Skippy

You see, I consider Flight of Fear a near-Disney quality experience. With just a few updates (like on-board audio and such), it'd be on par with Rock 'n Rollercoaster. Good theming doesn't always entail massive amounts of detail. It really depends on the theme. My main beef with it is that it doesn't fit in with the surrounding area but regardless, it's still a well done attraction with a clear story from the moment you enter (well, unless they've changed it since I was last there in 2004). Yeah, that ride requires being secluded. It would be like building a wooden coaster next to Jungle Cruise. You really don't need to spend Disney-amounts of money to get a Disney quality experience. First of all, Verbolten is rumored to cost over $50 million to make, which is more then Universal's Mummy coaster, which was $40 million (so it can't really be lumped in with the standard coaster/attraction category). I think Kings Island could build a similar attraction for even less, especially if they replicated it at a couple of their parks. I also think they could get a Transformers attraction at a reasonable price. That ride is priced ridiculously high because it includes the costs of licensing the popular franchise, hiring the actual movie's director Michael Bay (who has a high director's fee), bringing back the original voice actors and most importantly, using ILM for the animated scenes (the company who does the movies visual effects, to which the complex transformers models are said to take DAYS to render due to all the detail). The ride system is also unusual by the fact that it utilizes a second floor for capacity, something not even Spider-Man does. Now take into consideration Busch Garden's Curse of DarKastle, which instead of costing $100 million, is said to cost around $20 million (i.e. equal to Tomb Raider). This is due to no licensing costs, and utilizing simpler animation with an in-house director. I consider Curse of DarKastle's biggest problem not the theming or visuals, but the story and bad writing. I keep using this all the time but look at what Warner Bros. Movie World built for $18 million: . It's no Splash Mountain but it's still an amazing log fume ride that any park should be happy with.I think it's very possible to get a near-Disney quality experience at a reasonable price. It's just whether or not Cedar Fair wants to try new things (let's hope Matt does). They really did with that one. The ride was just cheap as hell to make and it really showed. The vibrating chairs and fishtailing effects never worked. Between a coaster wrecking the antique cars and a coaster wrecking the pond next to them, the whole relaxing atmosphere of that area is gone. Now for my attractions wish list: Replacement for Tomb Raider utilizing existing structure (providing the show building is big enough) - Sally Corp dark ride in the same vein as , except instead of an Egytian expedition theme it's a jungle expedition theme. They can utilize the queue as it is and in the pre-show room where you used to watch a video, they can have the 1920s explorer animatronic explain your mission (I always thought the theming in the queue was Disney-quality and an animatronic pre-show would only exemplify that). This could use the same path and premise as , only they would tweek the theme here and there to fit the location. My idea is that by re-using the existing queue and the show building, in addition to utilizing Sally (who is a fairly budget friendly dark ride manufacture), that we'd get a pretty great dark ride and not be breaking the bank in the process.- Another idea would be to use the same theme as above, but instead of a Sally Corp dark ride, we'd be getting a Curse of DarKastle dark ride once again themed to a 1920 jungle exploration. Hopefully due to the nature of this ride, we'd a something a little closer to the Indiana Jones attraction in feel. If they want, they can call up Sally for a pre-show animatronic. - My last idea, but not my favorite, would be to put in a themed indoor mouse coaster, set to the same theme as above. For all 3 of my ideas, I'd really love it if they'd plant some trees around the show building to hide it. All you really have to do is build a hill close to the walkways and plant trees (or bamboo, this stuff works great) on top of them. This is what Disney does to hide things. I'd also like to see them re-theme Rivertown to something similar to The Golden Kingdom but I can see a lot of purists crying fowl with that one so I'll leave it alone. If they go with the interactive Sally dark ride in the Tomb Raider building, then I'd love to see them add a DarKastle-type ride somewhere else in the park. Hopefully they would pick a theme appropriate to the area (something I'd wish they'd do is make sure every area has a discernible theme, like Disneyland, since that is the original park's layout ). Providing Kings Island adds a new interactive dark ride in the old Tomb Raider building, I'd then have them bring back Phantom Manor in an updated form, possibly extending it to use the rest of the building. The Scooby-Doo ride becomes kind of pointless if they have a new interactive dark ride and I never really like the guns being on the doombuggy cars. It just doesn't work that well. Well, that's my wish list...something I never expect to happen lol

Yeah, not the best quality but thanks all the same. Just grateful to see it Was that the only pick? Does anyone have the description they gave for it? Was there concept art for Italian Job too? Sorry for all the questions.

