bkroz

I agree about Thunderbolt last season. The best I can remember it running since I've been visiting. Of course, my most memorable experience of last year is riding that ride on the forth of July, with both the park's and the city's fireworks exploding on all sides as the train was pulled up the classic, white-lit lift hill... Probably one of the best memories I have of that park, and of the person I was with... I'm very, very excited about the upgrades to the Cafe. It really is a nice place to eat, but those ceiling fans just couldn't keep up. And I won't ever forget the time that that same friend of mine was literally collapsed against the wall as she waited in line to use the restroom in there, whimpering that she "needed to pee" until a very friendly older woman said, "Honey, you can cut me if you want..." She found out upon entering that there was one stall, with a mother with four children all playing in the sink and holding the one stall... in the park's main restaurant!

If that were the case, wouldn't some of the quicker kid's rides be a 5? I think that the system assigns the rating based on a set standard and a definition of how quickly and unexpectedly forces are experienced and changed. For Backlot Stunt Coaster, those forces are powerful and aggressive, and they do change quickly. Same with Adventure Express. Perhaps the scale would be more realistic if it were out of 10. After all, the current system does make it look as though Diamondback is as "thrilling" as Adventure Express and vice versa, while Surf Dog is as thrilling as Drop Zone. If it were out of 10, rides like Drop Zone could be realistically moved to "9," to create a better understanding of their actual thrill level.

I expect that'll be the case, but another viable option is that it may just be there to drum up publicity, and will be moved back into the attraction once it actually opens. After all, it's probably got a spot back there waiting for it, but if it's ready to go, they might as well use it at the front of the park to get people excited about the exhibit.

If you go for spring break, it certainly would be. On my trips in early December and throughout January and February, I've rarely seen a line beyond 15 minutes... The parks close at 7:00 PM during those months, and since most rides are a walk-on by 5:00, that makes sense.

True. I couldn't give a rat's behind about streetcar, and probably about a few other things you find interesting or captivating... On another hand, did anyone else notice that Diamondback is a nice orange color post-splashdown and back into the station?

What a great report so far. Universal's Islands of Adventure is hands down my favorite corporate-owned park that I've been to. As you pointed out, the attention to detail is so incredible. The park was built to be years and years ahead of its time, and although other parks are beginning to catch up, it still has a certain something that no place else can match for me. From the Lighthouse to Spiderman to Poseidon's Fury, each ride has something so special and unique. I look forward to reading more!!

To me, the ratings appear silly, but are at the very least consistent. The park notes that "4" rides have "medium to high speeds and/or heights with moderate to rapid braking; riders may encounter unexpected changes in speed, direction and/or elevation." The rating for a "5" reads much the same but adds "aggressive and unexpected forces" and "many unexpected rapid changes in speed..." Regardless of what you think of The Crypt's cycle, there's no denying that you encounter aggressive, unexpected forces. By definition, that's a 5. And on WindSeeker, you may encounter unexpected changes in speed, direction, or elevation. And indeed, while WindSeeker is tall, that alone does not make a ride a 5 (although it does appear to have some impact, since The Eiffel Tower is a "2"). By that definition, Adventure Express probably should be a five, as you do experience aggressive and unexpected changes, etc. But you're right that Drop Zone seems to fit the definition of a "5" as well.... Perhaps it's just that, by their nature, many of rides are aggressive and feature many unexpected changes, and so some of the "smoother" 5's get downgraded to 4's. Still I can't believe Drop Zone is a 4. Strange, indeed!

