We're all checked in and ready to go!!! All official and stuff. 

If you like your updates in video form, here ya go. It's pretty long.

Shorter versions of the video are at the bottom of the update. They are broken down into a ride overview, a look at the Spaghetti Bowl Element and the Launch and Station. 

Jet Stream is closed while they upgrade the power in the area. Yeah, the entire area is getting new power. 

​Jet Stream will be back open on Monday, with super power. Or something like that. 

Up until now, this is as far as we could see. 

But today we get to go beyond the wall. 

Pictures don't do the spaghetti bowl or it's supports justice. It's so twisty. 

Into the station/second (well 3rd) launch. 

Nerd shot 

More twistyness 

Neal and Tim were our hosts for the afternoon 

Station goes here

The view from inside The Underground 

Have to be honest, given that it's been 11 months since the ride was announced, kind of forgot this was a part of the ride 

But it looks cool!! 

The support structure for this thing is INSANE!! 

Oh yeah, the re-track for Apocalypse is done. They are already testing it. And it's supposedly running great. Can't wait!! 

Launchy Launches 

Stuff goes here, twisty stuff 

Oooooh, Aaaaah

I touched the butt, err, track!! 

New Facebook cover photo (watch) 

High Five!! 

Nerdy stuff 

For all you coaster electronic nerds (you know who you are)

The candy store is gutted, it will be back (a little nod to the past name of the ride that's behind this) 

The highest of fives!! 

Oh yeah, so a bit more on Apocalypse. The themeing and pre-show isn't really changing although apparently the entertainment department is working on a couple of things. If we had to guess it's the queue video. 

More nerd shots 

Launchy, Launch, Launch 

Hey Ninja!! 

Ok, so look at this. LOOK AT IT I TELL YOU!!

This thing is insane looking. So apparently, due to the complexity of this thing they put it together in China (where it was manufactured) to make sure it all fit together. And then took it apart and shipped it here. 

It's seriously like a maze in there

I mean ... 

And one last nerd shot 

Ok, so we already know the question. WHEN IS IT GOING TO OPEN!! That was actually the first question that was asked during the tour. Right now, we just don't know. But it WILL be in 2019.

I know we've been kind of harsh in previous updates about the delays and I hope this doesn't sound like we're now "towing the company line", because we aren't. But ...

A few things to consider

• Look at that support structure, it's insane
• This area of the park was built in 1977, that's older than probably most of you reading this (sorry Eric)
• That means all new electrical, plumbing, sewage, building codes, etc. That's a LOT in SoCal given our ground shaking stuff.

So we know it's hard, but be patient. It is going to happen, it won't be 2020. And when it does happen, it's going to be SO worth it. The ride is looking all kinds of amazing. It's going to be super fun.

Thanks for following along!!

Shorter versions of the update video are below. 

Pics by Andros Gonzalez

Welcome to Jurassic World! 

‪Only a 10 minute wait for Platinum passes. Otherwise, it's an insane 180 minute wait! ​

Ahh, so good to have you back!! 

The new indoor portion of the ride

The ride has been getting pretty rave reviews so far 

Still some things left from "Park", which is great!! 

Could you always see the top of the show building when it was Jurassic Park: The Ride? 

Anybody catch any other park references yet? 

That's not good

Definitely not good

Oh, we should be safe in here!! 

Danger, Danger, Danger!! 

Welp, that's our preview. We will be at media night on the 22nd, we'll definitely remind you before then. Hoping we will be able to get some POV's, etc to share. We've been avoiding them pretty well so far. 

​Thanks for reading!! Have a great Thursday!! 

Pics by Stephen Harrington

An overview of the Spaghetti Bowl

A bit more done on the back side of the ride vs our last update

Zoooooomed in

Down below, a huge chunk is missing (where the station goes) 

High Five!! 

This is the extent of it, still quite a bit of track left to go

And we'll leave you with a couple of pics from the Jet Stream queue. 

Thanks Stephen for taking the time out of your day to send us some pics!! 

Disney blocked CM and AP's so much because they thought the General Population would show up in droves to see the all new Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. It hasn't happened. And the reason isn't because nobody wants to see it. 

​The reason is because of the AP Monster Disney has created. 

Imagine you are a family of 4. You make a once yearly trip to Disneyland, maybe once every two years. In the 00's you could get a room, get a 2-3 day park hopper and enjoy your time in the park. It may be busy, but chances are 1 out of those 3 days you are going to get moderate crowds. If you go in the offseason, even a better chance you are going to be able to enjoy the parks at a leisurely pace and see everything you want to see. Multiple times. 

Let's imagine you were that same family that could get moderate crowds in the 00's going to the park in the 2010's after the Annual Pass numbers have skyrocketed at Disneyland. 

You are now spending MORE for your hotel. MORE for your parkhopper tickets. And instead of a slow/moderate crowd at Disneyland you are finding the park filled with 50,000 to 60,000 Annual Passholders EVERY DAY. 

Where is your incentive to repeat that vacation in subsequent years? 

Disney has created this AP monster, and there is no going back. And now that low to moderate crowds are here, Disney is freaking out (even though guest spending is up, WAY up). 

Disney has gotten so used to long queues and crowds that they no longer remember what it was like to have an off-season. Sure, an off-season in June/July is kind of weird. 

Here's the thing, we are a family of those infrequent visitors. We had AP's for 14 years. And we used them. And used them well. 

But since 2012 we've been to the park 3 times. And each time the parks were busier than the last time. 

After hearing how low the crowds have been we were actually thinking of going to the park during the Galaxy's Edge Reservation period. That's right, we were totally willing to go to Disneyland, knowing we couldn't see Galaxy's Edge JUST so we could enjoy the rest of the park with no crowds. 

