MaxThrust

Later in the day is always best as the tourist buses have gone, and dads ( excluding me ) want to get off early to beat the traffic etc.

Spiderman Single rider is the route, got on four times while wife was in main queue with son. Typically even if you go as a pair in the SRQ , you'll get in the same car

And I thought I'd be the only owner of duelling dragon t-shirt in Oz... Bugger.. Go after 4pm as a single rider, walk back in the emergency/Disable access and ride over and over instead of walking the empty 1 km queue line With the price of jet fuel, and flights out of OZ its going to be a while before I can afford it again.

If you want one, first thing in the morning, rain , or after a restart are the best chances as the launch control can be fooled by new/changed conditions. Isn't it just the tower of terror ?

Yup SE rules are mad. I've worn my glasses on stealth , duelling dragons , hulk etc with a tight glasses strap and the ride ops were all happy. No bags on most coasters but they didn't care about whats in your pockets. Only on rita is the UK have I've seen them ask women to remove very high/sharp heels, I presume incase they slam their feet into the deck on brake runs etc.

Great report.. Hate to think what kingda ka is like the first time. Stealth is only half the height, and hits 80mph in 1.9 rather than 128mph in 3.5, and that was bad the first few times, but at least out of season you could get on every 5-10 mins as a single rider so got used to it real quick.

280 USD or 235 if you take out Busch Gardens. 20 USD a day Parks open at 9 , close at 7,9,10 depending on the time of year. Walk between IOA and studios. Stay till late, and then you can just walk onto Duelling dragons etc, or go as a single rider. Or as my 6 yr daughter did at the time, and use parent swap ( new version , rather than parents take turns riding and looking after her, she's swapped parents and ride everytime ) Or you can go for the two park ( IOA/Studio) annual for just 190 USD.

Last time we went , we all got 14 day flexiticket which gives you Unlimited admission to the following theme parks: * Universal Studios Florida® * Universal’s Islands of Adventure® * AquaticaTM * Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay * SeaWorld® * Wet ‘n Wild® Guess what we did for 14 days in a row , but I was only 38 then. Stayed at best western movieworld as its across the road from WnW, and its the first hotel on the couresty bus route so you always get on, and universal is walkable if you miss the bus or stay late.

The euroflighter at thorpe is being theme is country style as its in an area called Canada creek, with has a log fall etc.

Wooden coaster would fit the best, but I much perfer the smooth ride of steel. Perhaps having to ride Gwazi 3 times in row at BGT put me off wooden coasters for a while ( too much shaking )

Layout , plans and construction progress can be seen here http://2009coaster.maniahub.com/?page=layout I think the cost is around $10-12 million, but theming is often have the cost, and they've had to do lots of land fill as Thorpe is actually build in an quary pit, with a central island having the rides.

Thorpe Park UK is building a bigger one, which hopefully I can ride on my next trip back to the UK Length: 2362' Height: 100' Inversions: 4 Duration: 1:40 Max Vertical Angle: 97 Degrees

Yup coasters like that are 1 trick ponies, and superman gives the same acceleration concept without the big hill , but you get the all the other sections on superman. Sure I used to love riding Stealth in the UK (0 − 80 mph in 1.9 seconds) and 70meter top hat at 4.5G but it wasn't a family ride. I'd love to see a Gerstlauer EuroFighter in Oz.

Its custom mack wild mouse coaster http://rcdb.com/cm29.htm There are plenty of outdoor wild mouse coaster like legoland versions, but the custom bit I think is lift section instead of a lift hill.

I got my annual passes for just $99 last June. Any news if they are doing the same deal again this year, as it stupid not to get them at that price even if you only go twice. Might have to switch to Dreamworld next, except that the tower of terror looks like the only ride that I'm interested in. Don't like too bigger drops, and hates things designed to make you sick like the claw.

Actually the laser shoot rides like Men in Black Alien Attack at Universal/Duel at Alton towers can be lots of the fun for the whole family. Not sure how much they cost, or the maintance.. and they can get dated if not themed well, but everyone likes to shoot things and beat the family

Or a Bolliger & Mabillard Diving Machine. Oblivion is still popular 10 years on, and it doesn't take match space. Bit of a one trick pony, but fun, and good throughput

Then blow $25 million on a Bolliger & Mabillard Flying Coaster like air/tatsu if you want something different

I think what they need is something like a S&S screaming swing. They don't need that much room, and have plently of through put http://www.s-spower.com/rides/screaminswing.html The one at thorpe park uk is great fun. Power swings back and forth, to 75 feet, at over 50mph - with forces topping 4 Gs. See thorpe is putting in a Gerstlauer Euro Fighter for 2009, now thats a fun coaster and I used to live 5km from thorpe.

Actually an SLC (765m Extended w/Helix), also available at Blue Tornado Gardaland Cobra Ratanga Junction Jaguar Isla Mágica Lethal Weapon - The Ride Warner Bros. Movie World Roller Coaster Dream Park Unknown (SLC) Happy Valley There are 28 SLC (689m Standard) coasters. http://www.rcdb.com/ is the place for global coaster details Very few coasters are custom made. The coaster is half the price, and the theming etc, make up the rest.

Rock'n'Roller coaster then... Noisy and very black.. but like superman in the dark.. Guess it depends where movie World is focusing itself.. Many theme parks are moving to the family model, and away from the high trills, as families spend more per head etc.

They do appear to be anal about it here.. right down to taking passes out of your pockets.. include batwing. The UK is a lot less bothered, all I've seen is glasses+hats for rides like stealth , and high heel shoes for rita incase the they stab through your feet ( They lend you ride trainers ). Even the US doesn't check. All UK rides are happy with glasses if you have strapes. http://www.coasterforce.com/CF_Shop

A nice eurofighter like the one at oakwood UK would be easier to put in, and fun http://www.coasterforce.com/Speed

Here's one I took from the top of the drop on Oblivon at Alton towers UK. Hand held camera.

Tussauds pass in the UK. a £95 ( 75 renewal ) , thats $220 gives you unlimited entry to Alton Towers Resort, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventure & Zoo, Madame Tussauds London, Warwick Castle and the British Airways London Eye in the UK and All International Madame Tussauds (New York, Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Shanghai & Hong Kong), Portaventura, Parc Asterix and Heide Park. And that is really a no brainer for a coaster fan. Still looks pricey, hopefully they'll do a $150 type winter pass for MW , and WnW to match the $99 AP I got in June