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Don't even tell me you are anxiously awaiting Big Sexy's next incredulous update.

Couple of things- and I don't know if this is the right thread to do this on, but I viewed the video here- so you tell me. I just watched the Matt O... (however its spelled) interview- and WOW, what an outstanding mind to have taken the reigns of the CF park chain. Whereas I think Kinzel was mostly about numbers and build the biggest, best attraction that makes the biggest statement and it will bring bodies in the door. I think the new CEO is about the guest experience. I love what he said that "most of the people that come in the park a second time come back because they had fun the first time." Has no interest in copying all parks into a single brand... "there are 11 brands" Building better attractions that parents will ride with their kids (but more importantly)- not "because" of their kids. the leading of his conversation leads me to think also that within CF there is a department developing akin to the Disney "Imagineers"- I could be wrong, but many things he mentioned made it seem like they are challenging designers to create things that give the customer a completely unique experience. I could be wrong, but I'm willing to place a few sheckels that whatever is being built on the former SOB grounds will be a uniquely Kings Island experience. I'm willing to bet also that there will be some cosmetic changes coming in the coming years to themed areas of the KI grounds.

A post so nice he made it thrice.

Reliable. A major priority for this management. Something NOT true of Son of Beast or Formula Rossa. The public cares very little about records. They care about "the best day ever."

Terp is just a regular person. He's smarter than the average bear, so people think he's God or something so people think he can predict the future, know what ride comes in 2014, decipher certain messages, etc. He's pretty cool. Get to know him. But don't bow down to him assume he's affiliated with the park or with a higher power or 100% factual knowledge. Oh crap, this is my 1,111 post! at 11:11 PM. Terp had nothing to do with this. This changes nothing. Nothing, I say~!

Just because it may be a ride that "parents will ride with their kids" doesn't mean whatever we are getting won't be thrilling. Rides like Gatekeeper and even Cheetah Hunt come to mind. If we are honestly complaining because what we are getting may not be a 300+ foot Giga coaster, it makes me wonder if we'd rather have Kinzel back just so we can have a roller coaster placed without meaning or consideration to other sections of the park. It is possible to focus on more than just the family/just the thrillseeker without just "stooping to the lowest thrill denominator."

Depending on the degree of autism, of course. Currently, we cast a net that's way too wide (in my professional opinion...in case you're wondering, I'm a therapist and professor that specializes in child psychopathology, so I find this thread particularly interesting), For example, if you were ever diagnosed with Asperger's, guess what? "POOF", that has magically become autism in 2013, but it's a "better safe than sorry" approach, of course. In the past 5 years, I've actually been asked by at least half a dozen parents to switch their child's diagnosis of a learning disability to a diagnosis of autism. Why? They can get mandated support from the schools with that diagnosis that they can't get with others. This is not an uncommon situation doctors and therapists find themselves in. Frankly, I've never done it, so they move on until they find someone who will. One thing we know for sure is that early intervention is absolutely key, so part of this wave is so that kids that can benefit from early intervention can get it. It's such a broad, broad, spectrum, it's nearly impossible to have a blanket, catch-all policy in my opinion. What struck me was someone's comment about a ride e-stopping and everyone being forced to do a walk-down. If someone's autism is so severe that they honestly could not stand to be in a line for more than a few minutes, what on earth would you do in that situation? You could very easily be putting your child's life (and the life of others) in serious danger. I've never though twice about someone with a disability going ahead of me on a ride, or being put on a train in "my row". In fact, I typically make a point to smile and make a kind gesture, as I'm sure they get faced with their fair share of dirty looks throughout the day. I'm just relieved no one on here has said the word vaccine yet. I still meet parents who have more faith in Jenny McCarthy than medical science. And no, you absolutely cannot compare someone with autism to someone with ADHD or back issues. Such a statement reflects a misunderstanding of the issue at hand. An older child with a more severe case of autism could become a very real danger to him or herself and others in an emergency situation. note; part of this was cut/paste from my posts in our discussion at coasterbuzz of the same topic.

I don't know where the disagreement is. I've said Gatekeeper is brilliant. I've diverted attention to a highly instructive and illustrative Italian Job thread (which most read far too literally). Mr. Ouimet knows creating family best days ever is good business. Stay tuned. Kings Island has a brilliant future.

