Topsyturvy15 Posted July 23, 2013 Report Share Posted July 23, 2013 Tomorrow I head off to California for two and a bit weeks Although I'm gutted to be missing the meet on Thursday I can hardly complain As I go I will try and update you on any parks and rides I get to, the holiday is basically a West Coast tour and so along with places like the Grand canyon I should also make it to Sea World, Vegas, Universal and Disney All going well first update will be after Seaworld on Thursday!!!!! Phill Pritchard, Han30 and AJ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topsyturvy15 Posted July 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2013 Update number one!!!!!!!!!! After a long flight and being wedged between a sizeable American citizen and window we finally arrived in America. The following day after a short tour of San Diego we hit Sea World around 2pm After seeing the animals (two llamas, an armadillo and a pony) we did the Penguin experience. Its quite a strange attraction as you take a conveyor belt past about 100 penguins and before you know it your out in the gift shop!!!!! Still good to see though ... The first ride was Journey to Atlantis! This is a coaster/ water ride attraction with a rising track in the dark (an element for the enthusiasts among us). This ride is quality and good dispatchers kept the queue around half an hour!!! The water park is great but not too wet and the coaster part pretty fast and decent. Simply a brilliant attraction!!! Next up was Arctic Adventure which is a simulator leading into some creatures. The simulator itself was good but beginning to show its age but its a great build up to the polar bear, whales and manatees which are all incredible. Brilliant pics to follow Great to be so close to such amazing creatures. Next followed Shamu which is an amazing show and one you could never get in the UK!!! The act is fantastic and the whales do things you could never imagine. Shamu has recently had a baby and it was great to see the baby happy but too young to take part. The Shamu stadium dwarfs many UK football grounds!!!! Next up was the Blue Horizon show which involves birds, dolphins, whales and divers. Again a brilliant show and one well worth seeing. The divers were great and took some pretty big risks. Didnt have time for the sealion, madagascar, animal or sea circus shows though :/ Next up was the Big One .... Manta. The ride has two launches and is fantastic, really forceful and much better than Rita at Alton!!!! The first launch comes from a tunnel which is meant to have fish projected around it, to my amusement the tunnel also displayed a 'clean filter now' sign from the projector slightly ruining the effect A great ride with interesting restraints and one well worth doing. The park shut at 10pm and before the day was over there was still time for the bayside skyride (a nice cable car attraction) and the Rapids which are disgustingly wet!!!!! The two waterfalls added insult to injury and not even the 5 dollar dryer could help. Great day and brilliant park!!!! Today was the Grand Canyon which was also brilliant, next update after Vegas tomorrow pics when I get home! Phill Pritchard, pluk and Ryan 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Han30 Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Wow - it sounds like you are having an amazing time! I love dolphins and sealions (and stingrays ). Oooh Vegas - will you be going to the Stratosphere thang??? If so - rather you than me. Have a great time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phill Pritchard Posted July 30, 2013 Report Share Posted July 30, 2013 Great first report from your trip, I look forward to reading the rest! So glad you are having a great time. I'm pleased you enjoyed Manta, I really want to ride that some time. If it's anything like Blue Fire it should be a really lovely ride... Mack Launch coasters <3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topsyturvy15 Posted July 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2013 Part two!!!!! Thanks for reading part one, hope you enjoyed it We have now hit Yosemite after two days at Vegas. In my opinion Vegas was incredible and well worth a visit. The lights are amazing at night and theres so much to see and do. Without spending a penny you can walk up the strip and see a pirate show, erupting volcano, water show and much more!!!!!!! Although really hot the monorail system makes it manageable and each hotel is unique and well worth seeing. The pics later should be good The mini eiffel tower, venice gondolas, pyramid and roman palace are all unique and quite incredible and it really isnt like anywhere ive been before. Even though 18 makes me a minor you still have to walk through a casino to get anywhere (even breakfast!!!) and by the end I definitely fancied having a few goes If your really lucky you can actually win a car from a one cent slot!!!!!!!!! So onto the rides ..... First up at New York New York was Manhatten express. This is a rollercoaster going from inside the hotel, out and around the back. The track is pretty long and has two loops and can be seen from anywhere on the strip. I really enjoyed the ride and found it pretty forceful but it is pretty rough and quite a painful ride. It also managed to breakdown with me in the queue :/ It has really decent height and you get a great view of the strip from the top!!!!!! In answer to Hannah's question I did go to the Stratosphere at night!!! Due to cash constraints and time I didnt do the three rides at the top (shot tower, mini coaster, spinny ride) but I did do the skyjump!!!!! For