RailRider

So does this mean I shouldnt post rumors from the Dippin Dots Guy anymore? Afterall there is no more credible source than him. Hmm what happend to this site and the good ol days? I guess with time all things change, but we use to have some great forums with a much smaller community that was very knowledgeable, and there werent 90 confirmed topics about the park with rampant speculation. Glad that most of us are still around, but I dont think some of us make our presence like we use to, myself especially. Im gonna close my eyes and concentrate real hard, maybe the old site will come back and we can play PKIC Survivor again... Nope... Still here, guess I gotta deal with it... It is confirmed, I like a healthy dose of Sarcasim... Confirmed by RailRider 1/30/08 Just trying it out...

Can you really keep something over 200ft low key?

How about removing the building and calling it Avalanche Run??? Makes sense in Ohio, right? Seriously though, I could go for some windex on the giant mirror and maybe a few spot lights insides the maze of twisted track. Just clean it up, other than that the alien theme fits pretty well for Fort Kinzel...

That reminds me of the Opryland map when it was still around.

That's the key to things. Have something for everyone. That's why it's refreshing to see Entertainment as a more important piece of CF's vision. Who would have thought that an entertainment company (Paramount/Viacom) would do away with entertainment? Couldnt agree more, who would have though Paramount would eliminate entertainment options and it would take a company like CF to bring it back. Also Cedar Point has no choice about that parks layout, its basically a big rectangle of land, thank goodness for the skyride and the train to aid in getting around the park. Nothing like taking the sky ride across the midway at the end of a long day. You must admit CP has one of the best traditional main midways around.

1) What do you consider a family ride? 2) Also, being a parent, I would rather have several kids areas as opposed to one area. When the wife and I want to go on Raptor, we use the Parent Swap Program, so the kids can hit the rides at Kiddie Kingdom and one of us can wait for Raptor. The same idea goes when we want to go on TTD, Magnum and Gemini. One of waits in line, while the other watches the kids at Camp Snoopy which is close by. We use a Motorola to communicate as to when we are going to be getting on the ride. While Nick U is more appealing, it is a pain in the butt when we want to go on Firehawk, FoF, and Vortex and there is nothing in the immediate area that can occupy the kids' time while one of us waits in line. Could you imagine if CP only had one Kiddie Land and you had to hike from one extreme of the park to the other to take your kids to the rides. Just imiganie trying to ride Magnum, Gemini, TTD, Mantis, and Millie if the only kiddie area was Kiddie Kingdom. Not gonna happen. Kings Island can somewhat get away with having just one Kiddie area, but on a busy summer day NU is packed, where as CP can spread the family crowd out between their various kiddie lands. I will honestly say KI could use another smaller kiddie section over around Vortex or FoF. Also CP and KI are very similar parks, lots of family rides, record breaking coasters, and a great water park. The difference is that CP markets as a resort destination for the entire family and also pitches its product towards the thrillseekers out there as Americas Roller Coast. Where as KI markets more for the weekend family destination while pitching NU and Boomerang Bay. But if you compare rides they are very similar.

Kings Island has been lacking in dinning services for awhile. Hopefully things will change because the park is great need of a sit down style or buffet style eatery. Wings is old and needs refurbishing, anyone ever see that movie? Did you even know it was named after an old paramount movie? The Festhaus is in serious need of some TLC, spend the money and remodel it. Bubas is great and the food is good at Festhaus, just the dinning area needs some TLC. Hopefully things get some attention under CF

As a very wise person interpreted earlier, Demon Drop and other first gen Intamin drops are harder and hard to maintain, not to mention the increasing costs. Why add a ride that is dificult to maintain and also costly and has a low rider per hour? Just not good business

Thats just what KI needs another maietnence nightmare, please see Villian...

Hmm a lot of folks are going thinking FearFest, its not for families anymore, thankfully. Then again people usually don't read the signs before they get on rides and wonder why the heart condition is acting up after a spin on The Beast...

"Family Appropriate" ??? Have you not seen how Halloween Haunt has been billed? Mature audiences. So family appropriate would not be fitting for the Halloween Haunt entertainment. Nick or Treat yes, Halloween Haunt no. I will even give you for FearFest, but this isn't FearFest anymore and thats the point.

All of the coasters at GL could be transported. Yes even the wood ones. Look at Phoenix at Knobels which use to be Rocket. I would say it its a ride that is realiable it will be relocated to another park.

That is very intersting that there seemed to be no accompaning employee with the character. Strange

I am just excited that its open till 1am. The extra hour will help

After seeing the concept pics for Club Blood that just became my new favorite Haunt.... Can you say eye candy

My Survivor banner was removed.... So Sad. PS TR coming soon from Busch Gardens Europe. Griffon is Amazing...

Thanks for the kind words... And I still have the Survivor Banner because I dont have the time to remove it. Barely have enough time to lurk in the shaddows on KIC

As most of you know earlier this summer my wife and I welcomed our first child in to this world and with this new addition I have been rather absent from these forums that I use to frequent so much. By the way Zoe is now 10 weeks old and growing like a weed and she has already been to Kings Island and Busch Gardens Europe. Well I had to find the time to discuss our First Trip to KI with Zoe. Please enjoy the trip report and photos. Back in mid July when Zoe was only 3 weeks old we took our first trip to KI. Zoe went with her 2 cousins so it was a major baby parade. Lets see, she road her first ride the Grand Carosel, the Train, and saw her first shows at the park. All in all a wonderfull day and truly will never be forgotten. Enjoy the Photos and check out the quick review afterwards. <embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i161.photobucket.com/remix/player.swf?videoURL=http%3A%2F%2Fvid161.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft206%2FRailrider1321%2Faa41d430.pbr&hostname=stream161.photobucket.com"></embed> Here are my quick notes, highs and lows. First time at KI with Zoe, never will forget. Park looked great. First ride on the Carosel and boy did she love the lights. The Ice Show is fantastic. Not so great notes from the Park. Employees for the most part dont seem to care, heres hoping CF brings in internationals next year. Compared to Busch Gardens the employees at KI are not interested in the park, pick up a broom and go do some ecology work. The Festhaus needs to be torn down or refurbished, the place is lacking on the inside and the food is not that good. If Im paying that much for a meal atleast it should be good. KI needs some serious food upgrades. All and all a memorable trip and I hope you enjoy the slideshow, more info to come latter.

