XGatorHead 8904

Wow... Wonderfully written. I've never really thought of the rides as links to my youth, but you've brought a new perspective to me. Thank you for that. And much like your breakthrough on WWC, mine occured on Screamin' Demon. After climbing all those steps with my uncle and getting loaded in, we went through the loop to the other side. I remember asking my uncle, with tears in my eyes, "We have to do that again?" and my uncle's response, with a huge smile on his face, was "Yeah...BACKWARDS!" Since that experience, I'll ride anything at least once. Even Ferris Wheels, Zippers and Rock-o-Planes, which for some reason are the rides I have the most problems getting on.

The group with the Don Helbig look-alike is MoRockin (get it? As in Morroccan?) We caught the end of their set this past trip, but I didn't notice Don's talents. My eyes were drawn elsewhere on stage, much like your camera in the second video of them. I take a hands-on approach too, but have never attempted the scale of Avatar's trip. Another helpful website for planning a WDW trip is www.allears.net. There's a ton of useful info here, and I always look forward to getting their weekly email newsletter which is such a fun read every time.

We did have another encounter. This morning I posted this in your other TR before I saw this one...

I totally remember your group. Bil was in the back of the group, and it was a white shirt with a HUGE picture of Billy Ray Cyrus on the back. I thought it was Billy Ray at first, but then the pimp and I were talking about it and he thought it was George Michael, which I thought it kind of looked like too so I wasn't sure.

Great TR so far, Avatar! You're making me feel like such a slacker... You STARTED your WDW vacation a week after ours ENDED, and I still don't have mine done! I'll work on mine this week. But keep it coming, can't wait to see more. And we were in the 70's at Pop Century too... I'll have to check to see if I can find the room number, but if I remember correctly it was pretty close to 265.

So, I understand there was another encounter between pkiruler102 and the bouncer this past Saturday. Good to see you again! I just don't understand how you managed to escape my friends inside last time. As Bouncer (aka Chief Security Officer) for Club Blood, I really need to find out how all our visitors are getting away! Maybe we have a catch and release progam I wasn't aware of...

Oh yeah, I remember that post. Too many SFGA-type initials to keep straight. Based on those parks, my best guess was Monster Plantation / soon to be Monster Mansion too.

^Ah, thanks. I should have though of that. But shouldn't that be SFOG and SFGAdv, considering two of his favorite coasters are at SFGAdv?

Which ride would that be? I tried looking at DAFE's website and a few others and couldn't figure it out.

Interesting!! Do they do this at the parks that number their flags as well??? I doubt it, but it could be possible. CF and the chain that numbers their flags do not use the same Admissions software. Oh, and 15 KI visits this year as a guest with one more planned. Also, 1 Holiday World, 1 Epcot, 1 Magic Kingdom and 1 Disney Hollywood Studios (I really need to work on that WDW PTR!)

What?!? No pictures of me??? I guess that's what I get for saying "No pictures!" in my most Haunt-ly tone to the one guy who actually stopped to take my picture on media night... And yes, standbyme, I did see one other poster in there, but I'll let him identify himself if he wishes to be revealed.

^ I love it when we're able to get someone's name... we're able to personalize the experience that much more for them...muahahahaha! (That would be my evil laugh)...

Well, I just need to echo some other peoples' sentiments as well. My favorite KI moments of 2008: 1. My daughter's first ever coaster ride. She's hooked now! 2. Spending time with my wife and daughter during our many rides on Monster, Scrambler, SD&THC and all the other rides we're able to ride together (and watching her on the ones that we can't ride with her). 3. I had to single this one out by itself... watching my daughter screaming and smiling on Swiper's Sweepers as it whips around the corners (and even in the straight-aways!). 4. All of our time spent in Boomerang Bay. 5. Finally getting to work a haunted attraction, which I've wanted to do since FearFest's first year. 6. Taking August 6th off from work for a solo day at the park and the Diamondback announcement. 7. Robby Knievel, Rick Wallenda, and my wife and daughter onstage with the Bradys! 8. The casts of County Line, Girls Night Out and Ghouls Gone Wild taking the time to talk to my daughter and making her day even more special. 9. Reading all the comments on here (and writing more than my fair share of them as well!). 10. Watching DB track go up, and feeling the anticipation building as it does. And regarding BavarianBeatle's P.S.: When my wife talks to her mom and tells her that we went or are going to KI, my mother-in-law says: "You guys go there too much! You need to spend more time at home!" But the way I see it is, life is for living... do what you love while you can, because there will come a day when you're not able to (and you'll be forced to stay at home...or worse!).

