IAAPA update from Jeff

Hey all, I just got a call from Jeff, who asked me to pass the word along that his pictures and other goodies from IAAPA won't be posted on the Buzz until at least Sunday, possibly later since he doesn't have internet access and his computer's been acting up down in Orlando. He also added that we shouldn't expect much from the things he did get..apparently the show wasn't very exciting this year. Stay tuned for an update in a few days. :)

I suppose you failed to mention the condition of CBuzz to him ;). Just kidding!

Anyway, thanks for the update Kristin. We were all wondering about what trouble he has gotten into in Orlando :).

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Kara (car-uh)
1024 Laps
621 in '02
52 visits to 4 CF parks in '02 with a season pass, free. Knowing I saved $1603, priceless.

Thanks for the update Kristin. At least the weather is bound to be better there then it is up here in the snowy midwest. LOL

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Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!
Ode to the offseason:
Offseason Offseason what shall I do? Who cares the sun is still shining the sky is still blue! GET A LIFE!

*** This post was edited by MagnumForce on 11/23/2002. ***

What does he mean the trade show isn't this good this year? I'm having a blast! No matter where I go at the show, there's something that interests me.

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"...they came like a winged curse. A twin plague of demonic dragons!" - Dueling Dragons

Well, I've found one very interesting thing. An Ozark Wildcat "Millennium Flyer" train apparently has new lap bars. This means that your bar won't come down another notch during the ride!

Thanks Screamscape: http://www.screamscape.com/html/silver_dollar_city.html
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TOGO!

That is great. Thats my biggest pet peeve about LR. Starange I don't have this problem on Maggie when everyone else does.

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Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!
Ode to the offseason:
Offseason Offseason what shall I do? Who cares the sun is still shining the sky is still blue! GET A LIFE!

six flags news has posted news that Wild dventures has purchesed 2 new coasters. A suspended coaster from Vekoma and a wild mouse.

Magnum Force- It doesn't seem to matter how far the bars go down on me on Lightning Racer, it's always an enjoyable ride.

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- John
Line jumping is cause for removal from soceity.

Micheal Darling, do you always have to disagree with me. I too get an enjoyable ride but that is my only pet peeve. ;)

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Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!
Ode to the offseason:
Offseason Offseason what shall I do? Who cares the sun is still shining the sky is still blue! GET A LIFE!

*** This post was edited by MagnumForce on 11/23/2002. ***

Yes, I do have to always disagree with you!

It's nothing personal, you just always seem to hold a different opinion about things I feel strongly about.

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- John
Line jumping is cause for removal from soceity.

Whatever dood ;)

I love pretending I dont know you ;)

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Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!
Ode to the offseason:
Offseason Offseason what shall I do? Who cares the sun is still shining the sky is still blue! GET A LIFE!

CsTrFrK said:
What does he mean the trade show isn't this good this year? I'm having a blast! No matter where I go at the show, there's something that interests me.

The show hasn't really changed much over the last three years. I'm guessing that the coverage will be thin, just as it was last year, since there isn't anything groundbreaking on the show floor this year.

Actually, WA already has a *MS* Mouse...there was a *zig-zag* from Zamperla at the show that would make a cool addition to their already *loaded* kids line-up...not sure what else they'd get...another woodie certainly wsouldn't hurt *my* feelings, lol...

...cool coaster trains were abundant, and there were more inflatables than at any parade (the Dino walk-through was pretty funny)....the penny-pressing machines were of particular interest to yours truly...:). Also, lots of SIMs, some really cool water fountains, and some bizarre "living art pieces"...;)

Screamscape posted pictures of the new GCI trains. The look a little like old Prior & Church trains.

Very cool.

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My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com
The World of Thrills

MagnumForce said:

He wasn't the kid that fell form the SCAD tower was he LOL.

Dude, that's not funny.

I was under the impression there where a few companies who had some "surprising" announcements to make! Perhaps Jeff just didn't see them.. :| Too bad, you all just missed some very interesting news. :P

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http://frank.drnk.net/coastin

CsTrFrK said:
What does he mean the trade show isn't this good this year? I'm having a blast! No matter where I go at the show, there's something that interests me.

I also had a blast but the show did seem to be more "cutback" than last year. Booths were smaller. News wasn't as spread out. Magical Midway didn't have as many attractions.

While this sounds like the show may have been dissapointing, I found it to be just as amazing as the other two times I went.

-Sean (who finally got to see a shuttle launch with his own eyes after many, many years of hoping) F.

I'm glad you got to see the launch Sean! Wasn't it cool?

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"...they came like a winged curse. A twin plague of demonic dragons!" - Dueling Dragons

Sean F. said:

who finally got to see a shuttle launch with his own eyes after many, many years of hoping

Did you see the launch from Orlando, or did you make the trek to the cape? It's well worth the drive, especially if you know someone and can get to the 3 mile point.

It was nice meeting up w/ you on Sat to see Marlons fall on the SCAD tower.

-Matt (Who's seen a million launches and still thinks they are cool) D.

You know that I hate trade shows to begin with, so you can imagine how I felt about this one.

I'll probably write a trip report instead of anything formal, and I will post the photos Stephanie and I shot, but overall there are a number of factors that make the show fairly uninteresting...

1) Consolidation. If you've been playing along at home, you know that where there were many, there are now few. Chance-Morgan. Arrow-S&S-CCI. Yeah, if CCI had to sell its assets, why was their tradeshow coaster structure there? It's bad enough I'll never see the money they owe me.

2) Inflatables. I swear there are more and more every year. Are people really buying these things?

3) Less innovation. Sure, S&S had their prototypes, but Setpoint was a no-show. Flat rides are all the same too, save for Zamperla's fire tower (very neat kid ride). There were so many "me too" rides all over the place. Heck, even Dippin' Dots had wannabe impersonators.

I probably won't go to the show next year. I just don't see a good reason to. Sure, there are stories to be found if you dig a little, but the "gee-whiz" factor we saw just two years ago is gone.

I'll try to get some of those photos up tonight.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Climbing as we fall, we dare to hold on to our fate, and steal away our destiny to catch ourselves with quiet grace" - The Stairs, INXS