Shaggy

I would suspect he means the doorway that is sometimes left unlocked in queue area #1. It's adjacent to the photo booth. Shaggy

It was a joke.

I wonder if Shapiro will sign the check himself... ;-)

Ryan... the dance was called "The Hustle" not "hussle." Young'n ;-) Shaggy

Disguises? Geez, who does he think he is, Michael Jackson? Shaggy

I am in no way a Miley Cyrus fan, I think she's very lacking in the talent dept. However, "Hannah Montana" is one of the VERY few wholesome characters that little girls have to look up to today. The pictures of Miley were obviously an example of poor judgement on many levels. I hope for her sake, and the sake of little girls everywhere that future endeavors will utilize more foresight into possible reprocussions. Actors and celebrities, more often than not, use the argument that the "Characters I play have nothing to do with who I am as a person." But I disagree. I think whatever you put out into the world is ultimately a reflection that affects you and your fan base. I recently found it hysterical when I saw an interview with Madonna where she lamented the fact that her 13 year-old daughter is trying to dress and act too provocatively for her age. As an adult, I have always enjoyed Madonna as an artist. But I found it terribly ironic that she refuses to let her daughter watch TV or read magazines, wear suggestive clothing or curse... all due to the effect they have on her mind and maturity. I mean, here was the absolute queen of sexual boundry-pushing controversy saying that she holds her daughter with very tight reigns. But she made a great point in that interview when confronted. She said that it was her job as a parent to teach her daughter right and wrong, and ultimately protect her children from images that could affect the decisions they make during their childhood. She flat out said that the images and ideas she had put out were in no way intended for a child. In terms of her own kids she said that once they turned 18, they could then make their own decisions, but until then it was her job to guide and shelter them. Hollywood and media has turned into the great abiss. No longer is our entertainment talent based, it's spectacle and controversy based. And quite frankly, I think the general public is sick of being treated like morons... hence the popularity of wholesome shows such as Hannah Montanna, Dancing with the Stars and American Idol. I am not a parent, and am an EXTREMELY open minded individual. However, when and if I have a child they too would be protected from what I feel are harmful and overtly unnecessary images on TV, in movies and online. There would be reprocussions for acting or dressing in certain ways. I would want their childhood to be filled with their own thoughts and ideas rather than what popular culture tells them. That's the job and responsibility one assumes when they have a child. In Miley's case, Disney is obviously pulling in the reigns for PR purposes as to avoid a backlash against their cash-cow juggerknot. Her Management is trying to milk Miley's career and "mature" it with her ever-aging teen base. But in all of this, Miley is still a little girl. I am most dissapointed with her parents. I hope that someone is there to hold her up, guide her in what's best for her own character development as a young woman and show her accountability. I hope for her sake that she is not the next Britney, or Paris or Lindsay. Shaggy

Going back to the B&M vs Intamin debate... It's all a matter of opinion, of course, but I have been fortunate enough to ride several B&M hypers, Arrow Hypers and Intamin Hypers/Gigas/etc. My favorite coaster, of all time, is hands down Superman ROS at SFNE. It's a masterpeice. I remember it shocked the heck out of me when I first rode it. It was during an 8-day coaster trip I took with friends the year it opened. It came near the end of the trip, and to be honest I was so sick of seeing parks and riding coasters by that time, I was one tough cookie to please. I had felt very uninspired by looking at it's layout and construction throughout the construction phase. But we added the park to our list of to-dos because one of my travelling companions was insistant upon it. I even remember arriving at the park prior to opening, seeing it in the horizon and thinking "What's the big deal, it's just another out-and-back coaster." Well, lo-and-behold, I rode that thing and found coaster heaven. Close on it's heels is Apollo's Chariot. Nitro is up there but MForce is down the list somewhere, Raging Bull is in there somewhere too. Although my favorite is an Intamin, I think the B&Ms hold up a bit better and overall deliver more on an enjoyment level. Actually, the last time I ride MForce, it had some surprising jarring to it. (But if we are being frank, I have never *gotten* all of the hub-bub surrounding M-Force. After that 1st drop it's a yawner to me.) I was extremely excited for CW when I heard about Behemoth as it fits the park to a "T" just as "?" will likely fit KI. Shaggy

When did you ride?

Florence is getting new ones. Right in front of the Florence Mall.

