Browntggrr

For how long people have been making up the rumor that ANY coaster is sinking, you think one would have sunk by now. The question everyone has to ask themselves is: "Why would PKI get rid of one of it's signature rides?", before even believing it. BTW the Magnum "sinking" story started on April 1st, some years ago...

A very intresting site about rollercoaster injuries etc. Coaster injuries

The "fountain" on KC was in the middle of the double helix, there used to also be a small pond there. When the train went into the helix, the water shot up. It didn't get you wet (except for a windy day), but it was neat.

The ticket prices are ok, it is the parking, food, drink. etc. that are outrageous. If you break it down, a one day ticket is $30 and if you divide that by 12 hours, it is only $2.50 per hour- not too bad. Parking is $9.00, a water is $2.50 out of a machine, a burger is $7.00 etc- yikes. PKI's prices are not high if you compare them to other parks, they are average, it is just that all the parks are high. But it is just not the amusement industry, sporting events, places of histrorical intrest all have very high prices. I used to own a business that dealt with food and drink and it is not that expensive (a case of 40 1/4 lbs burgers was only $45, and the buns were $3.50 for 18). Like the old saying goes; "you have to pay to play", if I hated the prices that much I wouldn't go, yet I still do. You just have to find ways to cut corners and save money like: bring your own food and drink and leave it in your car, refill plastic bottles with water, etc.

BGW does have two of my favorite B & M's- Apollo's Chairiot and Alpengeist. PKI could put in a coaster like AC to go with the terrain and nobody will be disappointed! Park capacity would also benefit because each train sits 4 across.

From what I can remember, the guy was intoxicated, which is one of the major reasons why the ride was not closed permanently. He passed out during the ride and slipped out of the harnesses.

My wife and I were disappointed with PKD. The only rides that had a significant difference that PKD had were Volcano, and Hypersonic, other than that it was like being at PKI. The nice part was that we got in for free with our season pass and Busch Gardens Williamsburg is less than an hour away. If you are thinking of going to PKD, definatly take an extra day and go to BGW- you will not be disappointed!

Yes you are right. I don't know the equation behind it but, TTD reaches a height of 420ft. and goes approximatly 30 mph over the top hat, and then reaches 120 mph on it's descent. What I don't know how to figure out is how the angle affects the descent (which is 90 degrees). If PKI could find a large gully of some type, like how Phantom's Revenge at Kennywood is designed, that would solve the height problem.

I'm shocked that the USA Today article did not mention all the cuts that IoA have made over the past year. Like all the employees have to take out their own garbage from the front office etc. As far as the coaster is concerned, it is possible to build a non-launched coaster with a lift hill of at least 420 ft. that did have a descent of 120 mph, but the real question is why would you want to make it cost more (materials,labor) and take up more space. Viacom gets a certain percentage of PKI's profits, not all of them. In any business you are not going to take money from one entity and give it to another like you suggested. Hypothetically if PKI had $1000 in profits and PKD had $500, Viacom is not going to give each park $750. That would not be fair to PKI, PKD would be getting more money at PKI's expense. Viacom takes, say 10% of every park's profits, and the individual park will keep the rest for park improvments. Where the advantage of having a parent company like Viacom is; PKI could "borrow" money for a ride that costs a substancial amount and the park would pay Viacom back. Even at the parks website, it states that Paramount Parks LLC. is an affiliate of Viacom.

TTD does reach a speed of 120 mph coming down from 400ft at a 90 degree angle. And to reach the top of 420 ft, it needs to be launched at least 120 mph. It would be the same thing as TTD. PKI wants either bigger than 420 ft, which also means faster or a different concept. Millenium Force is 300 ft, and goes 93 mph at a 80 degree angle. Steel Dragon 2000 is 318ft and goes 95 mph. Even a normal lift hill would need to be taller than 420 ft for the coaster to be faster than TTD, and probably would also need an elevator lift like MF. SD2000 has two separate chain lifts, imagine how long it takes to get to the top? Rickster- I would like to see the information that PKI has more money than CP. PKI is a division of Paramount, and it is also a separate entity. PKI has to pay Viacom a certain percentage of it's profits for the right to use the name Paramount. The entire entity of Viacom would have more money than Cedar Fair, but if PKI cannot survive on it's own, Viacom will not give them money to survive and the park will be sold. The same thing is currently happening with IoA, which is on the market.

