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Thank-you for such a great detailed trip report. I have never been to Cedar Point so reading your report really helps to get a good feel for the park. I know taking the time to write in such detail is very time consuming, but it is very appreciated by all of us who are really interested in all the different parks and the atmosphere of each park. Thanks again I enjoyed the read.

I agree with you, that you should take a break for a bit. Just reading about all that spinning around in a short amount of time, was making me dizzy. Just relax take some deep breaths, But please finish the trip report when your ready. I have really enjoyed reading it so far!!!

I hope every one that was on the ride that day continues to get better, as for the lawsuit we better get used to hearing about them because more are probbably on the way.

I can't believe I havent did this yet. But a very special THANKS goes out to Chris who got me and my daughter down safely from the Eiffel Tower after the power went on Sunday August 13 2006.

Since the discussion has focused on how Chris handled and more so on his choice of words. I would also like to expand upon Chris’s performance as well. First of all neither I nor any other passenger make any remarks or complain, during or immediately after exiting the elevator. I don’t feel like Chris did a bad job (or I would not used his name in my post), nor do I feel he did a great job. But I sincerely feel he did his job. Let’s keep in mind when the power went off and we were suddenly in moment stranded, Chris’s job switched from being just an attraction operator under normal condition to the care taker of the safety and the well being of the 30 passengers on board a attraction that was not working properly, as well as to his own well being (as he was in the same situation as the people he was responsible for). He also now became the liaison to Kings Island and the outside world, plus hafting to remember his training on how to get the attraction to work in a safe and proper manner. So under the pressure of the circumstances, I fell Chris did his job. In the future if Chris finds himself in a similar situation (hopefully not), and out of experience he probably will do a wonderful job.

Actually as a guest of Kings Island, it came across to me both ways. 1st It’s happened to him before, so he’ll know what to do. That's why I think he said it the way he did. 2nd As someone who has worked in the service industry all my adult life, I asked myself why did he just say that? Noticed towards the bottom of my post I said “When Chris started to tell passengersâ€Â. He did handle the situation I believe the best he knew how, but sometimes in those kinds of events experience goes a long way. I personally was not worried, as I have been reading these boards for a long time, I kind of knew what to expect and that Kings Island has had these power problems in the recent past and things worked out OK.

Our adventure on the powerless Eiffel Tower Elevator on Sunday August 13th , 2006 at around 7pm ish. My six year old daughter and I decided to take a beautiful evening stroll around the top of the Kings Island Eiffel Tower. When we entered the Elevator I arranged for us to be standing next to the elevator’s internal operator named Chris. Chris held the elevator door open for a few seconds as some more eager guest were rushing to come aboard. I asked Chris what the capacity of the elevator was, and his reply was 36. I don’t know why I did put I quickly scanned the elevator and came up with 30 people (young and old) including the ones rushing in, and wondered how they could fit anymore people in. Now this is where the adventure begins: As we started up, I asked Chris a couple questions relating to the Eiffel Tower and he politely and knowledgably answered. As we approached the top, suddenly and at the same time we felt a jolt and the lights went out. Chris then said softly and to this effect “Oh no not againâ€Â. Then he started to turn the keys in the control panel, with no effect. A few adult passengers made nervous sounds and commits, as the younger passengers started to look up at their parent’s for reassurance and some asked what was going on. .Chris then picked-up the phone and started to tell the person on the other end that “ it’s doing it again†and that we were stopped. Then a few more nervous remarks from some of the passengers, then in a firm voice someone said “Adults Be Calmâ€Â. The elevator went silent as everyone seemed to reflect on the situation. Chris then hung-up the phone and turned the key again, the lights and vent fan came back on. Then he pushed the buttons to make it go and it did not move. So Chris once again turned the key and everything shut off again, he then said loudly “That was me, That was meâ€Â. At that time I was noticing that the elevator was starting to get noticeably warmer from the passengers and the evening sun shinning straight in. Chris turned the key back on and pushed the button for down, nothing and as he started to say something else the elevator started to move down at a pace of about 6 inches per second. Chris said “The good news is that were going down, the bad news is we’ll be going all the way down at the current speedâ€Â, and as soon as those words left his mouth we picked-up a lot more speed, but to me not the normal speed. When we were getting close to the bottom, everyone started to position themselves towards the exit door. When Chris noticed what everyone was doing he said “The door may or may not open and if it doesn’t then we would be going all the way back up then all the way back down†. Well when we got to the bottom, and as hard as Chris tried the doors did not open. So then the same process as above. we started real slow then sped up. Same process back down again, this time the doors opened. From what I could see, know one went back up that night !! The reason why I thought this post was relevant to the above article was because, the passenger who said “Adults Be Calmâ€Â, and when Chris started telling the passengers what to expect it really helped calm some people down and made most people start thinking of their actions. Can’t wait till next time we go to Kings Island , so we can get that stroll around the Eiffel Tower and maybe a picture or two!!

