Joshua

I only vaguely remember Scooby's Ghoster Coaster. I remember seeing it in action a few times just from passing by it, but it was installed right around the time my knowledge of that area in the park became quite hazy. I honestly can't say I know anything about Planet Snoopy's layout anymore, about what's new, what's gone, and what's still there. It's by no miracle that I still know where the ice cream stand, er, stands. I have those nostalgics trips for "Smurf ice cream" to thank for that. But ask me anything else about Planet Snoopy, anything recent, anything not pertaining to The Beastie, Phantom Theater, and blue ice cream, and my hands will be cluelessly in the air. I just assume that almost all of my favorite rides as a kid have are now scrapheap.

The P.O.V. mock up didn't include one. If it was something that was planned for, wouldn't they've animated a ground tunnel in there, as well? Speaking of the P.O.V., I hadn't seen the night version until recently and I couldn't help but enjoy the foggy atmosphere. I really hope they do that at night for the real thing. But it also got me thinking of that initial teaser, with the graveyard. Wouldn't it be great if they themed the perimeter of the ride with tombstones?

A live grizzly bear!

In a way, it already is. Remember, it's got the whole white water rafting thing going for it? Which pretty much falls in line with the whole Rivertown theme. Plus, you have the bit where you can see the train, and that's on top of the natural theming, namely the woods itself, which just lends itself to the ride. Plus, it doesn't really need something new to shake it up and increase ridership, because, after all, the intense summer heat already does that.

The announcement when you get on the ride could be "WHA-WHAWHA-WHA."

I disagree. With as many comic strips, movies, televised specials, and a short-lived television series, there's certainly enough material to pull something off. After all, they've been around far longer than The Smurfs had been around when their ride opened. (That's even including the initial comic strip and long-forgotten movie, The Smurfs and the Magic Flute, both of which pre-date the Hanna-Barbera series.) They could almost mimic that ride, with the seasonal themes: Linus with the wheelbarrow full of Valentines. (A Charlie Brown Valentine) Charlie Brown, the pitcher, being knocked over by a baseball for Summer. (A Boy Named Charlie Brown) Linus waiting for The Great Pumpkin for Halloween. (It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown) The gang sitting at a table, outside, having celebrating Thanksgiving. (It's Thanksgiving, Charlie Brown) Charlie sulking by that twig he calls a Christmas tree, or even the gang standing around, singing, in front of the fully decorated tree. (A Charlie Brown Christmas) That's just a few examples. Lucy's therapist booth could be sitting in front of the entrance and the piano-based melody, officially known as "Linus and Lucy," but unofficially called "The Peanuts' Theme," could be played throughout the ride. This wouldn't be too dissimilar from The Smurfs' Enchanted Voyage.

He has a point. You would be absolutely shocked how many times myself or the park is contacted over a post on here. Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk I can see that. Afterall, how many times has pure conjecture been twisted into "rumors" and hearsay disguised as "sources," all for the sake of a slow news day?

The webcam's uncovered again. I'm sure the only real cover up going on before us was just a literal one, perhaps even an unintentional one. Bigfoot's probably more likely to pass before that camera than some secretive thing we're not supposed to see yet. Because, honestly, there's nothing you can see with that angle beyond what you're supposed to see, which is what you're there to see, and that's the coaster being built. All that's behind it is grass, trees, and parts of the coaster that have yet to be installed. We already know what the coaster's going to look like. So there's no surprises there. In fact, there's not really a whole lot of surprises I can think of that could go in front of that camera without the powers that be going far out of their way to put it there, then hide it from us. No, the other angle would be the one hide secrets from, but that's just my two cents.

They're going to give 'em away free with entry. It'll sorta be like Free Bobblehead Day at Reds Stadium.

I like the idea of it being included in the cost. I rarely buy souvenirs because of the hassle of having to carry them around all day. So it's quite probable that I would then feel more free to buy the cups, glasses, shirts, what have you. The biggest setback I can see is that with them being built into the cost of a Season Pass and probably even standard, single day admission and therefore being free to the public (or even just Gold Pass members), is that it might be near impossible to find a locker when you need one. But I would gladly take the risk.

