HomerJay

I was just at Cedar Point a few days ago and I have to say this. . . I rode Disaster Transport. Compared to that ride, FoF is the Freakin' Mummy Ride! I have never seen such horrible and pointless theming as CP has at Disaster Transport. And at least with FoF there's a good ride waiting for you at the end. DT was horrrid!

I'm not worried about the lighting on the Eiffel Tower. I figure when it comes to regulations and stuff like that, the park probably knows what it's doing. And honestly, I have to admit that obsession is taken to a new low when you're noticing different lights at the top of the towers!

FoF was really cool and unique when it first opened with Outer Limits. I don't know why, but now the theming is just cheesy without the Outer Limits behind it. And yeah, I agree that the theming has gone downhill :-( The ride itself is one of the best in the park, though, so I guess you can't really complain. . . but some cooler theming would make it THAT MUCH more enjoyable. I definitely think it's odd that theming under Paramount has been very underwhelming (although I heard IJ is well done). I was expected some disney or universal studios quality. Instead we basically just get standard amusement park rides with a logo based on a paramount movie. Even Tomb Raider could really just be any run-of-the-mill adventure ride. . . which is actually good, because the Tomb Raider movies sucked :-) And yeah, Paramount should take more pride in The Paramount Story. Yes, they have given us classics--Beverly Hills Cop, The Godfather, Indiana Jones. But c'mon--celebrate some of the newer ones. Show some pride for Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart and some anticipation for War of the Worlds!

What happened to the old webcam they used to have??? They need to put one on the Eiffel Tower again. plus, websites in the cleveland area have all sorts of different webcams for Cedar Point. And PKI is a much more scenic park than CP, you'd think they'd get more webcams!

I've always found that the souvenier cup is the BEST deal in the park, especially if you're there for more than one day. Here's why. . you pay $4.99 or so for a souvenier cup and fill it with pop. And then you clip it to your belt and carry it around with you for the remainder of the stay and fill it up with water when you want a drink. You save SO MUCH money that way!!!

When it comes to longest waits at PKI, I'd probably have to say it's rare if I have to wait longer than two hours. PKI usually moves their lines pretty quickly, except for FOF, which can be sooooo slow if it's busy. Cedar Point hasn't learned about this type of crowd control yet. I've waited 3 hours for the Mantis and about the same for Millenium force. I refuse to wait 6 hours for a coaster! That's half a day at the amusement park!

King Cobra wasn't a bad ride...especially when standing up and looping was a novel concept. The first drop was incredible and the loop was fun. But those features are done better on Cedar Point's Mantis, although that ride can be a little painful (especially for men!) However, King Cobra had an awesome helix near the end and some fun little bunny hops that gave great air time. I don't know if it was ever worth the long wait it often had, but it definitely was a fun coaster and it is definitely missed! As for reinstalling it, though, I think you'd be disappointed. I remember that it seemed always be down for at least while when I was there. Also, the thrill on The Mantis is much better with the four loops and a higher drop. Still, I'd love for PKI to get another standing looper.

I'm a Starbucks addict. . . but I must say that on a hot summer day, that doesn't sound too good. Coffee is GREAT, but I've always found it to upset my stomach at amusement parks (I usually get a big cup before going to Cedar Point). Still, a cup at night before the fireworks would be nice and relaxing. . .having it at Winterfest would be cool. . .and I still like my suggestion of keeping International Street open year round as a shopping/dining destination, although the logistics are probably not too good.

That is really creepy! The fog and the plants growing in the ferris wheel. The coaster waiting for riders that will never come. That would be a great setting for a horror movie!