And thank-you PKIBeast.

OK: I Haft To Do It. (I mean admit to it) I helped my daughter write this trip report. But to keep it clear she helped in the planning , and took part in photo’s. the planning and the arrangement of the pictures to put on the report. She gave lots of input in what to say. I helped by putting it in a understandable way, and gave some guidance. She has showed her trip report to her friends, and has learned a little more about this process. She has loved hearing feed back from others on the forum, so thanks to all who have replied thus far. There I Did It!!! A proud Avatar

Sunday August 13th 2006. I would also like to send out a big THANK-YOU to kelly who works in the Nickelodeon Universe area. At around 9pm Kelly was helping another associate by Swipers Sweepers when she saw 2 people climb over the railling at the Avatar, To jump in line!! When kelly saw this, she rushed over and told them firmly that what they did would not be tolarated, and that they needed to go back to the end of the line. This saved us from explaining to our 6 year old why it's ok for some people to cut in line or hafting to deal with the line cutters friends foul attitudes if we said somthing to them. So again thank you Kelly for a great job!!!

Hi; I'm Avatars 6 year old Daughter. My father bought another digital camera, so now he's to busy to due our Sunday August 13th 2006 trip report. So I'll have to do it!!! We arrived at Kings Island right at 10am, and went straight to Boomerang Bay and found some lounge chairs to put our towels on Then we went to ride Tasmanian Typhoon and Snowy River Rampage : father and me Next we rode Sydney Sidewinder then went around Crcodile Run Then mother and I went swimming in the Great Barrier Reef, Then I started relentlessly working on father to take me to Nickelodeon Universe He finally gave in, so we took the Kings Island & Miami Valley Railroad, to the park. I went straight to Sponge Bob Squire Pants Bikini Bottom twice and got a mouthfull Then went on Nick Jr Drivers Next I rode Backyardigans'- Swing Alongs: Then father was trying to be creative with his camera and took a picture of me on Nick-go-Round I have convinced father to buy me just about every Dora doll at King Island, so now I'm trying to convince him to buy me this last one!! Well no such luck yet. We then went back to Boomerang Bay to swim some more and to meet back-up with mother. At 6pm we drove back over to the front gates and went back into King Island to ride some more rides. The first one being one of my new favorite rides. I don't know what father calls it, but I call it the Pirate Ship! Then I rode the Grand Carousel and got my favorite horse named Peppermint Christmas Ginger. Father and me tried to go up the Eiffel Tower and got stuck in the elevator almost at the top with no power!! When we got down we watched the silly dancers from the Pop Star Challenge show. I found out that the power went out on alot of rides, but father and me were able to go on Planktons Plung. Then my father started laughing, because they reopened Scooby-doo and the haunted Castle and full grown parents were running to the ride with thier kids in thier arms. We walked there and got on in 10 min. When we came out they were test running Avatar. So we went and stood in line until they opened it. Avatar is my new most favorite ride now and when I wait in line I sing a new song I made up it goes like this: Avatar!!-Avatar!!- Avatar!! Well thats my trip report and I'm sorry that I'm in so many of the pictures, but my father says that the World revolves around me. I don't know what that means yet. Have a great day!! Avatar's Daughter

