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Obviously a kid at heart.....that's why I'm posting on an amusement park forum.

I don't know if this has made rounds over here yet, so apologies if this is old news. For several years, people have posted about how they'd like to see Flight Deck renamed The Bat (which, of course, is now coming.) Other people have requested things like simple repainting and care-taking of the park's finer details. Don did an interview with the folks at KIFansite concerning next year, and it looks like these sorts of things are coming in 2014. Here's a link; it's really an interesting read. A few key points: The area under Banshee's station will mainly be the photo booth, with "some" souvenirs being sold there. The On Location building will have more Banshee merchandise. The KI maintenance team will do the actual assembly of the Banshee trains. Action Zone will have a new look. The park isn't saying any more than that until we're actually at the park next April. The "gift shop" (I don't understand if they mean Banshee's gift shop or the On Location store) and Stunt Crew Grill MAY have new names. That's still being finalized. Nothing new is happening with the International Street fountains at this time. The International Street buildings have been painted. The park is exploring options for improving communication concerning wait times and whether or not a ride is down. Food options in the park will be expanded. (Not a surprise since they just hired a new chef and all, but now they're actually confirming that new things are coming.) Gold and Platinum passholder benefits will be more defined and easier to use. Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular is gone. The Bat's station won't be drastically changing. The queue underneath was removed to clean that area up. (I was wrong after all!) We're definitely in the Ouimet era, folks. The future looks like a good one!

RCCA did not build Son of Beast and Paramount Parks did not build the coaster RCCA designed for Kings Island...

Why design roller coasters if you don't ride them, Ron?

Would you rather us not take our jobs seriously? Depends on the scareactor. Some of my best, most memorable scares have been big guys! Unfortunately, a majority of the time when popping on a big guy, they don't react (and that's probably why some scareactors quickly stop popping on them). But when they do jump, it's great! Definite yes to this. The past three years I've had a great hiding spot from which I could pick my perfect victim. If someone looks freaked out, that's who I'm getting. If a scareactor touched him, it was more than likely by accident. It sometimes happens. I have a very strong suspicion that that will change come next year.

I love this response. People don't often stop to realize how much we actually take in just on faith. Some people ask me, "How can you believe in God, or in creation...were you there to see it happen?" My answer is no, I wasn't there, but I have faith. My response, "How can you believe in evolution? Have you ever seen something evolve into something else? Were you there to witness the 'Big Bang' or see the first creature crawl out of the the ooze?" Nope. They take that on faith as well. Without faith, most of us wouldn't believe anything at all.

That's what she said.

Crypt, I will say I value alot of what you post, you do contribute alot to these threads and I value your knowledge on one of my most intriguing flat rides ever...however you really do need to lighten up and relax. If this offended you I'm sorry but still. No way to retaliate with low and stupid jabs like this. Just relax, it was meant to be funny ( I chucked a bit), but if you didn't find it humerus (see what I did there lol), it's ok, you're not the target market of it. Just...everybody love everybody ok Lets not be like Pointbuzz...lots of bickering over there for whatever reason...maybe they need snickers over there

If I believed only in what I've been able to see, feel and hear for myself, I wouldn't have any faith at all. My teachers taught me how to combine shapes on paper to form logical patterns that can be understood by others as language, and I believed them. Faith. They taught me American history and I believed them, though I never stepped foot in Philadelphia or Concord, or even Washington, D.C. in my entire lifetime. Faith. I've been taught that the Grand Canyon was carved out of the American Southwest by the Colorado River over millions of years, and I believed them, though I've only been alive since 1969, and have only flown over the thing in a passenger plane a couple of times. Faith. I did witness, however, another canyon, with many features very similar to the Grand, being formed one afternoon in May of 1980. I mean, that wasn't a million years or anything, but at least I've lived long enough to watch one form more quickly... than I've been taught it takes. But that was mostly on TV. I've never been to Mt. Saint Helens. Faith. Nah, I don't believe they'll build it. I haven't seen enough evidence to form an opinion of whether or not it can, or will. ... Faith.

In my last job, I interviewed over 10,000 people (I was a staffing recruiter/senior manager) and have only received 4 hand written thank you notes. I have received 7 thank you emails. That thank you note really goes a long way in my opinion. It makes you stand out a little more than others. In fact, there was a young man (maybe 22) that really had minimal skills and I placed him in a position because he wrote a thank you note to me. He has been with that company now 7-8 years and is now making good money.

