Cory Butcher

I for one was not surprised. I must admit that I loved the comment on Lost...so true.

So far I have plans to attend the opening day of Hard Rock Park, Kings Dominion and Carowinds. I also plan to attend many, many other parks this year as I started a very lucrative Internship this past month, and have plenty of money to throw into our nation's struggling economy! I am diving my wallet headlong into the entertainment sector, and various stocks and bonds, lol.

I am quite sure there will be provisions for a grandfathering of sorts of previously employed park workers...i.e. returners. There may not be any provisions allowed, but due to the highly volatile economic situation that we are in these days I think there should be. The magnitude of 16 year olds losing their jobs to help pay for college, or help keep their family afloat could have large economic implications. I think a grace period of 2 years to allow the 16 year olds wishing to return the ability to do so would not be too out of line. For example, Nascar recently (2006) set a mandate that no owner in the Sprint Cup series may have in his/her possession ownership of more than 4 teams. However, Roush Racing, and Hendrick Motor sports had 5 teams at the time of the agreement and many other teams were looking to add a 5th team to better compete in the series. Nascar decided to let the deal take effect in 2008. This eliminated any confusions as to the long term intentions and consequences of the deal had it taken effect immediately.

Well there could be such a deal. But, you actually have to go to the city of Mason. They deal with all the Kings Island stuff. For instance, building permits, are not through Warren County specifically, instead they go through the city of Mason, and end in the city, as far as filing purposes anyways! I had a project to do for school. My business plan involved an amusement park. This required me to do some research...

I agree with most things you said Marlfox. You obviously have an outlook towards the traditional conservation side, which is good. I must say, and I do not mean to seem brash but it seems that you don't understand that the more people you bring into a zoo that would not visit otherwise, the better you can cater to conservation efforts and further your message to those who wish to hear it anyways. Look at the Columbus Zoo. The more golfers go to their golf course, the more money they have to put into expansion of the zoos educational programs and conservation efforts, the more veterinarians they can hire, as well as the more interns they can hire to give back something to the community in the form of job readiness. Also the more people that notice the water park will notice the zoo. And the more money spent in the water park just makes the Zoo even better financially speaking. Also the Zoo is going to have Jungle Jack's Landing, a small scale traditional dry park to help further entertain guests and bring more funds to conservation. How is this a bad thing? You say that conservation is what its all about, and I would say that we all agree with you, no one here will dispute that. But by doing these other things you attract other people to conservation, you further conservation allowing your message to be heard by all types of people. Even people that don't like animals enough to go into the zoo will maybe think twice about not throwing their Wendy's bag out the car window if they see a striking statement in the water park talking about how litter contributes to the recession of Flora and Fauna. Once again, I don't see this. In my mind the effort of a zoological facility is to educate others about conservation, to tell people that otherwise would not hear the message about conservation what they should know. Furthering the message of conservation to all that will hear it, no matter how it is done is a very good thing. You have to practice conservation, but these AZA accredited facilities would not receive their accredidation without preaching conservation, as you know. Just to do is not enough, you must teach, and in order to teach, you must attract people other than those that would typically come to a zoo and teach them. That is what the benchmark for success will become. This is what a place like The Columbus Zoo realizes. They are not getting rid of their principles, they are reinforcing their principles if anything. They want to have a greater conservation effort and the only way they can do that is bring more people into the fold. Their programs and educational opportunities are top-tier, some of the best in the nation. They are limited in getting better in that department, but what they can do is attract more cash, build greater facitlities and bring more people to the zoo. It is all about the message of conservation, what is the point in conserving, if you can't at least try get others to join in? Now, this is very true, they are not an amusement park. They have a water park, and a dry park, a golf course, and a Zoological facility. I think you could call it a fledgling resort destination with a heavy, and equal if not greater concentration in Animal and Eco-system conservation than any other facility out there. Once again they want to bring their message to others that would not hear it otherwise. I would like to add that as you say, the Zoo's may not be in "direct competition", but ALL zoos are in competition with other leisure activities, interests, and destinations to attract peoples attention and educate them on the message of, our buzzword of the night, Conservation. Without this you educate the same people who like animals day in and day out. And these are not the people that need to be attracted to things they are already passionate about, they can research for themselves and will visit a zoo without hesitation. Who you need to educate is anyone who should know more about conservation than they do. Which is arguably 100% of all persons on this earth, whether already interested or not.

And I must completely agree with Interpreter. Thinking outside the box leads to greater conservation efforts, and more funds. Something the Col Zoo has hit on very nicely.

