Jump to content

fryler87

Members
  • Posts

    685
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by fryler87

  1. CoasterKrazy and I went Saturday. Parked within a stone's toss of the cemetery. Firehawk was 1-3/4 hrs or so. Vortex was a little over a half hour. That was enough for us!

    I have no doubt that the waterpark was darn full.

  2. CoasterKrazy and myself went yesterday for a few hours as well...had to have been one of the busiest days of the year. We waited a little under two hours for Firehawk and around thirty minutes for Vortex. Took ride on the train...was pretty empty until the waterpark stop.

    Looked like a pretty good day for the park.

    And my, those footing are sure getting poured fast. Even a single week provided a very noticeable difference.

  3. The brakes caused wheel torque issues...

    Uhmmm thers's no such thing has "wheel torque" on a steel coaster....

    At least on any of KI's past and present steel coasters.

    I think he was referencing the huge moment created by the brakes being a good distance from the wheel assemblies. Torque is technically not correct, but in layman's terms...

  4. I'm quasi thankful when ride ops come over the PA and mention, "please refrain from sitting on the handrails" or "no smoking permitted in any line." I distinctly recall a trip to CP about 10 years ago and standing in a long line for Raptor. It was back when the park had a DJ in the queue to help people enjoy thier wait as much as possible. Someone in line was smoking, and between two songs, the DJ said something along the lines of, "...we remind you that smoking is not permitted in any line here at Cedar Point...especially if you're wearing light green shirts tonight..." in reference to the specific rule violator, but being as polite about it as possible.

    I bet that person learned their lesson for a good while, if nothing else, for the rest of the night.

  5. I went to Carowinds a few weekends ago (during some middle school choral group day...big mistake), and the line jumping was absolutely out of control. I couldn't believe I didn't say anything to these kids' faces as they just pushed right past me and my buddy SEVERAL times throughout the day. I gave several dirty looks, but it seemed like they did not understand the concept of cutting past other people waiting for their turn in line.

    The smoking was the other thing that bothered me...regularly living in Ohio, I got used to the no-smoking policies throughout the state, and began to love them. But do I understand correctly that all of the CF parks are supposed to be smoke free? If so, the park had absolutely ZERO control over people lighting up, whether these patrons were walking a midway, eating in a benched area or waiting in a queue. Very disappointing. I recall at KI last year (and CP) that the smoking bans were taken very seriously by park guests and I can't remember of anybody violating the rules.

    I know I'm not alone in this (along with others here), but why should I have to take time out of my park stay to find someone from security, explain the situation, and then help security find the perpetrators? Smokers rights? How about non-smokers rights???

  6. People also don't know about the whole betting system that exists...Investors make bets on the market or commodities as to what they'll do. It's a fairly common practice. A lot of investors made a lot of bad bets with oil and have to recover their losses somehow...unfortunately it's at the people's expense.

    Pretty sickening.

    I would be surprised to see gas go much higher than $5 per gallon for a good while. This summer is going to suck, but people are cutting back which will begin to slightly soften the blow of price surging. Remember...SUPPLY AND DEMAND: IT'S WHAT DRIVES THE MARKET!!!

  7. My point by posting the first chart is that YES, we are a record price levels, but when compared to the real, inflation-adjusted prices, we're paying roughly 25-35% more for gas than we did on average.

    For explanation of high prices after considering inflation and low demand of the U.S. dollar causing it to deflate in value, please see the first chart.

    uxw_18-39-chart.gif

    Ultimately, demand is going up, and domestic production and refinery in the United States has steadily declined during the last 20 years or so (about 5-10% since the mid to late 1980s). An inelastic commodity like gasoline means that a small increase in demand causes a huge increase in prices. The second graph would represent a commodity like ice cream.

    Everyone got used to undervalued oil in the late 1980s and 1990s and society adapted to it. Now we're feeling the effects. It's true that the real cost of gas in Europe is still much higher than here in the States, but society over there has becomed accustomed to it and adjusted with good public transportation, short commutes to work, the grocery, etc.