Hello everyone! Need a break from the endless speculation that is the "Trying to Decode 2014" topic? How about a trip report from McSalsa to ease your woes, eh? WARNING: Trip Report is MASSIVE. You may want to get a drink or snack. You may need it. To start off: Terpy- I did not run into Matt Eckert, Lori Koch, Dan Koch, or Pat Koch- or anyone else involved with the whole legal battle going on at Holiday World, and thus had no questions to ask. I am sorry about this. The only employees I ran into were the normal seasonal ones, who were as usual very kind & friendly. Alas, how is the park itself doing during the legal battle? How good are the rides that are new since my last visit- mainly Mammoth (did not visit HW in 2012 so it was "new" to me) and Hyena Falls? Are the wooden coasters running better than their disappointing 2011 showings? Let's find out! Our trip had: Me, My Best Friend, His Girlfriend, His Girlfriend's Daughter (age 4), and His Girlfriend's Sister...but first, the ride rating system! MY RATING SYSTEM 10=Amazing 9=Excellent 8=Very Good 7=Good 6=Decent 5=OK 4=Kinda Bad 3=Bad 2=Very Bad 1=Awful 0=Superpoop IT BEGINS... Before our trip, we stopped at a local Wal-Mart to buy some food (we were stretching our budgets as far as we could, granted we never would need this food until the trip to Holiday World was over...) and sandals for the waterpark. We then hit a local McDonalds for breakfast, I had the 2 breakfast burritos combo and it was good, and then hit the highway. 1 1/2 hours and some nice scenery later, we passed Louisville, Kentucky where I thought "Somewhere in there is the rotting corpse of what used to be Kentucky Kingdom..."...and 1 1/2 hours after that, we arrived at Holiday World around 9:40 (Holiday World time). After I used the bathroom, applied sunscreen, and we went to the height station to see how big Girlfriend's Daughter was- 41 inches. 1 inch too short to do everything in the water park! D'oh! After that, we went to our first ride, which was... #1-THE RAVEN Wait: 5 Minutes Raven, the coaster that put Holiday World on the map when it opened in 1995. Sure, Holiday World existed before then, but there was no real reason to drive 3+ hours to visit until Raven showed up. My friend's girlfriend was a bit afraid of roller coasters, saying the height bothered her, but since she could handle Racer @ Kings Island which is 8 feet higher and 5mph faster than Raven, I figured she could probably handle Raven. Her sister went to ride some family-friendly rides with GF's daughter, which ended up being Scarecrow Scrambler. Sadly, I was dead wrong. She was terrified as soon as the ride hit the tunnel, and when the brakes hit, she was crying and breathing heavily...we had overdone it, and she will probably never set foot on a coaster again. We calmed her down, and promised her she didn't have to ride any more scary roller coasters. She was OK afterwards, thankfully. Anyhow, how was the ride for me? Solid. There was some decent airtime, not great but far better than my 2011 ride on this coaster. The laterals and speed were also pretty good. The track was kind of rough, though, so Raven may be due for a good re-tracking job this offseason. It wasn't too rough, though. Rating: 9/10 After riding Raven, we ended up heading to The Legend. Me and my friend rode it by ourselves, as obviously his girlfriend was done with roller coasters. #2-THE LEGEND Wait: 15 Minutes During our wait, as we came closer to the boarding area, my friend saw the sign "back row only" in the q-line, and as we looked we noticed a somewhat decent line for that seat. My friend was curious. "Do you want to try it?" "Umm...sure, why not?" A few minutes later, we were on. Legend climbed up its hill, and we were YANKED over the first drop. Killer ejector air FTW! We roared through the tunnel, and headed into the out-and-back run. Little air here, but then came the Spiral Drop, which was epic with good lateral forces and a 77-foot drop. The next hill under Zoombabwe had some decent air, but then came the 5th drop...more ejector air, plus a tunnel at the bottom! Then came the sharp turns into the helix...which was all-you-can-eat laterals! As if these laterals were not enough, the 4-corners finale dished out still more great laterals! As we hit the brakes, all I could do was smile...I was impressed. The ride was actually quite smooth, but all the laterals were sure to make it somewhat uncomfortable. But heck, I loved every second of it. Score: 10/10! Right before we got kick-butt ejector air on Legend, we looked over and saw that Splashin' Safari had just opened, and was not crowded. So instead of riding Voyage next, as we had done in all prior trips, we instead went to the water park. The new entrance area looks great and has some cool statues. I also noticed Holiday World and Splashin' Safari both have tons of trash cans...not sure if this is new, or if I just now noticed, but if it is me: why does Cedar Fair get ripped for this, and HW doesn't? Girlfriend's sister joined us for the first time. Our first ride was something new that was not there during my last visit... #3- MAMMOTH Wait: 20 Minutes When we were coming up to it in line, Mammoth had apparently broken down and was just re-opening. No problem, we thought. As we were coming up, my friend told me to cut in line under the q-line poles..."No!", I told him, but he pushed me and forced me over...then I found out the ride-ops were wanting us to line jump (WTF!?!?) so they could fill up a boat. Once aboard, Mammoth began to climb the lift...around 1/3rd of the way up, the ride stopped...apparently, two boats ahead of us had gotten too close together (due to weight variables) and the safety system activated... "OMFG!!! I AM STUCKETH ON DA MAMOOTH AT HOLIDAY WORLD! I AM GOING TO CALL THE NEWS MEDIA AND SUE HOLIDAY WORLD FOR DIS!!!" OK, anyone with half a brain will realize the above part was a joke, but I really did get "stuck" on Mammoth for around 15 minutes. The ride eventually started back up, and the ride began. Mammoth is a very different ride from Wildebeest, in spite of both of them being water coasters. The sense of speed is reduced just a bit since the track is much wider, but the ride still moves pretty quick, and the spinning factor really brings something extra to this ride. The drops are pretty intense, especially the 45-degree one near the end. The tunnels range from fairly well lit to pitch black, and the ride also has tons of hoses and nozzles spraying water everywhere. And there is a splashdown finale! Basically...Mammoth soaks you, and it soaks you good. Score: 10/10 