CoastersRZ

But not the big major parks like Luna Park, etc.

I think the first weekend of November is about as late as you will see KI staying open for the foreseeable future. I doubt WinterFest makes a return anytime soon. While the event was extremely fun (I went a total of four times), and well put together, it was a disaster from the financial and attendance standpoint. However, I think that KI could extend the season slightly at the pre-season end of things. There are plenty of days in March when the weather is nice enough that they could have some good weekends in March. (Remember a few years back when the park would open for the second weekend in April? Lately they`ve been opening in Mid-April as opposed to early April). But that being said, March can still be a lion and you can get some downright cold and nasty days in March, days people won`t want to be outside, much less at an amusement park.

And don`t forget that Cincinnati`s Coney Island borrowed its name from the park in New York. In 1886, Parker`s Grove was renamed "Ohio Grove: The Coney Island of the West" and officially opened on June 21, 1886. The following season, the Ohio Grove name was dropped and the park was simply called "Coney Island". Its sad to see that Astroland is finally meeting its demise. Although I never visited the park, it seems as if it is a mere shadow of its former self when there were more parks operating at the location than just Astroland.

If only the spell checker worked too, right? And, the Flying Super Saturator was not totally unique. There was another Setpoint creation built up at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania.

The above image shows just how much real estate will be freed for future developments at Coney Island with the removal of the Zoom Flume. Remember, that pass holders get one more day to experience the Zoom Flume (and the rest of Sunlite Pool for the season) this Sunday, September 7 from 12-4pm!

No, I`d imagine that the ending dates for the shows are fairly accurate. I know from having visited KI for P&G days for numerous years, that there usually aren`t live shows on these private park events. Unfortunately, this will be the first time in fifteen plus years that I will not be going to KI for P&G day, and not because I don`t have access to tickets to the event. I will be down in Orlando spending five days at the happiest place on earth. Given the choice between KI and the happiest place on earth, I think I`d pick the latter of the two. Nobody does magic quite like Disney!

Keep in mind that while the crawler crane may be on the midway when they are assembling it, that does not mean that they will not move it off of the midway for weekend operation. There are several places where they could "park" it. Did anyone ride The Beast this weekend? Did you notice that tall fence that stood between the old exit pathway (now just a maintenance path, and the entrance area for the behind the scenes Diamondback and Beast tours on KIC day) and the Crypt had been partially removed and a gravel road put in? This is likely so that the crane can get to the paths back behind The Crypt without that sharp right turn that had existed right by the old Beast exit. Additionally, they could park the crane behind the antique photo building, as there are two very wide gates there, almost parallel with the lift for Diamondback.

What? Have you not experienced a Gravity Group creation yet? And the reason that Wooferbear said that they awards are bought and paid for is because I believe that the parks have to pay Amusement Today in order for the right to use the award that they have one in marketing material. Not to mention that it is nothing more than a popularity contest in which the selected judges vote on the categories based on the parks that they visit every year. It is open to the opinions of the judges (some of whom are coaster enthusiasts and not necessarily park enthusiasts).

Well, I think that Coney actually might have had more people in it on Monday then what Kings Island did. Crowds at Kings Island were on the light side on Monday. I was up at KI on Monday, and did not work at Coney. The reason I didn`t work was because I knew Monday was going to be the busiest day of the weekend for Coney crowd wise because of the AFL-CIO picnic. But, there were still decent crowds on both Saturday and Sunday. I should know, as I was the only rides employee who operated the rides ticket booth on Saturday and Sunday. When I wasn`t out in the ticket booth (or the pool cashier that gave me my break wasn`t out there) the ticket booth was closed. We were short staffed on Saturday and Sunday, and when we had enough people to operate the ticket booth, I was the only one with experience running it! But hey, I got to sit in air conditioning. I still would have rather worked a ride though. Glad to hear you had a fun time at Coney Island. After all, "Coney Has It."

Just to clarify some things. The footings (or foundations if you will) are made of concrete. The supports (footers as Firehawkboy called them), are placed on top of the footings. Not all of the footings have been placed yet. If you watch the animation of the ride, you will notice that the tree island`s by The Beast`s entrance/exit will be getting footings. They have not even begun to work on these footings. Other then those footings, I believe that all other footings are in place.

The new National City Pavilion does not sit on that much of Coney`s former land. In fact, Coney gave only .602 acres to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (the owners of Riverbend) for this new pavilion. The Zoom Flume is being removed, because it is 31 years old. As far as water slides go, that is a fairly old slide. Keep in mind that the slide opened in 1977, a full twelve years before Kings Island opened their own water park! Maintenance and upkeep of the ride was becoming an issue with the slide. But rest assured that there will be new ways to get wet at Coney in 2009. I don`t know about the speed slide in the middle of Sunlite being closed. I never really venture over to the pool area this year when it was open with people swimming in it.

