KIfan73

You were there opening day? Unreal. What was it like?

I think that the "Paramount" above the KI name has just always been sort of an asterisk to most people. I think they've done fine with the park; however, I've never heard anyone that I've talked to ever refer to the park as "Paramount's Kings Island". I don't think most people would ever notice whether its there or not. I think its mostly viewed as like a sponsor of a sporting event. Winston Cup, Nextel Cup, its still NASCAR. A small percentage of enthusiasts pay attention to things like this, but not the majority. By the beginning of next season, I think the "Paramount" name should quietly be removed. Let the sun shine down on "Kings Island" again!

You know, I've always liked TG, but probably the last 2 or 3 visits, I don't ever even think to walk back there to ride it. Maybe it does need to go. I was going to say the "V" word, but don't want to start a firestorm.

You mean riding in the 'tiques? Thats a good idea, too.

Yeah, and actually, the launch could be the entry gates with IS on either side and then the helix would be you circling the Tower. The part the slows down could be the replica of the Wild Animal Habitat. The drop down aqueduct part could be like you're going down into the Royal fountains. The dark part could have elements from all the previous dark rides, back to the original Enchanted (never can think of the second part)... And plant some grass seed and trees!!

Wow, this kind of opened up a can of worms. I have an awesome idea. You never know who is reading this! This could be the opportunity for KI to showcase its history. Turn this ride into the "ride through KI's history!" Leave the road signs up, but make them into "Kings Island Next Exit" signs. Have the antique cars parked at various places. Get a couple of the old cars that used to be on the turnpike. Put a mini Eiffel Tower in the middle of the helix. At the helicoptor scene, have that become a mini International Street (circa 1972), and have fountains on either side, like you are shooting through the middle of all of it. Have a small version of the skyride go just over the track. Have one part be a replica of the old wild animal habitat like you were on the monorail. The possibilities are endless! Slap me! I'm out of control! Man, could that be awesome.

But you can see FaceOff at the bottom right, and the water tower in Action Zone...So, again, 1999-2001. Anyone able to narrow it down more than that? Flight of Fear is clearly visible in that photo, too...or rather, the building is! Boy, I really blew that one. I thought I was going to be really smart there...lol

Well, KC is still there, but its under Paramount control. No FOF. Has to be '93-'94.

Personally, I like the theming. I think TRTR is possibly the most fun ride @ KI. I also like FOF. To me, those rides are in areas where their structures don't stand out so bad. Its just with IJST its right in the middle of everything, and the props they chose for the theming just looks like an out of control road project. It would probably look cool in AZ. It just looks so out of place where its at.

When they were building the Italian Job, it was exciting. The first couple of times I rode it, I thought it was really neat. The last two times I have been there, I have decided it is THE BIGGEST EYESORE in the entire park. Since the newness has wore off, I sorely miss the Antique Cars. They have completely ruined that area of the park. I really don't think it would be nearly as bad if they kept the coaster and got rid of all that theming, with just grass underneath. What started out for me as neat Hollywood-style theming now just looks like a big pile of junk. All the barrels and corrugated metal all over the place. It looks worse than what I have to look at when I drive route 35 to get to the park. Right in what was the prettiest, dare I say most sacred, part of the park with its vicinity to the Eiffel Tower. Now its depressing to think how many decades that thing is going to sit there.

Actually Disneyworld and Disneyland is one big advertisement for the Disney corporation, isn't it? I'm asking for easy stuff. Open the park earlier because morning is the best. Have a place that sold a variety of breakfast at the park. Hotcakes and eggs @ KI?? Yum. Change the theme of the Festhaus, and vent whatever that smell is out through the roof. Quit playing that depressing song over and over on Int'l Street. I think it might be the theme to Forrest Gump? When I hear that, I want to leave the park and crawl in a hole and be depressed. See, not too much to ask for.

