RaptorGuy

The only enhancement they can do for me is to remove the ride altogether and make room for something more exciting to ride! I think a Maverick style Intamin would fit nicely there. Maybe we could bring back KCKC! The only good year for The Crypt was 2008. If it ran like that again, I'd be happy about that and ride it often. I rode it once last year out of morbid curiosity, and was as disappointed as ever. When it was the previous name, under a previous owner, it ran really great for a few months the first year it opened, but not really after that. At least it flipped more than it does now. A true blue full tilt boogy Top Spin is like the one at Adventureland in Iowa. It turns you upside down and stops! I also really liked the one Geauga Lake used to have. Kings Dominions is pretty decent, too. If Crypt could emulate anyone of those, I'd be pretty excited to ride it on every visit. I'm not going to ride it just based on new effects in the que, unless I am really tired, and feel like taking a nap!

I think I"ll just call it The Eyesore Dinosaur. Sort of rhymes!

I would rather see them bring the rides back, not shells of rides. Although, the idea is noble, not knocking the idea. I just think it would be better if they would bring the rides back that had appeal to people, i.e. Flying Eagles! I think seeing a flying Eagle tub would upset me, and make me long for it, more than smile at the fond memories I used to have. It would be more or reminder of the mistakes Kings Island has made over the years. A lot of those flat rides were awesome, and I wish I could ride them. The Der Spinnen Keggers, for example was an incredible ride! I loved to make it spin and spin and spin. Snapping the cables on the Eagles, AMAZING! The HB rides, nothing like them, and probably never will be again. Amazing themed rides, those HB rides were! I'd give anything to take another ride on the original Enchanted Voyage again!

Kings Dominion is still showing Spongebob in 3D. That would indicate to me that Kings Island will also continue it this year, as well. They've always kept those simulator rides pretty uniform since they've had them. So, let's all just count on watching Spongebob for the 2011 season!

Wow, you said something I agree with And I completely agree with Raptorguy about the DB/ Beast ERT! Maybe we all can get along. I agree with raptorguy on db/beast ERT too, but I don't think threatening to boycott the park is a rational course of action. And Skyline is better. I only agree with Raptorguy about ERT. If he wants to boycott the park, I really don't think KI will be too devastated, and it's 1 less person in line in front of me! Your right, Skyline is much better. I just wish they'd stop charging so much more for those little doggies in the park than they do everywhere else. I didn't say I was going to boycott the park altogether. I will still come. I just wont come the 50 times I did last year. Only a fraction of that, probably. Maybe back to 06 when I came only 6 times the whole season. I just won't be riding WindSeeker, and won't be partaking in ANY ERT this year, thanks to poor decisions. That's all I am saying. You'll still see me, some!

If they take away Spongebob, I will visit even LESS than I was already planning to visit, because of other things they've taken away from me. Take away the best 3D movie they ever had, and that's all she wrote! If there is a NEW Spongebob episode, I would be in favor of that, even though I love, "Hey, Is That My Patty?" But, NOT having Spongebob at all is NOT acceptable!

I play Roller Coaster Tycoon, but I use The Son of Beast Cheater and I can do whatever I want in my parks. I can make anything magically appear. But, I do believe what is spinning around in my head to be better than what is really happening. I believe ERT on Beast and Diamondback is a million times better than having it on WindSeeker, and Head Banger. But, we all know how angry I am about that, no need to keep rehashing the mistake they made in that decision! But, I don't go into Skyline and complain about how bad the chili is, because its not that bad. I like Gold Star better, but I dont complain about it. And, I actually like Jungle Jims. I don't complain to him, because what would I complain about? I'd like to see a coaster there, but probably won't happen. I am upset at Kings Island, because I love the park, and I don't like what's been happening over there lately. The things I said I would do if I could control it, are things that existed in the history of Kings Island, but no more. They are things that worked and people enjoyed, and I don't understand why they would take things away that were great. The current management is horrible, and make horrible decisions, and I am just stating what should be done differently to try and get them to make better decisions. So, thats why I wanted to know if anyone else could operate it, what they would want to see done differently!

