bkroz

Personally, I'm more likely to go for a nice, brisk, speedy, city walk. Disney Springs is probably a needed enhancement. However, it only makes the area appear even MORE like a ritzy, upscale, outlet mall. Which is fine, since that's essentially all that it is. But I don't see how that will markedly increase the number of people visiting, besides maybe retired locals. Which, granted, is probably a big win.

Seems to me they made a different, louder noise when it became Boo Blasters. More of an echoing, metallic "zap." Frankly, I'm glad they got rid of the sound effect since it distracted quite a bit from the happenings of the ride. Here's a video of Kings Dominion's Boo Blasters, but the sound effect is the same as ours was: Scooby Doo was more of a "pew pew pew pew" hahha However, the sound effect was also the only indication that the laser gun you're holding was doing anything at all since there was no targeting laser and half of the targets didn't work or activate. So... Yeah. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Well, watch out. Neither fits the new, more reverent, upscale outlet mall motif they're going for. You wouldn't likely find a dinosaur-themed restaurant in a volcano in a turn-of-the-century Floridian village built around a natural spring. But truthfully, I've only been to Downtown Disney in Florida once. It could be that that old Marketplace area will remain unchanged with only the old Pleasure Island and the new space nearby getting a new overlay. Which would surprise me, because if that's the case why is this taking 5 years? EDIT: The T-Rex restauraunt is located in the tan building just below the "g" in Landing. Its tan color might suggest that it's staying and NOT part of the new Disney Springs, which is just a little silly when you think about it.

Scooby Doo was also more family friendly, marketable, and easy to maintain, which is probably the reason it existed at all.

I don't know if you can return during Haunt, but it would be fairly useless if you can since you can't re-enter the park.

The baffoons holding these out on roller coasters were enough. Personally, I'm ridiculously happy that this was stopped BEFORE someone got hurt. We've all seen the photos of someone holding a selfie stick out on Big Thunder Mountain. Enter a tunnel and CRACK. Stick goes flying and hits everyone behind. Absolutely ridiculously idiotic. Though this probably isn't a direct response to it, California Screamin' was E-stopped the other day when someone pulled out a selfie stick on the lift! Can you imagine? I'm glad Disney put a stop to this and quickly. This means that bag-check locations outside the parks will be screening for selfie-sticks and asking visitors to return them to their cars before entering. That's great. For those that DO inevitably slip through, I very sincerely hope Disney empowers employees to react. I'm sure they will on rides, but it's just as important that those things stay out of the air during shows, parades, fireworks, etc. And you KNOW dozens of those poles were hoisted up during every showing of World of Color, JUST so the owner could have a shaky amateur video of the performance.

Phew. Actually glad to see it back.

Times is tough. http://www.forbes.com/companies/walt-disney/

Only that its name was announced, which you've already seen. Don't expect much more. It's still a year away. They'll certainly tease more as that date approaches, but nothing substantial for a while I'd say. What we know so far is that the ride WILL reuse Maelstrom's trough and boats which - to me - is very bad news. Along with announcing the ride, they announced that it would last 3.5 minutes (same as Maelstrom) which will be woefully disappointing for those who wait hours and hours. No question - Frozen deserves park presence. But it doesn't belong in Epcot, it doesn't belong in Norway, and it shouldn't be a 3 minute boat ride.

I love that with Hulk and Dragon Challenge, but then they cheap out and force you to pay for the ones for Jurassic Park: River Adventure and Dudley Doright's Ripsaw Falls Loose articles are not permitted on the resort's roller coasters. Because no bags or loose articles can be taken on the ride, Universal requires you to use a locker for them and thus, doesn't charge you for them. However, there are rides where bags are technically permitted, so for those if you CHOOSE to use a locker, then you pay for it. If locker use is compulsory, then you don't have to pay for it. Which seems fair and logical to me. Compare it to Cedar Fair's style, where you're required to use a locker ("or leave it with a non-rider!") and by-the-way-that'll-cost-you-five-dollars. So which is more important to you... a best day of the year ride on an astounding coaster... or a measly $5? Cedar Fair's style feels like a money grub masquerading under the guise of safety. Especially because it's like "Well, all I have is my phone. It's fine in my pocket; I'm not going to spend $5 on a locker when I know it'll be safe in my pocket." At least at Universal, you can tell that safety is the actual priority.

The first fact listed here is one of the most unusual facts I have ever read for a roller coaster. And it's listed first. https://www.cagreatamerica.com/rides/Thrill-Rides/Flight-Deck

This kind of incident wouldn't usually affect rides elsewhere. Smiler was a systematic failure that could - in theory - be an issue across the model or manufacturer. This was an isolated incident that could happen on any roller coaster if proper procedures aren't followed, not a specific issue tied to the model or manufacturer.

I wouldn't wish it to happen at my least favorite park.

