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Yeah, I hate my Universal pass. It's very flimsy and wears out often. I'd rather have the plastic Platinum Passes any day.

Wow, I hope someone else doesn't think think that would be a FUN idea.

When you find out that Dollywood opens next weekend and you are seriously considering dropping the cash/time to go.

So are Universal Studios Orlando Premier passes look like this: (not my picture) Yes you got that right! Are $434 Universal Orlando pass is merely a piece of cheap paper! It is about the same grade paper as a KI 1 or 2 day ticket.... After riding one water ride yesterday and having my piece of paper in my pocket all day it already has washed out spots and is bent quite a bit... And I was being quite gentle with my pass... I think this is honestly flat out ridiculous! Then to "protect" you investment you could buy a Universal lanyard for who knows how much... or if it becomes unreadable because wear and tear and water, you will have to wait in a nice line for customer service... I mean for $434 for a pass you should be able to afford hard plastic or give everyone a free lanyard with the purchase of one of there 3 pass options!

I'll be there that evening, barring something else coming up that has to take priority. Off-topic, but I hate it when a login screen asks for your "username" when it really wants your email address.

It was in the off season but as I recall the winter of '74-'75...it was a mess. We had to get out a bunch of electronic stuff and lower the light towers before they could put up the new skin. I left the park in fall of '76 and never looked back so I am no help on 1977.

Actually that FreeStyle Machine isn't for Rivertown Potato Works, I think the this is going in front of the train station that used to be home to the Dippin Dots Depot.

A park in Indiana might sell you one of those. One in Alabama, too.

Better check the park calendar...

Is this the first thread in a series? "Paper or plastic season pass?" "Boxers or briefs season pass?" "Coke or Pepsi season pass?"

Some things happen behind closed doors, without anyone knowing. Not even a mouse.

... when you sit in a chair on your back patio pretending you are on Slingshot as the chair pivots backwards and forwards just like the ride does.

Not an update, but I read this really nice article on Theme Park Tourist earlier today about The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter at Magic Kingdom. I know some on here likely already know all of this, but I found it extremely informative for the younger folk like me. http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20150310/30034/depth-retrospective-extraterrorestrial-alien-encounter

Live E == Live Entertainment I've heard it used internally by Cedar Fair but never externally. Hmm..

The interior shot was from 1972. The man 2nd from the left is Dorian Harewood. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorian_Harewood The theater changed colours because an ice/snow storm caused a deflation which then ripped the envelope on a light tower and it had to be replaced.

You are not overthinking. Some things can be built to be relatively floodproof--but at much greater initial expense. See, for instance, Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Over Georgia. Backwaters are one thing...the floodway--with its high velocity currents and dangers associated with them--is another. Flooding and lack of space at Coney Island of Ohio were two major factors why that park first closed and why Kings Island exists today.

Where would one fetch these unlimited paper passes if it were to be used at Kings Island? At guest relations? Hmmmm. Lines. Long, long lines.

^ Existing biometric systems used at parks (with systems from Disney, Universal and Accesso) don't produce a unique fingerprint for each guest; they're used to check identity rather than establish it. I don't foresee this as primary identification in the near future, as even the best biometric systems tend to be error-prone.

More parks could move to biometric passes and nobody would ever need a replacement pass (except in extremely rare, extremely unfortunate cases, that is). And getting everyone through the gates quickly would probably be at least SIX times more efficient...

Where's the Dr Pepper season pass?

I'll take a Pepsi season pass. Or even a Coke season pass, if I can get Mello Yello with it.

I found this out by e-mailing them recently but... If you renewed by the deadline to attend this and you want to upgrade to a platinum now...you will still be able to attend.

I'll be there, since I'll be celebrating my anniversary on Saturday. I might get up there Sunday.

Is there not one in the International Street Fudge and Candy Shop anymore? I didn't know there was one there. So either they're moving it or, even better, there will be 4 of them! That Coke Freestyle machine was removed a couple of years ago. I think it was only there in the first year of Freestyle machines (2012). IIRC, it was replaced with a normal fountain for 2013, while at the same time Juke Box gained its Freestyle machines. I imagine the fact that the one in the candy shop was not self-serve did not go over exceedingly well with guests that wanted to mix multiple drinks.

Just was checking out the season passholder portal part of KI's site, and noticed one of the offers is for a free day of care at the Red Dog Pet Resort and Spa. Boarding was never free for gold or platinum passholders at the Kings Island kennel, was it? Makes it hurt a little less for those who used it that it's been removed.

They had hard plastic a few years ago... Heck are 2 years ago Premier passes, I went to see how easy they tear and they teared like regular paper... I tired to do the same to are Disney World 4-day ticket, couldn't tear it... Heck now Disney World's (at least 4-park 4 day tickets are) are now hard plastic! Another crazy thing is Universal wants half down front for there Flexpay and my brother said a Disney World pass is only like $100 down...