Since this is mostly a forum about Kings Island, we can just keep this to how specifically you would operate KI if you could do so. If I were making decisions at KI, of course there would be certain upper management level changes. As far as operations go, the first thing I would do is bring back Winterfest. I would have an amendment drawn up that says no matter who owns this company in the future, they can never stop having Winterfest! As far as Haunt, I would still allow it, but it would be tamed down and kept mostly in Coney Mall. It would look almost identical to how it was in 2005. That was probably the best Haunt event at the park that year. I would bring back Elvira for sure. Let's back up to regular season now that we have the end of the year covered. I would have pass and ACE ERT everyday for an hour on Beast, DB and Surf Dog. Vortex would be slated for removal in 2 years to make way for a B&M invert. I would have Ghost Manor totally re-themed to something more exciting than Skeletons. Maybe bring back Phantom Theater as a Shoot and ride. Action Theater would have Spongebob on one side and FunHouse Express on the other. The Racer would run the red side backwards again. The coaster formerly known as Son of Beast would be restored and reprofiled with new elements, maybe new loop? The food would get a full make over. I'd keep the Skylines, Laroses, Graeters, Chik Fil A and Starbucks, but would add at least 2 table service restaurants. I would probably switch to Pepsi to make everything more uniform company wide. I would offer a bigger variety to include caffein free and stuff. Perhaps offer a deal to include drinks all day for one price. The fireworks would be 20 minutes long instead of 5 and be everynight the park is open past 8. There's other things, but those are the major changes I would offer if I could make KI what I wanted it to be.

I wonder how often they will have to close it due to high winds? Oh wait, that's a different park!

I will ride on til I breath my last breath, even if that's what kills me!

The Paramount Days, the themeing was very bad for what theyvwere billing the park to be. They wanted to make it the Universal of the Midwest. They fell way short of that goal. I think Cedar Fair does better with thrill rides, but I think Paramount was a lot friendlier and welcoming. I don't feel welcome at KI under CF. All the uppers who walk around the park remind me of Walter, Jeff Dunham's puppet! I feel they are looking down their noses at me and it makes me uncomfortable. That's the biggest difference in the two, to me.

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. Surf Dog is NOT a duck! It is not controlled by gravity what so ever. When it goes up one side, it has a slight hesitation before coming back, and you don't freefall down. It would be awesome if it DID do that, but it doesn't. It's a great flat ride, though! I wish they would make it spin more and they could if it were an adult thrill ride. But, a coaster it definitely is NOT!

As long as you do as you say I see no problem with making a statement like this...it truly shows the level of your dissatisfaction.

a. I bet you are wrong about your first part. b. As to WindSeeker, you know this HOW exactly? Many people said the same thing about Flying Eagles. And most of the ones who said that hadn't ridden them, either. There's no cables to snap on WindSeeker. The Flying Eagles was always a different experience, because you never knew where you were going to get a snap or how much of a snap, but when you did, it was AMAZING! I'd ride that ride a million times a day over WindSeeker, as you well KNOW Terpy!

Actually, I doubt these dang dinosaurs are gonna bring in anymore people than normal. And as far as that wind thing, it's one of those once you've ridden it once, you've ridden it a thousand times kind of thing.

I want to look at what some are saying as to who the audience of Kings Island is. The regular customers who go every week and sometimes daily ARE the THRILLSEEKERS! Businesses that are the most successful are those who cater to repeat business and keep their regular customers coming back as often as possible. By adding an upcharge attraction that does NOT appeal to the majority of their regular coaster riders and taking away our ERT that we DID pay for is NOT doing that! I will be coming less this year as a result, they're already driving away their repeat customers. With a bad economy and CF already up to their eyeballs in debt, I'm not sure why they've chosen to anger the people who they count on most!

Its all in percieved value. I don't go to movies because none seem to have value. $5 is too much to spend for something that I perceive to.have no value or interest to me. Besides, I'm guessing you can get a pretty good view of it from The Racer or maybe the Eiffel Tower with binoculars.

I have to say, driving into Kings Island is going to be a very unpleasant experience this year if I have to see that eyesore dinosaur all year. I hope that doesn't stay. I fail to see why something that silly looking was erected to start with! I don't recall ANY other attraction in KI'S history having something like that erected in the front yard right up by the road to advertise it's latest attraction. I mean, does anyone recall a 50 ft snake being placed out front for Diamondback or a 50 Ft Snoopy advertising Planet Snoopy? If they didn't do that for their greatest attractions, why do it for a not very good attraction like this? Makes no sense to me!

This is ABSOLUTELY the WORST thing Kings Island has ever done in it's 39 year history! This is a total WASTE of money that could be used for better things like maybe a couple of really good sit down restaurants or fixing up that big wooden coaster just sitting there or having an event like Winterfest! Instead they waste it on some stupid fairy tell dinosaur exhibit and then have the nerve to charge extra to see it! You can go to museums and see trash like this! It has NO place in an amusement park! First, theyvtake away DB and Beast ERT and now THIS! I don't know who's making decisions at this park these days, but a 5 year old could do a MUCH better job! Maybe we should rename Kings Island, The Land of The Lost! That would give it double meeting to compare it to the 70 s TV show and to describe the people running things over there. They've seem to have LOST their way! Dinosaurs Alive, Give Me A Break!