Which is funny because many books now have a discussion of the book's topic on the back or the inside of the cover, so that one can judge by the cover! lol I always read the back of a book before I buy it...I am an educated consumer! Why am I reminded of Sesame Street?

Haha, I can't believe woofer didn't get your special interests funny Interpreter! I thought it was clever!

As much as I want to agree with Donnie, if image didn't matter, It's a small World's entrance would not have been completely updated!

The market took a dive today, that is for sure.

I don't think guests have a problem with the whether policy, the weather policy however... Yeah, I definitely goofed! Good catch coach. The Interpreter, comical as always. In all ways.

Because they are sinking... All parks now suffer the same fate, an enormous amount of sinkage!

Yes it would, but I have a better chance becoming president of the USA at 28 years old.

To steal from Interpreter, Yes!

But yet, Cedar Point, has seemingly more antique cars than any park I have ever seen, how many sets do they have? They also have turnpike cars, and a Ferris Wheel. Dont forget about Dodgems, Iron Dragon. A skyride, a carousel and many shows. I think there is more for the older crowd to do at Cedar Point than there is at Kings Island. I am not sure about the other Cedar Fair parks though, so I will yield to you all...

^Yes I know, I live in a land called optimism quite often. I also live in a land that I have titled "How can I do this better?". I am quite certain that eventually I will be in a position in life where that latter land, is truly my life, and I will be in a position to do things better. I know a simple flavored shaved ice snack at your local fair costs 12-14cents to make. And is about 2:50 or more, thats a profit of somewhere in the range of 1400% profit. Outstanding.

I have no problem with any of the owners that have ran Kings Island or how they did run the park. You may call me naive...(Someone doubtlessly will after I post...just do it tastefully!) I firmly believe that all things happen for a reason, and that everything that happens, builds on what happened before it. Example: Shows had to leave, before they could come back! (Yes, I know they shouldn't have left to begin with, but they did!) And, that's my take.

Just glad that I could help Train Driver! As I've said countless times. If anybody needs to find anybody, just ask! lol, I am so going to work for the FBI someday. lol

All I have to say to people complaing about Cedar Fairs whether policy.... Go to Silver Dollar City...wait until about 11AM (this is the time I have found that sprinkles in the mountains will start)....and then tell me you still want to complain about Cedar Fairs policy. They close down many indoor rides even, and yes, you read that right. Not to mention storms must be a 9-15 mile radius away from the park, depending on winds, etc.

Excellent point. Fruit is so refreshing during the summer. Especially on a roller coaster riding,running from ride to ride, jam packed fun filled hot day. I LOVE that idea! I never eat anything heavy such as pizza. I don't eat meat and usually an ice cream cone is about the only thing I eat at KI. A fruit stand would be outstanding! I hope some one takes your advice! One of my new favorite things a Disney World is the Dole Whips. I read about them before my trip last year, tried it, and now it is one of my must-haves there. The Dole stand in Adventureland has pineapple ones, and I believe somewhere else in the park has either strawberry or raspberry, I can't remember which. Basically it's pineapple soft serve ice cream in a cup with pineapple juice. Talk about refreshing! Just the thing we needed on that hot June day. We will definitely be getting one this September again. I will be getting my daughter her own this time instead of her eating part of mine, I didn't expect her to like it so much and eat as much of mine as she did! Well, I mentioned it because I would like to see it. The unit price last I saw for apples is $0.21. I would love to be able to go by a fruit stand, buy an apple for oh say $.50 (I think that would be somewhat reasonable for an amusement park apple) and go on about my way. The snack is maybe a little sticky, but tasty, sweet, healthy and in a nice neat package. Perfect for carrying around the park. The park would make $.29 for every apple purchased or about 100% profit. You could buy a bananna (my favorite), a cup of strawberries, maybe an orange. Even smoothies, or like the Dole Whips at WDW. I think it would be a hit. And would go great atmosphere wise anywhere in the park. Now all this said. Fruit stands attract bees, and fruitstand refuge attracts a lot of bees. KI has a history of bees, so really this would not add to the problem much more. But cleaning crews would have to be at the top of their game. Which I believe they would be as Kings Island is (and I am not being a "homer" here as I have visited many parks) one of cleanest parks that you will find, and there is always a trash can around. The Jolly Rancher smoothies are alright, but IMO, there is nothing better than a "pure" blend. That's my take.

Will Kings Island ever again have a good set of Flying Scooters?

Will Kings Island ever have a fruit stand?

I have XP on my two computers, so no widget for me . The upstairs computer has Vista, maybe I will put one on it. Dang I wanted one.

Last I heard. The Jackson 5 is going back on tour.

Can you make these for Windows? I don't have a mac and would like to have one for my desktop...if they can be made that is!