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I recently took a trip to New York City with my scholars group from OSU! It was my first time there, and I loved it! I figured I could share a few pictures with you guys NYSE and Wall St. Grand Central Station O-H-I-O Empire State Building at night Times Square Freedom Tower (probably my favorite picture I took while on the trip!) 9/11 Memorial This is a tree that was at the World Trade Center during the attack, and it is still there! Freedom Tower again- soon to be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere Central Park And The Naked Cowboy I hope you enjoyed my pictures! I love my school, and am grateful for the opportunity to see everything the city life had to offer! Also, I apologize that the pictures are huge- I'm not sure how to fix that... But thanks for checking this out

I had a dream I was on Tennessee Tornado this afternoon .... oh wait, no I actually was.

I would recommend everybody to go at least once! It's like a whole new world!

Thanks to everyone for the advice! I got the job! I'll be working Front St. Pizza (LaRosa's) this season!

Sorry for the bump, but it's official - I'm going to Dollywood for sure next week! (most likely Wednesday, April 3) The tips have been helpful and I am making sure to keep them in mind! (speaking of Dollywood, I had a dream last night that I was riding Tennessee Tornado.)

http://www.seasonpasspodcast.com/ A great, long, detailed podcast featuring Cedar Fair CEO, Matt Ouimet. It covers his past, along with what is to come for the Cedar Fair parks.

Great pics! My favorite was definitely the shot of Freedom Tower. Just jaw dropping to see that structure!

Oh the pizza was so good... I can't believe I forgot to say something about that. I had some literally every day. And I did visit Chinatown and check out the markets and stuff there as well! Unfortunately our group was not allowed to leave Manhattan, so I didn't get to see much else. But there is plenty to do on just the island, especially if you are new to it!

Dude, no one on this thread has been more repetitive than you! Your right,I will shut my piehole now! I dont mean to come across as a crybaby,but looking back,i am! My apologies.

No one has mentioned that the Disney one isn't "free" either. It's built into the cost of your ticket, whether you use it or not.

Apparently Roller Coaster Tycoon thinks that's okay.

Disney should be required to pay $4,000.00 each time anyone has to listen to "It's A Small World."

Last night, my most recent KI dream started with me being in line for WindSeeker. Strangely enough, all my friends from school were there too! I went into the ride area, thinking that I had forgotten my seat number, so I just sat in a random seat. Now, the thing I don't like about ride dreams like this is that I never encounter the real-life ride experience. This was apparently the case, again. The ride only went up a little ways and then stopped, and then this marching band with all these dancers came in right under the ride, and put on a show! I thought it was interesting, despite the fact that the ride stood still the whole time. When I was back on the ground, I thought, "I'll ride WindSeeker one more time; then I'll ride Vortex." By that time it was evening. The sun was setting, the lights were coming on and all my school friends had mysteriously disappeared. In the dream, WindSeeker's lights looked just like they did in real life! I rode WS again. This time, the ride actually went up pretty high, although it rotated very slowly. Afterward, this other ride, which looked almost the same as WindSeeker, caught my attention. The other ride stood on the other side of Vortex, and had exactly the same looks as WindSeeker, lights and everything. But this one didn't just go up and down a tower. It also went around a track circuit. I walked over to the ride, looked at it, and exclaimed, "It's Kings Island's new ride!!!" I never rode the ride though; before I knew it, my radio alarm was going off and pulling me away from dream land. I had almost no trouble recalling that dream in my memory after I woke up, and as I did, I thought, "I'm so posting this on KIC when I get home from school today..." -BFF, who hopes to ride WindSeeker as soon as possible this year, since it is one of her favorite rides.

I'd like to see this one. It has a small footprint, looks cool, and is SBNO. I actualy photoshopped it onto the landscape and it would fit behind Delirium and barely takes more space than Thunder Alley did. edit link

I'll be on the 'Tornado in approximately 4 days

I had another dream - not about Kings Island, but a short and sweet dream about Dollywood (maybe I'm really excited about my trip there next week!) I was riding Tennessee Tornado. That's it. (I told you! Short and sweet!)