PKI is the only park that I visit where I actually enjoy spending some time in the kiddie area (I don't have kids). They always do a good job, and I think some changes to Nick Central would be fun. . . Although, both of these rides seem water-themed. What if they expanded Nick Central into Boomerang Bay as a family-themed water park?? I know BB has a kids' area, but due to the popularity of Spongebob and the fact that most of these rides seem water themed, it just seems logical. Also, isn't BB right next to HBL? If its not, it's still pretty close. . . would be a cool way to make the transition from PKI to BB, especially with Wild Thornberries there. If they do go with the indoor NC attractions, though, I hope they put more care into the theming than with SDHC. Let's go with something more than lame cardboard cuttouts. Look at Splash Mountain at Disney. I would love to see a Nick ride that utilizes some of that type of animatronic technology.

I gave it a 4 as well. . . Extreme is a bit too high for PKI. . . it's always been more of a family park than a thrill park (that's a good thing). But the nice thing is that even if someone isn't into high thrill rides, they still ave a good number of intemediate roller coasters--Adventure Express, Racer, Top Gun. But for the people who love the BIG thrill rides---well, SOB, The Beast, Vortex, and FOF are about as thrilling as you can get. And even though they're not coasters, I'd have to say Delerium and TRTR are some of the best rides in the midwest.

I personally enjoy every coaster at PKI--even AE is kind of fun in a corny way. For me the ride that is most overrated is anything in the Action Theatre. The lines are usually long when I'm there. I remember the first time I went there, back when Days of Thunder premiered. I was all hyped up thinking it was going to be like Back to the Future or Star Tours or something at Disney/Universal. And what did we get?? A big movie screen with ELECTRIC ROCKING CHAIRS!!!! To me, the films there have ALWAYS ruined the illusion. They get out of 1st person mode (days of thunder) they go away from the illusion of vehicle movement (James Bond) or they're just plain odd (remember that weird comic book thing?) Plus, it kills the illusion when you can see everyone in their chairs rocking along next to you!!! They should have spent some $$ and made it a first-rate simulation like Back to the Future. Right now it's just a waste of space.

The post was done in half-jest. . . it was a half-joke. Sorry if you were offended. And I do have to say that The Beast crew an hour before closing has always been full of energy.

Okay, as a guest of PKI who drives six hours from Detroit to go down there, I personally think it's quite rude for employees to say that guests are annoying. We pay your salary!!! I understand you need to vent and honestly this post is just in good humor. But let's not forget that park employees are not always cream of the crop. To wit: 1. Employees gabbing with other employees even when I'm trying to ask a question (I understand work-related stuff but "what are you doing tonight" is break room stuff). 2. Making such a big deal about line jumping but every time I've pointed out a line jumper they just let it slide. 3. Not knowing how to properly count money and give back change (this has happened so often at PKI it's not funny!) 4. There was this really creepy little guy (young guy) who ran the elevator at the Eiffel Tower. He was in charge of taking guests up and down. I never once saw him smile and when I tried to crack a joke he just had a stick up his butt. Customer service means you LIKE your guests!! (We don't have to like you--that's part of the deal). 5. The employees who are going to read this list and not have a sense of humor about it because they take this job as the greatest job in the world, protect secrets like national security and tow the company line without seeing the corporate BS that Viacom spins.

I say join the suit! SUE 'EM!!! SUE 'EM ROTTEN!!! DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER CORPORATE AMERICA!!!! MUWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Wow, we're really going a long time on a silly rumor. But let's speculate: what major attraction could we, honestly, do without? Congo Falls is really a waste of space. . . until the weather gets warm. But there's always White Water Canyon or Wild Thornberries to get wet with. Kids' rides. . .quite honestly, they could get rid of a lot back there and I doubt anyone would notice, so long as it wasn't SDHC (although I can't see why) or the Hanna Barbera Carousel...although, if they are going to NC instead of HBL next year, that could be a likely possibility. As for flats. . . Shake Rattle & Roll? The Monster? Scrambler? I know that those are considered "classics" but they're nothing every other park doesn't have. Plus, you can ride them at pretty much any carnival all over the country. But if it's NOT a ride. . . possibly the Paramount Story? (no. . . it said a 'major' attraction.) There's the Festhaus, but that is a great place for them to make $$ with food. Timberwolf also rakes in the $$ with Spirit Song and other concerts. My best bet is that when NC is done next year (if that's what it is) that we'll see HBL losing some popular attractions.

