Mrs. G.

I find this kind of odd as they are always open until the week before Labor Day (last full week of August). That is always our second week to go.

Chef, you gotta tell us what that is. My imagination is running away with me on that one. Seriously, I have stayed there (from '85 through '97) many times, had good times and bad times. I liked the layout, the indoor pool and the convenience to the park. But the decor never changed, and by the last time I stayed it was really looking run-down. We stayed there on our honemoon in '97, and it poured buckets all day one day, and we were stuck in the room with 4 kids and nothing to eat or drink. After that we've stuck to hotels with at least mini-fridges in the rooms. Tried a dozen or so hotels, the current favorite being Comfort Suites right around the bend. If they fixed the place up, just fridges and microwaves maybe, I'd go back in a heartbeat. The place has a special place in my heart and a million memories.

I get it! Thanks for the laugh, that's one of my favorites.......at night! I haven't been up in the tower in a decade but I may consider it now.

Taz for me too. It's awesome.

Eisenhower Expressway East towards downtown Chicago... ...to Dan Ryan Expressway South... ...to Chicago Skyway/Indiana Toll Road... ...to 65 South...through Indianapolis... ...to 74 East...to 275 North...to 71 North...to Kings Island Drive. Sears Tower to Eiffel Tower = 320 miles/5 hours Next year the kid gets to drive.

Which is a LOT of fun and the way they used to run it in the 80's. (Hi fusiondude!)

Men At Work's "High Wire" was in there too. And something by The Vines.

While relaxing in the smoking area at BB a polite young woman walked up and asked me to fill out a survey about BB. Didn't get anything for it though. Good idea, could've had better questions. Looked like they were really just trying to get a feel for how many visit the park strictly for BB. In my case and I'm sure many others we vacation there for both the park and BB, so when it said "Did you come here today strictly to visit BB?" I put "yes" because it was our BB day, however our trip to PKI was for both of course. Oh well, the zip code should've given them a clue...the wonderful world of marketing!

Just FYI guys, the girls tried to stand up without undoing the seatbelts and it hurt them too....

We always support PKIC! Unfortunately, my "middle-aged" (lol, I remember when 40 sounded OLD) brain forgot my shirt at home this time. We also met the Rickster briefly as the girls got off the Eagles. All these years I've always walked right past those things, I guess once you snap you can't stop? Thanks, Dane. How to make the most of the day after you travel 300+ miles, dying to see Boomerang Bay, and it monsoons? We got there about 12, beautiful, hot, sunny - today was going to be Boomerang Bay Day for us, we decided to ride our way over to the train. Backwards Racer was closed so we strolled over to SR&R, and before the end of our ride the rain starts. No problem, we'll go get a footlong and wait for the rain to stop; while there the thunder starts. Wishful thinking: Trouble says, "That's not thunder, that's just the train." DETERMINED to see Boomerang Bay we head over there anyway, rent a locker - and the sky really opens up. So we sit by the lockers for a looong while until Mother Nature decides to be kind. It was awesome. That Tazmanian thing was just too cool, well worth dragging my old bones up all those stairs - twice. Better than I expected. We got to do all the slides we wanted and the lazy river, a dip in the wave pool, just not long enough. Too much Crocodile Dundee for me, and why does he say "White Water Rampage" when the ride is called "Snowy River?" And the music gets tedious. Men At Work had a lot more hits, I don't want to hear "Down Under" ever again, and Kylie over and over and over? I'd even prefer Olivia or INXS. The shops are clean and nice, all the new stuff is gorgeous, maybe in August we'll get to spend more than three hours. Went back to the park, rode The Beast, headed to Action Zone and the rain starts again. So we went to Flight of Fear and missed most of the storm, it was still raining when we came out but the smaller rides were running, so we rode the Antique Cars, bumper cars, Eagles, and went to The Beast - have to agree, best Beast crew and best Beast ride ever. I stink at crowd estimates but I have been to PKI on days as deserted as this evening was, not for many years though. Glad to find out who the mystery "PKIC rules" guy was! A great day despite the rain, just a few hours to sleep now and tomorrow is our last day until August, no more rain please!

Delirium.

VERY well said Cabron. It isn't nearly the smoking issue as it is a societal issue. I remember quite well the days when diet soda, mobile phones, and milk were all touted as carcinogens, very little is ever proven. I grew up with adults blowing smoke in my face everywhere; stores, schools, restaurants. I also remember the days that smoking was allowed in lines at all the parks. There was very little complaining about it, and then, only about the mess. Then the whole P.C. thing took over. I'm allergic to dogs, my eyes swell and turn red and I wheeze. I don't expect every dog in the world to be contained. I don't expect people to stop driving or using perfume because I don't like the smell of car exhaust or Vanderbilt. I don't smoke in line and don't appreciate those who do. BUT I also don't sit on the handrails, deface the scenery, swear, line jump or litter. There is nothing more annoying than a line jumper sitting on a handrail throwing trash on the ground sticking their gum on the wall complaining about the "f*cking smoke." Aaah, the good old days, when we followed ALL of the rules and everybody got along WAY better. Now, we just pick the ones we want to follow, because of course the ones we don't like are "stupid," make an excuse for our behavior while we complain about others.

