markr

That's me in the very first row at the bottom on Firehawk, directly in front of you, Welchce. I'm taking a copy of it to the office tomorrow. My co-workers will get a kick out of it. Thanks for the super photos of a super day.

I would call Maverick a dive coaster. It is a 95 degree first drop and you are basically laying on your stomach. On the subject of how can you tell if a new coaster is being built, I don't think it is always possible. It seems to depend upon what type of coaster they are building. Sometimes you will see more than a year ahead of time construction start on a new coaster, such as with Maverick, SOB and Top Thrill Dragster. Other times, they don't start construction until the fall before the next season, such as with Raptor, Italian Job, and Mantis.

I hope my last message was not in any way taken as derogatory by the KI staff. Nothing can be further from the truth as I think you are all wonderful and special. KI is special to me as it is to many other native Cincinnatians. We see KI not just as another theme park but a continuation of the heritage that started with Coney Island. We simply want KI's history and tradition to continue and the only way for it to continue is to maintain high quality. (Remember how close CP came to turning into a housing developement? ) If KI were to ever close, that would be just as tragic if not worse than the Reds moving out of town.

Yep, that was Coney Island. That brings back such memories for me as a kid.

Just wanted to respond to a few things. I am not a businessman, so I am not really qualified to make a judgment about how the parks are performing financially. However, I don't feel that I have to be qualified as an expert to say that the amusement park industry is a service industry to serve the customer. Customers pay their hard earned money for a service, ie a day or a season of fun. I understand that it is not an easy job to work at an amusement park. You do work very hard. I too have a very difficult job where I have to deal with irate customers and there is more work than there is people to do the work. But guess what? The customer does not care. If the customer does not like your product or service, they have the freedom to go elsewhere. Remember, without your customers, you have no job. Speaking from the perspective of a customer I have been going to KI since 1972 when the park opened. I have spent thousands of dollars of my hard earned money over the years and have been a loyal customer. In return for my loyalty it is not unreasonable to expect a spotless park, friendly and professional employees and enforcement of the no line jumping rules. Let me say that all and all the employees at KI have always had a very positive attitute, ie have been very friendly. However, despite what your ecology reports might say, I call them as I see them and in the past few years I have seen very untidy rest rooms. That is not just a service issue, that is a health issue. I have also observed such things as widespread cutting in line and employees with their shirt tails out. In contrast, at CP in the past few years, I have observed a clean, spotless park. Police patrol the line queues for line cutters, people smoking or people overall just being unruly. The employees' are always neat and well groomed. And I don't understand the assertion of CP being a thrill park and KI being a "family" park. CP is a very family friendly park. There is not one but 2 huge kiddie areas ( King Arthur's Court and Camp Snoopy as well as many other kiddie attractions on the midways.) I have seen management at CP very actively maintain the family friendly atmosphere by seeing that shirts with obscene material be turned inside out. Let me say that I think all of you who work at KI are wonderful and special people. I just think you have lacked the leadership in the past few years to make you the best in the industry. I feel that Cedar Fair is off to a terrific start in bringing out the best in all of you. Once again the park is spotless like it used to be. Ride capacity has improved. ( My only complaint is the lack of security to patrol the busy line queues to prevent line cutting and unruly guests. It is not perfect yet but with time I am confident that things will improve.) Try not to take it personally when managers give you feedback. (Believe me I get such feedback in my job all the time.) They are simply doing their jobs to make the park the best it can be in the industry. Some of you may think that I and others want KI to turn into another CP. I would say that you have it backwards. In my opinion the old Taft vision of KI was the inspiration for CP as it is now. It is no secret that Dick Kinzel has always been fond of KI and I do not feel I am speaking out ot turn to say he made CP what it is today by looking at KI for inspiration.

I forgot to include Dane in my thanks for a super event. If I forgot anyone who made yesterday's event so special I apologize.

The best part of the KIC event was not the tours or the rides or the scavenger hunt, but the people. I just want to say that you are all special and I hope I get to hook of with you again. Let's give a big hand to Josh, Ryan and Don for their hard work in making it happen.

I think Cedar Fair has done a fabulous job in bringing the KI back that I knew and loved as a kid. I suspect that KI itself is actually the inspiration for what has made CP so great. To me the present CP is really a lot like the old KI I remember as a child. Remember, it was KI who really started the comeback of the roller coaster with The Racer. Not long after that, CP started its journey into the modern age of coasters with the Corkscrew. The rest is history. Dick Kinzel has stated in the past his fondness for KI. Unfortunately in the Paramount years, much of what was so great about KI was lost. The Taft family treated KI like a crown jewel and nurtured that park. In the Paramount years KI seemed to just get swallowed by a huge corporation whose specialty was not theme parks. While some good rides were built in the Paramount years such as Drop Zone and Flight of Fear, I feel that most of the rides were just too gimicky. Worse, the park got dirty. If a park is not clean, it is worthless even if you do have the tallest and fastest coaster in the world. While I must say that the employees at KI in all my 35 years of going there have always been wonderful, among the friendliest, they did get a bit careless in the Paramount years. For example, I often would see employees with shirt tails out, which is very unprofessional. I am sure Cedar Fair is very demanding. They do have high standards for their employees. And I ask, what is wrong with that? If you want customers to continue to partronize you, you had better have high standards. Remember, without the customers, everyone is out of job.

Very nice trip report. But you missed the Gemini. Still one of my favs after all those years. I suggest you try to go back up to CP for one of the Holloweekends, CP's version of Fearfest. They have some really cheap package deals at the CP resorts. For information you should check CP'S website www.cedarpoint.com.

It seems like management did not really promote the Maxx Pass heavily at least at KI. For example the television ads only promoted the KI only gold pass. There was no mention of the Maxx Pass at all. And if you bought a Maxx Pass it seems like management did not give you much guidance on exactly what the pass covered. For example, as to the early ride time at CP I had to call CP to find out that my Maxx pass did cover early ride time. Hopefully Cedar Fair will be more open about the terms of the Maxx Pass.

I think Interpreter does have a good point about reciprocity. If KI Maxx Pass Holders get early ride time at CP (Although these are not complete Jool Cool Privileges they certainly are the most significant.) then Maxx Pass holders from CP, including Joe Cool members should have Gold Pass Privileges at KI. Fair is fair.

I can only speak for myself but my experience with my Maxx pass has been very positive. I don't know how many people are aware of this but if you purchased your Maxx pass at KI, not only do you get the gold pass perks at KI but CP has extended the early ride time on M Force, Raptor, Top Thrill Dragster and Maverick to all Maxx pass holders from all Cedar Fair parks, including KI. I purchased my Maxx pass for 125 plus an additional 40 for the all Ohio parking pass since I renewed my pass before the end of the 2006 season. I really have gotten my money's worth.

Actually it seems like the past two coasters at CP are pretty heavily themed. Top Thrill Dragster really stresses the drag racing theme with its queue music (Lots of Elvis.), the observation area, etc. Maverick of course heavily stresses the Western theme. The nice thing about those rides is that while doing a good job showing the theme, the theme is not secondary to a great ride. My wish for KI? KI is long overdue for a B & M coaster. I'll settle for any B & M coaster. I like how B & M gives you a combination of the smoothness of a steel coaster with the loud sound you commonly hear from a wooden coaster.

I'll be there by myself but look forward to meeting lots of new people. Can't wait.