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[Swoosh]

Yeah Iron Shark is fine.  It doesn't suffer from OTSR so that alone is a plus

[shavethewhales]

I had a couple good rides on the Bullet back in March. It wasn't smooth per se, and I was sitting in the front, but it was super fun. It's actually probably my favorite coaster right now. Both Kemah and the Pleasure Pier really surprised me with their great selections of rides. Plus I'm getting to the point that I enjoy the whole spectacle of eating somewhere nice before/after a park trip, so the seafood at both locations was really nice too.

[Coaster]

Just got back from a week in Florida. It wasn't strictly a vacation but we did manage to squeeze some fun things in. The one day we had completely free was dedicated to going to the Universal Orlando resort. It was not planned to go there because of the obvious reason of only having one day. However, we bit the bullet and paid for it and we are so glad we did.

We got to Islands of Adventure right at opening and headed straight for Hogsmeade. I'm a huge Harry Potter nerd and both of the Harry Potter areas won me over big time. The theming is amazing and the atmosphere is incredible. I had been to Hogsmeade in 2011, but I had not been to the Diagon Alley section in the original park. The Harry Potter areas of the resort clearly outshine the other areas of the property. Since Diagon Alley was not open when I had been there in 2011, I also got to experience the Hogwarts Express for the first time. WOW. Such an amazing attraction and something so unique that I don't think any other theme park in America can match it. We rode it both ways in order to experience both versions of the ride.

I won't do a play by play trip report unless someone wants more details. But, I will say we were amazed at how light the crowds were. I guess it was the week before Memorial Day weekend, however the resort was still opening Volcano Bay just three days after we were there. We weren't complaining at the light crowds though. Without an express pass to skip the lines, we were still able to ride everything in BOTH parks, eat a sit down lunch in Hogsmeade, watch the parade at Universal (which was crap), and we still left an hour before the parks closed. The new Jimmy Fallon ride which just recently opened is a lot of fun. However, it is another simulator which Universal catches a lot of flak for. The "virtual line" is a cool concept, and one they are implementing in the new waterpark.

After our long day at the park (I had over 22,000 steps according to my Fitbit), we ate at the new Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at the CityWalk. Such a cool restaurant thematically, and the food (not just the desserts) was also really great. I would recommend it to anyone...prices are what you'd expect from a restaurant in that location, the signature shakes are $12 but do come in a souvenir plastic cup.

My family is planning on making a return trip to Orlando in a few years once Disney opens Star Wars Land. Universal might just have to be added onto that trip as well.

[chittlins]

I had a couple good rides on the Bullet back in March. It wasn't smooth per se, and I was sitting in the front, but it was super fun. It's actually probably my favorite coaster right now. Both Kemah and the Pleasure Pier really surprised me with their great selections of rides. Plus I'm getting to the point that I enjoy the whole spectacle of eating somewhere nice before/after a park trip, so the seafood at both locations was really nice too.

Mud Island in Memphis screams for a combination of these two along with a revamped museum and a new Aquarium but the Starbucks set want yurts.

[Swoosh]

UPDATED:
2017 TRAVELS
01.01 - Legoland Florida
01.01 - Boggy Creek Airboat Ride
01.01 - Coca Cola Orlando Eye
01.01 - Ripley's Odditorium Orlando
01.02 - Kennedy Space Center
01.02 - Fun Spot America - Orlando
02.11 - St. Louis Zoo
03.19 - Silver Dollar City's Spring Ride Days
03.26 - Six Flags St. Louis's Opening Weekend
03.28 - Kemah Boardwalk
03.28 - Galveston Island Pleasure Pier
03.29 - Space Center Houston
03.30 - Sea World San Antonio
03.31 - Six Flags Fiesta Texas
03.31 - Six Flags Fiesta Texas' Mardi Gras Festival
04.01 - Six Flags over Texas
04.09 - Silver Dollar City's Festival of Wonder
04.13 - Worlds of Fun's Opening Day
04.20 - Gateway Arch
05.06 - Worlds of Fun's BBQ and Brews Fest
05.29 - Silver Dollar City's Bluegrass & BBQ
05.31 - Six Flags Great America
06.23 - Hurricane Harbor St. Louis
06.23 - Six Flags St. Louis' Mardi Gras Festival
06.25 - Oceans of Fun / Worlds of Fun
06.30 - Silver Dollar City's Star Spangled Summer Festival
07.04 - Camden Park
07.05 - Kings Dominion
07.06 - Busch Gardens Williamsburg
07.07 - Six Flags America
07.07 - Hurricane Harbor Washington DC
07.07 - Baja Amusements
07.07 - Jolly Roger Amusement Park
07.07 - Jolly Roger at the Pier
07.07 - Trimper's Rides
07.07 - Adventure Park USA
07.08 - Morey's Piers
07.08 - Gillian's Wonderland Pier
07.08 - Playland's Castaway Cove
07.08 - Steel Pier
07.08 - Casino Pier
07.09 - Six Flags Great Adventure
07.10 - Dorney Park
07.10 - Knoebels
07.11 - Hersheypark
07.12 - Dutch Wonderland
07.13 - Kings Island
08.05 - Holiday World
08.05 - Splashin' Safari
08.13 - Indiana Beach
09.23 - Silver Dollar City's Fall Festival
10.30 - Six Flags St. Louis' Fright Fest
10.28 - Worlds of Fun's Halloween Haunt
11.18 - Silver Dollar City's An Old Time Christmas
11.24 - Worlds of Fun's Winterfest
11.25 - Six Flags St. Louis' Holiday in the Park
12.01 - Disney's Animal Kingdom
12.02 - EPCOT
12.03 - Magic Kingdom