Let's face it: this map is overflowing with errors like the old one was. It's just a matter of preference. I think the map is nice enough, and it's lightyears better than Kings Dominion's tangled web of paths, indiscernible ride labels and is-that-a-roller-coaster-or-a-waterslide styling... (Their map, more than any other I've seen, is simply stupid. Just try to find a ride in the Grove area or the Planet Snoopy area... And look at their Backlot Stunt Coaster... If it weren't for the name, I'd swear it was a water slide... And while there's is also devoid of trees, it also has the added benefit of having a nice, tan fence running around its perimeter - something our map only has in the waterpark, thank God). Again, how many people here actually use a map? Not many. I personally find the Citigraph style to be far, far, far superior as collectors items. To me, those maps are works of art - like an illustrated aerial view of our favorite parks. These Cedar Fair style maps are probably a little superior in terms of navigation (which should really be the primary use of a park map...) but to me, they are no where near as beautiful or visually captivating. Plus, regardless of what Kings Island's Twitter argues, I feel that Flight Deck and The Beast and Adventure Express are being misrepresented when they're drawn without trees... A map is for the attractions? Sure. But is that drawing in Rivertown really representative of The Beast? Does anyone care? These are the questions we'll find the answers to. I, for one, am thinking that the answer is no (on both counts).

On the interactive map on the site, Action Theater is called FX Theater. Maybe it'll have some effects this year! Huzzah!

You'd think it'd be a six... Maybe a blood red shrieking skull with a 6 on it instead of the two double diamonds...

Luckily, that whole April Fools Day prank from the Math & Science Booklet is finally over, and we have access to the real 2011 park map. http://www.visitkingsisland.com/public/park/map/index.cfm

That. Is. Incredible. I'm dying. Consider me a fan. I am literally dying. SO GOOD.

I see the up-charge changing each year, regardless of the dinosaur's condition. People will pay $5.00 when it's brand new. But considering the number of Kings Island visitors who are pass-holders (and also factoring in the people who visit enough that they might as well be, but don't know the financial benefits of it), I just don't think that a year or two down the road this will still be doing great business at $5.00. From the beginning I've said that passholders should get in for $2.00 or $3.00. The upcharge is a good idea what with guests having such close interaction to such expensive machinery. But how many times will the average person visit? Even if your kids love dinosaurs, I don't know that you'll be too happy about paying an extra $20.00 each time you come, even if (/especially if) you're passholders... We'll see, though. We could all be completely wrong. Think of the traveling dinosaur exhibits at zoos. You may do it once or twice with your family, but after that it either moves on or you do. This is going to be long-term, I think. I just doubt that the $5.00 will be. Even a $2.00 upcharge would keep out the "riff-raff" and generate some extra revenue. My thing from the beginning has been, Dinosaurs Alive will be running whether there are fifteen or five-hundred visitors any given day... So I feel a little cheated by paying $5.00 knowing that it would go on with or without my attendance... At what point has the attraction paid for itself for the day, and straight profit is being earned? But then again, what is it about capitalist systems? Pursuit of profit? If people pay $5.00, then it will cost $5.00. If they thought they could get $6.00, they would go for that. And if the most they can charge to balance the exhibit's operation with income is $2.00, then that's what they'll charge... Then again, this is the same company who seems oblivious to the notion that if they charged half as much for the food, three times as many people would buy it, resulting in higher revenue and ultimately profit... So maybe it isn't as cut and dry as it seems.

If you renew your pass, it should be ready to use as soon as the renewal is confirmed and you pay. In other words, you should be able to take the same physical card straight to the gate. If you're getting a new pass, you'll need to have it processed and get a new photo taken. At least, that's my understanding.

Oh shoot, I had mistaken the linked image in the article to be the webcam. Haha. Silly me. Well, maybe it won't be as high definition. We'll see! Sorry folks.

Fox19 has added a SkyCam weather camera to the top of Kings Island's Eiffel Tower, aimed at WindSeeker and the eastern portion of Coney Mall. The view is quite a bit clearer than the Kings Island webcam aimed at the same area. http://www.fox19.com/story/14412393/new-kings-island-camera

Given the technology available today, you'd think it would be a simple, straightforward efficient way to do things. But... Given the technology available today, I think you were right to print off your receipt.

