Shman

I really think that it is just that PCW and PKI are working in different ways.....both of the construction sites are unique and they have different ways/order of doing things. I didn't really ever think that PKI was that far behind PCW, and now it looks like that is true. I think that PKI's construction site seems to have been focusing on the work needed for the structural elements before track installation, which I think is opposite from what PCW is doing.

I have to agree with KIemployeeforlife, I definetly do not believe that there was any mark down in the show quality of the parade(even though everyone was tired)....even during the last weekend. Everyone involved really gave it their all, even to the end. DeliriumDreamer......Thank you for at least trying to find ways to and from your break without crossing through the parade, unfortunatly some other employees did not understand the saftey issues/show quality issues of this and would not listen to us when we told them not to cross. A beg everyone who is an employee to be smart about these things this year....we don't want any disney type accidents happening. Kickin it all over town, this party's getting out of bounds. Everyday's a second chance, so get on your feet and dance!!!!

Now....I think you all might have misunderstood what I was saying. I personally loved doing the parade as well and I agree with all of the feelings that KIemployeeforlife said, however what I was trying to point out is that it was a very tiring job and it took a lot of work and effort to do for 30+ days. I thanked god every day through the parade that Cincinnati had a mild summer (It could have been so much hotter) Most people do not realize the effort that went into doing this parade every day. There was parade activity that started at the staging area at least 4 hours before the parade even started, plus all of the work at night getting those floats back to the starting area. All of this added ontop of your regular daily job added up to quite a few 15+ hour days. (That's what I meant by burnt-out) Most of the performers in the parade had a day off through the week (although some went 2 weeks without one). The drivers alternated throughout the parade, every float had 3 drivers who would switch days. The managers only had 1 day off through the time of the parade (which includes the week of 5am rehearsals the week before the parade started), and for some that day did not come until the very end.

True....but those rides supervisors were not there every single day of the parade, like some of the Entertainment folks were......talk about burnt out, doing that parade + your regular daily job for a month straight.

Yes, Paramount Parks is trying to make the parade a seasonal event, especially after the success of last year's run (PKI's version won the IAAPA award for best Parade Production ) It will be back this year with a few new floats as well as the return of the favorites from last year. I can't delve into any detail about the additions for this year, but expect some interesting changes How do you think those 100+ people felt after performing it everyday for a month!!!!!

My roomates were just watching a tape of last weeks American Idol episode and I happened to see something very interesting. After the contestants were split into groups they were shown picking numbers to decide performance order, this is when I thought I saw someone who looked familiar. I watched a little more and they never showed this group performing, but I did catch a few glimpses at this girl who looked familiar. Since they never showed her for more then 2 seconds, and they never stated her name, I decided to go to the American Idol homepage and do a little research to see if it was who I thought it was. That's were I came across a picture from the Cleveland auditions of an African American girl who looks very familiar. If you go to this site: pictures Click on Week 3, Tue. 2/1 Look a picture 11 in that set. That is the picture I am talking about. Doesn't she look like Patty, the female singer from Star Search, and Tuned In from PKI last year!!! I think it is her. Let's keep an eye out on the next few episode's to see if it is her, and if it is let's see is she makes it to the part where America votes for their favorite Idol....then we can try to make it so a former PKI entertainment singer wins!!!!

Shoot.....now the secrets out. You all now know the new rides that we have planned for 2006. Crap.....I'm gonna have to kill our web-designer

Thank God!!!!! I was getting sick of reading about Cedar Point this&that on our PKI site.

Well hopefully Technifex will actually think out all the potential problems with this ride (concidering the theming is out doors and it is going to get wet) Maybe they will actually use the right lighting fixtures (as opposed to TRTR, where they put in ones that can't get wet....but yet put them inside a building that mimics a rain forest) Although if I remember correctly I heard that some other company was doing some of the other effects...like the explosions and flames. I think I heard that it was going to be the company that did the Volcano explosion for PKD....and I don't think that was technifex.

This must have been added while I was typing my first response. Really you can give them non-paramount names....you just have to get creative. Just because they were originally built and themed for a Paramount movie, doesn't mean you can't change it. For instance TRTR could easilly be transformed into the original concept for the ride "Inferno" Just change the story line around a little bit and maybe remove some of the original theming elements and you have a "new" ride with a generic theme. Also IJST could be re-themed to anything that had to do with cars...the only reason we say "oh, that is Italian Job" is becuase we know that is what it is built to simulate....however...you couldn again change the story around to create any type of "car chase" aventure ride. You just have to put a little imagination into the re-themed storyline. If I remember correctly all of the Hanna-Barbera references are to be removed from the park by 2007/2008???? Do to the contract ending. I think they did make special arrangements to keep Scooby-Doo as the only licensed HB character at the parks. I would look for one big Nick Central area with a bunch of re-themed rides.

You beat me to it.....I was just about to add a topic about this article I saw in Variety. The Variety website is a members site, but does offer free trails in-case anyone wants to read the article in full, but basically what it written above is the extent of the information given. I do find this very interesting do to the overall focus in all of the Paramount parks to theme and re-theme attractions to tie-in with Paramount movies and other Viacom entities. However my question comes in the form of this: Is it possible for Viacom to sell off "Paramount Parks", but for Paramount Pictures to still offer the naming and theming rights (sort of what Hanna-Barbera did). However even in this case the rights would most likely expire at some point and the park would be faced with a major re-theme/re-name project, similar to what is going to happen when the Hanna-Barbera contract ends in a few years. So what could happen......maybe would could see the renewal of Kings Entertainment and a return to the somewhat older ways the park was run? Or maybe we would be bought out by another major theme park corporation (However I don't really see any of them going for our parks). Or maybe the parks will just divide into their own identities.......who knows. Of course this is all based on a small comment made, and it may not even be happening anyways.....we'll just have to wait around and see.

