skjackson

If the event possibly becomes an upcharge? It will be an upcharge in 2008. Ryan mentioned the possibility, but that has not been 100 percent announced or confirmed, as hauntguy said lol. We're back on topic now, and if anyone is gonna question the original poster, any other poster in this topic, or chime in their opinions, the least you can do is read the entire topic to get a feel for the context and subject being discussed. The problem was not the crowds, he expected that he said. He said he had a problem with how the crowds were handled and regulated and wished it had been done in a similar fashion to Knott's event which is what they're trying to model KI's after in a few ways. Thank you so much for actually reading my entire posts and trying to understand where I am coming from. You said in this last post exactly what I was trying to get across to people. Thanks for understanding my posts the way that they were meant to be taken.

You people in here made it sound like "YOU" knew everything and I knew nothing. I am sick and tired of repeatedly explaining this to you all. The only reason I mentioned any of that STUPID CRAP is to get you people off my back about being some randomly stupid idiot. That is NOT what I am. I have explained this over and over and over and over. I also find it convenient to gripe about me throwing out numbers of coasters and then turning around and telling me how many coasters there are in the country and the world. I am sorry that I haven't posted in here over 1,000 or 2,000 times, but that doesn't make me an idiot. It was a trip report people. Plain and simple.

Ah, where to start... I could really care less that you believed HH was unorganized. Sure, when you have a rather large crowd during a 6 hour period, things will get missed. That will happen with any event. I would have expected a vetern park enthusiast like yourself to have understood that. But hey, that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. And honestly, it is a good thing that vetern amusement park enthusiasts, like yourself, do have opinions on such events. It is well known that upper management staff of the park frequent this site, and they may happen to take your comments as a valid opinion and try to correct the problem. And while you did not come out and make the direct quote about your knowledge of the upcharge in '08, your comments of: Then another member posted about the upcharge in '08, which led to your comment of: That certainly led me to believe that you had no idea of the upcharge in '08. If you knew about it, you would have answered your own comment in your original post. You certainly did not hold back on telling us about your elite status and knowledge, so why would you hold back on specific knowledge? But now this is where I will defend KI. Knott's has been doing this for how long? They are also open for all but 8 days in October, so the demand to go to the park on a specific day or weekend for an event like HH would not be as great compared to KI. Not to mention their staff is year-round where KI scrambles this time of year to bring in as many qualified people as possible. Now the weather. Sure Cincinnati gets decent weather, but nothing compared to Southern California. In October the average temperature near Knott's is 66.8 degrees with an average rainfall of .3". In Cincinnati the averages in October are 54.1 degrees and 2.4" of rain. So when the weather is good, people are going to flock to those two days, or those few days prior to Halloween, when KI is open. So it is quite easy to see that comparing both parks is rather unfair. Where you certainly lost me is when you started to try and throw your weight around because you vote for the Golden Tickets. Your comments of trying to let others' understand that you know what you are talking about, just because you vote in that poll actually put yourself into that position of being questioned. But now look at it from this angle, how is it no problem for you to have an opinion about how a park operates for a special event, but I cannot have an opinion about a tainted poll? Hey it is great that you have been on over 400 coasters. Congrats! I'm not really sure how that makes you an expert in the amusement park field, but it does in your mind. It is always good to have self confidence. But now, is the amount of coasters really make that much of a difference? There are approximately 730 coasters just in North America, and according to your count, you have been on just over half of them. What about the rest of the 40% in North America? Or how about the 2100 coaster that are Worldwide? Don't they count? Or is it just the bigger parks that get the most attention? And congrats on being an ACE member. I'm not really sure why you would mention that, but obviously you are proud to be a card carrying member of a club that you have to pay for. BTW, I have been a paying subscriber to ESPN for over 25 years, and I am in no way an expert on sports, nor will I claim to be. By the way you quickly pointed out that you are an expert in the field, it seems that you came packing for a fight. Sure we, or at least me, will be somewhat biased to KI. This is a KI site. Go to a neutral site like TPR or CB if you want unbiased opinions. But even here, at KICentral, we tend to be even more critical of the park than most guests. Only because we go to the park sometimes on a weekly basis unlike the guest that goes once a year. We see changes month to month, week to week, and sometimes day to day. Some changes recieve praise, others not so much. And don't forget to mention that you are a voter for the Golden Tickets as well as a member of ACE. Your reception be very warm! If it were any warmer than yours, I would be burning in HELL. Okay, so your ESPN comment has opened a whole new door for me. When you watch ESPN, do they give you a ticket to the board room? I don't think so. Not only have I been a paying member of ACE since 1979, I have spent the last 13 years as a Regional Rep. I would think this fully validates my travel and knowledge of parks. I must have at least a little knowledge. And I love the way you quoted the number of coasters in the world which you most likely got from the ACE website. This number is probably innacurate by now. How many years have you worked in the theme park industry? I have worked in it for over 10 years, including Six Flags (1982-1987), Disney(1987-1990), and Knott's Berry Farm(1980-1982). I came in here to post as a regular person, and you have turnrd me into a marked target for your disposal. I assure you none of this is made up. Every time I mention anything about why I have any knowledge, you giggle and fire away right back at me. It's really quite pathetic. I have made MANY positive comments about the park. I even said that I would like to return next year to the event. You seem to be hung up on the fact that no one but you knows anything about theme parks. If you keep questioning me, I will keep giving you answers that you OBVIOUSLY don't want to see. I am so sick of "I don't know why you said this or that". The best thing for you to do at this point is find another topic in here so that you can post your negative and hateful comments toward someone else. I don't think I have seen many pleasant posts by you at all in here. This is not why I came into this forum, although I find it amusing.