I thought I was the only one. The ad appears at the top of the page when you access a message string. "Champion...blah...blah...blah." On a side note, I've always thought she had one of the best jobs in the world. Shaggy

FYI, Carmen was in the Magic show circa 1991 or 2. I distinctly recall her in the show. She was one of the girls that was passed through a plate of glass... the trick was later dropped. Nick and his brother Drew were part of a 4-boy accapella group that roamed the park and sang at random. The group was fired. Shaggy

Snakes are common at KI, specifically in the wooded area around WWC. I've seen a few there myself. Actually I've seen several critters there. Once a skunk walked across a path about 20 feet in front of me. Neddless to say, I ran the other way. Also, I have seen possums and chipmunks. When I worked FOF, raccoons used to get in the building/trains from time ot time. I will spare you the details of how they were removed. I expect the critters have a hard time adjusting to their territory being invaded during the operational months. However there was a pic online a few seasons ago of a black snake crossing a path at BGW, it measured over 8 feet long. Eeeeeyiikes! Shaggy

They actually had this in park a few years ago and it flopped. There were like 2 kiosks set up where you could have your pic taken and then emailed to people. I never once saw someone use it. Shaggy

Remember, the placement before the SOB lift allowed for pleasant smiles. The placement after the rosebowl likely results in grimmaces and horror. As someone else mentioned, I believe the on-ride photos are provided by an outsourced company. They seem to change with the wind... and move dependant upon interest in the attraction. There's a large empty on-ride booth from TR that has sat empty since year 1. FOF has seen more on-ride vendors come and go than I can remember. The on-ride trailer has seen several spots at KI... Adventure Express once had one. Face/Off once had one. KC once had them. I am surprised they still turn a profit. They were a great novelty once upon a time. But seems to not have the draw and purchasing interest they once had. Seems most people look at the pic on the screen, laugh, point, and walk away. The money lies with on-ride photos in the kid's area. I bet the Odd Coaster, Lil Bill and Scooby on-rides make a fortune. Shaggy

I'd have to look extra close to see the painting.... a little known fact is that I am partially colorblind! In regards to GL... I personally was never enchanted with the park. I recognize that others may have been. But I'm not so sure many other non-locals were as it ultimately lost it's audience. (And audience who was no doubt confused by all the changes.) That's not to say the park wasn't esthetically pleasing, or that it did not have fun rides, I just never held MY attention. I may be wrong, but I think that CF seeing it as a feeding ground for relocating rides was probably an afterthought. I am in no way in the know, however being a business man, my perception is that CF initially purchased the park with the intent to operate it in some form or another. After a season of operation, and no doubt close financial evaluation, the CF Board likely deemed that proper return on investement resided with a sale of the land and liquidation of assets. Prior to that liquidation, they likely evaluated what attractions COULD be relocated, cost effectively, to generate a return at other parks. Thus we've seen (so far) 5 attractions moved to other parks. The majority of attractions are being sold at auction. It's worth noting that relocating attractions park-to-park is typically just as costly as a brand new install. For instance, the deconstruction, moving, taxing on distribution of property and re-installation of Stealth at PGA to PCow cost nearly as much at the original install. Overall, the relocation of rides is not as "lucrative" as some may think from a savings aspect. The upside to relocating a ride lies with the ride itself. If it's proven succesful from an interest/rideable/marketable standpoint or fills a *need* at another park then its a wise decision to relocate it. It also saves initial design/developmental costs. Other than that, it's usually a wash. Shaggy

The waterpark addition saved the train. I recall riding the train as it existed just prior to the waterpark addition... it was not the "stellar" attraction that fond memories recall. Less than half the displays worked, and they were more ragged looking than you can imagine. It was a fun and unique attraction in it's earlier years, but memories make it more interesting. Also, if I am not mistaken, the train is actually maintained/operated by an outside source... not KI itself. Seems the maintenance and conducting fell under different transportation rules/regulations than normal amusement attractions. Not to say that they cannot theme it in anyway they seem fit, rather I just don't think it's a priority to them. If you think CF is going to go the distance in re-establishing or maintaining nostalgic themed attractions, think again. Pirate Ride, Paddlewheel Excursions, Kingdom of the Dinosaurs, Earthquake ride, Journey to the Center of the Earth are all examples. The Racer change has little to do with bringing back nostalgia, and everything to do with insurance. The nostalgia aspect is a PR spin. Shaggy

