Gabe

Depending on the odds, that could be a lot of front-of-the-line passes. Making it $1 breaks a psychological price barrier, especially when $1 food deals leave people with extra cash to spend. I don't think they're referring to the 'roving' plinko board that features said passes. There is a permanent plinko game in Coney mall across from Zephyr.

Yes. It was definitely a more intense experience. I think it fit the theme of tomorrowland quite well actually. The original concept was another Eisner decision. He def catered more to the thrill seeker audience. Once Disney began tying in more rides to its movies, the ride was renamed and toned down. Toned down? That's an understatement ;-) Snzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I tell everyone to skip it. It's a complete waste of time, and beneath Disney... but then so is the Stitch Character. He's every bit as annoying as their other bottom tier character - Roger Rabbit. How can you hate Roger Rabbit? That movie was pure genius! Lilo and Stitch was funny as well (as was the spin-off TV series), though not as good as Roger Rabbit. Indeed, a Roger Rabbit sequel has been talked about for years. At the time, the concept was groundbreaking and a sequel at the time was deemed too $$ to make. Given today's 3-D technology, I'm certain the movie sequel could be made, provided Disney gets (pays) clearances to use some of Warner's (and others) characaters. I liked Roger! (puh puh puh puh pllllleeeease Eddie!)

Yes. The carousel of progress was based on an exhibit at the 1964 World's Fair. Also, past elements sometimes get incorporated into new rides-see: Splash Mountain for example.

Go on WDW's website and I believe there is a section for behind the scenes tours. There are many to choose from at various price points.

Yes. It was definitely a more intense experience. I think it fit the theme of tomorrowland quite well actually. The original concept was another Eisner decision. He def catered more to the thrill seeker audience. Once Disney began tying in more rides to its movies, the ride was renamed and toned down.

Yes, I haven't heard anything more on the Big Dipper for a couple of years..not since I helped a forum member here and their partner with some legal advice on how to attempt to purchase the coaster..they couldn't raise the needed funds in time.

I'll also volunteer to be on your WDW challenge team. I was on the college program in 93-94 and know quite a bit about the parks. Utiilidors also exist in limited form at EPCOT under future world, though they aren't really arent as well concealed as the ones in the MK. As for the behind the scenes tour, if you can get a look at the fabrication shop behind the MK it is truly awesome. That is where all floats are made for every Disney park all over the world. There is also a shop in the utilidors under the MK where merchandise is sold at a vast discount to cast members. Such merchandise is usually flawed (sometimes minutely), but unless you have a sharp eye, you wouldn't know. When I worked there, the shop was only open one day a week for several hours, so cast members would line up early for best selection. The cast member cafe is also located under the fantasyland section and is heavily subsidized. The same food sold in the parks can be had for what was then about $0.35 on the dollar. Finally the utilidors are color coded for each land (purple was for FL. green was Main Street, Yellow as AL, Blue was TL, Orange was FL, Red for LS. you'll often see me post in Disney topics on here. There are a couple of us on the boards who were CPers as well.

I thought the Decoding 2014 thread was sponsored by Snickers?

That can be a win-win tho Terpy See: Test Track: sponsored by Chevorlet.

This is due to space limitations at DL. The TOT in Florida is a monstrosity when seen up close. Much like Splash Mtn at the MK what you don't see is bigger than what you do see. I have to say that the TOT is the best themed ride (IMO at Disney) and the only thing that I can compare it to is the Harry Potter ride at Universal. Also, when first opened, the Florida ride was only running one drop cycle. Then CEO Michael Eisner quickly realized the potential of the ride and had it reprogrammed to have random drop cycles about a yr or so after it opened.

Universal Studios has been doing Halloween Horror Nights for over 20 years. They typically go all-out in terms of effects, themes, etc. Their budget is much much bigger than KI's is. A simple visit to their web site can give you an idea. As KI is a seasonal park, CF doesn't spend nearly as much time or money planning as Universal does. HHN is also a seperately-ticketed event. I recall a few years ago KI tried to make theirs a seperatly-ticketed event for everyone (including passholders) and the backlash was immediate and brutal. The park changed course rather quickly and went back to making the event free with a gold/platinum pass.

If memory serves, the passes given on the weekends were good for 1 'skip the line' on what was then Rugrats flume ride, Beast, Flight of Fear (i think?) and either Drop Tower (Zone) or Delirium (you specified which). They were usually exhausted by late morning on a Saturday.