Hold on. There is an accident, and it is determined that the cause was due to wet brakes. One park adds magnetic brakes, which pi$$es everyone off. Another park shuts rides down, which pi$$es everyone off. So what do you suggest? Obviously each park has tried something. If they had not changed something either mechanically or changed some policy dealing with weather and the same accident would have happened, then what? There are injuries, lawsuits, bad press for the park. Not to mention the premium for their insurance goes through the roof and the guest either suffers from higher gate prices or less expensive rides being built to compensate. This is a great example that you can't make everyone happy. You are absolutely correct. I totally agree.

^ Please don't let my voice represent KICentral. I am just one person of almost 3000 with an opinion. Certainly you know that 1 person does not speak for almost 3000. And yes, it is very well known that KBF has won the Golden Ticket for their Haunt. Which is just another reason that, as prestigious as the GT's are, it is rather unfair to compare the two Haunts and that the walk up ticket prices being $5 more for Knott's. See. This is where I am misunderstood by everyone. I think it is fantastic that the Halloween Haunt event has been added to KI. It is a very well respected event in the industry. I know they will work everything out, and I know it will be great. It may just take a while. And there is nothing wrong with that. I compare the 2 because I feel like KI will reach that level and it will be great. I don't want to argue with anyone on here about anything, I just don't want to get "jumped on" either. I think it is a very big deal that Cedar Fair thought enough about KI to bring the name Halloween Haunt over from Knott's. I am not a complete expert on parks, but I have been to this event 6 times now-5 at Knott's and once at KI. That is what I based my trip report on-my personal experiences over 6 years of this event. Roller coasters and all that other crap don't have anything to do with this, but people kept wanting to know what made me think I knew anything. I would bet most or none of you have been to Knott's event. It is amazing, and KI will be too. It will just take a little time. That is about the calmest I can respond to everything. I am glad that you see fit to throw your knowledge around about the number of coasters in North America and the World. Once I make over 1,000 posts, I guess I will be given the same oppurtunity. I really don't see the point of how that had anything to do with my trip report. It makes us both "stupid idiots" that are not coaster experts.

