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Showing content with the highest reputation on 02/29/2012 in all areas

  1. You really had to create a new username and profile to post this and announce it to the group? Somehow I'm assuming that the park already knows that you are an unhappy former employee (I'm sure you are not the first and won't be the last either) and would not write postive things about your employment experience. But even if they knew you and your real screen name, I'm doubting they were going to go out of there way to read this and then find a way to make life difficult for you - even if you'd written it under that name. You talk about Etiquette - maybe the better etiquette in this situation would have been to say nothing.
    4 points
  2. "From the Ruins of the Kingdom, the Boardwalk Rises?" This past summer I had the opportunity to go down to Louisville and visit with the Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company who allowed me to tour the park and photograph it. With the recent news of Bluegrass Boardwalk and hope that the park is going to be reopened by 2013, I decided to do an article for my website. Check it out here. Some sample photos of how the park looked a few months ago:
    4 points
  3. My mom and I July 17th 2004.... around six years later.... Sept 5th 2011
    2 points
  4. Way back in April I teased that I had purchased a set of photos of the park from 1974. (Random Photo Thread) A lot of the photos are the “same old, same old”…it’s amusing to me that I have seen several different sets of photos that people have taken at the park over the years and it seems like you can count on quite a few people taking the same exact shots. (I wish I could run across someone who liked to take more pictures of the rides back then! ) Anyway, as I was scanning these photos and looking at them I kept thinking to myself just how much the park has changed. (duh) I was also just as amazed of how many of the things that existed all those years ago are still there. This got me thinking…what would these photos look like today if I were standing in the same spot as the person who took them 37 years ago. (Light bulb goes off in head!) I decided to see if I could recreate each of the photos that I had. I could tell that MOST of them would be easy…especially whenever I could use the Eiffel Tower in the background as a point of reference. There were 3 photos that I knew would be impossible for me to recreate…these were taken from The Lion Country Safari monorail. I shared those in TombraiderTy’s (excellent) “Lion Country Safari Spotlight” thread. Due to the fact that EVERYTHING has changed in some of the photos, it became a challenge to figure out exactly where the original photographer would have been standing. (Especially in the Lion Country Safari shots.) To figure this out I poured through old park photos that I have saved up over the years to try and pinpoint each location. As I stated, the Lion Country ones were the toughest…here is how I went about figuring out where to stand to take the new photo: If, after looking at the original photo there was no current visible landmark I would figure out from an old aerial photo of that area where the person was standing when they took the photo….then I would find an exact aerial of the photo of that area today. (Once again, it’s amazing how so many people take the same exact shots year after year.) I would then size match the 2 photos, then layer them, and then make the current photo almost invisible and mark where the person would have been standing and in what direction the camera would have been aimed. After making the top layer visible again I would then be able to see a current landmark to go by. Here is an example of my work in progress: After I had done all of my research, “all” I had to do was take the new photos when I went to the park. In order to do this I came armed with both the copies of my 1974 photos and also my “work” photos of where to stand to get the same shot. In the past I remember a park employee posting on here that security is watching guests a lot more than they think they are. If that truly is the case I would say that the park’s security was not on their toes the day I was taking these photos! I KNOW I had to have looked suspicious while I was completing my mission. I would stop in front of something, start looking at my photos, every now and then holding one up to make sure I was getting everything I needed in the shot. I would then take several shots at varying angles just in case. THEN, since I didn’t want to have to remember if I had or hadn’t taken a certain picture I would walk over to the nearest trash can and throw away any of the photos connected with the one that I had just taken. Tell me this whole scenario wouldn’t have seemed suspicious! I am very proud of how well some of these photos turned out…as you will see some of them are almost an exact match. There are 31 photos in the series. I would say that with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 I really am within’ 3 feet of where the original photo was taken. There is room for error on some of the shots…even though I could pinpoint where to stand…in some of the photos where there was no remaining landmark from 1974 I had to make my “best guess” on the direction of the photo…where even tilting the camera a few inches gives you a different photo altogether. (I will point out the couple of times when this came up.) I PLAN on posting one comparison shot set a day. (Not counting weekends.) BUT, there are 2 conditions! #1. If you feel that I have made an error by all means point it out. (Even though I THINK I have done my homework I do not for one second