bkroz

I especially like how you can literally see a little electronic box affixed to the ride's station that says "Ride Audio," and the glass is shattered on it and all the lights are off. It may as well be a prop installed by Cedar Fair the way that it absolutely and positively assures us that ride audio will never again be a problem on that ride.

I'll respond in the same format, though I'm not arguing. In fact, I agree. I totally understand, but I think of the transportation thing more along the line of Disneyland's than Disney World's. Remember that at Disneyland, the monorail is truly just an attraction in Tomorrowland. It just so happens that it also lets off at Downtown Disney, but it's made very clear that if you disembark at Downtown Disney, you need a handstamp / park ticket to re-board at the Downtown station. I think the same could theoretically be done at Universal, ensuring that guests understand that they are leaving one park and traveling to another. Also, a "train station" (maybe a mini Kings Cross station) could be located in both lands. There, visitors must get their pass scanned to enter the loading area, and ticket windows offer upgrades to "park-hopper" tickets (again, at Universal, the difference to upgrade is never more than $10.00. I'm not saying it would be simple or intuitive at first, but I'm saying that I don't think the ticketing thing would be the biggest problem if they realistically undertook this. This, too, would be difficult and prohibitive. One idea (which is probably a logistical nightmare) is to have the train travel counter-clockwise around Islands of Adventure (i.e. through Jurassic Park, Toon Lagoon, Marvel, Port of Entry) then travel along the outskirts of the CityWalk lagoon (against the shore with the Hard Rock Cafe and Blue Man Group), then work its way around Universal Studios to the new area. I know that's actually "the long way," but it seems like it might be easier (though still not easy) to allow the train to move that way as opposed to through the backstage area. It would also allow the red and gold Hogwarts Express to be proudly displayed as it huffs and puffs its way through CityWalk between the two parks, which I think might be a unique excitement builder. Another realistic possibility it to simply plant a berm of trees and shrubs along a narrow train route through that backstage area to obscure the route (see Disneyland's railroad). Another cool thing that could happen is if the train passed through one of those sound stages back there (even just along a narrow corridor along the side of one of them - just enough to darken the train) and for just a brief moment, the air conditioning quickly chills each cab as, though frosted glass, the shadow of a dementor passes. It would be a really simple and effective moment that would make the train more than just a transportation device. If they could, in fact, have the windows be television screens (see, Disney Cruise Line's "magic portholes" in each room) then they could also briefly "freeze over" during the dementor scene and, upon entering the showbuilding, show a storm darkening outside. My money would also be on the Lost Continent becoming phase two since it makes the most sense (with Poseidon's showbuilding, the Sinbad theater and Mythos, there's quite a bit of land there). However, it also makes me sad to think that the really cool structure of Mythos and the details of Poseidon's exterior might just be demolished. And there really isn't a whole lot of room to expand outward - properties next to Dueling Dragons are not owned by Universal. According to Google Earth, there's a school right there. I don't know that it's very logical to have two separate Harry Potter lands at two parks, but it's very smart for the park. They struck a gold mine with Potter, and if they have room for it in Universal Studios, then they've guaranteed a LOT of two-park ticket sales. With Potter apparently just greenlit for Universal Hollywood, it also makes sense that they'd kill two birds with one stone and have the creative and design teams working on both instead of calling them back in a few years. Besides the transportation, I think the only problem of having it in two parks is making non-fans angry. But financially, maybe it would be worth it? Another thing to consider is that Diagon Alley is chiefly the area where students go to buy their wands. They already have that in Islands of Adventure's, so really, it would be a merchandising homerun to offer that in both parks by having an Ollivanders in Diagon Alley (where it actually belongs) in the Studios park. For now, it seems logical to me. They know Potter brings a return on investment like nothing else they've tried, and there's a whole lot of land back there that they're opening up (and it does seem that their intent is at least in part to open that area up). As far as what else they could be planning, I just can't think of anything else. Transformers is a no. Space Fantasy in Universal Japan is supposed to be very well received, but it's also very Japanese-culture friendly (which is probably why it hasn't ended up here yet). Unless they have something really new and really big in mind, I don't know why they'd do this, and at least for now, I can't really imagine what else there could be. We'll see, I suppose!

