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He didn't "lose" his job. He quit because he felt that $730,000 wasn't enough money to do the job. There's a difference.

From my understanding, both new and returning employees have the same minimum wage of $15 with at least some positions having the opportunity to make even more if they work through certain points towards the end of the season. The “do not use” stickers have also been removed from the tables at Coney BBQ. I also noticed the Auntie Anne’s in Rivertown open for like the first time since daily operations have started. It looked like new employees were being trained there. It was also nice to see the Graeter’s on International Street open. It certainly looks like Kings Island is finding new hires which is a very good sign. Today the park was absolutely dead, and most food places were open. I would also like to commend Kings Island for staying open on days like today where the weather has been bad and crowds have been nonexistent. I know there has been one day where the park has closed early, but it is nice to see that the park has stayed open on every rainy day since. Like many of you, I am also very devastated that 10:00 PM closings have been postponed. Remember, though, that Kings Island simply doesn’t have enough staff to stay open those extra hours. They are also doing just about everything they can to find more workers. I am very hopeful that with more workers being trained, late hours can return on June 25th and stay for the rest of the summer.

Poor thing. It's a wonder how he got by at all last year.

I will say it is good that Cedar Fair at least gave their executives pay cuts during the pandemic instead of just laying off full-time workers at the parks like other amusement park chains did.

I don't always steal credit cards. But when I do, I go get me some Pringles and Kit Kats asap! Jeebus. So stupid.

I'm not a psychologist, nor do have any credentials to back this up but I don't see any of this as a coincidence- I honestly think this is an after affect of the shutdown of 2020. You have a bunch of kids who have been stuck doing online schooling or have to attend socially distant, in-person classes for the past year. After being in a pandemic America since March of 2020, these kids get out of the house and reenter the world that's trying to get back to normalcy. Whether they went on their own or were dropped off by their parents (who might feel like they themselves needed a break from their own kids), not being able to go out and do things and be normal has taken its tole on everyone. I'm not excusing this behavior but I don't think this will be the last time we hear of this type of behavior this year.

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/cedar-fairs-legal-chief-leaving-after-58-pandemic-pay-cut

There's more to the story I'm sure. Someone likely left something valuable in plain site, considering there haven't been any other reports of cars being ransacked at KI. I'm also wondering why the person whose car was stolen left their keys in their friend's car. That's just asking for trouble. However, the idiots at KI are getting old and hopefully they'll be able to catch the idiots responsible.

I simply leave mine in the CD player and hasn't been stolen yet

As long as you leave your address on it so they know where to return it, absolutely. LOL. I've made one trip to the park thus far and I felt very safe. However, I've mentioned to people I know and work with that the park was trying to hire 900+ people at wages starting at $18/hour, and their jaw hits the floor. Many of them are unfamiliar with park---doesn't matter---shock. Maybe things really are crazy understaffed to the point that it's not quite right. I don't know. I really want to give the park the benefit of the doubt. However, it has me wondering.

Just leave your .38 under the drivers seat or in the glove box. Please and thank you. ;-)

The thing is people loitering around in an amusement park lot is not and has never been an uncommon sight. Checking Amazon reviews on The Club and other anti-theft devices right now. The whole catalytic converter thing is getting out of hand as well and not so easy to prevent.

Probably better. That was actually the part of the story I found most shocking. It's so close to the entrance and so many people just meander across that lot and likely could/would see something. Bold.

@BeeastFarmer You trying to bankrupt CF or just want to clear out those areas so the lines are shorter?

There has been some discussion of music in the park recently. Specifically, country music in CM and Oktoberfest being on repeat. I did notice it yesterday. I'd like to see this on repeat in those areas: (42) "Weird Al" Yankovic - Polka Face (Official Video) - YouTube (I am a huge Weird Al fan.

I am pretty much your exact dimensions, 6'5" and a muscular 304. Everyone is different. I have the most trouble with Drop Tower and Flight of Fear. Banshee has longer seatbelts in rows 4 and 5 but has a test seat outside. Orion and Diamondback can be tight for me as you need 3 clicks. Try to sit as far back in your seat as possible. You only need 1 click on Mystic Timbers so if you've been on other GCIs with Millennium Flyers, you'll be fine. Beast and Racer have your typical PTCs where you will need 2 clicks. Try sticking your feet out to the side to give yourself more room on those. Best of luck to you from a fellow big guy. Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

The “do not use” stickers were removed from the tables in the Festhaus at some point during the afternoon today. The benches for those tables have not returned, but hopefully soon!

