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delirium_guy

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  1. Glad to hear that Tiger is back up. It was down for quite a while for them to retrack a significant amount of the ride....which is why you found it much smoother than Lion! I've never had a problem with either layout. I was down there about two weeks ago, I had a decent ride on Lion actually. Thanks for the report, glad you enjoyed! - Todd
  2. The ice skating show is actually over at Bayside Stadium. They are utilizing the expanded platform that was constructed last year for Wheel of Fortune. The show is actually quite good, IMHO. I recommend seeing the last show of the night, as you can just remain seated for Holiday Reflections Fireworks! - Todd
  3. My issue with MK is the lack of investment that has been happening. I am in MK several times a week, so I guess I've paid more attention to it more now than before. Having just visited Disneyland for the first time in 10 years, I was simply blown away at how drastically different the two parks really are. The amount of attractions alone was astonishing to me. Then top it off with the incredible Halloween overlays at Mansion and Space Mountain! Disneyland just seemed like it had so much charm and personality versus the sterile atmosphere at MK. After falling in love again with Disneyland's Space Mountain, its very disheartening to be hearing that not many improvements or changes are being done here in Florida.....especially since the ride will have been closed 7 months in just a few short weeks. Guess we'll find out soon enough.
  4. Great Wolf Lodge is located right next to the Park, depending on what your budget is for a room....its anywhere from $200-$300. Other than that, there are a few hotels at the Park exit and plenty one exit south at Fields Ertel. It may change the closer to Halloween it gets, but as of yesterday we booked a room from my iPhone last night queued up for Diamondback. You should be fine. - Todd
  5. We figured it would empty out, but honestly, by 9PM I couldn't take anymore Kings Island fun.....the Park just doesn't do it for me these days. I'm not a huge Diamondback fan either, so even that wasn't enough to keep me at the Park. Besides, we ended up heading up to Land of Illusion and having an absolute blast. I forgot how good their haunts were....Kings Island could learn a thing or two.
  6. You should be worried about the lines for the coasters as well. I was at the Park yesterday for most of the day. Attendance was heavy, almost 40,000 guests. Beast and Diamondback's queues were over flowing and extended a good distance out into the midways. Same situation for FoF and Firehawk. The lines for the haunts were, of course, exceptionally long. Get to the Park early, as others suggested. I would knock out FoF and Firehawk FIRST as the capacity is terrible on both so the lines will no doubt be outrageous. - Todd
  7. I got to ride around 730PM tonight. They called for single riders when I was just about through the first queue house. I was placed in the backseat. What has been rumored before about "shaky" I can confirm, except it was just rough for me. I can handle shaky. Unfortunately I walked off the ride with a pounding headache. There are just moments that it felt like going over a speed bump at 65MPH....quick but hard bumps. Not pleasant. I wanna try again in a different seat. The ride itself, meh. The first drop is great, loop is SOOOO much fun! It isn't really intense, but just a strange sensation while you are going around it. By the time we hit the first block brake though, I already had a headache, so the rest of the ride wasn't that pleasant. The burst through the firehouse was very effective though. I don't "get" the crowd surfer element, for me it did nothing while on the ride. In fact, the entire City Walk portion of the coaster was relatively dull. As I said, I'd like to ride a few more times, especially in the front. Its not a bad ride, really, but it certainly not a personal favorite and by any means no where near being as good as Manta.
  8. From a local point of view, I've talked to quite a few people who prefer HOS. Last year was my first year in Orlando and my first HHN. I was very disappointed with the event as it really didnt offer too many scares, however from a thematic point of view the event was spectacular. Of course, you cant go wrong with Bill & Ted. I still had a blast everytime I went, just let down in the scares department. I wasnt able to make it to HOS, but from what I understand that event tends to focus a little less on detail and more on scares. I've heard VERY good things about it and will definitely be checking it out this year! - Todd
  9. It was a random trip, but good times Yes, I found the coaster significantly rougher than my visit two years ago. The bottom of the first drop had some jackhammering going on that was quite unpleasant. Rest of the ride really wasn't that rough, but the train just puttered along and jerked around during parts of the course. In particular, the turnaround by the lift hill was in pretty sad shape and slowed the train quite a bit more than it used to. As previously mentioned, several good spots of great air but in general the ride has deteriorated quite a bit IMHO. - Todd
  10. Actually, I'd say it has more to do with the fact that Universal's lockers are FREE. The free time allowed is based upon the queue time so it will fluctuate through out the day. If you leave stuff in beyond that period of time, you do pay the difference. With that said, Six Flags is not the oddball. As others haven said both Cedar Fair and Busch have this same policy implemented. In fact with the opening of Manta, the cost of those lockers went up to .75 cents where as Kraken and JTA are still .50 cents. One cannot fault Six Flags for attempting to exercised any possible route for revenue. I'd say within a few years, if the company is around in the same format, the locker issue will not even exist. People will eventually adapt and get used to it, now that the culture has been implemented in the Parks. I work for SeaWorld Orlando and have had to deal with lockers many times, very rarely do we get complaints regarding them.
  11. The ride could possibly crack my top 10 steel. I've ridden more times now than I care to post here so I have definitely had the opportunity to get over the newness factor. I just have a ton of fun with the ride, everything about it. Cory is right in that it has a terrific balance of intensity and graceful elements. For the most part flyers are gimmicky, but this one just works SO well. Honestly, while I knew the second half would be about the visuals, it still surprised me just how well everything works. I'm so happy to hear all the positive comments about it. Some would think I am biased because I work there, but I'm a pretty seasoned rider and for a change a new ride actually exceeded my expectations! Keep in mind my home park was Kings Island before I moved to Florida a year ago, so disappointment is all I ever knew when it came to new attractions
  12. The splash definitely seemed bigger today, but not sure about the timing. My rides late this afternoon found the block brake kicking in a tad more than yesterday (least it felt like it) and my rides from earlier on.....didnt detract from the ride at all, just an observation. Could also explain the timing. Still looks fantastic!
