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Not surprising.....the release of the $9.95 price point was just a simple case of internal miscommunication and confusion.

http://www.hersheypark.com/2015/#home An indoor Maurer Sohne spining wild mouse surrounded by DayGlo paint and black light.

I think it's pretty sad how many flats not coasters that have been removed from the park just since I started going which was in 1987. I can think of at least 6 off the top of my head. Skylab, The Crypt, Der Spinning Keggers, Flight Commander, Flying Eagles, Oktoberfest Ferris Wheel. And the list goes on. I think Kings Island is lacking in the Flat Ride department.

You guys have it all wrong. I have inside knowledge that Don wanted to be closer to The Racer to get more rides in; so they are moving his office to the old arcade.

I'm not looking forward to explaining this system to guests. I start on Monday.

I had a rather annoying encounter with the Banshee crew last Saturday night. If I didn't know better, I'd of guessed they ingested a lot of Red Bull and caffeine before their night shift. The person on the microphone was talking way, way too fast and the crew was just annoying. They stood right by the cars as they unloaded and loaded, rushing guests to get on and off. I felt they were breathing down my neck as soon as the gates or restraints opened. Some of the crew gave creepy responses, either being dead silent and giving awkward stares or giving off these weird squeals like they were a 10 year old that had too much Mt Dew. It was almost robotic how they were acting.

Oh the humanity

...or divorces? Terp, running for the door!

I think that they should get more in touch with Cincinnati's Irish Heritage, and maybe start construction on a new Irish themed area...although this is probably not going to happen in the next 10 years.

There sure are a lot of kinks still being worked out in a park that has almost a full season under its belt!

I don't get the music being removed for FunTV, you can't even hear what the TV is playing because it is so loud with everyone talking over each other.

Sounds like a "Power Hour." Sigh.

Well, I'm very sad that the summer working at Kings Island has nearly come to a close. It's been a great season, but, I now of course have to go back to the real world. I still have Haunt, but it's just not the same as summer at KI.

