CoastersRZ

The big difference between this event and the reincarnation of the event that KI had back in 2005, is that this even is FREE for Gold and Platinum pass holders. Back in 2005, KI pass holders had to pay around $20 a person to enter, and by the way, they also had to pay for parking. Which is partly why the KI event (and the Carowinds version), was more like an empty wonderland. This was mentioned on one of the last conference calls Cedar Fair had as a way to extend the season and generate additional revenue outside the typical park operating season. Hopefully this "test" goes well, and we see this rolled out to other parks in the chain. Obviously, some parks, KI included, would struggle with weather issues once you get into October. Personally, I would love to see KI`s Winterfest return for a third version. I have my fingers crossed, but it may never happen again. Only time will tell.

Except Drop Tower and WindSeeker are singular towers. A coaster that is 300 feet tall has a bigger dominance on the skyline. Yes, there is a former GCI ride down in Tampa. However, it didn`t exactly have the best reputation or upkeep, in my opinion.

For Sea World, it helps that their new CEO, Joel Manby, is the former CEO of Herschend. I am sure he had some contact with B&M when they installed Wild Eagle at their joint venture property with Dolly Parton. I have yet to ride Fury 325, but Leviathon was a fun ride. And a vastly different ride experience than Behemoth. I would enjoy the ride at KI if they went with a B&M that was 300+ feet high. However, that would rival the height of the park`s Eiffel Tower. I don`t know how I feel about that.

I would not look for a new roller coaster for 2017. Why? Diamondback was installed in 2009. Banshee was installed in 2014. If that trend continues, I would look for 2019 to be the year of the next major coaster install (with only minimal improvements in 2018 as they prepare for 2019). But that is just a trend, and history doesn`t always repeat.

I still maintain a collection of flat rides would be a wonderful install at KI. There are ample opportunities to add them to. The former Salt Water Circus site (behind the Eiffel Tower and International Showplace Theater), the old Flight Commander site, next to Flight of Fear at X-Base, and along the path across from the Rivertown restrooms. Lots of room that could help balance the ride selection. There are some fun and thrilling flat rides that I have been on, that KI is sorely lacking. A ride like Tilt A Whirl, while a carnival staple, would be a nice, fun addition. And if only they could find a Whip ride to relocate to Kings Island. The Whip at Dorney Park is an amazing creation! I didn`t particularly care for the one at Hersheypark or Kennywood. While flat rides are not high capacity rides, if two or three of them were added, it could increase the overall park capacity.

I still do not like the fact that Kennywood was sold. It is owned by Parques Reunidos. They seemed to have maintained much of this beloved amusement park. For now, anyway. Still wish that it had stayed a family owned park.

It likely is a reference to the number the post card was in the series.

Update on this: http://www.latimes.com/travel/themeparks/la-trb-cedar-fair-flat-rides-20160206-story.html Looks like Carowinds is going to get a big collection of flat rides, and Worlds of Fun. Too bad they didn`t find one or two to send Kings Island`s way. And the Troika ride pictures in that article is none other than Kings Island`s recently refurbished Shake, Rattle and Roll.

I have been wanting to get down to Carowinds again to check out Fury 325. Not sure if it will happen this year or not. My slate this year looks booked with trips to Cedar Point, KI, hopefully Kentucky Kingdom, and a trip out to Vegas and Disneyland (a week after my one year wedding anniversary, which is where we honeymooned at last year).

The brake shed, prior to the switch to the current braking system was a block brake. A train could be stopped there, if a train did not clear lift two. When they converted to the pneumatic brakes in the station, and the magnetic trims, the block was removed from the brake run and replaced only with magnetic brakes. Therefore, a train cannot be stopped in the brake shed in the event of a ride shut down or power failure. So now, a train on lift one has to wait for the train on lift two to clear the lift before it can leave lift one. Under the old configuration, the train could leave lift one, as long as the previous train had cleared the brake shed. (In the event of a power failure, or ride shut down, if the train hadn`t cleared lift two, it would stop the train in the brake shed).

So the question is, will there be a new bridge over the train tracks? Or will there be crossing gates at the tracks?

They used to have a "Busytown Grille." It is now known as the Planet Snoopy Grill. It is right next to the stand that serves blue ice cream. The restrooms that are located right near the Grill are near where the blue elephant fountain used to sit. I have many childhood memories of watching that elephant shoot water out of its trunk. That elephant now resides at Jungle Jims in Fairfield.

I love your disclaimer line. My wife`s rubbing off on me, with her legal talk.

That is a good bit of advice. You have to be 16 to work in rides at Coney. And Coney now only hires 16 and older. Back when I started they would hire 15 year olds in the picnic grove. But that is now a thing of the past.

Yes. They just have not offered reliable products. We still have Premier rides adding new steel coasters to parks. Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain is an incredibly fun ride. I love B&M rides for their smoothness, and am glad that KI finally has some B&M coasters. However, it would be nice to see more innovative rides being built at Cedar Fair parks.

I would have to do some digging on the Halley`s Comet. I believe when Coney Mall was extended in 1975, Halley`s Comet was moved more towards where Flight Commander used to reside/where the entrance to Dinosaur`s Alive is at. Flying Eagles was located on the current site of the 3-Point Challenge, which is next to Juke Box Diner.

I think a wild mouse coaster would be a good fit for KI. The capacity on them is not that great though. I doubt we will see an Intamin anything at KI. The last Intamin built in the United States was Skyrush at Hershey Park, and that was back in 2012! So this is the fourth season without a new Intamin installation at a park in the US.

You never could get those delicious waffle fries on a Sunday at Cedar Point. Now you can`t get them the other six days of the week either... Just pointing out the obvious.

Sell the park? I`d imagine that would be difficult given the current lease.

They are pouring a bunch of money into the new coaster for this year. Hopefully it lasts to see it opened to the public.

And that building once housed Skyline Chili footlong coney stand prior to featuring the funnel cakes.

I have been working seasonally at Coney now for 15 seasons (including this upcoming season). I love my job. It sure beats my 8-5 desk job any day of the week. I haven`t yet found that full time position in the industry yet...

Which if it is like Leviathon, I would be all for a B&M Giga at Kings Island. I haven`t had a chance to check out Fury 325 yet, though. I have heard good things about that ride too.

And I read a comment on another board that there were issues with the building that CFA was in, and there was a disagreement over the revenue split.

Given Cedar Fair`s relationship with Intamin, I do not see an Impulse coaster coming to Kings Island, unless it is relocated from another Cedar Fair Park. Intamin hasn`t really built many new rides in the states lately. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that their last installation in the US was Skyrush at Hershey, which opened back in 2012? So this is the fourth season without a new Intamin coaster installed in a US park.