CoastersRZ

I wouldn`t look for anything big in 2011 at Coney. Remember, that Coney did install a multi-million water slide in 2009. But you never know what Coney may have planned for next year. After all, it is their 125th anniversary season. Only time will tell...\ And Coney`s classic rides are only open for one more weekend! I know at least two KIC members ventured out in the cold today to swing by Coney. (They saw me, and I even took one of them on an intense Rock O Planes ride!)

The CEO of Great Wolf Lodge filmed a segment of the CBS show at the Kings Island resort. It is set to air this Sunday. Read more from Cincinnati.com here: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2010/09/29/undercover-boss-here-again-on-sunday-show/

Keep in mind that Coney is still around, and still has rides. Albeit, no major coasters like Kings Island has. And there are two weekends left for Coney`s rides this year. The next two weekends, the rides are open from 12-6 as part of the Fall O Ween festival. After that, the rides will be closed until Memorial Day weekend 2011, when Coney opens for its 125 anniversary season!

If I had to guess, based on this year`s perks and previous years perks, there will likely be some sort of ERT. (The last two years it has been Diamondback and The Beast almost every single day the park has been open). And Haunt will likely be included as well. The official list of 2011 Gold Pass Perks likely won`t be released until sometime in March. And remember that Platinum Passes are also valid for Gold Pass Perks (although I believe that KI is not currently yet selling 2011 Platinum Passes, at least according to their website).

I wouldn`t know. The one and only time I`ve visited Kings Dominion was way back in 2000, before Drop Tower was even installed. I hope to get out to Kings Dominion again sometime soon, I`m just not sure when.

One reason that Kings Dominion`s Drop Tower may seem like it has more capacity than Kings Island`s is because it likely does. Kings Island`s only holds forty riders at a time. By comparison, I believe that Kings Dominions holds 56 riders at a time. Which means, that after three cycles on each, KI`s has had 120 riders, while KDs has had 168. Which is the equivalent of MORE than FOUR cycles on KIs. (That was also the premis behind HUSS making their Giant rides. More riders per ride cycle means better capacity and shorter lines, in theory. Of course operations and uptime also factors into, as we know all too well from The Crypt).

I actually saw quite a few people dressed up as werewolves when I went through Wolf Pack. And I went through it two times tonight.

I`m glad to see the water effect on Hot Blooded has returned yet again this season. One word of advice if you are going through Wolf Pack, its best to wait until it is fully dark to get the true experience. When I went through the first time, you could see ahead which ruined some of the surprises due to the daylight spilling in still. And yes, Flight Deck is still open, even with both Club Blood and Wolf Pack`s line starting just past the end of the bridge. There is a nice surprise in the woods if you ride The Beast. I won`t divulge what. But it was most unexpected. And there is a nice little memorial by The Beast`s exit.

I agree. However, I am a little surprised that they are not open on Halloween evening. If ever there was a night that would seem like it could draw crowds, it would be October 31st (a Sunday this year). But then again, the weather in Cincinnati in October can be a crap shoot. Last year it was really rainy. This year September has been really dry and hot (we set a record high temperature today, eclipsing one set in 1970!

Or the failed attempt to have Haunt on Thursday nights last year (or on Sunday nights). Remember, when the schedule for this year was originally announced, they intended to have Haunt on some Thursdays and Sundays this season. Look what quietly disappeared.

If I had to guess, I would say that this move results in lower salaries for those affected, but likely much of the same responibilities.

Sounds like some solid investments. And hopefully, the Timberliners will be rolling next year as well!

Typically on Fridays, the park doesn`t even open up the gates until 7pm when the wall of monsters attack. So naturally there is no ERT on Fridays as the gates aren`t even open prior to 7.

