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I also think "hate" is a strong word. I think "mis-managed" is more appropriate. In my opinion for every good year of changes and additions, Paramount always had a bad year to match. In 1993 I was really excited about Paramount. I thought Top Gun was a really good new direction for the park and that future additions would be really exciting. This continued for me through the addition of Flight of Fear. Things started downhill for me when Adventure Village was killed in favor of Action Zone. It made no sense. Add tons of pavement and a couple new rides...but leave Amazon Falls and King Cobra? I really wished they would have added the new area somewhere else. The current X-Base area comes to mind. The slide continued with SOB and Tomb Raider which were both horrible decisions. SOB did not match Action Zone...and well...we know its current status. Tomb Raider is ugly on the outside, which was big because we lost a good log flume to get it. And now the ride barely operates. It's clear that both were flops. I feel like this time period was really when they got away from doing some of the "classic" KI stuff. Costumed characters seemed to start disappearing. The fountains didn't look so great (later improved). Guest service and operations were hitting big time lows. Italian Job shows complete incompetence to me and was what really made me happy that someone else bought the parks. It was marketed as a family ride (which I still don't really believe). I agree the Antique Cars were not a great ride, but they weren't horribly ugly. Italian Job looks like they installed a gravel pit and then put a coaster in it...all in the smack middle of the park! I'm still waiting to hear the "good" reason the eagles had to leave. On the positive side, Paramount did great with the waterpark expansions and the kids area. Hanna Barbara, even though I love it, was heading out and it was time for updates. I think both of those areas were big time successes.

I believe Half-Pint Brawlers is a show on the Spike channel, for those wondering where it came from.

Well, it was pretty much confirmed that Cedar Point is getting a Wind Seeker, from an article in the Sandusky Register last week. Funtime is mad because they thought they had a deal to build it, but now Mondial is doing it instead. Canada's Wonderland has been hinting at a "tall" ride on their facebook page. They are announcing tomorrow as well. Knott's Berry Farm and KI are now announcing tomorrow too. It would make sense to have the announcements the same day if they are all the same ride. Other CF parks (Valleyfair and Dorney) have already announced they are getting Planet Snoopy. These are the hints, but there is no guarantees it won't be something else.

Were there ANY coaster events at KI in 2010? I find it a bit bizarre to go from having several last year to absolutely none this year. Typically even KICentral has had an event at the park each year. I'm not really complaining that there wasn't one this year, but I don't seem to remember hearing about ANYTHING going on this year. Now that I think about it, this is probably the #1 reason I did not buy a season pass this year.

I believe that typically security walks around the park near closing to start escorting folks towards the exit. I would imagine they probably do 2 or 3 "passes" through the park to ensure everybody is out. There really isn't anything to do in the park, so it would be a total waste IMO. Remember also that some people were prosecuted for sneaking in and taking pictures of Diamondback's construction area during the offseason as well.

Because it's the best ride in the park by a 2-1 margin.

"Failure" is usually defined in terms of return on investment (ROI) and ride reputation. Son of Beast has failed to deliver on either of these since it opened. However, a ride can always rebuild it's reputation over time (remember Flight of Fear's switch to lap bars?). I hope that SOB can be modified to be better, but it's an uphill battle. Few rides have had such a negative track record to try to overcome, hence the reason they haven't simply re-opened it "as is". Still, it is a financial failure. Kings Island paid a lot of money to build it and run it which they will not get back. If it ever reopens, maybe it will "break even" from that point onward. Unfortunately, I'm sure that's what the park thought when they put the G-trains on...

Don't worry, this is just part of the typical 2 weeks - 1 month of downtime that Huss rides like Delirium have every year.

Speaking of attendance, Ohio isn't exactly the best place to be during an economic downturn, especially one that has hit the auto industry hard. However, the big number I always heard tossed around was the amount of season pass sales they did/do at Kings Island. At various times, I've heard that they are off the chart numbers. That and comp tickets (which CF nixed quickly and wisely) were the 2 biggies I always heard about KI. In terms of national attention, KI hasn't had a marquee attraction since Son of Beast. That is, if you don't count the whole Steve McNair Halloween Haunt fiasco.

Well, I guess the 5@5 will be on hiatus for a while. I think it makes sense maybe to do it from say November - June. Seems like things would be too busy during the peak season. On a positive note, at least it was voluntarily stopped rather than someone making asinine comments (How dare you remove Son of Beast!!!! You've ruined my life!!!!1111)

1998....before Action Zone. Removing all that shade was a big mistake.

In my experience, any time during June is better than July and August. The park is close for private events for most of September and October is packed because of Halloween Haunt. In summary, June is best, especially weekdays.

I'm not angry about it, just cautious. We already know that there have been questions which crossed the line. I just don't want a good thing to end. Personally, I believe that there is a difference between the 5@5 and contacting guest services about a problem, even if the questions are answered by some of the same people. I wouldn't think the park will tolerate anything on a public forum like 5@5 that would reflect badly on them. I admit you were generally respectful in your message, but saying "this isn't a question, it's a statement" isn't a good start.

A complaint is not a question. If someone has a complaint they should contact Guest Services. I'm betting 5@5 will be gone by the end of summer because of people like "Nicholas Edward Beaver".

I can't believe he answered another Brian Broom question. It was another negative one too. How come this guy isn't banned yet?

My comments and comparison were not directed at a "single" time of having an issue using a platinum pass, but at the major issues they have had for over 3 years. Of course there will always be some problems here and there, but there has been confusion/major issues for several years now. Cedar Fair has simply failed to resolve the issue and it's embarrassing.

I don't disagree that people would use it in some fashion if it existed. I think having it at a single location, like Starbucks, is not a bad idea. But KI wants you to walk around and spend money, not sit and use the internet. This is the reason Disney has given as to why they have been less than enthusiastic about adding wifi to their hotels.

frisbeefan, I'd hate to be you when buying a car. If it won't start 5 days in a row, do you just say "things happen". Or do you get the darn thing fixed/replaced?

What's the point of having wifi? Who brings a laptop to the park? I would think that people will just use their phones as that seems to be the way to go these days. "Internet"? You couldn't come up with a more definitive title than that?

Green Room

Is the old dodgem building that one that is used for one of the haunts? It seems like it could be the same one.

Haha! That is how Kings Island rates their rides! How can Drop Tower have a 4, but Adventure Express have a 5!? Because of the forces on the body I'm guessing. Think about it, Drop Tower does not have any lateral forces, very little positive G's, and negative G's for 2 seconds during the drop. Compare that Adventure Express which I'm sure has much stronger forces in all 3 categories. Of course, most would vote DT a more 'intense' ride, but that is mainly due to anxiety I would think.

The walk of fame is something KI started a few years ago which honors well known KI former employees. They put their handprints into a mold of concrete similar to the stars in Hollywood. It's currently in the tower gardens area which was formerly the Paramount story. I think Carmen Electra and some of the Brady Bunch are a in there, but I can't remember exactly.

I heard a story once that during the merger Kinzel visited KI management and bragged that he had yesterday's attendance numbers on his desk first thing every morning. The KI management responded by getting out their blackberries and telling Mr. Kinzel what the exact KI attendance was at that moment. I too am surprised that they haven't figured out the "Gate Central" system that Paramount was using before. I figured that surely by 2008 they will have this whole thing ironed out, but here we are in 2010...

Engineering marvel? Maybe, but either way a wooden double helix at 60+ mph is a horrid idea.