At least I felt the sting?

I don't know. I'd been lazy and kinda sitting on this post for like.. 2 years.... But in light of new photos showing the destructive removal of Stinger at Dorney Park... I felt the need to go on a slight ramble.

So Dorney Park announced it was gonna be removing its Stinger coaster and then went ahead and blow-torched the ride to death...

Yup.

So uh, Stinger

One of the four Vekoma built Invertigo coasters.
(I've tracked down 3 of them :D )

The ride opened at Dorney in 2012.. But was often closed and spent almost all of 2014 SBNO
(it almost spent a full year closed while in California)
((It had run at Great America from 1998 to 2010))

Five years after it was built, the ride was removed the park.. And cut into pieces...

So.... that makes Stinger the first Invertigo to be scrapped.
(and possibly the first boomerang of any type to be scrapped as well)

In 2016 I made the trek to go get the coaster. It had been some 7 years since my last visit... and as I knew the ride would be open.. I left Great Adventure early and made the 2 hour drive to the park.

I bought an 'After 4' ticket for the park online and got to the park some 20 minutes before the ticket was valid...and proceeded to stress myself out the entire time... It had been off and on raining at Great Adventure but Six Flags is pretty good about running rides in the rain. Cedar Fair parks.... not so much. So as I wait to enter the park.. I watch the storm clouds rolling in..... As soon as 4 hits... I head to the entrance where I'm warned there is no rain check and that thunder storms were moving into the area... So I ran down to the coaster, a walk on, thankfully and got my credit ride. As soon as I exited the ride, I went for a second lap as there was no line. By the time I made it off... The entire park closed for rain.
So...with my "$34" (more like $45 ticket after the *convenience fees*) and some $18 for parking...Making my 2 ride...1 credit, less than an hour visit to Dorney Park total
$63.......

Uh... but at least I got 2 rides on it?
(+1, #840-something)
Oh, Stinger.
#RIP
...In the long run.. it was probably for the better, since after leaving the park I still had a +5 hour drive to my parents house in Massachusetts and now that I was leaving way earlier than expected, I'd be getting there around 10, rather than the midnight arrival I had planned. 

(Also, the Cedar Fair rain policy is the stupidest park policy I've ever come across... and its screwed me over on at least 2 other park visits... One leading to a nearly SEVEN HOUR wait for Maverick at Cedar Point because of off-and-on rain)

The Real Housewives of Kissimmee

Magic Castle Inn & Suites
(focal point of the film, The Florida Project)

So...last year a movie came out by the name The Florida Project (a play on the development name for Walt Disney World) I had wanted to see it after everyone started raving about it but failed to get the chance. Luckily during a delightful 16 hour flight I was on to Hong Kong, it was being offered as part of the inflight entertainment... So I watched it... and I really, really enjoyed it.
The film follows of the lives of people who live in the hotels off 192 right behind Disney. Knowing the area and living/working in the area.. it almost seemed like the film could have just been a documentary of life in Kissimmee... and up until the very end of the film.. it seems like it could have even been a reality TV show. While obliviously a movie and not real life, it does give a very real feeling of what its like for people who live and work right on the doorsteps of the Disney empire but might never be able to afford the chance to visit and how millions of visitors yearly have no idea whats really going on where they vacation. ....But I guess that could be said for anywhere, really.
 But it was kinda neat to see a whole bunch of places I've been to or been past. Showing things like Orange World, Twistee Treat, different crappy gift shops, the Mickey Pylon!... and even signs for Cici's Pizza and Ichiban Buffet (one of my favorites!)

I almost feel like had I seen this film before moving down to Orlando... it might have even put me off it. ha
But yeah, Magic Castle Inn & Suites.

Yup.

And much like in the movie.... there were even Sandhill Cranes!
((AND A BABY!!))

(((yyeeeessssss)))

Annddd.... here's the Trailer for the movie.

So yeah... if you haven't seen this movie yet... you probably should.

and here's a rather good news story about the hotel and movie - click

Some rocks Ugo Rondinone painted

Uhh..... Ugo Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains
(AKA: Instagram Hipsters Paradise? (gross))

Having just driven to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, via flight from Orlando... Mariah had found out about the Seven Magic Mountains art installation that would be on our way... So we decided to make a stop before rolling into Vegas.. and more importantly, our hotel.

.....Its literally in the middle of the desert

Yup.... the desert.
and stuff.

but suddenly.... people, lots and lots of people.

Oh, and uh, art.

Seven Magic Mountains (2016)

A large scale art installation by Ugo Rondinone
((originally meant to be a 2 year installation.. but its now been extended till at least the end of 2018))

And its an Instagram/Profile Photo takers dream...

Made with seven different 35 foot tall rock totems... all painted super fun/bright colors

And full with hipsters and scene kids on their way to the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Vegas from LA or places beyond.
(I feel like I would have enjoyed this so much more had we been here on any other day... but oh well, it just happened that way)

Hey look, its those people

Ok, back into the desert we go...

Uh... Pig on the Pond?

Uh... So there's this thing called Pig on the Pond that been happening in Clermont, FL for the past 20 years... And... I had never even heard of it until a few weeks ago... But since there was a carnival midway.. I felt the need the check it out.
 (Maybe a bonus coaster? hm. but sadly, there was none to be found.)

