Attendance record

[Captain Picard]

I seen this today. With a final total of 708,117, we have set a new monthly attendance record for SeaWorld. July of 2003 will go in the record books as the busiest single month we have ever had in our 30 year history. Does anyone know what the PKI record is.

[PKIDelirium]

try emailing Jeff Seibert, or just beam into his office and ask him

[Shaggy]

Paramount Parks, as with most chains, does not release attendance figures. You won't get it out of them... so please do not bother Jeff Siebert with questions like that... the poor guy has plenty to do without answering a million enthusiast emails.

Each year Amusement Business Magazine compiles what they believe are fairly accurate attendance numbers for the various parks. If I recall they list the top 50 or 100. PKI consistantly competes with CP for the #2 seasonal park spot. Typically SFGADV in NJ gets the #1 spot, with CP and PKI close on it's heels. Of course these parks are blown away by the likes of Disney, Universal etc etc etc that operate year-round.

By the way... although CP and PKI rival each other in attendance, bear in mind that CP has a shorter season, thus they pack more people into the park in a shorter period of time. Both parks average (depending on the season) anywhere from 3.3 to 3.5 Million annually.

It is widely known that PKI had a banner attendance year in 1998. AB estimated it at like 3.6 or so. For those keeping track that was the year they renovated HB Land. Say's a lot about new attractions, doesn't it?

Shaggy

Edited January 1, 1970 by Shaggy

[Captain Picard]

I wonder why SeaWorld is doing record attendance and our Ohio parks are reporting a drop in attendance. They said it was the rain, bear in mind that it was just as bad in Orlando.

[teenageninja]

Attendance is going back up I'm sure, there are more BAFFD and also I'm sure Orlando wasn't 40 degrees all April, that was the main problem.

[Captain Picard]

It was worse in April 2002 than in 2003.

[Captain Picard]

Parks revenues for the quarter and the six-month periods decreased 7% and 8%, respectively, due to declines in attendance of 9% and 10% respectively.

[The Interpreter]

...It is widely known that PKI had a banner attendance year in 1998. AB estimated it at like 3.6 or so. For those keeping track that was the year they renovated HB Land. Say's a lot about new attractions, doesn't it?

Shaggy

a. Yes, I know it is a very old quote. I'm making a point. Bear with me.

b. 2010. No new coaster. New light show. New kids' area. New attendance record for modern times? Stay tuned. You may have heard it here first...

[Purplehaze]

Not sure. I do know at 12:00 Saturday the 22nd of may there was 22 thousand.

[Guest Millennium]

I will NEVER, EVER go to one of those Shamu shows. How do you think the dolphins/whales feel when a whole crowd is screaming "flip" 6 times a day, 7 days a week? Evil place...

[Coney Islander]

Family rides and attractions draw from a much larger group than thrill rides do. Neither Cedar Fair nor Six Flags seem to understand that... yet.

[thejoker34]

Family rides and attractions draw from a much larger group than thrill rides do. Neither Cedar Fair nor Six Flags seem to understand that... yet.

Yes, but Thrill Rides are also more fun!

Edit: Also if Cedar Fair or Six Flags just started making family rides, they could be in danger of losing Thrill Ride customers for not providing what they want, and Family Ride customers might not come due to their reputation as a non family ride park.

[Pagoda Gift Shop]

1998....before Action Zone. Removing all that shade was a big mistake.

[Coney Islander]

Family rides and attractions draw from a much larger group than thrill rides do. Neither Cedar Fair nor Six Flags seem to understand that... yet.

Yes, but Thrill Rides are also more fun!

Edit: Also if Cedar Fair or Six Flags just started making family rides, they could be in danger of losing Thrill Ride customers for not providing what they want, and Family Ride customers might not come due to their reputation as a non family ride park.

Before 1985, Kings Island was a family park. Paramount bought the park and started removing all the family rides. Around 10, the first 3 years... The number of people going to Kings Island has been down ever since.

And they don't need to remove thrill rides to add family rides. Look at all that space on the far end of Coney Mall. I'm sure they could fit at least 6 family attractions back there!

I personally think Kings Island has, yes, too many Thrill Rides. (At least for the park's current size...)

[The Interpreter]

Paramount didn't buy the park until long, long after 1985.

Perhaps you mean Carl Lindner, who I think has often gotten a pass for all the damage he did to Kings Island (especially in retaining multi-hundreds of acres of land when he finally sold the park to Paramount Studios...)

[Coney Islander]

^

Thanks! The 1980s owners always have me confused...

How did Viacom come into all of this?

[The Interpreter]

1992 Paramount Studios bought Kings Island

1995 Viacom bought Paramount Studios...

[Shaggy]

Perhaps you mean Carl Lindner, who I think has often gotten a pass for all the damage he did to Kings Island (especially in retaining multi-hundreds of acres of land when he finally sold the park to Paramount Studios...)

