CoastersRZ

And Coney actually ran into legal trouble way back in the day over their games of skill and reported gambling issues. It still amazes me how much money people will plunk down on these games and not even think twice about doing so.

Cedar Point`s ride operators are all 18 years or older. A few years back it was discussed whether to make it a law for ride ops to be 18 in the state of Ohio. I can see both sides of the coin on that one. 18 year olds are generally more mature and therefore more responsible, especially when being intrusted to operate heavy machinery, which is what amusement park rides really are. At the same time, if the age were to be raised to 18, some parks like Kings Island and Coney Island would have a hard time filling all of their available positions. I`d say that about half of the rides department at Coney was comprised of minors (16-17 year olds) and that half was comprised of people 18+.

Yeah, its funny how Dollywood is not often classified as a seasonal park. I guess that is because they are open a lot longer than most seasonal parks are (end of March through early January). Its the Christmas season that pushes them beyond most of the regional seasonal parks.

I too started working at Coney when I was 17! Back then, Coney also had a bonus based on the number of hours worked, and continued employment through the post season. Unfortunately, that was a casualty of the increased minimum wage in Ohio. On the subject of employee retention rate, Coney`s ride department is typically made up of about 130 people. This year, of the 130 employees, about 100 of them were returning workers and only 30 or so people were new hires! The number of new hires increased as the season went along and some of the returners had to return to college. And even still, staffing was a struggle for the Fall O Ween Festival. (We had managers running rides, and giving breaks to ride operators. I did breaks at Wheel, coaster and Scrambler this past weekend.) Coney also issues free passes to its seasonal employees. Each employee is entitled to two free passes after each 150 hours worked. In years past, Coney has also had a family day, where up to four family members could visit the park on family day for free, although I`m not certain if there was a family day this year. Another interesting thing to note, and this not only applied to Coney, but to Kings Island as well, Ohio`s minimum wage is going up effective January 1st, 2010. It will increase from the current $7.30 an hour to $7.40 an hour.

I also got to keep my KI Platinum Pass when I renewed my pass for 2011.

And for me, my pass flashes 11, followed by the number of visits, because my Platinum pass has actually been renewed to a 2011 KI Platinum Pass. I`m not even certain if KI is selling Platinum passes at the park this year yet. I know they aren`t listed online as being on sale yet. And as an aside, you can renew your Gold Pass on KI`s website (and keep the same card) without getting a new card or picture taken. The site claims that it automatically will renew your pass after you enter your pass`s 20 digit number.

I agree. I`d prefer not to have my hands dried off with something that a kid just got done putting his paws all over (even if he did just wash his hands). I`m still kind of surprised that KI hasn`t implemented either the Xcelerator dryers or the Dyson things in all the restrooms to save on paper towel expenses.

Well, seeing as how I was one year old when the time capsule was put in place, I haven`t the foggiest clue. I would imagine at the very least a park map from the 1986 season, but beyond that I have no idea. I do know that the current President of Coney (Vic Nolting) was also the president of the park back in 1986 (his first year with Coney was 1984). I actually had a nice conversation with Vic a couple minutes before the rides closed on Sunday. He is a really nice guy if anyone has had the pleasure to talk with him before. I will be there when the time capsule is unveiled. And rest assured I will keep everyone updated on any other special activities planned for the 125th anniversary.

They clearly weren`t abiding by the Four Corner Stones that Cedar Fair has. Namely the courtesy and service cornerstones. Ans on the subject of cleanliness, several of KI`s restrooms could use a sprucing up. It seems as if many of them haven`t received new finishes or fixtures in several years (or decades). And I`m still not a big fan of those Dyson dryer contraptions. Give me the high speed dryers that Coney Island uses in their restrooms and I`d be much happier.

That is very true. 125 years is quite an impressive feat. Especially since Coney survived the opening of Kings Island in 1972! I still can`t believe that next year will be my tenth with the park. My how time flies! It seems like just yesterday I started working there for the first season.

Yes, it is a lot harder to find me, when I`m not working a ride. But I really enjoy being a rides manager too. Although, I did work the Ferris Wheel for thirty minutes and the Scrambler for thirty minutes yesterday as we were short handed on break people. I`m glad you had fun (I was looking for you, but never saw you). I too will likely be taking the 21st of June off next year. I`m sure I`ll know more information as the date approaches. And yes, I intend to work at Coney on the weekends again next summer (it will be year number ten at Coney for me).

Yesterday marked the successful conclusion of the Fall O Ween Festival at Coney Island. As such, yesterday was the last official day that Coney`s rides were open for the season. Sunlite Pool and Coney`s classic rides re-open on Memorial Day weekend, 2011. 2011 marks the 125th birthday for Coney Island. For those interested in commemerating the historic milestone, Coney is selling commemorative bricks that will be placed around Sunlite Pool. Anyone who purchases a brick will receive two tickets to a private party at Sunlite Pool on the evening of Friday, May 27th. For more information on this visit Coney`s website here: http://coneyislandpark.com/upcoming_events.php?nID=21. The official birthday for Cony is June 21st, 1886. As such, the 100th anniversary time capsule that was placed in front of Moonlite gardens (as seen in this picture), will be uncovered.