After Mammoth, we decided to meet up with my friend's girlfriend, who was chillin' at the Bahari Wave Pool...and I took a dip, since ya know, it was right there... #4-BAHARI WAVE POOL Wait: 0 minutes After the ice-cold water on Mammoth, the fact Bahari Wave Pool had heated water was welcome. I enjoyed my time in this pool this time around, as for whatever reason the huge waves didn't bug me as much as they had in the past...did they turn them down this year or something, or was it just me? Score: 8/10 After the Bahari Wave Pool, we split up again. Me, My Friend, and His GF's sister headed for... #5-ZINGA Wait: 15 minutes Due to ride restrictions, I was forced to ride by myself...I was OK with this though. I was sent backwards into the dark tunnel, and came out into the funnel and slid around. Good fun, but after Mammoth, this was just a little underwhelming. (Not a knock on Zinga, but more "that's just how good Mammoth is", FYI) Score: 8/10 After Zinga, me and my friend decided to return to the dry park for the last of the 3 wooden coasters, Voyage, as the crowds had begun to build in the waterpark. We got ready, and headed out...some time later... #6-THE VOYAGE Wait: 25 minutes You are probably wondering why Voyage had a 25-minute wait, eh? Well...for whatever reason, Voyage was only running 1 train all day. Train #2 was on the transfer track, just sitting there. At least it had all 7 cars on it this time (my previous rides on Voyage had the coaster running 6-car trains). However, 1 train. 6,400 feet of track. So the 25-minute wait is actually a little better than I expected, especially considering we waited for the front seat. I was curious as to how much the 2012 re-tracking I had heard had done so many wonders for this ride had actually helped/held up this year. As we climbed the lift hill of the tallest traditional-style (no prefab or topper track) wooden coaster in the world (SOB is gone, Rattler is metal now) this thought did come into my head...and then the drop came...smooth! Up the hill... some good sustained floater air! Down the next hill...still smooth! Up...more floater air! Drop again into a tunnel...more floater air! Suddenly...BANG! Ouch! There was apparently some track that was not lined up 100% correct or something, because a sharp jolt shook our car...then, a few seconds later, another BANG! Ow again! This happened in the 2 tunnels after the initial airtime hills, and nowhere else. The train did its usual thing around the turn-around section, the 90 degree turns and whatnot, and then we hit the MCBR and entered the triple down in the dark, where we finally got a bit of ejector air on the 2nd drop (it had all been floater until here). Until this point, I was happy with the ride. The track was actually pretty smooth, save the two "BANG!" spots, and the airtime was pretty good. However, Voyage's 2nd half decided it was not going to be as fun as the first. No airtime to be found of either kind, and, almost like a switch was flipped, the roughness from 2011 suddenly roared back to life! The second half was still fun, but the lack of any air and the intense roughness made it pale in comparison to the excellent first half. Score: 9/10 (10/10 first half, 8/10 second half) The train hit the brakes, and we got off, and I started thinking. And I made my mind up: Voyage was no longer quite good enough to be my #2 favorite coaster. It simply is too rough in certain sections, and was not quite as fun overall as another coaster I had just ridden earlier that day, which has given me one awesome ride after another minimal drawbacks...the ride I had got on Voyage was very good, just not enough... Legend, you are now my favorite of Holiday World's 3 wooden coasters, and #2 overall (Beast @ Kings Island remains #1)! Hmm...ironically, you're the one most people put last of this trio of woodies, too...Voyage drops to #3 overall, just a tad ahead of Diamondback at #4 and Raven which sits at my #5 spot. After riding Voyage, we headed to the waterpark again and rode Bahari River, a lazy river ride. #7-BAHARI RIVER Wait: 0 Minutes Ahh, the Bahari River. Holiday World's lone surviving lazy river, after Congo River kicked the bucket this offseason for the new entrance. This was a great ride to ride after Voyage, as it gave me a great chance to cool off and relax, and recover a bit from that very-fun-but-also-very-rough ride. I like how they have the waterfalls and stuff positioned so you can avoid them if you wish...I did no such thing, aiming for maximum wetness! I succeeded. However, I couldn't get off my raft thing at first, so I just ended up riding two times in a row. Score: 8/10 After Bahari River, my Friend's Girlfriend was upset, saying she wanted to return to the dry park because she wasn't having much fun in the waterpark. We obliged, but first wanted to get some food. I got some Nachos w/cheese, which cost $3.30. They were average nachos. I also traded a few nachos for a piece of a pretzel...decent, also average quality. As we were walking back to the dry park, they played "Ready to Go" by Republica, which caused some rage in me to awaken if you know what song that is and where I originally expected to be on this day! After that, we walked into the dry park, and we spotted a ride the entire group could enjoy together... #8-RAGING RAPIDS Wait: 0 minutes (walk-on) Yay! No Line! We boarded Raging Rapids, which headed into its tunnel...or should I say it's sewer, as it smelled like dead fish. Eww. It headed out, and we floated down the rapids and got blasted by the geysers. My best friend managed to avoid getting wet on the waterfall section, and then did so AGAIN when we rode a 2nd time...because they let us stay on 'cuz there were no lines! Score: 8/10 After Raging Rapids, my Friend's Girlfriend wanted to ride Revolution, a HUSS Round-Up ride (that thing where you stand in it and it spins uber-fast and lifts you up). My friend, who has a weak stomach for spinning rides, passed and would watch his Girlfriend's Daughter for the rest of us as we rode. #9-REVOLUTION Wait: 5 Minutes (walk-on, but it had to complete a cycle before we could board) Having never ridden one of these before, I didn't know what to expect. The g-forces on this thing are so intense, it is hard to breathe...and then when it lifts you up, your entire world just goes bonkers until you don't know which was is up! Good fun...and it didn't give me Nausea like the GraviTron UFO ride I rode at a Carnival did. Score: 8/10 After Revolution, I pointed out that I had never been on a Flying Eagles ride before. So, we did that next. #10-EAGLE'S FLIGHT Wait: 0 