we had a trailer tower on site

Come back from lunch and I see this. The drop looks awesome

Yes I would say there is a strong possibility the drop will be done today, with the pace they are moving.

^ Agreed I have always preferred the Rear Spike over Wicked Twistiness on both sides. Back to the construction at hand the top of the next support for the drop is going up

I am not much for marathoning anymore. I think some of my personal bests when I was younger was 14 on DrachenFire at BGW and 12 on Shockwave at KD. Last year as a family we did 6 on Everest at AK and I needed a break after that. How age effects your ridding ability, so I will not be the Banshee holder

The first drop is really shaping up.

Yes I was there in July and folks were eating in all 3 main dinning areas of BoG. Still not sure how I feel about the new FastPass system, big fan of what they have and it has always worked great for us.

Next support in place, things will start moving a bit quicker now as they get towards the ground.