Shaggy

About 90% of the "fur" characters are girls. Mickey, Donald, Minnie, Chip & Dale etc require a petite female frame. Goofy & Pluto are frequently played by males - but require a lanky build. Here's one that always blew my mind. The original Tinkerbells that flew at Disneyland and WDW in the early years were women in their 60s & 70s. Actually, at Disneyland, the first "flying" tink was a 71 year old lady who was traned as an airealist! (sp?) Back then technology was pretty non-existent and she literally repelled down a cable and landed on a matress!

I've got more... I love Disney "Magic!" ;-) Did you know if a "head" character is seen by a guest with their head off, it's grounds for immediate dismissal? Did you know the Princesses are instructed to be the last one to let go when hugging a child? Did you know the Princesses must spend time in "fur" (play a costumed character) before they can portray a Princess? Also, most of the "face" characters are under strict regulations as to what they can/cannot do even outside the park. These face characters are advised to not go to bars, or be seen in compromising places or parties. The fear is they will be recognized by a guest, thus muddying the clean image of the character. All "face" characters are reviewed every few months. If they've changed in looks, or gained/lost significant weight - then their contract is terminated. Most "age out" by the time they are 30. Shaggy

Speaking of parades... many think that the floats are "driven" by eye down Main Street and controlled completely from within each float. However, they are actually controlled via a sophisticated sensor and satallite system. Seriously. There are sensors embedded in the pavement that align the floats, spacing them properly and triggering the sound systems within. They are monitored via a control station elsewhere in the park that relays the speed and direction of the floats. There are still drivers in each float, but they simply mantain the need for a back-up for malfunctions or emergency. Also, certain windows on the upper floors of Main Street open automatically when a parade nears to reveal hidden speakers. As the parade passes, the windows close mechanically. This too is triggered by sensor. Shaggy

The other parks do not have a utilidor. They utilize perimeter access roads & paths.

Disney offers behind the scenes tours... for a fee of course. Part of that tour includes going into the utilidors. BTW, the utilidors are literally just cinderblock wall hallways. Nothing fancy. The swedish trash system actually runs through them. That is more fascinating that the utilidors themselves - all the Disney trash is literally "sucked" through pipes and dumped into trash trucks at the rear - and carted off. Actually, the coolest part of the utilidor area is the costume dept. Its pretty darn amazing. Shaggy

It's so sad to see a loving family unti unravel. Unfortunately, I have a bad feeling the park will continue to suffer in the crossfire. Summer in Louisville was missing something that has been a staple for eons - those unforgettable family based HW commercials. Consumers related strongly to the family representation HW always had. Without it, I would expect the park didn't seem "charming" as it had in years prior. That HAD to have affected their draw. Shaggy

Did they completely alter the siding that was put up yesterday? It's a completely different color, right? Or am I losing it?

I had forgotten that....I've only been to California Adventure one time....don't you back into the elevator shaft which is the main ride. And then you travel to a floor with a room size mirror to view as your elevator load disappears on screen....then you travel to the hallway where little what's-her-face (the child star) sings and the hallway becomes a starfield...and I'm not mistaken the ride seems way more out of control than the Fl version in it's sequences. Darn it.....time for me to go back for a visit!!!! All this Disneyland talk has me a itchin to go yonder....LOL *Spoiler* The most noatable difference is that the elevator car never leaves the elevator shaft in the CA version. In Florida, when you reach the top floor, the car exits the lift shaft, travels through a corridor and then enters the drop shaft. In CA's version, the same shaft is used to take you up, and drop you down.

Interesting that you mention that. The concept originally was supposed to use the same system as Demon Drop. They actually went to an elevator company, I think Otis Elevator for a demonstration of how to get belly drops from an elevator, and the company was shocked because they had spent their entire careers perfecting elevators that wouldn't cause that sensation. That is when they started looking at the ride that looks like an elevator instead of trying to turn an elevator into a ride. The ride doesn't drop but is actually pulled down and pulled upwards. The lobby of the hotel is modeled after the Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA. The library sequence is based on the Twilight Zone episode of "It's a Good Life". Items in the library room and in the store room at the end of the ride refer to different episodes of the show. And much much more!!! ...and the version in CA is a VASTLY different "elevator experience" than that at WDW's Hollywood Studios.

