Leaderboard

Sorry to double post. But no one has responded to this topic in several weeks now. I thought that I would pass along some information on a new feature that will be debuting soon here on KIC. See the below image. Stay tuned for the first episode of the KICentral Podcast. Robbie

When you realize you'll be in Mason for non-KI related reasons and your first thought is "COOL I CAN GO TO...oh wait it's February..."

Very cool! I gave up on In The Loop because if you're over the age of 22 you don't care how much alcohol some guy drank last night (which was an hour long conversation in the last episode I listened to) and I gave Off The Tracks (or whatever it's called) a chance but I didn't care for their hour of sports babble from a bunch of guys who clearly aren't big sports fans. -Keep it relatively on topic -Keep if fun -Don't let anyone have a veto on what you can and can't discuss -Ask the hard questions Let me know if there's any way I can help.

I'm pro-shed. Just sayin. I still think the storyline is awesome despite the "hype." It's better than a sunny break run. I love the Tree Guy.

I couldn't find this posted anywhere: It was recently announced that Legoland Discovery Center will be coming to Columbus, Ohio this fall (2018). This attraction will be located at Easton Town Center in the former Gameworks & KDB area. It looks like there is going to be a dark ride, a small Zamperla flat ride, a 4D Cinema and other activities. https://columbus.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/

Not to mention, for the park, "success" is determined by putting in a ride that adds to the park's value, and getting the construction done on schedule (and within cost estimates) with as little disruption of park operations as possible, not by keeping it "secret" from a small subset of people who are bound and determined to know anything and everything anyway*... Basically, making things a surprise is nowhere near their primary interest, it's just a small part of very early marketing. *KI kept what was in the shed as a very good secret all the way up until it opened, and some "enthusiasts" are still griping about its content. And I think in large part that griping is due to those people being annoyed they couldn't be "insiders" who already knew everything before the ride even opened this time. So having some information leak to the people who actually care to know early is probably not a "fail" anyway.

I worked at the park for a few months in 2005 in the "East Pie" section of what was then Hanna Barbera Land (what ended up being the last year for HB). This included Beastie, the kiddie cars (now Peanuts 500), kiddie whip (Linus' Beetle Bugs), umbrella ride (Peanuts Off Road Rally) and helicopters (Woodstock's Whirlybirds), though at the time the kiddy whip and umbrella ride were in different spots than they are now (umbrella ride was located closer to the helicopters and kiddie whip was located in a back corner near what's now the entrance to Surf Dog). It was a lot of fun seeing the joy on the kids' faces, but it was also a bit frustrating at times (particularly Beastie, because they had raised the minimum height that year and they didn't have the height check station in the kids' area then so it was more common for kids to get measured and get a wristband at one of the rides).

When you really miss your favorite ride, no matter how much you do not want to admit it.

With the exception of grunge the 90s were pretty nice.

Is it a fail or should the person who found it really be flying the drone above the park and/or near the park.

All of your social media links at the bottom of the forums link to IPSfocus's social media rather than yours. It'd be worth fixing.

I haven't ridden it in YEARS...not sure why but I never make it over there. But...isn't this it?

I think the shed complaints were more about overhyping what was in the shed than not knowing. For as much effort as they put into the "what's in the shed" mystery, it was kind of a letdown.

Spent the last 3 Years, with this year being the 4th at Kings Island! I worked in Park Services for a year and then moved to operations. Banshee is my home away from home and even when I get stressed out I always still love working at Kings Island! im hoping to see some of you next year at Banshee!

Agreed, BFF. I miss The Bat... only 73 more days, though...

A giant Dip-N-Dots stand. Plus, a Dip-N-Dots coaster that takes you from the payment window, to the pickup area, then back to the exit. "Worlds Fastest, Tallest, Longest Dip-N-Dots! Only at Kings Island"

Respect my time. Practice word economics and keep senseless banter and inside jokes to an absolute minimum.

The good thing about hiring more people is self-evident. You need more. The bad thing? If the applicant pool isn't enlarged then it's much easier to get a job - even if they don't necessarily think you're up to company standards.

I have heard many times while at work (especially during the fall season) that "the park is understaffed today" or something along those lines, so the fact that KI endeavors to hire more people this year does not surprise me. My crew is among those from whom the least amount of people leave, so most if not every day we would end up sending a few people from my crew to help other understaffed crews. There was one day however where we had only four people who came on time for opening including myself (and we need a minimum of seven people -- six at the absolute least -- to open both rides). so that was interesting. As much fun as it was to deal with staffing (or lack thereof), I hope KI is able to hire more associates this year, especially associates who are willing to stay even when things get tough at work and the novelty of working at an amusement park wears off somewhat. And @BoddaH1994, I answered yes to all four questions as well!

I thought it through and I say yes to all four questions. I really do enjoy my job and believe it does all of that for us. Those simple things make a big difference, don't they? Hope you have an amazing 2018 season!

Staffing is an issue in early and late season ki.... And believe me they need every single employee hired. And at least in my department the turnover rate from the amount of people I see stick through the season is a bit lower than you would think it is. The turnover rate is high once you get to departments like food but they've been trying to rectify that as well as the park as a whole. Some departments do better than others for turnover. Does your leadership value what you do? Are you paid fairly? Do you have the tools necessary to do your job? Are you in a department where they unleash the power of the people? If you answered "yes" to all 4 then yes - you probably work in a department with a low turnover. If you answered "no" to any one of them... well.. there are other departments where you could answer "yes" to all 4. For the record, I consider a "yes" to those 4 questions to be a minimum.