So uh, yeah... Pig on the Pond.
Oink?

The event was surprisingly busy.

And featured live music and BBQ....
as well as a small ride midway.

Was my first time seeing a 'full size' Expo Wheel.
Having only ridden the slightly smaller version of it a year ago at the Lake County Fair.

Wisdom built Silver Streak mini Himalaya.

ARM built Rock Star.

Wisdom built full sized Himalaya.

Sellner /Larson built Funnel Force.

and... a Hrubetz built Round-Up

woo.

 (hey look, an update... after like... half a year of me being lazy, sorry about that. Not like anyone really sees any of these.. ha)

His name, is Clyde

Not to be out-done by the Bicentennial Giant Chair a few miles away in Gardner.... Winchendon, Massachusetts is home to Clyde, the Toy Town Horse.
Don't ask me, I don't get it either.

🎠

Built in 1912, moved and rebuilt in 1962, and once again rebuilt in 1988 (this, current horse) 🎠

Its based off the Converse Toy Company '#12 rocking horse' but built 4 times larger 🎠

the plaque at the base of the horse. 🎠

Uh... the 12 foot horse... that weighs 3,000 pounds. 🎠
Clyde

Yup... Once again... 🎠
Here it is, here I am.

Oh, Massachusetts?

Uh.... The Bicentennial Giant Chair?

Because who wouldn't wanna see the Bicentennial Giant Chair?

So... Here's the chair...
It's 20 feet, 7 inches tall. annddd... it weighs 3,000 pounds.

...Because Gardner, Mass is the self-proclaimed
"Chair City of the World"

Yup... there it is, there I am...

Oh, Massachusetts
(and if you loved this... you'll love the next random update! 🎠)

A quick visit to see Uncle Bernie...

There is a place in South Florida where you can buy used Playboy Magazines from the 80's, fake hair, and also.. Uh... Ferrari's ....With over 2,000 vendors setup across the massive complex, this place also manages to pull an amazing 12 million visitors a year!
Oh yeah, and did I mention it has two roller coasters?!

brace-yourself for the amazingness that is......
The Florida Swap Shop and Circus of Fort Lauderdale / Uncle Bernie's Theme Park, the largest daily flea market in the world.

Welcome.
And.... here we go!
Open since 1966, it predates both Disney and SeaWorld and is one of those... one of a kind type of places.

Anyone wants some.. uh.. I don't know.. Stuff?

This... clown.

Catch me headlining at EDC next year Y'ALL!

Also, I guess this... is a thing.

Shoes? Shirts? Maybe a nice dress or seven?

Anyone need... uh.. most of a used toilet?

Rows and rows.. of just... Stuff.

Oh man! Would you look at that!!!
(a bronze duck statue!)

So... Uh, when I think "Florida Souvenirs" I think LED Speakers?

Even with my Duck hat and Thug Cactus shirt on..
I was still likely the most classy person here.
uhh

Oh yeah, and I wasn't kidding about the Ferrari part!

Inside one of the buildings is a little "Car Museum"
Uh, I didn't get it.

Hair anyone? Uh, anyone??
(but to be fair.... The unnamed guest I was visiting with... May have actually got some for herself haha!)

Although this color changing Duck.. light.... thing almost found its way home with me.

Oh, and would you like.. I mean, do you need piles and piles of food at the farmers market?
Maybe?

Or could I interest you in like.. a bong?
(No thanks)

Swap Shop also claims to be the largest drive-in movie theater in the world. They have 14 screens here!
But the main reason people in the Amusement Fandom visit here is for Uncle Bernie's

A small amusement midway area within the complex

Featuring not one, but two kiddie coasters.
This being the Abandon Mine.

And the other coaster, Dragon.
I've actually (shamefully?) ridden them both.. on more than one visit. Although today neither of us rode anything here but they were still open.
(Haha, in fact... I had visited here before having even moved to Florida!)

Test Track eh? I'm sure its just as good as the one at Epcot.

The Eli Ferris Wheel... This wasn't here my first trip.. but it was the second.
It doesn't actually load passengers but is used as an art-installation of sorts...
Water is pumped from a hose on a pole.. into buckets attached to the side of the wheel frame and as they fill, makes the wheel slowly turn.
I.... don't get it.

Zamperla Samba Balloon

Odd... Duck + Dragon.... Castle.. ride?

The log flume here, while tiny AF... is an absolute soaker.. I rode it back in 2008 and couldn't believe how a drop of maybe 15 feet could make it seem like I had jumped in a pool. Also, the water quality was... Uh, questionable.
Bashing aside... There is a real reason to visit here....

A semi rare Sartori Techno Jump.
One of the most unsuspectingly fun flat rides around. Back in 2003 Deka and I rode the crap out of the one demo'd at IAAPA and since they were showing off what the ride could do... they were running it at its most extreme. The Techno Jump at Uncle Bernie's is the only one that even comes close to running as intense as that... And its pretty shocking as the rest of the rides here are really geared to smaller kids... And then there is this beast tucked away in the back. <3

(here's a video of it in action from Sartori Rides' YouTube page)

Worth watching the whole thing to see how the ride motions can change... And see it running both forward and backwards <3

But yeah.

Florida Swap Shop and Circus of Fort Lauderdale / Uncle Bernie's Theme Park
Its.. uh.. Its a thing.

You should probably just go visit it.