Starting a new post, as per Eric's suggestion:

I spent Thurs. at SeaWorld (first time trip there for me). Manta was a walk-on at 9:30 a.m. I took a back seat ride, then waited 1 cycle for a front seat ride. I had walk-ons for Journey to Atlantis and Kraken (6 rides on Kraken). The longest wait of the day was 3 cycles for Shamu Express. The observation tower was closed for most of the day due to "high winds" (?), but opened around 5. There was plenty of seating for the shows, with Shamu's Believe being the most crowded. I got 3 more walk-on rides on Manta just before closing. I've decided my favorite seat is in the back row on the left side. You don't get wet from the wing dip in that seat, but you do get wet from coming incredibly close to the waterfall tumbling off the rock wall after the wing dip.

Friday found me at Busch Gardens in Tampa. I started with several walk-on rides on Sheikra (5 total) and decided I liked it better than Griffon. Kumba ended up being my favorite (10 rides, all walk-ons), with the preferred seat being back right. I took walk-on single rides on everything else (skipped Rhino Rally due to the 40-minute wait). Montu was good enough for a second ride, but the slowness of the crew convinced me to head off to Gwazi. Tiger was closed, but Lion was open. Lion beat the CRAP out of me! It beat me up so badly that I just couldn't believe it, so I rode it again. Guess what ... I was right the first time. I hate to say this, but I'd ride SOB or Mean Streak any day before I'd get back on Gwazi Lion. As for Tiger ... well ... I guess I'd have to give it a try.

Both parks closed at 6 p.m. in order to get ready for their evening Halloween festivities. With the low daytime attendance, though, there was plenty of time to ride everything I wanted. OK, so maybe I could have handled another 20 rides on Kumba. Now, if only it had floorless trains. I can dream, can't I?

Great TR. Agreed about Gwazi, I really hope they eventually replace those terrible PTB trains and put the CGI MF cars.

> Starting a new post, as per Eric's suggestion:

> I got 3 more walk-on rides on Manta just
> before closing. I've decided my favorite seat is in the
> back row on the left side. You don't get wet from the wing
> dip in that seat, but you do get wet from coming incredibly
> close to the waterfall tumbling off the rock wall after the
> wing dip.

Can you illustrate a little more about Manta? I haven't read too much about it, and I LOVE flying coasters. Looks awesome.
I started with
> several walk-on rides on Sheikra (5 total) and decided I
> liked it better than Griffon.

Just out of curiosity, what makes you like Sheikra better than Griffon? I have only been on Griffon (and thought it was unbelievable), but to me, obviously, Sheikra seems like it would be less thrilling. Just curious as to your thoughts...

> but Lion was open. Lion beat the CRAP out of me! It beat me
> up so badly that I just couldn't believe it, so I rode it
> again. Guess what ... I was right the first time. I hate to
> say this, but I'd ride SOB or Mean Streak any day before
> I'd get back on Gwazi Lion.

Wow. That is a strong statement. I have only been on two coasters that beat me up worse that Mean Strea - Medusa SFMex and Psyclone. Gwazi must be pretty painful.

Thanks for the news,

Pat-O

> Both parks closed at 6 p.m. in order to get ready for their
> evening Halloween festivities. With the low daytime
> attendance, though, there was plenty of time to ride
> everything I wanted. OK, so maybe I could have handled
> another 20 rides on Kumba. Now, if only it had floorless
> trains. I can dream, can't I?

>

The trains aren't the only issue with Gwazi. The GCI trains are good, but it's the year-round operation and lack of regular maintenance to the track that's the issue I've recently watched Knott's refurbish GhostRider back to a pretty good ride.

That ride needs to be closed a couple of times a year for maintenance and that's tough to do when you're running a park on a year-round schedule.

That would help. I think actually closing the ride adn giving it the complete overhaul that it really needs, instead of spot fixes, would also make a huge difference. I don't think they've done that since the ride opened.

> The trains aren't the only issue with Gwazi. The GCI trains
> are good, but it's the year-round operation and lack of
> regular maintenance to the track that's the issue I've
> recently watched Knott's refurbish GhostRider back to a
> pretty good ride.

> That ride needs to be closed a couple of times a year for
> maintenance and that's tough to do when you're running a
> park on a year-round schedule.

Exactly. But first it needs one major closure- likely for a longer period, where the trains and the track all need to be redone. The trains need a major overhaul, and the track needs to be rebuilt, regauged (that's what causes much of the banging around) and other work. It was still rideable a couple of years ago, but starting to get bad. Now it's just horrible.

Hopefully with the ownership situation now resolved they'll get the work done on it that it so desperately needs.