coasterville

While not exactly a Cedar Point museum, have you ever dropped by Town Hall (or whatever its called) back by Skyhawk and Mine Ride at Cedar Point? They have a bunch of old artifacts, penny arcade machines, coaster models, models of parts of Cedar Point, and more. Plus they have a guest services type person in there who is very personable and seems to know his stuff as far as the park history goes. (he is also armed with a copy of the Cedar Point history book that came out several years ago) That book is an interesting read if you are into park history. Considering they staff and maintain a historical exhbit there means they at least seem like they would be receptive to the idea, and there is the vacant general store and mining company buildings in Rivertown they could put it in. That is if they don't use that area of Rivertown for a crafter's villiage, not unlike Fronteir Trail at Cedar Point. CP also maintains the animations and sets for their train ride, so maybe somebody will take charge to restore KI's train ride, or it might be ruled too far gone.

Thanks Bodda: I realize you are probably still putting the finishing touches on the schedule, but do you have a general idea of the start and end times? I'm guessing 9-midnight or something like that.

Well, I have RSVP's and looking at the ticket sale page. The Print-at-home option is not available, and the cheapest shipping option is $3.95. Not wanting to come off as a tightwad, but is there any way to dodge this fee, such as going to the park ticket windows or something like that. They also say to allow 10 days, so you better act now to doge the even more outrageous $18.95 next day delivery charge.

Firehawk ORP Updated Design: This may be of interest for those that simply must have one of everything. The design of the Firehawk ORP has changed, it has been tocuhed up with additional graphics. As an example here is mine (I am the single guy on the left):

Oh, i totally agree on the $5 Skycoaster special, when they haul it out, thats the best Skycoaster deal around. I have seen them go as low as $5 twice, and both times, I was drawn like metal to a magnet. Last year I dropped nearly $30 for the right to be on of a trio of flyers on a Skycoaster, of course that would be the 300' model in Kissimmme, FL. And we drug a Skycoaster newbie on to the thing, great times!

It I recall, and this is going back almost 12 years, I beleive the base price of a Skycoaster (EXtreme Skyflyer) was well under a million dollars. Now, its 12 years later, surely in that case the ride has paid for itself a few times over. Therefore Skycoaster's take is mostly pure gravy now. (Well mostly as Skycoaster has stringent training and equipment regulations that would seem to assure the parent company a nice revenue stream). You can tell as most days they run a $10 special, and I have seen it go as low as $5, the thing is paid off so any money they can make on it is great. The lower prices also seem to acknowledge that the novelty has worn off. Skyflyer sits on prime real estate, about two more flat rides or a smallish coaster like a mouse could easliy fit there. However, I don't see Skycoaster going anytime soon, because of the extra charge rides it appears to be the most extreme. Days of Thunder on the other hand could be bulldozed today and I wouldn't care. Go-Karts have ongoing mainteance needs just like a car, and with the price of gas these days, and the fact the cars are idling most of the time even if they aren't in use. I wonder if this ride makes enough to justify its existence. Not only that but they have just about the dullest go-kart layout imagineable, and at one time they used to have way too many cars on the track at once, ensuring constant collisions of the cars. Slingshot is the newest of the extra charge rides, and fetches the highest price ($25- often marked down to $15 and I have heard rumours of $10). It seems to have a consistent line when open, and benefts from the fact that it provides a genuine thrill, and has a relatively small footprint. However, its space space could just as easily house another flat or be a pathway to a ride or other expansion back where King Cobra used to sit. Getting rid of both the Go-Karts and Slingshot may provide a nice piece of land to work with. Again, slingshots footprint is so small that they could ahve the access to this newly reclaimed land be through where Days of Thunder is and retain the profitable Slingshot right where it is. Launch Pad (trampolines) where Flight Commander used to sit can be classed as a crying shame. That is A++ Prime land in Coney Mall, up on a hillside, directly accross from the walkway towards Rivertown. This would a great spot for a high profile attraction, yet it is wasted on a seldom used overpriced trampoline attraction. Add to that the now disused Cinama 180 building (the lazer tag use was cool, but that fad died out). If I were in charge I would tear out everything from the Cinema 180 building up to and maybe even including the Skeeball building and redevelop this fourth of Coney Mall. Right now its tenants are a disused cinema 180, an underused trampoline attraction, a disued queue maze, a disused concession stand with a disused dining patio, and a butt ugly Skeeball building ever since its facade was ripped off a season or two ago. Again, I might reconsider and just dress up the Skeeball building, but the rest of it goes. So in sumary the Go-Karts and trampoline attractions are "A waste of space" and go. I think I would hang onto Slignshot and Skyflyer if I were in charge. I might be tempted to somehow move Slingshot and Skyflyer outside the park walls to create a Challenge Park as has been done at other Cedar Fair parks. That way these attractions would be open to all even if they didn't purchase an admission ticket to the park. Maybe add a reconfigured go-kart track, and mini golf to it.