feel that I am infallible.) BUT if you do think/know that I have made a mistake…PLEASE point it out in a NICE way. And #2, which is a BIG condition! (And some may say selfish.) When I started this project I was excited about sharing these with this community…I must admit that that excitement level has dropped CONSIDERABLY since then…so much that I was REALLY close to bypassing posting them here and just sharing these photos directly to a select few. The reason I say this is because SO many of the viewer’s remind me of that old line from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”…”Here we are now, entertain us”. Many members seem to have lost what made this site so special “back in the day”…courtesy to their fellow members. Over the last year I have seen a disgusting lack of consideration for the posters who have went to a lot of effort to put together either special features or trip reports. These posters spent quite a bit of time putting these together for our benefit and what do they usually get out of it, almost nothing. (I long ago gave up making trip reports.) Here are screen-grabs from the latest trip reports: Look at the difference between the views and the replies! Those numbers just scream inconsiderate…or lazy…take your pick. If a member has the time to punch on a topic, that member should also have enough time to post a simple “Thanks”…or at the VERY least hit the “Like” button to show that the author’s effort was appreciated. SO, here’s where I stand…after spending a nice sum of money to purchase these original photos, then spending time scanning them, digging up old research photos, using a few hours of my (limited) time at the park to take the new shots…and finally putting this whole thing together…J.D. (that’s me) is NOT playing the “Here we are now, entertain us” game. For all of the above reasons I feel like I should be able to rate a little consideration and know that my efforts were not in vain. I DEMAND interaction…and here is how it will work. I will keep posting a new set of photos each day as long as I get a certain amount of either comments OR “Likes” each day. (And just like the park won’t disclose the maximum amount of Fast Lane passes it will sell…I won’t say what my minimum is…but it’s not much.) I am NOT asking for, nor do I want any condescending “Oh this is just the greatest thing ever…” type comments. I am simply looking for a little proof that someone is out there enjoying my work…or else why do I need to bother to keep posting them? I would be happiest to see a little interaction with comments about how someone feels about the changes in the park…but I will settle for a simple click of the Like button. So…will all that said and done…here are today’s shots: 1974 I STILL miss the tunnel walkway…it is one of the few things that I can still remember from my first trip to the park way back in the 70’s. 2011 I thought it was amazing how many structures had survived after all these years. As I looked at each set of photos I would sit back and think…where would I rather be standing…back in 1974 or 2011. With this set of pictures it was pretty easy. 1974 wins easily, to me the area looks serene…and a more consistent theme throughout the area. I HOPE that everyone enjoys the (hopefully) upcoming photos…and just like the Son of Beast posts…I am going to beat this horse one last time: P.S. Looking at a lot of these photos as a "fade in, fade out" type of slide show was (in my opinion) neat...some of the photos are so close you can see key structures change before your eyes. I TRIED to come up with a way also throw on a slide show version but I couldn't figure that out...so if someone else knows how feel free. EDIT: Hendrick was nice enough to slideshow these photos for me/us! Thanks!!!
    1 point
  5. I absolutely love this coaster. It never gets old for me. My favorite experience was, several years ago. My last ride of the day is The Beast at night. It had been a hot and muggy day. The temperature had hovered around the 90s. My best friend and I got in line around 9:45, and it broke loose in a downpour. We waited out the rain and boarded around 10;30 The temperature must have dropped, because the fog was so thick, there was zero visibility (no kidding) Pitch black and thick fog. The Beast seemed to be in rare form, the speed seemed faster than I have ever experienced. When we hit the second lift hill, you could not even see the Eifel Tower. The Beast trains gained moumentum as it hit the double helix, it felt like the cars were gonna fly off the track. That was my favorite experience on The Beast.
    1 point
  6. Oh, I do, trust me. However whether or not I listen to its spelling suggestions at 4 am is another story. Thanks for the corrections though.
    1 point
  7. It appears that this photo was taken at the exact second when she received her pink slip informing her that she would no longer be working at Phantom Theater and was being reassigned to some kind of outdoor job.
    1 point
  8. The Beast honestly never gets old for me, I love the ride so much. Great during the day, amazing at night. It's a must ride (usually at least twice) every visit.
    1 point
  9. Yeah, I'd say that's pretty much it. It's like if, when making the second Back to the Future movie, they said, "Hey, people really liked that moment in the first movie when they thought Doc had been shot by Libyan terrorists but was actually wearing a bulletproof vest! Let's make an entire movie where Doc is shot by terrorists. It'll be great!" For Christopher Lloyd haters, it might have some entertainment value, but for several people, it doesn't do the first one justice. (And then you have people who didn't like the original, and so on.)