I'll respond in the same format, though I'm not arguing. In fact, I agree. <ol> <li>I totally understand, but I think of the transportation thing more along the line of Disneyland's than Disney World's. Remember that at Disneyland, the monorail is truly just an attraction in Tomorrowland. It just so happens that it also lets off at Downtown Disney, but it's made very clear%

I'll respond in the same format, though I'm not arguing. In fact, I agree. <ol> <li>I totally understand, but I think of the transportation thing more along the line of Disneyland's than Disney World's. Remember that at Disneyland, the monorail is truly just an attraction in Tomorrowland. It just so happens that it also lets off at Downtown Disney, but it's made very clear that if you disembark at Downtown Disney, you need a handstamp / park ticket to re-board at the Downtown station. I think the same could theoretically be done at Universal, ensuring that guests understand that they are leaving one park and traveling to another. Also, a "train station"%

Don't forget that you can still go on a sassy skipper adventure in Osaka!

Very true. My father has fond memories of being scared to even go near a swimming pool after watching Jaws, just like people of his generation recall being terrified of the flying monkeys. I think Jaws has adapted to the changing generation in a sense; like Disaster and even The Jungle Cruise, the aging of the animatronics and the corniness of the ride's storyline has led to cast members treating it more as a fun romp and not so seriously, and I think that was important. Like I said about Earthquake, it wasn't exactly scaring people anymore since the effects appear dated, so they gave it a more light-hearted story (example, it went from "oh my God, a real earthquake!" to " We're filming a disaster scene staring you, scream for the cameras!"). Jaws adapted in that same way, but only so many "kitschy" rides can exist in the same park, and if Jaws is on prime real estate, it makes sense for it to go. Another thing I think Universal should be reevaluating is the kid's area. You think Snoopy is outdated for kids? Right now, their kids area is a mix of Woody Woodpecker, E.T., and Fievel. That's especially strange since (as I understand it) Universal has the theme park rights for all the Dreamworks Animation movies. If that's true (which it may be, as evidenced by Shrek 4-D, Madagascar characters / the Madagascar land in Singapore) then they really ought to take advantage of that. A Dreamworks land could re-use the E.T. showbuilding for the Madagascar dark boat ride, or a How to Train Your Dragon ride. Imagine "Dreamworks Alley" with a Madagascar section, a Shrek section, a Dragons section, etc... It would be great. And the Animal stadium next to E.T. is a huge waste of space right now that could really be used well for a Dreamworks show or ride.

The grand park that is now a hotel, as I understand it. Built right on top of it, they did! Hahaha. And the Jungle Cruise / Backlot Tour / Jaws hybrid that used to be there, too! But that was back when Vegas was a family place, full of themed hotels and amusements fit for the kiddos.

And a version of the Spider-Man technology - supposedly a way ahead of its time incarnation - was at a grand park in Las Vegas. I never rode it. I don't know that many people did...

And technically, Flying Ace is a Suspended Family Coaster. And Invertigo is... an Invertigo. Kings Island has three roller coasters with inverted track. Kings Island has no B&M Inverted coasters, and I think that's what people are asking for.

Spider-Man is Spongebob on steroids? I can't say I've ever heard that comparison, or that I necessarily agree hahaha. Spider-Man is a dark ride that moves on a path through a show-building populated by physical sets that blend seamlessly into 3-D digital projection screens that replicate depth and motion. The ride vehicle also tilts, turns, twists, and simulates drops, physical interactions with 3-D effects, and spins as it navigates through the warehouse. There's also fire, water, fog, lasers, moving props, in-ride audio, subwoofers in the seats, moving scrims... It is still known to be one of the most technologically advanced dark rides on Earth, and cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Each vehicle cost about $1 million alone, and it was the subject of numerous travel channel specials for its incredibly advanced technology, almost single-handedly earning Islands of Adventure the slogan "The most technologically advanced theme park on Earth" when it opened. Spongebob is a theater-style motion simulator. Haha! Again, interesting comparison, but I think it sets it up as a "missable" ride, when in fact it is one of the best rides I have ever, ever experienced... Ever. GYK, who is fiercely protective of Islands of Adventure and Spider-Man!

