[Webcam Outage Discussion]

3 minutes ago, JonahWilliamson said:

Next time we have major construction remind me to buy and hide one of these in the park. Cell Signal. Solar Power. KI webcam if the cams arent up well then we are lol

You could always get a pilots license, fly over and take legal pictures with out breaking any rules.

[Orion Construction Photos]

2 hours ago, Klabergian Empire said:

I've personally never seen a beacon on Diamondback, and its over 200' tall...

You also have to take into account the height of things surrounding it. If you have a 200' tall coaster, but trees near it on a hill at 150', the coaster is considered 50' above surrounding terrain.   The tower is tall enough to "cover" most of the stuff around it.  

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

2 hours ago, BoddaH1994 said:

Like I said before, the web cams are there for a reason, and it ain’t just to be nice to you.

With that being said, they are probably incredibly low on the priority list of things that need to be fixed.  They’ll come back sooner than later, but I don’t think the urgency is there to buy another camera and set up a hotspot and whatnot. 

I guess different strokes for different folks.  From a marketing standpoint the camera is well worth the cost. Spend $200 bucks on the set up and sell two passes and you would break even.   They advertised they had a webcam and made a big deal about them on social media, then they go away. It isn't a good look for the park at all and they are throwing money away IMHO but I can see how your view as well. 

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

Well the webcams are still down, just in time for the big finish on the lift. The sad part is for very little money the park could of put up another feed. A hotspot with unlimited data, cheap webcam on Flight of Fears building and we could of had a view. It wouldn't even have to be live video, do something like the weather bug camera if you had to for bandwidth. 

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

18 minutes ago, spooky21 said:

Where did I say I would be on their property??? And trespassing in the air ya good luck with that. Does that mean your trespassing in the air too? I really am done with you. Your points are silly and you take this webcam thing too serious.

 

13 minutes ago, sixohdieselrage said:

Alright. I'll edit my comment to reflect that and you should change your comment so it isnt assumed.

 

You clearly dont know the laws. @PilotDudecan explain the laws better than I can, but yeah. Any UAV above any property is considered trespassing.

So, I am taking this webcam thing too seriously, but you commenting on it as well isnt? Hypocritical indeed. 

Okay, Drone laws are super complicated and ever changing. First we have two different class of drones. One is considered a "model aircraft", this is the consumer grade/sized drones. The second requires a part 107 drone license. Both require a line of site from the pilot to the drone at all times. Now the funny part is a drone can be in both categories depending on what it is being used for and who is flying it.  This depends on if you are flying it for compensation, what airspace it is in, among other things.  So you both are right and both are wrong.  Although a plane or drone can't trespass, but they can get you on a slew of other things.  But if a drone was harassing you and was within reach you can defend yourself with say a broom. The most important thing is local police have no jurisdiction over anything that goes in the air.  Only the FAA has this authority. So if you flew a drone over Kings Island or a random persons house, and were standing in either public property or a place you can legally be, no one can legally make you stop. They can report you to the FAA though and I would rather deal with local police.  Kings Island could trespass you off the property and ban you for life, but can't charge you with anything.

 

As for the drone policy, KI has a policy of outlawing drones. This forum has decided since KI says drones are against their rules, this site has an outlaw on posting pictures of them in the ToS. The ToS is silent on pictures from manned aircraft.  But aircraft is an entire different beast on laws but the jist is a helicopter could legally hover over the park live streaming a video if someone wanted to spend the $$. It would be a ton of $$ though.  And KIC if they wanted too could go through the process of updating the rules to outlaw the posting of media gained from aircraft if they wanted too.

[Orion Construction Photos]

10 minutes ago, JonahWilliamson said:

Lift will be done this week. Fo sho

They really only have one more day of work on the lift. They are near the point one crane will hold most of it while the rest gets locked in.  This could, and my guess is, will be done by Monday evening. Then take down the two big crawler cranes, save the boom pieces for the new crawler that will be used elsewhere and off and running on the rest.

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

6 minutes ago, BoddaH1994 said:

(Sorry to double post)

This issue you described far predates the network upgrade.  I know 3 people with two drink plans for no reason.  Or the season starts and the meal plan doesn't work... etc.  Some of it has to do with Micros being tied into Gate Central.  It's all very complicated.  All I know is that it's fixable, although sometimes it's the click of a button and other times it involves getting an all new pass and even having your picture taken again.