^^Interviews are pretty straight forward. Make sure to send a handwritten thank you note to the interviewer. Don't knock the sweepers, I think that job is one of the best lower level jobs in the parks!

I am truly loving every new detail we hear about the changes/additions/upgrades not just to KI but chain wide.

My favorite encounter with an Ark was at Kennywood. Being that I'm a man of faith who knows his Bible pretty darn well, I'm not sure how "biblically correct" the Kennywood Ark is, but I loved it. If any park relatively close builds something like that, they have one guaranteed ticket sale here.

That is one-hundred percent true. Semantics can be fun.

Heck, I'd just be happy if we got a nice GCI sometime in the near future... A twister like Gold Striker would certainly contrast greatly with The Racer's out and back layout as well as The Beast's terrain layout.

Welcome to the offseason.

Wait, so we collectively don't think they were going for 'barn' with this? What was their desired look then?

Welcome! Both Kings Dominion and Carowinds have typically opened between the end of March and the beginning of April. I'm not sure when Dorney typically opens--I want to say mid-May, but I could be confusing it with Valleyfair. If you're looking for the specific day they open, the parks unfortunately haven't made that info available yet. Sorry! In previous years, the operating calendars for Cedar Fair parks were usually released in January. If they continue that trend, you've only got a few weeks to go. Hope that helps!

When did we find out the show schedule last year? I'm anxious to find out if Ed Alonzo returns. His show is one of my favorite things about KI as of late. EDIT: Nevermind, reading the interview, it looks as though that show is gone. Ah, well. 'Twas fun while it lasted.

Here's your daily dose of the 1980s.

Speaking of standing for the National Anthem, I wonder how many older associates that are vets know they can now render a salute (out of uniform) when the Stars and Stripes are being raised during the playing of the National Anthem? There are a few vets in Admissions and Guest Services that are vets and we render a salute when the flag is raised. We have had guests come to us and thank us for our service to our country after watching us salute the flag. My former supervisor when I was part of security was a C-130 pilot in the US Air Force.

Although that may be the initial proposed rendering... that's exactly what the real thing looks like. The billboards are that *odd.* Hmmm. Well Ill be... They just dont look real.... I believe ya though... So why own a park if you dont like rides because of motion sickness.... I mean its a big investment in something you dont enjoy. You may enjoy the shows and non-rides, but couldnt you just own a theater?

I once interviewed with Great American Insurance during my senior year at The Mount and I sent him a thank you note after the interview. During a job fair at the convention center, I met the same interviewer at the Great American booth and he remembered me and we had a very good chat. It was because of my of this professionalism that he recommended me for another position with the IT department at Great American that I did not even apply for. I had a great interview and was called back as one of the top two people in line for the job. The interviewer was very impressed with me because of this and my credentials that I received from The Mount (College of Mount St. Joseph). Note: Soon, The College of Mount St. Joseph will be known as Mount St. Joseph University due to the number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs that they are offering.

Merriam-Webster: attraction : something interesting or enjoyable that people want to visit, see, or do

Sweeps might be considered as one of best "lower level" jobs in the park, but it is also one of the higher paying , seasonal jobs in the park, outside of full time positions. My very first positions at the park in 72 was as a sweep and I was a sweep again when I came back in the 90's and again in 2005. We took great pride in what we did and considered it as one of the best jobs at the park. As in any interview you have for any job, be it at Kings Island or other companies, always send a thank you note to the interviewer.

Either way, his is an incorrect statement... some notables were built within that 25-year period. Blue Streak, Matterhorn etc. I think the significance to The Racer is that it received great publicity. Interest in coasters had wained, and The Racer's size and scope drew attention and was news worthy... thus the park got lots of press. That rejuvination of interest is what started the "Second Golden Age."

Although that may be the initial proposed rendering... that's exactly what the real thing looks like. The billboards are that *odd.*

MMMM warm cinnamon bread. Will be there in January right at the end of Smokey Mountain Christmas and I cannot wait. Also Spending a long weekend at the Wilderness at the Smokies resort which looks great. Dollywood is the prime example of how to do a Christmas event. Amazing lights, shows and food, oh and by the way if I get to ride a great coaster that is just a bonus.

Yay! I am not alone!

The thing is, those of us around Louisville, already know the park is opening. They need to get some signs up OUTSIDE of the area.

It's far from quiet around the Banshee construction site. Not all the work being done is visible from the webcam. Don, I did not mean there was nothing going on. I am aware there is lots including station work and more. That post was just in the continued construction of track phase. So when the first half was built, the track lay all over the site and worked well to construct. Why now for the second half is there a staging area up the hill instead of where the track is being built? Columns are around where they'll be going up on the back half of the ride with track pieces are moving into that area just as they did with the first part.

