alluna

Really some kinks to work out. I think that, overall, our experience has taught us that opening day isn't really all we thought it was cracked up to be. With the cold weather, closings and staff mistakes, we'd rather let them work it out for a few weeks before we touch down on the park next year. We noticed Invertigo, Race FYLCB, Beast, Monster, BLSC, Old Runaway Reptar (forget the new name...) closed today. We saw the clock greenery was missing, wallpaper peeling from the BH queue area (intentional?), there wasn't a big Snoopy on the Surf Dog (previous photos lead me to believe there would be, but I understand that rides can vary), and a few other things that seem 'off' today. And the crowds? A 45 minute wait for Top Gun is just weird. Most of the staff behind registers needed help, it seemed to take forever to get anything food-related ordered. At one point we ordered a Diamondback cup at a place in Planet Snoopy (by the bumper cars). The girl told my husband that they didn't have the Diamondback cup and handed him the Fear the Four 32 oz instead, still charging us for the Diamondback. She told the hubs that the pictures on the window were from last year, and that the cup he had was the right size! Poor hubby went along with it (he's way too nice). I'm not. We quickly found ourselves back at the stand. After ten minutes of much negotiating, phone calls, button pushing, and general confusion, it was as simple as my initial suggestion: 'How about we walk over to that other food stand and grab one of their Diamondback cups for this purchase?' The manager seemed to agree, because he did just that. It was a kind of head-shaking and shrugging moment. I'm sure they'll work out these quirks once everyone settles in. I'm wondering, besides cabin fever...what is the attraction of opening day? Maybe I just experienced an annoying one, but I'm not really seeing the advantage of hitting the park early when things aren't quite ready. Best part of the day? Way Too Much TV. It was corny... not as funny as I thought it would be, but there was an interactive audience trivia portion and lots of tunes we could sing along to (plus..Festhaus was warm). I'm not sure if they rotate the actors, but Paige was in this one and my daughter got a photo with her. I believe she was the witch in Gouls Gone Wild.

Wow, 6am? Do people tailgate in the parking lot before the park opens? I feel like there is a whole aspect of a day at the park that I had no idea about, here...

This is hands-down the best answer yet.

Hmm. My son is weighing in at 125 and I'm hoping that by walking 100+ miles this summer at KI, he'll be able to burn off some of that extra baggage. A note on the WiiFit... it certainly won't replace a couple hours at the gym, but it is exponentially cheaper and could help people during the winter. You can even do a free run or step aerobics on it while watching TV. If you're going to be watching TV anyway, step aerobics can be a good way to at least burn some calories while you're in the livingroom. I don't need to loose weight at this point, but I use it to keep a healthy heart, which is important during those winter months, too! Good luck to everyone with a goal this summer!

This is why I love this forum. Where else could I find out such news and opinions on ketchup? (catsup, anyone?)

At least to sell $10 ponchos...

Am I actually excited to see a show at Kings Island? Could it be? Well, since Ghouls Gone Wild, I've been looking forward to another show, really. 20-something (number will remain mysterious) years of visiting KI means I've sat through some stinkers as a kid and with my own kids. Most of them seem to be required to follow this music montage law (i.e., no story). They can be difficult to enjoy without the performance being overly cheesy, corny and otherwise face-palmy. That's why I'm glad to hear that there is humor in this one. It is what made GoulsGW a great show, and is the only way to do music montage shows, IMHO. There is obviously singing/dancing/performing talent to be appreciated, but for me, the humor saves the show. (We've also been to Disney and it's hard to beat that kind of entertianment. Story, music and humor there.) I'll be sure to catch this one, and hoping it makes us laugh.

I love the idea of sprucing up the park, but some of these ideas sounds kind of like the 'Kings Club' could be used a little bit too much by KI as free labor. I don't mean to poop on the parade, but there is red tape here that needs to be worked with. Stuff like cleaning gum should be done by the park. KI loves the idea of a helpful band of volunteers because it means that things may get done for free. They are a money-making business. The goodwill of park lovers shouldn't be directed toward jobs that should be done by park workers. ON the other hand, (and this is just an off-the-cuff example) the 'Kings Club' could do something like provide McDonalds gift cards to park employees that go the extra mile to find time to pick off gum here and there. Something indirect that rewards park employees instead of giving volunteer man hours to such tasks. Some of the things like making changes and dusting the Crypt may not be easy to orchestrate. Every addition to a ride has to be approved (even a sheet) and someone from the park would have to be on hand while things like dusting were done. So they'd have to pay personnel to be on hand while the volunteers came in. Even something like placing plants would have to be reviewed and approved. Things like this may meet contention with the park: Old barn wood would have to be replaced much sooner than painted plastic. We all know that whenever you replace something that people have come to expect at KI, they don't like it. New barn wood would have to be provided and re-stained as the old wood gave away or wore enough to not meet safety/building code. This kind of authentic theming is a feat that Disney might have the foresight and cash to support, but a park like KI might not like the idea of all that future maintenance, and depending on an outside organization to carry the responsibility. I LOVE this idea. I can't see the park meeting this with contention outside of liability and background checks to let people represent their brand outside of KI employment.When you can detail specific projects, it is also easier to get grants or sponsorship donations. Taking on a few projects a year means that there is more focus and each project can be wrestled in red tape with the park. I'm all for helping out the park, but we would have to focus on specific projects, and make sure that we're not providing free labor. I have created a 501c3 organization before, and there is a lot of legal implications when you form an independent entity that handles donations and works with entertainment businesses like KI. It can be kind of ridiculous at times, but when you play by the rules and get through all the complicated business, you come out on the other side with a lot of good works and happy people.