First off, this kind of rumor gets started every five days so I don't think there's anything to worry about. Second, I seriously doubt PKI would be removing a roller coaster. After all, if they were going to put something in its place they would have to close it down earlier than the end of the season. My guess is that it's just a rumor that will have no substance to it. However if a ride is removed, my guess is that it's not going to be as "major" as people think. Probably something like Congo Falls or a flat. Nothing to get pants in a twist over.

There are a couple nice camping spots close by Kings Island. Olive Branch campground is only like 10 minutes away and it is really nice with a pool and a game room. . .I wish I could remember the name of the place I stayed last year, but it was right on the river and also rented canoe's and things. It was nice and cheap. Still, too bad about the PKI campground being closed. It was so close to the park and you didn't have to pay to park each day because you could just take the tram. Maybe in the future. . .

Is someone REALLY dissing The Beast???????? I can understand why kids (people under 18) may not like it. It's not near as terrifying or record breaking as some other rides. But those kids are the same people who don't understand why the original Halloween is far superior to any other horror movies or why The Simpsons in its prime is 10 times better than any episode of The Family Guy! The Beast is an original. It still gives the BEST nighttime ride in the park. It's the roller coaster that made Kings Island famous!! People still jam in for one last ride at night even though it's in the friggin' back of the park!!!! You still get whipped around pretty good and you still end with quite a rush!! And if you ride it at the right time at night you get the best way to look at the fireworks anywhere in the park!!! Likewise, The Racer is an original! Before Gemini and before The Beast, there was The Racer! And what other ride in the area goes backwards?? Plus, you still get airtime, it's a great coaster to introduce rookies to and it's just fun!! Its the same s who predict the removal of The Beast and Racer that often call for the removal of Blue Streak or Magnum at Cedar Point. Blue Streak will never be removed because it is integral to the park's history. And whoever says the Magnum is useless now that they have Millenium force or TTD is smoking something pretty strong. The Magnum still is the best ride at Cedar Point!!! Consider them oldies but much-betters!!

Nah, Racer is probably right behind The Beast in the list of rides PKI will only remove once they're too worn out to work. It runs good, it packs in the people and it's honestly still a good coaster. Coasters PKI won't remove: The Beast Racer Vortex SOB--can you imagine the huge bonfire, though??

Having been going to PKI for over 20 years, I have quite a few traditions: 1.) ALWAYS ride The Beast at night. And even if we get off and the park is still open for a few more minutes, we don't allow ourselves to ride anything else. The nighttime ride on The Beast is the perfect end to the day. 2.) On the Pirate Ride, my friends and I started going "Aaarrrrrrrrrrggggghhhhh!!!" when our end goes up the air. 3.) I'm from Detroit and we don't have Skyline Chili. So it's always a MUST to get a 3-way. 4.) We usually go for a 3-day trip to Spirit Song. Thursday and Friday we hit the park all day straight. By Saturday we're so tired and the park is so crowded that we usually just hit a movie in the afternoon and then go to the park at night.

