Browntggrr

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/...26+Deal+Blog%29

^ You think that $20,000,000 + is enough to be self insured for all of CF's holdings? Just the Paramount parks alone were $1.24 billion. The $20,686,000 that CF has in reserve would only cover about 1.65% of just the Paramount parks. And you think that is enough insurance for all of the properties? I suggest you read the report that was given, especially the part that says the $20,686,000 is a reserve for the portions that the insurance carrier does not cover. Insurance costs come out of the operating expenses. Just like the expense for utilities, food, maintenance that are also not mentioned in the report as well. They all fall under the same catagory.

The amounts paid for insurance would be included in the operating expenses. The insurance reserves are for this (from page 17): (Bold emphasis added) Given this report, it is apparent that CF is not self insured.

So you are complaining about people complaining. Ok....

10 year olds walking around without adult supervision with money in their pockets is a recipe for disaster.

Not with kids...unless you count the couple of songs in the Lilo & Stitch movie. I have worked in a record/music store for over 20 years...I can count how many Elvis CDs that I have sold to anyone under 10 on my fingers. In my original statement I was just trying to clarify the demographic of who was decorating the trees at this event...there were no "younger" themes like The Simpsons, Nick, Jonas Bros., Miley Cyrus...this is an event geared towards the over 40 crowd...and The Peanuts fit right in! Yeah, your point was clear as mud. A school group goes to a festival of trees geared to adults. I would also hope that you could count, using your fingers, how many total CD's that anyone under 10 has bought.

http://www.ojr.org/ojr/people/robert/200911/1798/ I really liked this article, even though I don't agree with all his views. And this article does not just apply to newspapers and their websites, but for most businesses today.

Some interesting videos of the construction: http://io9.com/5407828/first-look-at-harry...orld-theme-park J.K. likes butterbeer & more videos: http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2009/11/...tter-sneak-peek This project looks simply amazing. I really hope it will meet my expectations!

http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2009/11/dis...s-and-scooters/ I'm confused. How can they have different prices for the same size lockers? And talk about gouging the guest! Higher prices for the water parks, where guests almost have to use a locker? So much for trying to attract guests in a poor economy by doing the "little things".

http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-25...oo_and_Aquarium

Appearances and fact are often quite different. I am not saying that they are not, but, I would like to see more evidence that the park is self-insured.

^ Water under the bridge. oops I meant cement...

But do keep in mind that they also had two "Elvis" trees, and one with nothing but photo ornaments of local physicians who have passed away! You don't think Elvis is popular?

Yeah, the same thing happens with many kids. I ask my daughter's friends what their favorite Nick character is, and they give me a blank stare. I then ask what their favorite Spongebob character is and they all have an answer. I'm sure if the teacher asked if the kids knew Snoopy, they would have all responded with a "yes". But aside from that, Peanuts are obviously popular. A whole themed tree? That speaks volumes.

Even though the guest is suspected of battery, they are the ones with these injuries? Something is not right here at all.

Extreme Makeover: Roller coaster edition "CHIPPER! MOVE THAT WOOD!"

That could be why CF closed SoB down this season. It is possible that the insurance carrier pulled SoB's policy. Unless there was some type of "warrenty" (or call it what you like) clause in the purchase agreement, CF can not go after Paramount/ Viacom. Under most large purchases (like a home or business) once the buyer signs and the check is handed over, the deal is done. I would be shocked to find out that there was such agreement, and, we probably would have already heard about it due to the lawsuits. If the pieces were never used, then they are not part of Beast. You are the proud owner of some rusty nuts and bolts.

During "It's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" I told my kids (again) that Charlie Brown & Snoopy were going to be at KI next year. They both gave me an "ok" answer and shrugged their shoulders. I then mentioned that SpongeBob and the rest of the Nick characters will be leaving; they gave me the same "ok". My oldest daughter then went to get a tape measure to see how tall she was. She wants to get on Beast this summer. So I can easily say, my kids really don't care about how the kid’s portion of KI is themed. What company does not like to save money wherever they can? Speaking from the experience of being a business owner, finding ways to spend less is an everyday job. If something does not have to be done, it usually is not. That is why every business has a yearly budget for improvements. Everything gets ranked from most important to least important. And under most circumstances, the common guest will never see where the most money is spent.

http://www.fox8.com/news/wkw-news-akron-zo...0,6604586.story

http://cbs2.com/consumer/Disneyland.rides.....2.1299974.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...csbEA&pos=7

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/200...y+World+coaster

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/200...ensing_agr.html Well, there goes that idea.

Only $10 million for all the repairs & re-engineering? To me, that seems like a VERY generous estimate. I would have guessed about double that.

I said that not having a stand-up or inverted hurt. I did not say that it was a defining factor. And this is the exact reason why I am looking for clarification on the poll, it is very open ended. But don't get me wrong, I do like the poll. But it also can have people start splitting hairs. There are many reasons why I put KI in the average range when it comes to their collection. And the most basic answer I can give is that they don't have the variety to be put in the "above average" catagory. And IMO, this is the exact reason why CF pulled the trigger rather quickly in building DB. I have no park in the "Excellent" catagory. There is not a park that has every type of coaster- wood, steel, sit-down, stand-up, inverted, flying, suspended, launch, dive, bobsled, water, 4th dimension, pipeline, water, floorless, racing (what did I forget?) etc. Above average- SFMM, CP, & SFGAdv. Average- KI, Hershey, KD, BGA, SFoG, SFoT, Carowinds, CW. BGW would have been in the average catagory, but with the removal of BBW, it has fallen off my list.