Cory Butcher

In the end money talks...and ignorance walks. Take it for what you will! If Cedar Point ignores Kings Island they will lose a large chunk of profits, no matter how much is added to Cedar Point they will not make up for these valuable sums! This is afterall why they bought the Paramount chain! As far as the money, by building on to Kings Island they have the possibility to inevitably gain more profits than what is gained from Cedar Point. Kings Island could become not only a regional destination but in due time, a true vacation getaway. I am quite sure that Cedar Fair will not ignore this!

Im not sure of how the law is written but I think it purely includes private indoor property that of which is open to the public. The Cincinnati Reds did away with smoking in the stadium not because of compliance with the law but out of respect and agreement for and with the law. Bob Castellini said in the press release that by the voters voting for the law it showed that the majority of Ohioans are for a smoking ban, so he felt it best to echo the sentiments in Great American Ballpark. Furthermore, what I took from Maureens comments at Winter Soar is that Cedar Fair is deciding what policy to go with. To the best of my knowledge she didnt make any allusions to having to directly comply with the law but rather echo its sentiments in the parks, out of respect for the ban and some non-smokers and some smokers who voted for it! I think too, that maybe Cedar Fair sees it as a better guest experience for their Ohio parks, for that of the majority anyways.

I love camping, and being outdoors! half of my birthdays have probably been camping or at a campground!

Mikewhy brought up a good point that Cedar Fair doesnt seem to be too into dark rides. All I can say is that I truly hope that that changes. Although many of our roller coaster thirsts wont be quenched with Firehawk's debut I wonder how many members on here other than myself would like to see a dark ride before another coaster? Now if that means no new coaster for like 10 years than obviously the darkride can wait, but if we werent going to get another coaster until the 40th anniversary, then I would really like to get a great themed dark ride. 300th post

Although this is not a dark ride, but more of a dark ride/log flume combo, I would love to see a "Splash Mountain" type ride at KI. I would like this nearly as much as I would like a 300ft steel coaster or invert! I just absolutely love the experience of Splash Mountain combined with the wet and wild feel of a big splashdown! Theming at its best, will we see this at KI someday? Not too sure, but I am hopeful!

And, as you can tell by both of ^our^ posts, and your own account, Busch Gardens is in itself a very unique and well-done experience! For anyone looking to visit Busch Gardens, it is a must-see and do! A truly immersive experience that will play to all of your senses and create lasting memories! I am quite sure Marlfox and Jzarley would agree!

Please. please tell me that you rode Rhino Rally?? Its a pretty amazing ride! Sounds like you all had a lot of fun. I think that Busch Gardens Africa is one of the prettiest and greatest parks around. Montu happens to be my favorite Steel Coaster! And Gwazi is really fun. Also Im not sure if you caught it this time but their show called "Katonga" is too me one of the top 5 shows at an amusement Park! If you didnt catch it this time you should on your next visit, you wont be disappointed. In case you are wondering, my top 5 LIVE shows at an amusement park are 1. Lion King-WDW 2. Lights Motors Action-WDW 3. Katonga-Busch Gardens 4. Beauty and The Beast- WDW 5. Beetle Juice- USF. In my case great shows really set amusement/theme parks apart. Any park that is not spatialy or financially challenged can contract a coaster to be built, but it takes special care and attention to detail to produce some spectacular stage productions!

The arean by Firehawk and FoF I believe is going to be a congestion nightmare! In my opinion there are some slightly better areas to designate for smokers!

Well, actually I do care some, haha I mean I am working there, and when I get off I'll go ride some! So yah I care some, but had I not cared at all then your exactly right!

Ill be working too so I too could really care less! It will crowded though, I am sure of that!

Sounds good to me! I hope that someday some brilliant person comes along who solves the issues of the world. Who knows it may be young lads and lasses among ourselves!

So noone has posted in here in a while, but I got to reading, is this still being worked out or not? It seems that everything just died all of a sudden! Personally, I believe I would be willing to go on this trip if it is still on, though I dont know of the dates. So again, is anything happening with this?

