fryler87

PKI is a theme park in my book. When I think of "theme park," I think of a "park" with "themes" in it. (Not unlike the "Jump to Conclusions Mat" from Office Space - its a mat with conclusions that you jump to...) Themes in PKI: Action Zone, Rivertown, Nickelodeon Central (or whatever), and HB-land (or whatever its called), Oktoberfest, Coney Mall and International Street. As for the rides and their themes, it doesn't matter to me what condition they're in or if the rides themselves have a theme. PKI has "themes" and it's a "park," therefore, its a "theme park."

Despite me wanting a giga, I think it's going to be a B&M floorless or speed coaster. How about a floorless speedcoaster? Kinda innovative, can be super tall (200+ ft.), plus it should be reliable and cost effective. Hopefully, they're aiming to build something taller the SOB. My vote goes to the floorless.

I know this is a dumb question...but I have to ask it. So with all of the new stuff going in, what are they going to take out? If PKI needed that extra half million gallons of water, does this hint at them possible keeping some of the old stuff and just relocating it?

Pkiguy-the magnetic brakes on DZ are permanent, so the cannot fail unless the fall off or for some strange reason come demagnetized (this is nearly impossible). I THINK the brakes on Superman are LIM brakes - they are electromagnets. They use electricity to "create" magnets that slow the cars when the come back down. When they "launch" the ride, the oppisite occers, they use the electromagnets to accelerate the cars. Either way, the magnetic brakes on DZ would NEVER fail. They designed the braking system so that even if the power were to magically go out while the car was en route downwards, it would still slow and come to a stop, just like the way it does during normal operation.

I think we'll see Vortex live to be about 25-30 years old, then PKI may call it quits on it. Why? How old is Racer? 31 years old-as old as the park. It's still here and still has more years of good rides to offer than some people may think-its reliable, beautiful and a true classic. Now Vortex doesn't have the same name to live up to, but it is one nice coaster, and one can see it from I-71 with ease. It's not going anywhere soon...but in a decade or so, we'll see what happens.

This is true, I also have one in my wallet. (takes out wallet, looks at pass.) Yep, it's a gold pass. I just checked. We got a flier in the mail about getting the free gold pass upgrade as long as you get the pass purchased and processed by November 1st. I'm not sure as to whether they are still selling the gold passes now that that offer is over. I'd assume they'd go either the way of selling the gold pass 'till the first and then stop and only sell gold passes, or sell them for the rest of the year to next season for a greater charge than the regular.

Either way, like I said, it would be sweet if PKI brought back King Cobra. Where they would/COULD put it is a good question. I will abide by the fact that parts for KC were expensive and quite rare and I will believe that this is one of the main reasons that the park took it out. The only question I have is what are they going to do with the REST of the space next to Delirium that has yet to be used? Could this area be used for turnaround element in a future coaster? THAT would be sweet.

I personally dislike the cars/trains on SoB...PTC trains are the best! They have the most legroom and you don't feel like you're sitting in a hole. New rolling stock on SoB would be GREAT as long as they would rethink the design of the cars. As for the layout, I'm fine with it. There's really not much other way to incorporate a loop on a woodie than that. Remember, friction causes things to slow to a stop.

Even though we've beat this idea with a stick for too long of a time, I'll say all I'd like is a nice Intamin giga or B&M hyper. My only other wish is that it is well over 250 ft. tall. If it isn't much taller than SOB, where's the fun? If we get another flat ride, I'd like to see a Huss Jump2 or an S&S Power multi-tower complex (PowerTower @ CP). Also, add some nice lighting to the ride, since the past has shown that it makes the cosmetics all the sweeter. Either way, build something that makes SOME sort of statement.

I've seen only one picture of KC when it had the water-fountain action going on. Does anyone have pictures of when the water was there, or know of a website that has pictures with the water?

I imagine that they will update the paraphernalia in the station - at least I HOPE they do. It does seem hard to imagine that it is already 25 years old and the length record for woodies has YET to be broken. Something else CoasterRZ made me realize...SOB is already almost 5 years old. Time sure flies...

Is it just me, or were there trees immediately behind The Beast's station at one time? In the area left of the brake run, there seems to be a lot of rubbish (the green growing type). I could have sworn there used to be trees there. Just need a short answer please.

