Browntggrr

Sad for all involved. Hopefully the media will concentrate on the trespassing and not the ride.

Much thanks to you sir for confirming my point.

Its threads like this that give parks a bad image when it is actually enthusiasts creating paraniod drama when none actually exist. What started as a guest being asked to pair up with a child somehow turned into child molestation & the park being accused of forcing many things. It's sad, nauseating, and also completely understandable why parks are limiting enthusiast perks today that existed 10+ years ago. Agree to disagree. Creating issues that do not exist for the solitary goal of arguing only hurts the park.

I have seen where the park has asked to be paired up with a stranger but still have not seen where the park forced anyone to sit with another. But even then: how old was this child being discussed. 8? 13? We really don't know except that the child was tall enough to ride. But here is a preventive measure that will not make anyone feel awkward: tell the ride op that you are a single rider and prefer to ride alone prior to getting on the ride. No directing. No questions. No awkward feeling. And for parents that are concerned about the sudden paranoia involving amusement ride child molestation: don't let your child ride alone.

Response was to previous poster.But much of what I said does refer to prevention. As a parent, you don't allow a young child to go to the bathroom anywhere by themselves. But on a ride? Why? Any parent should be more concerned about ride failure resulting in injury or death than child molestation on a ride.

^^Or worry about legitimate issues that have actually happened You send your kids to school? Church? Sporting event? Camp? Leave them with a babysitter or family member? Because responses like yours but still allow your child to participate in any of the above is hipocrasy at it's best. But wait.... if you allow your child to ride an amusement ride you are being hipocritical as well. To date, there has not been any issue where a child was molested on a ride, but there has been numerous injuries & fatalities involving rides. And you still allow your child to ride them...... Now what seems legit?

Ok, just making sure it has not happened on a ride and there are just a select few creating paranoia with the only goal of stirring the paranoia pot. We could sit around playing the "what if??" game all day.

Was there an inappropriate sexual act involving a child on a ride that I did not hear about?

Give me an umbrella. I am going to beat someone with it.

The happiest place on Earth? Well..... only if you can use an umbrella like the Penguin.

Since you want to split hairs even after my clarification: Quoting you from this thread: A single rider was in front of me, and the ride host directed me to ride with him. Directed means directed. Directed does not mean force.

I'm only & have been referring to the OP. Like I mentioned, don't twist things.

Let's not twist the facts. I never mentioned avoiding the danger "at all times" nor did any ride op "force" riders to sit together. The ride op simply asked, which is what should be done. If I had a concern (key words), I would either have a even amount in our group so the issue would not present itself, or simply not go.

If you are specifically looking for something negative, I can see how you would feel this way. IMO, the "I don't ride with anyone I don't know" comeback & subsequent "really??" was more of a shock reply than argumentative. I see no disrespect with it at all. I have personally joked, by playing like a disgruntled guest, around with ride ops just to get a laugh and have sometimes gotten the "really??" reply only to start laughing and let the ride op know is was completely out of humor. There is a point about pedophiles, but as a parent, if I had a concern about my girls being in danger, I would not put them in a situation where it could happen.

The park is in a no-win dilemma: allow single riders which results in longer lines upsetting guests or ask if pairing up will be an issue. Even on golf courses, on busy days pairs will be required to pair up to make a foursome. Any park guest- at any park- should expect to be paired up when waiting for a ride when the party they are with equals an odd number. I can't blame the ride attendant for the "Really??" reaction because who would really get that upset about being paired up with a young child?? The park is supposed to be about fun & a good time, not leaving a black cloud over a situation that you should have expected from the beginning.

I have always been partial to Magnum at night dating back to '89. The wave. A beach ball. Great Taste/ Less Filling. -----LESS BUGS----- The Magnum line was always fun.

I still don't get why the officer was in the area to begin with or asked anyone to sit on a bench. It appears the only threat is the officer.

^ If the bullet came from inside the park, I can understand bringing up the May incident. But to mention it, and as the very last bit if information in the article, gives the impression one had to do with the other. If a reader only reads the title of the article, and the last paragraph, it gives the impression the shooting too place in the park. Perhaps I am looking into it too much. It just bugs me the media can twist the facts into making any entity look bad.

http://m.wpxi.com/news/news/local/breaking-police-searching-shooter-kennywood/nmrp3/ Why even bother mentioning the May incident?? Neither has to do with the other.

You would think the trustees would be all for anything that can bring in some revenue and attention to the park. Not necessarily shelling out $2500, but be open to help out. All they keep saying is: No, No, No.

Yes, they will eventually work together again. Both are too big not to and CF would take a major player out of the bidding for new rides.

There was a Sasquatch sighting near the moving piles of dirt in the clearing behind SoB....... SoB testing? Yeah. Right. I'll believe it when I see it. Now what I do believe: ScreamScape has reported that the land clearing is from a local sasquatch family setting up chairs in anticipation of witnessing work on SoB.

This whole story is just terrible. The same group (Park Restorations) ran the club that burned down is the same group operating the hotel. They paid for upkeep on the club & all the items in the club and, most importantly, the insurance on the club. Club burns down and the trustees want the insurance $$. Park Restorations has spent a great deal of $$ to keep up the hotel and make improvements, thus increasing the overall value of the property. That $$ spent was to come off the rent payments. Now the trustees are ignoring the improvements and only want what they consider back rent. The sad part is if it was not for Park Restorations, there would be no hotel upkeep thus killing property value or added attention at all to the park. It's not like there was a line of people wanting such an undertaking.

Great responses all, keep them coming!

No, it is not. You totally missed the point. The parent helps the child achieve success through hard work. The parent helps the child achieve confidence by pushing through fear of the unknown. Neither one of the above is forcing the child to do anything.