rcmaster

Apparently, at Canada's Wonderland they have opted to again print the Parking Pass right onto the season pass. A Parking Pass there goes for $25.00 for the first one, with the option of including it on another purchased pass for $10.00 each. From PCW's website: "No parking decals will be issued for the 2007 season. For each parking permit purchased, a parking permit number will be printed directly onto the Season Pass photo ID card."

Some of the fire effects were really amazing. You could feel the heat of the fire even in the very back row. The motorcycle work was pretty great as well.

I do know that some of the original PP plans for 2007 were axed. And according to the Press Release from CF regarding earnings, This to me sounds like new restaurants, shops and additional facilities for 2007, rides in years after. I know of at least one Paramount Park for sure is getting at least one new indoor restaurant for '07.

I know that you're relatively new around here but we generally don't out and out call posters liars unless they have a history of doing so. Sorry, I didn't explain myself in the post. I also didn't mean to sound like I was calling him a liar, it was just the fact that I was actually at the Park both days around the entire Park, and there were no signs anywhere advertising a new ride.

Unless something serious changed from what I heard, I'll believe it when I see it in some print form.

^ And in park infrastructure, I hope CF does NOT make a lot of changes. I feel that the infrastructure in each Park works as is, and changing it could affect it negatively. For instance, at PCWo, there are absolutely NO paths in the Park paved in asphalt. Every path is made up of hand laid interlocking brick. The only exception is the water park, where concrete makes up the paths. So for something like that, I hope that CF continues to spend the extra dollars to keep this tradition up, and doesn't try and save a few dollars and sacrifice Park appearance.

One thing I do know for a fact is that there are "interested parties" currently looking over each of the Parks, and no deal the final buyer obviously has not been decided.

Most Park's have a crew who can take care of bee hives and such bug pests. I assume PKI has one too. Many Park's use an expensive industrial strength spray. The spray, once sprayed on the hive, immediately kills all bees in the hive. I assume PKI has one too.

Actually, it doesn't. For that I get directed to my parking space by courteous employees, a waiting tram with service to the gate, security in the lot at all times, and in most cases, a newly paved lot. At Kentucky Kingdom, parking is only $5, as the state owns the lot. At most Six Flags, the cost of a season pass plus season pass parking was less (if bought last year) than the price of a single PKI pass (that included parking, if bought last year). I'm not willing to pay $15.00 for things I can do myself. I can walk to the gate myself. I don't need people telling me where to park, I'll decide myself. Security is always watching the Parking lot anyway. And I'm only parking my car. And the lot doesn't need to be freshly paved. As long as there isn't a 10 foot hole in the ground it's fine. I'm only parking my car, not living there.

But it also says that they are not responsible for attractions not being open and for forces beyond their control (eg weather)

I used to think the way that many here thought, but that was until I saw just how much work needs to go into each and every ride. Simply put, the maintenance staff go out ech and every day and put a ton of work into every ride. Nobody likes when something isn't open, but there are some things in life that can't be controlled. Every ride in there is a machine, and like it or not, machines break down even with the best of maintenance staff. Cars break down, household appliances break down, etc. Rides are very complicated pieces of machinery. I hate it when stuff is broken down, but I no longer blame the Park. Even when there doesn't seem to be somebody fixing something, they are. But safety always comes first, not second. So, when it comes down to a choice of opening an attraction with a 1% chance something could go wrong, the ride stays closed until it is deemed OK to open. You take your chances anyday you go that things won't be operating. Opening days are the worst to go, because the majority of times things will break down. Go later on, into late spring and summer and things work the way they should. As for hiring in waves, the Park is thinking ahead. By the time Summer rolls around, there are always a few who quit, because the job is too much work for them, or they don't like it anymore. By hiring in waves, it ensures that there is enough staff for beginning of the season, as well as beginning of summer. It's better to have less staff now then in the heart of the summer when the crowds are huge.

At least people were complaining. Most complaints lead to changes which most times benefit everyone (as long as they have substance to them and are more then "I hate this place" without an explanation why).

I was refering to Canadas Wonderland, but its good to hear PCarowinds is doing well too. And if so many people have complaints, actually go and COMPLAIN at Guest Services. Believe it or not, they actually do read and listen to complaints. Go and fill out a Guest Action Report, and it is actually sent to those in charge of the problem area. For example, problem with an issue relating to rides? The GAR is sent to the Full time head of Rides, the VP of Operations, and even the GM/VP of the Park so that they can all review the problem. There were even times when the managa of rides actually called people back who left complaints to find out what the problem was and how to make it better. You have nothing to lose when you go and complain. The Park can't know what isn't working unless people do. They will simply assume what they are doing is satisfying people.

Six Flags does not care more about customers then Paramount Parks. Maybe at PKI that's your opinion, but I can tell you things are different elsewhere. Customer Service is playing centre stage this year at PCW. So again, people need to stop talking how bad the chain is, and maybe comment on the individual Parks. PCW is actually opening earlier this year for Pass processing then they have in the past, with the lowest prices they've ever offered. Last year, they sold more passes then any other Paramount Park, and yet they still didn't raise prices this year. Each Park's management makes their own decision about how to run. Sure corporate makes decisions about money allocation for each Park and the such, but each Park decides how they will run.

