CoastersRZ

Remember, things are always slower in the offseason anyway. There are no trip reports from Kings Island or various other amusement parks. And since Kings Island isn`t installing a multi-million dollar attraction next year, there is no central buzz to concentrate talks during the offseason. Ie, no "webcam updates" with the latest progress on Diamondback, etc.

No. I am perfectly fine with Diamondback being a B&M coaster. Diamondback`s layout looks like a lot more fun and airtime filled than what Intimidator 305`s will deliver. That being said, I can`t really judge that ride until I hopefully ride it in 2010.

And Hamilton County may also be considering a similar tax on Cincinnati Reds and Bengals tickets. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2009111...es+for+stadiums See particularly the section towards the end that talks about "Riverfront taxes."

Well, as far as the season pass price goes consider this. Coney Island is selling season passes now through Christmas for $79.95 as well. And that includes free parking, and a 10% discount on food and merchandise purchases the entire year, as well as a couple of season pass holder private parties at Sunlite Pool.

From what I`ve read, this rehab is not as extensive as originally planned, or as elaborate as what Space Mountain at Disneyland received a few years back. That is unfortunate, as I really enjoy Space Mountain at WDW.

Well, the City of Mason`s excuse is this. All those people that visit Kings Island are utilizing the services (road, fire and police services) that Mason provides. Most people who visit KI are not residents of the city of Mason and therefore do not pay taxes for those services. The city of Mason is trying to say that all those visitors to KI are getting a free ride and it is placing an undue burden on the system for those that do pay taxes for the systems. However, when it comes to roads I do have a few major objections. Most, not all visitors reach the park from the south (and all the abundant hotels located down at Fields Ertel Road). Once they exit the interstate they are on Kings Island Drive, which I believe is maintained by Warren County/Ohio Department of Transportation and not the city of Mason. However, I do believe the street lights that were added along KI Drive were installed, paid for and maintained by the city of Mason. But as far as upkeep on KI drive, I believe that ODOT in conjunction with some TARP funds are paying to repave KI drive, not the city of Mason. I agree that it is pretty unfair to charge KI (and in turn its customers) a tax that they do not receive any solid benefit from. Why would the city of Mason want to tick off a large business within its limits by imposing what could be considered a very targeted tax? I mean they already collect an income tax from the employees who work at Kings Island, even if they live outside of the city limits (just like the City of Cincinnati collected income tax out of my paycheck from Coney and I don`t live in the city. Although that was slightly frustrating in its own right because whenever I worked the Rock O Planes I wasn`t even in the city of Cincinnati). As an aside, I believe that the city of Cincinnati has a "performance tax" that they charge to bands and athletes that play within the city. Seems like that tax and the proposed Mason tax are trying to generate some revenue in ways that do not add additional expenses to the local tax base, but instead impose burdens on those that visit the city and help enhance the city`s economy through tourism. EDIT: In addition to the 3% admission tax, the city of Mason wants to impose a 5% tax on the "parking, housing or storage of motor vehicles in a lot, building or other facility used for parking, housing or otherwise storing motor vehicles.” Seems to be like the city of Mason is trying to nickle and dime Kings Island and the Beach. And one of the advocates for these taxes says that it would generate millions for the city. Do these two venues really place that much of a strain on the police and fire departments? I know times are tough, but I think the city of Mason is doing a pretty good job at angering two of its biggest assets and tourist draws. It just speaks of stupidity.

But as you stated, that is assuming that figure is accurate. And I doubt Gravity Group will vouch for the authenticity of the price listed in that article for that very reason.

Could it also be that Holiday World received some form of discount from the Gravity Group because Holiday World let them test out an early prototype version of the Timberliner trains last winter?

Yes, the press release (and conference call) stated the parks that were not receiving Snoopy rethemes would be getting the Starlight Experience. That being said, two of the parks that are getting Snoopy rethemes are also installing major new thrill rides for next season as well. So could KI get a Starlight Experience next year? Sure. Will they? I doubt it, but never say never.

No Small World? If ever there were a classic ride! Although that darn song can get stuck in your head for weeks after a ride on it!

Right. But I stand by my statement that given the right price point, a Winterfest event at KI still could be a revenue maker for the park during a normal off time of the year. But having a winter event also can distract the park from its core business of generating revenue in the summer and fall months. Personally, I would love to see Winterfest return once again to KI as I have fond memories of going through the end of the `80s and the early 90s. But realistically, I doubt that we ever see a winter event at KI ever again.

I still believe that part of the problem with the Winterfest events in 2005 was NOT the quality of the event. Instead, it was the price point that they were asking people to pay to attend the event. Yes, the events were really well put together. But charging $25 for admission was a little steep. I think they wanted around $18 for pass holders to get in, and pass holders had to pay for parking as well (even if their pass had free parking). That price of admission was rather high, in my opinion. Especially since they needed to build the fan base for this event. Look at the numerous Six Flags parks that have introduced Holiday In the Park events. Clearly there is some money in having winter events. And from everything I`ve heard, the original Winterfest made tons of money in its heyday. So clearly it works, just the model that Paramount Parks used in 2005 was flawed.

Hmm. That is odd. I`d say check back in a day or two to see if the Platinum Passes are online then. If not, and you are really interested in purchasing your 2010 KI Platinum Passes now, you might want to call the park.