I can say that on Monday they were only running 1 train (the red one, from the left side of the station (with a level walkway from the queue maze (no entrance stairs)). I arrived at the park shortly before noon headed directly to Firehawk, and was aboard Firehawk around 2:30-2:45 and that included a rain delay, and one downtime. I am only 6'0", but I do have some mass (in fact it would make a nice, though not perfect bowling score, to put it nicely). I had no problems as the loader could get three clicks on my lapbar without putting any effort into it. (She even had to do it three times, as my row had a rider who needed to be excused from the ride, hence how I know about the two-click rule). I heard the minimum lapbar setting is two clicks, I'm not sure what that translates into in terms of body size. You can see the ratchet points on the side of the seat when you sit down, it looks like the locking peg is about in the center of the lapbar. I had no trouble at all with the shoulder strap/vest thing. (That is until it was time to take it off at the end of the ride, but it had THAT problem at Geuaga Lake. The locking seatbelt buckle for the vest sometimes needs to be convinced it is in the unlocked position. )

I think I'd take that same $14 over to the Wings Diner Buffet- all the food I can eat for the same price, with salad, desert, veggies and other things that give it the semblance of a real meal.

Except I have noticed something at Disney: Yes, they do assign seats on almost every ride, however they do it to keep that line moving as fast as possible. They realize that most people don't really care, and some will. I can speak for Rock N Roller Coaster that if you make a request to the seat assigner they will usually honor your request, AS LONG AS the seat you want is still available. I have long legs as well, so as such I will typcially say "2 people - odd number row please" More often than not they will send me to an odd number row, even if it means sending the people who were behidn me to the row ahead of me. There was a time when Tower of Terror had one seat with just a seatbelt, and the rest all had lapbars. (Now they have taken the lapbars out and all seats just use seatbelts) If you'd ask for the seatbelt seat, and no one in your elevator load of people ahead of you had also asked for it, you'd get it. Again, since most people don't care, or won't question it, the seat assigning helps maximize throughput, if you get an exception every now and then who knows what they want and it isn't going to gum up the works, they will usually work with you. Remember they are world renowned in the area of customer service. "No reasonable request refused" All that said - I think if they did a wholesale move to seat assigners at Kings Island, there probably would be a LOT of bellyaching at first, as it would represent a huge culture shock.