Hi KIC members. Its been a while to say the least. I'm back with a request. If anyone has the Addams Family Coaster Concept Art or any other concept art that was featured in that first survey, I'd really appreciate you sending it my way (email it to me if posting it here is against the rules). For years I've been trying to find it but its no where on the net and everyone claims to not have it on the computer. Just really curious as to what others saw that I've been unable to see. Please cure my curiosity! PLEASE AND THANKS!!! PS: Sorry if this is in the wrong forum or if this request is against forum policies

I don't know if you heard/saw any of the Geauga Lake commercials this year but X-Flight was equally marketed with Wildwater Kingdom The theme was "What a Surprise" and it was to help push the new birthday parties. The Radio Ad centered around a child opening his present and then being, of all things, surprised to find out it was Geauga Lake. Then he asks his Mom if he gets X-Flight too, after which she confirms that, and goes on to mention Wildwater Kingdom and "other great attractions" as they put it. The TV Ad had a guy handing his girlfriend a present and the Geauga Lake bursting out of it. X-Flight, Thunderhawk (with it's last year new paint job), and Wildwater Kingdom are mainly shown. On their online poll, conducted a few years ago, X-Flight took top spot as the favorite Geauga Lake roller coaster with Dominator as the only one even close behind. I'm sure if X-Flight still had all 3 trains it probably would have the highest capacity in the park, right next to Dominator of-course. Anyone who works at the park could tell you that getting rid of any of the 4-Six Flags major coasters would terribly affect the park as most of the guests feel we need another coaster if anything. A little less than half of our guest feel the new water park was a waste as they liked the old one better, they also feel with the ride count continually dropping and no animals that they're getting less for their money, that most of our pass holders are reluctant to renew with the removal of The Haunt, and that prices in the park are just not worth it. I'm telling you if Geauga Lake has nothing to advertise next year but increased prices and the loss of one of the most popular attractions in the park, that 20% drop won't seem too unreasonable. Take it from an employee, most guests are disgusted with the park and were unaware of some of the changes (like the removal of The Haunt). They are on the edge, don't push them Geauga Lake.

Here's a better question: What affect do you think the removal of Geauga Lake's most marketable attraction, along with the rumored no-new addition in '07, have on Geauga Lake and it's attendance figures? So yeah, I'm against PKI getting the only thing holding Geauga Lake together. With multiple ride-removals since the Cedar Fair take over and no new attractions to replace them, I'm having a hard time seeing how this could end well. Then again this is just from a Dominator employee who received complaints, claiming that there was nothing to do, almost everytime X-Flight was closed. I can only pray this is a bad rumor, because if Geauga Lake digs itself any deeper, it's nothing but hell!

It looks great Finally a coaster that can satisfy everyone (almost): people who want a lift hill, people who want a launch, people who want inversions, people who want airtime-filled hills, people who want a low to the ground terrain coaster, people who want tunnels, people who like their coasters to last more then 13 seconds, and people (such as myself) who just want theming! No records broken here except for most fun (maybe). Personally, this is the coaster I've been waiting for since Millennium Force. I also love how they are paying tribute to Whitewater Landing by using the former queue and load/unload station as Maverick's queue. Which brings me to the next topic: Maverick's amazing station. I love its western theme and I love-love how the coaster goes under the station and is visible the guests in it!!! Millennium is currently my favorite coaster but that might change next season!?

