TechAA

I believe that the splashdown was not taken out because of damaged pumps or funding, but because of the overall longterm damage being caused to the trains such as damage to the fiberglass shells and head rests.

iChase- this is actually my current position at KI (considering the lame Username). I love working in Tech and look forward to going back every day. This is my fourth year in the park, but only second year in Tech. Here is the job description, and if you have other questions, feel free to ask: Tech Services is currently divided in sections, 3 of which are available (currently) to seasonal associates; Games, Animation, and Registers. Games deals with what it say- maintenance of all the games in the park, NOT including the arcade games that are contracted by an outside company. The Games section also maintains all changers and pay devices in the park (for example: bill changers and the pay cannons at WWC). Animation deals with all of the ride animations, audio, limited special effects, and various communications systems. The Animation section often maintains a little of everything throughout the park, but MOSTLY has its place on rides. Registers deals with, again, what it says- registers. This section maintains the registers, card readers, and receipt printers throughout most of the park. However, Tech Services is divided, often the sections will take care of a little bit of everything. There isn't EXACTLY a division, but more so of an overlap. Hope this helps!

Meh... everyone's an expert. Then again, you're making the same claim that others are... that you know something that we don't. Many people still work at the park in the off season. From executives in the admin building attending high class luncheons about future attractions and park expansion with info that must be kept under wraps, to games employees counting stuffed animals in a shed, to grounds crew workers and random kids cleaning parts in a wash bin for maintenance. Just cause your there in the off season doesn't mean anything. I never claimed to know everything, or nearly everything. I said it was funny to read most of the posts on here, and laugh at them because of the information presented. I will never post information on here that I am not 100% positive about- but I guess that is what makes this a forum.

It's amazing what people post on these forums, when in reality they are posting what they think will happen, or rumors as the fact. I just read all 18 pages laughing at most of the posts in which people claim they have "inside info" about this topic, in which reality, I know most, not all, of the information about this topic, considering I am still at KI during the off season. I have yet to go to other topics, but I'll assume it is the same way.