Trip Report: Kings Island April 22, 2007 Mason, OH "A transition period" I'm a coaster enthusiast from Cincinnati, and its opening weekend for Kings Island. Sounds like a natural to be, and although I got started a little bit later than planned, a fun day was in store for me. When I arrived at the park, I started looking for changes. This is the first full season under Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, so I was eager to see if they put their fingerprint on the park yet. The first thing I noticed is that the giant marquee sign still reads "Paramount's Kings Island" this did not come as a shock as I had heard at an off season event that the big sign was not going to change right away. This sign was replaced just a few years ago and has a very distinctive look, it is meant to look like the front gates of Paramount Studios. Therefore, perhaps just removing the word "Paramount" isn't going to be enough. I did note that the parking prices so far are the same as last year ($10/$15 for "Premier" close in parking). One of the first changes I noticed concerns the passenger drop off area. It seems that Cedar Fair isn't in favor of the gratuitous use of American flags as decorations. Last year the drop off area sported to United States flags, and two State of Ohio flags, this year it sports four brand new Cedar Fair logo flags. I proceeded towards the park when I noticed the chain link fence around the preferred parking area has been replaced with a ranch style split rail wood fence. I'm all for starting a chain link fence removal project, Paramount had an affinity with that stuff, sure it’s a cheap solution, but chain link fence has no place in a theme park. I also muse that the new fence will be easy to knock down if that preferred parking doesn't work out for them. I head up to the entrance plaza. The movie posters on the right hand side have been removed, cases and all, but I was disappointed not to see "Kings Island" written in topiaries return. Give them time on that landscaping though, as there was evidence in the park that a landscaping project is in progress. For example a nice arrangement has been setup around the big light post in the center of the front gate plaza. And in regards to my earlier comment, yes they did leave the oversize US flag on its pole out in front of the park, lowered to half staff today in honor of the Virginia Tech tragedy. There were a couple improvements to the front gate plaza that didn't make sense to me. The first one concerns the concrete curbs that used to separate the tram lanes from the pedestrian lanes. Those concrete barriers are still there, less than a foot high, and with new vivid yellow paint. Obviously they felt the need to point out these trip hazards, but why not get rid of them all together since trams hardly run at all, and when they do they no longer go up into the old tram circle. I'm hoping this is a stopgap measure waiting for Cedar Fair to begin one of its blacktop removal projects. Kings Island has far too many blacktop midways. I also noted the ride safety signs out in front of the park have been replaced with brand new ride safety signs, you know the ones that list the height requirements for all the rides and the general park rules. The new signs are missing a place to list which rides are closed, which seemed to me to be the most useful part of the old signs. I noted the canopy with the new logo has been installed over the entrance to the season, pass processing area and also noted some scary looking lines. I had processed last week, so it was forward and through the metal detector with no problem, and into the park. I also noted the "Park will close tonight at: " signs have been removed. It seems Cedar Fair is reluctant to share some basic information I would find useful before entering the park. I had no trouble entering the park with my faceless Maxx Pass, and since I was joining friends at the park I first glanced at some of the new shirts in the gift shop next to the gate, then grabbed a park map to look at. The map is of the same basic appearance as the maps used to be. Sure, Son of Beast has been redrawn to remove its loop, and Firehawk has been added, but the same basic map is still there. What did change is the style template. Instead of using a Disney-like style, they used a Cedar Fair style. The park services icons changed to those that Cedar Fair tends to use, ride names are now printed directly on the map, and the ride safety guide, as well as the general park information has been moved to the back side of the map. I think a benefit is that the map drawing itself is actually a bit larger than it used to be. The brochure also includes an operating calendar, a show schedule, an acknowledgement of the 35th anniversary, and a blurb about Fear Fest. Soon Dave, April, and Rob had arrived so we headed to Action Zone. I noticed the return ticket booth still had its Winterfest alpine chalet look, and that nothing had happened at the Paramount Theatre. Oh, the keyhole photo people were still there in full ambush mode as well. We entered Action Zone and I noted the water tower is still Paramount logoed, but the movie posters have been changed to ride and event posters. Our first ride was Drop Zone. Drop Zone was about a three cycle wait and there were no noticeable changes to the ride or the theme in the area. For the record I was able to fit, but it took operator assistance. At least the Cedar Fair "You must fasten it yourself" policy hasn't taken hold yet. I find it funny that Drop Zone is featured in the parks new television spot, and as they show Drop Zone the narration goes "Defy gravity!" I thought that Drop Zone was a demonstration of gravity. Maybe its because I am so tightly stuffed into my seat, that I actually like the smaller Drop Tower rides at carnivals and fairs better. I looked over at Congo Falls where things appeared to be going normal and unchanged, then we walked past some more basically unchanged things: On Location Shop, I Scream Zone, Days of Thunder, EXtreme Skyflyer. Son of Beast is still