Minutes (another walk-on!) Well, I did not realize you could actually have some control over this ride while riding! Being able to steer my "bird", while it went around, was cool. My first ride I didn't try anything too fancy, but upon a quick re-ride due to there being no line, I did try some more intense moves. However, my friend's girlfriend was going bonkers with hers, going completely sideways and stuff! Man, now that I have ridden a set, I see why KIC members are so mad at Paramount for replacing Flying Eagles with a basketball game! Score: 8/10 After Eagle's Flight, I had a crazy thought. I...I wanted to be...a Credit Hog. So we took the young one, and headed for Holidog's Funtown. I saw no sign of the old Freedom Train, which was SUPPOSED to be on display somewhere near the entrance for the new train. However, we still went in. This is actually a nice kids area, with a few kid-friendly rides, and a HUGE playground. The ride we were going for, though, was sort of hidden behind the playground... #11-THE HOWLER Wait: 5 Minutes (had to wait for a cycle to finish, otherwise a walk-on) My first kiddie coaster in years...I was not expecting this, but Howler has some good laterals! Wow...and then the ride-op let us ride again a second time! The ride is also a bit rough. A decent coaster for me, but a good one for kids, I suppose. I really just wanted a new coaster credit... Score: 6/10 After Howler, Holidog and Kitty Claws came out for a show, and Girlfriend's Daughter wanted to see them, but her mother asked her if she wanted to ride this with us...and she was OK with it... #12-KITTY'S TEA PARTY Wait: 0 Minutes (Still more walk-ons...) I, for the life of me, could not get my teacup to spin. I do not know why it would not, because I saw my friend's cup spinning like mad. Sigh. Because of this, my particular ride was boring...oh well. Maybe next time, I'll get it... Score: 5/10 (would have been higher if my cup would have spun!) After the Teacups, my Friend's Girlfriend wanted her daughter to ride... #13-DOGGONE TRAIL Wait: 0 Minutes (...and more walk-ons...) The least intense ride I have EVER been on, FYI. It just drives slow along a track...great for kids, but as an adult, I got bored. I only did it because I wanted to look cool to my buddy's girlfriend's daughter. Score: 4/10 After that, Daughter finally got her wish and hugged Kitty Claws and Holidog. Who says you need characters like Spongebob to make kids happy? After that, they went inside (those costumes must have gotten pretty hot in the warm weather) and we returned to the 4th of July section. Our next ride was something I was somewhat interested in... #14-SPARKLER Wait: 5 Minutes (waited for a cycle, otherwise yet ANOTHER walk-on!) For those who don't know, Sparkler is basically WindSeeker hit with a shrink ray that reduces it to only around 50-60 feet high, and with the classic chains instead of metal bars. The ride experience, I assume (have never ridden WindSeeker) is similar save the height difference...anyhow, for Holiday World, 50-60 feet is enough. You get a great view of the surrounding area while also feeling not too far from Earth, with the wind in your face to boot. A calm, relaxing ride I enjoyed- though even 50-60 feet made me a little nervous... Score: 8/10 After Sparkler, we headed for a ride chosen by Girlfriend's Daughter... #15-STAR SPANGLED CAROUSEL Wait: 0 Minutes (Uh, I'm losing track of all these walk-on rides!) Ahh, the Carousel. Good classic fun, but not too intense or exciting. Not really my cup of tea, but I still think it looks beautiful and every park should have at least 1 Carousel or Merry-Go-Round...it's a mainstay, for crying out loud! Score: 6/10 Here, we split up again. Me, My Friend, and His Girlfriend's Daughter went to Indian River Canoe Ride and Salmon Run so that his Girlfriend's Daughter could ride them both, which we enjoyed watching. (The Boats on IRCR as so slow!) Meanwhile, Girlfriend and Her Sister headed for the Bumper "Cars", Rough Riders. As they took some time to do so, I was sent back to check on them and watched the cars in Action for a minute. After that, we all met back up and headed for another family ride. #16-LEWIS & CLARK TRAIL Wait: 0 Minutes (Drive-on? LOL) Antique Cars...calm and relaxing...but so hard to drive, or at least these ones are! It is very hard to stay on the gas, as I had to force my foot down the entire ride, as I feared my friend, who can be a jokster, would ram me if he got the chance! (And yes, I know they would have yelled at him for it) It was OK overall. Score: 7/10 We then headed into the Christmas section, where I used the bathroom, cleaned up a bit, and discussed plans. We made a vow to ride Frightful Falls Log Flume, but I also wanted to take another lap on... #17-THE RAVEN, PART II Wait: 0 Minutes (Even the coasters now!!!) Having had such an awesome ride earlier in the day on Legend, I decided, why not try Raven in the rear car? So we did. And wow, what a difference seat selection can make. It was a bit rougher, yes, but the airtime was increased a easily noticeable amount, and the fun factor as well. The 5th drop had, what was to this point, tied Legend's 1st drop for the BEST airtime of the entire day thus far (yet both would be surpassed later! What ride could do such a thing? Keep reading...) An awesome ride, and I wasn't even bugged at the shortness this time. I still think Legend is a bit better, though...and Raven is still only #5, because all 4 rides ahead of it have also given me awesome rides...though if it keeps this up Raven is getting very close to taking #4 from Diamondback... Score: 10/10! After Raven, we saw some of the Dive Show, including the epic finale. It was cool. Then, we headed for the promised ride of Frightful Falls. #18-FRIGHTFUL FALLS LOG FLUME Wait: 0 Minutes The Dark Tunnel loomed ahead. We entered, and as I was riding with Girlfriend's Sister and Daughter, I heard the Daughter scream in the tunnel because it was black and scary...we exited, floated down the river, and bumped into the log flume walls. Ow. Then came the lift, which was uber-bumpy...and then the drop, which gave a decent splashdown- a perfect sized one too, not too massive or too small. A fun, classic water ride. Scared the young one a bit though, mainly due to the tunnel, but she was OK. Score: 8/10 After Frightful Falls, I wanted to ride Legend again, but they had shut down for a repair of some sort. My friends' girlfriend wanted to ride... #19-HALLOWSWINGS Wait: 0 Minutes Ahh, Hallowswings. A classic chair-o-swing ride with a beautiful exterior. The ride itself is nice and relaxing