Or their trying to extend the lisencing for the brands (i.e. Nickelodeon/Paramount) to be introduced outside the Paramount Parks and into some of the Cedar Fair parks

The attendance drop during the Six Flags era was nothing compared to the 75+% drop it experienced under Cedar Fair ownership. People couldn't take the loss of the animals and all the Time Warner properties. Even to this day we get asked where the animals are, where the Looneytunes are, and we still have people calling our rides the Batman and Superman. Where theming once was we now just have a water stained mark, concrete, or visible wires and metals. Geauga Lake has become very BLAND without it's theming. I have a feeling the loss of Paramount properties will leave a similar mark on the GP; just not as drastic. The GP won't just forget the years of heavy marketing as The Best Of Hollywood Entertainment, just to have all movie references disappear. Cedar Fair had to erase 4 years of Six Flags, but trying to erase almost 15 years of Paramount is going to be more of a challenge. For most grew up with it in the Paramount era and are going to notice the starry-blue mountain is gone, the Paramount story is gone, and they are all going to call the ride by their former names, no matter how heavily you market the new one. Tomb Raider and Italian Job will always be called that as far as the GP is concerned. All I'm saying is too much change at once could be dangerous!

Well, for me it's not as much the employees as it is the management I've really never had any problems with the employees. While Epcot has been my favorite since day one I can't help feel that park is slowly fading away with recent additions like Soarin' and Mission: Space. Slowly the park will become a giant Disney Quest where all you do is ride simulators and stare at projection/television screens all day. Bush Gardens Africa seems to know what they're doing. It's a fantastic park! I really wish you could remember his name as Geauga Lake takes compliments just a seriously as they do complaints. They would reward him for effort just as quickly as they would fire the girl for lack of. I can understand your beef with the park, as some I share, but really hope this experience doesn't keep you from ever coming back. Were trying are hardest to help revive this park, but as you mentioned before, Cedar Fair needs to spend alot more to get this park up to where it should be. That means ditching their stupid philosophy that the better the parks do, the more money they receive. If they keep that up, Geauga Lake will only keep sinking, with nothing to draw in the crowds and increase their attendance. I want this park to do good, same as you!

Sounds like you almost had as bad a time as I just did at Disney After being in the park after only an hour with all the smelly obnoxious people, I was ready to go home. Half the good attractions have been taken out for crap that I'd never ride EVER again. Disney is a waste of money IMO. After going there every year for the past sixteen years, I've got to admit, they've hit an all time low. Did I mention the HUGE price tag on everything (merchandise, food, drinks, etc.). Universal may have ****ed me off with that POS Sneech monorail attraction that I've been waiting seven years for, but I still had a way better time than at Disney. BTW, I must have went to Universal at just the right time because unlike the over-capacity Disney parks, the Universal parks were as empty as Geauga Lake (I'm NOT kidding). Longest wait was 5 mins for the Mummy and by 4:00 I was ready to go home because we did everything twice. As an employee of Geauga Lake; I'm a bit concerned about what you've said. I agree that they butchered the kids areas and really need more then a wave pool to draw in the crowds but the fact that you didn't enjoy anything we had to offer bothers me. Grizzly, if you didn't know, just opened up that day for the first time this year (explaining the crowds). Not all the effects have been fixed yet since the new parts arrived. Thunderhawk has been named the best Vekoma SLC out there, after it's refurb last year, as well as the smoothest so I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. As for Dominator, your one of the only people in the world that doesn't like the coaster. We get ACE members and coaster enthusiasts almost everyday that claim it's their favorite B&M. All I can say is voice your complaints to Geauga Lake/Cedar Fair and then come back either later this year or next year. They take complaints seriously and I'm sure what ever caused you not to enjoy you time will either be fixed or in the process of being fixed. They have even been known to address smaller problems overnight. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy yourself.