So, I got to thinking... What ideas do I have? On the very extreme of the spectrum is The Kings Club. Simply a way for fans of the park to really come together and talk about the inner workings, the things to improve, and the things that have improved! Perhaps its "out of the question," but I'm sure at some point, so was the idea of a park having a Twitter or a daily Q&A session where nothing is off limits! Quite simply, the club could be half fan-club, half-volunteer work where a small group of folks could be 'on the inside.' Imagine: 1.) MONTHLY MEET-UPS with a park "big wig" to discuss areas of improvement and throw ideas back & forth - perhaps the team behind the 5@5? I'm sure things are busy enough, but it's an idea! And during the off-season, the meetings can continue at local restaurants. 2.) AFTER-HOURS WORK to enact some of the cheap & easy ideas discussed in #1 (what immediately comes to mind - cleaning gum off of The Racer; hanging up camouflage netting inside The Crypt, gardening in the Tower Gardens...) 3. ADVERTISING. As was suggested in the 5@5, it might be phone calls, creating advertisements in Photoshop, distributing coupons... To be the official Kings Club would mean to spread the word, to encourage people to visit, and to create lasting memories for those who do! Perhaps even greeting people as they enter & just giving them a smiling face & an answer to any questions... Things like that really separate parks & give people an incredible first impression. 4. "SNEAK PEAKS" - a lights on ride of Flight of Fear, Boo Blasters & The Crypt; a night-time walk around Adventure Express... Even a walk-through of the Backlot Stunt Coaster tunnel with the lights on (what's in there?! Even on the few times that the house lights are on, I can't make it out.) would make us feel special & be so much fun! 5. ORGANIZING UNIQUE EVENTS. I, for one, know that I have a ton of art I've done of Kings Island, as do a lot of others. Much of it is very good. Hosting a "Kings Island Art Show" in the International Restaurant one evening would be a thrill for the Club members, and anyone from the park who decided wander up and check it out. Or a Kings Club Road-trip to Kings Dominion! For me, Kings Island has been a part of my life for eighteen years (make it 19 years when I celebrate my birthday there April 24th...) and it would mean the world to me to be able to say what I want to say, to praise the park where it should be praised, and to help out, knowing that it's actually worth something. I can sit & rave about the landscaping for days to my friends, but to say it to someone who actually LISTENS, and who can actually DO SOMETHING where needed - that would be so great. Especially if *I* could be the one to do it! To know that, even in the smallest way, I've improved the park! So, what are your thoughts on such an idea? Out of the question? Realistic? Also, be sure to discuss it (if you can!) on Kings Island's Facebook board since that's where those who can make things happen are more likely to read. This is what I was talking about with the post I put up a few days ago: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21156

Here is a link to the SOPHS page that Cory was talking about: http://www.soaphs.com/ Not sure if this is the new site or if a new one is being worked on...the 'Preservation Projects' link doesn't work, so I'm not sure what they are targeting with donations at the moment.

Sweet pics! One of the gorillas there (it may have been the one you got a pic of) continually barfs, then slurps it up. Over and over again. Then there is another that has its mouth hanging open all the time like something is wrong with it..had a stroke? I don't know. Apes are always so fascinating... and disturbing.

If you don't like the weather in Ohio... wait five minutes.

Ouch, I'll be sure to spell check before I post any articles here for Terpy's perusal! There are a few columnists at DDN that know what they are doing, but most reports are kind of like this one- little more than a press release. The DDN is not exactly known for crack journalism. Maybe journalism on crack.

I hope everyone who attends will have fun at the event! It sounds like a good time, what with the low attendance and generally tolerant people filling the park.