I paid for two drink plans to be shared between my wife, kids and I. By the end of the year we had 9 drink plans active on our passes. No one knew why, they just keep showing up. I suspect is was each time they asked paper or souvenir, that they never finished the transaction and somehow it keep adding new plans. 

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

2 minutes ago, silver2005 said:

@sixohdieselrage But they aren't telling you the exact reason a ride goes down and, again, aren't obligated to.  If you know that's the way its going to be with the webcams and are just going to sit as patiently or impatiently for them to get back up like anyone else, why keep pressing on it?  To me, the park went out of their way to say something at all, which, those can still be valid as the problem could be bigger than you're all thinking.  Incompetence shows up at any park so that doesn't make KI any more special in this circumstance.  Being a private property means they are allowed not to tell you everything.  

I also think the vast majority of you are blowing this webcam business way, way, way out of proportion in relation to how it affects the park's bottom line.   Most people viewing the cams are already KI fans and a slight malfunction won't be enough for them not to come back and continue purchasing tickets/passes/merch, etc.  Unless you can prove that correlation in a way that is meaningful to the park's well being, its a non-issue with me. 

Can you show me a single official source mentioning the webcams going down? I am not talking a so and so talked to so and so, I am talking a press release, social media, email, anything that the park itself has put out.   People are frustrated that we got second hand info about well it is this, no wait it is this (when the obvious evidence doesn't support the whole power story as Mystic Timbers webcam isn't on the tower), the park is acting like webcams don't exist. Silence. If they would just come out and say "Sorry, we didn't mean for the webcams to go down. But here is a couple new pictures of the construction" this wouldn't of even been an issue.

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

21 minutes ago, sixohdieselrage said:

@silver2005

Read through stuff bro. Again, some people aren't upset at "this is the whole reason", or so much blaming one thing or another. It's more of "we dont like being fed potential lies", or "someone for some reason screwed up". Screwed up by:

1. Horrible timing of these "software updates", if there were any. Which I highly doubt, as software updates NEVER take this long in this day in age. 
2. Not knowing how long this would theoretically take. Simple way, plan ahead of time, that way if you run into any issues, you have more time to fix said issues. 
3. Users not being able to see what some consider the coolest part of construction of a ride, the topping off. 

Again, why cant the park just come out and at least say "We apologize for the webcams being down. We are quickly working on having them operational again. In the meantime,  feel free to watch the media, stop by the park on the weekend, or view progress from authorized locations." Hardly anything has been said from them on the issue. And don't start on the whole "They don't owe you an explanation or webcams." 

I couldn't agree more @sixohdieselrage, the issues isn't the webcams have gone down. Look **** happens. I once had a website crash minutes into showing the client the final product. Spent weeks checking and double checking but yet the server went offline outside my control. What I didn't do was give ever changing reasons to the client and stop all communication.  I swallowed my pride, apologized and kept the client in the loop on getting it fixed.  They were beyond pleased in the end and thanked me for the updates.

 

@silver2005 How do you know the park is documenting this? You don't have anymore knowledge of this then anyone does about how the tower electric is run.  You have made a simple assumption just like others have with how the tower is powered.  What makes you correct and everyone else wrong? Like you have said unless someone has first hand knowledge from the park, which it is assumed must people on here don't, and those who do wont say anyways, no one knows for sure.   I get you are tired of people talking about the webcams, and that is okay. The solution is to stop reading this thread. It has been split off the construction thread, you don't have to see it anymore, you are choosing too.

 

IMHO this all boils down to how we view ourselves and the parks relationship. Does the park owe us something or do we owe the park something? My view is the park owes us as we are the clients. They want our money so that puts us in the drivers seat. As enthusiast we can vote that we are unhappy and take our money elsewhere, the park doesn't have that option, so we are the ones that get to decide if we are happy with the relationship or not.  We are the client that they need to make happy to keep making $$$. Please don't think I am advocating for us to boycott the park over this, I have my pass in hand for next year, but they have the duty to us not the other way around. Let's be honest, I can hop in the plane and day trip any park this side of the Mississippi, but my heart lives in KI. I just wish KI would have the same view.  This webcam fiasco shows the park doesn't value us and that is why we are all frustrated.  We are tired of the secrecy, we are tired of the smoke and mirrors, just tell us the truth. KI would reap the rewards of having PR come out and say, sorry guys, we mucked up. Our timing on this was horrid and we apologize. I would be thrilled and the hard feelings would be gone. But that has yet to happen as they can't swallow their pride and admit they might be wrong.  If they really wanted to rebuild the relationship they have with enthusiast they would offer a tour of the site in the spring, but that would be way above and beyond, but maybe that is what the park needs to do anyways.

