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KIfan1980

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Posts posted by KIfan1980

  1. If you look at it, the highest/fastest which is really the granddaddy of the records is on hiatus if not gone industry wide. It jumped from 300' to 400' feet so rapidly and in a fashion that wasn't considered successful for the parks - so unless there is a new approach to 400' out there, I'm doubtful we'll see it pushed. Why push much higher than 300 even (see I-305, Leviathan).

    Beyond that, records can be considers either relevant or irrelevant to enthusiasts, marketers, and GP so that is what you get in today's world.

    What I'd assume is more relevant is a ride type master plan for a park that looks at the desired customer base (families, thrill seekers, and likely a bunch of other categories), and evaluates the different ride experiences (terrain, twisters, loopers, family fun, high G, airtime,betc...) currently available in both flats and coasters. From here - pick what makes sense for the next 1-3 additions and go look for options - if one of those options happens to be a potential record breaker, then it becomes part of the analysis at that point.

    • Like 2
  2. I beleive that KI PR has indicated in prior threads and on Facebook that announcements regarding pass renewal and Halloween Events this fall would be made around Labor Day. There is nothing scheduled for anything "what's new for 2013". That will come "later".

  3. I can't really see a park without cola products

    Did you mean that you can't imagine a park without Coke products or a park without cola products. Noting that Pepsi-cola and even RC-cola are cola products - whereas some restaurants have moved away from them entirely (going to the all natural drink options) which I agree, I can't see a park doing.

    • Like 1
  4. I've seen a skunk under the walkway to Viking Fury. Made for an interesting entrance to the ride as everyone ran overhead and around the corner.

    I've seen them shut down the kids track cars because of an animal in the vicinity. I thought I saw a snake, my in laws swear it was a skunk.

  5. One of my Facebook friends linked to the following article earlier today. Some may also say its not the NFL's place to get get involved in this issue either, but if there are campaigns out there that companies can support in this fashion then I say good for them.

    http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/08/24/49ers-are-the-first-nfl-team-to-create-a-it-gets-better-video/

    Maybe that is the approach the OP could encourage with KI. Is there an active community program that the KI and peanuts gang could support (ok - I understand KI for license reasons probably couldn't use Peanuts), but you could get 3-4 faces of KI (Enthusiast Dude, Don/Greg, Ride Ops, Lifeguards, etc...) to produce a video pretty easily that might help a little.

  6. Kind of like those delays for mechanical issues when flying - nah, let's not wait for maintenance to check it out I'd rather try and get there ontime.

    It does amaze me that we let things we have NO control over allow us to cause so much stress.

    • Like 4
  7. Thanks for the TR - I had the pleasure of riding Zippin Pippin in GB last summer and really enjoyed that pop of ejector airtime, and also found the whole ride enjoyable.

    Also, I've always been wondering, what does it mean to rip the cord on a Flying Eagles type of ride?

    I'm assuming you guys are talking about snapping the cables (at least that's what we always called it I think). On certain types of scooters, it is possible to get your motion going to where you create a slack in the cables inbfront of or behind your eagle and it will snap loudly as the ride helps catch it back up to speed and out to full extension.

  8. I don't like to criticize others for the choices that they make in identifying a top ten as it is by definition subjective and personal. To demonstrate, at KI my top 10 is broken down as follows:

    - Top 3: Beast, Diamondback, Vortex

    - 4-7: Firehawk, Racer, Flight Deck, BLSC

    - 8-10: Woodstock Express, Flying Ace, FOF

    - 11-14: AE, Invertigo, Pumpkin, Surf Dog (mainly cuz I think of it as a flat)

    Bottom line, I can see a top ten without AE and FOF pretty low on the list

    I will, however, criticize a lack of journalistic research and sloppy reporting if necessary.

    • Like 2
  9. I would imagine that control panels for coasters all have some things in common:

    - the types of tasks that are performed after all are very similar no matter the coaster (unlock, lock, dispatch, e-stop)

    - they likely all have switches, pushbuttons, keys for some items

    How these tasks are done I'd guess is somewhat dependent upon the coaster (age, manufacturer, type) with some newer coasters using the panelview screens to control some items that older coasters used a switch for:

    - think about locking/unlocking restraints. On The Beast, this feels like it is done with one button/switch for the whole train, while on Diamondback it seems like each row can be controlled independently or as a whole train with each seat displaying a lock confirmation independently on the panelview.