At the request of markr MrsDiamondbill and I are posting our trip report the good, the bad, and the ugly. We left Columbus 8/3 at 7 AM to spend the evening with MrsDiamondbill's ( who will be refered to as Judy for the remainder of the report) brother, sister-in-law, and nephew in Richmond. Had a good visit and dinner topped off with a trip to the local DQ. We arrived at Kings Dominion at 11 AM Monday. The first thing that struck me was how much International Street looked very much like KI's. The second thing was all the trees, it was very easy to stay cool on a hot day. Our first ride was the Shenendohah Lumber Company, I can't resist a log flume. The hill appeared to be the tallest I've seen but the ride was short, but stiil good. Next was Grizzly a replica of Coney Island's Wildcat a ride that was dismantled in 1964 when I was 2. It was a great ride completely coverd by trees. At this time I should mention that the sign out front said the following attractions will not operate today Dodgems and you guessed it Flying Eagles, there's the bad. We headed over to Rebel Yell, their version of The Racer. We can't believe our eyes, bright, fresh red, white, and blue paint like Racer's glory days. We rode the red side. The drops on the return run aren't quite as deep but wait for it....a final drop with head chop effect and open sided brake runs. On a slightly sour note the paint ended at the lift hill, oh well you can't have everything. From there it was off to I305, Judy isn't a fan of anything taller than Diamond back so it was off to the shade for her. Somewhere someone said it's like Millineum Force crossed with Maverick and I can't describe it any better than that it' perfect. More bad had an issue with a spitter two rows ahead of me on my second ride, station attendant handled it. Next was Volcano for me, longest wait or the day. Was talking to the guys behind me they were very friendly one looked very familiar I think he is a Hip Hop artist but I didn't want to sound like a square and ask, and if he was he probably would prefer to be a normal guy for the day. Volcano was another ride I expected to be longer but it was still very cool. Took in their wheels show, a close rival to Cirque Imagine but I'll give the edge to Cirque. Now time to bare my soul for some reason Dominator spooked me, I passed on it in 2 trips to Geauga Lake. It was great took four rides plus a victory lap! We went back to ride the carousel then Rebel Yell blue and Hurler, we rode Hurler I'll leave it at that. Now the ugly. We were booked at Hampton Inn in Durham NC the internet page didn't have the I85 exit # so Judy calls to ask which exit they are at, the lady laughed and asked what exit are we at and someone said 172A. They are actually at 176A and the is no exit at mile 172. At this point it strikes me that I have seen no cars northbound and the bad feeling hits I85 north is closed somewhere in the 150 area nice joke clowns, after calling the hotel back to let them know we wouldn't be there I was told my card is still being billed, we'll see. We called the hotel we were booked in in Concord and got the last room, a suite 185.00 and we didn't get there until 1 AM. Tuesday was spent at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Two highlights, met a guy name David from Louisianna who bore a more than striking sesemblance to Dale Sr., and beat three out four Cup Rookie of the Year contenders on the simulator. Not bad for an old drag racer. Wednesday we got to Carowinds at 10AM. Off to Intimidator for me, Judy wasn't feeling it. Great ride altough the airtime seems to be killed by turns. Rode it a few times then went back to Afterburn, my favorite invert before Banshee. Argh it's closed (somewhere youngstud is laughing). Oh well on to Thunder Road again argh but it will open at noon. Off to a couple of turns on the Dodgems. Next was Caroline Goldrusher, Judy said this is her favorite mine ride I liked it too. Ricochet was next, the modern version of the Cedar Point Wildcat type ride, they are fun but mostly all the same with a few spinnig exceptions. On to Vortex for me, oh my aching ears but still fun. I passed on Thunderhawk had a bad experience on it last trip there. It only has a single load platform unlike Firehawk, there was a problem with the train in the station that left us on the brake run with our hips higher than our heads for 45 minutes. Finally Thunder Road is open, it was down for the season last trip so this was a quest like Dominator. The South Carolina side was the only one operating. Almost identical to Rebel Yell with all the drops and head choppers at the end, however it was completely unpainted, I know it doesn't change the ride but it just had a kind of industrial look. Was starting to get a headache so we passed on the Vecoma, Arrow looper offerings and of course Hurler because well it's Hurler. A few more laps on Intimidator for me and a 1.5 hour trip 40 miles to the hotel, Charlotte traffic can be rough. We were heading north at 8 AM Thursday with a stop in Floyd Virginia to visit my sister at her new house on top of a ridge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We have only seen each other once since our mother passed in 2007. Just by coincedence it was our late father's Birthday, we had a good lunch and visit. Finally back home at 9 Pm. The one thing that I found odd at both parks is other than both Intimidators the ride announcements are all prerecorded, just seemed a little impersonal to me. It also left all the ride platform attendants to appear zombie like just going through the moves, other than that we liked both parks but wouldn't trade them for Kings Island.

The first indoor spinning glow-coaster in the U.S. OVERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfFQhQIikOk#t=13 POV: Family friendly fun-house coaster. http://www.hersheypark.com/2015/

Meanwhile, at Universal Orlando...

We shall see. I'm hoping.

I think that there is at last a favorable chance that 2015 will be your year PKIVortex! I can see it now, the triumphant return of Shake Rattle and Roll, maybe with a new name and lights, along with (probably new) Flying Eagles, maybe even a classic like a Tilt-a-Whirl or Der Spinning Keggers. Valleyfair, Cedar Point and Knott's have done similar things.

and a witches culdiron ride;

How are you getting these pictures? If you're working in there, do you have permission to post these?

Today, Philip seems to be trying to change things up with the "Nico"-assisted flip he does off the box. The first show, he went rolling wildly out of the flip across the mat and almost looked injured (I think Julien wasn't sure he wasn't hurt at first, either, but if he was it didn't appear serious) and finished up face down playing dead for a bit before jumping up with a big grin. Second show, he rolled over a couple times then jumped up and continued running in that direction offstage for a moment. I'm eager to see what he has in store for the third show. Edited to add: one of the benefits of getting a front row seat is listening to Logan talk about backstage type info (apparently the pie-in-the-face was in honor of Logan's birthday). He also said that the show is contracted for next year, in some way, shape, or form. So we don't know what acts, or if any of this year's performers will be in the show, but I'm feeling pretty confident now (as confident as I could be without an official announcement) that there will be Cirque Imagine at KI in 2015! Yay!

I hope Cirque returns. What a fun Fun addition it's been for the park this year!

I wouldn't mind something a little Irish coming to KI....Leprechauns, trolls and witches....or an Irish pub ( I know... they would probably be serving chicken tenders and pizza with a good stout).

Welcome to KIC!

The craps table can be quite a roller coaster. Up a couple hundred one minute, down a couple hundred a few minutes later.