So you're saying that your freedom to go anyplace that you want without having any smoking anywhere is more important than SOB_Tom's freedom to have smoking sections? Are you really that special? No, Im not that special, and make no claims as such! what I said was I had no place to attend devoid of smoking! Just as he had no place to attend where all there was was smoking...we are in the same boat! He talked about his freedom of choice that was taken away, and I talked about mine (this is called an opposing viewpoint). Actually this is where you are completely WRONG, I have asthma as do many others on here and I have many allergies. Walking through the smoke I am hurt from it, not to death but never-the-less I am hurt from it, I get a severe pain in my chest when I am even around people spraying lysol, you can imagine what cigarette smoke does! Also, I have trouble breathing it, and in order to clear my system I usually start gagging, which not only really hurts my throat but my stomach if I actually puke. Your assumption that I am not hurt from it is completly asinine and ignorant. Just because you arent physically hurt by it doesnt mean that others are not! And, Im deffinately not complaining about smokers smoking in their designated smoking areas, this is where they have been designated to smoke. BTW, I do avoid the smoking sections where possible, just in the same way that I have to use the side entrances to the buildings at UD! As you can see its not pure lazyness, I go around these areas and am proactive in being away from cigarette smoke, I HAVE TOO! Also, I do intend to work in the park this summer, I have just been given more prescriptions to help me through my umpiring/baseball/KI season! I will try my very best to stay away from the smoke where possible. Once again because unlike you obviously...I HAVE TOO! I completely agree with you here, I said that it was an extremist view! Also Id much rather be on the road with a smoker than a drunk driver, that's pure common sense! As to your claim of not taking away whiskey because you dont like the smell of it on people's breath, I agree, am I wanting to get rid of smoking just because of the smell of it on someone elses clothes? HELL NO! I dont want to get rid of smoking altogether at all, I just feel the designated areas should be designated better as does nearly everyone who has posted in this topic. Smoking is kind of good for America, it helps the economy, creates jobs, the downside is it can take lives. So again, I dont want to as you put it, "ban the whiskey" or in this case smoking, I want to somehow reach a perfect medium with both sides. On a mildly sarcastic note, I live next to the Mound Plant in Miamisburg! As for the local coal plant, I admit this is a great cause of injury and illness just as much as anything else! This is the exact reason why DP&L are currently putting more windturbines and the like in my area (very hilly) Also there is a very strong effort to create clean sustainable energy. Eventually we will get rid of most of these problems, it just so happens that smoking is the first to go, because it is the easiest to control. So yes I am as guilty as the next person for using this site, however we have to start somewhere! I dont turn to smokers assuming they wont smoke, I realize we are human and sh** happens. I also realize that there is no such thing in life as control. There are things that you may guide, but never control, this is why i generally dont trust others, so no I dont look to others to not smoke! I look to the parks which is our topic right now and our government to regulate things to where, we all have a happy medium and we have an all around choice. There has to be give and take. It isnt just if I (or others) dont want to smell smoke we should just go out of our way and avoid it, basically you are saying that smokers dont have to care, they can smoke whereever they want because they own the world and we should just step out of their way! Thats not right, the same way in which it isnt right that they have to be completely secluded, other than the fact that their activities do harm others, as you have seen by my personal account. They should be allowed to smoke, but activities by fellow citizens should never be allowed to jeopardize the well being of other citizens. This is why there are laws against murder, and on-ride photography which could injure people, and drunk driving. There is no hero in any of these accounts, its what I believe is called an opinion. As far as me being a victim as you say, im really not, Im alive and live in a nice house supported by my parents income, you're right Life is GREAT! But it is important that things be taken into consideration because some of us do have issues that can be uncomfortable. And as Im sure quite a few of us have figured out..there are no heroes, only victims. There are those who are cheated little, and those who are cheated lots. What makes us human is that we persevere, understand and change. Those who deal best with their challenges survive, it is natural selection and darwinism at its finest! Just so you know..for future reference...when I walk through that "unharmful" cloud of smoke it deffinatly feels like I have been punched in the stomach, must just be coincidental! Thank you for the insult! Have a nice morning!

It says that it is in "other parks" but it could have just been moved? If you take all the proper precautions I see no reason why these rides couldnt be safe!

Well, I knew that we would have one of these in here somewhere...it was just a matter of time! lol First off let me be the first to thank you for only smoking in designated areas! I truly appreciate your conciousness, most dont share your same views! In any case, we all know that long exposure to second hand smoke kills...and you bring up the point that just walking through a brief cloud or haze of cigarette smoke wont kill you. Though this is true, the more tiny puffs that you walk into the greater the chance that these tiny puffs WILL help to kill you! Also, it isnt just about it being unhealthy, cigarette smoke smells really really bad! I dont like smelling like it nor do I like to cough the minute I walk through it! Although you admit that you go to the designated areas you seem ignorant to the fact that us nonsmokers do not want to smell like this or have our breathing disrupted by even minor airborne cigarette smoke! This is the only way I can phrase it. Also, if you look at prohibition it was an extremist view on removing something from society that contributed moral problems but posessed limited physical or uncomfortable problems to bystanders. Smoking is banned not just because it is physically damaging to the person who smokes, but it IS harmful to others, and it makes others feel very uncomfortable. We are also trying to get rid of high-emission automobiles in a way that will not kill our economy, but eventually lead us out of the smog-ages! And as for freedom of choice, what about our freedom of choice that was cut off by having no choice but to attend public places that had to allow smoking? This is a true problem and one that is being addressed, as well as emissions-free vehicles are being adressed for the future. Hopefully in due time, under age drinking will be stopped! I have a problem in that I can't be around any of my friends during certain times because all they care about is beer-pong and I simply do not! I am sorry but based on the preceding reasons I cannot be sympathetic to your cause!