Wow. Please excuse my language, however that just simply sucks. I'm willing to bet a few hundred dollars on the fact that Intamin installed some sort of manual release mechanism on that thing. I wouldn't be surprised it it was one of those one-time-use emergency release things that has to be replaced after its purpose has been served. I kinda doubt the second one, but it could be true. I'll still stick to my guns and say that the harness-emergency-retrevial-system is the very last resort.

Okay, I have a question about the passes. We got our passes ordered and processed last weekend. In the flier we got a while back, it said you get free parking for the season. On my gold pass, it says "PARKING" below my name. I was wondering if this is the free parking perk.

So today the Frydryk family decided to go to PKI to get our 2004 passes and ride a few of the rides for the last time this year. My brother and I went the day by ourselves. In the parking lot, I looked up at DZ and remembered the "last resort emergency retrevial system" and about wet myself. I can't even imagine being stuck up 260 ft. in the air like that. Needless to say, this is one ride I didn't do today. Well we started out the day with SOB. What a turbulent ride. However I this time scooted my butt forward in the seat so the lap bar wouldn't go down all the way. Great idea, guys...I had the smoothest ride on that coaster I've ever had! I held onto the bar in front of you attached to the car and yanked so hard, my back didn't ever touch the seat back. Best ride ever. Wait: 5 mins. (I'm not exaggerating, either.) We went on Delirium next. It was Nick's first ride. Hands down the best flat ride in the park!!! I LOVE that thing. Great g-forces, speed, and that loved "out of control" feeling. It DOES feel like you're in the middle of a tornado (not that I have been in a real one...) Wait: 30 mins. Good capacity BTW. Next ride was FoF in Coney Maul. What a great ride...smooth track but bumpy track transitions (kind of whips you during turns and banks). Acutally took in all of the theming and realized that PKI did one hell of a job with it. There's a lot of dust everywhere, kinda gross but oh well. Looked for the KC cars, and didn't find any. But otherwise, what a sweet ride. Lots of close calls with the arms up. Wait: about 45 mins. Crusing over to Rivertown, we went on The Beast. What a classic...smoothest ride in a LONG time. Didn't do anything differently than all of the other times I've ridden it. The helix, as usual, was GREAT. There were two ladies in front of us bouncing around like crazy...oddly hilarious. I also realized how close it is to The Racer. Again, a classic coaster. It lives up to its name and age. Wait: 25 mins. We went over to The Racer next...another turbulent ride. The backwards side was on its last train when we got in line. No maintenance probs, don't know why it was closing/closed. Oh well. Had MAJOR airtime, best in the park. I can see why its considered that The Racer started the second generation of the rollercoaster. Wait: 20 mins. Last ride of the day: Adventure Express. Getting into line, it was the longest I've ever seen it - nearly out to the ride entrance. It was ok, it went fast. I thought to myself, every park needs an Arrow mine train coaster. A perfect combination of fast speed, a nice hill and some turbulence. At times it was so jerky, I'm sure a slim jim would have been jealous. Here's something to think about. The regular guy talking about the "lost family expedition" was absent. Instead, they played the Indiana Jones theme song! Hmmmm... Wait: about 25 mins. Didn't get to ride the train to see how BB is coming along...little dissapointed I forgot about it. Still no sign out front in the parking lot. A little curious to see what the new one is gonna look like...hope it's sweet! 'Till 2004, PKI, farewell!

I don't think I'd be too crazy for that emergency retrevial system when they unlatch your seat and you have to get a harness on to get free. You'd have to SOMEHOW get the harness onto your butt safely. Meaning you'd have to totally unlatch the restraint to get the harness where it's supposed to go. As I read through the procedures that fyrfyter stated, my hands started to sweat on the mouse and desktop. I hope this is the last resort and not the first thing they do to get you back down the 264 feet you came up. You know what would be sweet? If they installed an emergency sub ring somehow when they built those rides. It could be like a giant flat donut with a guard rail around the perimiter that could raise to the height of the ring. Now that would be something I could go for! It would probably end up being too impractical though.

When you're done, see if you can get it on the web somehow...if possible put all the pictures you take up too. I'd love to see them.