Holy quintuple post, batman.

I received my gold pass as a gift (thanks Mom!) and then waited until the week before the season started to buy my daughter's pass and the price difference was pretty significant at that time. Junior gold pass was $99 and adult gold pass was $117. She was right above the 48 inch mark at the time so she got an adult pass, but I could see having to pay $18 out of pocket randomly on a later visit when you weren't expecting it and hadn't budgeted for it could be annoying. I often don't even bring that much money with me because we try to eat before we go.

Absolutely he would. But you're not talking about taking out an older attraction and replacing it with something else. You're talking about a shift in the purpose of the park. Tomorrowland's dedication reads: Disneyland Park's is: Star Wars completely overtaking a land shifts both of those, doesn't it? Which, I guess, is fine. Business is business, and business must grow. It's alright (and even makes sense) for Tomorrowland to bend in the direction of "science-fiction" rather than purporting to actually predict a rapidly-accelerating future. Fine. But Magic Kingdom's does that as a sci-fi alien spaceport based on Buck Rogers type 20th century pulp comic adventures. Paris's does it through a reverent and floor-to-ceiling fantasy-style retro-future of Jules Verne inspired rides and attractions with organic architecture and bubbling lagoons. There are dozens of Tomorrowland concepts that were designed but never came to be: Sci-Fi City. Tomorrowland 2055. Discovery Bay. I guess I just sort of refuse to believe that a floor-to-ceiling Star Wars overlay is the right answer for Disneyland's Tomorrowland. For a third park, great. Go for it. I myself designed an Islands of Adventure style park for Disney that has a whole "island" dedicated to Star Wars (which I don't even care for). It does deserve a place. Probably a whole land. But not in place of Tomorrowland. Not to me. What would become of Buzz Lightyear? Just odd man out? Or would it, too, get a Star Wars overlay? Space Mountain? Housed in the Death Star? There's a line somewhere... Nevermind that classic defense of fans... Tomorrowland... "A long time ago in a galaxy far far away..." Space does not necessarily equate future, much less the idealized and streamlined future Walt loved.

I'm sure you'll be well-trained. Let's hope they are, too.

Feels a little like May here today. Around 11, I rode Diamondback five times in a row, only brief station waits in between. I think the crowds are going to build up now that the sun is out and it's almost noon, though. There was about a 20 min wait for Delirium just now.

I think Walt would be the first to tear down something he built to put in something else that people would enjoy more

I'm looking forward to the next Star Wars movie and being able to take my son to see it on the big screen. By the time it's released, he will be the same age I was when A New Hope opened in theatres. I have nothing but confidence in Disney treating the SW franchise with respect. The only thing strange to me will be seeing the Disney logo in the beginning as opposed to Fox Studios which the previous six movies ran through. I agree with RailRider that a movie franchise like SW is something that people will enjoy and identify with for years to come, so this is a smart move by Disney. They now have rights to one of the hottest movie franchises of all time.

I don't love power hours. A lot can go south. I expect a crew to be efficient and on time always, not one hour here or there. Let me spiel...please..let me show you the ways

This is the perfect way they could have answered all the questions regarding the numerous newsworthy issues at the park this year. Ooopppsss... We messed up.

I mean who doesnt love Power Hours. Ride ops doing what they need to do in a timely manner, as opposed to the rest of the day where they just sort of do what they need to do at half speed... or is it Power Hours, where the ride ops only do half what they should be doing so they can get more people on the ride as opposed to their normal safe and diligent speed. Im confused.... One of the worst things you can do is give a teen-ager an open mic and "free reign." Jokes become sophomoric, they dont understand dead air, and it can become a burden. It took me almost 2-3 years of professional radio work with help from a consultant to understand the power in "Dead Air." You dont have to fill it all up. Make your words count but make them few.

If I had a ride to choose to propose on it would be SoB. Even if I knew the outcome of the ride. Now just hear me out! At the top of the hill right before the drop, I would say "will you marry me"? Hopefully the answer would be yes. Then after the ride give the ring and enjoy the rest of the day at the park, then later on (not the same day of course) get married. Now SoB can symbolize a marriage in many ways... First: it is a strong powerful thing. Some days will speed by, some will be slow, some days might be plan out rough. Over time that marriage might begin to bow and give way a little (2006 incident). Sure no one wants that to happen but it might and it can! After that you might fix things and everything will be okay for a while. Things might heat up again... it might start crumbling away worse than it did before (mid 2009-mid 2012). You look at ways and outcomes to fix it but the end result is clear, Something is got to change... Maybe you spend some time apart for a while or you try and settle things down between you two for a while. And it works. You slowly, start rebuilding your relationship with the person you love and this time it is a lot stronger. Knowing everything about one another always telling the truth, a relationship strong as steel. But that doesn't mean life isn't going to threw you for a few loops over the years... But always in the end, everything evens out and you make each other smile and laugh threw all the good and the bad times, you have had together. I hope this makes as much sense, as it did in my mind...

