larrygator
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 8/21/2007 11:46:34 AM
Theme Park Review Trips announced
For anyone interested Theme Park review has announced details for 2 of their 2008 trips.
Love 'em or hate 'em, their trips are a blast!
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coaster05
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8/21/2007 1:32:28 PM
I think this is Spam and I am deeply upset that you would start this topic. Plus I heard it is like a clique on ALL of their trips.
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taylorb251
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8/21/2007 4:08:35 PM
I heard the same thing.(it was you)
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Got_it
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8/21/2007 6:54:47 PM
Every time I watch a coaster video from their site, it always has them doing some stupid immature thing on it, they don't seam like that much fun to me.
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coaster05
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8/21/2007 7:03:48 PM
Quote:
Got_it said:
Every time I watch a coaster video from their site, it always has them doing some stupid immature thing on it, they don't seam like that much fun to me. |
Sorry you feel that way, but at least I will know I won't have to deal with you on a trip in the near future. The stupid antics are like one minute of a 24 hour day. I find it hilarious that people always dwell on the negative. We stay in 4 star hotels, eat amazing meals, visit tons of parks, see foreign cities, get massive ert and fast passes, and you are talking about the stupid antics.
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coasterf42
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8/21/2007 8:23:46 PM
The price for the Europe trip seems to have gotten a little higher from the amount they first estimated. I'm still considering it though. I think overall I would have a lot more fun on a 2 week trip with 50 people than a 5-11 day trip with 100 people.
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coaster05
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8/21/2007 9:13:09 PM
Its a 14 day trip. They have no idea if it will be 50 or 100 yet it will just depend on the demand. The price increased due to our crappy economy, and staying on site several times. The onsite stays seem to be very popular and for 100-200 more per trip you can get some accomadations that are much more fun. Heck by doing that at Port Aventura we got an Amazing breakfast 3 times, 1 incredible diner and free tickets to the water park. Much better then saving 50 to stay off site.
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nyeboy9
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8/21/2007 10:08:00 PM
No Dollywood for 2008. Oh well.
BTW I get a kick out of these 15 year olds that are on TPR that start saying that they are definitely going on some of these trips. Honestly, do these kids have parents or do they just not bother to ask and assume their parents will hand over $2000.
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Message updated 8/21/2007 10:11:30 PM by nyeboy9
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coaster05
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8/21/2007 10:39:52 PM
Quote:
nyeboy9 said:
No Dollywood for 2008. Oh well.
BTW I get a kick out of these 15 year olds that are on TPR that start saying that they are definitely going on some of these trips. Honestly, do these kids have parents or do they just not bother to ask and assume their parents will hand over $2000. |
I don't know. I find the question threads to be the culmination of human stupidity. I mean how many times can the same question be asked. That alone should prove how annoying people must be to get banned on that site.
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larrygator
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8/21/2007 11:02:05 PM
Quote:
coasterf42 said:
The price for the Europe trip seems to have gotten a little higher from the amount they first estimated. |
Good point.
It is a higher out-of-pocket cost than previous trips to Europe, however the cost per day is about the same at $200 a day. Europe is more expensive nowadays because the dollar is so weak. In the end $200 a day inclusive of transportation in Europe, park tickets, hotels and at least one meal a day is not a bad deal. Sure you could probably do the same trip with a couple of friends a little cheaper but I don't mind paying a little more to not have to deal with the planning and day-to-day hassles.
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coasterf42
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8/21/2007 11:21:57 PM
I'm just saying when the 2008 trips were first announced they estimated it about 500 dollars lower. Maybe that's just my bad memory.  I thought it was estimated at around 2200, which to me is much more affordable than what it is at now!
Man, I'm so torn on what to do right now. I am going to wait a little while to decide, but I want to do Texas or Europe. BTW, I'm not some stupid 15 year old, I have enough money in my savings account to pay for any of the trips now thanks to me working my butt off close to 50 hours a week this summer.