    - I also remember someone posting a picture once of the block system display on beast (it was basically an array of LED's). I'd also imagine that this is much different on Diamondback where I'd guess there is a much more detailed graphical display to minimize confusion.

    Please note, however, that this is all a guess as like some other posters in this thread, I haven't actually used one. ;)

    Seriously though thanks for the picture - if anyone else has some they can share without violating any terms of employement, I'd love to see them. Thanks.

  10. The park is offering a passholders bring a friend deal for $19.99 on labor day weekend unless I'm misremembering something. This likely indicates that crowds are expected to be lower than they have been. This time of year KI starts to fight its reputation as a seasonal park and people start to have other obligations.

  11. I should have PM's a mod about trying to make KIC Day 2012 an "Official Event". I wanted to make another KIC event like the ones from 08 and the past, but I guess I failed making an "official" event.

    If one of the folks who run this site wanted to have an official event, they could put the effort into makin it happen. They have discussed something many times since '08, but haven't made it happen. It is their choice - but my guess is that they get what they want/need from this site without the extra effort so therefore no event.

    • Like 2
  12. Over the past few years, I have carried in a small soft sided cooler probably 20 times. I was not asked about it once upon either entry or use - I felt it was mostly legal as it contained special diet food, but no one ever checked or asked me about it. To me that tells a story of complacency with that rule.

  13. Say what will about the ride experience, its hard to deny that it is a very impressive structure.

    I struggle with how to say what I think you are saying.

    From a visual standpoint, the image of SoB is quite impressive, with all that lumber rising so high the atructure does look impressive.

    But at the same time, it is the technical inadequacy of the design, materials, and construction of that structure that has led to all the problems from what I understand - this is far from impressive.

    One can't help but wonder - what if it had been impressive from both the visual and technical perspective.

    • Like 1
  14. No, but the amount caught will change drastically depending upon how much of an emphasis there is on enforcing any given rule. If workers see a no big deal leadership (do as I do) approach, it will carry over.

    If, however, every worker saw leadership make a big deal about enforcing the rules, they would feel encouraged and empowered to do so also.

  15. One final thought from me on the subject. Previously I've seen people wonder if the amount of the sale was significant in the Fun Perks system - with the belief is that it is: 1 $20 purchase is the same as 10 $2 purchases. This has always been looked at on the low end - can I purchase a bunch of cheap things to level up.

    What if there is, however, a $ limit per transaction on the top end that would drive what Jonscars sees. Not sure how many high $ items the park sells, but maybe the programming doesn't reflect a difference between $1-5, $5-10, $10-15, etc.., but not a differenc once over $50 (as an example)

  16. Thank you for that explanation. It had never made sense to me that SoB was limited to 2 trains, but I never realized that typical final block was missing in the design.

    • Like 1
  17. First off, the FB thing is completely unrealated I have a different name on facebook the the one attached to my funperks account, as I do not use my real name on FB. I doubt anyone in Guest Services even uses that FB account. Also I highly doubt a company no matter how much they disagree with a patron would EVER not take their money or do something that would make that person not come back to their park and spend their money in the park. With KI its all about the money, hence the big smoking area debate on the other thread, a 8 year old being designated as an adult, the whole funperks program is designed to milk money from season pass holders who usually wouldn't spend money in the park without incentives... I am 10,000% sure that has absolutely nothing to do with this situation. So thats out the window.

    First, let me be clear I was not trying to state that they flagged you, tracked down your purchase, and intentionally did anything to you in this situation because of what happened on FB.

    But, if I was KIPR reading this thread, as he likely has - It would, limit my desire to get involved and spend any time trying to help at this point

    Finally, your attitude as Brownttggr says, comes across in the text with comments like "so that's out the window" (people are merely throwing out ideas/potentials) and actions like saying you're willing to get over it but not stopping the posting.

    A final thought - I don't recall a post where someone discusses leveling up through FL purchases - maybe that's the biggest indication that the system is designed to exclude them.

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