Cory Butcher

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!

I completely agree, and remember, the more times that a person has to go through the metal detector process the problem will take care of itself. Someone leaving the park three times only to return after a smoke break would be emptying his/her pockets three times and waiting in line! In my opinion this would help to keep people from just leaving and reentering. Sometimes the best punishment ends up being the most natural and uncomfortable of occurances

She has the type of job that I would enjoy! I like to speak publicly and am very outspoken on my thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. I have no problem addressing issues and explaining them without crossing the lines of confidentiality. With that being said, it can be a very tough job for some people. She obviously does it because she loves what she does and is quite good at it! She probably has some days where it is tough for her and other days where it is quite easy. It all depends on the person.

Well I believe security can say that, admissions can say that, and anyone else authorized to provide that pertinent info! If policy is you cant leave, smoke, and return than that is the policy, simple as that! They can have a smoke before they get in the park, and when they leave to return to their car, and they may smoke at home. Now if the park still allows readmission with a handstamp, then leaving the park to get something to eat (really to smoke) shouldnt be a problem. It would really depend whether readmission is done away with altogether or not.

haha, you're really jumping out on a limb there my friend! Smoking is banned because it is harmful to other's health as you mention, period.

That was some great footage! I hope that I get to come across Maureen some day working at Kings Island she seems to be very personable! I like how she wasnt really afraid to take a stand on the smoking issue too and mention bringing the Eagles back.

Um, you didnt know that the loop was taken out?? lol, where have you been?

HAHA, do you think we will be zooming through a mass of parked RV's and tents? lol

Actually, just the opposite! If you look at my post previous to that of your responce, I stated that I do not see this claim going too far! I realize that this case may be without merit, and indeed on the other side of the coin, the parks could have infringed upon the patent knowingly. I am solely presenting both sides, and focusing more of my argument on the fact that before new products are introduced or consumed by corporations and other companies, Usually patent searches are conducted to eliminate this sort of public embarrassment; be it without merit or in fact, the case has been presented. Only time will tell who knew, and/or who didn't! I may be giving them too much credit you are right, or I could be not giving enough at all. For a company that must watch its back at every twist and turn or face this sort of litigation, I am pretty sure (although admittedly hoping outright) that this type of contract between patents and trademarks is of (Paramount) importance to this line of work. We obviously know given the naming saga of Firehawk that trademarks are well known and important. The same way in which copyrights are important to singers and labels, Patents are important to engineers and manufacturers as well as the businesses that utilize them and then present them to the public! You and I are on the same page with the attorney reasoning, ordering a 16 oz. steak (the parks deep pockets being sued) is generally more fulfilling than ordering the 8 oz steak (The ride manufacturers being sued). And thanks so much for the compliment, I pride myself on trying to articulate thoughts and actions in a logical and cohesive manner! This I have learned, is a quality attribute to have obtained!

Haha as much as I almost couldnt agree more, your forgetting one thing...these pee areas are called restrooms and are located throughout a pool area! This is what we are talking about! Actually, lets create buildings like restrooms throughout the park with no ventilation, and have these be designated smoking areas! If people are willing to light up and get their own smoke...why not get a little more in the process? I think this would make smokers very happy! Its kinda like a buy one get one free....er...light one smell 20 free!

WOW, they are making a lot of progress, at the rate they are going...I think the ride will be fully constructed by the end of March with just testing to be done and certificates to be stamped

We could be, I am not sure which ride has them though! In the case of the Blackberry I think the idea is that a consumer not in the business of how blackberries work would not know what was stolen and what was not, it simply isnt a question one asks. However, when you look at the case of the brakes, the park deals with this kind of equipment and maintenance everyday they should know what a magnetic brake is and how it works inside and out. These things have to be for lack of a better term manicured to top performance everyday. A regular person doesnt take apart their Blackberry everyday so they shouldnt be required to know. This is why I think that the suit against the parks could be valid, this is something the parks should know and more than likely they do! In another example, I've seen hunters buy guns and you can bet that they know every piece that makes up that gun and what it does, as well as who originated the concept! At least the hunters I know!

