BavarianBeatle

In four words: cold, gray, windy and rainy. Reminds me of when I used to live in the Cleveland area.

He called me too. I saved the message. A couple of observations: 1. I'm glad he said that he would be attempting the jump "on my motorcycle." That was very informative. 2. I am wondering why the park, who obviously got my number because I gave it to them when I purchased my pass, would find it necessary to have Robbie remind me to make sure I purchased my season pass.

As someone who has been in your position twice, I can tell you your situation is not as dire as it seems. You will discover that a pregnancy is a 50/50 type of situation. What that means is that all of the good things about the pregnancy are because of the woman, and all of the not-so-good things (morning sickness, sore back, swollen feet and fingers, et al.) are the man's fault. (Get used to that idea because you will be reminded of that repeatedly). The up side of that is that there will also be those times when she will not want to have anything to do with you because of what you "did to" her. Which will give you the perfect opportunity to get to the park for a few hours and ride whatever you want. In the meantime, she will be enjoying herself with her female friends discussing her situation and the evil men of the world who cause women to feel miserable while they're pregnant. Just make sure you call her when you are about to leave for home and ask her if there is anything you can bring her. It will surely be some strange combination of foods, but just pretend that you don't find it to be unusual at all and bring her whatever she wants. After that, everything should be fine. But seriously, the Rider Safety Guide on the park's website and in the Park Guide may also provide you and your wife with helpful information. Best of luck to you both......

I agree. I took my kids when they were 2 and 3 and they had a ball!!!!!!! Nick U is wonderful for children and now that we have to walk through it to get to the traditional first ride on The Beast, I am always reminded how far I've come, and how KI was when I was a kid, etc..... It is the first step in a lifetime of memories..........

I've seen lots of line jumping already this year. In my opinion the park needs to crack down more on this problem. I would love to see them start using cameras and have security at the ride exits, pulling these idiots aside as they leave the rides and saying "Excuse, me sir/maam, but you need to come with me....." Then giving them a one way ticket to the parking lot.

Well, the park IS haunted you know.... Especially around the Eiffel Tower and Adventure Express......

Wow!! I've always thought the same thing. A nice little apartment above one of the shops on International Street would be a nice little home.

Just a note, but since so many people will be coming to the park on the 24th, the evening of Friday the 23rd should be very light. We went last year the night before Firehawk opened and the place was empty. So, we will be there Friday. Looks like we will miss Saturday. It looks like about the only time I can get the family together for my son's birthday......

I have no idea how I would do with the younger crowd, but I have had two or three women closer to my age ask if I was married, so I guess I'm not TOO far gone yet. I'm also mostly invisible to the youngsters, but I'm apparemtly safe enough looking to be asked things like the time, where something in the park is located, what certain rides are like, etc. Unfortunately, they all call me "sir."

I look at the women in line and rate them in order of most attractive...... Yes, I'm a male pig......LOL!!!!

I have said for years that they need to do something with the Zodiac/Flight Commander area. It's nothing but an eyesore!!!!

Are you a member of the club in which you got a Blackberry for the heck of it but now you can't live without it like I am? It is provided by my employer, because I can be called, emailed etc. at any time...... But I can't live without it either!! I've used it to check the radar on the internet many times at the park when it looks like rain.......... If there's a huge area of rain coming we will leave, but if its a passing shower, we go to the Festhaus and get some cheese fries......

We arrived around 6:30 and walked on almost everything. BLSC was the only thing closed. Was on Drop Tower for the fireworks! That was nice!! And Drop Tower was spinning on the way up again. That was the first time I noticed that this year.

