upstop

During the media day program, Jeff mentioned new attractions at this years Fearfest. Do you think there might be something different coming?

Carowinds has "hollywood boulevard" themeing but not much. Also, the gate thing should only be in effect at closing, no change during park hours, for it to work.

The parade was too big of a hit with the kids.....I belive it will come back stronger next year. Magic of the Movies....not so sure. Even the other parks (Universal and MGM are slowly drifting to a PKI style of park with coasters and other rides because nearly everyone that has visited those parks knows now how movies are made. Fearfest....not going away, but possibly spreading to other locations in the park. Since it was centered around the International street when it opened, it has expanded north. Now is the time to include Rivertown. Karaoke singing. Seems popular to me. Try walking through the area when it's showing. I don't care if it stays or goes. Star Trek? They tried the characters once, unless they build a ride like the one in Vegas, not so sure it would go over. International Street "Hollywoodized".... this is a really good possibility, I think it should be totally revamped to be like Universal City Walk. This area could be a great after hours hang out with top notch restaraunts and perhaps an in park movie theater built in the administrative parking area to the right of the main gates. All they would have to do is gate the theme area entrances as "one way" after the park closes, with gates like the one to the Paramount Story park near the tower. The Paramount City Walk (for lack of a better name) could stay open all year round and bring in more money. Especially since Mason lacks many restaurant locations.

Anyone want to bet that next year it's the Addams Family Coaster?

If I could choose a new location for Timberwolf, it would be in the woods behind Tomb Raider. It's well inside the park and a natural shape for a stadium type setting.

The Bat was one of the coolest rides, however, being an Arrow Prototype, it was destined to fail. If it could have reached half the speed of Top Gun, it would have been incredible. I didn't like the first set of brakes right after the drop. You always got slammed there. I think the whole design was so awesome.

I think The Italian Job, mentioned in the surveys, should go somewhere in the Action Zone. If they relocated Timber Wolf to Rivertown, somewhere behind Tomb Raider, They would have room for several new rides.

One thing that has been mentioned over and over is the names of other "theme" parks IOA, UNIVERSAL,DISNEY. What is the one thing that they have in common? They have crews of people that do nothing but upkeep attractions. PKI has the poor maintenance guys on call all day. DISNEY has crews that clean the park spotless each night after closing as does IOA and UNIVERSAL, and unless it has change at PKI, it has always been the last operators to clean. Inspectors search the park for burnt out light bulbs, bubble gum and destruction. Rides are carefully monitored by the operators for wear and logged into daily logs and all rides are refurbed on a scheduled basis. The amount of people needed for upkeep of the themeing equals the amount of people that actually operate and run the park during the day. If PKI were to keep up with the more well known parks, they would need to double their workforce. Right now they are slowly tipping the scales to encourage more visitors, and eventually you will see better upkeep of themeing.

Perhaps this is why Jeff alluded to "year round service". Just because you can't ride coasters and other rides in winter (who would really want to). There are other ideas! The ride survey from months ago mentioned sports such as snow skiing and bobsleding pertaining to rides. There have been mentions in other surveys of shops and "indoor events". Could it be that the land behind Top Gun, Son of Beast and Flight of Fear is being earmarked to be used as a new version of the Mall of America??? There is quite a bit of land back there. This would open the market for year round entertainment and a resort atmosphere. Also, just because the area surrounding PKI is being "locked in" by housing, parking and schools, doesn't mean that the old parking lot couldn't be converted to a parking garage, freeing up even more space for construction. As we have found out in the past, anything can happen.

last year the queue was used and the ride was intact but not used.

When they said 75% of the rides would be operational, I think they meant Hanna Barberra land. About 75 percent of the rides are there. But it would be cool it they rethemed some of the indoor rides to be holiday rides.

I'll come for route 666, however, same old thing three years in a row......blah.

They probably removed them to draw attention to "splat city"

There was a fountain in the circle of ginko trees between Zepher, skeeball and basket ball. I believe there is a potted plant over the intake return. Kids used to run through it like they do in Nick Central. Later around the time of the accidents, they put a potted plant in the middle.

If fearfest is included with admission, its going to be a crowded mess....just like the fourth of July weekend.....ZOINKS!

hmmmmmmmm, so thats why they got rid of all of the fountains in the park except for the royal fountain. They no longer have the one in front of Festhaus or the one in Coney Mall.

Next year is the 25th aniversary of The Beast. Does anyone think they may continue replacing wood on the structure and possibly adding anything new to the surroundings? New queue, Theming, etc?

At this rate it should be ready to ride come the 2008 season. Plus, have you seen any attraction at PKI that is actually in excellent condition? Paint, structure, queue. Not really, they put the attraction in to draw crowds.....set it and forget it. If it weren't for the major overhaul on the first curve on The Beast it would be a nightmare as well.

blah, blah, blah. Take the wooden track off. Get rid of the goofy trains. Add steel track to it. Add two more trains. Add another lift and another 1000 feet for a new record. Then you have a new coaster that will draw crowds. Also,...no one gets major injuries on the ride? My friend rode it Monday, first time last seat, loved it. Second time first seat last car. When he got of the ride he had difficulty breathing. Today, after an x-ray, he has one cracked rib and may be out of commision for weeks. Perhaps PKI should have let the professionals complete the coaster instead of taking over and half-*ssing the job.

7D rules, the new addition to drop zone is in the seat belt mechanics. Instead of a slip on lock, it has a lock that must be squeezed from the side to unlock.....hence, a long wait for unloading if the guest is unfamiliar with how to unlock.

The reason they changed the name was licensing for Outer Limits. The show was a popular revival during the 90's. However, if they were going to re-theme it they should use a movie.....Star Trek perhaps? If they would add the third train back as it now operates without OTSR, as well as adding the 6th car (the clones have a 6th car), the line would be a people mover. With a little special effects magic, the 24 riders could be "Beamed UP" for a battle with the Klingons inside the ride building.

Unless things change this year, its a separate admission. It is free for seasons pass holders this year. I know they are moving it to Saturday and Sunday, with a 1am closing on sat and a 10pm closing on Sunday. The last couple of years, you had to have a wristband to ride the rides or walk through the houses. Guest relations hinted that it might be included with admission, but I don't think it will be. Imagine the crowd if it is included with the one day admission, however, crowds are what they are looking for this year.

The final run after the last tunnel and the helix were banked more to handle the speed and the helix was originally supposed to be totally enclosed. However in the second season, the two tunnels in the woods were connected. At that time you zipped into one then the other and there was hardly any dark at all. So to keep the record of 4 tunnels, they left the helix open. I also recall the roof area in place the first year over the helix, but only the current tunnel area enclosed. The next year the roof was gone from the upward spiral of the helix.

Every mechanical ride at Kings Island has an "expiration date" in its maintainance contract for wear and replacement parts. Wild Thornberrys is a perfect example. The contract was for 13 years. It was first built at Coney Island in 1969 and the contract was up in 1982. Since replacement parts were still available from Arrow, until their bankruptcy a couple of years ago, the original ride was maintained until PKI had the ride rehabed from fiberglass to aluminum by a local company and "viola", a new ride. Expect to see more replacements of Arrow coasters and rides as their contract times expire.

my friend and I rode the other day and the ride stopped for about 15 minutes. We both left the ride with around 9000 points. (I know, thats cheating....but all's fair during a breakdown!)