    1 point
  10. Oh boy, you asked for it... After being scared to death by The Racer way back in 2000, I was terrified of roller coasters for 9 years and would refuse to even ride some of the more intense carnival rides. However, in 2009, with the addition of Diamondback, I decided to give roller coasters another shot and we planned a trip to Kings Island. We arrived May 14th, 2009 around 10:30 AM. Little did I know, the 230' Diamondback would not be the highlight of the trip, as good as it was...(and still is) After heading up the Eiffel Tower for some amazing views, we first tried the now-defunct Crypt (because it was raining and Beast was down), which (even though none of us knew it) was on its 2nd day of the "ultra-tame" ride cycle that the ride became lamented for during its final few years. While the ride, at first, caught me off guard and suprised me, it ended far too soon. I was dissapointed, and was a little worried that Kings Island might actually let me down. After leaving, the rain had stopped and Beast had re-opened. I entered, and smacked my sister with a q-line "gate" on accident. The Beast's crew was doing an excellent job getting people pumped up for what they claimed was the "best roller coaster in the world!". After a 25 minute wait, I boarded the ride..."Ok, here we go...a roller coaster..." The train left the station and around the turnaround. Thudthudthudthud..."Oh (Insert Curse Word Here) What Am I Doing!?! I'm on a HUGE wooden roller coaster! This might hurt..." Then, we began climbing the 110' lift hill...clankclankclankclank...to relieve some tension, I looked at my momma and cracked a joke: "Look ma, we're higher than da treez! " The ride reached the top of the hill, and one of the most famous images in all of coasterdom was before me: "Well, here goes no..." I couldn't finish because we began dropping! There is a trim brake on the first drop, but I didn't even feel it (In fact, I never have, even though I know it's there...) We hit the tunnel, and people were screaming, and I thought "Hey! This isn't so bad!". We dipped into a ravine, then back up, and flew into the brake shed, where I managed to catch my breath for a moment before the ride quickly turned again and darted into a tunnel. "Oh Man, this is a long tunnel!" I thought during that part of the ride...then, the ride exited into the daylight and made a few more downward turns into the woods before another lift hill emerged before us. We hit it, and I caught my breath again. My first thought "Momma, are you ok?". She said yes. My second thought was for a friend of mine who was also afraid of roller coasters, and he said he was loving it so far. So was I. Then my sister blurted out: "You ain't seen nothing yet!" "Crud!" I thought. Kings Island emerged in its glory, but I didn't get to view it for long before a 141' drop into a tunnel was smack dab in my face. The ride dived down, faster, faster, faster and into the darkness, where I was thrown around and the train began screaming as if it were trying to break free of the track. Then, we exited, and dove back in! All over again, and finally, the train calmly exited the second helix tunnel and turned right into a small drop, and then we hit the final brakes. "WOW!" I thought. "Welcome back riders, how was your ride?" My response: "WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" After that, I took on Vortex, later Diamondback, and numerous other rides at Kings Island. That night, I returned to Beast with my friend and we took a night ride on the wooden monster that put even the ride I described a minute ago TO SHAME. I have been on The Beast 7 times, and all 7 of those rides have been memorable for one reason or another, but never because they were bad. I've since been to Holiday World as well, and rode their wooden coasters, and yes, they are great...in fact, at one point I had both Voyage and Legend ahead of Beast in my coaster rankings, but a stunning Halloween Haunt night ride changed that so Beast was #1 again. And it hasn't lost that spot yet. (Granted, I've only been to 3 parks total and there are some pretty epic looking rides out there I have yet to go on, such as El Toro @ SFGadv, Bizzaro @ SFNE, Millennium Force & Maverick @ CP, etc etc) And I agree with KIFan73: I would go to Kings Island simply if Beast were the only ride/attraction there, no offense to Diamondback, Delirium, Flight of Fear, Vortex, Drop Tower, Racer, Flight Deck, etc etc. But, they are simply the cherry on top of a Beast sundae...MMMmmm...Beast sundae...
    1 point
  11. Bartender! A round of facepalms for the house on me!
    1 point
  12. I guess i'll take one too because when I read your original post all I thought to myself was "Who'd have guessed"! (John, I guess I have too much faith in you! )
    1 point
  13. I can not recommend this event enough...not only because of how much fun it is, but the charity that it helps out is excellent. Unless something unforseen happens I will be attending again this year. I hope that this year the event fills all the way up...it certainly deserves to. I would like to thank the Kings Island for continuing to support this great cause! Here is my trip report for last year's Coasting For Kids day.
    1 point
  14. So the last two years I missed this because I was on vacation. So this year I moved our vacation to June I may still be able to make it though, will have to check on it, but hope to.
    1 point
  15. I wonder who that kid in the backrow is
    1 point
  16. You were made to say "all clear" and "how was your ride" every 2 minutes for 50 hours a week? Lol, I'm sure that wont ever get old. Dont get me wrong, working in rides was a great time, but its the people that make it. If you build the actual work up in your mind, you're going to be let down very fast. Face it, 8+ hours a day outside in the summer repeating the same motion over and over; it will get old fast. Still if you make friends and get close to your colleagues , you will have a good time. Some of my best friends still are from when I worked at KI, and I've been gone for 5 years. Also just fyi, the driver position on a ride is a big responsibility. New hires typically are not trained there until at least mid season, if they even get trained there at all. It's not uncommon for someone to never get driver trained in their first year, especially if they're under 18. It's a position you have to prove you're ready for. If you're driving and something goes wrong, it's on you, and you HAVE to know how to respond.
    1 point
  17. why did they enclose them anyway?
    1 point
  18. The tunnels are nasty. It doesn't matter if they're clean or not. For me, they totally spoil the mood coming back to the station. I really like all the green in the 2011 photo though! ... and still love The Racer, of course!
    1 point
  19. hands down 1974 so much better looking
    1 point
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