Message updated 8/21/2007 11:26:50 PM by coasterf42
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coaster05
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8/22/2007 6:28:19 AM
Wow if you are paying yourself you are definately in the minority amongst that age group. I thought 2500 was the orginal cost.
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coasterf42
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8/22/2007 7:39:37 AM
^Oh. So I suppose a bunch of the 18-19 year olds on the mid-west trip got their parents to pay?
No, that's not what I'm going to do, but now that I think about it, I would have rather had that for a graduation present compared to a laptop that is now dead after a year of use!
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ginzo
Posts: 564
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8/30/2007 6:07:29 PM
I've already got the deposits sent in for me and the wife for Europe. The trip is expensive, but a reasonable value I think. Like coaster05 said, staying on property makes the trip MUCH better. You also don't get ERT sessions or other perks when you roll your own trip. Nor do you get gobs of other coaster dorks to hang out with. I'd also rather let someone deal with the scut work in planning out a trip involving several foreign countries. The US is easy to book, but Europe I'm less confident about.
I only hope we don't get booted in a lottery. The vast majority of people to book so far have already been on a trip, and thus get priority.
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coaster05
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8/30/2007 8:12:32 PM
No matter how you figure it out, they are a fantastic deal. Hope it works out for you.
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ginzo
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8/30/2007 9:05:12 PM
Thanks. Yeah, I imagine it will work out. Elissa posted that they have 50 deposits already, and I imagine they'll get several more. This points to there probably being enough demand for a second bus, even if it's only a short bus. And if we don't get to go we'll at least be 8 grand richer, but ~4 country credits poorer.
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larrygator
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8/30/2007 11:47:43 PM
^they are more likely to get a larger bus than a second one. I hope you can make it. I heard that I just missed meeting up with you at Kings Island a couple of weeks ago
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ginzo
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8/31/2007 8:33:26 AM
I had to work that day. Although I initially planned on going before work, an old friend came into town at the last minute on Saturday. So I was out late with that, and decided to skip KI.
Dang it to the larger bus. I was really looking forward to riding the short bus around Europe.
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BobFunland
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9/1/2007 12:04:15 AM
Park Admissions:
Admission to Klotten: 10.5E
Admission to Tripsdill: 19.5E
Admission to Holiday Park: 24.5E
Admission to Phantasialand: 42E (2 days)
Admission to Toverland: 19.5E
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Admission costs: 116E
Hotels (based upon double occupancy, something I might not have had):
Night 1: Conservative guess of 50E/person
Ling Bao: 75E/night (x2)
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Accomodation costs: 200E
Transportation:
Rental Car fee: 195E (I'm 6'3" so I have to at least go with a "mid size" car in Europe, and this does not include the <25 fee)
Gas: A low-end estimate of 800km and a car that burns at 7.2L/100km gives us About 60L of fuel. The prices seemed to average about 1.4E per L so I'll call the price of gas about 85E
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Transportation costs: 280E
Just in admission, transportation and hotel costs alone, the TPR mini Europe trip would have been almost 600 euro's. That works out to be about $800 whereas the trip was only $700. This doesn't include the ERT and meals, plus the whole luxury of not having to plan or attempt to drive in Europe
These trips really are a good value. I only spent about 100E on other things throughout the four days, most of which was in the form of drinkable bread.
Thanks to Larry who made a similar post before.
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Message updated 9/1/2007 12:06:01 AM by BobFunland
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ginzo
Posts: 564
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9/2/2007 10:09:50 PM
Quote:
coaster05 said:
Sorry you feel that way, but at least I will know I won't have to deal with you on a trip in the near future. The stupid antics are like one minute of a 24 hour day. I find it hilarious that people always dwell on the negative. We stay in 4 star hotels, eat amazing meals, visit tons of parks, see foreign cities, get massive ert and fast passes, and you are talking about the stupid antics. |
Not to mention that they're just having fun. This is a hobby where we're all in a competition to see who can ride the most kiddie coasters. You've got be at least a little bit off to be into this.