Originally there were two parks... Geauga Lake and Sea World. Six Flags (then Premier Parks) purchased Geauga Lake and reflagged it as Six Flags Ohio. They did this with many smaller parks, such as Riverside (Six Flags New England), Darien Lake (Six Flags Darien Lake... Buffalo), Elitch Gardens and Jazzland. This was a part of an ego-driven corporate monopoly campaign. The general idea was to uy and convert as many small parks as possible into "Six Flags" parks. In Geauga Lake's case, this meant investing millions and millions overnight into what was actually a small regional park. In the meantime, due to wavering attendance, Busch was looking to unload Sea World . Greedy (and not so smart) Six Flags saw it as an opportunity to become a major force in the most lucrative seasonal amusement market in the country (Ohio.) So they bought Sea World, combined the two parks and re-named it Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure, with the hopes that it would become a flagship park. Well, despite agressive (and sometimes mean!) marketing campaigns, the park drew less than half the guests they had hoped. Those that did attend were met (more often than not) with bad operating policies and procedures, high prices, and lack-luster staffing. In addition, Six Flags as a company had grown so rapidly that their exhorbitant spending caught up with them. The company suffered terrible losses on most every park they had gobbled up, and dwindling attendance across the board prompted them to make cuts. Among the cuts was Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure, which was sold to Cedar Fair. Cedar Fair immediately stripped all things Six Flags and re-branded it back to Geauga Lake. They gave the animals from the (former) Sea World area their walking papers and began re-building the now emptied wildlife area as a waterpark. (The waterpark portion of the park has always seen success.) CF then began the process of removing rides from the amusement side of the park. Many believe Cedar Fair's intent from the purchase was to rid themselves of a competitor. Actually, Six Flags was never much of a competitor from an attendance standpoint. However, it's pretty clear now that the purchase intent was so Cedar Fair could capitolize on it's revenue generator.. the waterpark. I attended the park many times as GL, SFO and SFWOA. My personal opinion is that the park was never meant to be "big." It lost all charm when it went corporate, and despite numerous ride additions... there wasn't a lot to do. The goal of an amusement park is to draw attendance, and keep attendees in the park to increase revenue on inside expenditures. (Very little revenue is generated by gate admission believe it or not.) This park was what I refer to as a half-day park (as is the case of many others that Six Flags branded... SFKK, SFDL, etc.) What I mean is, once I had been on the major rides not much else held my attention. It's an odd thing that I've never quite been able to put my finger on. In *theory* there were plenty of rides, yet there was not enough for me to do. IMO that "feel" ultimately labels a park as a non-destination. A non-destination park must rely on locals for support. In GL's case, most locals were turned off by what they perceived as a massive re-tooling of a beloved park. Once it was turned into Six Flags, the GP envisioned big crowds (that did not exist), big rides, raised prices and poor traffic conditions. Those things deterred them from continued interest and support. Thus it met a fate where the land it sat on became of more value than the park generated. The result is the closure and destruction of the park. Shaggy

Is it me, or has it not yet been re-painted? Media day for it is May 20th. Wonder if they've sent the little "ball" do-jiggy around to check clearances. Shaggy

Minor pet peeve... they opted for the poor mans spelling of "Theater." The classier "Theatres" are spelled r-e.

Actually, it may have more to do with the fact that Cheesecake Factory is falling on hard financial times. There was a recent article on AOL news that mentioned the names of some pretty big name merchants that may start to dissapear soon. Cheesecake Factory, Chili's, Old Navy were three of the big names mentioned in the article. They cited a downturn in the economy, and much too rapid expansion as the reasons. Shaggy

Thanks guys, I appreciate that tremendously. It's easy to write well about something that left a great impression. Shaggy