So far, the King Kong 360 attraction is only at Hollywood. Like Disneyland vs. Walt Disney World, the California park is significantly smaller. At the Californian Universal Studios, there is one attraction (The Studio Backlot Tour) that passes through a Jaws portion, a King Kong portion, an Earthquake portion, a movie set portion, etc. In Florida, given more space and presumably a higher budget, they were separated into separate, full-sized, self-contained attractions. When the Backlot fire happened in Hollywood and destroyed the original King Kong portion of the tour, it was replaced with the new 360 part. Florida's doesn't even have a Backlot tour, so the only way to have Kong 360 would be as its own separate attraction (which, frankly, I don't think the 2 minute long experience warrants). If it were to come about, I think turning Earthquake / Disaster into it would be the most reasonable thing, since it has a tram and soundstage prepared. As for the Harry Potter portion of Islands of Adventure, it is an incredible, incredible area from most any angle. It's immersive and spectacular and has truly changed the way parks look at additions. (Disney and SeaWorld are seething with jealousy that people are actually lining up and waiting to enter gift shops. That's how popular and widespread it is. See both chain's decisions to invest in new themed environments with Cars Land and Antarctica as proof that they see the potential and importance of the "land" opposed to the single "attraction"). If you're not fans of the franchise, then you certainly won't appreciate the details (for example, if you don't know what butterbeer is, then the whimsy and mind-freak of seeing it brought to life won't amaze you). But I think you'll really kick yourself if you don't take the time to explore it. For example, you may not have been raised on Dr. Seuss books, but you should still ride the Cat in the Hat dark ride in Seuss Landing. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the main attraction in the Wizarding World, and it's supposed to be absolutely incredible both technologically and thematically. Dragon Challenge has been at the park since it opened (though it used to be medieval themed) and is comprised of two really superb inverted coasters. So even if Harry Potter isn't your "thing," I don't think anyone here would tell you not to visit that part of the park. Now, if you have religious or personal opposition to the intellectual property, that's a whole other story... If not, I truly suggest you watch a few of the films before you go. I always, always recommend that people catch up on what they're about to experience before a trip to such a detailed park, asking them to re-watch Jurassic Park, The Mummy, Spider-Man, etc. and every single time people tell me how glad they are that they did. It helps, and Harry Potter is a very positive, classic series that will be relavent for a very, very long time. I think you'll kick yourself later if you skip it.

Preferably, both. There's still a lot of people who don't understand that Universal Orlando has two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure) that are located side by side thanks to a poor marketing job when the second park opened. It's like Disneyland and California Adventure. Two separate parks that you can freely and easily travel between if you have a park-hopper ticket. Islands of Adventure is their "new age" park, and it's absolutely positively incredible. It's easily the best-themed and most immersive park I've ever been to, separated into seven islands around a lagoon themed to Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Dr. Seuss, Marvel comics, and more. That's the home of the famous Spider-Man ride (an absolute, 100% must-ride) and the Harry Potter ride (which I've never been on, but is supposed to be one of the best amusement park attractions out there). Islands of Adventure is incredibly well themed, and just such an unbelievable park. I'd recommend it a thousand times over. Universal Studios Florida is the original park next door, with the Revenge of the Mummy dark ride / coaster, Men In Black, E.T., Twister, The Simpsons Ride (formerly Back to the Future) and Jaws. Universal Studios also has the new Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster. Earthquake is still there, by the way, just operating under the name "Disaster: A Major Motion Picture Starring You." It's the same basic ride with the same effects, just with a more lighthearted, behind-the-scenes angle instead of the old 1980's effects actually attempting to be scary or serious. Again, if you have two days, do both. If you have one day, still try to hit the highlights of both. If you can only choose one, my vote is for Islands of Adventure. Universal's pricing is pretty flexible, too, so if you really only have one day, I think it's only like $10.00 more to add on the park-hopping option, which would be worth it just to run over and experience the Revenge of the Mummy. P.S. Looking at the above map, you can see how a potential train would travel between the current Wizarding World and the current location of Jaws. Honestly, something like that it needed. To get from the back of one park to the back of the other is like, a 20 - 30 minute walk at least. Trace the route from Jurassic Park to Jaws. You need to walk all the out of one park, through Citywalk, then all the way through the other park, and neither has a "hub and spokes" layout to make that journey simple.

