Disney's Hollywood Studios is now previewing their latest attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow, to guests of the park before it officially opens on December 6th.
I didn't follow the announcement of this attraction too closely, and honestly wasn't too sure what it was until videos of it started appearing online yesterday. Orlando Attractions Magazine filmed the experience, so if you do not want to know just what takes place, then skip this video!
As you can see, the attraction mostly relies on audio, lighting, and video effects to entertain. I have to wonder if small kids might have a bit of a cry-fest in this one, the combination of loud and dark usually have that result.
The projection of Jack Sparrow is particularly nice, very similar to the characters in Universal's Forbidden Journey queue line. While the attraction is by no means a big marketable addition, it's certainly nice filler for the Studios, which could use it.
I love how it pokes fun of itself, too, as Jack departs with "come back in eight minutes and we'll do it all over again."
30 Kasım 2012 Cuma
Disney's Hollywood Studios Previewing new Jack Sparrow Attraction
Iron Rattler's Curves
 |
| © Six Flags Fiesta Texas |
The track is banked at what looks like 90 degrees, but take notice that it's not really during a curve, it's actually just banked that way on some straight track. I'm a little behind on this one, as the park posted it a couple weeks ago, but it's worth the repost in my opinion.
Also, did you all hear that the industry-famous Jeffrey Siebert is returning to the ride side of things from the word of Schlitterbahn by becoming the Marketing Director at Six Flags Fiesta Texas? Mr. Siebert really became a loved industry professional when he worked at Kings Island, and with Fiesta Texas debuting a massive new coaster this year I have a feeling we will see some interesting things from him.
Lighting Up Coney Island's Famous Parachute Tower
According to news sources, Coney Island's famous Parachute Jump tower may be quite a nighttime spectacle starting this coming Summer.
If approved by the Landmark Preservation Committee, the 262 foot tall structure will be adorned with over 8,000 colored LED lights. When used together they will be able to perform a light show synchronized to music, perfect for holidays and other special events.
The project will use $2 million from the city's development funds, and be installed by Zamperla's Central Amusements, the company that runs Luna Park and Scream Zone, just a short walk up the boardwalk.
The Parachute Jump tower was first built for the 1939 World's Fair, then moved to Steeplechase Park a couple years later. It hasn't operated in decades, but remains a Coney Island landmark. As Coney Island struggles to rebuild after Sandy, this will quite literally be a bright spot for the city next year!
Snow on Mt Shasta.... Hurricane Season Almost Over..
Mt. Shasta forecast... this was put up on Twitter by Reed Timmer. Cute how that rhymes...
Anyway.... he's right that's a snow forecast ;)
Daytime accumulations of 33 to 39 inches and that's just this afternoon...
I'm not sure I can easily in my head do the math on just how much snow that is by
To put this into perspective. Mt Shasta is up in the Cascade Mountains of California... this is the image on Google and that is snow from their link... not a haarp ring ;)
Mt. Shasta has great history and there is so much to read about it..you have to pick your priorities. New Age types have this whole crystal thing with Mt. Shasta. It's one of those places ...
http://www.crystalinks.com/mtshasta.html
http://theoraclestar.com/2010/08/mt-shasta-history/
Picture here comes from the link below, check out that link it has some great places to stay nearby.
It is rather high up and used to having snow on it. I mean it's Google Image looks like marshmallow running down the sides of a chocolate cake...
Great link with tons of history...http://www.siskiyous.edu/shasta/his/index.htm
Officially it's a stratovolcano but let's not mess up the romance with scientific fact here ;)
As for the tropics tonight... my friend Phil put this up on Facebook... he does such a great job with words and images. Check him out... Says it all
Check out Phil on Twitter or Facebook... he posts images like this all the time as well as hard core weather discussion and analysis :)
So, that just about says it all.
We never made it to We never made it to Valerie...
Oh well...
Sweet Tropical Dreams... this Miami gal is gonna settle down and watch Burn Notice and am wishing I could see snow sometimes soon. I like snow. I like real weather.
Besos Bobbi
Ps Can you imagine if during the days of the Donner Party they could look at a Weather App how they would feel when they were out there going west.... they never saw it coming.......... Give thanks for the National Weather Service ;)
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ca-donnerparty.html
29 Kasım 2012 Perşembe
Hersheypark Names New CEO and Talks Future Plans
Pennsylvania's Patriot News has a feature on Hersheypark's new leader and CEO, William F Simpson, Jr, who will replace Ted Kleisner, who is retiring at the end of the year. Mr Simpson's new role will include presiding over the entire Hershey resort destination, including the park, hotels, restaurants and other recreational facilities.