Hellz yah That was really clever and well crafted! I'll be down there in a few weeks and will be sure to talk to the Skippers involved. BTW, is it just me or do those Orlando Park employee's have way to much free time? Click here to see what Disney-MGM Studios' employee's have been up to. I don't think any of the employee's in any of the Ohio Parks (now all Cedar Fair) have done anything like these before. They may never considering the stricter managment Cedar Fair brings in for standards. Then again, they could just be more out going then us...or are they?

Does that include ALL of the Cedar Fair parks? That would be unfair to compare seven park's combined attendance, one of which is year-round, to five seasonal parks. In my eyes, Paramount Parks is more successful!

^Good question, I'll be sure to find out I know I currently get into all Cedar Fair parks for free, excluding Castaway Bay, and that includes free parking.

So they finally announced it Sorry guys, but when I said I was going to see if it was true, Cedar Fair already having bought Paramount Parks, I didn't expect a confirmation! So I couldn't get back to you on that, but I guess it pays to have friends in high places. We're all part of the same Cedar Fair family now so I expect alot of visits from guys this season at Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom BTW, from what I've been told, Cedar Fair has put a GREAT DEAL of thought into this to make sure not to repeat Six Flags, and in no way expects to ignore any of parks. So prepare for stricter managment, semi-better guest service, and a safer enviornment. Former Paramount Parks employees, WELCOME!!!

In the article posted on Point Buzz, that Browntggrr links to, it mentions Cedar Fair recently trademarked the name, "Maverick." An unbranded range animal, especially a calf that has become separated from its mother, traditionally considered the property of the first person who brands it. So whatever it is, it's sticking with the western theme. BTW, don't ask employees what it is, because they still think it's either a 600 ft coaster or a Dueling B&M Flyer...which it's not!

Thanks for the pic CoastersRZ The Nick-O-Round looks great! Too bad the Nick Universe is on based on only 5 or 10 of Nickelodeon's shows (more than half of which are Nick Jr.) which leaves out alot considering Nickelodeon's vast library of cartoons. The Nick-O-Round only has the characters that make up the Nick Universe, as if we hadn't already seen enough of them, instead of mixing it up and putting a variety of characters from all the shows (not all from the same Nick Jr.). I wish Nick Universe, and the Nick-O-Round would've had all (if not most) of the Nicktoons represented in one way or another (poster, wooden cutout, randomly placed object, or something in the Nick Store)!

Very nice Video quality wasn't great, but the professional editing job that you did choreographing the visuals with the music made up for it! Probably your finest work.

^I agree completely Non-themed parks just don't cut it for me anymore as I'd rather be immersed in my environment and taken away to another world, even if just for a minute. Universal's IOA and the Anheuser Bush parks do a really good job of balancing their family and thrill attractions while retaining wonderful theming on both genres! That's something I'd like PKI to become more of. It's the same old attractions were used to but now they're spiced up with fantastic theming to help keep our attention (like TR:TR)

***UPDATE*** A new photo update from today, 4/12/06, are now up one PKI.com! Click here for the Nick Universe update. Looks like it wasn't our last update Captain Nemo Theming is being put in everywhere such as: Bikini Bottom Bash, Phantom Flyers, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Aang, and other details, are finally being put up on the attraction vessle and it looks like an Asian temple has been added to the entrance! You'll also find out what happened to the old Sponge Bob that used to be on top of the Krusty Krab Snack Shack. BTW, I can guarantee that Fairly Odd Coaster sign is unfinished Right now it only has a base paint scheme to match the coaster's paint job but, like Plankton's Plunge, I'm sure more detail will be painted on later. Not to mention the open space, that rcmaster brought up, that will most likely hold the Fairly Odd Parent's signature logo. Also, if you haven't noticed yet, PKI's Nickelodeon Universe is going to be way more elaborate then Carowind's Nickelodeon Central, so let's not jump to conclusions. Don't complain about them having the better sign because in my eye, their small wooden sign won't compare to our giant aluminum/metal sign when completed, so there is nothing to complain about. No offence intended to Carowind's Nick Central as it's really quite impressive.