Since they're not offering ERT on rides I like, I probably will go a lot less than last year for sure. At least I will get to sleep in on Saturday mornings, and not try to scurry to get there before 9 for my 15 rides in a row!

NOT LATELY!

Dinosaurs Unearthed also follows Kings Island on Twitter, and vice versa I'm sure. The writing is on the wall... Son of Beast is getting another 50 ft. added to the lift and the loop is coming back. It will be renamed Son of T-Rex featuring Dinosaur Unearthed animatronics in the queue line. Or it could be a walk-through exhibit I guess... If it was part of the que for Son of Beast, or ANY good thrill ride after walking through, THAT would actually be acceptable. But, if it is ONLY a dinosaur walk through, and nothing more, that will just be incredibly LAME-O! The worst LAME thing about it would be the incredibly dumb marketing approach for it. Making these Jeff Seibert-esqe style videos making you think it could be something really awesome, and then its just some uninteresting thing that belongs in a ZOO or park next to the Smithsonian Museum, this is just POOR marketing judgement on someone's part, I have to say! But, I will wait to officially say its a build up to a HUGE let down, until its announced. Maybe we're only getting the first part of it, and maybe the rest WILL be a new coaster, or some great thrill ride at the end of this themed que thing. Lets just hope. It could be like the former Astroworld with Dungeon Drop. The que line was really awesome and ended at a pretty fun drop ride!

I will have to give him credit on this. This was more like something I want to see from the marketing director at Kings Island! This is Jeff Seibertesque, so kudos on that funny video! But, as far as what is it, well, the slogan "Turn Back the Clock for Thrills" kind of leads me to believe that its something from the past. So, what I need to spend some time thinking about is, what exactly from the past could it be? Something thrilling from the past returning to the park? One of the words that was audible is "Longest", and another I think is "tallest" So, it must be something that was once a long and tall ride. So, what exactly could be a tallest ride from the past? What could possibly be a ride like that where we turn back the clock for? I am totally stumped, I have to say. I guess we will find out what thrill we will be turning back the clock on this coming Friday, March 18th! I just can't believe for as long as I've been at Kings Island that I can't even think of what he could be talking about! Hmmmm........

Just as an FYI, I DID in fact ride The Racer in the 70's. It was the very first coaster I ever did ride when I was 7 years old. I remember it scared the bee gees out of me! When I got that exceptional airtime on the big hump, I thought I was going to actually fall out. But, it didn't discourage my coaster riding career. I came back year after year to ride The Racer. It was my favorite wood coaster for over 25 years, until I rode Shivering Timbers, and then Hades, and then the coaster to end all coasters, The Voyage! The only things I don't like about Racer and Beast from those good old days are the trains. I loved them much better with the buzz bars and no seat dividers or head rests. they were so much better then! But, I have to say as far as the structure, track and general ride itself, they've held up very well. And also, let me add to my previous discussion that wood coasters can be rebuilt and fixed and retracked over and over. Steel coasters, that is not so easy to accomplish. It also doesn't really happen often, unless its like I-305 and having to get a total do over in certain spots. One last point here, even though I am not excited about WindSeeker, I am glad Coney is getting a make over. I will give a thumbs up on getting the new brick style walkways.

Who cares how old Vortex is? That doesn't mean nobody cares about it. Um....exactly how old is The Beast? Racer? Pretty sure people still care about those and they are much older than Vortex. It's still a very popular ride and its popularity will most likely be increased with the new foot traffic going towards that section of the park with WindSeeker opening this year! Well, the fact is, Beast and Racer are actually good coasters. Wood coasters get better with age, typically. Some don't, obviously, but Beast And Racer DO get better with age. Steel coasters are NOT like that. They get fatigued, and end up getting so rough, you have to take them out. Vortex never was that great to start with. It was unique for maybe 3 or 4 years, because for awhile, it had the most loops of any coaster in the country. Then GASM came out and it had 7 loops. Arrow loopers, though are going to start disappearing from the landscape more and more, since they are not made anymore. Most of Toomer's coasters were just not very good. Vortex was actually one of his better ones, which really isn't saying much. Just most of the other ones like it were more unrerideable than Vortex. So, keep in mind, wood coasters-better with age, steel coasters-worse with age. It will be interesting to see how well B&M's hold up. They are in their 20th year, and the ones that old are not doing so hot, but from Raptor on, most are holding up a lot better. Maybe they will change this theory!