KIfan73

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.

Overall, I would like to see a lot of names/themes go to making reference to where KI is located. Like the railroad is named the Miami Valley railroad. I would like to see International Street become more, well, International. More diverse food and shopping choices. I would like to see "Kings Island", or at least a reference to it in more of the names. Oktoberfest=Kings Island's Oktoberfest Coney Mall=Coney Island Rivertown=Already Perfect! Action Zone=Adventure Village Italian Job=Revenge of I-71 Thats all I can think of right now. By the way, CoastersNSich, I think that KI logo is perfect. I love the old-style KI lettering.

I haven't rode it in 5 years because the line is always so long and moves so slowly. But the one time I did ride it, I liked it because it scared me pretty bad!

My gut tells me for whatever reason that CF will own the Paramount Parks just long enough to screw them up royally. After this, the asking price of Kings Island will have lowered enough for another company to buy it and turn it into the park that it can be. I don't feel good at all about CF owning Kings Island. Kind of like I would feel about a 16 year old getting the keys to a new Ferrari. I think they're in over their head. Hopefully things will go well, but I haven't been the slightest bit encouraged since I heard they bought PP. I hope I'm proved wrong, though.

You're right. That probably wasn't the best name for the forum. Maybe a "My positive PKI experience" forum? I know I can complain with the best of them. Sometimes, though, I just want to read about what a fun place the park is, and when I get on the site, all of the ramblings about the workings of the park is kind of like getting stuck in the eye with something sharp when I'm in one of my good moods

First of all, I love this site. You guys do a GREAT job. I was wondering if there could possibly be a forum in the future for possibly people maybe 30 years and older. This is only because I know theres a lot of people that like to reminisce about KI, and have a lot different perspective of the park than the younger guys. The young ones are very knowledgeable about the goings on of the park. Way more than I'll ever know. I just thought maybe a forum for the more mature crowd might just be more related to more upbeat park experiences (past and present), rather than so much of the "behind the scene" stuff. I think EVERYONE has a valid viewpoint of the park. But to me, KI (or PKI, or whatever its going to be) is just a really fun place for me to go regardless of who owns it, whos going to own it, whats coming in the next few years, and whats going to be ripped out. PKI is a great way for me to "get away", so my thoughts of it are going to be more rosy than the guys that work there, and know so much about it. I hope this makes some sort of sense. Thanks for listening.

The Beast. An experience like nothing else. To me, it goes way beyond being a roller coaster, its like an adventure. Even though I've rode it countless times, every time I ride it, I have to laugh to myself because it feels so out of control. It also has sort of a 70's horror movie vibe to it, too, even when I'm in the queue line. Like you're out in the woods and something crazy is going to happen.

I rode FOF yesterday. I had forgotten what a good ride that was. I heard a couple people get off it saying "that beats Space Mountain all to heck". I hated to see that the picture booth was closed. I expect a re-theme. I remember filling out a survey awhile back, and they seemed to be pushing an MTV theme pretty hard, if I remember...If FOF doesn't get a re-theme, it definitely needs some TLC. Its too bad PKI doesn't just keep up on the maintenance, as it would still be an interesting theme (same goes for TG...that used to be awesome...)

Well, it was pouring down rain on my way to PKI this morning, but, luckily I didn't let that bother me. Ended up being about the best weather I've ever experienced while there. I just don't know how anybody could complain about the place. Even if all the rides were broke down, it is just such a beautiful place. Everybody was friendly, the guy at Starbucks even offered to grind up any kind of coffee I wanted. Overall a great day, can't wait to go back!

Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate it. I'm looking forward to it. I'm a teacher, and I have a long weekend off. I just found out after all these years that there's a mall close to KI, so I may go there for a little while if its raining. Thanks again! Johnny

I'm heading to PKI tomorrow. It shows rain in the morning...if it does rain, will they usually just open the rides after it rains, or when they shut them down are they down for good?

Never noticed either way. Thats funny. I was going to write something about Viking Fury. It seems like the one ride that is never mentioned. I think its awesome how its the only ride left from when KI always used to put rides over water. I always feel like I step back in time on VF, especially with that and Festhaus about all there is to Oktoberfest. I am surprised they have let VF survive this long, honestly. I'm glad they have, though.

I long for, on a warm sunny day, walking through the turnstyles, hearing the music, and seeing the fountains and the tower. Thats my favorite part.

That would be a neat coaster for KI. Have it go all through the park. Start in RT, over swan lake, around the tower, maybe through AZ, and back...The Beast II, perhaps?

I wasn't trying to say anything bad about the ride. I never even got to see it. I was just going on what I've read about how it was down a lot, and they removed it after only 3 seasons or so, and the company had to replace it with The Vortex. Interesting video, though...would love to see more like it...

That was awesome! I'm surprised they got it to run long enough to get the video. Kings Island was ahead of their time, for sure. I love how the video starts out like an old horror movie. They need to do some of that again. Does Kings Island not look different in that video? All grass and trees!!

First of all, I would pack Wings diner with hundreds of pounds of explosives, and blow it up on opening day, for all to see. Second, I would REALLY like to see something done around the lake across from LaRosa's (is that swan lake?). That seems like such a neat, almost mysterious area of the park that is so underutilized. When you see old pics of PKI, it seemed like all the rides were over water. I'd like to see some of that again. I would also like to see Paramount Story changed to PKI's story with lots of old pics of PKI from years past. Also have all over the park a sort of monument that would show what had been there in past years. I think also for one of PKI's anniversaries they should have a parade on Int'l Street like they had on opening day in '72 with a few members of the Brady Bunch show on hand to kind of re-dedicate the park. Overall, I want to see PKI advance into the future by acknowledging its awesome past.

Wow, thanks!!

Just wondering a few things about the new resort next to PKI (Great Wolf Lodge?) When will it open? Is it actually part of PKI? Indoor water park? Is it also going to be like a hotel where you can stay at during the summer, and shuttle to the park? Thanks for any info!

I've had this idea that I think would be really neat. I think it would be very interesting to somehow create an online PKI map that would show changes to the park over time. For example, you would click on an area of PKI, and it would show what was initially there, and what is there now. It would be sort of a visual history of the various areas of the park. It could also be animated. Start with what was there in 1972, and do a time-lapse of the changes of the park each year. It would not have to have super detailed pics, just like an outline of what is/was there. Does this make any sense?

I know its early...but last year the countdown to opening day in the spring got me through a lot of crappy Ohio weather days.....I hope we can have it again! Thanks for a great site!

^Yes, it was. Good food, good service, really cool view.

I definitely don't consider myself a PKI expert, just a fan. But, if I had to guess, I would say that somewhere along the line, years ago, that for whatever reason, PKI management really let the upkeep of the park go for too long, and it is just taking years to get a majority of the stuff taken care of. For some reason, money was going somewhere other than into the park. My main concern is that PKI keeps looking to the future so that we always have it!!