Well, a Transformers ride of the exact same type would be a WHOLE lot cheaper than innovating a new one. Especially with Forbidden Journey next door, it seems like an entirely new dark ride technology would need to be brought in, while duplicating the already-existing ride, bolt-for-bolt, is significantly cheaper. Less research and development and God willing, fewer issues. Screamscape has reported in no uncertain terms that Transformers is not on the table, though. Perhaps one reason for that is the whole Marvel thing - now that Disney owns Marvel, everyone is anticipating what can replace Marvel Superhero Island and, specifically, Spider-Man. Transformers seems like a fair choice for that eventual replacement now. Over at TPR, people are [of course] freaking out and insisting they'll never visit Universal again because this is a travesty, and that even without knowing its replacement, this is the worst business decision and theme park decision that's ever been made (see also, reaction to Kongfrontation's removal, Back to the Future's removal, Earthquake's removal...) That park in particular has literally closed each of its original attractions one by one and updated them to new films or fresh stories. It may infuriate "purists" (the same way people get offended about Pixar invading Disney parks) but the fact is, it's a good business decision. It keeps the parks fresh and interesting. I wouldn't have visited Universal Studios Florida if it was still offering the King Kong ride and Back to the Future. It wouldn't be worth my time when the next door park has high-tech dark rides, roller coasters, animatronics, themed environments, etc. Worth considering: the other major, major rumor floating around TPR is that the whole area (the Jaws land, possibly the Fear Factor amphitheater, and the space behind it) may be a new, second area of the Wizarding World, like Diagon Alley with the long-rumored indoor Gringotts Bank coaster. They speculate that a real, working Hogwarts Express will transfer guests between the two themed areas in the two different parks. It's a little odd in one sense, but think about it... What a fantastic way to sell "Parkhopper" tickets, and as Robb mentioned, people could literally spend one full day in the two Harry Potter areas, then a second at Islands and a third at the Studios. People who don't have the Potter fever might be absolutely annoyed if he takes over two parks, but honestly have we seen a more successful intellectual property integration that's been well-received by fans & visitors while also increasing visitorship to such an incredible degree?

Beast... ... You are the father. *Eruption of boos from the crowd*

There also are no official rules that I can see, so it's hard to know how many times one can submit an entry, stipulations for winning, delivery of the grand prize etc. If anyone happens to find them, let me know! Reading the official rules of a number of sweepstakes and contests have allowed me to see that daily entries are permitted where I might not have otherwise known, and I have greatly benefited from that in the past.

Picture Swarm's themeing being accomplished at Kings Island. Coming up short? Me too.

The thing that bothers me has always been the trees. For example, when Tomb Raider: The Ride was built, at least there was an effort to keep a tree line in front of the building. But why wasn't the earth built up around the building, even a third of the way up its sides, then planted with new trees? I understand there's an access area with the garage doors facing The Beast, but painting the building "go-away green," creating a hill that enveloped it, and planting trees around it would've done wonders. Most recently, my problem is Diamondback's splashdown area. It has truly turned Rivertown in a large, open plaza with a concrete pool at the center. Again, I think this would be forgivable if there was a true effort to replace those trees, even if the area wouldn't be grown in for a decade or more. What would be so wrong with a backdrop of pine trees back in their place around the Crypt / Beast side edge of the lake? Instead, a few dogwoods were placed on either side. The result is that what you see there now is approximately what you'll see there in two decades. If real, true trees had been planted (and a lot of them) then the splashdown might actually be able to pass for a real lake, and the train might look as though it's diving beneath the canopies and racing along a pond. As it is, I think Rivertown is the most poorly affected area by the tree thing. It is truly a giant plaza with Diamondback in the center - it's the only ride that crosses a midway, and the only coaster that's not set back off a path. It truly attempts (and succeeds at) dominating the area, which is not always great in my book. But that's just me.

I don't understand what part of my post you're referring to when you ask that.