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larrygator
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9/3/2007 5:40:06 PM
The amount of stupid things I've done on there TPR Trips pales in comparison to the stupidity I have undertaken with my non-coaster friends.
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coasterf42
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9/8/2007 5:52:37 AM
Quick question:
I printed out the Europe trip flyer and am still contemplainting weather the price is too much for me or not.
I am wondering why Holiday Park isn't listed on the "Where are we going?" section of the flyer? Is there a reason for this, or did they just forget to mention it? With GForce being "TPR's favorite coaster" I've got no clue why they wouldn't take the group there.
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coaster05
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9/8/2007 9:20:22 AM
They don't list every park on the first flyer so as far as I know it is definately happening. I got an IM once from them, but I don't remember with 100% certainty.
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larrygator
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9/10/2007 8:50:03 PM
^^Yes Holiday Park is going to be part of the trip.
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coasterf42
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9/13/2007 8:10:28 PM
Hey guys, sorry if I'm being annoying asking all these questions.
So, I've narrowed down my trips for next year between Texas and Europe.
Since I have never flown - ever - I am having a hard time looking into how much airline prices are. I've been to a number of sites, but none of them seem to work for me.
So, can anyone give me just a ballpark estimate as to how much a flight from DC (Regan National, Dulles, or BWI) to Paris and back is? If not, does anyone know of a good site to view flight costs?
Also, how much does a passport cost? A couple site I've found say between 95-120 dollars, is that right?
Thanks
Message updated 9/13/2007 8:12:55 PM by coasterf42
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ginzo
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9/13/2007 8:54:19 PM
Airfares for next Summer are going to be really expensive this far ahead. The cheapest thing I've found to Paris is Air India from Newark, NJ to Paris. They have it for about $800 round trip. Air India may be the worst airline ever for all I know, but you probably won't die. 
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Scott
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9/13/2007 11:20:04 PM
^^ I'd also try areas near paris. I flew into brussels last summer and saved 250$. Europe has an amazing transit system, so belgium to paris was only an additional 2 hours via high speed train.
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BobFunland
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9/14/2007 2:12:08 AM
Plus, Brussels isn't Charles De Gaulle, which probably isn't the best place to take your first flight to...
I wouldn't be surprised if the price of your flight never goes below $1000. At least you are flying to and from major cities.
When I paid for my passport it came out to be a hair under $100 - plus the cost of the photos, which you can get for like $8 at Walgreens
Message updated 9/14/2007 2:13:59 AM by BobFunland
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hrrytraver
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9/14/2007 8:43:11 AM
^i have flown to mainland europe three times using icelandair. it's cheap, but of course you have to lay over in iceland, which is pretty neat in itself. all three (actually 6 incl round trips) times i've been there, the airport was awash in foreboding clouds, and the whole thing is in a barren craggy wasteland surrounded by stray boulders and distant extinct volcanos on the horizon. i could easily imagine a viking movie were it not for all the little fuel efficient cabs ferrying tall blue eyed people down the lone highway to reykyvik.
f42, BWI is a hub for icelandair.
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Message updated 9/14/2007 11:47:47 AM by hrrytraver
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ginzo
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9/14/2007 11:51:00 AM
Quote:
BobFunland said:
Plus, Brussels isn't Charles De Gaulle, which probably isn't the best place to take your first flight to...
I wouldn't be surprised if the price of your flight never goes below $1000. At least you are flying to and from major cities.
When I paid for my passport it came out to be a hair under $100 - plus the cost of the photos, which you can get for like $8 at Walgreens |
Yeah, if you get it for $1,000 you are doing OK for summer international fares. Right now the direct flight from CVG to CDG would cost me about $1,600 with tax. I almost never fly out of CVG though because of the cost. And you expect to pay more for direct service.
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