Chillier had dual stations with a sliding transfer track so two trains could each run on the same non-circuitous track, as do the Messrs Freeze. It worked (works) well.

Orlando Sentinel article interviews, reports, and gives good background on the growing influence of technology on the amusement park industry: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-cfb-talking-with-tom-burnett-20131201,0,1753496.story Of interest is the news concerning Cedar Fair and Disney developments. An overview of the consolidation occurring among service provides of tech support companies provides a good basis to understand the influences bearing down upon the industry.

i cant tell if some of those supports are already painted or if its shadows messing with it.

It's far from quiet around the Banshee construction site. Not all the work being done is visible from the webcam. Don, I did not mean there was nothing going on. I am aware there is lots including station work and more. That post was just in the continued construction of track phase. So when the first half was built, the track lay all over the site and worked well to construct. Why now for the second half is there a staging area up the hill instead of where the track is being built? Because construction methods are different for every type of erection vertical ascension. Just because it gets put up one way in one place doesn't mean the same process for another spot. Believe me, construction crews have this planned out. Don't worry Banshee will be built. Doesn't matter when it's done during the off season, just as long as it is for opening day.

I drove by on Friday at about 11:15 pm on I-71, and it looks so different in the offseason. You can't see anything other than the Eiffel Tower, which changes lighting every few minutes. It's neat.

Thanks for sharing these! Makes me miss the park so much. Even though it looks like it was rather gloomy. I'd take a gloomy day at the park vs.not being there at all!

I have not been this year, but for the last 2 years, that I have been to this, they have not closed any rides. I can say that I did freeze my knickers off, too! If you can go during the summer, I suggest doing that. Wild Eagle runs better in warmer weather. Same with Thunderhead. For hotels, try Expedia. Being that close to Christmas, I would say they will be pretty busy. You may have a little drive to and from the park. Roadway Inn is nice. The park is amazing this time of year. The food is awesome. Be sure to plan your meal times, Aunt Granny's can get quite a long line. However, it is worth it!

I agree with everything everyone above has said. We've been going to DW for at least 5 years for Smoky Mountain Christmas. I'll reiterate: Do not miss the shows! 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and Christmas in the Smokies are excellent. A Christmas Carol is very well done, especially the effects for the ghosts. The food is very good. Like CoastersRZ mentioned, the cinnamon bread is a highlight, Miss Lillian's, Aunt Granny's, Backstage Restaurant, Granny Ogle's Ham N Beans, Hickory House Barbecue, Lumberjack's Pizza, Red's Drive In and the big skillets are all excellent. I've never had a bad meal anywhere in the park, and there's just so many choices! Every time we go to Pigeon Forge we stay at the Rodeway Inn, which is just about the last thing on the south end of the strip before you start the drive to Gatlinburg. It's not the fanciest but the rates are reasonable and it meets my requirement that it must be a clean place to rest my head (we don't spend much time in our room when we're on trips). You also get a free pancake breakfast each morning at the restaurant that's on property. http://www.rodewayinn.com/hotel-pigeon_forge-tennessee-TN445 Enjoy your trip, and let us know how it went!

A tidbit about shows: if you are interested in seeing them up close and/or with little wait, you might want to invest in the QBot. QBot is Dollywood's version of Fast Lane except it is integrated far better in my opinion. It allows not only for faster coaster lines but also for great reserved seating for shows.

Yep. Dollywood for Smoky Mountain Christmas is simply amazing. Do NOT miss the shows. They are high quality productions. Some of the shows last about 45 minutes, and the lines will form early for the shows. Especially on the weekends as noted above. Also, don`t forget to ride the Dollywood Express railroad, featuring genuine coal fired steam engines. Unlike at Kings Island, the Dollywood Express departs at scheduled times, so be sure to check when the train departs. A couple other tidbits. Be sure to check out the cinnamon bread from the Grist Mill. Dollywood does food amazingly well, and this warm treat on a cold December day is an amazing way to bring some warmth to your hands and your stomach. Also, if you are planning on visiting Dollywood more than one day, you may want to get a season pass. It gets you into Dollywood the rest of this season, and all of next season (including next year`s Smoky Mountain Christmas), so that is a pretty good value if you plan on making more than one visit to the park. Especially if you plan to swing by next year to check out their new roller coaster, Firechaser Express, set to open in the spring.