too. I still perfer this over Sparkler (no offense to Sparkler though) Score: 8/10 After Hallowswings, we returned to the waterpark. I spoke with my friend, who said they were just going to chill by the wave pool. I wanted to ride more stuff, so he allowed me to break off from the rest of the group and go solo for 30 minutes or so... The following is what came during that period. #20-WILDEBEEST Wait: 0 Minutes (...what...) Yes, the above line is true. I am not lying. I walked on Wildebeest, a ride notorious for 1+ hour waits. I used the single rider line, just for kicks, even though I did not need to. I also rode in a boat by myself, which...uhh...did something interesting. Remember how, during my Raven ride #2 review, I said the airtime I got on both Legend's first drop and the 5th drop on Raven was eventually surpassed? Yeah...this is where that happened. You see, Wildebeest uses LIM's to launch its boats, and normally it launches at least 400-500+ pounds of riders up a hill, and even then it gives good airtime. I, being alone, weigh around 200lbs. and the ride was still launching as if it were a full load of riders... Basically, I went airbone. I was still safe of course, as the ride designers did take this into account when building Wildebeest (at least I HOPE they did!). It was AWESOME. The quick dips, turns, tunnels, and water spraying added even more to the ride. This ride lived up to its name, as real Wildebeest can probably run fast and jump high too. I had a blast on Wildebeest...and, seeing how this was a walk-on... Score: 10/10 ...I walked quickly for... #21-BAKULI Wait: 5 Minutes (Freakin' Stairs!) There were a few people riding Bakuli, so I joined 2 random girls I did not know for our ride. I agreed to go backwards, as I had done that already on Zinga. Bakuli was great fun in the dark, and the bowl was fun and spinny as usual. Not as good as Wildebeest or Mammoth, but Bakuli is a great waterslide. Score: 9/10 I then decided to head for the "other" side of the waterpark, to ride one of the tallest rides at Holiday World... #22-GIRAFFICA (formerly Pilgrims Plunge) Wait: 0 Minutes (...you aren't surprised, are you?) They have done a good job re-theming this ride. There are pretty plants and giraffe statues around the entrance. I rode with a group of strangers again. The ride itself is the same as before, go up, tip, reach top, drop...SPLOOSH! I even had my hands up during the drop. I'm not afraid of this thing at all anymore. Score: 9/10 With a few minutes left until Splashin' Safari closed, I headed for the new-for-2013 attraction, Hyena Falls, for one last waterpark ride. I was the last rider of the day. I chose "laughs"- the biggest waterslide with the halfpipe element. #23-HYENA FALLS: "LAUGHS"(new for 2013) Wait: 5 Minutes (stairs again) I was a bit surprised that the tunnels are not pitch black...I thought this might be a family-friendly slide at first...then came the halfpipe, and I nearly had a panic attack- WOW is that part intense! My flip flops, which I had been wearing all day and had gotten that morning, even came off during it and flowed down after me! As I reached to grab one of them, my boat flipped, and I was dunked. I could swear I heard Hyenas laughing their butts off... Score: 9/10 And so ended my 30-minute rampage. I headed back through Thanksgiving plaza, and met back up with my friends...they planned to let the Girlfriend's Daughter ride a few more kids rides in the Christmas section, then we would buy fudge and go home. I was allowed, however, to ride one more ride by myself... #24-THE LEGEND II Wait: 0 Minutes (Did we pick a good day, or what?) I decided to sit in 5-1, since the very rear car was taken and 5-1 had no wait. The ride was a bit rougher, and the air was a tad weaker, but other than that it was the same as earlier. A great ride again. I will now talk about something I noticed...Raven & Legend seem to be the same ride, built twice, with Legend basically being "Raven 2.0";. Why do I say this? Well, I was reading on Rollercoasterphilosophy.com's Legend analysis the day before the trip, and he compared the layouts of both...and they are similar: Lift hill, turn at top, drop, tunnel, out-and-back section, downward right curve, hill, huge 5th drop, (Legend adds a helix here, Raven skips to next part), sharp turns with good laterals, end. Legend is just bigger, the first drop is curved, has waterslides over the out-and-back run, adds a helix, and makes the laterals much stronger- but Raven has more woods around it and a lake under the downward right curve. I love both rides, and just found this interesting, BTW. Score: 10/10! Legend was my last ride of the day. After we met back up, we got fudge, got in the car, and headed for home. I got the strawberry-vanilla fudge mix, it was good, though I liked the chocolate I got in 2011 better. And so ended our trip to Holiday World. Now, the pros and cons of the trip... PROS -Amazing Wooden Coasters -Amazing Waterpark -Fun flat rides -Great staff -Clean Park -Free soft drinks -Free sunscreen -Free parking CONS -Park Management is now behind-the-scenes, it seems... -Still needs a good steel coaster -Needs a coaster/ride in between Raven & the larger flat rides, the gap in intensity is too big! -Lots o' trash cans...is this a Cedar Fair park? And finally... TOTAL RIDES RIDDEN Raven x2 Legend x2 Voyage x1 Wildebeest x1 Mammoth x1 Girrafica x1 Hyena Falls: "Laughs" x1 Bakuli x1 Zinga x1 Bahari River x2 Bahari Wave Pool x1 Eagles' Flight x2 Star Spangled Carousel x2 Raging Rapids x2 Revolution x1 Sparkler x1 Hallowswings x1 Frightful Falls x1 Lewis & Clark Trail x1 The Howler x2 Kitty's Tea Party x1 Doggone Trail x1 Grand Total: 29 Rides (A new personal record! ) OVERALL While there is turmoil behind the scenes, the park itself is doing fine for now, and is the same as it has been the last few years- which is a great thing. I do hope that whoever is controlling Holiday World when this battle is all said & done keeps it on its current path, with its current values, so that people can enjoy this great park for years to come... Disclaimer: If you see any weird text or anything, it is because I accidently backed out of the text maker thingy and had to use the auto-saved text which had lots of errors and stuff... UPDATE: FUDGE! Don't you hate it when you ride so much stuff, you forget certain rides you went on for the trip report? Well, I did just that and forgot I rode Hallowswings in between Frightful Falls and Wildebeest. I have updated the TR and added it. I also fixed some errors, and added a "grand total for the day" rides ridden list.

