PREMiERdrum

Looks good. I hope that the train gets red fiberglass shells instead of the current green parts.

I was completely impressed with Aquatica when we visited in April of 2008, shortly after opening. I can't wait to get back down there and try the new one out!

I would guess that the fiberglass pieces on the train will be red. The red/orange/yellow color scheme should look pretty sharp.

A trip to the Columbus Zoo/Jungle Jack's Landing/Zoombezi Bay would be good this summer... The new Polar Frontier exhibit opens in late March with Polar Bears, Kodiak Bears, Arctic Fox, and Arctic Birds. It's supposed to be one of the best polar exhibits in the world. They also have 2 adorable lion cubs born a few months ago that will be on exhibit this summer. Beco the baby elephant is still a big draw too! Here are the cubs, courtesy of the Columbus Zoo. RAWR! And Beco:

These ProSlide Tantrums are popping up everywhere... they look to be quite fun! Now I wish either Boomerang Bay or Zoombezi bay would add an AquaLoop - those things look awesome.

I'm not worried in how the area will look, but I suspect the naming will be less-than-creative. They've done a good job with the Camp Snoopys and CP's Planet Snoopy. They have a good, bright, kinetic look that kids seem to get excited about. The names might suck, but they look good. I wouldn't anticipate a new facade on BBoBH, either. I'd look for a new coat of paint on the existing entry, and a few replaced or repainted characters in the ride.

Top Zoos by attendance using 2008 numbers, nothing for 2009 out yet: Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 9.5 million Busch Gardens Tampa – 4.4 million San Diego Zoo – 3.4 million Lincoln Park Zoo – 3 million (free zoo) St. Louis Zoo – 3 million (free zoo) National Zoo – 2.7 million (free zoo) Bronx Zoo – 2.1 million Brookfield Zoo – 2 million Denver Zoo – 1.9 million Columbus Zoo – 1.8 million San Diego Wild Animal Park – 1.6 million Oregon Zoo – 1.6 million Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo – 1.6 million Los Angeles Zoo – 1.6 million Houston Zoo – 1.6 million Philadelphia Zoo – 1.4 million Indianapolis Zoo – 1.4 million Phoenix Zoo – 1.3 million Milwaukee Zoo – 1.3 million Cincinnati Zoo – 1.3 million Minnesota Zoo – 1.2 million Cleveland Zoo – 1.2 million Rio Grande Zoo – 1.2 million Central Park Zoo – 1.1 million (only 6 acres!) Woodland Park Zoo – 1.1 million Lowry Park Zoo – 1.1 million San Francisco Zoo – 1.1 million Detroit Zoo – 1.1 million Memphis Zoo – 1.1 million Fort Worth Zoo – 1 million Pittsburgh Zoo – 1 million San Antonio Zoo – 1 million Riverbanks Zoo – 1 million Utah’s Hogle Zoo – 1 million Toledo Zoo – 1 million

LINK - Columbus Dispatch

I think WWK will only survive until the land it sits on is worth selling... then we'll see a much needed (and colorful!) expansion to CP's Soak City. It's interesting that they did whatever they could to eliminate the chances of a park opening on the former GL site (razing infastructure, etc), and now they almost seem open to that very idea.

This part grabbed my eye: Very interesting...

I don't mind the rhyming at all - especially compared to the alliteration style used in NickU (Danny Phantom's Flyers, Swipers Sweeper, Rugrats Runaway Reptar)... I'm still sure we'll see a "Kite Eating Tree" in place of Planktons Plunge. Do they go to the sign maker at all? I thought all sign work was still done in the park.

Or maybe that Knotts wants to start construction as early as possible? I highly doubt we'll see anything new in the space for 2010.

hmmmm.....some where i seen a photo of snoopy in a Canoe and i think it was a log flume ride. You're thinking of the scenery at CP's Camp Snoopy methinks. http://z.about.com/d/themeparks/1/0/z/j/CP40.JPG

Cedar Point's CornStalkers takes place in their rapids' trough... and Warewolf Canyon was there before that. It is a very effective, well, effect.