Yes. I work for a privately owned company (one of the few privately owned companies specializing in our trade) and it's really a blessing when it comes to decisions being made quickly and efficiently. Communication between our home office and districts is speedy, direct, and personal. There's also the opportunity to change things quickly without having to go through endless layers of corporate bureaucracy and mediation. The hiring process is also much more streamlined because the company is privately owned by the family who started it in the 1970's. Basically, our company bought two of its largest competitors, and the other filed for bankruptcy very recently. I truly believe that being privately-owned has afforded us many opportunities to one-up the others in our industry. Cedar Fair doesn't have the same freedom. Let's not forget the "country club atmosphere." On another point, I have to add that there is difference between listening to guests (which certainly, even Cedar Fair does to an extent) and giving guests decision-making power. When it comes to things like Son of Beast, sometimes the needs of the many must outweigh the wants of the few. Or maybe, the needs of the many that they don't even know that they need must do so. Is the ride safe? None of us can say for sure. But we do know that the people whose opinions matter are displeased with the ride. If they weren't displeased, it would be open. It's simple. Start a petition to re-open Son of Beast. Gather 1,000,000 (that's one million) signatures by April 30th. I would still be 100% confident that it would be silent come opening day. If you believe marijuana should be legalized, write to your representatives, campaign, and vote. That's fine. The government of the United States is run by representatives who vote for the needs of their constituents (in theory). Until a majority of the representatives vote that marijuana should be legalized, it will stay illegal, and you will not be allowed to use it. Cedar Fair is not a democracy. They don't need to give everyone a voice. And indeed, they don't. Son of Beast will remain closed until "they" decide to reopen it (or not!). I'm sure your opinion is much appreciated when directed to the right person in the right fashion, but it is certainly not a deal-breaker. And maybe they have the right idea... Certainly there are those who would blindly vote pro-/anti- marijuana/Son of Beast without having the full story, or being informed (see our discussion here, for example). If you give the decision-making power to a group, you must also trust that that group knows what they're talking about. In Son of Beast's case (and doubtlessly, many many others), they/we don't...

And certainly, they are. Maybe not seriously. Maybe not for Son of Beast. But what's happening now to the New Texas Giant will likely be revolutionary... if it works in the long run. But by your own timeline here, you must admit that anything that happens to Texas Giant will not happen to Son of Beast by opening day in 2011... As Terpy said, it has taken years of planning, not 20 days. Realize also that the company behind Texas Giant's renovation may flat out refuse to work on Son of Beast. As I said, what if they do, and then it backfires? They will have lost all credibility and may be named in future lawsuits against the ride. More than likely, if Cedar Fair approached the company, they would name a price at which they would perform the renovation (unless they flat out refuse, which may be the case). Cedar Fair will then find that price to be reasonable, or not. Again, at what point do the costs of Son of Beast become so expensive that it becomes irresponsible from a financial point of view to press on? Didn't Mr. Scheid say nearly $30 million had been spent on the ride? How much more needs to be tacked on before it becomes too much? To many, it's too much already. So if it comes time to raise the ride's total expenditure to $50 million, or to get a nice new Intamin Blitz coaster in its place... Well... If that time comes, we shall see the results.