I believe that piece of track is headed to China for Flying Over the Rainforest. Does B&M still make their parts for Asia at Clermont? Delirium (First giant Frisbee) Son of Beast (record breaker) Screamin' Demon (first Arrow launch coaster) How many of these were under the current regime at 1 Cedar Point Dr.? And on the "family experience" discussion, Ouimet: "There's not a lot in the middle... rides that parents are on with their kids, but not solely because of their kids... This is one we are about to roll out in multiple parks, where I know a parent will have at least as good of a time as their kids. And I think that's the sweet spot." (followed my some coughing, probably allergies or something) Calm down, have a little faith. The man at the helm is a genius in this industry. He knows what he is doing- be it a family ride, a new show, or a 400 ft. looping floorless wooden coaster. Trust the guys in charge, and if you are looking to truly have FUN and not looking to point out every little flaw you can find, you will not be disappointed. End rant.

Maybe Clermont Steel is switching to Intamin parts.

Bingo! And thats the hardest part for parents/teachers/family. One moment the child appears to have got it perfect. The very next moment its starting over. Its not uncommon for a child to learn compensatory behaviors. We teach them all of the time. But it takes a very dedicated group of people who are willing to bear hug a student when needed, or willing to wipe spit off their face and keep a smile. Get hit and not react for the student to learn. Different places create a brand new learning environment for the student. Some students I work with have to eat in the classroom because they have not learned to wait in the cafeteria and the extra noise upsets them

