Shaggy

Curious... am I missing something? How do you know those are Bat trains? I just see chassis. None-the-less... it's highly likely The Bat trains could have been used for further testing in Utah once their production had occurred. It was likely this test that proved the stablization to be an issue. Seems obvious to me, so I am a bit surprised it made it to the actual physical testing stage. Just think about it. The train would need to hit the inversion at the perfect speed - not too slow, not too fast. In a scenario where weight fluctuates dependant upon riders ensuring an exact rate of speed is nearly impossible.

Correct. The Bat was never designed with, or inteded to have, inversions of any sort. Shaggy

Bingo... it always amazes me when the news carries a story about a ride getting stuck. Getting "stuck" is a good thing when it comes to malfunctions IMO. I rode RRR this past January. I wasnt really impressed. I found it jerky, and rough, and ultimately not that thrilling. The choice of music was the best part of the ride. I will say that climbing the lift is a bit intimidating... just gives you an uneasy feeling.

Nope not odd, strategic His funding is likely contingent upon an on-time opening. He's pacifying the backers.

I too ate Dinner at Beasts Castle. We were in the main hall which was fine, but I think I would have preferred the West Wing. I did go in and observe the Rose petals and The Beast Painting transformation. We made our reservations MONTHS in advance, and rightly so. They were turning people away by the dozens while we were there. BTW, Enchanted Tales with Belle was one heck of a heartwarming experience. It's geared to little, little, LITTLE kids... but it was overwhelming to see their response. It made me *misty* to see those little tots light up when they saw Lumiere and Belle!!! Shaggy

Wow, just saw the webcam, I knew the lift would be steep, but that's REALLY steep!

There was always something in this show that bothered me. It's the fact that Danny Bonaduce stands up while riding the log flume!!!

I actually find Charles Jacques' book on Coney Island to be the essential "Bible" of Cincy Coney Island. At one point he was compiling one for KI... however that hasn't cone to fruition. Has anyone heard anything from Mr Jacques in recent years? I used to see him at KI from time to time, but I rarely go now, so not sure.

I actually found one at an antique mall years ago... you may try some of them. Florence, Fairfield etc.

Oh, you know what I mean ;-) I'll tell you the only thing about Banshee that has me concerned. In the videos there's a Raptor-esque end where the track abruptly straightens going into the final brakes. I love Raptor, but always hated that "jolt." Many enthusiasts call it the B&M "Oooops!" Like they got to the end and said "Oooops, we need to straighten the track!" Hopefully Banshee will forgo the Raptor "Ooops!"

I believe B&M's are assembled in order... from start to finish... and with the large crane currently on the opposite side of the lift from the midway, I would suspect the smaller crane will take over contructing the base of the 1st drop and first inversion. (Once the larger crane has placed the lift and drop.) Then the smaller will probably continue the work, up until the loop, at which the larger will then take over again. It's obvious the large crane will "back out" of the construction area as it's completing the course.

"It will now offer a roller coaster seat on the ride line for riders to judge for themselves in advance if they fit." Isn't this poor grammar? Seriously, journalists need better proof readers these days. The park will now offer a roller coaster test seat to riders wating in line so they may judge, for themselves, if they'll fit.

As I understand it, Dinosaur at AK is WDW's answer to Indiana Jones.

Looks like a Yo-Yo

You do realize you ARE paying for parking and drinks at HW, right? It's all in perception.

Depends on perceived value. Will was a genious when it came to marketing to a *certain* demographic in Louisville... specifically lower middle class incomes. The popularity contest will be won by the park with the best perceived value... not the one with the most trains running. This season, HW did little to promote the way it once had - and I'm sure it had rammifications. If HW is smart, they'll get a friendly "face" back on TV next year, and re-emphasize those monetary "values" like freebies (soft drinks, sunscreen etc - which actually ARENT free, rather perceived that way.) That perception will off-set any apprehension folks have based on travel costs.