I really can't imagine it being taller than 420 ft., especially since PKI claims not to be in the coaster war. And the only way for it to be over 120 mph, is for it to be launched. The plans for PKI's next project are probably already finalized, and for something like this, It is a good bet that they would already have some land cleared and stakes in the ground. There is also the cost issue. CP spent $25 million on TTD, and if PKI is going to build it bigger and faster, it is going to cost more. With the country in the mild recession that it is in presently, and the horrendous summer weather that we had this year, I can't see the money being there. I really hope that your information is correct, but with PKI claiming not to be in the "coaster war" as they have put it, I seriously doubt it.

I'm not exatly sure about the cost issue. I know that at CP the Mean Streak has close to a $1,000,000 operating budget each year, and you would have to believe that most woodies that size would have close to the same yearly costs. When a steel coasters' metal would fatigue, it would not be every piece at the same time, so the cost would not be one big hit, but broken up over time. (kind of like a car does not have all the quarter panals rust at the same time) I would have to think that a woodie's expense would be much more over time. Also, didn't PKI say that the reason KC was dismantled is because parts for the trains were becoming difficult to get?

Vortex never has had any problems. KC did have a accident shortly after it first opened, one of the train's rear wheels did come off the track, but nobody was killed.

Neither do launched coasters. Hershey Park is building a new coaster next year. It is a launched coaster with inversions, made by Intamin. I really like the concept, there are many things that could be done with it! Hershey's 2004 coaster

There are many parks that are cancelling scheduled dates for coaster enthusiasts, because they are the people that break the rules the most. On ride pics are really great, also really dangerous, and the laws are very direct about taking camers on almost every ride. I have taken on ride pics, but never thought about the ramifications of "what could happen". I would suggest to the moderators not to post on ride pics, or let the members post on ride pics, or even link to a sight for on ride pics, just for the plain fact that PKI does look at these sites and if they see that there is rule breaking going on, invitations for exclusive ride times, advertising pics for new rides may stop. Coasterbuzz Editorial

Discovery channel and the Travel Channel ran all the amusement park shows, and rollercoaster shows around Memorial Day, it was almost non-stop, with many repeats. The shows will probably not be back on till next year. You can go toDiscovery Channel and Travel Channel see their lineup. I know that "Worlds Best", and "Secrets" on the Travel Channel had alot of parks, and "Thrills, Chills and Spills" on Discovery had the same thing. There are probably more, I just can't think of them right now.

Ok, forget it. The site must have been shut down.

Weather or not you agree with beer or not, it is "Down under", and at PKI, but Aussie food would be great!

I am wondering, has anyone actually been to Australia, and what kind of food do they have?

You missed the point. Your comment is that you never had a rough ride, yet you know where to sit to get a smoother ride- It doesn't make sense. And then you go on to mention about sitting on top of the wheel s you will get "f'd" up, and still claim to have a smooth ride? Or am I confusing your form of sarcasim?

I'm not trying to be rude, so please don't take me the wrong way. Saying the park would "suck", in your opinion, I do have respect for, because it is your opinion. The problem that I have is, you were born in 1987, and Paramount's first full year was 1993. So the "truth" is when Paramount took over you were 6 years old, and you have kept the same opinion about KI? I am wondering, what did KI do that gave you such a negative opinion, at the age of 6, and why would it have "sucked" if Paramount did not take over? Kings Island and Kings Dominion started the parks you see today, so it could not have been that bad, and KI has been one of the biggest parks in the US since 1980, 13 years before Paramount. Just remember, just because it is bigger (Paramount), does not mean better.

The antique cars' area needs a major renovation. PKI could put in a new layout that could maximize the space that the ride is currently in and put other rides near it. I'm sure if the ride was changed, the popularity would increase drastically.

Well if Paramount did not buy the park, - International Restaurant would still be there -International Street would syill have unique shops, not the mall-type setting that it is today - the park would be cleaner. When it was just KI, it was by far the cleanest park that anyone had ever been to. -The rides would be original to KI. They did have The Beast, Bat than Vortex, Flight Commander, WAH, Enchanted Voyage than Smurf Ride than Phantom Theatre, WWC, WaterWorks and others BEFORE Paramount took over. I guess what I am saying is that when Paramount took over, KI was one of the most known parks in the world for the uniqueness of their rides. Today PKI does not have that same mystiqueness about it. I do like some of the additions that Paramount has done, but overall, the park has not advanced as much as I thought it would. At one time KI was the most visited seasonal park in the states, even ahead of CP and Disney for the months that it was open, it is just not like that anymore.

I think tunnels would also take the focus off the rough ride and put it into the surroundings of the ride. If they added the trees like everyone has suggested and either a tunnel just before the loop, or immdeiately after would certianly make a difference.

How do you know where to sit if you have never had a rough ride?