Actually, they have a point. It does look like a Hoveround!

As Terpy said... Pshaw! I can assure you that my sentiments are my own, are always honest (to a fault and sometimes brutally so) direct and heartfelt. I always say what I mean, and mean what I say. I pride myself on being a man of my word. Oh... and my advance speculating continues. Would you like me to share what I forsee as an obvious forthcoming change to KI property? Naaaah, lets let 2014 things simmer a bit for before I drop that on you ;-) No need to shake things up just yet. LOL!

The concrete pad behind the queue at the right of the pic is indeed the spot where Road Runner Express once stood. (Look for the dumpster) However when they say they cleared the area, they actually mean the space in the rear of the photo. That is where, until recently, the loop and spike of Greezed Lightning was. Of course Six Flags removed Road Runner a long time ago... but ed Harts group just finished removal of Greezed Lightning. Also, to the left of the concrete pad is the area where the Skyfler once stood. It was removed shortly after Six Flags vacated, as it was only leased. In the bottom right of the picture in front of the queue was the entrance plaza to Road Runner, and the footing at the bottom middle was the anchor for the themed entrance to the attraction. Shaggy

LOL.... I knew of the legend prior, but also got that email. (I ordered one... can you say "Suckerrrrrrr!") LOL!

I have to agree. Nostalgia and historical significance aside - the Brooklyn Coney Island Cyclone was one heck of an awful ride when I rode 4 years ago. Eeeeeouch - I tried 3 different places in the train - none was any less uncomfortable. That having been said, I've ridden some doozies - some barely standing, some with duct-taped restraints (Looping Star at Beech Bend), some with seats missing, some with crooked lifts etc etc etc. Many I took one ride on only to "check them off" I figured surviving once was pushing my luck. The old Williams Grove coaster was pretty bad. The old multi-looper at SFGAm had a horrific transition into the mid-course breakes that would nearly break your neck. The Dipper at Camden always seemed as though it could fall at any minute. Sky Princess at Dutch Wonderland was a long drive for a coaster you could take a nap on. Snzzzzzzzzz. Hercules at Dorney was baaaaaaad. The Boss at SFStL rode like it had gravel all over the tracks. Oh, if you count those horrible Toboggan rides as coasters - well my last turn on one was, well, my last. Those are deathtraps! Finally, once upon a time, the infamous Terpy and I were at Indiana Beach with some other folks when "Lost Coaster Of Superstition Mountain" reopened. He coined a description about that ride that I still laugh at. He described the experience as being as much fun as "Getting pushed over the side of a cliff in a shopping cart!" Remember that Terpy? Classic!

*Cough* Phantom Theatre *Cough*

PART of the WDW and DL Mansion story NOW revolves around an ill-fated love... but when they opened, that wasn't a focus of the attractions - rather just a minor part. The storyline of the Bride in the mansion has evolved over time, mostly since the opening of Euro Disney which built the entire Phantom Manor attraction around the storyline. Actually, where the Bride figure exists now in the DL version is where the Hatbox Ghost was originally placed. (I believe.) Oh, and the ring you mentioned at the WDW version - gone. It was removed/paved over years ago. Many argue that it was actually not a ring - rather the remnant from a former gate post. Who knows. Anyways, here's a pic of the former "ring."

The 50 foot platform has not been reopened, to my knowledge, since the tragedy. The reason it is not open to guests has very little to do with the fatality. More to do with ADA, staffing, etc. Also, it currently houses electrical equiptment for things such as lighting etc.

Awww shuks! ;-)

Well, I know of the plates... but don't think that would be the largest. Isn't Everest at AK a large hidden Mickey? (Look at it from the aierel perspective.)