Recognize that your opinion of how "bad" the ride is matters about as much as mine, or my mother's, or my best friends. It means nothing. Pain tolerances are different. You'll feel different about most every ride today than you will thirty years from now. And pre-existing condition or not, how does it reflect on the park when someone passes away on a ride? You do not hear, "Someone died on Son of Beast, but because they had a pre-existing heart condition they were unaware of, so it was not the ride that was at fault." No. You hear, "Someone died on Son of Beast." So whether you think the ride is "that bad" is so totally irrelevant that it might as well be nonexistent. Some of the hundreds of questions are: Is it safe? Is it a comfortable and worthwhile experience for the people who want to ride it? What must be done to it to align it with the standards that we set, and how much would that cost? For the same price, what could we replace it with, and does that potential replacement have a better chance of being a crowd-pleaser and raising attendance? How will our insurance rates change based solely on the operation of this ride? (And trust me, they would...) What about people who now see that this ride is an easy target for lawsuits? Is it worth the price of a renovation just to take a chance at success (in other words, success is not guaranteed, no matter how many millions they might spend to re-track the ride)? Would anyone want to ride it if it reopened today? (To me, the answer is yes, but as I said, the park would be stupid to do so - it's been proven that thousands of dollars can be won by sustaining an injury from this particular ride in its last operable form...) Would any companies want to spend their time and energy dealing with Son of Beast? What if the "fix" that that potential company installs doesn't do its job, and they loose all of their credibility and revenue, and may even be named in future lawsuits? Is that worth it for that company? What if Mr. Kinzel opens the ride, retires, and the ride injures even more people? Does it affect him? Probably not. But his legacy is tarnished. What if they spend $15 million to re-track it with steel only to find a whole new set of problems develops? After all, the support structure has proven the be the problem moreso than the track... Why should Son of Beast get $15 million to be re-done when the rest of the park could be improved exponentially with that money? In other words, if it came down to a chance at a successful Son of Beast, or a brand new Intamin Blitz coaster, which decision would be more fruitful in the long-run? There is so much that must be considered from literally every angle. Your opinion of "if the ride is as bad at they make it out to be or not" is so completely and utterly useless. It's finances that drive this and every for-profit company. That's why your earlier idea of having park visitors vote on if it should be open or not is so completely and utterly incomprehensible. Park visitors are not equipped to make the decisions that may cost the company millions upon millions of dollars. In a larger scale way, that's why Cedar Fair is a limited partnership, apparently. The Son of Beast decision involves people on the corporate level, the park level, maintenance, outside firms, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, insurance providers (who, by the way, may require so much money to insure Son of Beast that it's operation becomes irresponsible to the shareholders, anyway), and basically every facet of Kings Island and Cedar Fair staff. Also use that "big picture" knowledge we talked about to realize that the CEO is retiring and the company who owns Kings Island is being hounded (if that's an appropriate word) by a shareholder who owns more of the company than Mr. Kinzel would probably like. The very last thing on his mind right now is a ride at some small, non-flagship park in Ohio that has been closed (and thus, has not caused any issues) for the last two years. I'm sure he's quite content with Son of Beast's status right now, and will continue to be as long as he's in office dealing with real issues.

Right. If you'd like to continue believing these things, then fine. Enjoy the few days you have left before the "real" map is released. And once it is, you can begin thinking that they're going to work on the ride to have it ready for daily operation. And when that doesn't happen, you can begin to think that they're going to have a special re-opening celebration for Halloween Haunt. We know this will never end. Just realize that there is opposition here to your hopes. If you broadcast them, they will be shot down by people here who are trying to be much more logical, realistic, adult, and smart about this. It is not simply a roller coaster. It is not as easy as hitting a switch and re-opening it. What of guest comfort? Safety? Maintenance? Insurance? Corporate decision-making? Expenses (of either removal or renovation)? Budgeting? Like every ride that has ever injured a guest, there is miles upon miles of information that must be considered. It would take months and months (or apparently, years and years) to muddle through the decisions that must be made concerning this ride one way or another. It is clear enough to everyone here that those decisions have again been put off (or have been made, but not acted on due to the reasons listed above) for the 2011 season. Basically, if it hasn't been visibly overhauled, it isn't reopening. And it hasn't been overhauled. Because many of us here have the ability to see that bigger picture, we find your claims that this is all a joke or prank to be absolutely positively outrageous. And I, for one, can't understand how you continue to be so oblivious to the facts. But I'm just putting it out there: Because so many of us are looking at this in a big-picture way and understand that the ride will not be open April 30th, your input seems childish, uninformed, and narrow-minded. So if you post it, we will rebuke it. That's the long and short of it, and I'm sorry that it's that way, but I know that information is what we're here to share with one another, and you come across as misinformed. I'm sure I come across as misinformed a lot, too, and I appreciate those who give me actual information to help me make better decisions next time to improve the dialogue we all share. You, however, seem very closed off and will not accept the knowledge being offered to you by the many, many intelligent people here who are telling you to (and I quote) "stop trying to pretend things are the way you want them in your fantasies." Face the facts, or continue to rebuke them. But you'll see. We're just trying to make it easier on you by adding in some adult reasoning skills, but you are uninterested.