As always, the best source of information on matters such as these is to call the park and verify it with the park itself, rather than hopefully getting accurate information on here. However, I will offer my two cents on the subject. You should be able to process your pass with the paperwork next spring. Just be prepared for long lines. In the last few years, they have had season pass processing open a week or two before the park opened to allow people to process their passes prior to the park opening. Not sure if that will continue in 2011 or not. With your second question, again that is a policy that is dependant on KI. Calling them would likely yield the most direct and clear answer. Worst case scenario, is they would make you pay, but then you could take your parking receipt to guest relations and they would likely re-imburse your parking fee. I hope that information helps.

Well I worked as rides manager at a VERY busy Coney, and the when up to Kings Island with some security people from Coney. I knew it would be crowded at KI, and expected that.. Wait times were not that bad. The longest line we waited in was Diamondback, at about an hour. I did notice that they had rides employees scanning passes/tickets at the front gate tonight. Well, I need to be off to bed soon here, I am rides manager at Coney tomorrow, the last official day that all the rides are open for the 2010 season!

The Crypt has been down for several weeks, maybe even a month or so. Not sure the reason why (waiting for another part from Germany perhaps?) There was a decent crowd on hand for a Friday. I suspect the weather had something to do with it. I was hanging out with some of my fellow Coney rides managers tonight. They thought I was a celebrity because of all the people that knew me by name (thanks to The Beast crew, and a few Haunt people that I know in the mazes that called me out by name (and even mentioned Coney)).

Which is also election day! And for me, I have an early morning dentist appointment before heading into the office that day. What fun! At least its just a routine checkup.

I still have not made it out to Great Adventure. In fact, the only Six Flags park I have been to (while it was Six Flags) is no longer even an amusement park. I hope to go on a nice vacation next year and finally hit up Great Adventure. Especially now that I have a full time job and get two weeks of vacation time!

And the tradition of nightly fireworks at Kings Island actually predates the park. It was a tradition that began back at Coney Island. In fact, one of the first places that the Rozzi`s started launching fireworks was at Coney Island!

Good to hear. As it is the final weekend the rides are open, staffing is looking a little problematic for this weekend (just like it was last weekend). Oh the joys of being a rides manager and trying to schedule people when there are homecoming dances, etc! Last weekend, we were so short for breaks the both days the rides managers were running rides, and on Saturday, the full time ops managers even helped out with breaks. I`ll be at Coney both days this weekend! Don`t forget to check out the free hayrides back behind Tilt A Whirl, as well as the Pumpkin Sling Shot. $3 to launch a pumpkin, but you could win a 2011 ticket for the pool or rides next year (an $11.95 value). The rides are open 12-6pm both days. The weather looks to be nearly ideal. (A lot better than the cold temps from last weekend).

I`m not certain of all the legal implications, but I know that because Cedar Fair is a limited partnership, there are some tax implications of owning units. As a result, it is my understanding that this distribution, for now, is intended to help offset the tax burden on unit holders. If you read the Toledo Blade article, there are comments that inidicate unit holders are upset about current management, and feel that they are out of touch with the unit holders best interests.

Those projections of growing revenue and EBITDA of 10% in the next four years (by 2015) seems like a very hopeful projection. I still maintain that they will need to re-evaluate the in park food pricing (not to mention quality) if they hope to attract increased spending from the larger season pass and group sales contigent. (Reasonable discounts for pass holders would be nice to, like a straight 10% discount that Coney gives its pass holders). How many people either leave the park to eat, or simply wait until after their stay at the park to eat? How much missed revenue is that? All because they are hoping to achieve a higher margin on a unit basis? And the other thing is that pricing is NOT consistent across parks. Granted CP and KI both serve different soft drink brands, one park was charging $3 for a 20 oz soft drink, while the other was charging $3.75 this year. That is a pretty big price deviation. How many more soft drinks would be sold at KI if the price was $3 compared to the current $3.75? Yes, it will be interesting to see what happens in the coming years, thats for certain. It will also be interesting to see if they do build hotels at any of the former Paramount Parks. I would think that this would be a way for them to gain more revenue, and if they incorporate indoor water parks into the new facilities, attract more revenue in the typically cash flow negative winter months. Obviously the Cincinnati market would not be ideal for such an indoor water park resort with the neighboring GWL so close to the park. But a hotel could help out the bottom line.

What makes this even odder, is that it is about a month before they normally have a quarterly conference call. Could this relate to the upcoming quarter`s performance? Only time will tell, and hopefully some Qs are answered. It shall be interested to see what, if anything, they release tomorrow.

Well, to chime in on the subject of the International Restaurant. One big challenge is that to re-open it as a restaurant would require some work, to bring it up to the current ADA standards. The biggest problem is that the elevator is not readily accessible from a public area, so it would require some substantial upgrades. Not to say that the park can`t (or even hasn`t) thought about doing those upgrades. Even Moonlite Gardens has had an elevator added to service the upper level.

Thanks Shaggy for all that wonderful information about the Eiffel Tower and design of International Street! I always love reading your posts. The bit you posted about Charlie Flack from Coney has me intrigued now. There was a Coney veteran who had a son that worked/works at Kings Island. I seem to recall this Coney veteran died around September of last year. The name escaped me now, but the tidbit about Coney piqued my brain about it. Now I`ll be going nuts trying to remember the name.

Not meaning to nitpick the little details, but isn`t it a little late for Gold and Platinum Pass holders to bring a guest for just $19.99 on October 3rd, seeing as how the park is already closed today? Just saying. And to quote the saying architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe often quipped, "God is in the details."