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

2 hours ago, scoriell said:

Oh are you afraid you'll get banned again if you post anymore unauthorized photos? I'm very familiar with your work and envy your ability to sit in a plane.

 

We don't have access to aircraft here in my cave...

Fun fact, in WWII Hitler moved vital production into mines and caves.  The Messerschmitt Me 262 was one of the most famous things built in these caves. Maybe you just need a new cave because it certainly can be done. 

2 hours ago, BBN said:

It sure looks like a few people just come on here to just argue and stir crap up, wow

Welcome to the internet where the points are made up and none of it  matter anyways. Fun fact- Al Gore invented pants. Source: the internet

[Orion Construction Photos]

2 hours ago, LovinMeSomeBanshee said:

We're going to completely miss the topping off.  This is ridiculous.

Don't worry, KI will have an awesome time lapse with behind the scenes footage about how the ride was made in all the gift shops for sale! (I just made this up, but wouldn't be surprised, please don't take this as the truth)

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

48 minutes ago, Delirium13 said:

Frustration is fine, but people are treating this like it's a huge deal. It's not.

Cool.

Nobody has talked about season pass sales. But the giant ride their building will take care of that. Nobody (reasonable) is buying their season pass based on a webcam.

I have talked about season passes. Also have friends who live up on the lake who decided to buy platinum this year based off the webcam and how cool Orion looked.   Showed them the POV and it was cool, showed them the webcam and it was "wow, that is way bigger then it looks"

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

13 hours ago, JubJester said:

Power must be back on because the eyes at the top of the tower were on when I paced by, or that wasn't the problem at all.

Some even say the power has been on the entire time evidenced by the elevators going up and down the entire time. It's a mystery.

 

10 hours ago, Coaster Head 1980 said:

OMG!! Did anyone notice the webcams are down?!

What!?!!? While they are doing the most important park of the most important construction in the history of Kings Island.  Nah, just refresh your browser or something. It was just an update a week ago, must be your side that is broken. 

[Orion Construction Photos]

2 minutes ago, kissfan4 said:

That's what i don't understand, if you take off from property that is not owned by KI, and do not fly over the park, drone footage should be allowed. 

The ToS clearly state drone pictures even taken legally are not allowed. This was a direct ask from the park and the admins have decided to enforce it. The park has even asked for pictures taken legally from an airplane to be deleted and user punished up to an including a ban. For some reason the park has decided secrecy is more important then people seeing what is going on and this site is choosing to go along with it.  If you have pictures or video you can always post it some place else, but wouldn't it be a shame if that drove people away from this site?

[Orion Construction Photos]

10 hours ago, thatguyfromohio said:

They won’t be taken on their property, so they shouldnt


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You would think that. Only one way to find out.

[Orion Construction Photos]

21 minutes ago, IndyGuy4KI said:

A news channel would have gotten permission from the park.

Who was the one who leaked the news story here? 

I am just being facetious don't mind me. 

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

1 hour ago, BoddaH1994 said:

Also, I’d love to see management at Macy’s or Best Buy say, “Entitled customers! Always coming in on Tuesdays and buying their stupid CDs and movies! They are so entitled that they even camp out in front of our store on Black Friday!” Yeah, that would get some heads rolling.

Seems like this Kinzel-era attitude of, “its your privilege to spend money at our park” was injected once again when they restructured in late 2017. Sorry if I trigger anyone, but it’s very Tony Clark-esque. Notice how Tony got brought back and then a year later they were all of a sudden not the world’s greatest theme park? In fact, they fell to third. How was PS the word’s best kids area for decades, but now it isn’t? How was last year’s Haunt (the worst year for Haunt) the best theme park event according to USA Today and now (when it’s much better) it’s third? What changed? The parks didn’t. The personnel did.

Unfortunately both have burnt their bridges so much with enthusiast groups that people are clearly voting against them, and in turn, the business suffers.
 