^Ha, I can see that BP from my office window. I just can't see the sign because the trees are in the way (if that BP is the one right next to 71)!

Count me in...err...wait...umm...well, you know where to find me!

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^ I agree with a lot in that paragraph (except for the last comment). Everyone likes or dislikes certain attractions for their own personal reasons. I have my favorites and my least favorites, but I'm not going to try to convince anyone that I'm right and they're wrong. Club Blood just happened to be one of my favorites last year, that's why I chose to work that one. Everyone's opinions are valid, both positive and negative. I like hearing both sides, as long as the criticism is constructive and not just "it sucked". That's why I asked for examples in post #6 of this topic. Thanks to those who gave examples of what they didn't like about it, that's the criticism I like to read. To be honest, I really don't know too much about what happens after the cage room. I've walked through some of the rooms, but only with the full house lights on and no scaracters. My section is very dark, but for all I know it could be as bright as a day on the beach in the latter half of the attraction. I just don't get out of my alley much! I know from working every Friday and Saturday that a lot of people do enjoy Club Blood. I'm able to scare a lot of people, or make some of them smile with some of my lines. And on the flipside, there are those groups that just totally ignore me yelling in their face, walking by as if I'm not there. That bothered me the first night, and I got to thinking "What's wrong with what I'm doing?" But I quickly learned to not let it get to me. If they choose to do that, fine, I'll quickly reset and work on the next group. There's plenty more people to get, and I understand that it's not everyone's cup of tea. You can't please everyone, just do your best to do so. As for getting tired, yes, it happens. I try not to let it effect my performance, but every once in awhile towards the end of the night I find myself slacking a bit. When I do, I make sure to pump it up again. The people coming in at 12:30 deserve just as good of a performance as the groups that came in at 8:00. As I said in another post somewhere, I can only do my small part to the best of my ability and hope that the others do the same. And for some reason, these lines have been running through my head while typing this: "All the world's indeed a stage And we are merely players Performers and portrayers Each another's audience Outside the gilded cage" - "Limelight" - Rush

No, this is my first year working Haunt (but I worked in the park for many, many years before that). But in my HH TR last year, I said: And this year, here I am playing him!

^I'm the bouncer... the last guy you see before entering the cage dance room.

Is it just me, or do I really want to ride a ride made by a company called "Chance"? Although with as many rides as I've ridden in my lifetime, I most likely have already.

Great PTR Beatle! I love seeing families having fun at the parks. I was standing in line with my daughter for Swiper's Sweepers on Sunday, she looked at Avatar and said that she liked that ride. I said, "But you haven't ridden it yet, you still need to be a little taller." She asked me "Yeah, but when I get taller can I ride it with you?" I said "Alright, I'll have a riding buddy!", and she says "Yeah, and we can ride ALL the roller coasters too!" I can't wait for that, but also don't want her to grow up too fast! Have fun with the boys while you can. As far as spending my birthday in a park, that was once possible here. But there's no way I'm going anywhere near a year-round park, particularly Disney, in December... although Dollywood might be nice.

^Weeks ago I actually thought of something to say to her while in character in regards to that, if only she were to enter my club...

Everyone except, apparently, Club Blood. Sorry you didn't like it, I know I try to do my best in there. But I can only do my small part and hope that my co-scaracters are also doing their jobs to the best of their abilities. Your opinion is valid, as is everyone else's. There are people who like it, and those that don't, just like everything else in life. But did you have to be so harsh? Just kidding, I understand you feel strongly about it.

^They could, but then you run into more stringent minor labor laws. 16 and 17 year olds cannot work past 11:00 on any night before school is in session. So fewer scaracters toward the end of the Sunday nights in all the attractions = "that maze sucked". Source: http://www.com.ohio.gov/laws/docs/laws_MLLPoster.pdf

The best time to buy is in the fall for the following year's passes. You can get gold (or platinum) passes now, the gold upgrade is $5 more than a regular pass, plus you get free parking if you upgrade to gold now. After the park closes for the season, the price goes up to the spring rates. During that pricing period, historically they increase the price, and all passes are at least gold, unless you upgraded to platinum. Plus, the free parking is no longer a perk, you would have to buy the parking pass if you so choose. Of course, KI Marketing can make any changes they see fit, but this is historically how it works. Hope this helps!