Ah, where to start... I could really care less that you believed HH was unorganized. Sure, when you have a rather large crowd during a 6 hour period, things will get missed. That will happen with any event. I would have expected a vetern park enthusiast like yourself to have understood that. But hey, that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. And honestly, it is a good thing that vetern amusement park enthusiasts, like yourself, do have opinions on such events. It is well known that upper management staff of the park frequent this site, and they may happen to take your comments as a valid opinion and try to correct the problem. And while you did not come out and make the direct quote about your knowledge of the upcharge in '08, your comments of: Then another member posted about the upcharge in '08, which led to your comment of: That certainly led me to believe that you had no idea of the upcharge in '08. If you knew about it, you would have answered your own comment in your original post. You certainly did not hold back on telling us about your elite status and knowledge, so why would you hold back on specific knowledge? But now this is where I will defend KI. Knott's has been doing this for how long? They are also open for all but 8 days in October, so the demand to go to the park on a specific day or weekend for an event like HH would not be as great compared to KI. Not to mention their staff is year-round where KI scrambles this time of year to bring in as many qualified people as possible. Now the weather. Sure Cincinnati gets decent weather, but nothing compared to Southern California. In October the average temperature near Knott's is 66.8 degrees with an average rainfall of .3". In Cincinnati the averages in October are 54.1 degrees and 2.4" of rain. So when the weather is good, people are going to flock to those two days, or those few days prior to Halloween, when KI is open. So it is quite easy to see that comparing both parks is rather unfair. Where you certainly lost me is when you started to try and throw your weight around because you vote for the Golden Tickets. Your comments of trying to let others' understand that you know what you are talking about, just because you vote in that poll actually put yourself into that position of being questioned. But now look at it from this angle, how is it no problem for you to have an opinion about how a park operates for a special event, but I cannot have an opinion about a tainted poll? Hey it is great that you have been on over 400 coasters. Congrats! I'm not really sure how that makes you an expert in the amusement park field, but it does in your mind. It is always good to have self confidence. But now, is the amount of coasters really make that much of a difference? There are approximately 730 coasters just in North America, and according to your count, you have been on just over half of them. What about the rest of the 40% in North America? Or how about the 2100 coaster that are Worldwide? Don't they count? Or is it just the bigger parks that get the most attention? And congrats on being an ACE member. I'm not really sure why you would mention that, but obviously you are proud to be a card carrying member of a club that you have to pay for. BTW, I have been a paying subscriber to ESPN for over 25 years, and I am in no way an expert on sports, nor will I claim to be. By the way you quickly pointed out that you are an expert in the field, it seems that you came packing for a fight. Sure we, or at least me, will be somewhat biased to KI. This is a KI site. Go to a neutral site like TPR or CB if you want unbiased opinions. But even here, at KICentral, we tend to be even more critical of the park than most guests. Only because we go to the park sometimes on a weekly basis unlike the guest that goes once a year. We see changes month to month, week to week, and sometimes day to day. Some changes recieve praise, others not so much. And don't forget to mention that you are a voter for the Golden Tickets as well as a member of ACE. Your reception be very warm! If it were any warmer than yours, I would be burning in HELL.