With a new leader always comes new changes, a few of which are already being spoken of. Two restaurants, both at Hershey branded hotels, will be renovated into new concepts starting next year.
As for Hersheypark, of which we are all very interested, the article mentions that park visitors always request more coasters and water rides - and with Skyrush just having opened that means we can probably bank on a water park expansion sooner than later.
Speaking of Skyrush, it sounds like it did not give the park quite the banner year they expected, but that's probably more a reflection of the economy more than anything else. The article states the park did around 2.5 million guests in 2012.
While the park has denied so thus far, rumor has it that Roller Soaker will make an exit from Hersheypark at some point soon - so that'll make some nice new space for a water park expansion. Only my theory, of course.
Gold Striker Lift Hill Rising
 |
| © California's Great America |
The park has started to build the lift hill for their new Great Coasters International ride, and at this point the only major elements left to complete are the lift, drop, and first turn segment. It appears as though the footer sections for those elements are nearing completion, so it won't be long until the ride is complete.
The aerial photo above that the park has shared really gives an idea of the high banks and other features that Gold Striker will offer riders. Really looking forward to this one!
SlotZilla Heading to Downtown Las Vegas
It looks like rides and attractions aren't completely dead in Las Vegas, after all. Downtown Las Vegas' Freemont Street Experience has announced a new high-flying attraction that will have everyone looking up next year: SlotZilla.
SlotZilla will cost a pretty tremendous $11 million to build, and will stand over eleven stories tall at its peak. The ride will feature not one but two different sets of zip lines that will send passengers soaring over Freemont Street.
According to developers each time a rider departs the giant slot machine arm above them will pull down, and the reels will spin. Obviously from the art the departure point for the ziplines will be a spectacle on its own.
The upper ziplines will be known as the Zoomline, and take off from 100 feet in the air. Passengers will actually lay in a harness for that one, making their flight of over 1,700 feet much like that of Superman.
The lower paths, known as a fitting Ziplines, will depart from 70 feet in the air, and stretch 850 feet to their landing point. It sounds like riders will soar in a more traditional zipline position on the lower level.
The entire structure and the lines are expected to open in June, 2013.
Snow Falling in NY... 2nd Snow Event This November...
It's not going to be a big snowfall, but it's making a statement before December even begins. If all you want for Christmas is snow... you might just get what you are wishing for this year.
Notice how the front is reinforced with several lows as it moves across the country... cold, dry air moving in behind it. And, oh...what is that up by Montana and Minnesota? More cold weather coming down from Canada.
A glimpse around SpaghettiWeather shows us what is going on and not going on this 27th day of November.
Nothing tropical going on.............
| 35°F | °C | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | |||||
 |  |  | | ||||||
| Light Snow | |||||||||
| Wind: N at 4 mph | |||||||||
| Humidity: 94% | |||||||||
Snow in the NE is coming down across Pa, NJ and NY... moving through slowly and sprinkling snow on the region as people look up at the sky and down at the cars being covered in fresh snow and remembering the winters of 2009 and 2010... 2011 a distant memory at the moment.
It's raining light in the Carolinas... gray, misty looking winter day. I had oatmeal for brunch... really that says something as I am NOT an oatmeal person.
Strong storms in Pensacola and Savannah and Charleston as the front moves through.
So, just marking the point that Bastardi made the other day that the last year to have two measurable snowfalls in NYC was 1938 and if that is right... I'd look carefully at what kind of winter 1938/39 was..
Been a bit busy doing research on a project I am working on and lost in the 1960s and the reality that the early 60s were indeed VERY cold and chilly in the Miami area. Nice to know that's not a mixed up memory of a little weather obsessed child who remembers it as being in the 30s frequently.
The more things change, the more things stay the same...
People complained after Donna that there was not enough warning and forecasting was poor and yet for days the Miami News covered that storm. The following year they shot up the Tiros "WEATHER SATELLITE" to give forecasters a better eye in the sky. I find it interesting that the story to the left of it...that would be "west" if this was a hurricane advisory mind you... was about Nikita Kruschev :) which makes me wonder.... did they use the weather as an excuse to more carefully watch other places as well... like Cuba and well you get the idea..
Either way .... it was great to have those eyes in the sky as the next several years were filled with the names Cleo, Dora, Betsy, Flora, Ginny and some others you barely remember.
As for the discussion on Sandy and her exact title... I think they were wrong and they should have not been so left brain (in place of another word that comes to mind..) and they should have issued Hurricane Warnings. Truth is... people pay attention better and in reality she was still transitioning and who makes the call as to when she was or wasn't a hurricane vs an extra tropical. There is a sliding scale that seems to change constantly and it can be manipulated in any given year one way or the other. Better to err on the side of caution and consistency and reality and issue a Hurricane Warning. People on DID have sustained hurricane conditions for long enough to suffice the use of the name.
