Browntggrr

Saw Alice, and Avatar yesterday. I really liked Alice in 3D, and the kids liked it as well- they were hardly scared. The 3D was FANTASTIC. Nice job Mr. Burton!

Very true! Ironically, that's exactly how I feel about Cedar Fair... It seems as if every park they come into contact with switches its entire marketing and promotional scheme to "We're a family park now / again!" And then they come along with Halloween Haunt, where no one and nothing is off limits... Doesn't really match their nearly universal claim of "we're not thrill parks, we're family amusement parks!" and it certainly doesn't match their often-toted promise that the park is back to the way it used to be before Paramount came along... As always, just sayin'! So you actually think that when a new company takes over, marketing and promotions are not overhauled? If a company was doing good, there would not be a reason to sell. When a company sells, it means that things needed to be changed. Now how you are tying HH into this is confusing. There maybe a couple instances where this did not happen, but thaose would be very few and far between. But you did bring up a good question: does an adult event that is a total of 21 days and is well publicized take away from the family theme of the park? As always, just askin'; and as always, not expecting a response.

I doubt it since the "new" trains were modified to fit SoB's track gauging.

I have been to CP numerous times on opening day, only to ask myself why. It's cold, it's crowded, the rides are not operating efficiently due to a combination of the winter layoff and the cold, and it usually rains. And being that cold, with rain, feels like ice is piercing your skin on most of the rides that go fast. Also, the weather (like you mentioned). Rides at CP are shut down often due to wind and rain. It would be worse in the winter months. I like to use the "offseason" to hit the FL or CA parks. It works out well.

Parents really need to get their kids "pumped" for a visit to any park? My kids are "pumped" for any visit, to any park. Even parks that do not have "themed" kids areas.

Disney has been doing that for years, and, has been making money on it. Not just from the per cap spending side, but from interest from people that put money on the card. Disney ends up being just like a bank, except, you do not make any money on your "savings" account, they do. Not to mention the people that "forget" to get their money back- just like people that forget to use a gift card.

At this point, the park may find it difficult to find a manufacturer/ engineer that would be willing to take on a project like modifing SoB and be willing to also take responsibility for modifing SoB. Given the numerous changes to the ride, and it's history over the last 10 years I certainly would not want my firm to touch it.

After the Chaos ride accident at MA, I'm not too sure CF would purchase another. Also, I believe that Chaos at CP is still for sale.

Aside from the whole "spending more money with swiping" angle (which is really a no-brainer), I seriously hope it alleviates the lines purchasing tickets/ Ride-a-Ramas. When the main park of Waldameer would open, usually at 1:00pm, there would be more people standing in line waiting to purchase tickets/ Ride-a-Ramas than waiting in all the rides combined. The "old" system was really a joke.

GL (or SFWoA) was never competition for CP, KI, KW or anyone else. If it was, the park would have been, at least, moderately busy. But for $40 plus $8 for parking (as it was under SF), why spend that kind of money when you can spend a little bit more and go to CP? Sure, the park was busy a couple years after SF made all the additions, but attendance -unfortunately- steadily declined.

Meh, names.... does it matter? Anything is better than Fairly Odd Coaster. Now if they would re-name SoB to Fairly Odd Coaster, that would fit.

http://www.foxbowman...arrest/howmuch/ That is an excellent example of the law concerning alcohol when driving a motor vehicle in Washington, not an example of what the article insinuates as public drunkeness. Also, per Article 1 of the Constitution, public intoxication is not covered under federal law, but rather with each state. And in this case, Wisconsin does not have a law for public intoxication, with the exception of Milwaukee. http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/crime-penalties/federal/public-intoxication.htm

That same issue was at BGW years ago when Drachen Fire was SBNO for almost 4 seasons (closed in July 1998 and removed by March 2002). The park decided to not have the ride on the map for the ride's first full SBNO status in 1999. I also don't know what would be the lesser of two evils: is it better to have a ride on the map that is SBNO which gives a sense to guests that it could potentially could operate, or keep it off the map resulting in a clear decision that the ride will not operate.

I wonder when people will figure out that even though animals in the zoo are not in the wild, they are certainly not domesticated and should still be treated, and respected, like a wild animal. \ Now what I find intresting in the article is the normal term "alcohol was involved". How much alcohol? Were the victims legally intoxicated, or just had a few drinks? If the victimes were under the legal limit, how can alcohol play a part? And if they were over the legal limit, why were they not chanrged with public intoxication?

I love Disney movies too. I'm just wondering what Burton's "spin" will be like for this classic. Many of his movies seem to go boom or bust, as he certainly has a different take on many things.

I can't see the park not having HH, unless the park fails to open for 2010. It is extremely popular and would appear to be very profitable, even without the chruch groups.

^ So HH should be made a private event as to not offend the same church groups even though it is a well publicized adult event?

