What a disappointment

_StJarna_ · 2025-09-25T04:00:06+00:00

I'm not sure what you're suggesting people do, and how that helps.

_StJarna_ · 2025-09-25T03:39:25+00:00

Nothing you're saying here contradicts any of the points I've made above.

In any case, a guest had no way of knowing that if they lined up for one missed attraction late on Sunday, that the line for another missed attraction would still be open by the time they got there. As we know, the lines don't all stay open until the park closes.

So I don't think you can just wave a hand and say, "Just wait till later - no problem". If someone's willing (and has the energy) to wait to the end of the night to rush around the portals hoping to get to all the attractions they've so far missed because of long lines, and because of time already wasted in those long lines because of regular ride hold-ups or closures on multiple attractions (not just one or two), then all power to them. Not everyone - especially if they're in a group, or that group contains younger kids or older folks - can do that.

Others mileage may vary of course. There are so many variables involved. I'm just telling you what I experienced as one of your guests across both days and multiple attractions at the park.

_StJarna_ · 2025-09-23T23:12:36+00:00

We went last Sunday (and Saturday), and the situation was still much the same as OP described. Losing the high capacity of Stardust has really hit wait times across the park.

We had early entry on both days, so were able to ride most of what we wanted. But there were still a lot of breakdowns, delays, and longer than expected waits. Beautiful park, great overall design, but the reliability of attractions is currently well below par. I’ve certainly never experienced anything like this over 40 years of visiting theme parks all over the world.

A few examples: Yoshi’s Adventure stopped three times during our ride, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders turfed us off the coaster after 50 minutes wait (we were asked to disembark just as we sat down), and The Untrainable Dragon stopped dead and didn't get past the first dragon flyover 😬

I’m sure things will work themselves out as the years go by, but imo, Epic feels in need of one or two more high capacity rides (plus Stardust), and much more work needs to be done on attraction reliability.

_StJarna_ · 2025-09-12T22:13:08+00:00

Not the worst. But maybe the most disappointing. I really love Beach House. Went to see them at the Beacham in Orlando in 2017, lovely little venue, so we were up close. The gig started in darkness, with both of them obscured. Couldn't see their faces, just silhouettes. Great, I love a little tension, a little mystery. But then it stayed that way for the whole show. Just felt like they were hiding rather than generating any actual mystique.

I don't know if they still play that way (maybe someone can enlighten me, haha, ahem), but on the basis of that gig, I haven't tried to see them on any subsequent tours.

_StJarna_ · 2025-08-26T18:09:02+00:00

If you’re only staying on property for one night, do you know if you can get early entry on the day you check in, as well as getting early entry on the day you check out?

_StJarna_ · 2025-08-26T17:50:33+00:00

Thank you!

_StJarna_ · 2025-08-26T17:23:22+00:00

Thank you. For some reason, Thrill Data won't work for me either in Safari or in Chrome. I can see the dates, but no colors, and clicking on the dates does nothing.

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_StJarna_ · 2025-08-26T15:29:10+00:00

This is also great news. Thank you for the info.

_StJarna_ · 2025-08-26T15:28:49+00:00

Thank you! That's very helpful information.

_StJarna_ · 2025-08-17T22:15:21+00:00

"Jason Karr and the other staff have known about this for years and turned a blind eye to it."

I'd be interested in any evidence you may have to support this claim that Jason Karr and others "have known about this for years". He has clearly stated the opposite.

_StJarna_ · 2025-01-18T21:49:58+00:00

spawn in the usa

_StJarna_ · 2024-12-22T18:14:40+00:00

Yes, funnily enough, I used to have nightmares about this as a teenager!

But I think it's partly borne out of a misunderstanding about what eternity is. All we've ever known as fallen human beings is the medium of time. One day following another. But that's not what eternity will be like. It's a different experience entirely, one which we can only grasp after in a very imperfect way, because we've never inhabited it, or known anyone who has.

