BoddaH1994

Dammit... I'm actually touched by this trip report.

I can think of two different hundred million dollar buildings downtown that are only used six months out of the year.

I will say this, please let us know if there is a problem. We might not be aware of the situation. Please share with us. As I said, I love hearing from people. I talk with guests almost everyday the park is open. They tell me good things and things to work on. A stated, please, PM concerns. I will do my best to address them as they come to me. I don't think anyone was attacking you or your associates. They were simply saying that the whole nature of the barking is annoying. (By the way, a 'barker' was someone who would stand outside of shows and say "Step right up folks...!", he wasn't trying to call you guys dogs.) Anyway, I think we can all agree that the games staff is very professional, cheery, congenial, and great at their jobs. There's no question about that. Now, I do agree with whoever said that it adds a 'carnival atmosphere'. I can see that, and I think it's great. It's probably what they were really going for, especially in Coney Mall. Then again, the people who run the Jacob's Ladder near AE will literally chase you down to try to get you to play. I realize they're not associates of the park, but I really think the park should do something about it.

Maybe, but then again maybe not. Very good observation. Take this for what it's worth, but the tram driver a year ago told me that his boss told him that they planned on putting a new campgroup behind SOB. I know it's not a credible source, but it does make a degree of sense.

Scrap metal is worth quite a bit-just hate to see such a beloved piece of history take that route though. Actually from what I understand that low grade steel that they used for it is worthlesss now. Then again, it wouldn't be too unreasonable to think that CF would find any means it can to unload it.

Everything they do is strategic and comes down to what Net Operating Profit (NOP) they can expect. Even if the crowds are big at midnight, it doesn't necessarily mean that they'll turn any kind of profit between midnight and 1am. Bear in mind, it's EXPENSIVE to run the park, so if the 12-1 is hour filled with patrons, but very few people are playing the games, food, merch, etc., then it's still not worth being open. Now, I don't want to mislead you and say that "PKI/CF is a business and businesses are there to make money" because that's on par with someone saying that humans are on Earth to breathe. Sure, businesses need to make money in order to grow and be successful, but it would be unethical to think that any business is in the business of making money. Cedar Fair is a public partnership, so the future of the company is reliant on a successful stock price. Their decisions are made in YOUR best interest. That's why they are both opening later and they cancelled Winterfest. The more profitable the company is, the better experience they can deliver to you as a patron. It has very little to do with cutting losses and stealing a profit. I'm sure they'd love to have a successful offseason program... that's more profit, it just didn't work out that way.

There have been major changes in SOB consistently over the past six years, each of which has been intended to improve the comfort and safety of the guests. I'm not sure what else is going on this year, but let's hope they get everything nailed down so the ride can be as enjoyable as it's supposed to be.

There isn't much Mr. Shaggy can reveal that hasn't been said before. I would take a look around you, some of your colleagues have hit the nail on the head already... and probably didn't even know it.

Toy Factory was in the $500,000 range.... not TOO too bad consider how wonderful the show was.

Winterfest is a fishy subject. As you guys read in the article, the advertising for Winterfest actually drew people to find alternate forms of holiday entertainment which is why the Beach had a 54% attendance spike. Can we all agree that Winterfest was wonderful? I'd pay $25 just to see Toy Factory again, but that's just me. Point and case - overpriced. I think we all learned our lesson from it.

I'm on GW's media mailing list, so I get mail from them every couple of weeks. Almost everything they send me reminds me that they're PKI's official resort. I'm guessing it was an agreement they signed with CBS that CF can't or won't get out of.

Nah, it'll be my birthday present.

No, Winterfest was the worst kept secret ever. Trust me, I think you're leading yourselves down the path which the park wants you to go.

Who's for a meetup at Holiday Fest in a couple of weeks?

Of course you wouldnt know, you go to that concrete city across the river aka No Knowledge University. Hey, let's talk about this! I DO go to NKU and am part of the college of business... an INERNATIONALLY acredited college, mind you. PLUS, when I graduate and get a job, I'm probably going to be successful based off of my intellect and cunning, not a piece of paper saying that I have a bachelor's degree!

I doubt it's loosing money, however I would agree that it doesn't make enough money for the effort put into it. Fundamentally speaking, this is what we have. Kinzel said that the park is too big for its revenue. That's almost inarguably true. If most people come for the waterpark, just bank off of that. It's sad to see a tradition like Geauga go, but unfortunately this is business.

I've said this before, but let me say it again.. This is unconfirmed, but it has always been my understanding that trains can only be turned backwards if the patrons can reasonably predict the course of action enough for the ride to be successfully completed in a safe manner. Does this mean The Beast can't be turned backwards? Not at all, but I'm sure there is more red tape involved than just the mechanical aspect of it.

Which lights are we talking about in SDATHC?

The usual figure that you're giving about PKI is that 1/3 of their patrons are season passholders, so you're pretty accurate. Plus, I think this has more to do with moving rides OUT of Geauga Lake than moving a ride into PKI. You can claim what you want about what we deserve, but in all reality IF this does happen, we will happen to get the very long end of the stick in what is nothing more than a happening. I can personally say that I loved X-Flight. It was amazing. One of my top steels. I'm sure many can and will disagree, but if you guys know me you'll know that I was VERY critical about my experience at Geauga Lake and that was the only ride where I really had no apprehensions.

Cedar Fair is more than a billion dollars in debt. Once they made that up, then we'll talk. Back to IAAPA, if you were wondering who Amanda Schroeder is who won best female performer she actually played Ribbons in Santa's Toy Factory and was also in the Nickelodeon Celebration Parade. Hats off to her for such an amazing acheivement!! Click here to see Ribbons. You can't really see her face (sorry, this was before I got the SLR) but she's on the right with tons of.... well... ribbons hanging off of her costume. That, my friends, was a great show.

Oh wow... rumors rumors and more rumors. It's giving me a headache! It sure will be a great birthday gift to me when word is finally out and some things are squashed, and some things come to light! Only time will tell... When the doors of perception are cleansed, things will appear as they truely are...

Paramount's Kings Island™ Earns International Marketing, Entertainment Awards Brass Ring and Big E awards honor the best of the best in the theme park industry. Kings Island, Ohio - The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) recently awarded Paramount's Kings Island with six of its industry-best awards. The Brass Ring Awards honor excellence in attraction marketing and advertising. Paramount's Kings Island earned first place honors for print advertising and website design. In addition, the company's group sales brochure received an award for distinguished excellence. Paramount's Kings Island's entertainment department earned kudos in IAAPA's Big E competition, bringing home Best Female Performer (Amanda Schroeder, Santa's Toy Factory and Nickelodeon Celebration Parade™) and Street Performer, honorable mention (Sean Cahill, "Scrooge") awards. Santa's Toy Factory was also named the year's Best Overall Production. Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: "FUN") is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. The Partnership, which owns and operates twelve amusement parks, five outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and six hotels, is one of the largest regional amusement park operators in the world. Its parks are located in Ohio, California, Toronto, North Carolina, Virginia / District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri and Michigan. Let's give it up for the best of the best marketing teams out there! Regards, Ryan PKICentral.com - When's IAAPA going to recognize PKIC?? How about just a kudos??

The beginning of the end of PGA....?

Incorrect -- It went to Syndney Wonderland where it is SBNO... with the rest of the park.

That's an excellent question.......anyone?