But, hind sight is 20/20 as they say and it's easier to study history from looking back then when you are in the middle of it.
Working on a book on Miami History and it's amazing what you find when you look back with the knowledge of what we know today vs yesterday.
Either way ... the end of the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season is coming to an end officially in a few days. Now is the time to think on what you will need for next year.
Because pretty soon we will be asking... Are You Ready?
Besos Bobbi ;)
Ps.................personally at the moment........I SOOO WANT SNOW ............
Quiet Respite Over Most of the Country
Not a lot of weather to talk about today. Not of the precipitous kind anyway... storm moving into the NW and talk of high snow totals on Mt. Shasta.
Enjoy as once that storm in the Pacific starts moving it's going to be messy again.
A quiet period for now...
Tropics predictably quiet.
As there is nothing big going on currently, everyone is still Monday Morning Quarterbacking Sandy.
I'll post this link that is going around in online meteorological circles and leave you to decide if you agree, disagree or have your own thoughts.
http://digitalmeteorologist.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/assessing-sandy-warnings-and-the-weather-enterprise/
Sweet Tropical Dreams,
BobbiStorm
Ps... Did you know that the State Attorney in Miami called for an investigation on the Sonny Liston/Cassius Clay fight to make sure there was no funny business when Liston's shoulder was out of place. Senate investigations have been going on forever .... this controversy will go on and on and on like the Titanic song.
and by the way.... Liston looked way older than 30 in that fight and Clay looked younger than 22..just saying.................
28 Kasım 2012 Çarşamba
Scott And Carol Present - The Unveiling of Outlaw Run's Coach at IAAPA
.JPG)
Welcome to News Plus Notes' same day coverage of IAAPA 2012. For all you Northerners, yesterday it was 82 degrees late in the afternoon, and snow was an Internet only memory. The trade floor is open for business and all the doors were crowded as attendees stormed the floor..JPG)
Silver Dollar City unveiled the first almost completed car for Outlaw Run and she is a beauty. Brad Thomas of Silver Dollar City and Fred Grubb of Rocky Mountain Construction did the honors, after a short countdown and shouts of “Pull that drape.”.JPG)
Fred, and his wife Suanne, stand next to the car which features lap bar restraints only, and some very fancy handlebars on each side. If you look closely, their are slight cutouts on each side of the front base plate, which are required for the 3 degree roll necessary in the barrel roll element..JPG)
Here is a side view of the train. Look at the detailed pin striping! Only at Silver Dollar City in spring 2013..JPG)
Alan Schilke designed the layout for Outlaw Run and he offered these comments. "I have included the 180 degree inversion many proposals but nobody was interested until it was incorporated into a turn. I try to make the layout look impossible, but I always maintain excellent safety standards for my designs. This was a very fun ride to design, and both Rocky Mountain Construction and Silver Dollar City are excellent partners to work with for this project."
Scott And Carol Present - Gravity Group Announces Mt. Olympus' Hades 360 for 2013
.JPG)
With a very well kept secret, Nick Laskaris presented an updating of Hades, the first wooden coaster to have a 90 degree turn and a bidirectional tunnel. He admits that "I always have to be different, and for me, too much is not enough." Nick also said "I didn't let Son of Beast deter me from fulfilling this passion of owning great wooden roller coasters." Hades 360 will feature a fully upside down roll element along with a new 135 degree banked turn.
.JPG)
That is a very wide smile for someone about to spend $1.5 million to change what was already a very good roller coaster. The crew is hard at work in Wisconsin Dells taking the section of Hades in the parking lot down to the ground. There will also be a large amount of retracking on the rest of the layout and, of course, some new Timberliners on Hades 360.
.JPG)
The Laskaris family joins members of the Gravity Group behind the new nose cone for Hades 360. It would be interesting to hear the dinner conversation one night when Nick tells his wife, Eva, "I think I'm going to spend lots of money to redo Hades, and by the way, we're buying a new train for the ride also."
.JPG)
According to Nick, "I am a very lucky man because Eva supports me in everything I do." Eva is looking forward to the first ride next summer.
.JPG)
Kory Keipert explains how "We did have calculations left over from the previous Custom Coaster days, but we didn't use any of them. We have been constantly improving our design tools because we are curious about the limits of wooden roller coasters. We are using 12 layers of 1 x width wood because we can make tighter twists without splitting. That technique is another new tool we started using recently." What a fun job, sitting around thinking of ways to improve roller coasters.
