Cory Butcher

what about the option of selling it for some healthy competition? That would take it off their hands...distributing the rides to other parks though with no competition may help out in the long run.

It would sound that way wouldn't it?

Nick, you made a great point, Im going to go ahead and completely agree with you!

Looks like Ive got a pack of 4 season passes to Great America next year! Contest sounds easy. I ate a meal worm at the Columbus Zoo on a boyscout overnight in December about 5 years ago, really not that bad, besides, I've had more harsh times just trying to read some of the responses on here that last more than a minute! lol

There is a nice portion of land next to the International Showplace Theatre across from the Carousel and next to Swan Lake. I could see the Americana Ferris wheel going in there. Number one, it would not block the view of the Eiffel Tower too much, number two it is not an overly loud ride with screams and what not so it wouldn't affect the show. Although, as some here have mentioned and as others have stated I still think that land is being saved back for another use. For those of you that remember a haunt was located there I believe 3 years ago? I could be wrong, but it was some haunt themed as a cabin, and there was one room with heads hanging from the ceiling about 6 feet off the ground. It was the last year for Route 666, by far the greatest Kings Island haunt ever! The area now is home to the three Toyota cars and Alexander the Great

I was thinking the same thing^^. Easily one of the worst written articles Ive read in a long time. He didnt even seem like he knew too much about the park. No show titles, and just he seemed unaware. Wow, that was a tough read!

I'm nothing if not predictable. <G> agreed, lol

TEAR it down! How does this happen twice in 5 days? Noone answer, I dont even want to know. This is rediculous, sounds like the ride needs 25 blocks...that might do it! Since the last accident involved operator error (I believe? not sure on that part) 25 blocks sounds like a needed feature!

Says the guy who works in games... You and I both know that sometimes even Eco knows what happens...Its never what you know but who you know that told you what you know.

Ok, so far many posts have reflected the idea that the parks should maintain their own separate identities as if they were not all a part of a much larger brand. To that I post this question: In the USA we have this idea of a centralized National Government where the national government is relatively weak compared to other governmental structures, and the States all have a separate government ran the way they choose as long as it does not conflict with the Constitution. We still no matter what state we are from say that we are USA, or no matter what city we live in, say we belong to the great state of [...]. So my question is, why couldnt that form of recognition be carried down to Cedar Fair or any other ride company and its parks. Why can't their be an understanding of the brand and a separation of the products? More directly, Why can't The park chain be represented as Great like a Disney, and still keep the identity of its parks separate from one another? It seems to me that if you really try hard you could have a greatly recognized brand, and unique seperately identified parks, that could all promote each other. Everything we have seen so far with that model is carbon copy parks like the former PP, and even the Six Flags parks of old (I realize they are still doing this with the new batman coaster additions). But who is to say that this can't be done?

haha, I said it was a limb, I didnt say it was a branch to build a treehouse on! And much of the post was just babble! As I said in my post, It would not be a feasible option to dump that kind of Capitol into a park in its market. On the other hand I did mean some of what I said although not directly. It kind of follows the "If you build it, they will come" ideology, perhaps they didnt build it enough? Noone is to say, because the idea of dumping that much cash into a regional short operating season park seems outlandish to most. However there is the slim chance that had more money been added (IF THERE WAS MONEY TO ADD)(there was not) that it could have brought the park up in attendance and competed as a tourist draw not just a regional theme park. Now, of course, the flipside of what I just stated is that if GL were to have had the 120,000 dollars in improvements it would have violated the "See a need, fill a need" principle which is to say there wasnt a need for the park to be a tourist destination so why treat it as such? Oh such is the beauty of understanding, and the mystery of uncertainty!

Im going to go out on a limb. I would like to state that Six Flags did not invest enough money into Geauga Lake to have it overtake Cedar Point or Kings Island, or Kennywood. Yes I said that right, 40 million dollars invested for four new roller coasters was not enough. regardless of the market, we all know had Geauga Lake put in 120 Million dollars and 12 coasters they would have had a better time competing....Of course, that wouldnt even be a reliable option as it would take many years to pay off that debt load. Either way, the downfall of GL comes back to Six Flags, I think.

yeah coastergirl, you and me both! One of the benefits of a season pass, you only have to do what you want to do!

So, my new favorite phrase from watching the club blood vid..."You dont have the testicular fortitude"!

I believe that may hold true, about the logo. I think it would be construed as the logo to the movie distribution and cataloguing rights. But that would depend on if the logo stays with the production company as a part of distribution rights, or is in itself a trademark that wasnt renewed.

Since when has Titanic been known only as a movie?!? Sure they could not distribute the movie or a knockoff of the movie but they certainly could use the name, especially when the trademark as a movie title/intelectual property wears off. Thats the thing that gets me about Top Gun. Top Gun is actually an elite flight school for the best of the best. Top Gun I believe could stay Top Gun as the trademark is no longer valid, whether based off the movie or not, All Paramount now owns is rights to market and distribute the movie. It seems to reason that as long as the flight school doesnt have a problem with it the name could stay.

You know, I remember KI doing something like this during fear fest two years ago! I went saturday night, and KI rolled big screens and projectors into the Fest Haus so people could watch Ohio State play Penn St. So many people were just glued to those TV's It was nice how KI catered to those big OSU fans that night.