I wonder how those same church groups would feel if they showed up on Pride day given that many churches do not recognize gay marriage & gay rights. A little leg work goes a long way.

You are baffled by people bringing up two of the most heavily themed rides Paramount installed? What is so baffling? Should the lack of themeing for Face/ Off or Drop Zone be discussed? I am baffled that you mention themeing, but then bring up ride placement. And what is the point to your comment that some of the younger KI park patrons are growing and can barely remember the 'tiques? It really makes me belive you are trying to make the point that things that happened 5+ years ago just don't count anymore. And no, if the 'tiques were removed for a ride like Maverick at CP, there would not be negative comments as WWL was removed for a far superior ride. I understand that you must have forgotten, not only were the 'tiques removed, but so were the very popular Flying Eagles. Perhaps the 'tiques could not have been relocated in the park, but the Eagles certainly could have been. Yes, Swan Lake was removed for DB. But it was removed for a world class coaster. Unfortunate decision, but acceptable. Top Gun was not built as Top Gun, but rather Thunder Road. Paramount changed the name after the purchase.

Perhaps not a family atmosphere with HH, but they have with 4th of July events. Let's not forget, HH was not advertised as a family event at night, but it was a family event during the day.

And why do you say that?

Great question standbyme. Please don't take this as an order from most important to least important. 1.) Poor ride choices. I was used to a park that gave us ride like: Beast, Bat/ Vortex, KC, WWC, Flight Commander and Phantom Theatre to a park that gave us enormous let downs like: Days of Thunder, IJ, Tomb Raider, SoB, & SDatHC. Also, the removal of rides, and lack of an adequate replacement for rides like: Antique Cars, Wild Animal Habitat, KCKC, Flying Eagles & PT. 2.) Cleanliness. KI used to look like BGW. When Paramount took over, it wasn't even close. 3.) Themeing. Both ride & park themeing. Paramount's Kings Island was advertised as a theme park. Paramount consistantly let ride themeing go unmaintained. They also destroyed the themed areas KI had like: International Street (which I laugh about when someone complains about the IS music. Paramount had Star Trek music for International Street.), Octoberfest & Rivertown. 4.) Commercialization, which I laugh at constantly when someone brings up how bad CF's ride names are. Congo, Face/ Off, Drop Zone, IJ, Days of Thunder? Those movies were average, at best, and Paramount not only named rides after them, but plastered the park in movie posters. IoA is owned by a movie company, and their self promotion is there, but not "gross" like Paramount was. 5.) General park attitude. From the moment you enter the parking lot, the Paramount "atmosphere" just was not fun like it was under the previous park owners. It was not one specific thing, but a combination of many things like: employees not caring about the park, the food, unattention to detail, lack of a true sit down restaurant, etc. The atmosphere at PKD was even worse. 6.) Boomerang Bay. Another item I laugh at when someone complains about CF's attitude toward cement. And this area was re-themed under Paramount? 7.) Eliminating Winterfest, and then half heartedly bringing it back. If it was too difficult & too expensive to do, so be it. But don't put on a front for a pending sale by bringing back something & do is half-assed. It was really insulting to the memory of what WF was. 8.) Entertainment. The park was owned by an entertainment company. The entertainment was terrible to non-existant under Paramount. Now has CF solved these issues? Absolutely not. But the park is getting back on track, and I really can't see any other company that would have done a better job than CF has done. And some of the issues will never be resolved due to financial restrictions no matter if CF owns the park or not. Now many people have personal feelings when it comes down to a dislike for CF; i.e. removal of Nick for Peanuts, or ride names etc. Funny thing, that is exactly the same decisions Paramount made in 1993.

^ Where does your obsession of me and SoB come from? You really need to move on as you are just making things up from rather simple comments. And my attitude of Paramount comes from knowing KI before Paramount took over. The park was leaps and bounds compared to where it is today. CF has had a limited amount of time, and resources, to bring things back to where they were. But you really can't understand that since you cannot remember KI pre-Paramount. Can you? Go back and read the trip reports of 2009, especially the opening day ones. Many of the comments that were made are very positive to the direction the park is going. I find it laughable that the first thing you bring up negative about CF are ride names. Sure, the ride names suck, but that does not take away from the ride experience in any way. I have never came off a ride and said: "darn! That is one great ride name!" CF took over a failing park in GL and did what they could. Do you honestly think anyone would purposely spend a great sum of money, just to close the park? You obviously have been drinking the kool-aid being spun by people that can't see the big picture.

It is really too bad that more members here do not remember or were not around KI pre-Paramount. CF, or any company for that matter, cannot be expected to fix the issues they inherited in a couple years what took Paramount over a decade to ruin.

^ Or... Ride not suitable for the well-endowed male. Large members can become violently smaller. Welcome to the Crypt. It's a real nut cruncher.