Hey Dolly, what’s you’re favorite color? Dolly: Ms. Clairol #319. Hey Dolly, are you offended by dumb blonde jokes? Dolly: No, because I know I’m not dumb. And I ain’t blonde either. Hey Dolly, do you support women’s lib? Dolly: Why sure, as a matter of fact I was the first woman to burn her bra. Last I heard they were still trying to put the fire out! I just love Dolly. I wish the world were full of Dollys. That’s because Dolly is not full of herself. Neither is her namesake park. To the novice, Dollywood would seem ripe for an over-the-top romp into the colorful mind of Mrs. Parton. Imagine rides like “The Jolene Jump 2.” Or the “Islands in the Stream Log Flume.” How about the “Coaster of many colors?” Nah. Actually, Dolly herself is a very small part of the charm that makes up Dollywood. Sure there are those special Dolly touches like false butterflies scattered here and there. But as a whole, the park does not rely on the spectacle herself. Rather it relies on the charm, beauty and life that is Tennessee. Officially, my visit last week was my second time at the park. But in theory it was my first *true* visit. How so? Well, I had attended about 4 years ago as a part of the Christmas Festival. Sure, then I was able to ride the Tennessee Tornado and Blazing Fury, but little else was open. The focus during that time of the year is placed on the Holiday than the base park itself. Since then, the park has nearly doubled its size. Mostly with the addition of Timber Canyon and the much needed access path that now forms a park loop. They’ve added 3 coasters, and several flat rides. All the while maintaining and actually improving the general atmosphere of the already good park. Dollywood easily fits into my upper tier of favorite parks. Its setting is magnificent. It’s a friendly and fun atmosphere. It’s impeccably clean. It stays true to its origin. It offers something for everyone. But most notably, it has what I call “the Disney trick.” Basically, that’s when a park is so enchanting and so-family friendly that persons who would normally balk at riding a coaster, or thrill ride, hop on with little concerns. It’s almost as though the perception is “Well, if Dolly has her name on it, then it must be fun and safe.” I guarantee you that if Thunderhead, or Mystery Mine were built at say, Cedar Point, not even half the kids or elder adults would ride it compared to those that do at Dollywood. Now, that’s a good thing, and a bad thing I suppose. It’s a good thing IMO; because it truly exemplifies what I have always said life should be about, pure un-adulterated fun with few limitations. But I would suspect some enthusiasts may see it as nothing more than longer waits with inexperienced riders. I personally don’t see it that way. I waited for every ride… patiently, on a relatively busy day. But I didn’t mind one bit, as the persons that were attending were a part of the charm in the park itself. Trying to explain Dollywood to someone that’s not been there is sort of futile. It’s like trying to explain how air feels. It’s just nice, refreshing, fun and exciting all together. People just seemed happy. I like that. With each passing day, that’s what I look for more and more. I adore the fact that you are greeted with “We’re so happy you came to Dollywood today!” It’s catchy. I smiled when I heard it, and I carried that smile all day. Funny that. I think I’ve moved far beyond the days of the next biggest and best thing. I’ve settled into more of a stop and smell the roses attitude that comes on stronger season after season. That having been said, I will describe for you my personal feelings on the various attractions at the park. I’ll leave them in random order since, quite frankly, I have not the time, nor patience to try and recollect every step I took. I loved Timber Canyon. It’s very well done, with terrific theming that sets it apart from the rest of the park, but stays within the overall mountain theme. As I said, it has transformed a cumbersome, oddly shaped layout into a much more visitor friendly loop. Over time, it will no doubt become as packed with attractions as the older portions of the park. But all in due time. They certainly have the space now. And they obviously have the foresight, as the area has an obvious developmental direction. Thunderhead suits the park to a “T.” It’s a GCI masterpiece that makes smart use of its geography, topography, and surroundings to complete the rush element. This coaster was my first of the year, and provided that much needed tickle in my belly I have missed for so long. Again, I’ll not bore you… or me… with detailing every twist or turn. Actually I don’t think I could recall the layout if I wanted to. All I’ll say is that it was easily one of the best wooden coasters I’ve ridden. By my second ride (as I left the park) it had taken my #1 spot. RIP Legend. Timber Tower is, okay. It’s just as temperamental as others have said. No wonder it has so much down time, after all, there sure is a lot going on. A rotating ring of seats that rise upward. Then while revolving, the tower tips back and forth nearing water geysers and a roaring bear cave. (Hmmmmm…. ;-) I am glad I rode it, albeit once, but I don’t know if I’d wait it out again. It screams of “Quake” at SFKK. What I mean is, it looks much more fun to watch than to ride. I can’t imagine it would be a long term ride. Tennessee Tornado still remains the best Arrow multi-looper to date. The first drop rivals Vortex at KI and Loch Ness at BGW as being