Yeah, which makes it equally as hard to touch on the emotions of people visiting your themepark, especially when all you have is Woody the Woodpecker And then there is the whimsical Dr. Seuss, I guess. As it turns out Universal could be a nice amusement park at a KI price, but they could use more rides. They also could be a nice themepark, but they too need some more theming. All of this to create that emotion that brings people back. They are kinda somewhere in the middle between these two, which isnt bad, they pull enough attendance to be competitive and make some money, they just arent good enough to add Disney equivalent movie attractions year after year, and keep people coming back!

Yah, I was walking along the path by IJ:ST just after riding Beast and I was out of the smoking area but this guy was smoking outside the area in front of me. Anyways he dropped his cigarette while we were walking in tow and it hit the front part of my leg right above my shoe top on my shin, with the embers still glowing, anyways I shook my leg to get it off and pretty much lost my balance and tackled a little girl walking opposite of me....I felt so bad, and I didnt do anything wrong! Needless to say I apologised and once I looked up the guy was gone, so there was no use in reporting it. Those embers can sting a little!

Actually, RCCA was claiming that had they built SoB, the ride wouldnt look like they threw match sticks at the supports and called it done! See, it is the lousy structure that creates the ride hammering the structure so bad, it doesnt give like it should...it snaps back at the train instead! Whether they built the structure to specs or not, only KI and RCCA know.

Jzarley the justice system wouldnt care if you made the product yourself or if it was an unathorized copy of a product that you bought. The manufacturer would be in trouble for making it, and you would be in trouble for buying it. Now, of course this is all up to the judge before it goes to trial. It will be decided who can really be sued in this case before the trial begins. This is what Lawyers do...they name the big players first, or everyone under the sun that they can. Then it is up to the judge to decide what is the right course of action and who can really be sued. They whittle the list down and then the trial begins if there is cause to continue! I dont see this moving forward to far. I am sure the parks would not have bought the brakes or made them if they knew about the patent infringement before hand. Either way, I am in agreement with you all, the manufacturers should be named, not the parks.

I was not referring to just a channel that Universal owns, NBC is in the same area as ABC. However, Disney has the Disney Channel.

As for proving a point and being on the legal map if you win, YES it is quite worth going after Disney, there is no greater point to be made than if Disney could be humbled. However, if they lose, it was not very smart at all because all of a sudden they were flaming Disney! This is obviously a very calculated move! Furthermore, if the brakes arrived at the park with the original rides, the manufacturers who did not recieve consent would be sued. However, If the Brakes were a modification made to existing rides without the ride manufacturers support in such a manner, then the park is at fault. For example, the guy mentioned the TV above, If the TV was sold with lets say a sattelite Dish that was patented by DirecTV that was not approved to be made, then the Manufacturer is at fault not the TV owner! If the owner decided to add this dish to his TV without consent then he/she could be in a legal battle. Now, obviously if permission was recieved in either case, there is no case. It will come down to this question: Were the magnetic brakes park alterations, or were they completed by the ride manufacturers specifically?

I have a feeling that until Universal gets their own channel that explicitly offers "Universal Studios" content like Disney has, they will have difficulties for years to come. Also Disney is responsible for the whimsical and happy, Universal is known for....well...can someone help here I dont know what they are known for! If you asked me this instant to name a movie of Universals I would say Jurassic Park, How the Grinch stole Christmas and probably Shrek....through Dreamworks. Now if I had to do this for Disney, I could tell you every movie ever made...nearly, I could also do this for Miramax, and MGM (Disney's brother and sister)! Something I noticed is that when Universal still had the Nickelodeon studio and sound stages their attendance was higher, coincidence? Or something else to draw people to the park? I believe that if Universal wants to make splashes in the future they must further integrate the Nickelodeon Line, as they started to do with the Jimmy Neutron ride! Actually they should have done this before Viacom took the Nickelodeon park concept and ran with it!

I was trying to take some lighthearted jabs at you, admittedly...but some of your points have validity. I keep away from supernatural ideas, but the thoughts of the unknown are quite intriguing no matter how much they resist those of nature.