  8. Well this blows. Being in college and forced to drive 35 miles to my co-op and 35 miles back home every day sucks. I get 32 mi/gal, but spending $50-$60 on gas every week hurts, especially on an already tight budget trying to save for school, pay for food, rent, books, utilities, car insurance...

    I know a lot of people complain that these high prices hurt them, but being a kid in college and financially on your own (and having to drive to work every day-part of your education!) is pretty darn tough. I thank God for still being on my parent's health insurance...if something happened, I don't know what I would do.

    Sometimes, I can't believe that this is actually the world I'm living in.

  9. need more feedback on time estimates and a strategy please

    Look at the park map and figure out what you want to do.

    This isn't the Super Bowl...don't take it too seriously. Just work your way around the park and queue up if the line is moving fast or looks short.

  10. It sounds like you got a bad case of Murphy's Law on Opening Day. It really sucks that all of these little things piled up. (I have days just like these...my friends and I planned a trip two months in advance to see Lewis Black in Kalamazoo. We paid $150 bucks for tickets and ended up losing everything because the show was the same weekend that we had that blizzard in March...talk about unfortunate events.)

    I'm 6' 2" and weigh 180 lbs. (thin build), but I have a shorter torso and longer legs, so riding anything can be painful, let along getting in. I think anyone of my proportion knows what I'm talking about when I mention riding Sonny before the new trains. Not only was it difficult to get in and out (I've almost fallen flat on my face three or four times trying to drag my legs out of Premier trains...talk about embarassing...) but espeically on PTC trains, the seat sits so low, the tops of my knees bang into the lap bar constantly on many coasters. It can be pretty painful.

    Although I myself don't have a weight problem, being a taller person with not-so-natural proportions can still make things akward when riding coasters. I have 'weighty' family members, so I can't just say, "Suck it up, if you can't ride, don't! It's not the park's fault! Quit complaining!" Your wife doesn't even look that large...I've seen larger people pass the 'click test.' I'd contribute a good portion of it to her proportions...she looks fairly tall.

    It all boils down to safety. The Dept. of Agriculture deems what actions need to be taken so that the park can pass safety requirements. We're all different, so making rides safer for the "average" human being means that some people are going to have it tough. That's just how it is.

    As for the high-schoolers, we were all there once. A lot of the time, all one can do is just roll their eyes and sarcastically mutter, "darn kids," to themselves.

    I'd say that your trip was nothing less than the exception to the rule...I would be surprised if it was ever that bad again.

  11. I've said this before...those small footings are making me nervous...

    Did you miss the pic of the really big footer on the midway?

    :blink:

    Yeah, I caught that a little bit after that post. Looks like 8 threaded rods sticking out...a good indicator of the size of the pylon that bolts to it...which would be large by comparison to other B&M footings.

  12. If licensing issues required the removal of these symbols, I imagine the various statues in the antechamber and pre-show room will have been removed as well. I'm still skeptical that CF would be willing to spend the money to produce thematic elements on par with the originals. I think it is apparent that there will be replacements for the removed themeing, but of what quality, I'm not sure. Rumors that old Fear Fest scenery may be used is particularly troubling.

    I would be surprised to see the pre-show video and the rising movie screen ever again. If done right, I see nothing wrong wtih using old scenery that may just be collecting dust in storage...if done right.

    But how about that Drop Tower sign? (Gags.) I suppose that for as many signs as they redid, one that looks really tacky isn't too bad.

    I've said this before...those small footings are making me nervous...

  13. Glad to see retrack...not so sure about the backward elimination. recaR gives such a good ride, I haven't ridden forwards in years.

    Funny, if any non-enthusiast saw this picture, they'd probably question the motive of the photographer.

    The joys of being a coasternerd.

  14. Remember, Martha Stewart only hurt herself by trying to unload a little more than $45k in stock...Dennis and Jeffery (and don't forget our friends from Adelphia) financially destroyed corporations and ruined thousands of employees' retirement funds.