Thanks. Man, I can't wait to see what these changes are. Contrary to what it may seem, I really do enjoy the ride and I'm definitely excited about the changes, even if I do refer to it, from time to time, as "the faux return of The Bat." From your post, might I surmise that you work at the park?

Lovin' the new paint job. Can't wait to see wait to see what they do with the station, as well, even if it is ends up being just a subtle change. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the end result. I agree. Don't get me wrong. I like the new logo. But it reminds me of a hockey team, whereas the classic logo has more menace to it. It's got a bite to it. Plus, I love horror-themed stuff, and the classic logo sort of embodies that. Not that I actually think they should drop the new logo or anything. I just prefer the retro one, that's all. That'd be cool!

I hope so. Certainly, they're gonna end up doing something with the walkway. With it now being called The Bat, the air base/jet carrier theme no longer fits. Also, the walkway is far too lengthy, even with some added attendance. Of course, a little hike doesn't hurt anybody, but seriously compare it to The Beast, which is still a popular ride and is just across the way from Diamondback. In fact, right in that area, you have Vortex, The Beast, and Diamondback, fan favorite after fan favorite, almost in a row, bam-bam-bam! Yet, I rarely have to wait any longer than 15 to 20 minutes for The Beast, we're talking at the most on a crowded Saturday. I can't imagine ever having to wait any more than 30 to 40 minutes for Top Gun, and that's pushing it. New name or not, it's still Top Gun/Flight Deck. The days where that ride necessitated that lengthy walkway are long gone, my friend. (I'd imagine that I'd only endure such a tedious wait right from the start of the entrance all the way down in BFE Country, where the station lie, no more than once, if only just for that faux new car smell, but only ever once.) My proposal? Push over a bunch of trash cans, attract a horde of raccoons, and install a tram. BAM! The Safari is back, baby! Two faux returns for the price of one. P.S. Forgive me for my previous post. It was written in haste, and thus, amidst making other mistakes, I goofed up on "they're," their," and there," a constant pet peeve of mine, for which I very rarely consciously fumble, and almost certainly feel a whiff of embarrassment over -- even worse so, since it was second post on the forum. Not great for impressions, eh? Granted, very few people care about which "there" goes where, but I do.

I just looked at it on Google Maps, and I misremembered. The coaster runs parallel to the whole walkway, so there isn't a whole lot of space to expand upon. And on the left side of the walkway, there appears to be an access road, so nothing can go on that side. Google's satellite image still has Son of Beast there, which is right next to the part of the walkway where you walk under a bridge (or whatever that is), so there might be some space there to put a smaller attraction, but you're right. Not a lot can be done about that area. Still, it has a fairly lengthy path to get to a ride that isn't really that popular anymore. Even with boosted interest with Banshee near it, I don't see Flight Deck, even with the new nostalgic monicker and theming, gaining that much interest.

Man, I can't wait to ride that! A definite shout out to those who have to build this monster in all that snow, slush, and mud.

I'd bring back Phantom Theater. There are a lot of things I miss from the park (such as Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal, King Cobra, and, purely from nostalgia and not really something I would actually want to see come back, Lion Country Safari), but, for some reason, I miss Phantom Theater the most. Granted, I wouldn't actually expect them to bring this ride back, but in the back of my mind, it's that I'd really enjoy making an epic return, sporting a few updates, of course. But I also wouldn't mind seeing return of the Enchanted Voyage theme, perhaps doing to Peanuts what they did with Smurfs. What really needs to happen, though, is they need gut most of that path built for Top Gun, in the days where you actually to patiently wait forever to feel that need for speed. Now, in the Flight Deck-era, or The Bat Redux-era I suppose, you have to embark on an epic, Lord of the Rings journey just to walk right onto the ride. My memory is pretty hazy on what is around that path, and correct me if I'm wrong, but there is a certain amount of nothingness where something could go, right? I mean, they'd have to gut the walkway, but I wouldn't mind see a flat ride or some kind of attraction inhabiting in the lengthy space that is currently path to get to Flight Deck/The Bat II.