Is it inaccurate to call it a pretzel? I know it's not the same as the pretzel on, say, tatsu, but it looks similar to me at least in shape. It looks nothing like Montu's batwing or the one on Vortex IMHO. I've been using Pretzel Knot and so far no one that I have seen has jumped aboard. (Because of the exit and entry paths crossing over one another but the track actually twisting..unlike a pretzel loop; pretzel knot has been used on a coaster before.) But if you join today I can promise you free water at any Kings Island drink vendor! I can promise the water even if you don't join.. Can't turn down free water. Although the girl at the jukebox diner did deny me free water last week. Bummer. I found out earflier in the season that no restaurant will give you free water that features a Coke freestyle machine, for fear of people stealing the soda since its a self-serve machine.

Be careful what you wish for--as you've seen, the costumes are victorian themed--heavy green overcoat, vest, shirt, tie (for men). The rotation there does consist of being an outside 'greeter' throughout the day, which, as you can imagine in the hot, muggy Florida sun isn't much fun! (trust me, I worked as a greeter there one day and it wasn't fun!)

markr--you must have ridden it during its later (stripped-down) years. In its heydey, the que featured music from the last temptation of christ (scored by Peter Gabriel). Then during the intro and exit to the actual ride, thumping drumbeats played around you. When everything was working (including the sliding door), it was a wonderous rfde and a lot of fun to boot. Once it became the Crypt, just about everything good about the ride went with by the wayside.

The texture-mapping technology is really neat to see and Disney has really done a number with it. The nightly shows on Cinderella castle are really cool..add to the fact that they intersperse the effects with random pictures taken by photopass photographers inside the park during the day really makes for a cool show! (and for the record, one of the pics featuring my my daughter did end up as one of the pics on the castle last year when we went..to say she was thrilled was an understatement!)

Also, the utilidors serve as a way for costumed cast members to get around without being seen by guests..it is strictly forbidden to be out of the land your costume fits into (at least this is true of MK where I worked.) As for the Mansion, the story does revolve around ill-fated love. A ring fits into the back story, and in fact, when you exit the ride, there is the ring embdedded in the bricks just in front of you. If you look for it and cant find it, ask a HM cast member for help. If they're doing it right, they won't answer you, but will lead you to the ring and stomp their foot down on it. all part of the ambiance.

A little clarification on this topic..Disney did NOT annouce they were bringing back the Hatbox Ghost to the HM in DL. Rather, what they did was create a modern version of him for the D23 Fan Expo currently taking place down the street from the park. The figure is designed to showcase the latest audio animatronic technology and in fact, does not even feature the hatbox trick. Disney is mum on if the figure will ever be reinstalled in the Mansion. Who knows, he may show up as part of a Limited Time Magic promotion down the line...

I agree the tomb raider music would be good. In all likelihood, the park may ask a certain forum member to put together a nice video describing the ride, which will run on nice flat screen tvs for one year before the tvs break and aren't replaced (I'm looking at you Diamondback). Meanwhile the forum member who did said video won't get proper credit (or compensation) for his work.

I have to say the Ind. State Fair has done wonders the last few years to make the event more family-friendly. The accident on the grandstand stage forced their hand. They are renovating the 75 year old coliseum to make it a state of the art arena inside and are busy rehabbing and building new fair structures. Add to the fact that given its relative compactness (it is landlocked on all sides by homes and commercial buildings) and one can see just about everything within the span of a half day or so. Their new Midway concessionaire is North American Midway Entertainment, who seem to have safe-looking rides and have even erected a mini midway on the other side of the fairground featiuring nothing but kids rides and games.

The Court did lament that at the end of the day, this was a fractured family dispute that the Court wasn't sure they could hash out. A telling point in the argument came when one of the Judges analogized the case to a situation where a person who bought a car in 1973 for $3,500 thinks he would now be entitled to purchase a new car in 2013 from the same dealer for the same price. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Court rule for Lori in this dispute.

My bad Terpy! Our fair ends on the 18th! While I havent had the pleasure to meet you in person (but we have chatted offline), rest assured that we Hoosiers do things a bit differently than most states (cough cough alcohol sales on sundays cough cough)

The Indiana Court of Appeals heard oral arguments yesterday from the two sides fighting for control of Holiday World. There wasn't any new ground covered, esp since each side was limited to 30 minutes each, but the Court will now take the matter under advisement. I would expect a decision in early fall.

A few years ago, the Indiana State fair expanded to 17 days from 12. That format runs through next year, after which it will be reevaluted. Our fair began Aug 2 and runs through the 17th. Come out to Indy to experience the year of Popcorn!! (various vendors will be giving out bags of microwave popcorn in various flavors to fair guests).

Or, along those same lines the "ding ding ding" and "submarine siren" sound effects that signal a big winner on TPIR!