^Don't you mean Skeleton Crew? (which is what I am hoping...I hated Hot Blooded)

....Skeleton Key is the tiny key that you got to pay fifty or sixty something bucks for, lol. (well I paid 75 bucks for it at Knott's)

Have there been captive bred Orcas successfully released into the wild before?

Nope. And don't get me started on the two attempts at releasing orcas that spent time in captivity (one a captured orca and the other a rescue)...they were NOT the successes activist make them out to be.

I actually no issues with the idea of sea pens, problem is the threat of disease mainly. Oceans are pretty polluted...(thanks to us of course) the captive orcas probably get sick and any bacteria they themselves carry can have its own negative impact on their wild counterparts.

SeaWorld need to work on all the exhibits (orcas, dolphins and even the seals/sea lions). In the case of the dolphins, I wonder about the show dolphins because in Orlando and San Diego they share the complex with pilot whales. At Orlando in particular there are 4 pilot whales there now, and they are all still on the young side and still growing...

Now you see the difference between book (video/internet) knowledge and experience, my big problem with sea pens is the fear of some over the top activist vandalizing the sea pen in an attempt to free them.

Isn't that how the three whales at Sealand ended up in big crates overnight?

That was a if I remember correctly a concern for Keiko when he was in his pen, that and plus tourists trying to sneak in to take pictures of him and ride him because he was "Willy".

^Not to mention that CF isn't exactly in the financial shape to be buying three new parks.

Busch Gardens I think you forgot.

Nah, I like the parks as they are now...for the most part, SW aren't completely perfect either. No coasters doing backflips/corkscrew/whatever over main entrances (it just doesn't look inviting for someone like me), mediocre food, musical reviews please. I'd be worried for the animals too.

Cedar Fair better not touch SeaWorld. The thought of that makes me want to puke.

Have there been captive bred Orcas successfully released into the wild before?

Nope. And don't get me started on the two attempts at releasing orcas that spent time in captivity (one a captured orca and the other a rescue)...they were NOT the successes activist make them out to be.

I actually no issues with the idea of sea pens, problem is the threat of disease mainly. Oceans are pretty polluted...(thanks to us of course) the captive orcas probably get sick and any bacteria they themselves carry can have its own negative impact on their wild counterparts.

SeaWorld need to work on all the exhibits (orcas, dolphins and even the seals/sea lions). In the case of the dolphins, I wonder about the show dolphins because in Orlando and San Diego they share the complex with pilot whales. At Orlando in particular there are 4 pilot whales there now, and they are all still on the young side and still growing...

In all honesty I feel like they need to be building all new bigger complexes than what they got the whales in now to have them in and give their current ones to the dolphins. But I doubt that will ever happen.

As much as I miss having a SeaWorld in Ohio, if it were still open and no updates to those facilities, I doubt I would have supported that park as much.

I miss Sea World in Ohio

Evidently, I did, too. My parents brushed that gig off when I brought it up.

Vortexfan, I suspect there are people in the world that are always going to focus on the sticky end of the lollipop. If the group that produced Blackfish got their way, and the whales were freed, not only would they focus on a larger group of animals in their next bid, but if anything happened to the whales in the open sea, they would still place the blame on Seaworld.

There are some people that will do anything to wipe the smiles off of people's faces.

Russia captured more orcas...apparently without permit this time.

Huh? Orlando to BGT is far, far longer than 30 minutes.

I wish...

I think the quickest we got was 45 mins, lol (maybe it was closer to an hour...it's been 5 years give me a break )

I always wondered why SeaWorld San Diego doesn't really do the HowlOScream, I can kind of understand the reluctance for the Orlando park considering its only a 30 min drive (maybe little less) from Busch Gardens.

Well, for me it's a plus; I want to see the animals swim around and play. In a way, I'm glad I didn't reach my goal yet, because I would like to see a great big huge wall of orcas, where before, I'd be able to see them through the viewing window I've seen in videos.

I'm not interested in the musical shows as much as just watching them. With the upgrade, I'd be able to stand and stare and not worry about blocking a little kid that wants to see them, too.

For me, Seaworld is cool and swanky because they rehab animals, I follow their Twitter, FB and get the emails, so I get all the news of seals going back to the sea. They are doing more than a lot of animal welfare services out there. I think the PR was late in refuting Blackfish, but it seems they've done more to put their message out. The problem with that is only the people that want to subscribe to their social feeds are the ones getting the message they already know. Only the people that like what Seaworld is doing are seeing the freed manatees.