Because relocating isnt free. It requires a considerable amount of work to disassamble a ride, ship and reassamble a ride at a new, prepped location. King Cobra was already in BAD shape. Why would another park want a 20 year old piece of crap. Dont get me wrong, I love King Cobra as much as the next guy, probably more, but I can understand the parks position. KCKC, come on really? Honestly, from the parks perspective, do we really need two 30+ year old log flumes right next to each other? Besides, when Tomb Raider opened, nobody had regrets about the removal of KCKC. Again, I love KCKC as much as the next guy and probably more, but it wasn't THAT great. The park is constantly trying to upgrade. Yea they want to hold onto some nostalgia but some things have to be cut, decisions have to be made. The park cant hold onto an old stinky water ride that you do NOT get wet on, for a select few that would rather have it than the current state of Tomb Raider. People only miss it because it's gone; what I mean is, if it was still here, people would not go around saying: Man I'm so glad the park still has this ride. People complain about rides like Top Gun, Adventure Express, etc. but as soon as the park replaces them, people will complain and say the park had no reason to do so. Fast Tracks? Seriously? People miss those? These slides burned the **** out of your back. I think the only reason the park kept them around so long is because occasionally a womans top would fly off. Antique cars- no comment... The park is constantly upgrading. The park is not trying to appeal to us individual enthusiasts. One day out of the year on KIC day the park is catering to us, ever other day of the year, they're trying to appeal to the average familys that dont even notice when a ride is replaced. Do you know how much more money the park makes off of those familys than the do off of you? I know how to save money at KI; honestly, I'm probably the last kind of guest KI wants because I rarely buy merchandise, rarely buy more than one or two slices of pizza, always get free water, never play games, and never pay to get in. Why in the hell would the park want to please me. The park wants familys of 4+ who buy 2 complete meals every time they go, everyone has to get a souviner, everyone plays games to get 10 cent plush toys, etc. etc. etc. The park makes more money off of one family of four in one visit than they do off of me in 10 visits. Honestly, why did they remove the antique cars? Because the average guest didn't even notice. And to boot, they dont even notice that half the effects dont work on IJ. All they see now is a flashy launching coaster that the kids that are too afraid to ride The Vortex are willing to ride. Why remove antique cars, because all they see is a big swinging thing, and a flashy Sling Shot ride. Why replace KCKC, because there is still a log flume next door, and when it works, the average guest enjoys tomb raider. Why replace fastracks, because now a family of 4 can race, have fun, and not burn up their backs. Lots of money is spent to please this demographic of patron. You think the park is having Robbie Kineval jump for amusement park enthusiasts? As though the park is expecting 70,000 Acers on May 24th? No way! The park wants to give average money spending familys a reason to come to the park and spend $$$. And if that means giving people hope to see robbie kineval get extremely hurt, so be it! My cousins/aunts/uncles come in from out of town about once a year and go to the park. For ~6-8 of them, with maybe a couple free tickets, and some to pay for, between admission, food, games, merch, etc., they spend $300-400 EASY, probably more. They come every year and barely even notice the changes. They NEVER complain about ride replacements. At most they say: "didnt the park have antique cars? Oh well, lets get in line for Italian Job." I havn't spent $400 at the park in the last 2 years, including employee meals! Steve, no offense but you work at the park, the park isn't making money off of you; why would they care about pleasing you. No ride replacement is ever a downgrade in the parks eyes. If it was then they wouldn't do it. You cant promote KCKC after 30 years but you can promote Tomb Raider; you cant promote fast tracks but you can promote collangata(?) racers; you cant promote King Cobra but you can promote the hell out of Delerium; you cant promote antique cars but you can promote the Italian Job; and that is what brings people to the park. Also with the rising price of gas, it probably would not have been long before the park replaced the antique cars anyway. The park does not remove/replace rides to spite patrons, they do it to please them. If you're not pleased, then honestly, you're probably not worth pleasing. Progress is progress. Out with the old, in with the new; it's the american way. Bottom line: To the average american guest, for the money they pay to enjoy the park, they want new flashy, swingy, launchy, top spinny, racing, rides, not old slow, rusty, stinky watery, gas guzzely, back burny, rides. I'm sorry to be so blunt, and I'm sorry if I offend anyone, I'm just trying to make a point. And you make it very well. I have always loved KI, but I understand that rides become obsolete over time. Life is the same way. I still think its cool to see a rotary dial telephone, but I wouldn't trade my Blackberry for one.......

We got there around 430. Waited about an hour for The Beast, then everything cleared out VERY nicely. Between about 730 and closing we rode SOB, Flight Deck, SOB again, Viking Fury, AE, Red Racer (the ride op let us ride twice) Dodgems, Vortex, BLSC and then enjoyed our first nightime Beast ride of the year!!! My kids and I had a nice evening at the park.

I will tell her at work in the morning. We are both leaving at noon for KI!!! Thank God for comp time and an understanding boss!!!!!!! (your salary is based on hours......If your work is done and you have your hours in, feel free to take Friday afternoon off) I will tell her to check at GR!!! Thanks again for everything, Michael

Also, the former Sky Ride station site in Octoberfest is approximately where King Cobra's loop used to stand. That area also used to include, at various times, Tumble Bug, Skylab, the Ferris Wheel, Flying Dutchman, Der Spinning Keggers, and, of course, Bavarian Beetle!!! Lots of history around there!!!!!!!!!!

Ive bee reading your posts. As always, they are very informative. Thank you!!!!! But someone at work asked if they will be able to buy the grandstand tickets at the park tomorrow or are they only available online?? I had to say that I didn't know.......

I think it should stay open. The forecast is for rain in the morning then partly cloudy but cold (for this time of year) for the rest of the day.....High temp for tomorrow 65. Low Friday night 49. Definite "jacket weather"!!!

Am I the only one who thinks the park is going to be a crowded mess on the 24th? But, then again, I'm always prety pessimistic about those kind of things......

This year's Park Guide lists it as a coaster again.

In July and August, CP gets packed even on weekdays. I was thinking Monday and Tuesday after the weekend of the 4th might be ok. I figured most people would go back to work after the long weekend. Am I wrong?

It should also be noted that: 1) if you are convicted of even a minor offense (such as possession of a single joint), the laws of the State of Ohio require that the Court suspend your driver's license for six months and 2) Ohio recently amended the OVI (formerly DUI) statute to include prohibited levels of certain drugs (similar to the .08level for alcohol that most people are familiar with). Remember, if you smoke weed, it can stay in your system for up to 30 days and you could be subjecting yourself to an OVI offense even if you are not "high" at the time.

We will be going either right before or after the 4th of July. (During the week of course). I'm thinking the 6th, 7th and 8th.

So you know who I am..... That's scary, because if you see me getting on my kids about misbehaving in line, fighting, running, etc, you will probably think I'm the most evil creature who ever walked the earth........