Yeah, because so many people want to pay a 40 dollar admission to go sit in a sports bar and watch tv. For a season passholder who already payed a flat rate to enjoy the park as much as possible, I feel quite the contrary, it could very well work. It is like all things...one more thing to do at the park. And although to pay to visit just that day, and spend the whole sunday catching up on the NFL would be quite well, stupid. More than one person may do it, and a passholder who lives close to the park and goes nearly every day at a cost of about 5 dollars or less a day, it could be a very worthwhile addition....a much better addition than removing the Flying Eagles! Especially if you're a season passholder. It would be like a BW3's with a multi million dollar playground!

It seems everyone is latching on a bit to my statement about the jackets, haha. I was not by any means saying that the jackets is the "BIG ONE" for Kings Island marketing. I was just stating that it is a very small piece of the general puzzle, but could infact have some very positive worth when it comes to marketing the parks. What I was really wanting to know from people on here, is how they feel about the Big picture. People are focusing on the jacket idea, and I did not mean for that to come off as being the greatest innovation since sliced bread. There are other things such as Fear Fest local to PP, being changed to Halloween Haunt. I would like to know if there are other things people have seen this year as being positive or negative in forms of park/brand awareness this year!

Um, not quite...You have it mostly right though! The Hershey Trust wholly owns Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company. Also, The Hershey Trust who owns HERCO Has majority of the voting stock ownership in The Hershey Company. By way of ownership, management aside, they are connected! Once again, Interpreter is right in the respect that The Hershey Company does NOT own Hersheypark but it does happen to be majority owned by the same people that do own Hersheypark. http://www.hersheypa.com/town_of_hershey/m..._statement.html

Ok, let me preface this discussion by stating that Cedar Fair has made many announcements throughout this year in their first full year of PP ownership as we know and many announcements and similar marketing campaigns have been met with both some enthusiasm and negativity. As the year comes to a close how do you think Cedar Fair has done in attracting "buyers" (unit holders, guests, media, enthusiasts, businesses, sponshorship) to the park chain? I know many testaments on here will include a deliberate bias about the handling of GL, but am also wondering if anyone has some more creative opinions on the matter which are less sarcastic but more reasoned! I was looking at the season pass options for next year and noted that most all (if not all) the parks are giving away a jacket that has either a park name or Cedar Fair logo on it. My feeling is that this is a good tactic in creating some brand awareness, not just trying to get people to buy the passes to get the jacket but,in reference to all those people out there who will wear their free jacket proudly, (marlboro jackets anybody?). I know in the past the big perk to buying early has been a cheeper price and free parking, and the gold pass. With the jacket idea, this seems to be a cost-effective marketing tool, for the park to add more value to a season pass, but also in turn create some relatively cheep marketing and brand awareness, maybe not to the extent of the Nike swoosh on apparel, however it could be a nice strategic maneuver. I dont mean to get too deep in on the subject, but I cant help but think people will wear the jacket (It looks quite conservative and durable) in more settings than they would a simple Kings Island T-shirt, with an overly gaudy stenciled picture of Firehawk, IJ, or TG on it. It simply struck me as a good decision on behalf of the marketing teams on the project. This is just one example of an announcement/campaign from this year. I would like to know what other people think about the brand awareness being built from this year! The floor is yours!

occasional problem here, but on my laptop (brand new with great graphics card and more memory) I have no problem. With the one Im on right now, I just clear the cache and Im ready to go...albeit my computer takes about 20minutes to restart.

haha, I sense sarcasm, and nothing is more annoying than the announcer. I think I've heard every basketball cliche during this year at KI. Ive heard the word Brick so much I could rebuild the Playboy Mansion!

I dont have any concrete evidence on the statement, thats why it was my opinion and in no way shape or form that it was a fact. I simply trust a guy who wants to take a shower and hold himself as a professional, more than a guy who doesnt when it comes to operating a ride that im on! How is that not my right, to analyze the situation and not like it? Part of the reason I wont eat fast food, if I walk in and see the guy at the fry station with bloodshot eyes, and pick his nose. Same way if I walk in, and you are sitting there looking like a highschool dropout, no way in hell am I going to get an insurance quote from you! Notice I said looking like one...if you dont look like one but were one, I feel much better knowing that you at least appreciate what you do enough to look the part, and that is fine with me!

OK, help me with that logic and how is it that you know about the carnies showering habits. Inquiring minds simply want to know. I have spent some time around Kissel Bros. operations, and have gotten to know a few people on their staff. My dad is on the Fairboard for the Union County Fair, and was Vice President of it last year. In any case, my dad is in charge of hiring the carnival rides company for the fair and has had that obligation for the past 13 years. I have spent time visiting my dad for the whole week for the last 5 years or so, and have been included on many different business dealings while the fair has gone on. Also pending enough signatures on my petition I plan on being on the Montgomery County Fairboard the year after next. So by virtue of being around these situations I have been able to see many of the operations of the different ride operators. In one particular event this year, a few ride operators threw a bit of a tantrum about having to take a shower, wash their clothes and not smoke around the rides. This is when I got the priveledge of meeting mama Kissel. I never got to know her by her first name just, "mama", she is Dwayne Kissels wife, I believe, and doesnt take much hassle from anybody, but she was a real nice woman, made many visits up to the fair office. She was nice to talk to, especially considering how I work at KI. It was nice to see how they handle things! So....WooferBearATL, is that enough for you? Or would you like to know more? I have many other memorable memories that I can share. This years fair, was a blast! And that ^^ is why I made my statements!