It will go away when they stop making money off of it. And honestly, if I was there on a crowded day, I would buy the plus because I don't spend a lot of money at the park anyway. I pay $90 a year for my pass and u normally only eat one meal while I'm there. I would much rather pay for a plus pass then wait in line all day and not have a good time. It just varies on how some people like to spend their money.

My sister lives across the river in NJ and I have been there several times. I have seen The Wiz when it was on Broadway and if you have a chance, take in a show. My parents enjoyed and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at The Windows on the World, at the top floor of the WTC in 1998.

KI is such a great place to work. I'm glad for you.

Exactly. I just bip over to KI for a few hours at a time. I have time to meander. If I don't get on a certain ride, there's next week. I think Fastlane helps put the park higher up on the list of options for families taking that week long vacation. Nothing could be worse than piling into a car for 17 hours and then spend half your vacation piled in line If I had to choose between two parks, I'd go for the one that gave me more fun time and less wait time.

I was just there in NYC, our band played on the Intrepid. We also visited Philly before we went to NY, it was a fun band trip.

Thank you for sharing! Love me some NYC. Happen to try any pizza, check out any cultural neighborhoods (Little Italy, Chinatown, etc.), or visit any of the other boroughs?

Best option is to contact the park.

What I make out of the above: April 27th is the end of the 90 day assessment period. The approval of the sale could take 3 to 4 more weeks, especially since Hart stated it will cost more to re-open and will require a bigger thought to whether or not the sale is worth the effort. April 10th is when the tax incentive will be approved or disapproved. I understand that many compare Hart's current situation to the Koch's.....but Hart isn't the Koch's. Hart from what we are aware wasn't going through family turmoil with the loss of a loved one and legally finding control of their own park. In short, it seems that Hart's plate is filled with a smaller portion of aspects compared to the Koch's. I wish Hart success and Kentucky Kingdom. I'd like to visit some day!

The same happened to me since my sister worked in the front gate gift shop. However, it was extremely peaceful to sit in front of the fountain without any guests, just relaxing from the long hot day

Agreed 100% . If my wife and I, and maybe kids in the future, pay money to travel across the state or across the country to visit a park, which means we paid for a hotel as well, then well if I can afford it I will buy a Fast Lane or fast pass no matter the park. Also it depends on how many days we had at the park. If we have only 1 day at the park, lets judge the weather when we get there. Busy day yes Ill buy one. Slow day no way.

I hear you on the 1/2 hour ERT, we've talked about it on this site before. Part of it is isn't financially sound to do a full hour to have the current line up of ERT rides. I know when I've visited the park over the past few years including when I worked on Diamondback, ERT during the week wasn't worth being open for the entire hour....half of the time, there'd be the amount of people for 1 full train at the ride and that was it, having to cycle numerous empty trains or half full trains wasn't ideal. KI is a destination park by people from all over the world. There have been numerous coaster clubs from across th globe that make special trips to get to KI and to CP. I don't think you're being "cheated" by having a 1/2 hr ERT (some parks don't even have that) or by the addition of FLP. If anything, as season passholders, Fun Perks is a way to reward the locals/passholders. Yeah, you have to spend money to get perks, but numerous grocery stores/gas stations do that too. Because it's a perceived change that they don't understand. They don't understand the behind the scenes side. We have . But Disney is a whole different ball park.

I had the opportunity to ride TR:TR one time, when the park remained under Paramount. I really, really loved it. Obviously 5-7 spins is much too straining on a ride only meant for 3-4, but I still really loved the theming and all.I also really just miss the movie magic atmosphere; for me, CP and KI now have virtually the same atmosphere. They're wonderful parks, but I feel like if they changed just one small thing, they'd improve it drastically in terms of ambiance. I'm not sure what it would be though... *And yes, I know that CP wasn't Paramount, but I needed to make a comparison, ha ha.