I voted other because--- I love various things on my favorite coasters. Height does nothing for me. Pace would probably be one of my biggest things. My favs. and why--- 1. The Beast----I love the terrain hugging going through the woods at those speeds.(especially after dark) So that is probably speed and theming.(if natural terrain can be considered theming) 2. Maverick---From start to finish it is always doing something. That would probably count as pace. (Maverick is probably my favorite coaster to ride with the exception of The Beast at night) 3. Banshee---Like Maverick---It is always doing something and that second "barrel roll" at the end of the ride is somewhat of a surprise and it is probably my favorite part of any ride I have ever ridden. That would probably be pace and surprise. Later, Mark

Am I reading the map right? A 3rd Freestyle Machine for Rivertown Potato Works?! I wonder where they'd put it...

@KingsIslandPR on Twitter : "The 2015 Park Guide & Maps are here! #NewFormat #MoreUserFriendly" Photo : Don Helbig / Kings Island via Twitter

I don't know how I managed to miss this, but wow, am I sad to see Tower Gardens go. I really did like that area and would have been so happy to see it get repaired. Hopefully there's a good reason (meaning something not related to Haunt) that it's gone.

Hmmm. Helpful post. Diversion, though? Or not. Helpful Terp. (What was it Dr. S. Freud said about no accidents? Or was it cigars? I forget.)

Honstly aftergoign through it the last couple years I wouldn't mind if it was retired for something new. Or revamp it like Slaughterhouse got this year elsewhere in the park. I thinkt he concept is a good one but the execution has been pretty weak. Also not sure if it's just the night I went but there were hardly any scareactors in it. Think we walked halfway through it before the first one popped out.

I'm all booked, registered, and ready to go... can't wait!

Wow. It cannot be easy nor cheap to recover from this over and over again.

OH NO!!! Where is the Wayne's World car and submarines in the water!!! I sure hope they don't take those out!!! HAHA

I am hoping to do another big trip at some point this summer. A lot is going to depend on if I can get time off from work. I have a very long list of places to go. Obviously Kings Island will be visited a lot. I am sure Cedar Point and Holiday World will happen, too. I am trying to work in a trip to Carowinds and Six Flags Georgia. We had hoped it would happen for spring break, but due to Princess Sparkles schedule it's not going to happen then. I am hoping this fall I can make trips to Kennywood, Knoebels and Hershey Park. I have a list of other parks to go to if the funds are available.

Terp. Cross threadin'. Or something. [Why DOES he do this stuff? Anyway? And why now? Hi, Mr. S!)

I stepped outside this morning and said, "Wow, this is going to be a very rainy and sad day." Then the afternoon came and then I said, "Yay! No more rain!" It turned out to be a very nice day. That means that we are 34 days away until Opening Day at Kings Island!! @KingsIslandPR posted this on Instagram: http://instagram.com/p/0NMqAGOOIg/ Also remember when I posted a throwback photo KI retweeted a few days ago? Well it inspired me to do another Then vs. Now gif. Here it is! https://vimeo.com/122213529

A boat was upside down at the bottom of the hill, with riders submerged in the water. If not for the quick response of bystanders, people may very well have died.Your "response" therefore shows a complete and total lack of understanding of the subject you are trying to argue about. What COULD have happened can be just as important as what actually DID happen... ...which is apparently a lesson that Intamin also needs to learn.jcgoble3, who had a snarky comment here but decided to be polite and remove it before he posted Sorry my humor came off as a lack of understanding. Don't judge me, I have Intamititus especially in the Giga coaster department.

Looking at those pictures, I don't think I've ever walked through that area (other than Haunt).

Tearing out the Tower Gardens so late in the construction season kind of leads me to believe one of the following: A. It's something big that will take a long time to build or B. It's something not considered relative enough to have completed by opening day or C. It's more patio space that will open later in the season I think it's most likely C, a revamp of the Tower Gardens as a cleaner, more modern venue that will open later.

A Mangel's Whip would be awesome! Buy Bushkill Park's if they still have it and it's serviceable.