closed, but we took a trip on Top Gun. Top Gun lost the Mach 3 razor sponsorship, and new seat belts have been added that feed up between your legs and fasten to the bottom center of the shoulder harness. These belts will prevent some riders who were able to ride this ride in the past from riding again. I did not have any problems with it, and we rode a Top Gun which other than the modifications indicated is running about the same as it did last year. As we exited Top Gun we craned our necks to look at the No Loop on Son of Beast, then headed back to the Action Zone proper. We made a stop for some Smurfy Blue Ice Cream ($3.50!), then headed towards Italian Job. We passed through Oktoberfest which didn't look to have changed. We noted the signs indicating that the Festhaus would soon add a Chinese station to the Italian station (in the form of LaRosas Pizza) , and the American station (burgers and chicken sticks). It's a building in Oktoberfest, themed to a German bier hall, and yet I don't think you can get a hot dog, let alone a bratwurst or mettwurst, and don't even think about schnitzel with noodles or sauerbraten. At least you can get bier in there as you sit in a subdued silence, as the German bier hall style entertainment has long been laid off, and in fact any live entertainment hasn't existed in here for over a decade, except for a brief stint during Winterfest. Come on Cedar Fair, turn this into a German themed Red Garter! Viking Fury was still swinging, and then we hit International Street. The Emporium is still going strong, and are those Ohio Lottery tickets on sale. I also noted additional keyhole photo booths have been added one in front of Emporium, and the other next to Starbucks, bringing the total count to 4 pick up locations. We walked around Tower where the flags have been replaced by either Kings Island or Cedar Fair flags. I noticed the info booth is gone, the International Showplace is being prepped for its show to open later in the summer, and there is a tropical island set on the bandstand. Cedar Fair gutted Paramount Story, but left the gigantic Tomb Raider sculpture. We headed back to Italian Job but it wasn't open. I noticed the gas pump style bulk candy machines have been replaced with units that look like giant globes. With Italian Job closed, we headed to Beast. We first had to dodge an ambush by one of those discount vacation booths, you know the kind that typically end in you having to spend part of your cut rate price vacation attending a high pressure sales pitch for a timeshare, condo or vacation club arrangement. I was hoping that would be gone, as I think it cheapens the theme park experience, this is the kind of thing I would expect to see at a state fair, not a major theme park. We approached Beast, and the Cool Zone has been removed as well as some of the vending machines in the queue. The vending machines that remain have been lowered from $3.25 last year to $3.00 this year. The concession stands are selling soft drinks for $3.50 this year, and have a souvenir cup deal. You get a real low quality souvenir cup for $6.99 that makes you eligible for refills for $1.99. Of more importance for those of us that don't like needless steep hills, the fence separating Beast Exit and Entrance has been removed. This makes getting a second ride a little easier. Now if we could get rid of the tacky chain link fence for the Gold Pass Speedlane. I say get rid of the chain link, and post a greeter at the Speed Lane entrance. We headed to seat 1.2 of Beast. Same seatbelts as last year. On the ride one could note some new perimeter safety fence going up around the ride, and it looks as if there was a retracking project between tunnel 2 and lift 2. It's not glass smooth, but I've felt it run a lot worse. We exited Beast, and stopped for some Bowler Roller fun, before heading to Italian Job. I noted the pizza stand is now advertising hoagies as a food choice, which is a good upgrade. We arrived at Italian Job and it was open with the line just reaching back to the queue maze. We were able to request and receive the front car, which is the only car of the three to get airtime, and the front seat is a lot better than the back seat in that same car. I was eager to see how this ride has gone special effects wise. Well the on board audio is still out, and it looks like they are removing the speakers from the cars. We launched, and I near grayed out in that first helix. It disoriented me enough that I was taken for a surprise that when we entered the s curve where you swerve around the police cars, not only did the police cars lights work, but their sirens as well. I don't recall those cars having sirens before. We went around the 90* bank curve, down the dip, scored a hint of airtime, and down the subway drop (still no subway stair effect), and into the show scene. The show scene looked to be running a bit better than it did at the end of last year, though the cars headlights still don't come on in the long tunnel, and the water splash finale was turned off as well. Not a bad ride by any means, we'll see how long the special effects hold out though. Oh, and the ride didn't get seatbelts yet. After riding Italian Job we ran into some other coaster enthusiasts and chatted for a few moments, then headed up towards Coney. We watched the Three Point Challenge, otherwise known as "License To Print Money" before heading to Skyline Chili. We grabbed a lunch of cheese coneys and water before looking over to see the Dodgem cars still have those ridiculously short shoulder loops, and I took a look at the flags in the middle of Coney. I was wondering what was going to happen to these. Last year they had eight flagpoles and on them they had a United States Flag, and Canadian Flag, as well as flags for Ohio, California, Virginia, Ontario, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The places where you could find the original KECO parks, and then by association the Paramount Parks. I was wondering how they were going to add in the new states, but they didn't, they are now solid