Great photos, for starters. The rest of this post is getting a little too tense for the ol' amusement park message board. I wouldn't rail the guy and call troll yet.. he's seems like a goofy kid that enjoys a juicy conspiracy. Not worth picking apart or giving an audience to some of those claims. He went wrong with this crowd the moment he insulted the Flying Eagles!! (I think everyone needs a cookie.)

TopThrill, Thank you so much for posting this!! I'm old enough to remember sitting with Fred and sailing with the Smurfs, but I don't remember the Safari experience at all! I could not believe the attention to theme in Oktoberfest! An Oompa band? Whooda thunkit. One of those photos of International Street photos looks like it was taken from the lower viewing area on the Eiffel Tower. Also, I didn't know that the monorail was the one sitting at Jungle Jims. Crazy! I am so so wishing that theme would take precidence once more at Kings Island. From these photos, it looks like it was a very immersive environment. Remember Americana? It was run down, sure, but it had that 'slow and relaxing' kind of atmosphere that made it a pleasurable day. This old KI kind of reminds me of that. Edit: Along these lines, I've found an old KI brochure on eBay... you can look at every page of the brochure in this auction. http://item.ebay.com/380222430969

I would rather the Tower Gardens be discussed here than in the 5@5 thread, really. If people are so concerned about it as to fill up a few pages of the 5@5 thread, then the discussion probably merits it's own thread.

ahoy. I have a reputation as a 'do-er' and when I see so many other people interested in preserving the park, it makes me want to do something. In response to threads like this thread, this one and this one, I wanted to know if there is a KI historical society of some kind, outside of Cedar Fair. Since KI has been such a long-standing part of our community, it seems like there would be a lot of families out there that sat in the Flintstones car or enjoyed a day in Oktoberfest and are at least somewhat invested in preserving the history and beloved attractions of the park. Is there such a society outside of Cedar Fair? There is the NAPHA, but it seems awfully widespread. They have a heritage fund which helps to restore rides, etc. at various parks, so this is telling me that outside organizations can work with parks. If there isn't one in existence, I'm proposing that there could be an outside organization that is invested in the nostalgia of the park. I know there are a lot of people here who are ready to hand KI a shovel and a shrub. CF responds to money, so maybe lighthearted fundraisers could do things like fix our clock or buy a freakin bed of flowers. Little things that aren't on the KI agenda because they are working on bigger things like getting new rides. It may sound like a silly reason to raise money, but I've seen money raised for far goofier things. Where there is a will, there's a way. Thoughts? (also, if there is such an organization in place, sorry if I haven't noticed your work and I don't mean to step on any toes, here)

Avatar, I would ask about the clock at 5@5 and send in a link to the video of the girls dancing! How can they expect there to be interest in the Oktoberfest theme if they aren't maintaining it?? That's their job, not ours. My belief is that if you theme anything right, the people will enjoy it. I had no interest in Morocco until I walked the streets of Epcot. Morocco is now in my bucket list. Edit: I am going to ask at 5@5, too, so they know there is a general interest in this!

I will be there no matter what the weather!! Maybe not getting my face pelted with rain on The Beast, but I'll be hanging around till it lets up!!

It is my opinion that giant in-house baked cookies should be sold in all places. Movie theaters, the library, Walmart, the post office, nail salons... Okay, maybe I'll stay relegated to purse cookies.

What exactly is wrong with this dude coming up with a vegetarian menu and posting it here? I mean... why does he have to justify it? It was a nice thing for him to post. If you don't want to use it, then don't, but I'm sure that someone out there is getting some use out of it. There are at least a thousand and three webpages of complete menus for Disney World eats with every cent and french fry accounted for. A single posting of a vegetarian menu on a KI message board isn't going to hurt anyone. Let the guy do his research and post it for those who will find it useful. Some people aren't aware of some soups that are broth based or desserts that contain gelatin. If he wants to do the leg work, more power to him. Yes, I need a cookie.

The idea of sunshine touching Ohio between November and March! My hubs is a roofer and his sun burnt nose would beg to differ. I really want to build a wacky Pee-Wee Herman type invention that hits him in the face with sunblock as he walks out the door!!

At first I had to chuckle about the lack of SoB appearing on the map and thought of the slew of jokes my kids are going to tell when they navigate the park. "What's that?" "I dunno, it's not on the map..." "Must be uncharted territory!" "Looks like a mistake to me." "A mistake on the map?" "Nope." (repeat for four months or so...) Then I just got excited about the 2010 season and so very thankful that we have something cool like KI so close to home!!!

In an attempt to get back to a 5@5 thread: Does anyone have photos of this? I'd love to see what pieces can be taken off each season...