the best stomach drop on an Arrow. There’s nary one head bang. And although short, it’s a re-ride no matter. I think it got 3 rides out of me. High capacity and fun. Ride in the back. Blazing Fury had a wait for sure. But it’s worth it to see the “pleasantly plump” animatronic figure warning her animatronic beau that she’s “Gonna jump” from the burning porch roof into his scrawny arms below. Then of course, there’s the “Fire in the Hole” finale. It’s a huge step back in time when you ride this. It’s like the mountain ride at KBF… or the Haunted Mansion at Knoebles. Cheesy for sure, but you just can’t resist it. Daredevil Falls has the most picturesque drop on any flume I have ever seen… and that includes Splash Mountain. Well done, and fun. I got a little wet, but not bad. And get this… I rode alone, no one else in the boat. It’s almost as though people didn’t know it was there. When you see the sign on Slidewinder that says “You may get wet” believe it. I go soaked, actually my sweatshirt and jeans did. Not my idea of fun on a semi-warm spring day. Good thing I jog regularly too, that hike to the station practically needs a chair lift! This one I could not ride alone… they require at least 3 people in a boat I think. Cute is not descriptive enough to describe the New-for-2008 attraction “River Battle.” It’s beyond cute. Although I didn’t ride, there were people willing to brave the chill to try it out. I could have watched it for hours; it’s like watching the squirting elephant at KI… or the Rainmaker show at BGW. It’s just fun to see innocent bystanders get doused. ;-) Hmmmm, what else was there? Oh yeah, I rode the Disco… but couldn’t get out of Veggietown, or whatever the kids area is called, quickly enough. It was mobbed. No, not mobbed. MOBBED. I rode the motion simulator, but now there some awful movie in there themed to a gangster chase on Thunder Road. Ick. What happened to the terrific movie they had featuring Dolly and the inventor that flew in a flying machine? That was a hoot… with one of the best lines ever, Dolly screaming “SlooooOOOW Down! You’ll blow my wig off!” Tsk, tsk, Dollywood. Bring it back. I skipped shows… they are mostly international shows this year, and the one show I wanted to see “Kinfolk” was down for the day. But I love “Heartsong” so it was a must do for me. It tugs at my heart (imagine that) as it embraces the beauty that lies in the Tennessee Smokey Mountains to the tune of some of Dolly’s most catchy songs with some “surprises” along the way. It sure served its purpose. Heck, I spent all weekend singing “Play a song for me Apple Jack, Apple Jack” to anyone who dared come around me. No joke. So what am I forgetting? Where I ate? Boring. What souvenirs I bought? Yawn. How I was stoked to see the costumes from 9 to 5? (My all-time favorite comedy) Embarrassing! How I got misty when I saw the actual “Coat of many colors?” Awwww! Oh yeah… Mystery Mine. Hmmm… what to say? It was fun. It was shorter than I expected. The inline twists and fallout loop at the end was much better than I thought they’d be. The wait was long, but the “surprises” mid-way through the attraction made it worthwhile. It was jarring. It rattled my head around like the Arrow at the back of the park *should have.* I thought about a re-ride late in the day, but opted for Thunderhead instead. It’s a good addition, IMO because it fits the park PERFECTLY. Oh and it sure draws interest. It’s a visual masterpiece. I think I took about 20 shots of it. (With my brand-new-high-tech Olympus FE-340, 8 Megapixel Digital camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Video? Can you tell I am proud?) What else can I say about MM? Oh, I kept thinking about how it would have fit Rivertown at KI perfectly. (It was originally conceived for KI who abandoned the project when the rights to its concept theme of “Addams Family” fell through.) But I also thought about how it is much better off at a park that actually cares about the upkeep of its theming elements. By this time, no effect would have been operable at KI. And yes, that’s a slap. So there you have it. My day with Dolly was a success. I hope there will be many more special days with Dolly in my future. But in the meantime, I hope life treats you real kind. I hope that you have all you ever dreamed of. I wish you joy, and happiness… but above all this, I wish you… You know the rest. Shaggy *Side bar* - This visit to Dollywood came on the heels of a week spent in a mountain top cabin outside of Pigeon Forge. The evening prior was spent at Dixie Stampede (OMG how fun is that! Who knew?!) It was followed with a hike through the Smokies, the most beautiful place I have ever seen. If I may be so bold, I advise each of you that as you visit parks this season, take the time to visit the surroundings. I’ve never discovered anything new about myself while riding a coaster. I learn all sorts of things about myself when I am surrounded by nature.

In this picture http://www.americalovescrap.com/gallery/ma...g2_itemId=17578 where was this at?I know it wasnt at KI,was it? Nope, not at KI. That picture was taken at Canada's Wonderland. Shaggy

I am sure it's an insurance write off by now. The Batman B&M Invert is already gone... moved to SFFT and opens this summer as Goliath. Shaggy

1. Behind Vortex and Action FX Theatre You may be surprised to know this, but The Beast runs remarkably close to the back of Action Theatre. I'd guess 100 feet or so. There'd be no developing that. Google Earth it ;-)