That is a truly incredible ride! Have fun Ryan!

Ok. The original Winterfest (which ran from 1982 through 1992) was widely popular and from all accounts I`ve heard was also profitable. Paramount decided to discontinue it after the 1992 season so that they could extend the post season of the park through the entire month of October (back then, they only used to be open the first few weekends in October). Then in 2005, Winterfest was brought back. The idea sounded great on paper. However, there were some flaws when they brought it back. They now had competition across the street with The Beach`s HolidayFest. There, the Beach allowed passholders in for free, and admission was relatively inexpensive. At Kings Island, guests had to pay nearly double what it cost to get into HolidayFest, and pass holders also had to pay a fee to get in. However, Santa`s Toy Factory in the then Paramount Theater was awesome. The parade was also very well done, just like the Nickelodeon Celebration Parade was. And the train ride featured live entertainment that made the train ride fun and entertaining. I went several times to Winterfest back in 2005. But crowds were very light with this reincarnated tradition. Remember, there was a lot more competition this time around than before. I do not see Cedar Fair bringing Winterfest back anytime soon. For one, they are not in the best financial position to be gambling on bringing an event back that was not really successful in 2005. Secondly, they are focused on continuing to improve Halloween Haunt. Back in 2005, there were several odd weekends when all the Haunt stuff was out, but Christmas decorations had begun to appear throughout the park. In short, don`t look for Winterfest to come back again anytime soon. You`ll have to enjoy The Beach`s or the Cincinnati Zoo`s winter events instead. (Or venture down to Dollywood for Smoky Mountain Christmas).

Well, I ended up with 33 at Kings Island. Also made 1 day visits to Carowinds and Dollywood, and two days at Cedar Point. I have no idea how many times I was at Coney this summer working. If I had to guess, I`d say that I worked about 75 plus days at Coney this year. I worked a grand total of 715.75 hours at Coney this summer, the most out of anyone in the rides department!

I have just the answer you are looking for. Steven Schaefer Associates, Inc., which is a Cincinnati based structural engineering, designed Drop Zone`s foundation. The foundations contains a 700 cubic yard concrete pile cap. The pile cap is supported by 16 H piles that are driven 90 feet deep to bedrock.

UPDATE: Cincinnati Zoo fetes 1 millionth Visitor. Read the article from the Cincinanti Enquirer here. The article mentions that the zoo may also be able to surpass its all time attendance record, set back in 1997 at 1.32 million visitors.

Good old Firelight Park! I believe that was the name of it. Its been years and years since I read it.

I think you mean Great Coasters International. And I wholeheartedly agree, if a wooden coaster came our way then GCI would definitely be wonderful. Yep. I meant to say GCI. It happens to the best of us. Just ask Interpreter about that blue B&M coaster at Cedar Point !

Yep. Carowinds opens earlier than Kings Island. And like was stated, this ride is on the edge of the parking lot which makes access to the ride a lot easier. Another thing that aides in the speed of construction, is the fact that the ride is being built on level land. I can`t wait to use my 2010 Platinum pass and get down to Carowinds to ride Intimidator and see how it compares to Diamondback.

And believe it or not, the Cincinnati Zoo at one point in time did have a wooden kiddy coaster that has long since been removed. Additionally, the Cincinnati Zoo had a Philadelphia Toboggan Company hand carved carousel. They installed it in 1918, which actually predates the PTC Carousel that was installed at Coney (and is now at Kings Island) in 1926. PTC #45 remained in operation at the zoo until 1975. From there, it went to Great America in California. It was placed in storage in 1995 and eventually made its way to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. It reopened at that zoo in 2006. I thought some of you would enjoy that little bit of history from the resident KIC historian. Its been several years since I`ve been to the Cincinnati Zoo. It is a world class facility (and the second oldest zoo in the country). Additionally, the new Historic Vine Street Village entrance to the zoo was recently received a LEED Platinum rating by the United States Green Building Council. (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The Cincinnati Zoo is the second zoo in the country to have a LEED Platinum building. It is also the only zoo to have multiple LEED buildings. And finally, this LEED project is the first Platinum rated project to be built in the City of Cincinnati. Read more from the Cincinnati Enquirer.

I agree. I am not a fan of Maverick. I rode it in 2007 and again this summer, I am just not a fan and do not understand why people think so highly of the ride. I too would love to see a B&M invert coaster eventually make its way to Kings Island. One of my favorite rides is Afterburn down at Carowinds in Charlotte, NC. I think that a B&M invert would be a huge hit at KI, much like Diamondback has been a huge hit. And since it is a B&M, capacity is excellent. If Kings Island ever decided to build another wooden coaster, I would hope that they would continue the recent trend within Cedar Fair, and go with the Gravity Group. Thunderhead at Dollywood is amazing!

Back in November, I had a guest lecturer in my Introduction to Programming class in UC`s Master of Architecture program at DAAP. The guest lecturers (there were three of them) came from Jack Rouse Associates. They spent two and a half hours detailing the design of the Ferrari theme park, and how they worked with the client to develop the brand image for the park, since Ferrari typically hasn`t done any marketing or brand building like they are doing with this park. It was one awesome lecture!

Believe it or not, that has been an idea that has been kicked around for several years.