Outdoor Man

family stayed there last weekend.. or i guess two weekends ago- and yes, it is open. It's pretty fun; rode it 3 times. Got my face slapped with a wall of water on the first "funnel"- mabe because I rode it at night, couldn't see a thing, and the LED lights weren't on yet. Oh, and I about capsized. But, it was fun!

i have thought for some time that some of the things they do at Haunt are over the line- by even the most lax of standards. I can't believe that grown people have met and decided that some of these things are in even roughly decent taste. That being said- why don't they move some of the events to the Water Park area; there is nothing going on in there from September through June. it could keep most of the main park available for people who want to come but don't necessarily want to be there with the rest of the Haunt experience. I have a 4-year old and even though they don't "come out" until after the main park closes--- we still pass by all of that stuff get to the kids area.

i was pulling for a surprise intro to a retheme as "Itchy and Scratchy Land."

but, in 2001 - 2003, wasn't Worlds of Adventure considered a flagship park?

the death knoll came when Six Flags built it larger than the area could sustain it. If you look at it's location in proximity to any real flow of traffic its easy to see how it wouldn't survive as a mega park. I think that Sea World (or the Wild Animal side) was key to its survival because it was something no other park could match. Then once it left with the Six Flags name it took away what made the park different. Cedar Point had better coasters- there was nothing to make it exclusive anymore. Adding a WaterPark didn't do much to draw people from anywhere.... most parks have those now anyway. I think that CF tried to make a go of it- but with a recession looming and a roster of slightly used roller coasters that could be re-badged elsewhere as new experiences- I think they felt that "if we can't make a go of this on our terms..... no one is" - the decision to close became easy. It's sad that we aren't even 10 years removed from the Six Flags Worlds of Adventure expansion and now it is a weed field. If I'm not mistaken, it was considered to be Six Flags "flagship" park, wasn't it? From a business standpoint- the why makes sense. I just disagree with how they did it. If they would have announced a farewell month or even weekend- they would have attracted at least one large payday from it.

the header has the "visitkingsisland" url and name in the heading. It's what a lot of the attractions at the other parks are being named... they won't have different branding.

hmmm... all of the names are up there if you surf through the pages. only some and/or no pictures with no descriptions- but do have names. no opinion.

that picture of the parking lot.... that's a "park sellout" by today's standards... and the park is about twice as large. granted today's parking lot is larger.... but that's a lot of cars!

the "closed for the remainder of the 2009 season" tag has been removed from the website.

ooops,. those are the shows.

don't know if this has been posted yet. If so- lock out at will. This page isn't accessible by the main site yet- that I know of. http://www.pki.com/attractions/category.cfm?ac_id=17 (notice it still uses "pki")

store. too much would need to be done to it to bring to code for a sit down restaurant. kitchen, drains, restrooms, pantries, freezers. it's likely to be a retail locale for all things snoopy.

what the!?!?!?!?!??! they're taking it down?

it is probably enforced as rigorously as the "Smoking in Designated Places Only" policy.

Here's how I would describe it: SBNO

one would hope that in their off season maintenance of painting- that some paint would find its way over to Flight Deck.

Cedar Fair may have more on their plate to deal with this off season than a roller coaster that undoubtably is going to cost more money any way they look at it. My guess is SBNO in 2010 and removed by 12/31/10.

why is it that they have announced the names everywhere else but KI?

i'm not trying to start a rumor that Apollo would close parks.... that is my opinion that they will take that route once in control. I don't think that Kings Island would be on any chopping block of any sort under that scenario- as it has always been a top performer in whatever portfolio it was in. And if there are parks closing- the remnants would stand to gain coasters and flats from the demised properties. Although, if that does happen, brace yourself for removal of unprofitable or "costly" elements contained within the park.

Interpreter's comment about the "9'ers" is what I was referring to. The Private Equity Group is entering into this as a profitable venture. My guess is that they will likely buy it whole, shore up some properties, shed a few, and make the remaining look real attractive to be sold off piece at a time. I almost wouldn't be surprised to see KI purchased in the end as a stand alone park by a Cincinnati entity. If this goes through i would expect a few dramatic changes to get the park in showroom condition.... if you like SOB- I wouldn't get attached to it- they will likely have less tolerance for it than Paramount or CF combined. With CF's sole ownership I would expect SOB to be SBNO for a bit (I'm willing to bet it's given its last ride... even if it does show up on the 2010 map). Remember, The Bat stood for two years after closing before being torn down. My guess is it will stand unti they have a plan for the use of the land.... which may include a coaster brought in from a demised property.

this is the first time i've posted on the new forum... hope i did this right. I think a sale to the private equity firm is going to be beneficial... down the road when 3-5 years from now KI has a new owner. Though in the meantime I am not sure it will bode well for the faithful. Private Equity firms, and someone with relevant experience can correct me on this, come in and clean house thereby removing all "unprofitable" elements and focus almost entirely on that which turns revenue. For example- had CF not closed Geauga Lake a few years ago- it would have been closed now. I don't think the KI will suffer any in the long run- though there may be some anemic "new ride years” coming. There may be some more thinning in the park network whereas some of the lesser profitable ones close and grandfather their rides to the more profitable. Kings Island will survive mostly because it has always been profitable. Great America- though- will probably be on the chopping block… which means some “new” rides will come from California. All in all- I would take the $11.50 per share and RUN if I were the shareholders. That is a lot better than the Chapter 11 / $0 per share plan.

i could be incorrect- but I seriously doubt they are self-insured. not even companies like P&G are self-insured.

by the way... my comment a few pages ago was in sarcasm. For what a few seem to be talking about- and someone can correct me- but I don't personally think that this most recent injury was specifically caused by SOB. And largely I think that a lot of the issues surrounding it were corrected by CF and by and large it was deemed to be a safe ride. I still think that, this injury just came with bad timing.... to a usual culprit (SOB). I think that SOB has given it's last ride personally from an insurance standpoint. I think any carrier would be crazy to insure that "train-wreck" and that, more than anything else will play into CF's decision to let it operate. But given the state of the economy and a few other things percolating in the economic paths- I could see SOB- SBNO next year until a plan is devised that will economically bring the structure down. SOB is gigantic and won't be an easy dismanteling.

i am going to go on a limb and say that the park of 2010 will be vastly different than that of 2009. I will place my voice to: Son of Beast being removed Flight Deck being removed or significantly altered. Overhaul or removal of the Crypt

I agree, SOB is far too valuable to dispose. there is no other ride in the park that gives them that much exposure on the nightly news.