The Interpreter

Why? Because too many of the voters in this area have only visited Cedar Fair parks (mostly Cedar Point), and have no idea how wondrous Busch Gardens Europe and Busch Gardens Africa are. In any event, the buyer's decision won't depend on an Internet poll, so don't worry!

Yes. It's called Flash Pass, and it costs money at most parks. BIG money. As in an extra $50--less for larger groups, less at some Six Flags parks, too--puts you at the front of every line in the park. Cedar Point is quietly doing something similar, but only for very large amounts of money. Universal just quietly ended their free version too (though you can still participate if you stay on property, which is hardly free). Six Flags also has a system where you wait the same as other people, just not in line. It costs less, but it is also additional to either admission or a season pass. That's what worries me about these express pass systems. If the parks are going to charge (and Disney does NOT), they may as well go back to tickets per ride....

Six Flags is charging $15 for parking (but not at Kentucky Kingdom, as Six Flags does not own or control that lot..the Commonwealth of Kentucky does). But, for that $15, you get frequent tram service, a fully staffed lot with guides directing you to an empty space, and a receipt. For my $10 at Paramount's Kings Dominion, I got...a receipt. That's all. I wandered around the lot about half an hour at one point (why not? Most of the roller coasters were closed), and no one even noticed. Oh, wait...there was an occasional call box with a blue button on it to use in event of emergency...

Voters who would have favored TTD all snuck off to....New Jersey? --The Interpreter, who just had to: a. it's open for the season. b. it's taller, faster and IMHO, more fun...plus it has one more hill! c. it makes this one wonder, "What's the Point?"

...which means, of course, that the ride must be certifiable!

Not when it is 40 degrees! Besides, dodging the water (or pretending to) is half the fun. Mr. Elephant normally makes that QUITE impossible. I think he should only blow his snout about half the time, in a very random fashion! That would be much more entertaining. At least to me.

And that is not necessarily a bad thing! That thing's snout can SOAK you!

Yep, they are now Busch Gardens Europe and Busch Gardens Africa. Busch does stuff like this from time to time. BGW, er BGE has the signs up all over the park, as does BGA in Tampa...

I'd be more than happy to live off the profits from BGE and BGA (formerly known as BGW and BGT). I am quite sure those parks do very well indeed.

It's only about 200 miles from PKI, but it usually takes a bit over three hours, due to traffic. I've made that particular trip many times, sometimes stopping by SFKK on the way, sometimes not.

No, You seem to have read that into that. In any event, let's let bygones be bygones, and let the people find their own joys when they get a pass to PKI!

Nope....it doesn't say everyone knows that...it doesn't make fun of you...for some reason you seem to have read that into those words..it isn't there. I don't think you are stupid...even if I did, so what? It's just a person on the Internet on a message board! You will have people at the park who will be far more difficult to deal with. I've seen it far too frequently.

I have no problem with you and please don't take any post here by me as a personal attack. Just also don't assume what others do or do not know. You never know who is hiding behind these screen names...and some of us do so for a reason or reasons! In any event, have a great season. I am sure I will no doubt see you next time I am at Paramount's Kings Island...(opening day, perhaps?) As for being rude, I was not the one who informed me I don't know what I am talking about! No, it is not true I know nothing. But thanks for that very wrong assumption. All you got back was the same tone you started with!

I said only it was obvious to many of us...the parks did not fit with the other sorts of companies put on the CBS side...just as GE's NBC doesn't seem too thrilled to be in the park business either. It's kind of funny, when you look back, that Viacom moved the parks from Paramount Studios to its Blockbuster unit after it bought Paramount, after Paramount had purchased KECO and, along with it, Lindner's interest in PKI. . .

The Captain is, of course, right. Still, employees who are told not to post certain things publicly really shouldn't...

Wrong. I know a lot more about the new process than you probably do. But, like you, I won't be posting it...then again, I didn't even hint that I did until you informed me I don't know what you know. Those who know don't tell, including hinting at proprietary technology. That would be a wise course for you as well. This is NOT the employee room.

A wood coaster on steel supports is not a hybrid coaster. You think the Coney Island Cyclone is a hybrid? The Great White in New Jersey? The Comet now at The Great Escape formerly of Crystal Beach in Canada?

Hmmm. Looks at Paramount's Carowinds pass in user's pocket. Purchased last October. Wow, no picture. Yep, PKI's process is ever so confidential. Especially if one has been to, say, WDW in the past several years, with an annual pass.

Ignore the troll. He thrives on attention. And it's hard to get threw to him.

Nope again. Paramount is on the Viacom side. When the old Viacom split up and Paramount Studios went one way (with the new Viacom) whilst Paramount Parks went the other (to CBS, as did the publishing company, tv and radio), it was obvious to many of us that the parks would soon be divested. As they are being...

Radio stations in markets far from Cincinnati are giving away many, many tickets for opening day. This has been standard procedure for PKI for some time. In years past, they were for dry run day, though.

If they handle their opening as well (ha!) as Paramount's Kings Dominion did last Saturday...at 9:45, most ACErs will still be trying to get into the parking lot. And at 10:30, there will still be people outside the gates who last year would have already been inside for more than an hour, spending money!

Not to mention he thinks Paramount owns the parks now. They do not. CBS does. Sigh. Sometimes explaining finance on this board feels much the same as trying to teach pigs to sing in French.

There have been major changes in the PR and website people at Paramount. This change means exactly....nothing.

There has been no sale, as of yet. And that type of announcement isn't made by subtle changes on a website.