If I live lived locally and have a season pass to Kings Island, I have the whole season to ride all of the rides at the park and no need to buy something like Fast Lane to go to the head of the line. Now if I am making my plans to vacation at Kings Island for the one or two day stay, then I might just buy the Fast Lane pass option if my budget allows it, especially it the park happens to be crowded on the day(s) that my family is there.

Why do people have such a hatred for a system they've never used?

Clearly any thread that brings Raptorguy out is a hot topic. Frankly I don't care who pays more money to get in line in front of me. I just want KI to open the park so I can get in any coaster line! It's less than a month everyone, try to hang on and not verbally destroy each other.

What is done, is done, what comes, comes, and we can only not buy the product if we don't like it, or do buy the product if one does like it. BB1 who is not going to rant about it, and just state the facts. We all get "good things" from CF once in awhile, some of us do hate it, but live with it, I know I have.

^Why don't you quit posting then? I don't see you bringing anything new.

I can see it now: "1 ride of Flight of Fear: $5." What an awful idea at a park so large, truly awful. This would cause even greater outcry and corporate greed. Nothing compared to a Fast Lane system.

Yes, definitely give the impression you will not steal. If you walk in with pantyhose on your head and scream "hands up!", you may not get the job.

Don't forget to let us know how it goes! Questions I've been asked at park interviews (I've worked for 3 of them, including KI) have always included why you want to work at that park. Be honest about this one - I told an interviewer that I wanted to work at KI because I spend so much time there I might as well get paid for it! He said that was the best answer he'd heard all day, and in the end I got the job.

My least favorite interview question is the whole "tell us about a situation at your previous job when you were asked to do something that you didn't want to do" thing. The only advice I can give is to be open and be yourself. Don't try to answer questions based on what you think they want to hear. They're not trying to "nail" you or trick you into responding a certain way. Also keep in mind that the people doing the interviews have to ask the same questions hundreds of times a day, and probably don't enjoy asking them any more than you enjoy answering them.

The biggest issue that the Fast Lane system has is that most Fast Lane users tend to congregate at the newest and most popular rides. The fact that some Six Flags and Cedar Fair parks have decided to charge extra to cut the lines on some select rides is enough evidence that many people utilize the skip-the-line systems to maximize utility on a couple of popular rides and perhaps give a cursory ride to the other rides "just because". Six Flags frequently limits quick queueing new coasters in their debut year to Platinum Flash Pass holders only (Dare Devil Dive at SFOG, X-Flight at Great America and Goliath at SFNE) or by requiring an upgrade fee just for one ride (X2 and Lex Luthor: DOD at Magic Mountain). Kings Dominion had to limit Volcano Fast Lane access for much of the season last year. Millennium Force and Maverick Fast Lane queues frequently backed up last year. Cedar Fair simply took a page out of the Six Flags book by instituting a "Plus" version to help deal with that issue. If I remember correctly the limit of Fast Lane passes that could be sold on any given day is up to 20% of the forecasted attendance that day. Six Flags sells out of the Flash Pass much more frequently at their larger parks than Cedar Fair parks do with Fast Lane passes. Selling lots of Fast Lane passes is far less problematic IMO because the longer Fast Lane waits on busier days at the popular rides help self-regulate the amount of Fast Lane users running through lines assuming a proper balance is maintained. The overlooked thing with the number of Fast Lane passes sold isn't actually the number of passes sold but the proportion of Fast Lane users they let in a ride line at a time. If the park is keeping the 25% Fast Lane user/75% non-Fast Lane user mix most rides seem to be using then the park can sell as many Fast Lane bracelets as they want, but adjusting that mix towards the Fast Lane users when Fast Lane lines start to get long is a recipe for snails pace standby lines. I would argue that this is the largest determining factor as far as how quickly standby lines move. The park should always make sure that only a reasonable percentage of Fast Lane users are let in to a station at a time. I think the Fast Lane Plus option is one of the more balanced systems out there. I don't anticipate too much change in the pricing of Fast Lane but I wouldn't be surprised if additional tweaks are made to both the pricing and the rides on the Plus version, particularly at Cedar Point. When I saw that Canada's Wonderland would limit Fast Lane access on Behemoth and Leviathan to Fast Lane Plus only it actually made me more willing to spend the cash because I know that fewer people will be clogging the Fast Lane line for those coasters now, and the same will likely be happening at TTD and Gatekeeper at Cedar Point. It's a step in the right direction.

