DaptoFunlandGuy

except New Atlantis, or Wild West Falls... Precisely. I think that we're so used to calling out false or 'stretched truth' statements in their media releases now its just second nature. Also, they still haven't explained what a "multi-type" coaster is either.

Except, you know, the giant Arkham\Lethal building that they're reusing for the emerald city...

Yesterday I made a joke to someone that this was where the rotting shack from next to first aid ended up, but yours is better. the nostalgic heartstrings are torn from memories of racing to paint the whole picture, in the short refresh time you had, with such bad touchscreen accuracy that would never wash today but we all just accepted as the coolest tech ever back in the day. YOU CAN PAINT ON A SCREEN WITH YOUR FINGER!

Yeah we read a number of different sources and some assured us it'd never happen again, and others cautioned that 'as long as its an active option in the App, they can switch it on in surge periods'. We thought it was odd because the full day we had in park felt busier.

clearly it solves the issues of having two riders in a seat of various sizes and ensuring both are appropriately restrained.

Like Nintendo, cast were stationed at the entrance pathway behind the stones with an umbrella and handheld barcode scanners. You read daily trip reports? wow.

Honestly with the winds we've been having recently, i'm not surprised it's been down. Maybe they decided to keep KFF and Claw open due to that?

Just a slight amendment to this - As at June, timed entry to HP was an active option in the app, however it was not in use every day. We visited on a 1.5 day ticket, and entry was restricted on our first (half) day in the afternoon, but not the following (full) day when we had our express pass. The terms and conditions on the USJ website do specify that the timed entry requirements depend on crowd conditions, so if the area is important to you, the Express will guarantee you entry. *Important to note that USJ releases express passes in date blocks, so keep an eye on the website to ensure you buy them as soon as they become available. With DK opening later in the year, they may go quickly.

Universal Singapore has recovered fully from the covid shutdowns and is in full swing. Minions land is rumoured to open by Christmas - however many spaces outside of the park in the Resorts World area of Sentosa are under redevelopment so you may need to go farther afield from the park to complete your day (there's plenty of other sentosa attractions to occupy the day though!) After visiting earlier this year, I could honestly skip the Tokyo Disney parks on a repeat visit - Unless the additions since your last visit warrant a return. The crowds and the cost are simply too high right now. Universal Hollywood - if you've never done it before, I highly recommend doing the USH VIP Tour. While it is a bit pricier (and you should book further in advance to secure your spot) the inclusions do make it great value for money, and the experience is incomparable to visiting with a normal day-ticket. Knott's. Love this park. could spend multiple days just soaking the atmosphere. Enjoy it! Fuji Q and Nagashima - we missed these on our most recent trip to Japan. Travel times were prohibitive, so if you do plan to go, would recommend staying nearby and arriving the day before your planned visit. End of year will be winter, and from what I recall, the potential for bad weather may see the park close attractions unexpectedly, so bear this in mind. Universal Osaka - staying on property was great here - and Port Universal was a great little hotel a short stroll from the front gate. Express 8 pass sorely needed during busier periods. USJ has some of the most restrictive ride restraints i've encountered, so if you're tall, have broad shoulders, carry a little extra weight around the midsection or are otherwise outside the average japanese build (long legs for example) you may not fit on certain attractions. Test seats are everywhere and cast members will ask you to try at the entrance if they think you may not fit. The park has advertised opening times, but frequently opens much earlier - sometimes more than an hour before. It depends on crowds. If you want to ensure you can enter nintendo land and\or harry potter, you either need to arrive insanely early to ensure you get in early enough to get a free timed entry spot, or alternatively there are upcharges like the express 8 which include guaranteed entry times. Can't give any advice for China parks as I haven't been yet - but can advise you to drink and brush teeth with bottled water only Six Flags Magic Mountain - The current park operating calendar states that the park is closed from December 30th and doesn't show a reopening date, (though I would presume this just hasn't been loaded yet). I'd recommend going on a weekday as weekends are insanely busy with locals and passholders (check the calendar to make sure its open the day you want to go). The Platinum Flash pass has been necessary for us on our last two visits, and makes for a far more pleasant day. Going in winter you are far more likely to encounter ride closures, so do your research on what will be available ahead of time to see if it is worth going...

Oh geez, quoting this one for posterity.

Ok dude, we get it. Nothing anybody says is going to change your view. Put down the drum.

they've cherry picked the best parts of the article Richard posted Great ride, great theming, confusing operations: Leviathan wooden roller coaster opens at Sea World | Parkz - Theme Parks

lol. And guns kill people. And cars kill people. And knives kill people. And peanuts kill people. Regulations have a bad way of lagging behind technology. many countries are still struggling with how to handle crypto currency and rideshare. Hell - Japan is still using FAX machines and many places in Japan don't accept VISA cards, let alone ApplePay. But many people have embraced these technologies and they aren't going to go away just because people are misusing them. But - the misuse needs to happen in order for authorities to recognise the need for regulation. (go check out the Napster case for example) Don't campaign for cancellation - campaign for regulation.

The technology isn't the problem. Using the technology improperly is a problem.