The Shed is good for what it is. I was expecting something else though haha

Also, think of the guests who have no idea about the "#What'sInTheShed" marketing and/or don't follow coaster updates/pages like us.....how many of those are disappointed due to over hype? How many of those actually care about that....how many just think it's entertaining for what it is?

I honestly really enjoyed what was in the shed. While it wasn’t a crazy element I really wasn’t expected it. It was fun to speculate what they could’ve done in there but for what it is, it’s a fun little extra at the end of an amazing coaster! While I agree part of it was KI overhyping it, it was also our fault for overhyping it. If KI just went with “What’s in the shed?” and we didn’t pay much attention to it, I think the more people would have liked it more. However, due to our ideas of what it could be, we were saddened when it was pretty much exactly what it should be. It’s much like in a horror movie when something isn’t shown: you start imagining what could happen/what is happening and you freak yourself out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome. I've been medically diagnosed with podcast addiction, so I'll be listening!

@Charleston Welcome to KIC

Sadly I have not been to Dollywood since Lightning Rod has been operational. I need to get down there again sometime soon. Dollywood is actually the only park besides Kings Island that I have had a season pass to. The park is wonderful and the live shows are amazing. Their Smoky Mountain Christmas is amazing as well.

I'm sure we will see you plenty lol

From scanning some CW stuff, it looks like there is going to be a tunnel under another coaster and the new coaster is going to go through it. The other coaster had to be disassembled in that section to allow for construction. The pieces that are showing up on site are only the ones that go through that tunnel. Theres also a lake that had to be drained involved. It just makes more sense financially to put those pieces in now rather than have to take the other coaster apart again or have it closed part of the season. Not to mention, if they waited to do that work after this season, the footers for the track leading in and out of that area would likely make it a lot harder, if not impossible to get to the area to do the tunnel. This section had to be done first, which means it had to be done now, which means they needed track on site earlier than normal.

You forgot the mike drop.

Maybe do it like Mystic Timbers where you learn the story in the que or while walking toward the ride

I think I'm one of a few who like the KI LaRosa's more than the LaRosa's LaRosa's. I mean, it's okay, but the KI pizza has tasted the same since I was a kid. Tastes like my childhood. LOL

When you go to a dead mall and grocery store with your KI peeps because you can't go to the park. Also, when @IndyGuy4KI asks if CiCi's pizza is covered on the meal plan.

Perhaps its a dive-rsion

So we already had the Reds HOF Grill, now we've got the Bengals Coaster. When is the "Royal(s)" fountain Dive Coaster going to be unveiled

You know it's the offseason when the bleach you are cleaning with mysteriously transforms into the layout of Mystic Timbers... The front half... The back half... Note: this was not intentional, it was subconcious, I guess... Also, it may be hard to see as it's white on white, but it's (loosely) there.

Hey I mean the nickname for the Monster Scrambler Dodgem Crew is MSD.... makes me burst out laughing cause MSD is the sewer utility for Cincinnati.

@VortexBFForever I burst out laughing at "Windex crew" so hard that it's a good thing I had nothing in my mouth, else I would have either choked on it or spewed it all over my computer screen.

I'm no @TOPGUN1993 but I made this concept just off the top of my head for what a campground at KI would look like. I was inspired by Lighthouse Point at Cedar Point. Little cabins are lined up next to each other, as well as empty plots of land for tents, and campers. The land accommodates RVS as well. There's wifi, electricity and any accommodations a guest could need. At the front of the campground there's a main building where people can check in, sit by the fire, grab coffee, and relax. A courtesy shuttle runs along the maintenance road between the campground to the front of the park, (the concept doesn't show this but the route can be extend to the water park if needed.) Guests staying at the campground get in the park one hour before the GP.

Working at an amusement park is certainly a fun job. I am entering my seventeenth season working at Coney Island. I never thought when I first took the job before my senior year of high school that I would still be doing it in 2018, even with a full time job. Yes the days can be long, guests can and will test your patience, but it is a fun place to work, (and sure beats working food service) and you will get to make wonderful friends. Granted, I have been a seasonal manager at Coney in charge of the rides department for the better part of the last eight years, I still can honestly say that I always look forward to going into work at Coney. I also spent a couple seasons at Kings Island (2013 and 2014), working during October as part of the Skyflyer crew. It was definitely a fun experience. I would highly recommend the job to anyone considering it.

Skyride! My hrandpa, grandpa and grandma would love it!

There used to be a turnpike ride in that area. I want more trees and green space. Get some shade. Maybe some fountains. Help cool the air down a bit. No more smoking areas in the middle of walkways/paths. I get that smokers shouldn’t have to walk 100 miles but smack dab is terrible. Fix he parking lot. More things for grandma and grandpa Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'll wave at you from my comfortable mini van going 90 m.p.h. when I pass your broken down Corvette. I take reliable over flashy any day, but that's just me.

The only Giga I have rode is Millennium Force it was my first intamin coaster and I liked it but I think it's overrated by a lot. I would pick Diamondback over it ANY day, now maverick on the other hand...

Actually, it wasn't just the launch system, RMC put new wireless sensors on the trains, last year during the offseason, they took those off, that's why the ride has been way more reliable than it was in 2016.

@chugh43 One could argue that Son of Beast paved the way for innovation in the wooden coaster world

.....aconator? I think I turned out alright

They literally just got into the 200’ range. I’d rather them not jump up to 300’ just to break some records. I seem to remember another coaster that was built to go to the next level to break some records and it didn’t turn out well....what was the name of that? Son of a b.....

In terms of capacity, absolutely. Though most ridden does not necessarily mean most popular.

I currently host a podcast. I could advise on how to do it if needed...... call on me...