On Sunday August 13th , 2006; My family and I decided to take advantage of some of our Gold Club Perks but afterwards we wondered, was it really a Perk or just a half heartened try. I'll explain, Boomerang Bay was to open at 10am with attractions opening also at 10am for Gold Club members, well they were running on a VERY limited staff the lines were short but it took a very long time to get on. Most of the employees seemed to be working on the slowest speed possible. At Snowy River I was surprised at how many people were complaining at how slow the line was going and how the pour guy at the top was working. I counted on a average of one tube going down every 50-60 seconds. I can point to several other attractions in the Water Park that was going similarly but its not the point I'm trying to make, so bare with me please. Then Later in the day around 7:15pm we were by the Central Grill and decided to take advantage of (I say take advantage very loosely) another Gold Club Perk and get the Family Meal Deal. Well lots of workers inside the Grill and a lot of them outside working as well, but only one window open and 8 or 9 families waiting in line so we decided we would come back later. So at 8pm when we went back it was closed and the park doesn't close till 10pm, So no Family Deal for us because its the only one offered during August. So my question is: : Are they really Perks if they are given a half heartened effort? Before anybody thinks I'm being to negative, I would only remind them that I have given a lot of praise to employees and to the park itself when they earned it. I know short staff and all but I don't think right before you announce the 2007 season pass plans they should be putting half hearten effort into the perks. I don't always know what goes on behind the scenes or privileged to know, but all I see as a guest and at the time is a cut back or a care less attitude of a Perk. It didn't ruin our day or dampen it, and we had a great time still the same.

We have noticed them too!! About three weeks ago is when we first noticed them and the week before it was not playing. The speakers seem new and sound pretty good.

Thanks for the update, I hope the rest of your trip goes well and with better weather.

Very, very interesting

When they said they are schduled to open in December are they still saying the 22nd or maybe a soft opening sooner? I think we will keep or reservation in december after seeing the pictures. It's actually fun to watch it grow and to build up the anticipation for the grand openning!!

becca011906: My family and I are going in 45 days for 14 days to Disney World. Somthing that has helped us was Tour Guide Mikes info. We took his method and converted it to Kings Island and it works great there too. We hardly wait in lines even on the Fouth of July weekend. My DW was worried that I was over planning our trip to Disney, So I told her to follow the same plan at Kings Island, then I would let her decide. Well after the first trip following the plan see says she wouldn't want to go back to just winging-it. The time saved from waitting in lines we take a afternoon breaks.

Great detailed report on the rides and the park in general. I ejoyed the read.

Here is a Acronyms/Abbreviation list AP - Annual Pass DD - Dear (Darling, Disney) Daughter DF - Dear (Darling, Disney) Fiance(e) DH - Dear (Darling, Disney) Husband DS - Dear (Darling, Disney) Son FIL - Father In Law FP - FastPass FWIW - For What It's Worth FYI - For Your Information GoH - Guest of Honor GSP – Gold Season Pass EMH - Extra Magic Hours IMHO - In My Humble Opinion IMO - In My Opinion JIYI - Journey Into Your Imagination J/K - Just Kidding KWIM - Know What I Mean? LMAO - Laughing My A** Off MIL - Mother In Law PM - Private Message PS- Priority Seating ROFLMAO - Rolling on the Floor Laughing My A** Off ROFL - Rolling on the Floor Laughing SIL - Sister in Law SO - Significant Other SP – Season Pass TIA - Thanks in Advance TTFN - Ta Ta For Now TTYL - Talk To You Later YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary I will update this list later to include Kings Islands Acronyms/Abbreviations and maybe admin may want to copy it, to make it a sticky for current posters and Newbie's future reference.

You can tell she has visited the Disney forums a few times. I catch my shelf doing the same thing.

Welcome back I'm glad you and your family had some good family time togather at Kings Island, those memories do last a lifetime.

Nice creatative trip report, Pictures are always fun!!! Look forward to HW trip report.

Great answer CoastersRZ!!! I knew if anyone knew you would. Back in the early years at Kings Island when the trees weren’t as mature and the Coney Mall wasn’t so long and filled in you could hear the Grand Carousel pretty far away, and at night it was so bright it would hurt your eyes coming in from the dark. You couldn’t leave without one last ride before you left. Even though you had to wait for several cycles, It was worth it!!

We like to change into swim suites and go on the White Water Canyon as close to noon as possible and usually get several rides in, then ride over to Boomerang Bay to dry out!!!

Didn't the Grand Carousal come from Coney Island when Kings Island first opened? If I remember right they made a big deal about it's historical value and all they had to do to move it and restore back to it's original grandeur.