Another new coaster at SFMM for 2010 has been rumored since before construction started for Terminator: Salvation (didn't Shapiro say they were building 2 coasters in 2 years?). I'm sure that the folks up in Sandusky have been aware of this, and if the "crown" means anything to them, they've been acting on it.

You're misunderstanding me, and sounding like a jerk in the process. I believed him that they weren't removing the ride altogether, but that still left a wide array of possibilities as to what they would do with the ride. Many did think that a GhostBlasters retrofit could be installed, others speculated about incorporating Peanuts characters, and at least one member was campaigning for a return of the Smurfs. This, to my knowledge, is the first indication directly from on of the parks, that says that Scooby characters will be removed from the ride, which points to the Ghostblasters option. Get it? From Kings Island's web site: I'm pretty sure I figured out our miscommunication here. I was talking specifically about the dark ride. We knew Scooby was leaving. We knew it had to be rethemed. Unless there's a part of the press release that I can't see, it doesn't say what would happen to the dark ride other than Mystery Inc's departure. There was plenty of speculation on here as to how far they would go in rethemeing it. The note from Carowinds on Screamscape seems to say that the dark ride would simply have the Scooby Doo characters pulled out, making it seem that the GhostBlasters option is the most likely. I certainly didn't mean to offend anybody, but I did feel miffed at this comment: Especially since it wasn't the case. That is, unless, I missed a press release about the specific plans to retheme the dark ride. Does that make sense?

You're misunderstanding me, and sounding like a jerk in the process. I believed him that they weren't removing the ride altogether, but that still left a wide array of possibilities as to what they would do with the ride. Many did think that a GhostBlasters retrofit could be installed, others speculated about incorporating Peanuts characters, and at least one member was campaigning for a return of the Smurfs. This, to my knowledge, is the first indication directly from on of the parks, that says that Scooby characters will be removed from the ride, which points to the Ghostblasters option. Get it?

New ride names mentioned, not new rides. And discussed into even more detail here: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19385 None of the current ride selections will be removed in this conversion. This is, to the best of my knowledge, the first time we've seen one of the parks say that Scooby and friends will be removed from the dark rides, which lends credence that we'll see them turn into the more generic GhostBlaster themed ride. There was debate over how extensive the dark ride's retheme would be. So, in short, no this wasn't announced already.

http://screamscape.com/html/canada_s_wonderland.htm http://screamscape.com/html/kings_dominion.htm So - I'm thinking guest services at Carowinds means that all the Nick Central rides are staying, just that the names are changing to accomodate the Peanuts. But, what if Snoopy & Co invaded the mansion?

If there is ANY truth to this rumor - I'm putting my money here. Although it does seem very early to be planning special events for next year (or maybe not), I could see a touring BMX / Extreme Sports show visiting the park next summer. For a temporary event, the concept is cool.

Everything I know (or, at least *think* I know <g>) about the "technical" aspects of coasters, I learned from reading Dave's posts years ago on the rec.roller-coaster Usenet group I spent 4 years working with him, and he's absolutely amazing. Grab a cup of coffee with him if you ever get a chance. You won't regret it.

I wouldn't know. Ask Dave Althoff, Jr., or, for that matter, at least one of the moderators here, who graduated first in his class in a very difficult masters program! Does Dave post here? I know him very well (he works at the college I went to), but I've never seen him post here.

Plans exist for both a Spinning Coaster and a Disko in Jungle Jack's Landing... I think they're planned in with the 2nd phase of Zoombezi Bay.

I remember seeing plans for this back when Zoombezi Bay was under development... and the early sketches looked fantastic. Looked a lot like a 3/5th scale Animal Kingdom Lodge. Very impressive.

I'm thinking that they learned a thing or two about installation (and popularity - which as I understand it at CP, SE was immensley popular). Also, if it were to go into Tower Gardens, I could see a cleaner installation, blanketing the trees and scenery, with a lights-set-to-music kind of show.