I'm curious to see if this is wise strategy or blind faith. HW will take an attendance hit, no matter what, from the re-opening of KK in Louisville in 2014. Most of HW's draw comes from the Evansville and Louisville areas. Curiosity is going to prompt Louisville families to give KK another go... thus saving an expensive tank of gas. If Hart pulls it off, it may have quite a ripple effect on HW. (If Hart is wise enough to take customer service levels through the roof and keep prices low at KK, that could blow the lid off the place.) Really KK was never a threat to HW in the past because, quite frankly, it was a bad park. But maybe behind the scenes HW thinks a large new addition next year would be a loss because the park will lose focus to KK's re-opening. Perhaps they think the year following they can go for the jugular.... who knows?. But bottom line, this doesn't follow the norm that HW has set in the past. Will was a "let's do something for everyone" kind of guy... he loved to "WOW!" folks. That mentality is what grew HW to what it is. Their typical trend was to add something to the dry park, the water park, and something for those that didn't ride. This, unfortunately, doesn't have the "WOW!" factor I was expecting. But again I am curious... is that on purpose?

Yuk Yuk... as if.

Years ago, I was really good at the quarter toss and milk jug toss at KI. There was a definite strategy to them. Actually back then the prizes weren't just stuffed animals. There were appliances, jackets, key chains etc. For years my kitchen was outfitted with a toaster, blender etc that I won at the milk jug toss. LOL! The quarter pitch was removed several years ago - and I was upset because I could win it every time. Then the prizes were changed to just stuffed animals on the milk jug toss, (so they could hang them to block high tossing) and the price was raised drastically. So I quit playing. I could spill the beans on the whole winning strategy (Tossing with a flip of the wrist, ball under your palm - or quarter flat on palm a the base of your middle and ring finger, tossing as high as possible were key) but mostly it took practice and lots of losing until I mastered it. The only game I play now is, silly enough, bowler roller. I just enjoy doing it and couldn't care less about winning the prize. (They make good pet toys.) However even bowler roller is dissapearing. I know I always sound like an old cramuddgeon (SP?) however the best game EVER at any park was always Fascination. Very, very, very few Fascination Parlors are left. It's old school and I'm sure most of you don't even know what it is/was. It was terrific fun, and I lost a lot of ride time in parks that had that game! Shaggy

Kind of like NORAD...lol...is this also the e-stop I often hear about....release the button and the ride stops or is that something else. Something else. EStop is a red button that, if pressed, stops the cycle/motors completely. When a ride is e-stopped, it must have it's systems completely re-set by maintenance before it can be re-started. If a coaster is e-stopped, the lift motors stop and brakes engage. If a cycle ride is e-stopped, the motors shut off completely typically locking a gondola in place or allowing it to settle back to a resting point. If a water-rapids attraction is e-stopped, the pumps shut off and the water drains to the lowest part of the course while boats settle to the bottom of the water trough.

With most, the load ops who are required to press a button do so in tandem with the driver. If the buttons are not pushed simultaniously, the ride will not start.

Not sure about headsets, but I dont' think they were added with this particular incident.

I personally do not recall Paramount Parks making the row alteration to TR:TR. I do recall they often would not load a row if there were not enough riders to fill the gondola. However I don't think the complete removal of seats occurred under their ownership. There WERE significant mechanical/operational modifications made to the ride by Paramount Parks. In particular, the ride recieved a technical/safety overhaul to the load operator platforms where ALL loading ops were required to press a start button in order for the ride program to begin. This was changed following a very hush-hush, non publicized and ultra scary incident invovling a loading ride op. Shaggy

You know, I was always told.... when I worked there... but don't have it on good authority, that the resevoir used to fill WWC at KI is fed partially by rain-run-off from the parking lot.

... and poop. I have a rule. I don't swim in water I can't see my feet in. I once walked out into Lake Erie at CP. Blech! It was the slimiest water bottom I've ever felt.