The plane i'll give you. that's a mangled monstrosity that is very clearly 'not' a plane. The other two images, while certainly digitally rendered, don't have any of the usual hallmark artefacts that I would associate with AI generated content. I'd like to explore that some more - can anyone else point out the specifics of these other two images that make them genuine wholly AI generated? So you're not a designer or an engineer, and since you're here its fair to assume that you're an enthusiast that wants good things from the parks - and yet this outrage over the methods they use to deliver them - I just don't understand what the issue is. What negative effect does it have on your experience in the attraction? Are you up in arms that other genuine creative agencies are using photoshop? are you protesting pixar for Renderman instead of inking and painting glass and cellulose cartoon cells and doing it the way the 'real' artists did it back in the 1930's? Technology has progressed, those who embrace it will flourish, and those who shun it will die off. Stop being such a luddite. We do not know the AI engine that was used for this. We do not know it's source material. For all we know, the engine has been built on art already owned by the builder. Many organisations are building their own AI databases using solely in-house materials, or materials that are public domain. If there is a genuine case to be made that this company has used an engine that makes use of other people's copyrighted works, let me know, and i'll grab my pitchfork. Until then, i'm not going to schlep around being bitter about "how much of this new ride has been soured" by a few early concept sketches and a mood board.

No it doesn't. Yes it does. People seem to forget that Raiders of the Lost Ark - the first film to introduce the Indiana Jones character - is somewhat factually based on people who have searched for the mysterious artefact referenced in the Bible. The city referenced in the film - Tanis - was a real archaeological discovery of the 1930's (though it was discovered by a Frenchman, not the Nazis). The film takes a lot of licence with story and characters (it is entertainment, not a documentary) but it is arguable that a somewhat factual historic story about ancient temples and lost artefacts isn't unique to Indiana Jones, with 'The Ark' being a somewhat well known myth amongst archaeologists well before Spielberg came to town. What is telling is that the design brief references Raiders of the Lost Ark, and not Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye \ Crystal Skull (depending on whether you prefer the US or JP versions). If they were referencing the Disney ride to copy, one would presume they would reference it? You still banging on about that? Since AI tools launched, many people have taken to utilising them for various functions. AI tools are still a case of input and output. Nobody went into ChatGPT and said "i bought a rollercoaster. theme it." And its very disingenuous to suggest that the people involved in this work - designers, engineers etc are just kicking back playing ping pong while some bot in the corner singlehandedly churns out the attraction. Seeing some of their early concepts that are clearly AI generated, and then seeing the later artworks that have taken inspiration from the visuals to create wholly original artistic works, I think they've done some amazing work. Of course if you think you can do better with a wholly original concept, i'd love to see it.

Everyone shhhh! Let him answer the question!

You'll be fine, though I can't comment on the new restraint positions for Wild West Falls, it should be ok. Depending on how you carry it, some chairs might be uncomfortable in the wrong places (though this is a point that can vary wildly for everyone), but all the harnesses should lock with your size, so if you are ok with a very slim chance of having to tolerate some discomfort to experience the ride, you'll have no issues.

I mean, Nintendo released Mario Bros in 1983 and its expanded universe of characters is pretty much the only IP to feature in the 2, going on 3 Nintendo World's built around the world (though Donkey Kong will soon be added). Nintendo has the added benefit of ongoing console development and the large array of Mario world games including Mario Kart, Mario Party and Super Smash Bros. (Fun fact - Sonic is also featured in Super Smash Bros) I'll grant you the Sonic universe is nowhere near as strong as the Mario one, but that doesn't mean it isn't timeless, lacking relevance. The franchise experienced struggles through the 2000's (primarily a legacy of Sega withdrawing from the console market) however they continued to release ports and new games for arcades and other console platforms and continue to do so. While not every title has been successful (neither has every Mario title) they continue to release games across all major platforms including Nintendo, Xbox, PS and even PC-windows, as well as arcade cabinets for various olympic games releases. The film rights have been circulating since 1994, with MGM and Dreamworks both passing in on the scripts. Sony bought the film rights in 2013, later selling them to Paramount in turnaround. It became the sixth highest grossing film of 2020, and the highest grossing film based on a video game in history. Sonic 2 then smashed that record by a further 30%. (Sonic 3 is set to be released at the end of this year) Is the franchise popular because of the films? OR were the films popular at the box office because of the franchise? I'll admit that there is potentially a bit of nostalgia driving the box office sales, from Milennials who grew up with a mega drive - but doesn't that prove the IP has a strength and timelessness to continue? (I also just found the Fandom, which goes far deeper than I ever imagined it would - Sonic Wiki Zone | Fandom)

We need more WWIAFT, stat.

The thought has never once crossed my mind that this was some sort of knock off of anything. Can you give some other examples of Parks that have copied indiana jones?

I'm almost certain that this is the reason. Sea World is in a relatively unique position for this to occur. Sea World in San Diego literally has cages for their dining areas to prevent birds from getting into the dining areas and stealing food. So other seaside parks do have their battles and deal with things in their own ways. It's a bit of a weird look, but Sea World isn't exactly "themed" to something where the WWIAFT 'don't fit' the theme. If it keeps birds from shitting on things, I don't see it as a super big deal.

I'd love if this community could take credit for the change, but for all we know they'd planned to change it up once they had the second seat installed and any bugs worked out. Either way i'm pretty happy and it's definitely something i'll give a go on a more regular basis at that price point.

Sorry little buddy, but you've got it wrong, i'm with Wiki on this one. The phrase you've isolated from the entire spiel is being twisted. Let's take a look in the entire context (my emphasis) As wiki has put forward already, what they're saying is they proposed physical set pieces and props to theme and tell the story - mechanical in nature - rather than representing these things with 'digital solutions' using screens or computers.

Could be the more receptive political environment down there that makes it more viable... I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the former Sega World in Sydney. The last time we visited Docklands it was a desert island of abandoned storefronts and not at all the premier entertainment district it had been intended to be. There's merit in this idea merely because of all the available real estate in the complex to make use of, however that did nothing to help Sega World Sydney and I don't think it'll work in melbourne either.