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Per Dan Koch (@splashindan) on Twitter: "@SplashinDan: We are getting it done. Rampage rules! # SplashAdventutre" Attached is a picture of some maintenance employees and Pat Koch in what appears to be a new red Rampage car from PTC. Link to tweet: https://twitter.com/splashindan/status/520603083039326210 If you look a few tweets down from this one on Dan's feed, you'll find a somewhat awkward selfie. I suppose what he does with his Twitter is his business, but still...

Ohhh, that's the new Rampage logo that'll be going on the front of the trains.

Walk ons galore.

I highly doubt Pat Koch would be amused.

I figured that, too, right at first... But it's been there 6 days. The fact that it even exists shows the difference between Dan and Will for me.

Now THAT's the funniest thing I've read here in ages. The sad thing is, I can see Dan trying to pitch that to the park directors!

Tests are meant to test. Getting worked up is probably in the best interests of those who are. Silence is acceptance. No, thanks. I'm glad it works for you. As for me, vacations are a way to escape the endless planning the rest of my life entails.

I believe the squeeling wheels but I'm calling bull**** on your claim of "sparks or something coming out of the wheels."

I doubt it, too. In fact she would probably be upset to be in the same twitter feed a few images away from THAT.

A Court already did that at least once...

That tacky shirtless mirror selfie is hysterical. Someone needs to be monitored and reigned in.

http://www.blooloop.com/features/holiday-world-small-park-atmosphere-big-park-vis/30162#.VDbM1qV4huY A unique article about HW and their past, present, and future plans for the park. I think this is a good read.

If anyone is interested in doing this and is just lurking right now, I'd sign up for a KIC username (it's quick, easy, and FREE!) now. It's going to be required to attend. Don't wait until it's too late!

Pat probably took the pies with her...

Birmingham area....at what was once Visionland in Bessemer. EDIT: Second!

Woah woah woah, look at that post! What little Aussie theme did it have except for the name? I mean really, BB1, I know you're a BB fanboy and all but seriously man get some liable content in your posts! 2 is liable at least, it still gives me a little bit of adrenaline and is still at my number 1 spot. Strange what 2 years could change in a person ya' know. On the flip side, I have been taking more of a liking towards the Congo Falls lately, easy to get on, and some great views of the Banshee Plaza.

KCKC......

I like WWC because "You will get wet, You may get drenched.", which is pretty much guaranteed, also people complain that it's a long walk even if there isn't a long line in WWC, but there is a beautiful scenery to see, and exercise is good, especially for me. As long as I get to ride WWC, I don't care if I have to walk 2 miles. WWC is my favorite, even though Congo Falls came really close.

I disagree. If it was solely based on a way to enhance sales, Disney would have found a way to keep people in line, but bring purchasing options to the line. Food Vendors, lines that snake through gift shops, waiters to bring you food in line, etc. I personally feel this is a way to both increase the guest experience AND enhance sales. To many many people, waiting in line is one of the worst things about amusement parks. Disney lines can last 2-3 or more hours. Disney has added interactive displays in some lines previously. To many people with young kids, being able to plan out a trip and avoid long lines is a God send. Of course they wouldnt invest the money if it wouldnt see an increase in sales, but that doesnt mean its the wrong answer for the park. I think you would be surprised at how many people plan out a Disney vacation. Either from doing it on the website or going to a travel agent. Heck, one of my good friends runs a side business from her home where all she does is plan Disney vacations for people.

This sums up my thoughts perfectly. I'm in Central Florida once or twice a year on average, and despite that I haven't been to WDW in over 20 years. I've made plenty of trips to Universal, Busch Gardens Tampa, and Sea World during that time and none to WDW. I did have a very enjoyable time at WDW when I last visited - and I'd really like to go back at some point - but I don't want to feel as though I need to read through a 400 page guide to feel like I'm getting the most out of a visit there. When you go to a theme/amusement park it's really nothing more than making choices. What to ride, what to eat, what shows to watch, etc. Disney is trying to make things easier for their most coveted visitors - the multi-day stay on-site families - to have a good time there. What it seems like what's happening though is that Disney is forcing guests to plan out their visits weeks if not months in advance in order to feel like they're "not missing out on anything". I can't even imagine the chaos that must ensue there when it rains and everyone rushes towards an indoor attraction! Study after study has shown that in the more choices you're presented with the lower your satisfaction with the choices you make - all things being equal. I simply cannot imagine that anywhere near a majority of guests are trying to visit Disney planning every minute. Disney is a business out to make profit - and they should - but it seems like they're going about it in a way that may actually be counterproductive to most of their guests being able to enjoy themselves. It's an interesting experiment.

Your last sentence makes crystal clear why I so very much prefer the California resort. Less glitzy, less touristy, and more laid back. Yeah.

The whole concept has NEVER been to enhance guest experience but to enhance sales...and they have every right to do that. I buy food occasionally when there, and I do not buy souvenirs on property as a rule mainly because of the perpetual increases in admissions/resort costs eats into my budget. There is nothing that Disney can do that will convince me to buy anything from them on their property while my money is tied up in resort and ticket costs.