Hands down Busch Gardens all the way... The coasters are first class and groundbreaking, the entertainment is top nothch, the food is fabulous, and dont forget BGE is the most beautiful park out there. Where else can you ride a Floorless Dive Coaster, a B&M Hyper Coaster, an Inverted, and a Classic Arrow Interlocking Looper? This shouldn't even be a debate. PKD is nice but not on the same level as BGE... I will be visit in 2 weeks.

Wow, for a new member you make some pretty big comments and to attack the The Interp. The Interp is well respected, especially on KICentral and he is not a hommer to KI or any park. He tells it like it is and sometimes folks have issues with that, especially when dealing with KI. Anyways back to the Interps post... El Toro is the exception to the norm and also a rareity in the industry. Also it will be interesting to see how the ride holds up after a few years of opperation. Most woodies gradually get a little rougher over time and it will be interesting to see what happens to El Toro.

Thats why hes the Interp, puzzling is the name of the game...

Firehawk is a great ride and lines will get better as train opperation becomes more efficient and the newness wears off. No longer will I wait for massive wait times on rides. There are only I few I have ever waited more than 4 hours for. Raptor on opening day, TTD on opening day, Spiderman during IOA first year of opperation, and yes the Mummy.

I always love a little Interpretation... Kinzel and CF had a plan when they purchased Paramount Parks. They werent purchasing them to let them sit as is and to be consistent revenue streams for CF, nor did they purchase them to make everyone of them another Cedar Point. There is a plan in place that will continue to accentuate the strong points of the former Paramount Parks, but that will also help strenghten their weaknesses, all while keeping costs down. Hence the addition of a great roller coaster and more shows at KI, what more could you ask for at KI for its first year under CF ownership? Also dont expect any more recordbreakers soon for either CF or SixFlags. Hence the addition of a ride like Maverick and the transformation of SF Discovery Kingdom. Sorry but Fanboys arent the key demographic nor do we spend the most money. The family is the key and thats where to focus is at. All this being said, I strongly believe CF will make additions that improve the parks, the guest experience, and add to the list of rides. No longer is it ok to just add a ride and neglect the other glaring problems in parks.

Funny how some folks on this site and other boards can praise the likes of a CF when they acquire Paramount Parks, but are negative as soon as the seasson begins. CF has put forth a plan for improvement at their newly acquired Paramount parks, yet people are already to jump off ship. Then again you will always find negative parties when change is involved. People hated Paramount from day one, so people will hate CF from day one. If anything the park experience has improved this year, but that is my humble opinion. Also how has CedarFair been criticized lately in the Media, Dick Kinzel has actually been receiving great praise for his work. Dont say Maverick either, have you ridden it yet? Its an amazing ride if you havent. Anyways back to GL. Anyone that thinks GL should have kept all of their dry rides has not spent enough time in that park to see that it would function better as a major water park with a few nice dry rides and attractions, as in Holiday World. SF killed almost killed that park as SFWoA, so CF has a lot of work to right that sinking ship and to also make a viable park. The parks that SF have kept have always been revenue generators. Great idea for a company that has a serious debt load, also the same reasson they wanted to unload Magic Mountain, talk about a nightmare. Anyways SixFlags is under what seems to be a passionate leadership team, they have eliminated a lot of their parks that didnt generate a lot of revenue, and they have cut back on major ride instals. Only time will tell how they do, just like only time will tell how CF will do with GL and PP. Dont praise SF as the next best thing and dont declare the CF ship as going down. Then again thats what happen with fans and enthusiasts, we always jump the gun, bail out, and jump on board before anyone else.

Do you care to elaborate on this? I have never heard that CF had issues with B&M coasters and a male only injury with Mantis. Can you provide more details? I am curious! I read the Interpreter's previous post wondering why Cedar Fair always goes to Intamin for new rides for Cedar Point despite the many problems they always seem to have with them. I always wondered the same thing and have always wanted a new B&M at both Cedar Point and a first B&M at KI. Perhaps this "issue" you mention is part of the reason. I for one would LOVE to KI to have a B&M coaster. It is in my mind the one thing this park really needs, and it would not really compete with Cedar Point since they are Intamin central... Well basically the issue involved with Mantis, B&M and CP is as follows. The training provided by B&M for the opperation of the ride did not account for the fact that the restrainst on Mantis have a tendancy to lift during the ride, not lift as in open, but lift as in there was at one point free travel in between clicks so the entire seat unit would rise on guests, causing some male pattrons to have a bicycle seat slam in to their groin during parts of the ride and then their feet no longer touched the floor. If you can imagine the embarrasement and injuries this caused, nothing serious imediately but the effects would be felt latter on, with swelling, discomfort, and urinary issues just to name a few. Anyways what followed was a disagreement between CP and B&M regarding who was responsible for this issue and also was it B&M's fault for not informing CP to train their ride opps to be on the look out for restraints that might cause an issue for a guest, basically this is why you see guests standing straight up and there is the occasional stappling of Mantis restraints now. So basically there was a rework of the restraint checking process between CP and B&M and also a little bit of tweaking to the restraints to help eliminate free travel in between clicks. Hopefully this sheds a little more light on a pretty well kept ride issue.