It is too bad that skjackson had a bad time. Apparently it is not as well known that : 1) When there is good weather during these events, they get crushed as experienced is years past. On a side note: apparently CP's season attendence record was broken on Saturday with possible numbers over 50,000. 2) It is currently not an upcharge, but in 2008 it will be which will help with crowds. Actually I really don't see how people are upset about criticism of the park, just that when someone comes in here and proclaims their knowledge because they vote in a tainted poll is acting just like the 16 year old tag that they claim to actually be avoiding. Or they are acting like Al Gore proclaiming that he started the internet. Especially since it has well publicized that HH in 2008 will be an upcharge event, how would this well informed and knowledgeable Golden Ticket voter not know this? It has been news on every enthusiast site even before it was announced that there would be an upcharge in '08 but not in '07. And another qualification to vote for the Golden Ticket awards is that you could be a subscriber to Amusement Today. Well I wonder how that makes you a well traveled fan? It certainly makes you a paying fan, yet I question well traveled. Especially since you can find Amusement Today at a dentist's office. I am willing to bet there are some that frequent this bored that do vote for the Golden Tickets, yet never felt compelled to announce it with the expectation to be treated different. And it is also quite apparent that those who spend the most money on advertising in Amusement Today seem to be the ones that also win the most. Do you think that CF would spend money on a full page ad for CP if they were voted the 5th best park? While parks like Kennywood or Hershey decide to spend their revenue in other areas and don't seem to get the respect from the GTA, yet many enthusiasts adore those parks. Those would be the same enthusiasts that bash CP on a daily basis, yet CP is #1 yet again. If you really want to get a good feeling on how enthusiasts (which all of us are) feel about the Golden Tickets, look at some of the responses here: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10703 First of all, this was not you trip report, it was mine. It is not open for debate at all. This was what I went through and I posted it on this rediculously biased forum. This is not bragging. Once again, this is not bragging. My sole intention with this is to stop the questions that keep getting thrown at me and the stupid assumptions that certain people make in order to get me to post these facts in the first place. Since you want to know so much about my personal life:I have been to King's Island 32 times in the last 30 years, I am 39 years old, I do not subscribe to Amusement Today, and I have been a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts for over 20 years. I have ridden over 400 roller coasters in my life. I would say that answers all of your smart little questions and corrects your pathetic assumptions when you don't even know me. Jump on me all you want, but you asked for all of these answers. I do travel to parks a lot. In fact, almost every one of my vacations is centered around roller coasters and parks. And yes, I did know that they were upcharging next year. When did I ever say that I didn't? Maybe the park could have avoided this gridlock in the crowd by not selling out to capacity. If the park already knew that they needed to start an upcharge for the event to control the crowds, then how am I the stupid one here? I knew about the upcharge as soon as Cedar Fair bought the park. Common sense should tell you that if it works at Knott's ,then people will pay it at KI as well. They will make more money that way. I never bashed the park in my first post. I just said it was an unorganized event. You would think that after working with Knott's for several years, some of the people who came from there over to KI would have known what to expect. That is all I was saying. King's Island is still one of my favorite parks. This post started out as a trip report and it has turned into prying into my personal life because I said that I understand theme parks and how events can be run. Thanks for turning my trip report into the most useless post I have seen in this entire forum. I truly appreciate it. The only people who would understand any of my original post are people who have been to Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm. If King's Island can take this event in the future to the same level of control that Knott's Berry Farm has achieved, I will come to Haunt at KI every single year because it will be well worth it. They have a great idea going here, and I would absolutely love to return and enjoy it. And back to the Golden Ticket Awards... I dont see a lot of whining in here about King's Island winning best children's area and I sure don't see a lot of whining about Cedar Point winning a ton of awards every year. I don't vote for Cedar Point on many things at all, because I prefer parks like Knoebel's and Kennywood. I love the fact that they use their money on something other than huge rides. I will not repeat myself about why I mentioned the Awards, but I sincerely hope that I have satisfied your craving for an abundance of information about my life. I have no problems with King's Island as a park, I just had a bad time at this event. It's pretty sad that a person, like myself, who truly loves theme parks cannot post an opinion on a forum without getting jumped on by people who think I am an outsider who knows nothing. I would like to thank those of you who treated me like a person in here. That is the end. I am done with this. I am tired of answering questions because I have opinions. I will not do it again.

Hi, Thanks for posting. I am going this weekend and have tickets to the Fright Feast. Could you tell me where you DO stand to go in. (If you are IN the park looking OUT towards the parking lot is it the usual entrance on the right...nearest to the line where you get your hand stamped to go out?) I am sorry that you got "jumped on" for your post. A lot of people seem to be a little testy with negative comments around here lately...maybe it's the thought of the season coming to an end?! I understand you adding your Golden Ticket comment to just give a little insight that you do know what an amusement park is supposed to be like. I did not find it egotistical to mention. If people don't think that the Golden Tickets awards are anything it's funny that a LOT of people go out of their way to brag when Kings Island wins one. Thanks again. Well said standbyeme. skjackson, if you don't mind me asking; why exactly do you get a Golden Ticket vote? What is your role in the industry? I dont really see how mentioning the Golden Ticket thing is wrong or how the Golden Ticket thing has become a joke, no one seems to be saying that when KI whens best kids area every year and no one else on here seems to be involved in the industry enough to get a vote. So jackson, maybe some of these people would be a little more understanding if you described what you do in the industry to get a vote. If you are inside the park, you will need to go to the right of the line where they stamp your hand for re-entry. They had a sign on the outside of the park by the restaurant, but you cannot enter there. The Golden Ticket ballots are sent out to people in the amusement industry and also to certain members of amusement clubs. It depends on your rank or how long you have been a member of one of these clubs. I don't want to get "jumped on" again, so I'll just leave it at that.