Here is a link to a virtual ride:
Summer of 2013 is going to be epic, because this is just a couple of the exciting announcements so far. Stay tuned for further details.
Disney's Hollywood Studios Previewing new Jack Sparrow Attraction
Disney's Hollywood Studios is now previewing their latest attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow, to guests of the park before it officially opens on December 6th.
I didn't follow the announcement of this attraction too closely, and honestly wasn't too sure what it was until videos of it started appearing online yesterday. Orlando Attractions Magazine filmed the experience, so if you do not want to know just what takes place, then skip this video!
As you can see, the attraction mostly relies on audio, lighting, and video effects to entertain. I have to wonder if small kids might have a bit of a cry-fest in this one, the combination of loud and dark usually have that result.
The projection of Jack Sparrow is particularly nice, very similar to the characters in Universal's Forbidden Journey queue line. While the attraction is by no means a big marketable addition, it's certainly nice filler for the Studios, which could use it.
I love how it pokes fun of itself, too, as Jack departs with "come back in eight minutes and we'll do it all over again."
Iron Rattler's Curves
|
| © Six Flags Fiesta Texas |
The track is banked at what looks like 90 degrees, but take notice that it's not really during a curve, it's actually just banked that way on some straight track. I'm a little behind on this one, as the park posted it a couple weeks ago, but it's worth the repost in my opinion.
Also, did you all hear that the industry-famous Jeffrey Siebert is returning to the ride side of things from the word of Schlitterbahn by becoming the Marketing Director at Six Flags Fiesta Texas? Mr. Siebert really became a loved industry professional when he worked at Kings Island, and with Fiesta Texas debuting a massive new coaster this year I have a feeling we will see some interesting things from him.
27 Kasım 2012 Salı
Scott And Carol Present - The Unveiling of Outlaw Run's Coach at IAAPA
Welcome to News Plus Notes' same day coverage of IAAPA 2012. For all you Northerners, yesterday it was 82 degrees late in the afternoon, and snow was an Internet only memory. The trade floor is open for business and all the doors were crowded as attendees stormed the floor.
Silver Dollar City unveiled the first almost completed car for Outlaw Run and she is a beauty. Brad Thomas of Silver Dollar City and Fred Grubb of Rocky Mountain Construction did the honors, after a short countdown and shouts of “Pull that drape.”
Fred, and his wife Suanne, stand next to the car which features lap bar restraints only, and some very fancy handlebars on each side. If you look closely, their are slight cutouts on each side of the front base plate, which are required for the 3 degree roll necessary in the barrel roll element.
Here is a side view of the train. Look at the detailed pin striping! Only at Silver Dollar City in spring 2013.
Alan Schilke designed the layout for Outlaw Run and he offered these comments. "I have included the 180 degree inversion many proposals but nobody was interested until it was incorporated into a turn. I try to make the layout look impossible, but I always maintain excellent safety standards for my designs. This was a very fun ride to design, and both Rocky Mountain Construction and Silver Dollar City are excellent partners to work with for this project."
Scott And Carol Present - Gravity Group Announces Mt. Olympus' Hades 360 for 2013
With a very well kept secret, Nick Laskaris presented an updating of Hades, the first wooden coaster to have a 90 degree turn and a bidirectional tunnel. He admits that "I always have to be different, and for me, too much is not enough." Nick also said "I didn't let Son of Beast deter me from fulfilling this passion of owning great wooden roller coasters." Hades 360 will feature a fully upside down roll element along with a new 135 degree banked turn.
That is a very wide smile for someone about to spend $1.5 million to change what was already a very good roller coaster. The crew is hard at work in Wisconsin Dells taking the section of Hades in the parking lot down to the ground. There will also be a large amount of retracking on the rest of the layout and, of course, some new Timberliners on Hades 360.
The Laskaris family joins members of the Gravity Group behind the new nose cone for Hades 360. It would be interesting to hear the dinner conversation one night when Nick tells his wife, Eva, "I think I'm going to spend lots of money to redo Hades, and by the way, we're buying a new train for the ride also."
According to Nick, "I am a very lucky man because Eva supports me in everything I do." Eva is looking forward to the first ride next summer.
Kory Keipert explains how "We did have calculations left over from the previous Custom Coaster days, but we didn't use any of them. We have been constantly improving our design tools because we are curious about the limits of wooden roller coasters. We are using 12 layers of 1 x width wood because we can make tighter twists without splitting. That technique is another new tool we started using recently." What a fun job, sitting around thinking of ways to improve roller coasters.
Here is a link to a virtual ride:
Summer of 2013 is going to be epic, because this is just a couple of the exciting announcements so far. Stay tuned for further details.