yellow or purple flags, similar to what Cedar Fair used for decoration in their other parks. The decorative flags above the Coney Mall arch received a similar treatment. Some more Bowler Roller was played and I noted that not only did the rides get brand new Cedar Fair style safety signs, but the games received new uniform signage, with fun shaped yellow signs. The gift shop in Coney has returned to being a teen rock type shop, called "Attitudes", and the other one is a candy shop. It's Fried is now Midway Treats and Eats featuring paninni sandwiches. I also started to notice that the practice of a persons uniform matching their job function is returning to the park. Sweepers are in yellow, guest services in hunter green, games people are wearing referees stripes, and so forth. It adds a fun and colorful new look to the park. We then headed back towards Flight of Fear. This areas vending machines have also been removed. I for one appreciated the very low perimeter fence around the Firehawk construction site, allowing for a commanding view of the area. Can’t wait for that ride to open up. We entered Flight of Fear and the hangar was about half full of people. I hear it was about a half hour wait, which did include holding out for the front seat. Contrary to rumors I had heard the seatbelts on Flight of Fear hadn't changed, and in fact may have gotten a tad longer. What also hasn't changed is the fact they are bringing you to a near halt on the mid course brake. In other words, its running about as it did last season, but hey there was a sign promising on ride videos soon, that should be interesting to see. We headed from Flight of Fear to Racer. For the first round on Racer, Rideman scouted out the forwards side, translation being he doesn't care for backwards Racer (recaR). The rest of us gave a wonderfully retracked recaR a spin. How come the backwards side always gets all the love in terms of retracking. Rob and I headed back for a ride on Racer (forwards) and were pleasantly surprised by one of the better rides we have gotten on it in quite some time. Obviously Racer also got some love this year. We headed from Racer to Adventure Express. Adventure Express received seatbelts, and the installation is very similar to Beast and Racer, meaning they will not pose any problems for larger riders. The ride itself is about the same as always, the drummers appeared to be working, but the big dude at the top of the lift must have been laid off a few seasons ago. There is a work area for a new cool zone next to the Cyber Sez attraction (that thing is still here??), and over at Slingshot the ride is down as it looks to be getting its springs replaced. From Adventure Express, we took a spin on Delirium, with only a third of the queue maze in use. Delirium is still running a decent, though not exceptional ride cycle, and I didn't notice any real changes. At this point we made a run out to the car to drop off some things we didn't need, pick up a teddy bear that is the subject of one of those "Teddy Bears Vacation Photo Album" projects, you know the kind where you lend your teddy bear out to other family members and they get photos of your bear 'on vacation'. We then headed back into the park. Somehow they are using the usual black light ink handstamps, but you can reenter the park at any admission lane, and those lanes are not equipped with black lights yet. Curious. We headed up International Street, the Thrills are Paramount store is now Lotsapalooza, the Girls Space and the build-a-bear knockoff stores remain, as do the United States, Ohio and Kings Island flags in the flag display. I forgot to check at the base of the United States flag to see if the ACE marker remains. I glanced in the remodeled Laroasas, and checked out the menu at the new Fontana Bistro. We then headed to Nick Universe. Nick Universe seems to be basically the same as it was last year. We took a spin on the Fairly Odd Coaster and Avatar. Avatar is still running the shortened program it inherited partway through last season. We noticed seats have been added to the former Slime Bowl, which had been gutted a few years back to use as a character meet and greet, and it is being returned to a live performance space again. Don't worry though, because at least today the characters were out walking Nick Universe and the front gate area in force. You know, the way they used to do before meet and greet areas were established. We decided not to ride Reptar, and headed towards Rivertown. I noted that Wings is now a buffet, so the experiment at the end of last season must have worked out for them. The train ride was closed, shame the new owners also don't see the train as any more than transportation to the waterpark. Tomb Raider was also closed, what a surprise. We headed over to Vortex. Vortex, like Top Gun also got the crotch straps this year, something Cedar Fair seems adamant about in all their parks. Vortex, though, might, just might be running better than it has in several seasons. They weren't brining it to a near halt on the mid course brake. Happy 20th Vortex. Speaking of anniversaries - it is the parks 35th, Racer and Fairly Odd Coaster are also 35, Vortex is 20, Little Bills Giggle Coaster is 15. The Action FX Theater was closed and we started to head towards Tower. We noted the Launch Pad, which is a trampoline jump attraction, is still around. We also noted the person who made the new signage for it clearly wasn't thinking. The sign reads: Launch Pad: $10 Per Jump. Yikes! That could get real expensive, real fast. We noted no one experiencing the Launch Pad. We headed up to the top of Tower to get a view of the park from above, and noted it was going on 7:30. We decided to head out. In the Swiss Building, Animation Station has been replaced by another t shirt shop called "Thrillseekers" All in all it was a good day, obviously the park isn't quite ready for prime time yet, but it usually isn't until June. It will be interesting watching the changeover take place, now that we know it will be more gradual and less in-your-face.

