The Interpreter

Things have greatly increased in price at Paramount's Carowinds this year. Parking is now $10 (at least they didn't match SFOG's $15...yet). Funnel cakes were $6.95. Pizza is $3.99 a slice, and the slices are MUCH smaller than in years past. At Outer Hanks, a hamburger and fries is $6.99. That does NOT include a drink. Subway is GONE. Cotton candy is NOT a quarter (though it is at Cedar Point and Dorney Park). Most games are now three dollars. Undiscounted admission is $49.99. It will be interesting to see if this trend repeats itself at Paramount's Kings Island.

It is a common practice. Done throughout the industry. Today I use your picture, next year you use mine. And it is ALL with permission. There is more cooperation in the industry than most realize, especially as to safety and information exchanges.

I have a friend who cracked not just one rib but two on that wonderful Raven coaster at Holiday World. He no longer rides with his hands up! Fancy that.

Yep, theming can make a ride experience better. But it can't make a subpar ride experience grand. Tower of Terror would be a great ride if it were in a box and themed to nothing. But that already great ride becomes spectacular when the Disney theming is added, AND maintained splendidly as well!

As you might guess, those machines have long since been CHANGed.

It is good to see Mr. Fisher back at Kings Island, even if only for a little while. He is a good man and a good manager.

Mr. Anton Schwarzkopf, perhaps the greatest steel coaster designer ever, did not put over the shoulder restraints on his coasters. See, for instance, the incredible Mindbender at Six Flags Over Georgia: http://www.rcdb.com/ig37.htm?picture=2

My favorite was the year that Paramount's Kings Island's Vortex appeared in the plastic fronts of the Coke machines at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom!!!

You really should ride the train! And just in the last couple of years, Six Flags Over Georgia GUTTED and ruined their steam engine converting it to diesel. It could have been sold for many, many dollars, but instead they just ruined it. Talk about a total lack of respect for history. Train buffs were LIVID, and still are. PKI has an incredible train. Too bad most people see it only as transport to Water...er, Boomerang Bay.

And remember, not every AAA is the same. Some have different deals than others...but any AAA can purchase tickets from ANY AAA club... MOST, but not all, even sell to non-members. You may also want to check with credit unions.

It's very hard for me to ride RnR Coaster, as Tower of Terror is beside it! Simply the best flat ride (if you can call it that, ha!) ever! But, honestly folks, I much prefer Flight of Fear, especially when the midcourse brake is off. That ride is a sheer delight. Theming cannot make a subpar ride experience grand... Otherwise, you could just put a Topspin in a box, and....

Paramount's Kings Island still uses photos. And given how long it took to get in with the biometric pass at Carowinds today and yesterday, I can't imagaine PKI using them. Then again, Disney does. Perhaps PCWi will get faster. They'd better, or people will be backed up to the outlet mall to get in!

As vigorous as FOF was with over the shoulder restraints, Batman and Robin: The Chiller at Six Flags Great Adventure was even worse. The new restraint system has been a blessing on these rides, and on the Messrs Freeze at Six Flags. All of these Premier Rides have gone from being head bangers to sheer delights!

Well, maybe yes and maybe no. It would depend on the circumstances. For instance, is the claimant a 40 year old safety attorney or a 14 year old kid who had never ridden a coaster? Does the claimant have a history of other claims, particularly against parks? How bad was the injury? What is the prognosis? How much publicity was there? As a rule of thumb, there is no rule of thumb!

I wish them great success. . . Heavens knows that ride could use some smoothing (or less jouncing of the trains, but that's another story...apparently one the park doesn't want to hear). At least The Fairly Odd Coaster tracks VERY smoothly. Of the wood coasters at Paramount's Kings Island, I must confess it is my favorite. Has been for quite some time now.

Uh, no. As was said earlier in this thread, and a friend of mine had the cuts to prove it, riders of The Beast, especially on the left side, CAN reach the tunnel roof and sides...and get badly hurt. At the time, he was all of about 5 foot, 8 inches...too. That warning is not on their for comic effect. It is real. And under Ohio State Law, misobeying it is evidence of negligence. Not to mention stupid.

The menu did change when it became Happy Days...

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news...al/14164750.htm

Oh yes. And before that, I remember the great fruit cups and fruit on a stick that was sold on the path from River Town to the Eiffel Tower. I miss that! And the barbecued meat cooked outside in River Town!

CoastersRZ, I agree with you. But I still think, as I said before, that the other Paramount Parks have gotten more attention in the areas of groundskeeping, landscaping and maintaining the theming. Whether that was a corporate decision or local management decisions on how to spend the allotted budget, I don't know. But I do know that especially at Wonderland and Carowinds, the aesthetics of the parks are much better. And I TOTALLY agree with you about the flats at Wonderland. If Kings Island is missing anything, it's a great collection of flat rides. There are theme parks with worse flat collections (Six Flags Over Georgia comes to mind), but there aren't many. For a long time, it seemed the park only removed flats. Delirium (if it can be called a flat!), was certainly a step in the right direction.

One that does not require question marks at the end of a question, Uncle Henry? Pot. Kettle. (Now, where is that nice, helpful guy who used to throw dictionaries?)

Really? Ever seen the coaster at the South Carolina State Fair? Or how about the wood coaster at the Pacific National Exposition?

Yep, I thought that was what you were trying to ask. I THINK the answer is that there is no early season pass processing this year at Paramount's Kings Island. Anyone know any different?

I think the question was "Will there be any early processing of season passes before opening day?" I think the answer is no, but does anyone know for sure?

Yep, compared to Kings Island, Paramount has done an excellent job maintaining its flat rides such as The Flying Eagles, The Antique Cars, Flight Commander, Skylab. I don't think any of them were down at all last season. You've got a point there. Again, this thread is supposed to be about Kings Island vs. Paramount's Kings Island. NOT about Paramount vs. other parks. Want to talk about that? I'd think you'd want to start another thread in the appropriate forum....