OldieButGoodie

I'm in pretty much perpetual motion, and we're so lucky at KI to have such a compact park - it's really not a big deal to 'zig-zag' - so I hit whatever strikes my fancy. At CP however, I'm NOT zig-zagging! A couple of laps around that park will wear you down.

Platinum Passes are 'Gold Passes' extended to all CF parks, and parking is included regardless of the 'home' park. You'll get whatever the pass perks are, for the park you're attending - they are not all the same. KI hasn't had special Platinum perks, but CP does. The ERT will be included, but check the website for additional perks (Millennium Force walk-back, late-night riding, etc). Have a *great* time!

+1 on that ^^ -- we were there at CP on a Saturday at the end of the season, the day crowds were incredible - shoulder-to-shoulder over the entire park (including the midway over toward Wicked Twister). They left, and the Haunt crowd came in even thicker! Definitely NOT a fun day.

Did I mention 'artistic license'? Oh yeah, I did. I prefer a couple of the coasters at CP, but Banshee's a great ride and I think KI did an awesome job with it - and that's what I was trying to convey in the interview.

I wonder if Cane's knows.... O never mind.

Guess my first experience on Banshee was summed up in the interview (lol) http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/record-breaking-Banshee-roller-coaster-debuts-at-k/nfcT3/ "Chris Heim of Beavercreek, who came to the park with the Great Ohio Coaster Club, said he’s been on every thrill ride at amusement parks Cedar Point and Kings Island, Carowinds and Kings Dominion, but Banshee “tops them all.”" Perhaps some 'artistic license' with what I said, but that's pretty close. Banshee does do a lot of twisting though, and from the rear half of the train, not knowing the track, it pushed me to my 'green' limit. I was definitely dizzy when I got off - but nothing like Firehawk's twist in the back! Hope to see y'all there sometime this summer!

Don't miss out on the Platinum Pass perks - they have several!

We went first week of June last week and had walk-on to nearly everything including Gatekeeper. The only long lines were for Maverick and MF at the end of the week.

If they added ride wait-time to the App (I don't recall it being there last time I used it) - updatable by the riders - that would be a huge plus for some.

uhoh! Will this thread go Noodle photo contest?

That happens if you put too much foam in there (and I'm no angel) but having a beverage isn't the same as having too many beverages! Most of us did something similar when we were in our 20s and immortal though! Variety is good though!

The restraints on Banshee look to be just like the ones on Gatekeeper, which have ample room in the 'frame' and an adjustable belt-like shoulder strap. Can't imagine you having any problem on that one.

Wow - for us (family of 3) it never works to buy day tickets (plus parking each day), but we usually do more than a day at whatever park we go to (we've done KI, CP, Kings Dominion and Carowinds to date). I still think for us the Platinum pass is the best bet - we usually do Halloweekends at CP each year too - but it pays to do the math. (who said you'd never use that from Highschool?!)

KI had one (and recordings from it are still available), but what happened to it is a mystery to some. The facia for it was on the carousel long after the mechanics were removed.

Just a(nother) snippet of the Wurlitzer 157 - if that's what's happening - would be so utterly tantalizing in the lead-up to opening day!

Chicken wings and beer, I'm there - but it looked a little like breaded strips were the only option. Full disclosure though: I could omit the chicken, if there's an adult malt beverage available. :-D

One of the best Platinum perks I've gotten was at the Johnsonville brat cart at CP. Purchase a meal-deal, get an extra brat free. That made the price of eating within the park much better than going outside or to the parking lot for my family of 4.

Although there's a 'political answer gotcha' in that. The 10% is off the 'standard rack rate', not off the best rate available. So you're not gonna get 10% off the deal you booked online, but it's there if you can't find any other deal around so it's better 'n nothing.

Those paw prints actually extended up between Diamondback and the BLSC - when it was the old-fashioned cars/taxis - but I'm not quite sure where it ended. It was there to show you where to stand while waiting in the lines that frequently extended that far *after* the lower queue line (now gone, behind the exit fence) and the rest of them were open.

The boys and I will be there, but as an old guy I just don't want to camp so we'll be at Breakers. They extended us for a day (at 188/night) so we can do the weekend, which will make the 3-hour drive more palatable! I know it's not exactly 'quiet' at night, so camping but not sleeping just isn't good for me. Hope to see some of you guys there!

People in 1979 (the year I graduated from H.S.) didn't complain about The Beast at all, it fit right into rivertown as a sawmill theme complete with water in the 'lagoon' where the train exits the station, and a sleuce at the 'approach end' of the station (still there, but no water runs). It helped define Rivertown, it did not detract. I miss the original theming...

Once they're paid for and the price is (more or less) accepted, the revenue from them becomes almost pure profit (aside from maintenance) that would return revenue for years. The park wouldn't adjust the price. Not a nit, just pointing out how I think the park would view things. But I love the idea of a $1/hour/use and $5 for a moveable locker. No reason it can't be done - it's electronic as-is. So long as the darned thing remains locked until I put the required funds in to get my stuff. I'd hate to lose a dSLR or expensive glass while riding a ride! And it speeds up the queues because ride ops don't have to wait for the chaos of the two trainloads trying to get to the same bins.

Folks will steal beach towels too (ask me how I know), but you just have to prepare best you can and go from there. Most recently folks have taken to stealing entire bags and leaving the area to see what they got in their 'grab bag'. Nobody ever disturbed our stroller when we had that (my kids are 9 and 13 now, so we don't need that anymore). We also were able to take formula and little-kid-friendly snacks without any problem, along with a bottle of water to make the formula. They may ask to inspect the bag, but they were always very accommodating (mostly looking for alcohol) because some folks can't follow the rules). As to beach 'safes', I don't trust the 'novelty' variety (such as at the souvenir stands). Get one at an outdoor place or one that is listed as 'waterproof' v. 'water resistant', and if it sustains that property submerged it'll say so. Most are just to prevent splashes, not to go under. Meijer also has some from time to time. Now, after all of that, we had a huge amount of fun in the waterpark when my kids were little. There are plenty of very shallow places that they can enjoy, and even some smaller slides and attractions that they'll like. Welcome to KICentral!

I loved the water shows and much of what's mentioned in this thread, having grown up with the park. I'd bring back the 'area' theming. That should be reasonably inexpensive beginning with music. For rides, oddly enough I'd like the flying scooters and tumblebug.

This really made my day! For those who've never ridden a carousel with an operating band organ, there just isn't a comparison. Woo Hoo!