a company doesn't have to stop just because April fools is over. You are so beyond logical thought at this point on this subject, I can't even begin to fathom it. It's not even as they posted a link to the map on their Twitter or official page and said "Look everyone! Here's the map! Looks like another year without Son of Beast, huh?" just so that they could later go "SURPRISE. HERE'S A SECOND MAP THAT ACTUALLY HAS IT ON IT HAHAHHAHA." No. We found the map. Someone here was looking through the new Math and Science book and noticed it. Kings Island didn't advertise it or intend to point it out. It was found. And guess what... April Fools jokes do end when April Fools is over. What companies do you know that are continuing them to this, the 10th of April? What about misleading shareholders? What about false advertisement? What about insurance policies? And besides, this isn't even a joke... It's not as if people are like "Awe man Son of Beast isn't open hahaha good one Kings Island." No. No one cares. The ride hasn't been worked on, and thus will not be open in the 2011 season. It's not a joke. It's not funny. No one's laughing, least of all Mr. Scheid and Mr. Kinzel, whose jobs will rely on their answering the same question you keep asking: "When is a decision going to be made?" Son of Beast will not be open come April 30th. I promise you, my friend. I really, truly promise you. Every single person here can see that. People who have been on this site and followed the industry for decades are telling you that you need to accept it. Your dedication to the ride is very commendable, and I wish we could all have such passion in the face of adversity. But my God... It's not gonna happen this year, okay? I don't know how we can get it across to you. You're coming across as delusional, and we're trying to be nice. It's not on the site. It's not on the map. It's been said that it won't open until the president is pleased by the experience it provides, and nothing has been done to the ride to make it any better than it was when it closed in 2009. It will not be open April 30th. This isn't a joke or a prank or a riddle that can be solved. If the wonderful folks at Kings Island wanted to play a joke, they wouldn't use a ride whose fate was being settled in court or one that had injured people. It's not a joke. Not to the people who were hurt by it. Not to the people whose jobs rely on finding an answer to it. Not to anyone here who has accepted that it is going to be closed this summer. GYK, who is now looking forward to the "Real" map to be posted on the website so that this can be over... And yet, in his heart, he knows that even that won't stop this dead horse from being beaten. P.S. Can anyone else appreciate the scenario in which Mr. Kinzel's advisors run past him the idea that their multi-week April Fool's prank to Kings Island enthusiasts is going to be not having Son of Beast on the map? If they wanted to prank us, they should've put it on the map! Now that would've left us speechless. But the idea that they're pulling off a prank that no one knows is a prank? That isn't even fun... It's so beyond imagination that this is still being discussed.

Son of Beast is closed until those in power are pleased by the experience it provides. That being said, they have deemed the most recent operation displeasurable. In order to make it pleasurable, then, they must change it. Has it changed to improve the rider experience at all in the time that it's been sitting idle? Why would a year of sitting untouched make it an acceptable experience in their eyes? Also please understand: April 1st of every single year, people receive news that their loved ones have passed away; people become engaged to be married; people are told that their jobs are being downsized; businesses release pertinent information; stock prices rise and fall in response to stockholder activity; and announcements are made at amusement parks. In the real, adult, grown-up, professional world, something occurring on the first day of April does not automatically mean that it's a joke. And if it is, it is usually outrageous (did anyone see G-Mail Motion?) or it is identified quite quickly as a prank, and everything goes back to normal come April 2nd at the latest. This official packet from the park which is being used by educators and students to plan a very important day contains the official park map for the 2011 season. If it were released the day before or the day after, would you believe me? As if they paid an artist to create two maps - one with Son of Beast, and one without - releasing the latter in an official Math & Science Days packet, but only as an April Fool's Joke... That is just not how the real world works. Besides, do you think Son of Beast is something Cedar Fair or Kings Island would joke about? A ride that has, in the eyes of the courts and the public, injured riders? A ride that has been closed for two years without being touched or spoken about? You think that they plan to surprise everyone (woohoo!) by reopening it on a whim without fixing the known issues that it has? Even moreso, you think that they'd joke about it? Lord help us.

Looking at the video: So wait... They really did pour that concrete, then tear it up to put in pavers a day later?

Don't you mean definitely this year?