I think Ohio winters are simply too unpredictable and, given the right one, too cold. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is in a significantly warmer climate, for example. It averages less than six days of snowfall per year, and the average temperature for December is nearly 40 degrees. Ohio's balances around 31. Added in with the wind and ice up here, that's a big difference. 45 degrees can be pleasant. 30 degrees with wind and dangerous roads is not. Knott's is open year-round regardless (and Dollywood might as well be, since there's only about two and a half months of the year that it's truly closed). Plus, the parks that have these successful winter events (Dollywood, Busch Gardens, Knott's) are often more cultural or immersive. For example, MOST of the Busch Gardens Christmastown experience is the lights, music, food, shows, etc. I think the same can be said of Dollywood. Like it or not, Kings Island doesn't have that all-weather attraction. My impression is that Kings Island seems to be primarily a ride park, and its patrons are ride-ers far more than watchers or eaters, since the park focuses on rides more than things to watch or things to eat. "Busch Gardens with the rides closed" still leaves an enormous amount of activities. "Kings Island with the rides closed" would certainly have folks going, "huh? Then what's the point?"

It's because, until very recently, www.kingsisland.com was the web address for a completely different company. This topic was created when that website mysteriously vanished, the idea being that maybe the domain name is available and that Cedar Fair should buy it.

Same with Flight of Fear! Not ours, but still...

You don't? At least be grateful we can refer to the soon-former-CEO by his full name. I bet that took a tweak to the system at some point.

They show The Beast going down the hill, then a POV of Son of Beast's first hill.

^^ You're right. I think the official website listed the ride time for Tomb Raider at like, 40 minutes, because the line and pre-show were part of the experience. To claim that same statistic of The Crypt would be laughable. I'm not denying that it's a thrilling ride in its statistics and the experience if you're woozy at the thought of heights. But in those awful "bred to shred" commercials, WindSeeker was shown towering amid Drop Zone, Diamondback, and The Beast as the park's "totally sweet, hip-hop-happenin' thrill rides." It's one thing to say, "WindSeeker is a real doozy for the bravest members of your family!" It's another to market it to a teenage, "thrill-seeking" demographic. As I said, WindSeeker is listed among Kings Island's "thrill rides" while Adventure Express and Backlot Stunt Coaster are called "family rides." Does that sound right to you? It doesn't me... And like Shoot the Rapids or Alton Tower's Thirteen, I think it would've been massively successful if the marketing had presented it for what it was. I imagine it was the inclusion in media like that which led to the rumor that it "dropped" like Drop Zone after its cycling ended. It's a family ride, with a family height requirement, nice music, beautiful lighting, and a thrilling, fast-paced swing ride. I just can't imagine classifying it as more than a family ride, much less as a thrill matched with Diamondback, The Beast, Drop Zone, etc. My impression is that Cedar Fair agrees, since all the new WindSeekers are being bundle-marketed alongside Dinosaurs Alive, as if it's one large-investment to increase family attractions at the park rather than one badass thrill ride and one family walk-through. That's the impression I get, at least. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZo9djosjbs

Except the $6,000,000 price tag on the WindSeeker, and the "thrill ride" promotion which - whether enthusiasts hyped up or not - they did do. Maybe we egged it on and enflamed it, but they did market it as a thrill ride. And voila, week three, it was a walk-on at Cedar Point when everything else was at least an hour. I like WindSeeker a lot, personally, and I agree that it's a fun little ride that nicely rounds out the family lineup. But I think the two issues with it were: 1) The initial claims of "thrill ride" status (see the website even to this day, where it's listed as a thrill ride but the Italian Job is listed solely as a family ride), and 2) That terrible plague that befalls all delayed-opening rides - in order to compensate for the closure, the PR department is forced to put on a spin on it like, "Yeah, it's not open yet but trust me, it'll be so worth it!" After another two weeks, they have to again announce, "It's still not open, but are you ready to fly at a 45 degree angle taller than the Eiffel Tower?!" Then it does open, and all their much-hyped worth-the-wait-ness ends up flopping hard on the general public who was promised time and time again that it was worth it, with bigger and bigger claims each time its opening was delayed. See also, Shoot the Rapids: a decent (if not a little slow) log flume, but with 3 months of delays, Cedar Point was practically forced to say "it'll be worth the wait." Was it? I can't say. I haven't ridden it... See also, Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Florida and Mäch Tower at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Perhaps we're seeing another small example of why Cedar Fair let go of its former marketing company. Remember "Bred to Shred?" Neither does anyone else...