As Festhaus was not there in the 70's you probably don't remember it from then. I went to KI when I was 3 in about '75. I didn't go to the park again until '92, so there's a lot of "empty space" there...lol I agree that the theming makes no sense now. Honestly, I wish it did. I'd like to see KI like it was when it opened, and have all the entertainment and stuff. But, now, since KI is more of a theme park, Festhaus does need a change. Since the front of it is just a facade, it doesn't seem like it would be that hard to retheme. The park definitely does need a place like Festhaus, just the theme needs to go. I also agree about the smell. Very nauseating.

I am all for KI keeping its original stuff, and appreciate that Festhaus is a link to the park's past. However, I think that place has no business being in the park. I know at one time it fit right in, and probably was a neat place (When I was there in the '70's, I was too small to remember). It is just a big, dark, depressing place. I think if you themed it to some kind of movie studio, or flight hangar to make it fit in with AZ, that would be neat. Not just some posters hung up, a complete overhaul. The park can definitely use a large indoor area, but, man, I wouldn't want to go in that place if it was sitting anywhere, let alone in an amusement park.

I just read about SOB again today in our local newspaper. I have to admit, it sounds bad, even if they are blowing it out of proportion. It talks about busted Timber and The DoA investigating it while it is shut down indefinitely. Then they are interviewing people that are saying how violent the ride was just before this accident (of course thats nothing new). Maybe not if Paramount (CBS) still owned it, but I can see CF shutting it down. Just doesn't seem like the headache a new owner would want. I bet they can't believe that something like this happened in their first couple weeks of ownership. Even people here in my town, which is about 90 minutes from KI, that aren't even real knowledgable about the park are talking about it.

Wow, it wasn't my imagination, then. I had people hawking me for my parking spot when I left in Gold Pass Parking....lol

Luckily I got on TR early as I waited about 15 minutes. Beast and Vortex were walk-ons. Not for long, I'm sure. I'm glad to see the park that busy, though.

Whew, just got home from the park. If I go by myself, I like to go when it first opens, and then usually by about 1 or 2 pm, I'm ready to head home. I've usually ridden everything by then and ate lunch. The park looked really nice today. Thought it would be sort of a "light" day...not at all! By the time I left, there were what I would estimate over an hour or more wait for every ride. Even The Racer had a line into the midway. When I left the parking lot @ 1 pm, it looked nearly completely full. Overall great day!

Many people bash Paramount, but PKI is a pretty successful business, and it would not an easy decision to change ANY thing about it really quickly.

Kings Island drink prices are so high its almost obscene. You just have to wonder what would happen if they priced a soft drink or bottle of water similar to what you pay at a grocery store or McDonald's.

<<I love this logo, but of course, I'm old. (32).

I must the only one that likes KingsIslandCentral.com. I think its awesome to just call it "Kings Island" again, and KICentral to me is still like PKI, just without the "P", if that makes any sense. A historical/retro skin for awhile would be awesome too. Maybe the old KI font with some historical images thrown in, at least for maybe the rest of this season...

That would be awesome.

This is a question for some of you guys that seem to be very knowledgable of the amusement park industry. For the average person that goes to the park (like me), what kind of things do you think I should expect with Cedar Fair taking over Kings Island? Not so much behind the scenes, but just stuff in the park, season passes, etc. Will I notice much difference? I have read all the forums, but the acquisition has me bugged because I like going to KI so much. Thanks for any ideas.

Maybe to a select group of "enthusiasts", but I don't think to the general public. Everyone I've talked to that just goes to KI, but doesn't keep up on inside news, has been pretty disappointed about the whole thing when they've heard of it, or I've told them.

To me, CF buying KI is kind of like Ford buying GM, or vice-versa. CF has to know that many KI fans think its the best, because of the decades-old KI vs. CP mentality. Why would they want to do anything to make people that like KI mad? I don't look for them any time in the next decade to put the CF rubber stamp on anything in KI.