^^I'm with you on that RingMaster Everthing looks good but I'd really like to see some trees added like in the area infront of the former Huckleberry Dairy (they cut down the original trees for more tables, that now need umbrellas, because they killed the only shade in that area)! We don't need another Action Zone here. Like I said though, everyhing looks good, scratch that, everything looks GREAT! Atom Smashers is looking exceptional and is a worthy re-theme for Bumper Boulders I'm very impressed with PKI and Nickelodeon Universe overall. They may've actually kept they're promise this time in saying "Disney/Universal quality," that is, if more theming is added along the next few weeks as I assume it will! Here's to another well deserved year in the bag for Amusement Today's "Best Kids Area" award winner 5 years running, Paramount's Kings Island!

What are they doing to the Krusty Krab Snack Shack All the bricking is now exposed. Where's the mini Krusty Krab exterior with the infamous shell sign, the wooden cutouts of Patrick and Squidward overlooking guests, and most importantly, the GIANT 3D Sponge Bob figure? Could Plankton's moving in have somthing to do with this...

For PKI's sake, let's hope your lying Cedar Fair's hate of themes, that expanded since there Disaster Transport disaster, has destroyed any and all darkrides or themed attractions they had. Just look at what's left of the once Disney quality Pattlewheel Excursions They think the GP hates all darkrides because their experiment with theming was a failure, in reality it was hated by the GP because it was a CHEAP theme job, but they claim it's just too expensive and nobody appreciates it! ATTENDANCE CHECK!!! PKI does it right with the themed family experiences, at about the same price as the expensive unreliable coasters, and it's defiantly being appreciated! Back on track, like I was saying just look at Geauga Lake's kids area, Kidworks Playzone. It's an embarrassment of it's former self. Geauga Lake took one of the most elaborate, HIGHLY themed, and highly praised kids area in the world and killed it. Where Looney Tunes theming once stood is now just pure concrete and mechanical parts that were once hidden with theming are now left exposed. If Cedar Fair purchased Paramount Parks, I can guarantee you that the same fait will be bestowed upon Nickelodeon Universe, and it will never again win the best kids area award EVER AGAIN!!! Anyway, I work for Geauga Lake and have alot of friends in high places. I'll be sure to let you know if anything is going on And yes, I do know what's going on at Cedar Point...

***UPDATE*** New construction photos from last week, 3/28/06, are up on PCW's official site... Click here for PH:SS construction photos. Click here for Back Lot Cafe construcion photos. Theming is quickly coming up on the set for Paramount's Hollywood Stunt Spectacular while they're also putting on the finishing touches in the Back Lot Cafe (all that's left to add is the licensing, such as movie posters, or props). Also, they finally got a good digital camera as you can tell with the recent Paramount's Hollywood Stunt Spectacular construction update!

Cool, I didn't know Plankton's Plunge was going to be double-sided That should REALLY help with capasity! It also looks like Go Diego Go (formally Huck's Hotrods) has started vertical construction, same with Avatar: The Last Airbender I was surprised to see the large concrete station Avatar will have. Looks like everything is running smoothly! Things I'd like too see, that haven't been shown yet, are the Nickelodeon Store, Timmy's Airtours (or is it Tommy's Airtours), and the Phantom Flyers I'm not sure if reason we haven't seen any sign of the Flyers yet is because they just want to keep the Flyer's a surprise or if it's because no construction has started on them yet. Either way, I'm excited to see how they turn out! As always, thanks for update Maureen!

Another thing I noticed is that they've completly painted over the cityscape, that used to be on the building wall behind Top Cat's Taxi Jam, to just a sky blue color Hopefully some details will be added later. Also, the station for Little Bill's Giggle Coaster is being painted white, in which I'm hopeful is some kind of primer setting up for details to be added later, or this Top Cat's retheme could end up being very bland. My guess is that they just got to themeing Little Bill's Giggle Coaster, as the Top Cat's Taxi Jam sign is still up, and that this is nothing to worry about