Fiber optics would be a wonderful alternative...it can work on something that moves or vibrates and you do only need to replace one bulb instead of many. If anybody here as ever seen a swimming pool with fiber optics you know it's pretty neat...when you have fiber optics that change colors, it gets even better. The only two downfalls with fiber optics is that when they break, (and they do) they CAN be a hassle to fix. I didn't say they ARE a hassle...they CAN be. Working at a pool company, I can attest to this. The other is that they are initally expensive to install. Other than that, I think we will soon see this lighting technology used on rides very soon. Let's hope someone in the upper-ranks of ride design and decor will think of this.

Agreed to an extent. At CP, they have sweet lighting. MF and PT have those multi-colored lights that change. I must say, it looks beautiful and sweet. It's one of those not-so-expensive things that can really give rides a face lift. The flood lights also make rides look sweet (Mean Streak and TTD at CP), however they can't be used everywhere. The old school lighting is pretty cool. I think it's more of the type/aura of a ride that makes it have its lighting. Although, I will agree that some of the lighting should be brought back.

In contradiction to what I said above a few days ago, I think Viacom HAS pulled money away from PKI to help save up for this new park. I know nothing little about business, but I know that making money off of saved funds from interest is better than being charged for it when you take out a loan. Viacom probably pulled nickels and pennies from all of the Paramount parks (esp. PKI b/c it's the cash cow) and after the new park opens, will probably take a few nickels and pennies from it to give back to the money source. That's how I would do it.

I think that PKI isn't really that worthy of something like CP's FreeWay system. Rarely are the lines long at any of the rides except for Drop Zone, Delirium and TR:TR (sometimes FoF can get a little long). CP has rides like Millie, Dragster, Magnum, Raptor and the sort. Those are world-class rides and the lines get LONG (firsthand experiences...). By the way, I HATE FREEWAY. I think it is wrong for people to sign up for a time so they can get a guaranteed short wait to ride a ride and essentially cut in front of everyone else who waits their turn. If PKI was going to CONSIDER putting a system like this in, they would first need a huge coaster or something that would prove that something like the FreeWay system at CP would be necessary. Hmmm...maybe I'm onto something with this theory...

I would consider an amusement park just like a vacation spot. If you go to Hilton Head Island, you may know what I mean. There are people that LIVE on the island, and there are people that VISIT the island. If you've ever been there, everything is fairly expensive - golf, hotels or condos, food, and "fun stuff." The people that live there learn how to be thrifty and not spend much. The people that visit there for vacation purposes are willing to shell out more money since it is a vacation. I would consider amusement parks the exact same. There are people who go to PKI as a vacation (just as we may visit CP for two days as a vacation) and stay at the PKI hotel (whatever it is called) and are willing to shell out the bucks for the food and games. Then there is us, we visit PKI on almost a semi-regular basis. Some of us may have learned to be somewhat thrifty at the park - bringing our own food, getting a season pass, ordering tickets online (or if you're like me, from AAA), and stuff like that.

I have no clue as to how much 120 billion Yen is, however if the American currency conversion is correct...1.1 billion dollars...that sounds like a hell of a lot of money. would guess that they would have to purchase the property and then develop it, pay taxes, etc. I also don't know what the liquid value of PKI is, but my guess is that it's a few pennies less that a billion. Let me state that I have no source of facts and am purely drawing this from my mind alone. I doubt it will take away from PKI's "funds." Remember, despite the fact that Paramount is owned by Viacom and the money does get flushed into one account, the money would only be redistributed back in somewhat of the same fashion that it was given. I think that Paramount would only open a new park if they had the money.

I wouldn't say that I loved KC, however it was one of my more favorite "classic rides." Why? It was a classic in my book because it was the first stand-up with a loop (I believe) and something about it just made it fit in where it was. It didn't give a ride like Mantis at CP by a long shot...but KC was built in 1984...what could one expect? I'm a little saddend that PKI dismantled the coaster and has it in storage. I understand that it was a maintenance nightmare and required rare parts and PKI saw the oppertunity to rid itself of it, but it was just such a "good-old ride."

icaruslives, agreed. pki is blessed with terrain which almost NEEDS to be used. not taking the full effect of it would be a shame to me. if we see a coaster for '05, however, i doubt it will be launched. pki knows they have hills, valleys and forest to use.