On sunday they had had designated two lanes specifically for temp pass exchange. (The two far right lanes in the season pass building.) Also, they just added another week of pass processing evenings.

Thanks, that is about the most comprehensive preview article I have seen. I'm feeling more pumpeed about this season. The live entertainment department gets a budget and support from senior management, some new food options (such as the Backyard BBQ), and of course Firehawk. Oh, also of note from the article - if you hold a paper Temporary Season Pass from last fall, you don't HAVE to exchange it for the plastic pass if you don't want to, it will scan at the gate. However, the park is strongly recommending you change it over to the plastic card for durability issues. (read: water rides) This is good to know if you arrive at the park this weekend and season pass processing is jammed, you can go ahead and enter the park on the temporary pass and take care of getting the card changed out later.

Why not use the Kennywood free parking? They have a FREE skyride that goes up the hilltop where the FREE parking is located. Adds a unique novel touch when you ride the skyride down to the park when you arrivem then back up to the parking lot whenyou leave. All in all your walk is shorter than if you park in the pay lot, Every time I have been there the skyride was not running and if you parked up there you would be the only one. When you walk back up there you may find parts of your car missing. I don't think the skyride has run since the last guy fell off. I used the Skyride (Kenny's Skyway) at Kennywood just last year. Of course I did happen to go on a Saturday, (hey that was the only way the trip would work), and Kennywood was pretty packed that day. The hilltop lot was packed with cars, but we figured ourselves lucky to find an aisle space free almost right accross from the Skyway station. So yes I know the skyway was running. Note to future visitors, you don't want the main aisle space in a dirt/gravel parking lot. The car was maroon when it entered the lot, and brown when it left the lot... I did go back later that season, and the hilltop lot was closed when we arrived, and we did opt to park on one of the ends of the main lower lot, that is also free. In fact we parked just beyond the fence seperating free from pay lot, and there is a fenced in walkway right to the gate without having to dodge cars. Very nice setup. The question remains - why pay to park at Kennywood? BTW: About the skyride incident and the mentally challenged guest, if I recall correctly that happened on the skyride at Knoebels Grove. You might want to redirect your sebsearches to that skyride. It has also since reopened as I rode that skyride at Phoenix Phall Phun Phest.