No matter what have been used you'd find something that wasn't right to you.

I don’t think this kind of stuff can really be put on the park, as I said tons of people hanging out in the parking lot is completely normal and even if dozens of security guards were patrolling the lot it would be really hard to spot nefarious activity. A robust CCTV system would be nice but likely only useful for evidence after the fact.

In my opinion, this reporter's facial expressions and lack of inquisitiveness suggest she does not believe the news she is reporting.

Think leaving my fob on my driver’s side front tire is still safe?

Think Guest Services will refund them the $10 Preferred Parking upcharge?

Ugh. More. WLWT: Car with gun in it stolen from Kings Island parking lot

After effects of this pandemic will likely be felt for years. Death counts are not the only negative things to come out of this.

Yeah, that’s what my wife and I love about The French Corner. If I want something light, this is it!!

D’oh! I got the chicken salad sandwich. It was small but pretty good. A nice option for when you’re not hungry for a big meal.

I was referring to yesterday in my post. But if it is open now, get some food from there!!!

I just finished the book today. I was very impressed with the level of detail and depth of the history. You didn't skip anything, you even included the bad things that have happened in the park. I was even more impressed to learn that you are a high school student who did all this work. I hope you got some good school credits for this. Maybe that even counted as your term paper. I'm hoping to attend that virtual event in the previous post. Hopefully maybe you can even do some updated editions in future years.

Fun-Zone would be a must. And while we're at it get him back at Timberwolf!

Stimulus checks?

There’s a lot more people I’d rather give sympathy too than an executive who was earning 700k a year. I seriously doubt this pay cut would have lasted that much longer. I have no doubt that he’ll probably be able to find an extremely way paying job. Can’t say the same for the vast majority of people who lost their jobs this pandemic.

Drop Tower does not like tall people. If you're somehow able to fit in, it'll hurt like hell. B&M's should work fine, as well as Mystic. Racer and Beast will be iffy but if you do fit in it may be painful. In previous years, ride operators were allowed to exert a great deal of force to get restraints to lock. In 2020, operations cut down on that and now operators can only use minimal effort to fit guests in. I wouldn't worry too much. Even if you can't fit in a ride, no one judges or cares. Most guests aren't even paying attention. Ride operators are used to it as it happens all of the time. Especially on crews that operate tighter rides. Kings Island has a lot to offer for tall guys so either way you'll have a good time!

The barcode should suffice as long as you have the right one. Is it shown within the Kings Island App? Regardless, when I go to a park I with my family I have absolutely no intention of talking to the moose out front so if there is something for me to print, I print it as a backup. Prior to leaving I also check online to make sure I know current hours, though exactly where to check has been a bit unclear lately.

The minimum wage at Kings Island is $15 an hour. For some departments, if you work through the end of the season, your pay increases to $18 an hour for every hour your worked. So if you are an employee who works through the end of the season, you will get $3 added on to every hour you worked, so you will really be making $18 an hour.

This is some truth to this, but the minimum wage, without strings attached, in all departments is $15/hour. However, in security aquatics, and foods you can make $18/hour. Those in other departments are eligible for an additional $3/hour that is paid out in a lump sum if you stay until the season is over. This is to keep turnover low and retention rates high. One issue raised though is that hours are not what they used to be in past years, which can cancel out the increase in money being made by employees.

I haven’t heard that, however I have heard that Cedar Point is paying the normal wage plus an hourly “bonus” so they can seemingly roll it back more easily next year. I also have heard that seasonal maintenance was NOT raised to $20, they made $12. After complaining because they didn’t see the raise that everyone else got on their paychecks they they were offered $13 and told that the alternative was to tender their resignation. Glad to see the spirit of Dick Kinzel is alive and well in Sandusky.

I suspect the rise in wages has been in the works for some time, considering all of the talk about a $15 minimum wage. I don't think it was supposed to happen this early, but their hands were tied here. In some departments, the difference in supervisor's wages from new associates is disproportionate from what it was before.