For Those of You Wondering~ [Copy&Pasted from www.themeparkinsider.com - Post By Adam Bartlett] Ah...the ghosts of KI...memories... First off, the deaths on 6/9/91 were, in fact, very real. There were 3, 2 in the fountain in front of the Viking Fury (electrocutions, both, one a security guard) and also one when an intoxicated lady fell from the restraints on Flight Commander (earlier misidentified as "Top Gun"). Both of these incidents can and have been discussed elsewhere, but the point of this thread is the ghosts, which neither of these incidents produced (probably because they are recent enough and true enough that making up ghost stories would be tacky, but that's another topic for another thesis). There are actually several ghosts attributed to KI. I used to work there (an astute KI-er might know where, and even who) and we used to hear these stories all the time. First off we'll hit "Woody" or "Wally." He's the patron ghost of White Water Canyon. He's mostly a fun fellow and is known for throwing rocks onto the top of the watchtowers that are scattered along the ride, freaking out the 16-year-olds that have been abandoned alone in the woods for hours. While I know of some people that swear he exists, it's most likely someone on garbage duty having a little fun. Then there's "Tram girl." She's not really named, but she's a little blond girl (6-9 years old, maybe) wearing a blue dress that runs around the parking lot and likes to freak out the tram drivers, and possibly other motorists. Mostly she runs out in front of them and makes them slam on the breaks. Allegedly, she'sburied in the little cemetery on KI property and doesn't like the fact that everyone can have fun around her, but she can't (most reports have her as being less than 48"). I credit this one to sleep-deprived tram drivers, but the consistency of their stories is a little strange... Not to be forgotten is "racer boy." He presents a rather interesting case. He appears usually just before sunset or else after dark as a figure walking along the tracks of The Racer. He's small and usually dressed in white. Most often he's reported by guests who ask why there's a boy by the tracks or in the tunnel. Allegedly the photo camera at the bottom of the first hill once took a picture of him when he tripped their motion sensor, but I've never seen it myself, nor do I know anyone who has (it's also worth noting that the sensor there is a magnetic proximity switch, not a motion sensor, which means our ghost must have a lot of iron to him). Then there's the big boy himself, "Tower Johny." Like most ghosts, he starts with just a little bit of fact. The fact is that in 1983 a fellow did die on the Eifel Tower. Well, sort of. He more died at the Eifel Tower. He was a recent graduate at the party night at the park and was, shall we say, impaired. He climbed up to the 50' platform and from there climbed a fence or two into a restricted area where either he a.) fell to his death or b.) was struck by the elevator's counterweight. That last part varies and I honestly can't find a definitive answer, but both versions are told. There's also a version where he was on the top deck and went to enter the elevator when the doors opened, only to find that there was no elevator there, leading to his untimely demise (very unlikley). The upshot of all this is that the legend of "Tower Johny" has developed and, in fact, gets pretty interesting. First off, Johny obviously would be interested in haunting the Tower. He does this mostly by making strange noises that sound an awfully lot like moaning (or cables running through pulleys or wind whistling through the structure, but who am I to judge). He also messes with the controls (randomly opening and closing doors for the cars. Only happens when there is a car there, though, no safety issues, just annoyance) and occasionally messing with the 'vators after hours. In one famous incident, the crew walked away from a shut-down tower after close, only to see an elevator fall to the middle of the tower (the counter weights are heavier than an empty car, and therefore the cars rise when the power's off). The supervisor said "OK, Johny, let her go." and immediately the lift settled to the top. Even stranger is the fact that Johny haunts The Beast. According to legend, the cables from the fateful night Johny died were damaged from the incident and had to be removed. They were hidden in the back of the park because they were stained with blood from an occurrence that KI was trying to hide. The hiding place is...ba-dum...a spot in the woods behind The Beast. There are (or were) actually cables there, I've seen them. However, they're probably support cables from the helix and the red stains are most likely rust, not blood, but, hey, why let facts get in the way of a good story? You might be wondering how he "haunts" The Best, then. Well, like "racer boy" he walks the tracks and hangs out in the tunnels, only he's older and bloody, not a cute little kid. Also like good ol' R.B., there is allegedly a photo of him taken by those booth guys that no one has ever seen. But most interesting, and verifiable, is the uncanny tendency of The Beast and Tower to break down within minutes of each other. It's almost frighting how often it would occur, and for no logical reason. It almost makes a skeptic think for a second. Also, there are reports of eyes in the woods. Red eyes. Sometimes green. Probably cars. Maybe wildlife. Those are the main two places Johny likes to show up. Some people like to equate him with Racer Boy, but when they're seen they're nothing alike, so we should probably treat them as separate entities. Woody is also sometimes linked to Johny, but WWC people are a special breed and like to have their very own special version of everything, and resent that insinuation. Johny is also spotted all over the park. Mostly he messes with sensors ("False sensor reads" are often referred to as "Johnies" but most likely are "raccoons"). He tips over trash cans (again, probably raccoons) and, occasionally, there's the feeling that someone is watching you that you can't shake. Johny is actually a lot less creepy an explanation than some random person staring at you from behind a bush, if you think about it. Johny has also appeared on numerous crew lists and t-shirts over the years, and is sort of a mascot for Tower. The upshot of all this makes for some good stories to tell the new kids every year. For those of you running around thinking it's just funny, try bing the only person you can see in the entire park on a cold, dry October night. Now imagine the leaves scurrying across the pavement. The rustle overhead as the trees sway in the breeze. Lights casting strange, unfamiliar patterns on the ground. And everything's quiet. Real quiet. It's an atmosphere that breeds ghost stories. And a fun place to scare the living daylights out of 16-year-olds working their first job. Hope You Enjoy~ Again, belief is at your discretion, but this is the closest to a consistent story that I have heard over the years.