New Trip Report from Six Flags Great America is now posted.  Really enjoyed that park and The Joker was a lot of fun too!

[chittlins]

Well, Our tour of the Capitol was on Comey Circus day. That hearing was in the Hart Office Building where we were at. It was directly 1 floor above us. We were sitting g in the Sentertainment Gallery when Shumer's gave his take. We ate at We the Pizza and 5his was like a super bowl with all tvs on this. The security was insane.

The weather was perfect today and looks to be tommorrow as well and then it hits middle 90's come the weekend.

[sanddunerider]

Well, Our tour of the Capitol was on Comey Circus day. That hearing was in the Hart Office Building where we were at. It was directly 1 floor above us. We were sitting g in the Sentertainment Gallery when Shumer's gave his take. We ate at We the Pizza and 5his was like a super bowl with all tvs on this. The security was insane.

The weather was perfect today and looks to be tommorrow as well and then it hits middle 90's come the weekend.

Very cool.  good luck with the rest of the trip!..  remember...... the clowns are dangerous.!

[chittlins]

Well, Washington is in the books and so is Wildwood Beach. We have done Six Flags America and the Piers.
Zoom Plume and Ghost Ship was closed at the piers but all.the coaster were open. Six Flags America needs the National Arbor Day folk to go plant trees, the place is bare. I'll give in depth reports later. The rain has caught up with us at Williamsburg, the next few days will be playing dodge ball.with showers and activities.

I asked about the woody concept at Wildwood that would span two piers,  the main hold up, the two piers are.actually in two different towns and thus the issue with different codes.

The Vekoma invert that got new tracks and cars is still a Vekoma invert but I like the new Vekoma restraints, major improvement.

The wife and I plan on revising Cape May as a adult only Vaca in the future.

Anyway, I loved seeing the f18s flying around like flies over a picnic table at Virginia Beach.
4 carriers at Port today

Eisenhower, Washington , soon to be commissioned Ford and the Abe Lincoln. Two nuke subs at Port as well

[sanddunerider]

@ Chittlins... that is quite a trip you are on.  Looks like a great choice of places...

[chittlins]

@ Chittlins... that is quite a trip you are on.  Looks like a great choice of places...

Anyone that wants to see tons of pictures, pm me and I'll give you my info to friend me on facebook.

I'm at Busch Gardens right now and just got off Verbolten, the drop track part rocks, the ride is smooth as well as the dark section, SDC so needs a similar type ride. It has air, launches, dark sections and the drop.

It's food and wine but this spoke to me

[chittlins]

Also, this park is incredibly beatiful. No fake flowers anywhere.

[Swoosh]

I hope you got the chance to ride Verbolten several times.  There are 3 different versions of effects in the show building.  My favorite was the wolves but the storm was cool too

[chittlins]

Rode Verbolten many times, it's just fun. And yes on multiple cars. For those that don't know, they load two trains at once but they leave the station staggered. The first train seems to flow through the various elements  better than the second.

Also had to pleasure to marathon Apollo's Chariot on the back row from 9 to 10 tonite

Tempesto is ok, the gimmick is good for a couple of rides and then move on and never come back.

Invader is nice but not memorable.

Griffin is solid

[Swoosh]

*InvadR

No Alpengeist or Loch Ness Monster?
I hope the "inappropriate level of wetness" didn't stop you from riding Escape from Pompeii.   That's one of the best themed shoot the chutes out there.  The fire effects inside are amazing.  DarKastle is fun too though weird.

[chittlins]

*InvadR

No Alpengeist or Loch Ness Monster?
I hope the "inappropriate level of wetness" didn't stop you from riding Escape from Pompeii.   That's one of the best themed shoot the chutes out there.  The fire effects inside are amazing.  DarKastle is fun too though weird.

We got there at 5:30, it was extra time.and not the planned full day. It's going to be 93 tommorrow, I will have no issues getting wet. I own plenty of quick dry gear.  We plan on Jamestown today and 3to 4 hrs at Water County and another quick couple of hrs at BG. The Food and Wine Fest days are only Fri, Sat, and Sun. No weekdays

I can not stress how cool the Mariner's Museum is in Newport News.