robintodd

Thanks, this is Fantastic. Tried looking for this but didn't see it under "Special Events". Thought that is where it would be. I'll be looking forward to it!

So I'm guessing we won't be getting Grand Carnivale this year?

I stand corrected. No approval yet (which just keeps it from being sold to individuals or sold by private companies, it must be distributed through specific channels). I assure you I have intelligence and personal attacks are not required. As I stated I'm simply wanting to inform. Seems like you don't like to see anything that you don't agree with. The truth is out there, you just have to look for it. Again, I pulled nothing from a news channel or some guy with a bow tie who admittingly in court has an opinion show not a news show. There is no debate. You may not believe in the virus, but the virus believes in you. As far as requiring a vaccine for admittance, last time I checked this was America where capitalism is an accepted thing. A business may run any way with any rules it sees fit. If you don't like the rules, don't support the business. Discussion and debate is what we need more of in my opinion. We all agree on certain things and disagree on others. It's called being human. The ability to have an intellectual debate and sharing of ideas as well as having the freedom to do so is what makes this country very special indeed. You showed me there is a difference between emergency use and approval, hopefully you learned something as well. It's the only way we grow. Cheers.

It's not a right or left thing it's a SCIENCE thing. I was merely pointing out the facts. Hours of research isn't the answer as I found the articles in a simple google search. Understanding the vaccine is serious because the disease is serious (3,000,000+ deaths worldwide, 590,000+ in the US). Not sure where you're getting that they are not approved, they all received emergency approval. (https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines) Both Moderna and Phizer are mRNA vaccines, not your traditional vaccine. mRNA vaccine research has been going on for decades and the ability to react to a new virus was seen in the current vaccines. (https://www.oligotherapeutics.org/facts-about-mrna-vaccines-and-the-decades-of-research-that-went-into-creating-them/) They went through rigorous tests as well (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-did-we-develop-a-covid-19-vaccine-so-quickly#Rigorous-guidelines-for-clinical-trials). My intention was to inform. Not just you but others who may see your statement and want to be informed of the facts. Information is power. Facts are important. I try to reference sites that are scientific in nature (nothing from Fox, MSNBC or CNN). Just remember there are anti-vaxers out there that don't believe in the vaccines you would consider guaranteed. They are basing their beliefs on rumors that were spread at the start of those vaccine roll-outs. I'm just trying to dispose of the rumor's before we have this same problem with the COVID vaccine in the future. When people don't get vaccinated they allow the virus a chance to mutate. If a new vaccine resistant strain get's a chance to spread then we'll be back in the same situation we were last year with restrictions on Theme Parks, etc. and I think we can ALL agree we don't want that.

Asking if you've been vaccinated is NOT I repeat NOT a violation of HIPAA. HIPAA only governs your clinician, a hospital or others that provide your health care. I can't believe the number of people that believe this. My wife is a nurse and has her masters in research. If a nurse or doctor tells you about a patient's health information without the patients consent, THAT is a violation of HIPAA. https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/who-has-a-right-to-ask-if-youre-vaccinated https://www.vox.com/recode/22363011/hipaa-not-hippa-explained-health-privacy

Great podcast!

While we're on the subject I also believe waiters and waitresses should get the $15 minimum wage as opposed to relying on 'Tips' to make up the difference. If a server is doing a poor job, they should be trained or let go. Managers should manage and not rely on customers to do employee evaluations on a continual basis. A raise in the minimum wage benefits EVERYONE. More tax revenue as well as more money in the economy. Someone making $15 is more likely to work harder than someone making $8. They also have less worries about paying rent, etc. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2021/02/25/496355/small-businesses-get-boost-15-minimum-wage/ And no, putting the minimum wage at $15 would NOT raise the price of a Taco Bell Burrito to $38. (yes, that is out there) https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/politifact/2021/01/21/biden-raise-minimum-wage-affects-myth-taco-bell-burrito/4245883001/ OK, off my soap box. In the end we're all in this together. If it means keeping a roof over someone's head and feeding their child, I'd gladly pay a little more. As the good book says "do unto other's as you would have them do unto you".

Actually a single income households with only the husband working was at 38% in 1965, in 2010 it was still at 21%. https://taxfoundation.org/america-has-become-nation-dual-income-working-couples/

The comparison shouldn't be with inflation, rather the cost of living. How much does that minimum wage get you in today's dollars. True the minimum wage was $1 in 1960 with in today's dollars is $9.62 (Still above the current minimum wage) but the median value of a single-family home was $11,900 (equivalent to $104,346 in today's dollars). A gallon of gas was 31 cents. In 2009 (last time the federal minimum wage was raised, it's been a record 12 years) the minimum wage was raised to $6.55 an hour. The median price of a newly constructed home was $214,300 and a gallon of gas was $2.35. Basically the price of the house adjusted for inflation has more than doubled ($104,346 vs $214,300) while the minimum wage adjusted for inflation went from $9.62 to $6.55. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-us-minimum-wage-and-its-value-has-changed-over-time#2008-2009-22 And to be more precise wouldn't it be nice if what you got paid to do kept up with what you did? The minimum wage is WAY behind in productivity. If it tracked with productivity the minimum wage would be $25 (that's where the $25 is coming from). Granted I think that is way to high, but $15 is a nice compromise. https://cepr.net/this-is-what-minimum-wage-would-be-if-it-kept-pace-with-productivity/ Companies like Wal Mart are making out at the taxpayer's expense. They pay workers sub par wages and sometimes only part time (to avoid having to supply insurance) and these WORKING people still get government subsidies paid for by our tax dollars. I think that if subsidies were taken away for ANYONE who had a job it would require companies to hire full rather than part time. Instead of hiring 2 part time people making a combined $15 and hour, they would hire one at $15 and hour and the other would be on subsidies. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/opinion/2017/04/08/walmart-tax-every-american-taxpayer-pays/100188002/