Think that overall this sounds great. I would just make a few minor changes to it. Going with the theory of it all being an ideal buildout. But I would put a Tilt-A-Whirl type ride where Tower Gardens is now. This would still leave space for lots of trees and a sitting/garden area next to it as well to not affect the look too much. Also have the Steeplechase take up more of just the current footprint of BLSC and maybe swing out over the space next to Diamondback and the International Street Theatre. Then can use the remaining area next to Steeplechase and the area below Steeplechase next to the Theater and Diamondback to put in a new antique car ride. Just do a bridge over the walkway there to connect the two lots. Think this would really give it that classic feel to that area. Could also make the entrance to the antique cars be off the walk way by the carousel and have those rides and the Tilt-A-Whirl become a midway for International Street around the base of the Eiffel Tower. I would keep Rvertown with it's current name and theme, I think it fits well. And think a mining themed ride where Crypt's building is would be best, but instead of an interadctive dark ride I imagine something more akin to Mystery Mine at Dollywod, with dark ride elements but outdoor portions of coaster as well. Woudl fit perfectly int his area. Didn't see it in the write-up but agree compeltely with changing Boo Blaster to a Peanuts dark ride with a revamped and more polished look. Overall think Planet Snoopy is pretty good now. I would keep Oktoberfest as a seperate area too but keep the plans about how you have them now. Think a Darkastle style dark ride would be great right there. I would also move Slingshot somewhere else (X-Base woudl be a good spot for it) and put a ride like Der Spinning Kggers there to bring that back adn give us a teacups style ride at the park too. Can keep a dark Woods theme for Action Zone though adn think it woudl fit well with what we have there now. Think the Cobra idea would look great for Invertigo as well, and the Stonehenge-esque decorations for Delerium. I would however take out Timberwolf and add in an interactive dark ride here to fit the area, but I'm thinking something more like what it seems Voyage to the Iron Reef will be like and be mroe a standard dark ride with motion cars and not a rollercoaster type dark ride. This could incorporate a story for the area as well too. Finally I would add a giga coaster that utilizes SoB's old tation gong out behind Banshee for it's course. X-Base Plans look good but might try to add a quick service restaurant in here. It could go next to Flight of Fear's exit. With Slingshot across from it next to Mission Control. I would add another big flat ride over here too , maybenext to Firehawk's exit. Think a Screamin' Swing or a Sledgehammer would be great here.

A boat was upside down at the bottom of the hill, with riders submerged in the water. If not for the quick response of bystanders, people may very well have died. Your "response" therefore shows a complete and total lack of understanding of the subject you are trying to argue about. What COULD have happened can be just as important as what actually DID happen... ...which is apparently a lesson that Intamin also needs to learn. jcgoble3, who had a snarky comment here but decided to be polite and remove it before he posted

That's what the Crypt needs...Pronto Pups at the entrance and exit.....Now that would be a ride no matter how many flips you make.

Paramount made a lot of rides better because of their theme but then Cedar Fair will get KI more coasters and thrills. Honestly, I'd rather have The Crypt be back to Tomb Raider than a new roller coaster.

Well, most of the times I've ridden, when asked "how was your ride?" most of the riders booed.

I rode the Crypt last weekend for the first time this year. While I was in line, I didn't smell 'urine', but as newsguy said, it smelled 'musty'. I don't think the theming in the line looks too bad. When I rode, I had fun. While it may not have been as thrilling as the old program, I still thought it was fun. The one thing I was dissapointed with was how short it was. If it could've been a longer program with just going back and forth in circles, I would've been okay with it even if it still only did two flips. I think you guys are so upset about it because you knew what it used to be, and you're just being critical of what Cedar Fair is doind (or lack of action). There were some people on my particular that kept screaming, "This is awesome! This is so freaking cool! Whoa!" The general public is happy with it...some. I also heard someone on another day say it was boring and only did two flips. I think it is just a mixed bag of what people think. But, overall I think it was fun and it was something different to ride.

Sorry to bump, but didn't think this was worthy of a new thread. I was in the park on Wednesday, and I am 100% sure that there were 2 flips in the program. We began moving forward, and did the first flip while traveling through the second (maybe third) full rotation. The flip began when the arms were at full height and continued throughout the downward fall, being back at "home" position by the time the arms were at the bottom of the path. After one more full "forward" rotation, the direction changed, and the same thing repeated while going backwards, including the flip. The soundtrack seemed to be the same as what is described here. The lighting was actually a very good program, synced to the ride very well. At 2 or 3 points in the ride, the Durga relief on the wall was illuminated, and even though it is painted black, was an obvious part of the ride. Having ridden with the first Tomb Raider program, then the Crypt of last year, and now this year, I can say that this program is not as fun as last years, but I still prefer this year's (although it does seem different than what was described earlier in the season) to the original Tomb Raider program. A few more notes: -I saw compalints on here of a strong urine odor in the queue. There was a musty smell in the queue, but nothing that smelled "bad." This must have been cleaner up. -The maintenance area is easily visible and really should be covered up. Other than this, I thought that the theme was fine. Nothing looked overtly cheap or out of place.

DBru, maybe the park could build an ad campaign around your theory.