Well, there is a proposed "Decades" themed park out in Arizona that is just in the early planning stages and organizing funding. Still a long road ahead for that park to even get approval.

Yes, the repainting of the ride began in 2001. I don`t believe it was completed though, by the time the season had ended in 2001. It was, however, completely repainted by the time the 2002 season opened.

The lift hill supports for Diamondback are beginning to grow, and the track for the splash down is now on site. See all the latest construction pictures for Diamondback from Labor day here. But here are some snippets from the photo update.

Well, there is still tomorrow (although there are BIG crowds expected tomorrow). The rides will be open four more days to the public after tomorrow though. Sept. 20, 21, 27, 28th the rides will operate from 12-6pm as part of the Fall O Ween Festival.

One of my favorite quotes comes from the legendary American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. "There is nothing more uncommon then common sense." If you loose an item on a ride, how hard is it to ask the ride ops for it/complete a lost item form? Granted, most of the major parks will tell you they can`t go get said articles until the park has closed for the evening (in fact The Crypt/TRTR used to say "we cannot retrieve lost articles until the end of the evening, if at all". Is a hat really worth getting injured or killed? Why do people think that they can enter restricted areas? Do they not realize that they are restricted areas for safety reasons? The stupidity of a select few of the general public is often amazing. Having worked at Coney, I have seen proof of that fact, unfortunately. Fortunately, however, most of them involved guests saying stupid things and not entering restricted areas of rides.

Have you ever seen the entire show in person? I personally think that it is a good show. Although, I`m also some what jaded having heard Coney`s live shows numerous times every single day I work at Coney. Coney`s shows, for obvious reasons, are not quite as good as any show at KI.

Remember, Coney is only officially open two more days to the general public. Today, Sunday the 31st of August and tomorrow the 1st of September. Today, Sunday is not expected to be very busy as there are no large picnics especially compared with the large picnics planned on Monday. Also note, that there are no live shows this weekend at Coney. Hours of operation for the rides are 11-8 on Sunday and 11-6 on Monday. Sunlite Pool is open 10-8 both today and Monday. Remember, that this is your last chance to experience the Zoom Flume before it meets the wrecking ball! Season pass holders will get one more chance to experience the Zoom Flume and Sunlite Pool for the season next Sunday, September 7th from 12-4pm.

FanofBeast, I have removed your signature once again, for the reasons The Interpreter has mentioned. You likely do not have permission to use that image as your signature. I`m sure as has been stated above, you would not like others using your work without first asking permission and then giving credit where credit is due.

Yep, I called you out Interpreter on the B&M and Millenium Force thing. It is amazing how many people will run. Even at Coney, we will have people run down the exit ramp at the Rock O Planes to get back in line, when the line is only about five minutes long. It is usually kids in the 8-18 range that run. But it is amazing how many of them don`t understand the concept of "Walk, don`t run please" when you shout at them as they parade down the exit ramp.

Well, if you don`t want to spend Sunday at KI, you can always spend it at Coney! Typically, the Sunday before Labor day is a slow day at Coney. Which is not true for Labor Day, when the AFL-CIO picnic is held at Coney!

So I have to ask, are the old Paramount movie plaques in the old Paramount story area going to be turned into the Walk of Fame? It would be a logical place for it. EDIT: It looks like RailRider beat me to the question. I wonder what other names were on that list of potential Walk of Fame choices. Now if only that Walk of Fame area could also feature a little museum with pictures/memoribilia from past attractions at the park, the park could claim that area to be another attraction, instead of just a secluded, not often visited area of the park.

I think KI will continue to utilize the WWC exit as a location for a haunt as opposed to using the actual trough of WWC. And keep in mind that the name of the CornSTALKERs scare zone originated at Kings Island, before the purchase by Cedar Fair. So its cool that they liked that theme enough to redo a haunt at Cedar Point with that same name!

Remember that this weekend is the LAST weekend to experience Sunlite Pool for this year. After this weekend, Sunlite Pool will be closed to the general public until Memorial Day weekend, 2009. Coney`s classic rides will operate this weekend, and the final two weekends in September for the Fall-O-Ween Festival. This is, however, the final time for Coney Island season pass holders to experience the rides with their 2008 season passes.

Have you ever wanted to experience working as a ride operator without putting in long hours for months and months in the summer? Have you ever wanted to work just weekends at an amusement park running the rides? Well, now is your chance! Coney Island`s rides department is very short staffed and needs a few extra bodies for the remaining eight operating days of the season. The remaining days of the season are Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of this weekend (August 30, 31st and September 1st) Saturday, September 6th and the last two weekends of September (20, 21, 27, and 28th). The hours are as follows: August 30: 10:30-9 August 31: 10:30-8 September 1: 10:30-6 September 6: 10:30-8 September 20, 21, 27, 28: 11:30-6 If you are interested in working at Coney for the last days of the operating season, please send me a PM for more details. (I am likely working seven of the remaining eight days the rides are open).