Dude Screams Like a Lady
Besides almost coming to blows with Dale of Chip 'n' Dale fame -- let's just say it was a misunderstanding between me and a bitter dude in a vermin get-up -- my most memorable "park" moment from last week's trip to Disney World was braving the Rockin' Rollercoaster at MGM Studios.
The Tower of Terror is killer stuff, sure. But the Rockin' Rollercoaster has a real nasty bite to it; might even be more thrilling than Busch Gardens' straight-drop SheikRa. RR is an insanely fast in-the-darker in which you "cruise" in a "limo" and "follow Aerosmith" through "a city at night" and "try not to notice the Latina girl crying next to you who is totally freaking you out. Seriously, kid, no mas tears."
Sounds like Space Mountain, you say? How can anything associated with Aerosmith be cool, you snort? Dude, isn't this a music blog, you harrumph? Well, you do start out in a recording studio, and watch Joe Perry do some really bad acting. And the music is blaring as your limo PEELS OUT from a standstill, hitting 60 mph in 2.8 seconds. You hurtle through the darkness straight into a loop, then a corkscrew, then again and again, all the while Steven Tyler is wailing away in your ear. It's killer stuff, some needed edge at the Happiest Place on Earth.
As for my Chipmunk Skirmish, I'll save that story for later. After all, American Idol is over, and I'm gonna need something to talk about.
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
I agree, the R&R Coaster is great stuff, but "better than Sheikra"?..well...
Posted by: lockBull | May 31, 2006 at 07:58 AM
Coaster debate, excellent. If there's a problem with both coasters, it's that they start out slam-bang (SheikRa with the perilous pause, RR with that 0-to-60 rocket ride into darkness), BUT then they get relatively "pedestrian."That said, I'd probably get more jitters climbing aboard SheikRa again than RR. It just LOOKS scarier.
Posted by: Sean Daly | May 31, 2006 at 10:15 AM
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Posted by: Tonka | May 31, 2006 at 02:09 PM
R&R is a pretty cool roller coaster. I wouldn't say better than Sheikra though. The highlight: watchin' Steven Tyler incidentally throw up the "Shocker" during the studio part at the beginning (it's when he raises his forearm to his forehead). And if I have to explain the "shocker," well...that's for another time.
Posted by: Tonka | May 31, 2006 at 02:10 PM
You mean how can anything associated with Aerosmith NOT BE COOL !! I loved the Rockin Roller Coaster !!
Posted by: Anonymous | May 31, 2006 at 05:04 PM
Hmmm, so you're like a paparazzi chasing a superstar? Does a princess die in this one?Just axin ....
Posted by: Chase Squires | May 31, 2006 at 09:58 PM
It's an awesome ride. Nothing else like it around. It gives you the feel of rock n roll and rollercoaster in one. check out www.charlotteonestop.com if your thinking of heading up to the carolinas. Thats where I am going to work. I gotta find work up there, so gotta go for now.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 31, 2006 at 10:12 PM
Please checkout Cedar Point's (Sandusky, Ohio)web site and look at the thriller they have. Sheikra is 200 ft tall at the peak...this one is 420ft!!!! You won't find ANYTHING that tops that one!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 02, 2006 at 05:11 PM