This is just going to cause me to put more spare cash in my bucket list bucket to get there.

GYC is right, it's more of a zoo than a park. I'm not interested in the rides so much, except for the penguin exhibit, and I'm a rides person.

There's nothing wrong to feel this way, as I am the same way. I like tamer rides better and those seem to be disappearing... All my favorite parks have more tame rides than roller coasters, the environments of those places feel much more relaxed and that's what I like. I do not care about coasters doing backflips over the front gate. I'd rather SeaWorld build flat rides rather than more coasters atm, I'd always thought it be cool to be if something like Supreme Scream (or Power Tower whatever you most familiar with) were to appear, but that's just me.

I came here to remark on this. A great big habitat with a great big viewing area. I still wish we could watch them online. Watching live-stream cameras is great while I'm working, except for that one Grampa Munster penguin that sits right in front of the camera.

Even if it is to deflect bad PR, the whales don't care, they get bigger space.

In addition to bigger space, they get toys, jets, streams to swim in, deeper pools to play in, etc. SO much better than the current circular blue pools. Much more engaging. The fact they can actually swim instead of just floating is a hugely important thing. Again, not sure why they were kept in such a "primitive zoo" exhibit to begin with. In retrospect even now, it seems a little absurd.

Uh, what makes you think they don't get their toys now? Just curious.

I came here to remark on this. A great big habitat with a great big viewing area. I still wish we could watch them online. Watching live-stream cameras is great while I'm working, except for that one Grampa Munster penguin that sits right in front of the camera.

Even if it is to deflect bad PR, the whales don't care, they get bigger space.

It's not random though. For example plans to work on the habitats/adding another pool at the Texas park had existed, issue is building something to withstand the floodings the park gets which is why you do not get the underwater viewing opportunities there like you would in San Diego or Orlando.

Desperado can shake the crap out of you if you try to fight her, so try to go with the flow there. Also it has very limited hours so keep that in mind (only runs on the weekends) but I do love it, I see Desperado as Magnum's taller, rougher tomboy-ish sister. And Canyon Blaster is a fun little Arrow looper at Adventuredome, I actually like it a lot better than Vortex at KI cause it don't make me feel as sick. I don't really recommend the piece of garbage at New York New York but if you really want that credit, go right ahead. Be prepared to get knocked around a bit through some of the most awkward transitions you may ever see. o_o

More fun in person though little brother ^

I was there last night.

I noticed something on the Banshee Souvenir "refillable" cup yesterday that said "Good through December 31, 2014." I know that there is less than a 1% chance that there will be a 2014 version of WinterFest- but 'splain that one to me.

Knott's...

The Banshee cup is honored here (Knott's)

What does it do?

My understanding is his show at KBF was not as toned down as our show was during Haunt.

Correct.

He'll probably be back eventually and I think this be his first time in Worlds of Fun as far as doing a show for them goes. For me personally I'm so used to him at Knott's, it's weird seeing him anywhere else, KI included. That's just me though. I know he's been to Valleyfair a few times as well as Great America at one point. I'm more surprised his show hasn't found it's way to Cedar Point just yet.

1.) Magnum XL 200

2.) Desperado (front car)

3.) Canyon Blaster (especially in the last car)

4.) The Bat (preferably in the back)

Others I like in no specific order include Tennessee Tornado, Millennium Force, Steel Eel, and shockingly Son of Beast (rest of the ride not so much)

I remember this one time me and my dad were one train away from boarding Magnum and this guy, I kid not, thought he was going to ride the ride while sitting on top of the seat (the man weighed in at like 400 pounds, perhaps more) when he realized he wasn't going to fit.

Google, as a registered trademark, is always capitalized here.

Had not Cedar Fair bought Kings Island, any of several other operators would have.

Had CBS kept Kings Island and operated it the way THEY were....

That is sort of where I was going with my original statement. Reading up on the park, its interesting to read that the company who bought it last sort of let it run on cruise control. Maybe more interested in the land versus the park.

Was it during the CBS era that KI sold the camp ground? When did it lose the golf course land?

Paging Bill Mefford...

I did a Google search, but that name does not signal anything to me... I feel like it should though

Construction for the Lodge began in 2004 or 2005 if I remember right. I wanna say just before CBS?

^no comment...I'm chuckling.

It seems like everyone liked SOB, Backwards Racer, TRTR and King Cobra. I wish I was big enough to ride them when they were at the park.

Not everyone..

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