I never paid my kids an allowance. When my oldest son asked for one, I told him he was already getting an allowance. We sat down and I listed all the bills for the house including the mortgage and food costs and divided the number by 5 and (we had 3 kids at home at the time) and told him that WAS his allowance. I also told him how much an apartment would cost him, etc. and he was convinced he as getting a much better deal at home even without an allowance

I have to admit, I love coasters but the biggest thing I'm looking forward to in 2021 is the food. Chef Major and his team were unbelievable last year and I'm hoping the Saturday specials are back (and on the meal plan :)). First time I've look forward to FOOD for a theme park season. Well done culinary team!

Just saw a train on MT testing! Getting close now....

Got my second 2 Friday's ago (pfizer). Arm was sore the next day and I ran a 99.9 temp for 6 hours starting 30 hours after the injection. Wasn't sore or anything, just planned on taking it easy. 1 hour after I broke the temp I felt great. My wife had maderna and after her 2nd got a 99 temp starting 18 hours after the injection for about 8 hours, then fine. Just plan on taking it easy and have a blanket on hand if you're subject to getting the chills.

Thanks for the clarification Don. Glad to see my Alzheimer's isn't setting in yet

They did. I know several employees that worked there over the years plus I've been going there since it opened. It mostly impacted The Beast because of it's popularity. Maybe Don can confirm

Once the last rider is off of Diamondback they don't just turn off the lights. They have to run everything through a cycle and get the trains off the track (run the cycle, move the transfer track, etc.). This takes time. It also takes time to do daily maintenance checks on the coasters and there are only so many people trained to do the inspections and with so many coasters and only so many hours in a night the move by CP makes sense. Also, am I the only one that remembers the pre-Cedar Fair times at KI? They ALWAYS shut down the lines before park close to try and anticipate not needing to have cycles run after park close. It was one of the reasons Beast Night Rides became even more popular. Sometimes the line for The Beast would be twice as long at the end of the night so people would be in line before the cut it off before the park close. To my memory the park did this up until Cedar Fair took them over.

Cedar Point has a locker system that allows you to use any locker once paid. You can use lockers at one coaster and then at another coaster. Not sure of the particulars but would be worth it if you could pay once and use multiple lockers (one at a time).

All I want for Xmas is the webcam's back up

One of the ideas they are floating is requiring getting the vaccine in order to receive the next $1,200 (or whatever amount) stimulus payment. I could imagine many who would argue about getting the vaccine alone would get the vaccine in order to get that cheddar.

Bring back Bayern Curve #bringbackthecurve

Always wondered this myself. To me it can only drive up sales. Parents would be more likely to get their child a pass and once they do KI has the children's birthdate and other info. That child will cherish and hold on to that pass, it will be come a treasured key to get into Kings Island, just like Mom and Dad's pass. Right before they turn 6 KI can send the parent's a "birthday" present by offering 50% off the child's first Gold Pass. Once that happens you now have the gold pass in the child's name and renewing becomes expected. To me having a physical pass becomes an incentive to give the birthday information to the park where as now, they just "try and sneak them by" if they are close. Also you could market more toward the pre-K pass holders. Seems like a Win-Win if marketed and done correctly.

I guess there's alot of places you don't go in Ohio then. Face it, it's the new reality. Most parks moved to non smoking a couple years ago along with zoo's, etc. Sporting events happen 'outside' and more and more stadiums and concert venues are banning smoking altogether. It's KI's right not to have a smoking area, just like it's your right not to go anymore.

I noticed on the Cedar Point Power Tower West camera that the paddlewheel boats are in the water. There are 2 and they have moved since yesterday. I didn't notice them until about a week ago. Wonder if they're trying a soft opening during fall fest? I'll find out as I'll be going the last weekend. Anyone know anything more?

If memory serves me right, last week it was $13.99.

Attended the event yesterday and I cannot express how impressed I am with what Kings Island has done with such a short time to plan. I love the atmosphere and the fact that the whole park is in on the action. Chef Major has upped the theme park food game to a whole different level. Had the Flank Steak yesterday and it was amazing. The line was from Wishbone Grill all the way to Skyline 20 minutes before 5. (I got in line by the starbucks around 35 minutes till 5). Looking forward to doing the tasting card next weekend (you have to use it on the day it was purchased). Seeing all the lines at every food stand mostly for the tasting shows how much of a success this event will be. The only thing I can say is that after seeing how busy the park was and how well this was done, I'm kind of wishing they would have done a scaled down Winterfest event with the same tasting card idea (different menu for winter) in mind. If yesterday was any indication, they wouldn't loose money on it. Fantastic job by Chef Major and the whole Culinary team at KI. You really knocked it out of the park and I'll probably continue to spend more this year on food than ever even with my all season dining plan.