I've seen people on the mics at games be mean to guests to try and get them to play. I let my daughter play Whack-a-Mole (sorry if that's not the proper capitalization) the other day and the guy tried getting her to beg me to play another game so she could get a bigger prize, she just ignored him. Oh and I've seen the game people be straight out racist, most notably the basketball games.

Lots of cynicism here, but most of it seems to come from what I refer to as "stock spieling". So to speak, basic spiels that feature no creativity or real point to them other than to prevent silence. I don't like stock spieling. It's repetitive, and as mentioned prior, a bit annoying. This is especially true if you visit often and hear the same things over and over. Spieling shouldn't be sarcastic (unless it's being performed properly, as an obvious joke), repetitive, or annoying. Spiels should instead be engaging, memorable, and useful. Gauge those waiting in line before spouting off some boilerplate joke, and know what you're there to do. Only make jokes if you know they work, and keep safety at the highest of priorities. Perhaps it's just bias speaking, but those I know who operate rides who have a genuine passion and enjoyment for what they're doing seem to understand this. However, a lot of these guidelines seem to be lost.

Mr. Hart's business partner in Kentucky Kingdom is Mr. Bruce Lunsford, former treasurer and money man of the Kentucky Democratic Party. The effort to reopen Kentucky Kingdom had died on the Fair Board end until the current (Democrat) Governor insisted it be revived. If the Kentucky governorship changes parties, the Kingdom's future looks bleak indeed.

Also, typically the best price on a season pass is in the Fall, so if you're going to buy it's the time to do it.

Yes, but after you ask, she says yes, and it's all downhill and twisty after that!

You have a Mean Streak in you?

^ If she said no, that could certainly be an awkward 5 minutes.

Have you seen the price of weddings?

We got our Megabus.com tickets fairly cheap. The closer to the date of departure, the more expensive the tickets are. From Cincy to Atlanta was $50 and took nine hours. Atlanta to Orlando was $29 and also took nine hours. The first nine hours are okay. The buses are comfy depending on which seat you get (avoid the back seats). They all say they have free wifi and outlets for charging your phone, but they don't always work. 18 hours on a bus is never a great time, but it sure did save money. Altogether, the round trip was about $150. If you figure in the fact that driving to Florida takes from 13-16 hours anyway, it's not really that huge of a difference. The buses were always on the dot on time at every single stop, too. I think it would have been better if I were staying in Florida longer than a couple days. 18 hours on a bus to 48 hours in Florida and then back to 18 hours on another bus was rough. My mom and I want to take the Megabus to Chicago this fall. It's a six hour trip for about $15. It all really depends on where you're going and how early you get the tickets.

These look fun!

I know of one gun that works amazingly well. My daughter got 3330 with it.

Stop trying to make winterfest happen On Wed. we wear pink

The park would be branded Six Flags Kings Island. Six Flags and Cedar Fair would have merged, as Avenue Capital and Apollo planned. Dick Kinzel would have about six times more money than he does now. There would be no Diamondback, no Banshee, no Cirque Imagine. The park would be less clean, less safe and less fun. And I can only imagine what Great Adventure and Magic Mountain would look like. California's Great America would have been sold to the 49'rs. It would be a parking lot. Knott's Scary Farm would be far less so. There would be no massive investment planned at Carowinds next year. Discovery Kingdom and Valleyfair would have been sold by now. Six Flags America would be condos. The Great Escape's Comet would have been moved to Gurnee, Illinois. There would have been no accident on The New Texas Giant as there wouldn't be a New Texas Giant. And the Chairman, CEO and President of Six Flags Cedar Entertainment LLC would be Bart Kinzel.

Check out this ABC22 article about the Grand Carousel: http://m.abc22now.com/news/Historic_Organ_Returns_to_Grand_Carousel_at_Kings_Island?mobileredirect=true