I never said they killed Geauga Lake. I said "R.I.P. Geauga Lake". They tend to take a lot of personality out of the parks. I have seen what they have done to Knott's Berry Farm over the last several years. A lot of the old charm is gone. They have added some good rides, but the Knott family was responsible for adding Ghost Rider. Knott's Berry Farm has become almost unrecognizable in the years since Cedar Fair has taken over. I realize that a lot of people just don't care about the actual park-some people just want the rides. Luckily, this is where Cedar Fair thrives. I hope that King's Island can retain its charm for many years to come. As for Geauga Lake, it may have been a failing park, but I don't think removing rides during their first year of ownership was a sign that Cedar Fair was interested in turning it around. I don't think it is good to shut down any park that has been around as long as Geauga Lake was around. At least it had a good run. I am so glad that you find my love for amusement parks and their history humorous. Now we're both smiling.

Sorry but, HAHAHAHAHA! With how valid the Golden Tickets are nowadays, I'm really not sure you should admit that. It's embarressing. I just love the people that pat themselves on the back and claim to be "experts". Honestly though, why would you even say that? If you were that knowledgable of an expert, your expertise & knowledge would show through your posts, not because you are patting yourself on the back because you vote in a very tainted award. First of all, I'm astounded that most of you don't think a Golden Ticket as something found in a WONKA bar. I am really proud of you all for that. This forum is way more tainted than those awards will ever be. I was just trying to prove that I am not some 19 year old junkie who lives through a computer and does not know what they are talking about. I have been visiting the park for over 30 years, but SOMEONE would have had a problem with that too. HERE IS THE BEST PART OF MY POST AND I STRONGLY URGE EVERYONE TO TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. *****THE BEST THING I SAW AT THE Halloween Haunt WERE THE TOMBSTONES WITH KINZEL AND FALFAS ON THE FRONT THEM, BECAUSE THEY TEND TO KILL EVERY PARK THAT Cedar Fair TAKES OVER. FOR THIS ONE REASON, I'LL CONSIDER VOTING FOR KI FOR BEST HALLOWEEN EVENT NEXT YEAR. IT IS, BY FAR, THE BEST PROP I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.***** R.I.P. GEAUGA LAKE I'M THROUGH NOW. GET OVER YOURSELVES!!!!!!

My KI experience was bad for me, but it was nowhere near that bad. That sounds awful.

Just a little full of yourself? Telling me "it is Saturday" is a little bit of a stretch if you ask me. Like I had NO IDEA it was Saturday? I was just trying to say to that person "Hey...I'm not an idiot, I kind of understand how things work". I was trying to do it in a way where I could somewhat back myself up. Next time I will make sure I have no history, no complaints, no suggestions, and no opinion.

It is a Saturday night and getting closer to Halloween, what do you expect? I think everything was handled nicely. I think everyone worked as hard as they could to provide each and every person with a great experience. There will always be some things that cannot be controlled. A+ for this weekend. I am not a stupid person. If you don't think they could have controlled telling me where to stand to be let in to the Fright Feast, I am really confused. There was a sign that said to wait right there for the dinner. It just happened to be on the complete wrong side of the restaurant. I guess that is totally my fault? Someone who worked there should have known this and directed us to the proper side. Also, I don't suppose you think they could have "controlled" directing me to the Gold Pass parking when I paid for "preferred" parking. Just so you know, the Gold Pass parking is further out than the preferred parking. There is absolutely no excuse for the parking lot attendant that works there to direct me to a lot that is further out, when there were plenty of spots in the lot that we paid for. I have been going to King's Island since Taft owned it in the 70s. I was just stating that I had a bad trip. These 2 things, if nothing else, could have been controlled. Please don't think I am ignorant about events at Theme Parks. I am asked annually to submit a ballot to Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards. What this means to most people is that I am considered an expert on most aspects of theme park operations. It also means that I get to vote on best rides, staff, and events at parks for each year. What I expected is something that truly lived up to the name "Halloween Haunt". I have been to "Halloween Haunt" at Knott's Berry Farm on SOLD OUT nights on more than one occasion. I was able to do all the mazes each time I went to their event. They have more mazes than King's Island. The main reason is the way they control the crowd. I would love for someone to explain to me how I can do all the mazes at Knott's, but only 2 at King's Island. I fully expected it to be busy, but Knott's has it down to an art. I have already stated that the event has great potential, I just think it may take some time to get things flowing smoothly.