Why not use the Kennywood free parking? They have a FREE skyride that goes up the hilltop where the FREE parking is located. Adds a unique novel touch when you ride the skyride down to the park when you arrivem then back up to the parking lot whenyou leave. All in all your walk is shorter than if you park in the pay lot,

There is an update: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...WS01/304180046/ Looks like Hamiton County has earmarked the money to pay for the bus service. Personally I think what Kings Island did was brilliant. First they get out of having to pay for the bus service themselves knowing that some government agency would more than likely pick it up. Shrewd and risky yes, expecially if no one bought their bluff, but it looks like it will work out. Those that use that bus service will still be able to ride the bus, and the park just slashed $90,000/year out of their budget that can go towards other park imporvements. Never mind that all of us that pay propety taxes into Hamilton County will be the ones paying the $90,000

I tried the Wing's Buffet last fall. Sorry to say, the Ribs were not an option. I think the spread was fried chicken, chicken nuggets, a burger bar with all the fixings, a pasta bar, several side dishes, salad and desert bars. All that for about $13. It might sound expensive, but when you price that cheeseburger, fires and a Coke at Happy Days at $10 or so, its actually a great value, relatively speaking. Didn't Maureen say something at SOAR about some food service changes, I recall hearing that I-Stret Pizza is getting renovated, themini donut guys are out for something that sounded like Paradise Island, It's Fried is becoming Midway Eats and Treats and will be adding paninni sandwhiches, and Stunt Crew Grill (Always Kafe K to me) is getting chibatta sandwhiches. Oh and something about cinnamon fried pretzels at Lt. Dans Bar.

The arrangement down at Carowinds sounds like what Valleyfair did with their Corkscrew. If they install it the same way Valleyfair did, the shoulder bar will be a more restricting factor than the new belt. I sat down and pulled at least a foot of belt out of the retractor lowered the shoulder bar, fastened the belt, and when the excess strap slipped back into the retractor the belt left exposed was barely past the part that has all the stitiches that holds the metal tip on the end. And I consider myself to be a person of size. If it gives you an idea, I can just barely fit on Drop Zone.

And what about those who bought the chain wide Maxx Passes. I wonder, has that recording not been changed since last year, or is Cedar Fair actually running this chain "by the seat of their pants" Hey guys, this week, lets bring back Gold Passes! ETA: I just called that number myself, it is very much a neew recording, it even references the Maxx Pass and MAxx Pass Plus. Oh also 4 packs are back, at least in the KI only vareity. The phone message didn't explicitly say if the Maxx or Mass Plus include gold perks. I'd say they better throw them in, or they might have more than a few irate customers who have paid a premium for their passes. Oh and look at the web fine print - they say a Cedar Fair Maxx Pass must be processed at the park of purhcase before use at other parks. Look closer they define processed as getting a photo ID card made. So much for the "new" photo-less IDs Or am I right in thinking that these kind of desicions are being made up on the spot, on the fly? Sure seems like it.

About that awful line like last year, has anything been said about what the procedure is going to be for exchanging these "Temporary Cedar Point Maxx Pass" paper cards for the real deal. I'm fearing that those of us who may have stood in awful line #1 last year to get our photos taken, may have to stand in awful line#2 this spring to get the card exchanged. I hope they have a person standing there with a pass printer, and when they scan your temporary card it prints your real card, and thats the end of it. In fact I hope they have several such people working the gate.

Last time I was at Meijers they were selling the Kings Island ONLY pass, but not the Maxx or Maxx Plus passes. Mind you I haven't been in Meijers for awhile.... I'd agree though, the best prices are usually online, there was NO service charge last fall when I bought mine, and its an eTicket that you print out right at home. In addition after you purhcase online it takes you to a screen where you can fill out the pass registration paperwork in advance so you don't have to do that at the park either.