    If Dick bought stock knowing it's going to shoot up soon, that's insider trading (what Martha SUPPOSEDLY did) and as Ryan said, that's illegal and you do time in the slammer. Most large corporations make a big deal out of this, because it's VERY easy to do, and when you're caught, the penalties hurt employees and employers.

    Maybe Dick just has some extra money he wants to hold onto for when he retires. This stock pays a good dividend.

  15. pictures1ob6.jpg

    pictures2ss5.jpg

    1) Float on the side of Rivertown Games (across from Tomb Raider/Potato Works)

    2) Rope on Son of Beast box sign

    3) Wall of locker room building in Boomerang Bay

    4) Entrance 'hut' theming at Avatar

    5) "G" and "S" from Kings Island sign in front of International Street Fountain

    6) Netting above X-Base walk under beneath Racer

    7) Coca-Cola sign on rear entrance to Festhaus

    8) Tropical Depression rowboat on top of Outback Shack in Boomerang Bay

    9) Siding of antique photo shop in Rivertown

    10) Inside of any photo booth

    11) Target of Gold Rush game in Rivertown

    12) Facade artwork of soldier and horse on candy shop in International Street

    13) Candy dispenser

    14) International Showplace operator booth decor

    15) Mountain painting in Festhaus

    16) Roof apex of KI & MI RR station

    17) Decorative setting inside fudge shop on Int. Street

    18) Theming on roof of Stunt Crew Grill in AZ

    19) Tasmanian Typhoon structure

    20) Bubbles on Coca-Cola Oasis

    21) Fish food from dispenser (in Oktoberfest)

    22) Wheel on Toyota Camry in Boomerang Bay

    23) Windows at exit of Flight of Fear

    24) Stair paint at bottom of Eiffel Tower

    25) ORP sign at Vortex

    26) Picture on Zephyr

    27) Flower on wall inside Hana-Barbera Collections

    28) Web at Scooby Doo's Meet and Greet

    29) Ceiling in arcade at Beast exit

    30) Paining on old antique photo location in Rivertown (across from Wild Thornberry's)

    31) Floral clock tick mark

    32) Grill at Flip a Chick in Nick Universe

    33) Headlighs on Land Rover outside of Tomb Raider

    34) Winterfest trees floating at back of Rivertown pond

    35) Int. Street fountain

    36) Ice cream scoop door handle at Graeter's

    37) PLC sensor on Beast (as you exit beneath track)

    38) Water outlet/return on funnel of Tasmanian Typhoon

    39) Capacity sign on Eiffel Tower elevator

    40) Ice cream cone in Nick Universe

    41) Side of plant vase in Coney Mall near Happy Days Diner (used to be small fountain MANY years ago)

    42) Ticket redemption inside Coney Mall Acrade

    43) Overturned boat at Lt. Dan's (covering footing of old skyride)

    44) Food picture for Stunt Crew Grill at entrance to AZ

    45) Window at Paramount Theater

    Bonus Beth: Sheet metal at bottom of Face/Off gate doors

    Bonus Josh: Drop Zone elevator entrance (easily seen from the queue)

  16. Awesome day...no question about it.

    Killer Scavenger Hunt...I think Tyler and myself had more fun looking for all that stuff than we would have spending the whole day riding rides!

    Many thanks to Dane, Ryan, Josh and Don. I can't imagine how much work was put into this to make it as great as it was, but it was definitely worth it! It was also nice to attach a name with a face here and there. One of the better things about the day was seeing people look at our VIP tags...one of the girls that was working the stand that is selling those cheap trips couldn't get over us...ha!

    Again, a great day; possibly the best I've ever had at the park. Thanks again!

  17. Firehawk was obviously capital, and I think loop replacement and new trains would technically be a capital improvement. However, you can also argue that once the loop was 'retired,' the new track could be O&M to an extent, along with all the retracking and structural work that has been done.

    Firehawk capital would probably only be shipping and installation. Geauga Lake definitely got the 'capital' cost of removal.

×
×
  • Create New...