  13. Here are some pics that I took with my phone this afternoon. I'm going back with my camera since I'm off tomorrow, so I should have some higher quality pictures to share then. This is entering the aquarium building, just after crossing the bridge from the waterfall One of the viewing windows from the rider queue line Quite a few rays already, when all is said and done there will be 300 plus 2500 other fish, including sea dragons and an octopus Not the best picture, but shows part of one of the smaller aquariums integrated into the queue Walking directly under the lift The new pathway that connects the Manta plaza and existing areas.... Splashdown Entrance sign. The queue enters the rock formation and actually goes behind the water fall that the train flies by
  14. The soundtrack was a surprise to me. I sort of expected music in the aquarium, but not in the entire area plus the station. Like I said, they really thought it all out. Everything goes together very well, the Park has every right to be proud of this baby....definitely an excellent addition to SeaWorld. As for the splash down, it is small....but I do like how it operates. It begins at the end near the bottom of the drop, the water shoots up rapidly (one jet at a time) and follows the lead car around the curve. Of course the jets remain on until the entiretrain has passed through the element. Its still entertaining for those viewing, but from a rider standpoint this absolutely beats Sheikra's splash. I was in the far left seat this afternoon and still saw the water in front of my face. I know the right side is the best for that turn, however during my earlier rides, the splash wasnt functioning yet....I'm definitely thinking you see a lot of water on the right
  15. Now that the ride has opened, I have no problem posting my opinion as I was able to ride quite a few times the past week or so. The ride flat out rocks. I've been on all 3 Superman clones plus the 2 Vekoma models. I had an idea of what to expect from Manta, much to my surprise the ride absolutely exceeded my expectations. The backseat is most certainly more intense than the front seat. I gotta admit though, being in the front and watching the Manta Lead Car spiraling ahead of you is pretty awesome. The backseat is fantastic. It starts with a nice pull over the lift and a quick whip around to the right.....the drop honestly has some bite to it and much more than what one would expect. As any of us could have anticipated, the Pretzel Loop is fantastic....it is WAY more intense than Superman's.....but I have yet to ride Tatsu but can't compare. i will tell you that a few employees that I was talking to one night HAVE been on Tatsu and they actually preferred Manta. The rest of the ride is just fun. The first inline twist is relatively slow in the back seat, but very graceful as you watch the sky spin around. The downward spiral picks up the speed VERY quick and you pull some nice g's going through it. I do want to note that before entering this element, you do appear to glide over the tree tops below. The flat spin is a lot of fun as well! Its taken pretty fast and I love the dip upon exiting it as you are facedown over the crowd on the walkway below. The block brake trims VERY little speed off the ride and the drop whips the backseat over it. I will say that the second half of the ride doesn't have so much intensity, but stands out and is INCREDIBLY effective with all the visuals in play. While riding, as the train banks out of the block brake drop, you see the wall of water that sprays in front of you for the splashdown. The climb up and turn into the waterfall turn is quick and fun. Backseat, left side is the money seat.....the waterfall is VERY VERY close and you do get wet from it on the ride. The next inversion is smooth and taken pretty fast, but the last turn on the ride is where it seems like you are just inches from the water surface on the left side of the train. Overall, the ride is AWESOME and it most certainly exceeded my expectations for it.....which doesn't happen to often to me. I know some may think I'm biased because I work there, but I am a seasoned rider and have been on plenty of coasters to make fair judgement. Definitely a backseat ride. The non-rider side of the aquarium is not open as of yet. The queue for the ride is absolutely beautiful inside, even has hidden rays engraved into the rockwork. As of now, there are rays in the main tank however it isn't anywhere near what will ultimately be in there. Even with this not being complete, the experience is wonderful. For guests not knowing anything about the attraction, it really is immersive in how they have it set up. There are multiple smaller aquariums along the way as well, some of which have yet to have their occupants move in. Once you reach the end of the aquarium building there is a greeter where the line splits to go to each of the two stations. At this point, everything is heavily lit in deep blues, given the impression of being under the sea.....and I gotta say much more effectively than the queue for Nemo at Epcot. There is a wonderful soundtrack that not only accompanies the queue line and station, but also the entire area. The Park did a wonderful job at bringing everything together, its all very cohesive. One of the coolest "little touches" that I like is the sound effect that accompanies each train as they are dispatch. A very loud thunderous type roar sounds, followed by a mix of the music from the promo video that was released back in March. The ride opend around 230 today as others have stated. The queue was filled, but not quite to the entrance. After I got off work, I walked over and decided to wait just to get the rest of the experience with the queue. Wait time was only 30 minutes. KUDOS to the crew! Fantastic job running all three trains, very impressive dispatching given its the first day of operation with guests. As you are waiting on the bridge that leads from the waterfall to the showbuilding, you will get splashed. As the last car of the train passes the waterfall, water is flung all the way over to the bridge which was unexpected, but cool This attraction has elevated the standards for BEC Parks and I feel has set the bar even higher for the SeaWorld.. Comparing the final product (well, not quite final, yet) to the artist renderings.....you won't find all that much difference. The aquarium is almost completely hidden behind the foilage that the Park has planted. The entire area is absolutely gorgeous and the ride fits in seamlessly. Its very interactive with guests and people were absolutely loving every second of it today. [/img]
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