Sounds like a good plan. Historically I've found Mondays waaay more crowded than Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We always have pretty good luck those days. Again, I hope you have a great time!

Which design is Giant Drop at SFGAm?

Thanks for the great TR! We stuffed my kid's shoes with toilet paper when she was that last hair short but both my kids are on the short side so she was 8 at the time, the older one didn't make it until she was 9. You never forget your first Beast ride with your kid! Again, great report. That's the kind of day PKI is all about for me!

June 8, 9, 10, 11 it is looking like for us. Historically we've had great luck with weather and light crowds that week. Maybe we'll even get to meet you, Boddah?

I have to agree that the crowds will probably be worse at the end of June (due to Beast's birthday) than August. Never stayed at the TownePlace but from the website it looks very comparable to the Comfort Suites - we have stayed at both of those in the area and both are very nice, Homewood Suites off of 275 is also very nice but more expensive. Have a wonderful time!!!

I agree with you as usual DragonLord. Safety is everyone's responsibility.

As far as funny PKI stories go, I don't think any will ever beat the Photo Booth Incident of '00. Chickening out of The Beastie, though, and fear of spiders are pretty good. The first time I ever rode The Beast ('85) there was a terrified guy screaming at the top of his high-pitched lungs the entire ride, "lordy, lordy, lordy!" As we climbed the second hill he screamed "thank you Lord, I'm safe now!" and a guy in the back answered him, "you're HALFWAY there, brother!" and it started over again, "Aaaaaaah! no, no, no, lordy, lordy, lordy!" When we came into the station the guy couldn't stand up he was shaking so hard, the about-9-year-old girl he was with had to hold him, rolling her eyes and trying to hide her face. Scaredy cats are always fun. Trouble was terrifed of the squirting blue elephant. She'd be frolicking around Hanna Barbera Land laughing, but if she caught sight of that thing you'd think it was an axe murderer. "No 'phant! Run away!" Always good times.

Some of us out-of-town losers who can't make it to PKI anywhere near as much as we'd like actually enjoy trip reports! If you write it, we will read....

OK, I love it!!!! I lloooove those old pictures, all of them! (Even though you gave my hubby credit for MY pics.) You must be tired! GREAT job!!!!

We did it the day after PKIC day last year, we took the whole downtown to-the-river-and-back tour. I did it mostly to test myself as I really don't like heights and hadn't flown since '95. It was a blast and I wish I'd had the foresight to bring a camera. The guy gave an excellent tour for us out-of-towners, pointing every last little thing out, we learned a lot - but I kept freaking when he would turn around while talking to me in back, as if it was a car or something, like "keep your eyes on the.......air?" As I recall it was expensive, like $80 each. I would've done it again.

OK, I just re-read this ridiculous article, typical political garbage. The best part is the quote about the fact that riders "often act like children, because they often are children." There's one for Captain Obvious! From the (way) over-18, parental, and retired-insurance-exec perspective: Liability is not an issue here. If you're not married, Mom and/or Dad can sue whether you're 14 or 80. If you ARE married (another thing you can do at 16 with consent) spouse takes over the right to sue. On the flip side, parents are not held liable for actions of minors over 13. Technically, the insurance carrier sets and oversees the safety programs, standards, procedures and policies for any business. They are not likely to hand over this kind of control to the government easily. I also feel that this would be another huge step backward for our teens, as someone would be sure to pounce on this bill as a precedent to slap even more restrictions on driving, if not push it to 18. Safety is not determined by age. (That said, let me also say that the ride ops at PKI are by far the best as a whole I've ever encountered.) Even the statistics cited by the Representative indicate that under-18's only account for 20% of injuries - despite being a large percentage of the workforce (that statistic left out), so his own statistics negate his logic. I doubt this will fly but I would hate to see it happen. Not once have I felt in any danger nor been concerned due to youth of a ride operator. It's got to be a tough job, in most areas it's a seasonal job, which people over 18 tend not to want anyway, it's a youth-oriented industry, and the teens are doing a fine job. It's only a proposed bill anyway, which can take years to get through our government. I say, let the Representative spend a day in the blazing sun (or biting cold) taking lip from strangers, running back and forth with stuffed animals and checking lap bars, measuring crying kids and cleaning up puke - and see if he does a better and safer job than the teenagers.

Hopefully you have your car set to shut off automatically after ten or so minutes, and didn't have to leave it run out of gas - it would be rather hard to hitchhike with a dislocated thumb! (Also, before the aforementioned Beast ride, I was complimented on my PKIC shirt by the young man checking lap bars. Now THAT'S funny! )

OK, here's a little one...a guy had one of those stuffed Shrek donkeys and he brought it on The Beast. Made it gallup up the handrail next to the lift hill and held it up high through the rest of the ride, this thing was bouncing and jerking through the helixes, he posed for the ORP... Those Shrek donkeys must be made sturdier than they look. It wasn't the only time I've seen a jacka$$ on The Beast, but it was definitely the most fun!