just under 100 quid you can jump off the top of Stratosphere and enjoy a controlled descent down to the ground. You get suited up in a jump suit first and then harnessed up and then happily sneer as you skip the long queue for lifts to the top At the top you brick yourself as you see others before you go, get complemented on your bravery by other tourists and then take your turn After a photo and getting clipped in you walk out on a ledge , get given a 321 an then jump. The feeling is amazing and the descent is really fast. Your clipped in from behind and so have no ropes obstructing you and the view of the strip is out of this world. I really enjoyed it and want to go again There is a video of me but I better limit this to facebook as it does get a little explicit as I jump Finally before we left Vegas we have a quick look into the Adventuredome at Circus Circus and I did Canyon Blaster which is another coaster. The park is in this massive dome and although a kiddy park mainly does have some good rides (submission at alton towers, 4D cinema, drop tower). The coaster itself is great and actually better than Manhatten express!!!! It has two loops and corkscrews plus a decent dark section and is actually really smooth. Really worth a go at 8 dollars!!!!! Had hoped to do the water ride but its shut down :/ If your in Vegas this little park is well worth a go at just 25 dollars a wristband!!!!! Thats all for now folks (as they say in the US). A few days without rides now but will keep you updated as things go Phill Pritchard, Mitchada04 and Ryan 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topsyturvy15 Posted August 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2013 Mini update to keep you entertained until Universal After Vegas came Yosemite, although not really a theme park related venue it is still well worth a visit!!!! Especially if your a big tree enthusiast Next came San Francisco. This is a brilliant city and well well worth a visit if you have a chance!!!!!!! Really picturesque and loads to do So why the update I hear you ask? Well ... On pier 39 there is a ride of interest!! 7D experience. This is a simulator with all the 4D effects, along with this the ten minute attraction is also a shooter and each day leaderboards are updated. With several videos this is a great little attraction and one I would be happy to see in the uk!!! With a capacity of 20 it has an okay loading time and although maybe not suited to the big parks the Dungeons or Tussauds could do worse!!! Phill Pritchard 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phill Pritchard Posted August 3, 2013 Report Share Posted August 3, 2013 That's great you enjoyed 7D Experience, which film/game did you play? I played the Zombie game a couple of times whilst we were out there. The first time I was playing by myself the second was later that day with a full theatre. The attraction is designed by TrioTech and is one of the best 4D+ interactive game experiences I have tried to date. So I would also like to see one of these installed in the UK soon even if it remained a seperate paid for attraction. Topsyturvy15 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topsyturvy15 Posted August 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 The rollercoaster one!!! How about you??? Still curious as to how they make it up to 7D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topsyturvy15 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2013 Back home!!!!! A few parks to cover so will spread it over a few posts, too much for reviewing for one night First up universal ... Better get this out of the way first, I DID NOT DO TRANSFORMERS!!!!!!! The ride opened around 12 and the queue was three hours. As we were on a trip we were only given from 10-5 and it really didnt seem missing everything else for it. Bummer .... What I did do ... First up was the tram tour. This really is incredible for any movie fan!!!! The general scenes and special effects are out of this world. King Kong 3D is one of the best experiences I have ever done and the earthquake, psycho, mummy and jaws were also great too. I really couldnt believe how good it was. The actor for psycho must get really bored!!!!!!!!!! Next up was Jurassic park. This is a great water ride and really like the films. Really worth doing and up there with the best water rides ive done! Love the big T rex at the end Next came the mummy. For just a 25 min queue I was really impressed and it is also a great ride. The dark section was very well done and the coaster section is also really smooth and fast. For anyone that hasnt done it the scarab beetles make for an interesting effect My show for the day was Waterworld. Having not seen the film I didnt really understand it but the stunts were good the plane part is really impressive and unexpected!!!!!!!! Well worth a watch. My final two attractions were House of Horrors (twice) and the Simpsons. The horror house is good, good actors but people walk through too close together. Not as effective as the uk mazes. Finally the Simpsons My favourite ride ever!!!!!!!!!! When you say its a simulator it sounds average but it really is fantastic. The film is great and you have no concept of the other cars at all. Really realistic and pretty thrilling. Love the land and would have loved more time there!!!!!!! Overall great park and would have loved more time there. ALso impressed by the water sprayers throughout the park to keep people cool!!!!! Phill Pritchard, Ryan, Han30 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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