What about John and Jane NotParkgoer who cannot even afford visiting the park? How is the price of admission fair to them? More money you have to spend, more you're able to do. That's how amusement parks work, airlines work, that's how life works.

Well, for me that is really a varied thing. Perfect Kings Island, a BB1 perspective. Coming upon the Island, you may notice the old sign that stood in the Paramount era, with a slight change to the KI skyline. There is no WindSeeker popping out of the scene, Diamondback is now gone, and SOB is there in working, non threatening condition. When you enter, you may notice that you may go one of two ways, Kings Island, or Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay, for now we will go left to the main park. As we venture through, we park at the usual Gold Pass parking, located right next to the inner walkway. After, we take a ride on the trams, which take us right up to the front gate. We enter to the music of International Street past, highly themed architecture from all around the world, with trees in "planters" in the middle of both sides of the walkway. A breeze of cold water hits you as you meander through the street, now we take a right to Hannah Barberra Land. The Phantom Theater is to our left now, with all of the classic rides of HB still running. As we make our way through, we make our way into Rivertown. Rivertown is a highly themed region of the west, with the KK ride up and running, as well as other favorites of today. A western show is performed at noon and five, featuring a shoot out and a few other western favorites. Swan lake still is the center focal point, a watering hole for the forest. The old walkway to The Beast is still up, with many trees surrounding us now, it is still upon a lake, which now is more cleaner, equiped with a filter. As we make our way through the area, we come upon the Antique Cars. Then we come into the region of Coney Mall. The Eagles still fly at this fine estate. We walk towards the Happy Days Diner, where it still is the Happy Days of yesterday. We walk by some of todays rides, as well as the red and white Racer, with the blue car going backwards once more. The X-Base now has a X-Files theme, with all the rides themed to as they were. After, we walk into Oktoberfest, where a German festival is always in season. The old german restaurant is here now, with a great biergarten over looking the lake. The Festhaus now has its clock back in working order, with inside a festive german show, and germanic foods for all the family. The fountain which was a planter now runs as a fully functional fountain, being a focal point of the area. Along with the old sign of Oktoberfest back in its original place. Adventure Express now has more ruins that it runs through and escapes. We are now entering the last area of the main park, the Action Zone. All of the rides are in the original names and paints. Top Gun now has more props and a new quene featuring more naval items. As we begin to walk out, we take the train to Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay. Which on the train, we find another western show. Upon entering the Bay, we are fully immersed into Australia with Crocodile Dundee. Which all of the rides are in the old conditions and are running smoothly. All of the old props are in their respected places, with the paths being in in sync.(Note, no bad theming here!) Now as we begin to wind down in the day, the Bay stays open, lit by tiki torches by the walkways, as well as paths. BB1, just sayin'

You two are just going around in circles. Terp, whose head is spinning.

Enough said

I really believe that one day, there will be a headline somewhere ... "Two injured in spinning ride accident" because the car went flying off the ride.

At about 1:45 in this video, you can see me and dare-to-fly on Tip Top at Stricker's Grove. We're the ones spinning so fast the car's about to fly off.

In my honest opinion, the Paramount theming was great, The ways that they tried to cut costs...Not so much.... Something I missed from Paramount days was a looping wooden roller coaster...... after the loop was removed, I didn't like it quite as much.....

I miss the theming of rides such as top gun, tomb raider: the ride, and Backlot Stunt Coaster. Also I miss the paramount story (tower gardens) that area has really gone down the toilet.

The theming of the early years.