​(Due to work and other things we didn't end up going)

But now Disney is freaking out. Lifting CM blackout dates. Cutting CM's hours (because they can really afford to get LESS money). 

Disney knows the one thing that would fix this, and that's lifting AP blockout days. Something they've been unwilling to do, yet. 

Why? Because that would be admitting that Disneyland isn't the "resort" they've been trying to tell us it is since 2001. It would be admitting that Disneyland is an Annual Passholder "Locals" park. 

​Because that's what it is. And it's Disney that made it that way. 

​There's no turning back now ... 

Yesterday was an exciting day at Six Flags Great America. Maxx Force is a great addition to the park and is just what the park needed in its lineup.

It was a beautiful morning at the park

Still a lot of work to be done before it's unveiling

 The 0-78 mph in under two second launch is extremely forceful.

You take the double inversion with a good amount of Speed witch produces a pretty decent amount of positives forces towards the bottom of the second inversion and head chopper element going into the turn.

The worlds fastest inversion speaks for its self. It gives both airtime and positive forces in the same element.

​And finally into the final two inversions coming in to the breaks on the way down. 

The ride is on the short side but still extremely exciting, the elements keep it going.

Regardless of length it’s a great ride.

​I would like to thanks Six Flags  Great America and staff for a very fun and well run event.

​This ride is a must ride!

Some pics of Maxx Force in action

A closer look at the restraints, there is plenty of room and we didn't see anybody struggling to fit

The train design is pretty awesome too

And of course, there is the Maxx Force Merchandise, at a very reasonable price point. 

Thanks for reading, now get out there and ride!!! 

Before I get into the meat of this I just want to preface with this: 
​There are some AMAZING websites/social media accounts that are based in FL. Some I've been following personally for a VERY long time. These are websites that give their opinions in a non-biased way, that play by the rules, don't generally get involved in the drama and do a damn fine job of sharing the joy and love they have for theme parks. This article has NOTHING to do with them. =) 

Drama between theme park websites is nothing new, heck, drama in all of the internet is something that is nothing new. Even though this website is only about 5 1/2 years old right now, I've actually been involved in theme park websites in one way or another since 2001. 

My first Disney message-board was on Laughing Place, and also around the same time WestCoaster (because I actually like more than Disney, go figure). I eventually became a moderator on WestCoaster and on another site I won't name when they started their message-boards. I was also a moderator/admin/writer on MiceChat for quite a few years before starting this site 5 years ago. In fact, you can still see me in a lot of their YouTube videos including the most viewed video on their site ever, media day for Lex Luthor Drop of Doom at SFMM. (Yep, MiceChat's most viewed video has nothing to do with Disney). 

But even with all of that history, for the most part, I get along with everybody that I worked with on those sites, and through them have developed some of my most cherished friendships. 

There was a time however when the different Disney/Theme Park Websites in CA didn't get along. There was a very us vs them mentality that thankfully does not really exist in CA anymore (for the most part), and we are better for it. 

No, it seems most of that drama has now shifted to the websites/blogs that are based in FL. Not ALL mind you, 90% of the websites are amazing and get along great. 

And I think I may know at least part of the reason for this, so bear with me for a minute. 

When we started this website we had some existing connections because I had written for those other sites, so we had kind of an advantage over some other start-up blogs. Heck, our first media day for Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain was actually the reason this site even exists as it didn't exist before that. You can read more of that story here. 

I had PR contacts at Knott's and Universal Studios Hollywood that I reached out to pretty early on. 

For awhile we were not included in media "events", which was totally understandable. We were growing our numbers via park updates and whenever a park would send us a press release we'd get them posted ASAP (something we still strive to do today). Because our thought was if a park was giving us a chance to essentially "prove" ourselves, then we should make sure we were being good stewards of that chance. And again, to this day we feel this way. 

We also had a goal. When we started the site it was just around the time things were starting to move on Wizarding World Hollywood, and our goal was to be invited to that media event. I'm happy to say we met that goal. 

But here is where the difference is between CA and FL. If this site were based in FL, we would have never been given that chance. There seems to be a disconnect in how parks handle media requests, even among the same park chain (this also happens with Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks, you'll see no media/press releases from Cedar Point and Six Flags New England on this site as an example, not by our choosing but because of the media standards those parks utilize). 

In CA, due to the sheer number of theme parks and seasonal (Halloween) events, it seems that it's easier for a newer site to be included. Sure, we still have to prove ourselves, but it seems that parks/events are more willing to give a site a chance vs just relying on "numbers". (Disney is the exception here)

However, in FL, it's ALL about the numbers. We were probably 2 1/2 to 3 years old before we reached out to any of the FL parks, because we knew it was this way. And still, to this day, we've only been invited to media events at one park in FL (Busch Gardens). We have however been on the "press release" list for many of the parks. 

And I think this is where the current issues are coming from. 

In FL there is a "competition" factor at play. Everybody is trying to be "first". First to break a story, first to confirm a rumor, first to post that POV. 

In CA, when we're all at media events, there seems to be a general camaraderie. Sure, we're all there to do the best job in promoting whatever park/event we're at and do the best for our followers, but we all kind of get along. I'm FB friends with people from a variety of websites. If another site has a great story/scoop, we'll share it. And people have shared ours as well. 

I'm not going to sit here and say that the drama is 100% because of the spirit of competition that is seemingly happening in FL (and also, remember, I'm 2,500 miles away, so I'm only seeing the online component of this). You also have very strong personalities at play here. 

But I think when you couple the strong personalities and the competition factor that seems to be at play then you get drama and not the "love and joy" of theme parks that I mentioned at the top. 

And that's really the greatest issue at play here. Due to all of this drama that even Disney has had to address this week, we're losing the joy and love for theme parks. That's certainly why we do this.