RailRider

Great PTR, thanks for sharing and Im really glad that you went and experienced Dollywood for what it is and not just the credit. Dollywood has some of the best scenery, shows, employees, and rides in the industry and your PTR really showed that off. Now since you have seasson passes you must go back next summer and ride the Smokey Mountain Slidewinder.

Already posted here

Well since some have decided to use their trusty time machines, I must submit my time machine worthy pick. The Crystal Beach Cyclone

Feel free to add that to your signature.

Isn't that the 2nd time today you have done a post like that? Where it truely is one word and than you just add the crap at the bottom? Seriously if you have nothing pertinent than why post? Unless your a post wh@re?

El Toro

First off glad that you and the rest of the Gators made it out ok. I can only imagine what that would be like especially with your little gator in the boat. I would definately report that to the dept of Ag, because that is an issue that needs to be resolved and could have easily been fatal, especially if the temp had been cooler. I am impressed they went out of their way to accomodate you like that, but also I must wonder how much of that was to cover their a$$ and hope you dont sue their pants off. I will now check Holiday Fest off of my list of events to not attend, thanks for taking the bullet on that one. Just think you can look back on this now and laugh and you have your very own Griswald Family moment. Also I got a great mental image as the boat went under, thanks for sharing your unfortunate evening with us.

IAAPA

Well I hope so! I wouldn't want to spend all day at the top of the lift hill . Seriously, though, is it overhyped? I've only 'experienced' it through POVs on, like, YouTube, etc. It looks enormous and fast, and my coaster experiences have been limited to Kings Island, FunTown/SplashTown USA and WDW. Does it lack air time? Millennium Force more like Minimum Force. Yes it is a very tall, fast and smooth coaster, but the banking provides very few latteral g's and there are only a few moments of airtime on the coaster. Still I really enjoy Mille, especially for monster first drop towards Terra Firma and the unbridled speed. Just dont go expecting monsterous air or positive g's, thats not what Mille is about.

Why in the world would another park chain buy the land? GL is gone and no park or chain has the resources, capital or could receive the financing to build a new park in the same location where one use to sit. Secondly why would Busch whose future and ownership is in doubt build a park on land they use to own? Remember they sold Sea World to Six Flags. Then there is Paramount who sold all of their parks to Cedar Fair. I dont see them deciding to get back in the park business and compete against Cedar Fair on their home turf. Not happening. If the locals wanted a park so bad they should have supported the one that was there. The best use for that land is housing and big box sprawl. I am sure that is what will eventually happen.

Watching the Hammerhead develop in the webcam it looks to be the same height as the 3rd hill. Not sure if it is just the angle of the cam, but the Hammerhead is looking absolutely amazing.

Can we go with an Eli double wheel? Those are a true joy to ride and watch.

Apollo's Chariot + Bird + Arrogant Man with Long Hair =

You also need to watch those birdies while on Apollo's Chariot, they seem to be attracted to men with long hair.

True, but the Moonsault Scramble was not a continuous circuit, but a shuttle. I dont think anyone considers Mr. Freeze, Speed, Wicked Twister a Hyper coaster either. Hyper refers to continuous circuit coasters that break the 200ft barrier. Meisho Amusement Machines the builder and designer of Moonsault Scramble. They are a Japanese company that mainly supplies amusement rides to Japan and Asia. Also the asian supplier for Vekoma. Well Maggie was the first in the USA and during the time that Moonsault and even Maggie came out there was no internet and media and press did not flow freely like today. So there was little to no information in the states about Moonsault unless it came from someone who had ridden it. Moonsault was also more known for its pretzel knot, which is the only one of its kind. So Maggie is still credited as being the introduction to a new age because it was the first continous circuit Hyper introduced and got major publicity as such.

I wouldn't always trust wiki, not always reliable, but a good place to start. Hyper is coined by the first company to break the 200ft barrier, Arrow. Other companies refer to Hypers as Mega coasters, Hyper is really like calling facial tissue kleenex. But I think the key is being over 200ft but less than 300ft and it can have an out and back, twister or combination layout. So I believe Hyper is a classification and the layout does not matter. Afterall what would you call Steel Phantom/Phantoms Revenge? I would say Hyper but I think that is more debateable than SoB, which by my classification is a Hyper Woodie.

^ You dont go to Seaworld for coasters. Yes they are a great addition, but Seaworld in Orlando has so many amazing exhibts and rides that you just dont go for credits. Honestly its like visiting Dollywood just for the credit.

Yes, but theirs was an exclusive contract stating there would be no other Divers in North America for a certain amount of time. I believe that it has or will expire shortly. Park management and builders usually make these contracts becasue it garners them exclusivity of either a certain ride type or technology for a stated time frame and also there is a slight discount for buying in bulk. Kind of like going to Sams Club, but on a much bigger scale.

Just like Disney, they are pushing their guests towards the multi day tickets. Basically when you go to Orlando you need to decide are we doing Disney or the rest and then you buy your multi day ticket. Ticket sales might take a slight hit, but I would imagine in park spending goes up. Thats what the parks really want because they have a bigger margin on the stuff inside. As I have learned from Avatar there are ways to take the trip to Orlando and save lots of money, you just need to be smart about it.

True, but I could easily see Cedar Fair signing an agreement for 3 B&M Hypers and Carowinds would be a perfect fit for the 3rd. I would imagine 2010 will also be the year that Great America gets their woodie finally.

And it is that extra helix that IMO makes Titan an excelent Hyper coaster. Also the bonus helix is what I and other refer to as the centerfuge, because of the high g's you pull and the blackout or tunnel vision sensation it causes for a high percentage of riders. I am amazed at how much of DB sticks out of the tree lines. I thought you might see the 1st, 2nd and possibly 3rd, but much much more is visible. Truley a new skyline for KI.

Yes Fishers is more my speed as well but maybe we should Xscape for an adventure, after all Amanda err Gamz says we shouldn't knock it till we try it. Then again does that same logic apply to land mines? I dont like them, but I have never tried one? Hmmm, time to philosophize and reflect on such things.

Terpy would you like to join us for our expedition?

Couldn't agree more. One of the most forceful and intense sitdowns I have ever been on. Like I said the Centerfuge is a nasty(in a good way) element that has given me tunnel vision on many an occasion.

Also interesting is that Parc managment if they were to arrange a purchase would not reopen HRP till 2010. Still no purchase, buyers or arrangements are made.