Bingo... the dark days of KI were the late 1980's-1992 Linder days, NOT the Paramount Days.

FYI... I can't recall the last time KI had a "sellout" day. They used to happen on significant holiday weekends back in the day. I believe the park maxes out at some astronomical cap of like 55,000 +. There's been definite times where the park has reached that and posted "Park sold out" on the billboard outside. However, I've not seen or heard of that in many, many moons.

Shaggy

[The Interpreter]

And the CBS days (Viacom had split into two companies, CBS and Viacom) rivaled the Lindner days. A few more years of either and I am not at all convinced the park would have survived.

[MarketingExpress]

Perhaps you mean Carl Lindner, who I think has often gotten a pass for all the damage he did to Kings Island (especially in retaining multi-hundreds of acres of land when he finally sold the park to Paramount Studios...)

Bingo... the dark days of KI were the late 1980's-1992 Linder days, NOT the Paramount Days.

FYI... I can't recall the last time KI had a "sellout" day. They used to happen on significant holiday weekends back in the day. I believe the park maxes out at some astronomical cap of like 55,000 +. There's been definite times where the park has reached that and posted "Park sold out" on the billboard outside. However, I've not seen or heard of that in many, many moons.

Shaggy

I believe it was July 3, 2003 was the last time the park sold out, I remember working that day. It was bring a friend free day and a holiday weekend. At one point we had to close the front gates to keep anyone else from entering, and the total number of guests in the park reached just above 63,000.

[Purplehaze]

I remember a lot of sell out days in the history of the park. I mean no offense to this but maybe CF needs to do a little reflecting upon the past and reconsider certain aspects.

[Shaggy]

I remember a lot of sell out days in the history of the park. I mean no offense to this but maybe CF needs to do a little reflecting upon the past and reconsider certain aspects.

Actually, I think the park has a greater chance of having sellout days this season. More people are opting to stay local rather than travel abroad. I've noticed both KI, HW, State Of Ohio, State of Kentucky and State of Tennessee commercials are airing over and over reminding folks there's lots of things to do locally.

:-)

[thejoker34]

No such thing as to many thrill rides

[Purplehaze]

Nothing wrong indeed however you need to attract riders of all sorts. A lot of people do not do the thrill rides. My parents go at least once a week and walk around and ride the train. They eat in the park and have a great time. KI needs more flat rides. There are a lot of areas where these can be planted.

[lebeau]

Nothing wrong indeed however you need to attract riders of all sorts. A lot of people do not do the thrill rides. My parents go at least once a week and walk around and ride the train. They eat in the park and have a great time. KI needs more flat rides. There are a lot of areas where these can be planted.

King's Island reminds me of the story of why Walt supposedly created Disneyland. When he was sitting on a bench watching his daughters on a merry-go-round and decided that there ought to be a nice place familuies could go and have fun together. When you go to KI with small children, you're usually stuck watching your kids have fun on the kiddie rides. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy this. But I like the Magic Kingdom better because we can enjoy just about everything together.

Obviously, KI can't live up to the standards of the Magic Kingdom. And I appreciate the efforts to make KI more than just a coaster park. But I think more could be done.

More dark rides, please!

[Coney Islander]

King's Island reminds me of the story of why Walt supposedly created Disneyland. When he was sitting on a bench watching his daughters on a merry-go-round and decided that there ought to be a nice place familuies could go and have fun together. When you go to KI with small children, you're usually stuck watching your kids have fun on the kiddie rides. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy this. But I like the Magic Kingdom better because we can enjoy just about everything together.

Originally, most of Kings Island's rides were compatible for the whole family. This continued until KECO sold the park. The next owner went ahead and removed most of these.

Obviously, KI can't live up to the standards of the Magic Kingdom. And I appreciate the efforts to make KI more than just a coaster park. But I think more could be done.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Some say, had Mr. Linder not taken control of the park, Kings Island would of grown into "The Universal of the Midwest." They certainly had the means of doing so. Currently, Kings Island is seen by most of the population as a Thrill Park. Have you ever seen a Thrill Park grow into an entire complex? The money has always lied within the families... Even the teenagers who come to Kings Island get the money they use from their parents.

More dark rides, please!

YES! Dark Rides have all the potential in bringing in families... See Disney World. MOST of their rides are Dark Rides, and how are they doing?

[thejoker34]

Whenever I go to Disney World, everyone in my family participates. However I don't have as much fun as everyone else. I know that now my parents are interested in KI after Planet Snoopy(even though its more of a younger child environment) I have no problem with KI getting dark rides, but I don't see them doing this as like you said, everyone views them as a Thrill Ride Park.

