robintodd

Just did a quick check to verify my memory. In 1991 they had the dodgem cars and les taxis open in addition to what they are offering this year. Parking was free. Children under 3 free. 6.95 per person otherwise. Hours were 4-10 most days and 2-10(ish) on the weekends. Just some food for thought. Todd

I'm happy Winterfest will be back. I'm not totally thrilled with what they are presenting. Being in my mid-30's I remember what Winterfest was and although they are trying to give more to the mix I'm disheartened with the admission price. 17.99 for specific day tickets, 24.99 at the door (unless they are sold out). I inquired how many people would be considered a "sell-out" and no one could tell me. Back when Winterfest used to be around it was relatively cheap to get in. There was a fee for renting skates and the usual expensive food fair found at any park. I can never remember a time when it was "extremely" crowded and that's when season pass holders got in for free. (parking was never charged for, couldn't find an employee to to sit at the front gate in freezing weather maybe? ). I'm a bit fearful that they are setting up Winterfest to fail. In the summer choices are pretty limited for theme parks (except for Kentuky Kingdom) but in the winter there is alot more competition. You could almost go to a football game for the same price as Winterfest. They are renting skates as well this year so that will be on top of the price of admission. Like $3 for hot chocolate isn't enough? I guess I would have liked to see them charge less and if they indeed have "sell-outs" then they could raise the price next year. Paramount is an unknown entity in the winter market. I would be better to have it more affordable so they could re-establish themselves in the area than to ask people to pay money to take a risk. I'm planning on attending this year and will be interested in how many people they get in the park. The public wanted Winterfest back. The one they knew. Affordable and an added value to your season pass. They will be open 4 hours max (6 - 10 even on the weekends?) The carousel, Scooby's Haunted Mansion and the train will be operating and for that they think even 17.99 is reasonable? (plus $5 to park). Just seems a bit greedy to start out in a already crowded holiday attraction market where they actually have competition for family's pre-christmas dollars. I don't mean to be a scrouge and expensive winterfest is better than none at all. But are they just doing this so next year they can not do it and blame low attendance at this years event???? What happened to the season of giving and how many will be giving to PKI this season. Todd

Ok, as far as movies to theme rides after how about....War Of The Worlds. (would probalby make a FANTASTIC dark ride though). Also as far as a hyper theme Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow would be a good candidate. Also the Core or possibly Mission Impossible (3 is in the works). I would love to see a hyper and it's about time they made up for SOB. Just my thoughts... Todd

I rode the Raptor at CP in the snow. AWESOME! Plus I always look forward to an early/late season BEAST ride when the temperature is down as are the crowds!

My wife gratuated from George Washington University with her Masters last Sunday and I noticed an article in one of the GWU newspapers that caught my interest. It seems a former graduate has designed and built a model of an Inverted Wood Coaster. He is currently trying to find a park that would be willing to build it. Gee, another first for a wooden coaster, wonder what park would be most fitting for this radical new idea??

I agree with the gitting rid of Hanna-Barbera theme. It is running out and there was speculation they were keeping the old Antique cars around to be used somewhere else. Most likely they will be re-vamped and used in NC. Just my thoughts.

Small world was in the ride. At the end. I believe there was a couple of songs throughout the ride.

Consensus around here is that it was acutally "It's a small world after all". - PKIJUNKIE from '72 on.

You forgot to mention 1 important thing about The Beast. Not only when it was built was it the longest, fastest & tallest coaster in the WORLD, it held ALL THREE records for TEN YEARS! That is a feat that will NEVER be duplicated. It didn't break records, it CRUSHED them. It was so far out on the edge and even today it rivals any coaster built. Long live The Beast!

BTW Sandusky's graduation is June 5th this year.

Ok, about 4 years ago I went on a sunday and the employees outnumbered the guests! I was told it happens alot during Sandusky's Graduation!!!. Not sure when it is this year but I would find out and plan for that Sat/Sun. The park was literally a ghost town. Todd

No, No loop, but the track does bank perpendicular to the ground.

No, smoking is not natural and neither is prepared food, soda, gardenburgers, beer, wine, or doing anything else that mankind has had a hand in (would that include coasters? or even this forum ) Smoking has been around for a LONG time. And you don't need a very civilized civilization to have it ( ask the british, the indians, etc.) And good luck to you too, seems as though you have a better chance of dying in a car accident than you do of dying of second hand smoke. (and those nasty side effects of such a wreck, could even lead to a vegitative state. I have my living will,....do you?) All the best robintodd

Thoughts on a smoking ban: First off I do smoke and second, I see any type of ban on smoking as an infringement on my freedom as an American. Designated smoking areas just put larger, more concentrated areas of smoke around the park. If you have ever looked into the facts you will find there is NO SIGNIFICANT PROOF that second hand smoke causes cancer. The government did a report on it and the report was blown out of proportion. If you get a chance to watch Penn and Teller's BS show on Showtime it will give you the right facts. As far as health goes the largest problem facing children today is OBESITY. In the last 10 years child obesity has gone from 5% to 16%. I guess this means we should stop selling fattening foods at the park. Better yet I think the consumption of such food, no matter what your weight, should be banned in public places. Adolescent smoking has NOT risen in the past 10 years, so let’s ban smoking. Obesity HAS TRIPLED so why not ban it from public places? You have just as much chance of dying from someone eating around you than them smoking around you. Especially when you consider all the trash and pollution put up by a theme park and look at all the cars in the parking lot. (Plus that cursed train ) I believe smoking bans are just another way for one section of people to have control over another section of people in a country that was found on the basis of freedom. Think of what state is directly south of KI and how much money is made from the production of tobacco. Not to mention the 25-35 % hit federal and state taxes would be raised without having the income from cigarette and tobacco sales. Look, most of my friends are non-smokers and I do my best not to smoke around them. I don’t try to irritate people with my bad habit and I definitely don’t smoke in Hanna-Barbera (I must be human after all ïÂÅ ) I know it’s bad for me and I should quit. It’s a pretty strong addiction or I’m a weak person one of the two. But I’m not yelling to stop that kid from eating cotton candy because it makes my children want to eat it. My point is where does it stop. Cigarettes today, then alcohol, then candy, then piercings (like I want my kid to want a nose ring, but people walk around with those all the time and the infection from having one done COULD kill you) This is America and freedom should be more than a word. Thanks for your consideration in the reading of this and peace be with you. RobinTodd