As far as the rides and associated temperature - it generally has to be around 40 degrees for Dollywood to open the coasters. When it dips below 40 Thunderhead will usually stay open, but the steel coasters will generally cycle through what's left of the line and then shut down. I know several people have mentioned - myself included - that they've ridden Thunderhead while it's snowing. If you want night rides get them as close to sunset as possible, particularly if the temperature might be a factor. If you happen to be going on a Saturday, you'll want to ride (and see any of the larger shows) as early in the day as possible. Dollywood opens at 11 on Saturdays and - assuming the rides are open - you'll be able to get on the rides in very short order the first three hours. Crowds really start picking up around 3 as people come in to see Dollywood lit up at night. Dollywood may be my favorite spot in the country in November and December after night falls because it's such a visual feast for the eyes. If you're staying overnight on a Friday or Saturday book as early as you can. Rates are jacked way up on weekends and the earlier you can book the better, especially if you can find places with advance rates. Having said that... I usually stay at one or two hotels, but neither is in Pigeon Forge. The hotel I use that typically fits within the budget parameters you specified is the Quality Inn on Winfield Dunn Parkway (the main strip) in Sevierville. The rooms and beds are clean, you get a lot of room for the money, and you get a decent breakfast spread to boot. It's about a 15 minute drive to the park from that location.

Top speed of 65mph for 300+ ft coaster, either this is a case of over engineering by B&M or they plan the longest trimmed braked drop that will take the world record from The Beast. Probably just the news playing into Cedar Fairs games, last time i recalled the so called expert the news interviewed for Kings Island Banshee told us we were getting a winged coaster with multiple world records. We all walked away from the park that august night with neither of those... Until i see footers I'm not going to believe what the news has to say, or the park for that matter, honestly why would the park come out and tell us what we are getting, this early. all i got to say is, COME ON MAN!

Nuclear war had a profound impact on Japan, too. Son of Beast may well have been a major factor in VIACOM shunting off the parks to CBS. It certainly affected the size, thrill level and required reliability of additions to the Paramount Parks thereafter, ended the Paramount Parks careers of Jane Cooper and Dave Focke, along with countless others, and caused the cheap and cheerful era for Paramount Parks additions.

If you want a over 200' woodie, don't skimp on it. Its like rebuilding a classic corvette the onwe that came with the 427 big block and putting a 4 banger in it to save money. How mang coasters has rmc did? If its 4, then there is a 25% chance of getting seriously injured or worse.

Son of Beast was to be built with SunCor engineered wood and to have polyurethane wheels. The greneral contractor cut both out to save money.

He means Colossos @ Heide Park, in Germany. It was the first ever Intamin Plug N' Play (prefab track) wooden coaster, and currently holds the world record as the world's tallest wooden roller coaster now that Son of Beast is gone. http://rcdb.com/988.htm It's 196.8 feet tall, but only has a 159 foot drop for some odd reason. Still, Intamin's wooden coasters have shown they can handle speeds of over 70mph (El Toro @ SFGadv reaches this speed), without ripping themselves apart doing so, so it can be fairly assumed they would be the proven go-to for trying a 200'+ wooden coaster. RMC might be another option, but they are still very new so the test of time has not been done on their rides yet. GCI really hesistates to build overly large wooden coasters, and Gravity Group's 2 attempts at massive wooden coasters with steel supports (Voyage & Hades) are starting to get reviews claiming the rides are very rough, even after rehabs and Timberliner trains were added to Hades. So, If I was to build a 200'+ wooden coaster with 70mph+ speeds, Intamin it would have to be...granted the big problem here is I have heard Intamin Plug N' Plays are expensive, so a SOB-sized one could easily cost over $30,000,000... However, there would be ONE other flaw with the 200'+ wooden Intamin prefab...you would NOT get the classic wooden coaster feel, where it is bumpy and a bit jerky and feels out-of-control. Son of Beast was an attempt at creating a coaster that still had that feeling, but that stood at over 200' and reached insane speeds. (Alas, it failed) Can THAT be done, without prefab or topper track? I don't know, and looking at the history of what has happened to most giant traditional wooden coasters, I'd be very impressed if any company could do it, even with or without steel supports...

Did you advise Cedar Fair on what to do with Mean Squeak?

I agree with troy and a few others about intamin. Some people have said rmc but you have no idea how it will hold up. Collossus has been built for like 12-13 years and its almost 200'.

Let the builder build the ride. Not engage in cost cutting short cuts.