I've ridden both the WDW and DL versions. WDW's is a tad bit longer than DL. Of course DL's is the original, so that makes it special. It's funny because I prefer the WDW version of Haunted Mansion (both interior and exterior)... but I prefer DL's version of Pirates of C. As Upstop said, you can see something different and new everytime you ride the Mansion... and not just the hidden Mickeys. ;-)

On Tuesday I had the distinct honor and great pleasure of being filmed at KI for a news segments that aired today in Louisville. I can't tell you how excited I was to be asked to be the "enthusiast" perspective for these pieces. Many thanks to Don and KI for thinking of me!!! Its been about 12 years since I was last filmed riding a coaster and thechnology has completely changed. No longer are there huge camera mounts to worry about... or downtime while footage is monitored between takes. Not there's simply small little digital cams that suction cup to the trains. One take... simple and easy! The news reporter, Keith Kaiser is to be thanked as well, since he made a difficult task for me (being interviewed on camera - always daunting) easy and relaxed. We filmed the on-ride Diamondback take first, then the Diamondback interview off ride, then we moved to The Beast and were filmed riding, then finished up with the off-ride Beast interview. Following that, Don was interviewed on the Tower discussing Banshee. Here's a link to the segments in case you are interested in seeing them. There's 2 of them... one on DB and one on Beast. Please be kind... no nasty remarks. I'm no TV personality, I just love talking KI. http://www.wdrb.com/story/23142551/keith-kaiser-rides-the-roller-coasters-at-kings-island-in-anticiaption-of-their-newest-roller-coster

Really? I haven't heard anything. But one of the park officials did say Texas Giant would be closed indefinitely. This is the same issue as Flight Commander, someone fell out and it could have easily been avoided by putting in seat dividers (in this case seatbelts) but they decided to close the ride. I still kinda wish I got to ride these wonderful looking coasters. Hopefully they reopen but I'm not so sure. FYI, KI didn't permanently close Flight Commander after the accident. Following the accident on June 9th 1991, FC was closed for the remainder of the season pending a large investigation. Ultimately the seats/restraints were altered on the attraction and it re-opened in 1992 (the season following the accident.) It was never a hugely popular attraction, and ultimately low ridership resulted in it's removal. The attraction operated, I believe, 3 more seasons after the tragedy. It was removed (if memory serves me) after 1994.

The Eiffel Tower at KI is actually green. In the 1970's Sherwin Williams became a sponsor for the park, and the tower was painted it's own hue called "Eiffel Tower Green." It has maintained that color since. However when the paint chalks, or fades, it takes on a blue/grey tone. Under Paramount ownership, the park contemplated the idea of painting the tower a bronze color to match the Paris version. The cost of a complete color alteration prooved to hefty for the budget and thus it remained "Eiffel Tower Green." Shaggy P.S. Pay attention to the shot of Scooby in the ad. He's driving the original hand-brakes on the Scooby Doo coaster.

I still don't understand why a poll with a maufacturer-slanted agenda behind it was placed in a KI forum... oh yes I do... because it has a manufacturer-slanted agenda behind it. But to burst your bubble... Most are too young to recall KI's announcement of "The Beast." Quite frankly, the media blitz that followed the opening of that coaster has yet to be matched... even by today's equivelents. I recall, at the ripe age of 8, seeing "The Beast" in newspapers, on countless nationwide news programs across all 3 networks, as well as on TV specials such as "Real People", "That's Incredible", "PM Magazine" and more. I lived in Virgina and hadnt even heard of Kings Island until "The Beast" made national news. It was everywhere. What made Beast's announcement so monumental, is that it was really the first time ANY coaster garnered such media attention. Any subsequent coaster (no matter what manufacturer) announcement really owes a lot to the inital path that was paved by The Beast 35 years ago... Shaggy

The most devistating loss to KI was by far the Antique Cars/Flying Skooters removal for IJST. The most picturesque section of the park was compromised for a ride featuring rusty cargo containers as it's theming element. It was, is, and will be an absolutely eyesore that destroyed the esthetics of the park. I pray that Cedar Fair removes the coaster and restores the area to what it should still be... beautiful. What a monumental mis-step by those (then) in charge of "improving" the park. Bad, bad, bad.