CoastersRZ

I thouroughly enjoyed Millenium Forze, with its non stop speed, and that first drop is incredible. I prefered MF over Top Thrill Dragster, simply because MF was longer (ie more bang for the long wait in line). Now Top Thrill was an incredible ride experience, being catapulted up to 120 mph, and up a 420` is something that one does not do everyday. So to each their own, but I foound both to be enjoyable.

Yep. They switched over in the late 80`s or early 90`s I believe. The trains still had the old buzzbars in 1987, as demonstrated in this 1987 image on RCDB of The Racer.

According to the press release, it is slated for a late 2006 debut. Probably right in time for either Fear Fest or Winterfest next fall. Which, as some rumors have stated is one of the reasons Winterfest is returning, to encourage guests to stay in the resort during the month of December.

I`ve never been on a ride like Delirium where the seats face inward. Personally, I like being able to look out on Delirium and see the Eiffel Tower from a wierd, semi-upside down angle.

Well from my experience at Coney, which is a lot smaller park, often times we would have to shut down a ride while we cleaned up a protein spill, which depending on the ride could take some time, since none of the rides have hoses. (Timt to get the pan and broom out). Othertimes some of the rides are closed (especially the last week in August when the rides are open, because we are so short staffed. In August last year I think we had twelve people in the rides department running rides. I was with another person running the Python and the Bobs. We would run the ride for a couple cycles then switch. We were so short staffed that day that our break people were the President and Vice President of operations! In most cases people do not need to know what is wrong with a ride if it is closed. A perfect example is the last seat on the Python at Coney, we are directed to not load people in the last row. People all the time would ask why, especially on busy days. If you have riden the coaster, you can understand why it is not loaded.

I thought that the Great Wolf Lodge was planning on opening in Late 2006.

I didn`t even know such a site existed. Interesting. You learn something new everyday!

Since they went to the three bench PTCs on The Beast, it has had the same trains. Although, they have been modified since then. Replacing the buzz bars with the individual lap bars, adding at first the headrests with three slits, then a solid headrest. The most recent changes include adding the seatbelts and the installation of the brake fin on the bottom of the trains.

Yes, the congestion on that midway is terrible, especially on busy days. People have a tendency to just stop in the middle of the path, not realizing that the people wallking behind them want to get through. Other than relocating the slingshot, I`m not sure if there is much the park can do to improve the circulation on that path. There really is not room to install bleachers because the back porch to Bubba Gump`s/ Lt. Dan`s bar is right there.

I`ve riden Days of Thunder, but that was because when I rode it on a P&G day at Kings Island, they had rented out the go karts and there were free unlimited rides on them all day. Also, I won two passes to ride Skyflyer from this site last Christmas. I have not had a chance to ride it yet, but I intend on doing so in a couple weeks (as a way to celebrate finishing another quarter of classes at UC).

What about Face Off. That is an inverted coaster. You would like to see a Vekoma inverted coaster?? OUCH! While I would love to see a B&M inverted coaster, I do not forsee PKI installing one in the near future. Which is ashame, because they are really fun rides, that the gp in Cincinnati would really enjoy. I do not agree with removing Top Gun. Yes, it may be short, but it is still a good coaster, and of an extinct breed. TG was the last Arrow Suspended coaster built. I just hope that PKI ADDS to their ride collection, instead of the recent mentality of removing older classic rides in exchange for new rides. When you have a lot of room, why not expand the size of the park a little, to increase capacity? While you would have to dish out more to employess, the guests will have more to see and do, and therefor stay longer in the park. But whatever they are doing, they are doing something right since they were the number 1 seasonal theme park last year!

Why remove Congo Falls? It is the only water ride on that side of the park. Additionally it has a rather good capacity. I don`t see them removing any of their upcharge attractions soon. My choice for a new ride would be on the old Flight Commander site. Simply because I really do not want to see more congestion in the already congested Action Zone. I don`t see what the big appeal of the Eurobungees are, especially paying $7 or $8 for them. That location would make a prime viewing location for an awesome flat ride, IMO. A nice large midway for people to watch the ride, withough obstructing the flow of traffic (like what happens by Slingshot).

Yes, there have been a lot of accidents at Disney parks the last couple of years. But look at how many millions of guests visit the Disney parks when compared to other seasonal parks.

You do have to get a new season pass card made. You can have it processed (made) as soon as you purchase the pass, which is when you will get your picture taken. In the past couple of seasons, they have offered free parking, as well as reduced prices, if you buy before the end of the operating season in October.

The thing that I don`t fully understand, which probably has to do with winter rehab, is why they are not opening up TR:TR since it is between the White Christmas Express and Swan Lake. It is not like that ride is ooutside, and they could dial down the water geysers that already barely get anyone wet. It might have to do with the fact that the theme of the ride wouldn`t fit in with the holiday themes of the rest of the attractions.

Well, it was still closed when I was there on Thursday evening. I never made it into the Action Zone, having riden The Vortex, TR:TR and The Beast twice at night.

Finally! I hope they have a smotth start up, after all the downtime it has had this season due to that one part.

Why do people post on here and not know what they are talking about. The Vortex is not sinking. Additionally, it opened in 1987, not 1984. 1984 was the year King Cobra opened.

Yes, I am sure they already have a spot for the cars, if in fact they are returning. They will most likely install new engines in the cars, and refurbish them so they run like new. I have a feeling that Nick Central/Hanna Barbera Land could see some pretty radical changes for next season. Hopefully they go the route they went in 2003, and add something for kids/families and something for the thrill seeker. Only time will tell what the park does.

Yes, Sob Tom made a good point. At those parks, they will stagger the off season rehab. Ever wonder why Vortex and Adventure Express go down to two train operation early in post season? They are probably getting a head start on the off season maintenance on the trains. Same reason why they may open with only two trains. They can`t physically get all the inspetions done, and rides rebuilt in three months. They can barely do it as is now, much less with Winterfest thrown in there.

I don`t think they could use it for a Fear Fest house simply because there is not a lot of room there. It is kind of shoehorned in between Wings, and the side of the hill by Swan Lake. The current location of the Backporch stage used to be where the path went down the hillside and across Swan lake and connected with the path by Paradise Island treats.

I would imagine that they will still install a new ride for next season. I wonder if you get a 2006 parking pass if that will be valid for Winterfest, or if you will still have to pay the $5 parking fee. One can hope that the parking fee will be used to plowing and salting the parking lot after a snow storm.

Hopefully, the park ordered two new parts, so that if it fails again in the future, they will have a replacement part ready to be installed, without the significant amount of downtime that it has had this summer. And as others have said, it probably was a part that was not supposed to fail, which is why Huss didn`t have any spares ready to be shipped to PKI.

And the fact that season pass sales start soon probably also had a lot to do with it. Now, the question that remains is what are they doing for the 2006 season. I would imagine there could be an anouncement in August about `06 to further drive season pass sales.

The Crand Carousel, The Hanna Barbera Carousel, Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle with a Christmas theme, and the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad will be operating as the White Christmas Express. Those are the only rides that I have heard mentioned