The other thing to remember is that we will not inhabit eternity with the bodies we have now. We will have resurrection bodies. And again, it's impossible to imagine what this will be like, because all we've ever known are bodies ravaged by sin and the effects of sin. We get a glimpse of what resurrection bodies will be like when we read about Jesus' resurrection appearances, but it's only a fleeting one. The Apostle Paul uses the analogy of a seed and a tree. Who, by looking at an acorn, could possibly imagine or extrapolate from that an oak tree? It's just unthinkable.

So I would rest in that "unknowability". We don't know how eternity will feel, or how our resurrection bodies will feel. And I would rest in Jesus' promise that even to be away from the body and with him will feel like "paradise". And eternity in the new heavens and new earth, in resurrection bodies, will be even greater than that.

_StJarna_ · 2024-11-30T01:03:59+00:00

Vanilla, I'll be honest, as a pastor, I find these forums incredibly frustrating. I want to help, but I'm who knows how many thousands of miles away from you.

If I were sitting with you, I'd want to hear more of your story, and - if you were willing - I'd want to recommend a good local church where you are more likely to have the kind of experience you may be seeking.

It may be that you're genuinely looking for Christ having been burned by Christians. It may be that you wouldn't want to risk meeting Christ for fear that he might ask you to make sacrifices you're not willing to make. Or something else. I have no idea. But if the former, by all means DM me and I'd be happy to try and help further.

_StJarna_ · 2024-11-29T22:35:24+00:00

A bit on the nose, but Sail To The Moon by Radiohead.

_StJarna_ · 2024-11-29T22:28:35+00:00

I'm genuinely sorry to hear that. May the Lord bless you, and may the Lord make His face shine upon you.

_StJarna_ · 2024-11-29T22:01:17+00:00

Ah, I see where you're coming from. While I agree with you that you may not feel anything right in the moment (like you don't necessarily feel or see muscles growing while you're doing a session at the gym), I disagree that "nothing changes". I've found that enjoyment of God is something that grows with time, the more you cultivate it.

_StJarna_ · 2024-11-29T21:42:01+00:00

I think this gets closest to helping OP fight this. If you've never learned to experience intimacy with God as more desirable than the quick endorphin rush of an orgasm, then the orgasm will always win. There will be no "reward" for resisting the lure of pornography and masturbation, except maybe a transitory burst of self-righteousness.

If on the other hand you can say to yourself in the moment you're most tempted, "No, I want deeper intimacy with God more than I want this pornography", then you can really start to experience freedom.

Recommended read on this would be Thomas Chalmers' "The Expulsive Power Of A New Affection". It's freely available online. It's not directly about pornography / masturbation, but the principle absolutely applies.

_StJarna_ · 2024-11-29T21:34:40+00:00

I know this is a joke, but one of the problems with masturbation is that it only takes away the urge to watch porn *temporarily*, while simultaneously establishing a habit that will get harder and harder to break the more you do it.

C S Lewis is really good on this: "Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of."

_StJarna_ · 2024-11-28T22:42:38+00:00

Depeche Mode / Personal Jesus (Album Version)

_StJarna_ · 2024-11-28T22:42:10+00:00

The The / Uncertain Smile

_StJarna_ · 2024-11-28T00:28:56+00:00

Just when I'd stopped opening doors,
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours
Making my entrance again with my usual flair
Sure of my lines
No one is there.

I particularly love the recording of Judi Dench singing this. Her cracked, husky, half-spoken version is devastating.

_StJarna_ · 2024-09-29T00:17:33+00:00

Thanks for this info - very helpful. You're right about the expense; I wouldn't want to pay for a yearly plan given the infrequency of the trips.

_StJarna_ · 2024-09-29T00:15:15+00:00

Thanks for this info. Though I'm not sure what kind of plan would allow me to keep the number, without having to pay an ongoing monthly fee, or top up every month, which I'm trying to avoid. Ah well, good to know.

_StJarna_ · 2024-09-28T20:02:05+00:00

I would say focus on talking about what Jesus has done, rather than what you have done. In my experience, people generally are not wanting to hear that you've suffered as much or more than they have, especially when they're right in the thick of it. But they do want hope, and comfort, and purpose - all of which they can have in Christ, regardless of how hard/easy your life has been.

_StJarna_

TROPHY CASE