What will be interesting to see is how many people take advantage of the pass renewal in the fall after all that has happened as a result of the pandemic. Even though many of us believe that CF extending the passes for all of this year was far and above what they were required to do based on all the fine print when purchasing a pass, there are many that also believe they have got screwed in the deal. In the past, people purchased a pass in the fall for the following year based on good faith that the park hours, etc. would be the same as the past. I believe many people now will hold off on purchasing until they are ready to go to the park the following year. I think many will now wait until next year to purchase after they see the operating calendar, operating hours, and what the pass will get them. If too many end up doing this, we may see the passes in the spring be cheaper than the previous fall based on their typical operating model... I think because of this potential "threat", I believe the park will be aggressive in pricing strategy this fall to retain pass holders and lock their money up now instead of waiting until next year. Make it up on volume is their operating model. Put me in the "I do not think prices will raise" camp LOL, even though I think they should raise them...

I suspect that the delayed opening is more a result of construction delays more than anything. I know several projects we have going on at work are facing issues with getting LVLs and LSLs for wood headers in wood construction of multi-family projects that are delaying the projects/forcing details to be redesigned to use more readily available materials so as not to impact the schedule as much.

But Kings Island doesn't own the campground they only have a contract to manage it.

It is also important to note that Kings Island only increased their wages a couple of weeks ago. It takes a lot of time to train new workers and schedule them. The shortages I have noticed in the dry park at least are really only in food and beverage. They aren’t even hiring for Rides or Merchandise anymore. I hope on June 25th, we really do have a 10:00 PM closing again and that they continue for the rest of the summer.

Well, they’ve now delayed the opening of the campground so things aren’t all roses!!!

One can hope things improve at KI and the park adds hours instead of cutting them like they have been doing. I hope they bring back the benches in the train station. Makes it nicer to wait for the train when you have small kids in tow with you.

Unfortunately, when seasonal labor cost is doubled, there has to be an increase of income coming in to maintain pre-pandemic profitability and keeping the shareholders happy (dividends still suspended so really not a good stock to hold onto right now). It will remain to be seen this fall of how much of an increase in Season Passes, Dining Plans, and Drink Plans there will be to cover the increased labor charges, not to mention daily ticket price increases. There likely is a price point where people will not renew or visit the park so it is a very delicate balance.

Save the date for this great virtual event on June 16 at 7 p.m. covering all things Kings Island: A Ride Through Time! Details on how to register are on the attached flyer. “See” you all there!

What a difference $2 makes… SANDUSKY, Ohio – Cedar Point’s seasonal labor problems should be resolved this month, with hours and daily operations likely restored by late June, according to Cedar Fair CEO Richard Zimmerman. Cedar Point’s new $20-per-hour wage is doing the trick, attracting new and high-quality job applicants, said Zimmerman, speaking Tuesday at the 2021 Goldman Sachs Travel & Leisure Conference. “We’ve seen great response over the last few weeks as we raised our wages,” he said. “We’ll continue to add back hours and add back days as we get deeper into June.” Source

Well that isn't very FUN news. So far Cedar Fair is laying a giant egg on what whould be an extremely profitable season. I really don't get it.

The park will now be closing at 8 pm on: Friday, June 11 Saturday, June 12 Friday, June 18 Saturday, June 19 The next 10 PM close on the calendar is now Friday, June 25. https://www.visitkingsisland.com/calendar-and-hours

That's why we, as seasoned KI fans, should temper our expectations. I was dismayled in the parking lot. I was dismayed when I walked in and saw the food lines. But then I remembered that I am in a place that has been a part of my life for most of my entire life. I knew going up today it would be a gamble with the crowds and the crowds won. But, I was able to get Blue Ice Cream and a drink at Paradise Island in less than 10 minutes. Later, a meal and a Blue Ice Cream Beer at the bar in the Brewhouse with no wait. A no wait meal at Coney BBQ late in the day. Rode all the coasters I wanted to, and did a little shopping (posters). Hung out with a friend. And did all of that in about 7 hours. In an atmosphere that was near "normal." Remember, this tme last year, the park was CLOSED. The thing we collectively enjoy was off limits. How many times did I say: "I don't care if I ride anything, I just want to be in the park!"? My point being, if you don't like increased crowds...don't go or find a way to accept the increased crowds. Enjoy what you have right now because circumstances can remove you from it. COVID should teach us that.

I'm hoping someone here can confirm, but I was told that they aren't even really paying the $15/hour. That it's $12/hour with a bunch of asterisks attached to it, that if you stay the whole season THEN you get a payment for the extra $3/hour based on your hours worked.