I think that Im gonna have to put one through the trees and down the hill of my backyard! haha that would be so awesome!

But, Maureen said the trains going on SoB are Gerstlauers, and according to correspondences with MyrtleBeach Pavillion, many members have reported that in fact these trains were sent to Kings Island. Whether they are the Hurricane's trains or not Maureen did in fact say that the trains were Gerstlauers. And that my friends, is what I stated, they had to buy them from somewhere! I stated nothing other than what was obvious and said by Maureen. Unless of course, You all are suggesting that Maureen just said that they are Gerstlauers to say that they are. I personally dont believe she would do that. On a side note she said that they could decide not to use them, which further implies that the Gerstlauers are KI's current plan for SoB!

Actually what Maureen said was this, "The rumor on the street is that they're 'G-trains'--looks shocked-- Gerstlauer Trains--brief pause-- They're Gerstlauer Trains!" So, Id say its certain that there Gerstlauers! not to mention thats what KI bought!

Man, Im just messing, I know full well that you didnt film it, it was past your time as you said! Just that they are getting Gerslauer trains that were used On Hurricane Category 5 in MBP!

It looks very rough thanks for the video! But be careful when posting illegal POV's, that leads to sarcasm, and sarcasm leads to tongue lashings! haha I really cant tell if it is legal or not, but looks awfully shaky to be affixed to the train! Disclaimer: Members, please remember that there are serious consequences for taking on ride photographs without authorization, not only is this both dangerous but illegal im many states!

I completely agree with you interpreter! Thank you for your support! I too hope that the enforcement is better this year at all parks, particularly the one that i visit the most! And as an employee I will do my best to ensure that all the members of this forum and any other guests have a great day at Kings Island! Yes it somewhat is but to a certain extent, if everyone is doing what they should be doing in their job description plus other things that help make the park a better place than the guest's experience will be great! But, if an employee has to do other things above and beyond what they are capable than it takes away from what they are supposed to be doing and the guest experience will suffer. It is all about balance. If I hop off my ride to stop a smoker...your experience will be better without the smoker, but your experienc is gonna suck if you ride my ride, because I wasnt doing what I am supposed to and the lines will be long as hell!

Hmmmm, not a very Service Oriented Focus. With employees that have this attitude, CF may have some additional work to do in getting the park back to it's former greatness. I believe that her focus was a good one, she never said anywhere, that she would not tell the smoker to "put it out". She said that if she had to do this multiple times, then she wouldnt be able to do her job very well. She states herself that it IS NOT very hard to ask them if they are around her. And more than likely she does this! I dont think that it would be the responsibility of a restraint checker, or an employee makin' Larosa's to deliberately stop what they are doing, walk out of the ride or the restaraunt, and admonish a smoker that they saw out of the corner of their eye over 200 feet away! This is why we have security and roving park inspectors, to handle this...this is their job! Now being an employee for this season, I can tell you that if I see someone smoking outside of the designated area I will let them know about it. Unless however, it is in my job description to leave this up to security, I will help to further my non-smoking guests experience! I happen to believe that her attitude is the right one to have as long as she does stop smokers as she says that she does if they are close and she doesnt have to risk a riders safety to do it!

Don't mention such a horrible accident being so funny, some people may take offense to it and let you know about it! Note: This post is in reference to the hostility exhibited by some members on other topics!

well I hope that they have enough room to bank it at the angle that it needs to go the one way and then switchback the other to meet with the track! For instance if an unbanked s-shaped piece of track only takes 140 feet of space, I would imagine that a banked piece would take another 50 feet or so to get into the bank, turn, get out of the bank, get back into the bank and turn the other way, and then unbank again to match with the unbanked track ahead. I certainly hope that they execute this right and this area doesnt turn out to be a rib-breaker like the wildcat's of old....some of you older gentlemen know what unbanked turns were like on most coasters named "Wildcat". Speaking of such, were any of our members here ever privaledged to ride the Wildcat at Idora or the one in Dayton, Ohio many years ago? I have been told the forces on those coasters were tremendous...laterally speaking!

Yes, December 15 after the ODA completed their investigation....I believe it was the 15th!