I still like the idea of booking a few main attractions before I ever show up to the park and then once in the park I can experience that attraction in 10-15 minutes compared to 2-3 hours. Then I can take those remaining hours, experience different attractions, shops or characters. Once again as a parent of a young girl who loves meeting the princesses being able to schedule Anna & Elsa prior to arrival instead of making a mad dash at rope drop to either get in an hour long stand by line or a 30 minute fast pass distribution line for a return time. I will take the first option and rather than that morning madness I can go ride other attractions and show up to Anna & Elsa later in the day. California and Florida are very different animals and comparing the 2 resorts is not quite fair. Seeing as how California gets more locals compared to Florida and the non stop tourists, plus quite a few more visitors overall. Remember this is just a test, don't get all worked up till its official.

No. It's only good on a Sunday. No Haunt on Sundays....

Have ya' been to the California Disney properties? If you have, and still prefer Universal Orlando, that's another story....

I doubt that happens, but I agree with you on the Universal thing.

^ On the contrary, I think she's asked the right questions. If, as I fear, WDW eventually requires FP+ reservations like this for all attractions, you can bet money that I won't be returning. I enjoy Universal more anyway.

For those of you who haven't yet heard about it or played with it.... Here's Holiday World's new "Interactive" Thunderbird Cam. It is really pretty cool to play around with! Try it out!

It looks like a group including Dan and Pat Koch have purchased Alabama's Splash Adventure and are adding a new kiddie coaster this year. Looks like it didn't take him too long to get over the Holiday World verdict. http://www.splashadventurewaterpark.com

Hard cases make bad law saith the old sages...

That explains everything then, those are always big issues.

Well lets be honest, Disney is wonderful because it can offer different things. There is a reason they never closed Disneyland. WDW always seemed more glitzy, touristy, and rushy compared to the California park.

Agreed, If you use it and don't like it. Say so. Which is why the Soarin Test was cut short.

sorry didn't get chance to check but the free Fast Lane plus with renewal, will it give a fright lane pass too/instead?

regarding the 5th the kids area, until late, was moderately busy. more so than summer days(at least the days i went)

Article about the whole Toy Story Mania Fast Pass test. I think this guy is thinking about this way too much... http://www.themeparktourist.com/news/20141008/29380/5-questions-raised-disney-s-newest-fastpass-test-disney-s-hollywood-studios

Wheels on Vortex can be replaced relatively quickly, too. As I recall from a previous KIC meetup, a wheel replacement on Vortex happened while another group was in line for it, and took roughly the same amount of time that it took jcgoble3 and I to ride Flight of Fear (with a skip-the-line pass). So basically, if the issue is that a wheel needs replaced, it isn't a repair that would likely put the train out of commission for a great length of time.

I know exactly how that is... I went to a private college before transferring to the school I'm at now and there was little to no Wi-Fi on campus. I remember having to plug my computer in with a cable to be able to access the Web (and this was in 2009). Although I do enjoy retro technology, I think Wi-Fi is a necessity in today's world; especially on college campuses as some professors use sites to allow students to turn in their homework online.

I'm between 6'3 and 6'4 and fit on it. the biggest problem I've had is the close proximity of the seats in front. my I can easily kick the seat in front of me without even having to lift my leg very much, but fit alright into my seat itself.

It was running well on Sunday just a little slower than usual to do the cooler weather and the empty trains. We rode 4 times in a row without leaving our seats.

But Kings Island IS a registered trademark. The Inn was/is using it under rights it had from common ownership....

After running the CF chain for a few years now, it seems most everything is on the up and up. I won't be going back until the 2015 season to see how everything has come along. Come to think of it, I haven't even been to KI or CP under Ouimet's reign. Should be an interesting trip.

And now... ...at Carowinds.... 2015. The best is yet to come....

In business and in life, generally that which is deemed important gets done...

They can. However the Commonwealth of KY can also pull the tax benefits for that reason, thus jeopardizing the project.

If AIG is doing the hiring and not Ark Encounter, then as a non-profit religious organization, they can put stipulations in their hiring practices like as were mentioned.

Random question: Have we figured what part of Thunderbird was released in the shredded blueprints that HW gave away in their teaser kits? From the looks of it, the carousel seems to be the featured element in that shredded paper clue.

That's the new thing to do, though. Standalone mazes (and upcharge mazes at some parks) make a killing by going beyond the normal thing and making YOU a player in the story. You have to complete a task before you can move on. It's much more psychologically engaging than just walking through hallways with folks jumping out. Not saying if it's good or bad, but it allows mazes to be "more extreme" and thus worth an upcharge.

It is really nice to see how much progress is being made on Rampage. With what feels like a large number of wooden coasters getting axed lately its nice to see one coming back to life!

Although very many of the rides have been removed, I would be ecstatic to see the dry-park return, with the amount of potential it has.