Golden Ticket Awards 2012

Words cannot express the disinterest I have in the Golden Tickets year after year.

^ you must not be in an office pool :)

Perhaps if there were such a thing as other coaster enthusiasts in my office...

Heh. That would be an awesome place to work.

Bob: "What going on?"

Dave: "Maybe it's another drill."

Bob: "You seen that new Wing-Rider?"

Dave: "Yea, some of the other guys were telling me about it. They say it's quite the thing to see."

(Opens hand flat and swishes over head...)

I knew someone would get that. :)

It is what it is, and all awards are pretty much BS popularity contests, but that being said...

I find it odd that Wild Eagle was such a landslide winner in the new ride category with double the votes of the second place ride, yet X-Flight didn't even make the list at all. Are they THAT different? Has anyone here been on them both?

I hate that Knoebel's lands on the "Best Halloween Event" for PPP. That is not a Halloween event. It's a one-night get together.

IOA for "Best Kids' Area"? Do they mean the play area in Jurassic Park? I can't think of a kids' area in the park. Maybe it's just me. (Unless they're talking about Seuss Landing which isn't really a kids area.)

^I'd be willing to bet that they're referring to Seuss Landing... I love the P-Flyers and all, but that's not a "kids area"... ;~)

I would agree that Seuss Landing should not be considered a kids area. For the kids there's only One Fish Two Fish, Cat in the Hat, If I Ran the Zoo interactive play area, High in the Sky Trolley Ride, Caro-Seuss-el, Circus McGurkus, lots and lots of toys to buy, ice cream, and the cutest dead-on storybook theming this side of... Waaaait a minute....That's EVERYthing!...

Yeah, but none of those are specific kids' things, more like family attractions. You can do that stuff without having kids there and without being creepy and "poaching" one. I know it's a fine line, but if those attractions make up a kids' area, then how the hell does the Magic Kingdom not have all five of the best kids' areas?

I dunno, they get my vote.
Disney and Universal have done the smartest thing possible by loading their kids areas with family friendly attractions that everyone can enjoy together, with emphasis on a child's interests, senses, and limits. No kiddie whips or baby scramblers there, for sure, but to refrain from referring to them as a kid's area because we can all get on is outlandish. I know when I took my fifth spin through Cat in the Hat I was beginning to feel a little foolish... :)
And as for how those people vote and why remains a mystery.

Yeah. I like the kiddy rides that include the adults. Sharing memories of riding a ride together is better than the adult observing the child ride something. When kids are on rides that do not include their parents, a lot of time the parents are seen waving and hollering a their children, which goes to show that parents want to be included and ride with their children.

I have this hilarious image in my head of you being the only adult in the middle of a Dragon Wagon...kids creeped out, leaving empty rows as protection from you.

In all seriousness, I agree that sharing a ride as a kid with a parent is far more memorable for both parties. This is one reason why it was particularly hard for me when Wild Cat, DT, and Paddlewheel were removed at CP -- really strong, happy memories riding with my family growing up.

Also, I wanted to chime in about the Sky Rush restraints. My first ride, I rode on a wing seat a couple rows back from the front. I noticed some unpleasant vibration, and I almost feared the air time because of the painful restraints cutting into my thighs. It wasn't enough to completely ruin the ride, but I felt meh about the whole experience.

My second ride I rode in the very front row, in a middle seat above the track. I had no issue with the restraints, and I felt the ride experience was extremely fun and thrilling. My friend, who always complains about the Maverick lap bar crushing him, loved his Sky Rush rides (both wing seats) and loved the restraints. So, the ride is clearly going to be a mixed bag, depending on body type / tolerance and seat selection. In the end, it was another gem at Hershey for us -- and the whole train really seemed to be cheering loudly.

Ensign Smith said:

Heh. That would be an awesome place to work.

The place I work IS awesome, but that has little to do with there being (at least) 3 current-or-lapsed ACE members.

RCMAC said:
And as for how those people vote and why remains a mystery.

I think my opinions have been made pretty clear over the last dozen years or so....I'm not shy about it. ;~P

Wish I'd stored this year's vote somewhere...but the only real "surprises" from my ballot are Lightning Racer for wood and Space Mountain for steel.

GregLeg said:

The place I work IS awesome, but that has little to do with there being (at least) 3 current-or-lapsed ACE members.

Must be a lot of gravy stains in that office...

Nah, the cleaning staff is too quick for any stains to build up.

Our office DOES have a replica coaster car in it, though (courtesy of Kennywood, even).