Also disney World is doing so well as 1) Orlando is a Popular vacation spot 2) Countless millions spent on advertising throughout movies based on rides (i.e. The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean) and 3) Nobody hates the Mouse!

[lebeau]

King's Island reminds me of the story of why Walt supposedly created Disneyland. When he was sitting on a bench watching his daughters on a merry-go-round and decided that there ought to be a nice place familuies could go and have fun together. When you go to KI with small children, you're usually stuck watching your kids have fun on the kiddie rides. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy this. But I like the Magic Kingdom better because we can enjoy just about everything together.

Originally, most of Kings Island's rides were compatible for the whole family. This continued until KECO sold the park. The next owner went ahead and removed most of these.

Obviously, KI can't live up to the standards of the Magic Kingdom. And I appreciate the efforts to make KI more than just a coaster park. But I think more could be done.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Some say, had Mr. Linder not taken control of the park, Kings Island would of grown into "The Universal of the Midwest." They certainly had the means of doing so. Currently, Kings Island is seen by most of the population as a Thrill Park. Have you ever seen a Thrill Park grow into an entire complex? The money has always lied within the families... Even the teenagers who come to Kings Island get the money they use from their parents.

More dark rides, please!

YES! Dark Rides have all the potential in bringing in families... See Disney World. MOST of their rides are Dark Rides, and how are they doing?

I remember the early days at KI. I was a kid at the time. We still spent most of our time in HB Land. But we could venture out and do other things as a family. I do wish the park had more of that today.

I agree that the money lies with families. During it's darkest coaster park days, KI was over-run by teens and it drove a lot of families out. I think they have realized the error of making the park into nothing but a hangout for teens.

I'm a huge WDW fan. I'm all for any changes that bring KI more in line with Disney. I understand the difference between an international tourist destination and a regional, seasonal park. But I think KI would benefit by moving away from the Six Flags model and moving closer to the ideas of Uncle Walt.

I've heard stories that Walt was consulted in the early days of KI. I know he tended to get involved in such projects largely for his own fact-gathering purposes. But also because he was interested in seeing these projects succeed. Does anyone know any stories of Walt's involvement in KI?

[Shaggy]

I've heard stories that Walt was consulted in the early days of KI. I know he tended to get involved in such projects largely for his own fact-gathering purposes. But also because he was interested in seeing these projects succeed. Does anyone know any stories of Walt's involvement in KI?

Walt Disney was not involved with KI. Walt Disney passed away in 1966, 2 years prior to the Fess Parker park announcement that triggered the urgent interest in re-locating Cincinnati's Coney Island. (A large flood at CCI in 1964 began the initial interest in scouting possibilities of re-locating the park) Kings Island opened in 1972.

His Brother, Roy Disney, was involved but only in an advisory way. The initial KI investors/creators reached out to him through their backers... Taft... for advice. Roy was spearheading the construction of Walt Disney World at the time, a project he overtook upon Walt's death.) His advice to them was to "figure out the amount of land needed and buy three times that amount."

When Walt Disney was originally conceiving Disneyland in the early 1950's, Walt visited/consulted Cincinnati's Coney Island (Edward Schott was the owner at the time, I believe) and also (on a much lesser level) consulted Holiday World. For their insight, he wrote the owners of Coney a $1.00 check.

Shaggy

[lebeau]

I've heard stories that Walt was consulted in the early days of KI. I know he tended to get involved in such projects largely for his own fact-gathering purposes. But also because he was interested in seeing these projects succeed. Does anyone know any stories of Walt's involvement in KI?

Walt Disney was not involved with KI. Walt Disney passed away in 1966, 2 years prior to the Fess Parker park announcement that triggered the urgent interest in re-locating Cincinnati's Coney Island. (A large flood at CCI in 1964 began the initial interest in scouting possibilities of re-locating the park) Kings Island opened in 1972.

His Brother, Roy Disney, was involved but only in an advisory way. The initial KI investors/creators reached out to him through their backers... Taft... for advice. Roy was spearheading the construction of Walt Disney World at the time, a project he overtook upon Walt's death.) His advice to them was to "figure out the amount of land needed and buy three times that amount."

When Walt Disney was originally conceiving Disneyland in the early 1950's, Walt visited/consulted Cincinnati's Coney Island (Edward Schott was the owner at the time, I believe) and also (on a much lesser level) consulted Holiday World. For their insight, he wrote the owners of Coney a $1.00 check.

Shaggy

Awesome!

Funny how Roy became Walt in the telling of the stories I'd heard. I once met someone who swore she had met Walt as KI was being planned. I figured something was up, given Walt's date of death. But I never knew when planning started on KI, so I was never in a position to say for sure one way or another.

I hadn't heard the $1 check story. But that fits with what I know. I've always loved these stories about Disney and his company. I look forward to reading more about the history of KI!