^Cedar Fair under Kinzel (and a perfect example of Kinzel placing a high thrill ride in a place without considering location)

How many at Racer Kennywood? Twicky Terpy.

Racer should count as two, so it balances out, in my humble opinion.

It's not just the waiting in line that is the underlying issue, but the break from the norm. (i.e.: the special needs person is not able to watch a certain TV program at a certain time due to breaking national news. They will not understand why the program is not on TV.) For instance: there have been many issues with WS. What would happen if WS stops at the top for an extended amount of time (aka- breaking the norm)? Those with special needs have been known to have incredible strength. Could they get out of the restraint? It's a scary thought.

What's wrong with evil and creepy?

Just asking...how do people with autism: wait for a city bus, wait to be seated in a restaurant, wait in line for a haicut, etc. I mean, are public transit, diners, and barbers infringing on civil rights for not providing immediate service? Im sorry, but parents expecting the masses to part like the red sea for them are not being realistic. I agree with KI policy.

It's a quote from the movie "A Few Good Men".

Where's the excitement? Where's the rush of publicity about the huge news about to emerge from Hart & Co.? Even if Hart is almost totally quiet, why so the Louisville Mayor and Council, the Fair Board and even the Governor? Success has a thousand parents, failure is an orphan. And, if for some reason June 27 results in a lease and not yet another extension or the end, the heavy lifting and money spending has only just begun. Meanwhile, a court in Indiana will mete out an important part of Kentucky Kingdom's future, if any it has. June 27, 2013. As we listen to the drumbeat of constant, upbeat, positive publicity about the Thrill Park's future. Or will it be the third Great Escape? Stay tuned.

I work in the public sector, and provide service to disabled people. All I can say to any business is consult your attorney, and make sure your policies fall within ADA guidelines. No more no less. Try to be everything to everyone and you will fail. Kings Island is a great park, and makes a great effort to provide a wonderful experience for everyone.

I was thinking the same thing, but couldn't think of a proper way to say it. Waiting is certainly not a Kings Island thing, it happens every day. If an individual with autism can be taught that when they go to a restaurant, there will be a waiting period between ordering food and eating, can they also be taught that there will be a period between deciding to ride a ride and actually riding it? It's an honest question, so don't be offended by my ignorance. Maybe one of the many in this thread who are far more familiar with the situation can throw in their $.02. Boddah, children can be taught but it takes a long time, and many many many practices before the child/adult can "get it." But each situation needs to be taught. Children with autism have a very difficult time generalizing a skill. A child with autism may learn to wait for food at home, but in a restaurant does not understand the waiting period. They may learn to wait at Olive garden but do not understand the wait at outback. In each new environment the skill needs to be learned. In SpecEd we are taught that a typical student learns a concept with 6-8 unique opportunities. A child with autism can take 10-20 times longer to learn a skill. Or in other terms. A child will take waiting in Beasts line 8 times before they understand that waiting = a ride, and acting out is not appropriate. A child with autism may require 80-160 opportunities to learn the exact same skill. This is not counting any "weird" sensory distractions that may occur (Too hot, too cold, music too loud, they are tired, meds are different, different time of day, etc). Plus the child/adult would need to learn to wait at each ride. So learning to wait at The Beast is a different experience than waiting for Flight Deck or DT, or even Boo Blasters. Parents are also integral into this process. I just had a coworker take her 20 year old son to Disney. She began prepping him for a possible plane delay 8 months ago. If the plane got delayed in Jersey, he has a history of acting out and she was afraid he would make a scene on the plane and get forcibly removed. So she had to go over what to do 3 times a day for the last 8 months, just in case the plane is delayed. He has been going to Disney since he was 4 so he really understands waiting, and actually yells at people using the fast pass system (he is an enthusiast even if he doesnt know it). So long answer longer, yes a child/adult with autism can be taught but its a very very long process. Sometimes a parent and a child do not need the extra stress of waiting. Some of these children/adult dont realize how strong they are. They may jump on the back of a fellow park patron, spin around, spit, climb the rails, or punch just because they are being over stimulated and dont understand what is happening. Funny side story. My first day in the Autism classroom, I touched the desk of one of my students. He didnt know how to take it so he flipped the desk, removed his shirt, spit (blew raspberries), and then opened the door to the closet and climbed to the top of the door. Just lifted himself right up. All in about 2-3 seconds. EDITED: added an additional line about learning at different coasters

The policy is as fair as it can be for everyone. With the risk of sounding insensitive (and I truly am not), if a guest has a severe enough case that a set time to ride still cannot be followed due to the possible reaction, I'm not sure they would/ should be able to ride to begin with. What if the ride stops due to a malfunction (as had made news at KI twice this season)? Will the guest be able to evacuate the ride safely without a reaction that could possibly hurt themselves or someone else? It is both an unfortunate situation & decision, but IMO as fair as it can get.

I've noticed the past few nights that Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular has been run down quite a bit. I haven't seen the light show on the tower at all this season, the blinking lights running up the tower only go to the 50ft platform and many of the trees that were once lit up no longer are. Has anyone else noticed this? Was it working properly earlier in the season?

I actually think the proximity of Diamondback to Planet Snoopy is brilliant. While the older ones in the family get their fix on a high thrill coaster, the young ones can go run around on their favorite rides just a few feet away while they wait. I mean come on, I can't be the only one that realizes this brilliant location.