Very true. Once in a lifetime trip, I agree. And people are free to spend their money however they please, including saving smartly and consistently to afford a massive expenditure like a Disney vacation. I sure do. But the mentality that "I must get my children to Walt Disney World or I'm an ineffective parent" is the problem I see. Walt Disney World shouldn't be something you feel you ought to be entitled to visit every year or two, and you shouldn't think that any system in place or change in pricing that discourages that is inherently unfair or unjust to you. And unfortunately, I think it builds a sense of inferiority because if you don't take your kids to Walt Disney World on the reg, what's wrong with you? White picket fence, ranch house, 2.5 kids, and a biennial visit to Walt Disney World. It's integrated into the middle class American dream, and I think that's the force that's building this contradiction: take your kids to Walt Disney World, but spend beyond your means to do so. Disney's ticket pricing is battling that, purposefully or otherwise. At least part of the reason Disney raises prices is to "reduce crowding." Which is the nice way to say, to cut off people at the bottom. Like it or not, the family that struggles to pay bills is exactly the group that's going to be most significantly affected by a ticket price increase. Walt Disney World is a massive expense for the average person, much less someone who scrounges each month to pay the utilities. Maybe I shouldn't have said "you shouldn't go." Rather, maybe I should've said, "you don't have to go."

The comments on my article are telling. One says, "Many of us who struggle with paying bills can no longer afford a day at the park. Until hourly wages rise to meet inflation, the problem of Disney park admission will continue to be controversial." If you struggle to pay your bills, you shouldn't go to Disney World. *shrug*

The laughable thing is that if you visit any Disney Parks message board, the overwhelming message of the fans is, "The parks are too crowded! There are way too many people! Disney needs to do something about it to thin the crowd and make the parks more fun!" So Disney does just that. They raise prices. And the response from those same fans? "How could they do this? They've priced my family out of a Disney vacation! I was a loyal fan and a frequent visitor, but they've really stepped in it this time, and I'm never going back! I just can't afford it and Disney is no longer for the middle class!" They fail to see the connection between the problem they identified and Disney's response to it. "The parks are too crowded; they should do something about it." So Disney does something about it and suddenly you realize it was YOUR family who got edged out. The parks are crowded. Extremely so in many cases. Partly to combat that and mostly to maximize their profits by doing so, they inch up the admission once or twice a year. And people keep coming, which only proves to Disney that it can and should continue to raise the price. It's a vicious cycle. I wrote a history of Disney Parks admission pricing (with inflation) and talked about why it increases every year in this article if you're interested.

I'm excited for the ride, but it's at least a little disappointing that the naming conventions of Busch Gardens have taken another hit. The names of their attractions had gotten into a nice rhythm. Kumba. Montu. Gwazi. Jungala. Katonga. SheiKra. Then we started hearing that Cheetaka would be next. And at the last minute, we get... Cheetah Hunt. Huh? And now, Cobra's Curse. Would it've been so bad to name it Cobrata? GYK, who noticed and appreciated Busch Gardens' consistency and uniformity in this sort of thing.

Under "Tips for Park-goers With Little Riders:" Then three is not free. Right? It's not "three and under." It's "under three." Cute rhyme, but incorrect. Which I could understand if it was a legitimate news piece, but... it's not... it's direct from the park.

Don't ask Walt Disney World fans. I think they're starting to lose faith in the yeti. Meanwhile at Disneyland...

I think it's all a lot of mumbo jumbo. It's like "amusement park" vs. "theme park." Sometimes it's obvious. Sometimes it's not. It's all for the sake of classification, which somehow makes us feel better even though maybe - just maybe - there's no inherent reason to bother deciding which team a ride belongs to. Especially today, any three "wooden" coasters (let's say, El Toro, Outlaw Run, and The Beast) are constructed entirely different ways, operated entirely differently, give entirely unique experiences, and are totally unlike "traditional" wooden coasters and each other!

I'm certain that the ride operator would climb the hill, say "No loose articles are permitted, and the phone you're holding can't be safely stowed so I need to take it before the ride can resume." I doubt they were taking it away as a punishment. If they were, they wouldn't get far. Imagine the scene that would be caused if Cedar Point played "principals office" and said, "Sorry, you can't have your phone back."

This list was collected by a request on their Facebook to comment with your favorite amusement parks. Hence why each entry ends with a comment from a user submission. No facts needed.

Dive Machines are AWE-FULL. AS IN, FULL OF AWE. Honestly, they're unbelievable. Griffon's launch spiel says "Enjoy the power and speed of the mythical griffin." And it seriously is SO powerful. The raw speed draws tears from your eyes. The trains are enormous. 10 across, so wider than a Wing Coaster. They're just incredibly graceful - huge massive sweeping turns and giant inversions that roll you through the sky. Their size can't be captured in photos because the track is twice as wide as a traditional coaster track. Maybe compare it to our Crypt where you can feel the size. It's just larger than life. Absolutely outstanding. VERY different from a Wing Coaster. VERY different from Top Thrill. VERY different from a hyper coaster.

Exactly. While its record is the least important thing right now, it's a silly notion. If the ride remains SBNO or closes for good, then of course it will lose its record. If it re-opens with 14 inversions, then it has the world record for now. Period. Guinness is probably just looking for website hits. By the way, I do sincerely believe that this record is in their books as "most loops"

About whether Rougarou or Mantis will appear on the timeline. I have predictions about what'll follow Rougarou too, but neither strong nor informed. I feel mostly confident that it won't be a garden-to-table garden.