One of the changes in the parking lot will have to do with the old chain link fence that seperated the employee lot and the main parking lot. They are putting up some new type of "wall" to make it more asthetically pleasing, as well as safe (so that those wierd GP won't go jumping over the fence and try to sue the park when they get hurt)

I have a feeling you will be seeing many more events and special things at Paramount Theater in the future. However....don't hold you breath on any Broadway shows being featured....I couldn't imagine the $$ for one of those shows, and forget trying to get the equity actors. But I am looking for big things with the School of Rock show this year!!!

Actually....having two trains on Face Off could be possibly....however the park would have to do some major re-design of the station. See, you would need to have a dual loading station with a sliding transfer track that would move the two cars into place, much like we first saw with the Mr. Freeze coaster at Six Flags St. Louis Mr. Freeze transfer track Transfer station

No official comment, but you will probably see a combination of ideas from many different shows. Yes.....From what I have been told this show has a lot of promise.

Ummmm.......Trust me you School of Rock lends itself to the style of show for next year, much better then any other movie would. Do NOT expect this show to be like this past years show, it weill be VERY different!!! Trust me! I know that it says that it will be a Magic of the Movies show, but that is just the name that they are going to keep using, because the show is themed to a Paramount movie. School of Rock is going to ROCK!!!!!

Actually, like other people have said, our talent has been really good the past few years. It just so happens that they have not been given much to work with, or showcase their real talents through. However it has started to improve a little bit, This year Tuned IN seemed to schowcase it's better performers (These women) and it seemed to be a slightly better show when compaired to VIBE or Pop Fusion. Now, I can't say too much about it, but according to somethings that I have seen it seems like we are in for a treat when it comes to the show program for next year.

Yes, both of these females were in Tuned In! They also hosted Star Search Live! Patty is the African American Lady who you refered to, and Jenny is the somewhat tall, a little too thin, blonde girl, Both were singers in the show. Jenny has been at the park for several years now, but Patty was a new performer this year.

The winners of the Big "E" Awards were announced at the IAAPA convention in Orlando last week and it turns out PKI did fairly well. For those that don't know the Big "E" Awards are like the Oscars/Tony's for Theme Park entertainment. Many of the categories (Like Best Show) are broken up into price categories, but the best performers are picked from all of the parks that enter. So here are the awards that we walked away with this year: Category 2 – Best Female Performer Winner: Patty Dessources, Paramount’s Kings Island, Kings Island, Ohio, USA Hon. Mention: Jenny Schoone, Paramount’s Kings Island, Kings Island, Ohio, USA Category 4 – Best Production- Parade Performance Winner: Nickelodeon Celebration, Paramount’s Kings Island, Kings Island, Ohio, USA Category 9 – Best Overall Production: $50,001 to $100,000 USD Winner: Twistin’ to the 60s, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, USA Hon. Mention: Tuned In, Paramount’s Kings Island, Kings Island, Ohio, USA CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT FOR MAKING THESE AWARDS HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For a complete list of awards you can check out this link: Big E Awards For those of you who are curious the park has picked up a few of these awards in the past. 2003- Best Male Show Performer David Hall (Vibe & Young Country) 2001- Hon. Mention for Best show $75,000 - $125,000 for Forbidden Magic

Could.......but knowing how Cedar Fair likes to do things I will bet that this will become 2 seperate parks with 2 seperate admission charges. It does look like a nice revamp of the park.....but I hate to see all the nice landscaping and such left over from Sea World removed.

The return of Winterfest could help people that work at the park during the summer......but for some it could make life more difficult. For instance I know a lot of people who work at the park beginning in late February and stay there until the early/middle of December. Right now these people are working to the limit of "seasonal" employee, which by definition is someone who can not work more than 10 out of 12 months in a year. Now these people have important jobs that have to get done during this time, but they are also the ones who would be instrumental in setting up and running much of Winterfest. For these people it will be very difficult because they would have to take time off sporaticly through the summer in order to make the time to work for Winterfest. But I'm sure that this is only a handful of people comparied to the overall staff that would be needed, so I am sure that the park would think that part of the staffing through.

Did she miss the entire HB section of the park and all the stuff that we do for the families during the day........I mean really people, we should give PKI praise for offering stuff for both the fafamiliesnd the adults, instead of just family stuff or just haunted stuff not suitable for everyone.

That white tent IS where the Sleepy Hollow Horror attraction is going to be located. There is a reason that it has not started to go up yet.....it is not time for that attraction to be built, also the parts have not arrived from the company that designed it yet, for more than one reason.

If you look very closely at the concept art for the MTV Soundwave coaster you will realize that this "new" attraction is simply a re-theme of Flight of Fear. Look closely it is the same building outside, just made up to look like the entrance to a concert venue, and the dead give away was the concept of the que-line....look at the "stage" it is the UFO that is already there, and those giant screens are just attached to the scaffolding. Also in my opinion if the park was to do the TV Land Diner my money is on the Wings Diner getting the make-over. It is right there on the border to Nick Central and would make the most sesense

I wouldn't plan on IJ:ST being ready for the season pass sneak preview day next year. From what I hear from all my sources this ride will be making a Summer time opening.