This is soo sad.I live like 20 minutes away from the Kingdom, I remember going there at age 6 and complaining about not being tall enough to ride the "Big" Coasters haha good times

That won't be happening. It would be directly contrary to FUN philosophy, and totally unrealistic.

Took the words out of my mouth.

Slightly different though. A child with ADHD need to be moving. Or need input of some sort, a person with a back problem probably shouldnt be riding a roller coaster in the first place. So if standing in line aggravates the back, then Im sure a ride would hurt as well. But some people with back issues actually have walkers with a built in seat to help them as they are standing in the line. A child with Autism when over stimulated can cause self harming behaviors or start other harming behaviors. Comparing a child with ADHD or an adult with back injuries to a child/adult with Autism is not a fair comparison at all.

Which makes it about 1/4 a day more than Animal Kingdom for most...

I believe it was said it was a different coaster in a different part of the park....

The Court has asked for briefs on the matter and will schedule oral argument sometime after that, probably in early fall. I would expect a decision in early 2014, followed by an appeal to the Indiana Supreme Court, which may or may not decide to hear the case. Of course settlement is an option too...

Did somebody say Star Wars Land?!?!? *nerdgasm*

Enjoy. Have some pizza. And some frozen custard. And also ride Magnum. And look at what they are doing. It's brilliant. Like the early Kinzel days, but even better. Brilliant.

Fair enough I have to tell other students "fair does not mean equal" when they ask why a certain student only has to answer 15 instead of 25 questions, etc. To be honest, as a supporter and worker with children/adults with special needs, I believe the park has a good system in place. Could it be better? Yes. The reason being is that 1 support cannot and does not work for all guests. But to a parent with a child who does not understand waiting, the card may not seem reasonable.

I just want to echo was Dwight posted above. Mr O appears to have a great feel for this park. Talking about hitting the sweet spot of rides for families to want to ride together. Guests want to come back because its fun, not because of a coaster count/etc. He leaves his office to interact with guests to find out what they like and dont like. I feel this chain is in good hands. To have a coaster or ride or themed area that is for families. I believe TERP stated about a year ago to watch what the park does not what is says. Well the chain stated it wanted family fun (or similar statement), then CP put in Gatekeeper. Mr O stated that with Gatekeeper the ride needed to see Lake Erie, recreate the entrance, and to have a ride that is a fun experience. Mr O stated that the ride transitions are more spread out which make the ride more fun. So I disagree with Terp in that CF is doing what they are saying (or at least so far) in bringing Family fun to the park. Genetic Vacation Behavior, where if you have fun as a kid you will bring your future kids to the park. The idea of not blending all of the parks into 1 copy after another. I know my family growing up got season passes for Paramount parks and we would plan vacations around going to multiple parks.

Im just wondering what happens if they are on a ride and it has a malufunction and something happens to thier child durning thier epoisde. Thsoe parents would be the first to blame the park for letting thier child ride in the first place.

Puff The Magic Dragon - Kidzbop....yes, heard this in Planet Snoopy.

Looks like I'll go to Screamscape for Kings Island decent updates. Thanks guys!

Guess who's gonna be sleeping with the lights on tonight...this guy.

That was the picture that spooked me out the most. I didn't fall asleep until like 2AM that night because I was so afraid of closing my eyes thinking the next time I open them that thing would be floating in my bedroom. But don't worry, I'm over it now.

Terp...the nickname given to "The Interpreter" is a deeply complex, mysterious entity roaming around on these boards. He usually speaks in parables and gives profoundly obvious, yet veiled, analysis of all things pertaining to Kings Island and...well, all amusement parks, really. When he gives a hint about a new project, you most likely will not be able to discern what he's talking about...yet, if you knew what it was, it would be very obvious to you. Anyway, he's a fun guy. Mention anything "Bugs Bunny", and you'll get his ear. Does he work for the park? Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. I really don't know. But knowing him (in the very limited way I do on these boards), you simply never know. He could, but would be very good at hiding that fact. Does he know what the new coaster is? Who said it will be a new coaster? But generally speaking, you simply don't know. He probably doesn't KNOW for absolute certain, but he's very good at figuring things out....and how he does that is a huge mystery.

The more I see/hear from Matt Ouimet the more I like him...

I'm surprised it took this long to get this bad.

Thanks for your response. I guess with that same concept, would be applied to rides. Learning to wait for Flight Deck is not the same is learning to wait for Diamondback. Also, learning to wait 10 minutes for The Beast is not the same as learning to wait 45 minutes for The Beast. Am I getting it?

That's why there's dressing for your insides. Terp, no Mean Streak intended.

Some do not wait for city buses. They walk because they can not handle it, or they know the schedule of the bus and if the bus is 1 minute late or early, throws off their entire day. Some kids with autism have to have a hair cut at home. With a parent holding them down while another cuts their hair. Some parents never go to dinner, because other diner patrons believe the kids shouldnt be out in public because they cant handle it. I think you all are missing the point. Its not the immediate service that is the problem, its the delay and random changes to the schedule that affects the kids/adults the most.

I hope you all sleep well tonight

There ought to be cranes?

Send in the cranes...