There might be other mods besides Dane and Ryan? What about me? We are well aware of the things that need updating. But those things require time. Dane is the one that does much of the actual work to update the site, even if it is a matter of copying over content that myself or Ryan has written. And yes, things are relatively busy. I personally am working two jobs, soon to be one, and when I have free time, updating KIC is not among my list of top priorities.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100919/NEWS01/9200304/Getaway-grew-into-Coney-Island

The thing I find most striking about Cedar Point`s HalloWeekends, is the lack of clear signage for their haunts. Unlike at KI where they have the neon skull signs demarcating the haunts, some of Cedar Points are not clearly marked where the entrances are. It also seemed like there was less blood than at KI`s. But I only did the scare zone in Frontier Town. The other surprising thing is the cost of Cedar Point only season passes for next year. Online they are listed at $99.99! That is $30 cheaper than at KI! (And the price listed on the signage at the season pass center at CP and by the front gates was around $112 for a Cedar Point only pass!) Talk about a big price differential! Maybe that is why Cedar Point has typically seen their pass holders make up a smaller percentage of their attendance than at KI. The other surprising thing was that drinks at Cedar Point (from the vending machines) were CHEAPER than at KI. You could get a 20oz Pepsi from Cedar Point for $3! At KI, that same size drink (in Coca-Cola of course) would set you back $3.75!! That just doesn`t make sense to me.

I agree. The mobile version of the forums is slot more user friendly than the old one. Two thumbs up!

It should be noted that this ride is designed by Funtime, the same company that attempted to Cedar Fair. Note that the WindSeeker rides are designed by Mondial, and have a higher listed altitude. Although, I`m still interested to know if the 301 foot height is the actual height of the tower, or the highest elevation that the actual swings will reach. There is a difference. Drop Tower stands 315 feet high, but you only drop from a height of 264 feet.

Remember that 1) Kings Island is NOT open this weekend (P&G has rented out the park both days this weekend, and the general public and pass holders are not able to visit the park.). 2) That deal was specific for the GE company buyout day at Kings Island. The current Gold Pass deal of $69.99 is the best deal you are going to get, unless you are attending one of those company buyout days. This is not a new process either, as KI has offered discounted pass prices on P&G day in past years as well. But you have to have the ticket to get into P&G day.

Speaking of very interesting Qs, have we heard anything out of Q lately?

While they may have claimed that Carowinds was the flagship park, with the exception of Afterburn, what major signature attraction did Paramount add to Carowinds during their tenure? Although, its safe to say that the market down in the Carolinas isn`t quite as competitive as it is in Cincinnati.

And it should be noted that the final years under the Paramount Parks banner, they were finally becoming comfortable with not having the Paramount`s name plastered in front of every mention of Kings Island. And Paramount Communications bought the parks in July of 1992. I believe that Viacom bought Paramount at some point in 1993. That is the connection that allowed the Nickelodeon licensing in the parks. At the end of 2005, Viacom itself split into two companies, one consisting of higher growth properties and one consisting of the lower growth properties, like the Paramount Parks chain. CBS was the low growth company which Paramount Parks was situated in during the 2006 season. That was a dark year for Kings Island, as price cuts were apparent to the casual guest. CBS was in no way interested in running the parks and was trying to improve the bottom line performance of the parks to make them more attractive for a potential buyer. **EDIT** Looks like I was beat with some information. However, Backlot still has its fire effects working, and there is still water in the splashdown, although the sprayers are no longer present.

Very true. Some of the shows, particularly the Motown review, which I didn`t see this year, obviously aren`t targeted to the teenagers exclusively. Same goes for Way Too Much TV in the Festhaus, given when most of the shows were aired . Gilligan`s Island anyone? Bewitched? The Andy Griffith Show? I agree, that certain parks, even Dollywood, have a much different target market for their live show offerings than seasonal parks like Kings Island and Cedar Point. They also have much different budgets to work with on their live entertainment offerings.

I wouldn`t say that Cedar Fair is ONLY marketing to small children and teenagers. Why do I say this? Look at the number of live shows that Kings Island had this year. TWO shows in the Feshaus. Under the later years of Paramount, there were ZERO shows in the Festhaus and in the Showplace Theater. Cedar Fair has brought some of the liver entertainment back, that attracts the family demographic, as well as grandparents that are not into all the roller coasters and rides.

That is a great song! I too am sad to see September creeping to a close. It means another summer season is coming to a close, and that I`m putting to rest yet another season at wonderful Coney Island (I`m ending my ninth season there). It also means that it soon will be November and that Kings Island will be closed for several months. The one main difference for me this year compared to last year at this time, is that this year I have a full time job, and am not looking for another part time position in a totally unrelated field from my college degrees. And rest assured, I will be back at Coney for a tenth season. Why not? I do hope to make it down to Dollywood sometime in December though, if all goes well.