I agree with Joel who cited the list of sponsors who have always been at KI. I remember even as a kid seeing the sign that said the Eiffel Tower was sponsored by Kodak (not sure if it is anymore). There's always been official ground maintenance equipment; that's nothing new. In fact, does anyone remember when they used to advertise pools out by KCKC? I can still remember going up the lift hill and seeing people splashing around in the pool (I don't think they were park guests. . . I think they were paid to do that). The thing is that sponsorship (okay, save for the pool) used to be relatively quiet. You'd see names on brouchures and maybe a sign here or there by the entrance to the ride. . . and nothing big, just a sign like the ones at the Kodak Photo Op stops. Now we have the huge signs for Gilette Mach 3 (handing them out after the ride is a lot smarter than before). That doesn't bother me because, nor does seeing a Landrover or whatever by Tomb Raider. I simply realize that these rides cost a great deal of money and so the park does have to ask for sponsorship. And aside from a sign outfront, we're not really being bombarded. . . it's not like there are commercials playing in line for Tomb Raider. But there is a part of me saddened to see a Subway at PKI. On the one hand, I realize PKI has always been home to certain franchises like LaRosa's or Skyline. . . but for me, those were always franchises that I loved to visit because I'm coming from Detroit and so they were special to Kings Island. I got to have them once a year. But I can drive a mile from my apartment and get a Subway sandwich! It destroys the illusion of getting away. Bubba Gump isn't nearly as bad because it still fits within the PKI theming. . . sort of. As for Starbucks. . . technically, I'm against it for the same reason I'm against the Subway. But I have to admit that when my energy runs low from running around the park all day, it might take an espresso to get me going But the day I see a McDonald's or Burger King lining International Street, I'm gonna puke. . . White Castles might be okay, though :-)

Listen, I hate to burst your bubble: Phantom Theatre was a nice little diversion on a hot day and had some cute concepts---but an art form?? I agree with the above poster who said that it was really just a smaller-scale version of Disney's Haunted Mansion. Sorry, but I could never just look at PT as anything more than a kiddie ride that was good to get out of the heat for a bit. I think PKI has some good dark rides. . . FoF and TRTR being two of them. I would like to see something more sensational, along the lines of things Universal does and Disney has. . . not too many of those, though, because I still like the unique outdoor thrills PKI has. But a few would really spice things up and make PKI a bit more uniqe than, say, CP. And poeple who wonder what they could theme them to don't realize that there's a big well to come from with Paramount. Sahara just became a fairly sized hit for them and if there are mork Dirk Pitt novels because of it, I think that could lead to a good dark ride. Mission: Impossible could easily be themed to a cool little dark ride as well as Lemony Snicket, which was a fun little movie. Let's not forget, either, that Paramount could always negotiate rights with other films; obviously Universal and Disney may be out of the question, but companies like 20th Century FOX and Dreamworks don't have themeparks. But my biggest Paramount dreams will, sadly, never come true. A road-trip themed ride to Tommy Boy and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. . . complete with deer jumping out at you and a narrow pass between two semis (and we got IJST istead!) Or a Wayne's World mirth-mobile cruise along. Or, my dream, the Derek Zoolander fashion walk off show. Sigh. Untapped potential.

DUH! EVERYONE knows that that area is where the Secret Giga Coaster is going that PKI is keeping under wraps but will be unveiling mid-season!! Either it's called King Kobra II: The Sequel or Titanic: Jack's Revenge But I think we're really ignoring the big story here. . . which is that they tooked out TRTR!!!!! It's not on any of the pictures that cut off at The Vortex In all seriousness, though, I think it's kinda lame to remove a ride that had been at the park for years and just put a sign in there that takes up, what, 2 feet? At least put up some fences and LIE TO US that there's some progress there :-)

1. The Beast: At night, this is simply the best ride ever put on the face of the earth. It's the last truly unique roller coaster ride. 2. Tomb Raider: I've ridden this quite a bit, but it never gets predictable. Hanging over the lava for that long amount of time and then that looooonnnnngggg flip back is one of the few scary ride experiences. 3. Flight of Fear: When it first opened with the shoulder harnesses, it was the most painful ride at the park. Since going to a lapbar, it is so extremely thrilling. Fast, furious and disorienting. 4. Delerium It's just so much fun. Feels like you're flying when you hit the top. 5. Vortex: It's not really all to unique to go upside down 6 times (the Raptor does it and is actually a much more thrilling ride). But The Vortex just feels like a good, old-fashioned bad-a$$ roller coaster. That drop at the beginning is so steep and you have to love the weightlessness on the barrel rolls. Still, it hurts my head.