Don’t forget that the only enthusiast outlet that was invited to Haunt’s media day was one where the sole reason the administrator runs the avenue is to get invited to media days and in order to do this they literally audit, disapprove, or delete anything that is not exceptionally pro park.  

So I agree - don’t buy into the “entitled enthusiast” narrative that some within the park ignorantly push. They’re a business not a charity. Visit the park, follow the rules, take advantage of the meal plans and whatnot. All of those things are there for a reason. Even Coasterstock, Gold Pass ERT, and ride nights aren’t just there to do something nice for passholders. They need something from you. This is their way of attempting to purchase it. Never forget that.

Oh spicy!!!

 

Side not Dollywood dumped a ton of money into their new kids area. Have yet to see it in person but it looks like it blows Planet Snoopy out of the water. As for the rest I think you make some very valid points.

[Orion Construction Photos]

13 minutes ago, Klabergian Empire said:

From Chopper 9, or inside the park? If you know......

Hopefully not Chopper 9 or else it wont be allowed to be shared on here.

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

New plans are out!!!!!! No wonder Kings Island doesn't want us to see on the webcam.   Guys this things is going to be killer!!!!!

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

21 minutes ago, PatchesC said:

Eh, I've been using construction cam as a bribe for my 11yo to get her chores done. "You take too long you won't have free time to check" . Whatever works I guess hehehe

Guess them chores aint getting done.

[Orion Construction Photos]

1 minute ago, sixohdieselrage said:

Well, there is 4 pages less here. 287 may be hard to reach before the lift is done. 

It's almost like we take two steps forward, three steps back. 

 

Speaking of steps, what is the best guess on how many steps to the top of Orion's lift hill.  My guess is 401.

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

1 hour ago, JonahWilliamson said:

Okay im literally spelling it out.

They said they needed software updates.

Ive worked for live tv, video studios, music studios. Ive never seen a 6 day update. Kinda weird right... Well shiney grey as Billie Mays once said "WAIT THERES MORE"

They then change the story up to shutting off power. The elevators have been running. The lights at the top of the tower are on. AND NOT JUST THE AVIATION FLASHY LIGHT THING (Six what are those called. Btw) The actual lights. Now i dont know how your electric works but when mines off the lights dont usually come up right.

KI also has a track record of taking cams down of any risk so nothing gets caught on video. This is what i think is happening. But last but not least

we wish the park would just come out and say that. Theres the string you following like a cat now?

 

Aviation flashy light thing is good enough.

 

1 hour ago, sixohdieselrage said:

@JonahWilliamson

Obstruction Lights.

@LovinMeSomeBanshee I am a fly-around poster... not a fly-by. Although, we have flown by once....

Better be careful flying by, don't want to upset anyone over being in the airspace above them.  Next thing you know we will end up like Disney having to tell ATC on the radio we are buzzing the tower/castle.  

 

57 minutes ago, JonahWilliamson said:

Weird nobody was arguing untill yall showed up....

I've been a little argumentative at times. Sorry y'all I will try to get my passion under control.

 

37 minutes ago, King Ding Dong said:

In my great and unmatched wisdom, I called it this morning.

 

Eh it was way more spicy the other day. 

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

4 minutes ago, Fishleehooker said:

OK. Pat yourself on the back and give yourself a gold star. 

I gave him a blue and white heart, does that count?  /s

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

4 minutes ago, sixohdieselrage said:

Hey. We need to get this thread above 287 pages before the lift hill is topped off...

Great idea, good thing we don't have to go all the way to 300. /s

[Webcam Outage Discussion]

3 minutes ago, spooky21 said:

I'm not speaking for the park. I'm stating they know how to handle this.

IMHO I am not sure they know how to handle this. Having some PR background silence is the worst thing they could do. This is prime time to sell passes for next year. They should be wanting to hype this coaster up, but instead its silence.  They have one of their most loyal groups upset, the people who spend all day watching webcams and looking at blue prints are the same people who tell their friends and family about this awesome new coaster. "Hey look how big this coaster is! It even drops into a ravine and follows the terrain just like Beast!" Instead it is "Yeah they are building something new, but I can't show you it since it all has to be done in secret. But check out this awesome video from another park of how they built there new giga." "Yeah I know it is weird all the other parks had webcams and didn't suffer the same blackout, but it might be an "update" or maybe just a power outage, don't know cause the story keeps changing"  Which one is going to do more to build hype and sell passes?