Let's hope Wings Buffet IS going to be a regular food option. I'm hoping it wasn't just a special for Fear Fest because the sit down buffet option offered something different that the park needed. I agree it was a bit overpriced but you have to consider the local market - you can go to Happy Days and pay what $10 for a Hamburger, Fries, and Coke, or $13 for Wings Buffet and get all that and more. If they keep Wings as a buffet AND reopen the IR as a full service restaurant, that would be a big upgrade in park dining. Also the Wings Buffet conversion was a quick change over, if they plan on keeping the format, maybe they will tear out the current cafeteria lines and set up an organized buffet line with more vareity, with real china, silverware and glassware. Can you say Midway Market, anybody?

Not to mention, if two people contacted Cedar Point, and recieved two different answers, it may mean that they still haven't quite finalized all the details. (Hey they have till the park gates open next spring) Perhaps, someone in charge at Cedar Fair read the pleas for parking privileges at other parks, and their compromise is you can purchase a parking decal with any Maxx Pass (or Maxx Plus pass) And really, why woulnd't they want to sell you additional parking decals, I mean a $50 deal with $10 parking means you have to go at least 6 times before they start to 'lose' on the deal. Seems like a no-brainer way to enhacne revenue to me. (I've paid $50 extra to get the Maxx Pass, and $50 for the parking decal, thats $100 extra, I need to go to CP more to get my money's worth, whereupon you buy more food and beverage, possibly play some more games, and buy some more souvies. Remember these are the same people who bungled the SFWoA promotions when they first bought Geauga Lake, but eventually reversed their original decisions. They are a compnay that can be fast acting if they think there is any profit or PR to be made from the enhanced parking perk.

To summarize: Cedar Point Only - $94.95 Cedar Fair Maxx Pass - $125 (from CP) Cedar Fair Maxx Plus Pass - $149.95 (from CP) Jr/Sr. Cedar Point only - $49.95 Jr/Sr. CF Maxx Plus - $79.95 (no CF Maxx option, they must get PLUS) Cedar Point Parking Pass - $50 (website says decals) Joe Cool Club - $15 (A CF Maxx Plus pass gets free Joe Cool if purchased this fall) Also of note, they inlcude Bofante Gardens in the Maxx tier, as does MiA. PKI has Bofante Gardens as being in the Maxx PLUS tier. Mistake on the PKI site??? Also no word on a joint CP/GL parking pass like they had last year Oh, and I think putting them on the same Maxx Pass plan eliminated the need for the CP/GL combo pass. Soooo, it looks like you can go to either park and get the same great deal on the Maxx or Maxx Plus pass, the thing to consider is which park you want season parking privileges at, and which one you are willing to pay the per diem parking charge.

I know many of us have been obsessing over the season pass page at pki.com, but for those not interested in a pass, they do hae some great deals on fall admission: Fall admission on Saturday or Sunday: $29.95 and recall the park is open 11-midnight on those saturdays. (Jr/Sr - $14.95) Fear Fest Fridays: $19.95 - park only open 7pm-midnight though. the pay one visit twice option has not been discounted, but would still be a deal over two $29.95 tickets. I don't know what the front gate pricing for these new tickets is.

Check the season pass page at PKI.COM, kwindshawne. They have clearly stated that a renewing seasonpassholder will get a complimetary 2007 parking pass. It seems they have changed the verbage though to make the terms of the free parking offer clearer: (From PKI.COM)------------------------------------------- ATTENTION 2006 RENEWING SEASON PASSHOLDERS: Purchase your 2007 Season Pass and come to the park to have your photo ID taken by October 29th and you will receive FREE season-long parking for the rest of this year and the entire 2007 season*! *Free parking is valid for Paramount's Kings Island only. Subject to additional parking fee at all other Cedar Fair parks.