It's kind of funny: PCW has been doing that for the past few years after they got rid of the nametags. But now, PKI rids themselves of nametags for just the ID card, and PCW goes back to using nametags. The other thing is, while prices have gone up, that does not mean it is because the Parks are being sold. The way some people see it, everything that isn't perfect this season is because the Parks are being sold. Simply not true. It's a business, and while is severly sucks to have to pay more, it is the way it is in life. Don't forget, other factors play into the costs. For one, it may cost more to ship the food to PKI because of higher gas prices.

Actually, that seems like management was confused about what makes money and what works. I don't go out buying a bunch of million dollar homes and cars and expect that to make me money once I go so far into debt. Somehow going on a huge park buying spree sounds like someone didn't quite think things through far enough into the future.

If you look at the sign, there is space at the top for the Fairly Odd logo. It may not have been fully ready yet to put up with the main sign, which is obviously more important.

That's the problem. We need an owner who views the business like Paramount did. Every GM/VP in the chain realizes that you can't keep things the same for years. People grow tired (eg. HB turning into Nick Uni.). New things need to keep being added or you turn into Six Flags, where management was so confused that the Park's went into debt. People complain about Paramount being the owners, but look at the Parks now. Every year there is at least one new attraction at each of their Parks. Other operators, such as Six Flags just as an example, don't do this. Just think about: people complain when once every few years a kid expansion goes in and not a thrill ride. That is one year without a new thrill ride. Another operator may put a new ride in once every few years, meaning longer without a new thrill attraction.

Yes, the show is staying at PCW for only this season, and then moving to the other Parks. Hence the reason they didn't waste space in the Park. Once its finished though, it will look better then that. The set isn't finished yet. ABout Backlot, no it is not a sitdown restaurant. You will go to the counter, order the food, they will make it in front of you and serve you right there. And then you find a seat.

Security can only do so much: they can't be everywhere at the same time. You can blame the Park, but it is not their fault that some people act like morons and decide to ruin things. You can then have security focus on one area, but people will just go and vandalize another. Sure, it is easy to say maintain everything, but that isn't always possible. There are only so many maintenance people, and a very large Park. Things have to be prioritized. Serious safety issues need to be fixed first, with cosmetic things coming later. Then there is also cost: if the Park finds itself continously fixing the same thing, then they have to draw the line somewhere. Real looking bamboo at the entrance looks nice, but I'm sure costs alot more to fix then metal painted to look like bamboo. And finally, it comes down to individual Park's management decisions on what is and isn't important. I know that at PCW, IJ's speakers were maintained, and paint scratched off places is replaced as soon as possible.

I definitely doubt that the new owners would change too many things about any of the Parks' structures. Just think, they would have to find 5 new VP/GM's, etc for each Park. This isn't like Six Flags selling one Park to Cedar Fair, this is a whole chain being sold. If changes are to be made, they probably would only be one here and one there type of thing, and not a whole wipeout of current management. There just isn't enough people to do that. As well, it isn't like any of the Parks are failing miserably. Each is very successful currently under the current management. Changes right away could possibly ruin the Parks. PCW and PKI were both in the top for seasonal parks attendance.

For one, PKI is the only Park with a four day long opening weekend, and being Easter weekend, some days may not be as busy. Second, only two Parks that I can see have a Pass holders event: Canada's Wonderland and Kings Dominion. On PCW's grand opening weekend, they are only ever open for the Sunday to the public, while the Saturday is always reserved for various private bookings. So they have a Pass holder event in the evening on the Frida. PKD's is a week after they open on a Monday. I really don't think cost cutting has anything to do with it. Think about it, they are opening for four days. If they wanted to cut costs, it would make more sense to eliminate some of those days, just because obviously it is a holiday weekend.

All I know is that on the PCW ride, Psyclone, it has no locking device on the ground. The ride slows down and stops, while the hydraulics in the overhead motor hold the ride in place. No matter how hard you press on the ride, it stays in place. The floor on the PCW model has four hydraulic pumps (one on each corner) which are connected to the four legs of the ride. This lowers and raises the floor up and down, which means you can place all loose items on the floor, since you end up in the exact same spot. However, I read somewhere that PKI's Delirium may have a "splitting" floor. In other words, it will split in the middle, however, I don't know if t is true.

Really, it depends on how they will judge it. Although PKI's tower may be higher, PKD's actual DZ drop will be longer. It depends if they count the entire tower, or just the drop of the attraction.

I also saw Guiness 2003 and DZ at PKI is the "World's Tallest Gyro-Drop Ride". However, I don't think that the record was compared to PKD's New For 2003 DZ, because of the fact that it is not standing yet. It would just be like saying that an unbuilt coaster is the worlds tallest. There has to be some type of proof amd official measurement, so I think that PKI's DZ and PKD's DZ will be compared for the record for Guiness 2004.