TombRaiderFTW

I'd always thought that was the old on-ride photo building for Tomb Raider.

^ That's a revenue chart... also essentially known as profit. If the largeness of the Cedar Point slice indicates more fun, then the only reason Cedar Point is more fun than the rest is because you helped make it that way by purchasing admission/food/whatever.

I think hybrids with inversions (which is what I consider Outlaw Run, etc. to be, though that's for a different discussion) are going to take off, as their popularity seems to be increasing. New Texas Giant, though inversionless, seems to be a huge hit, and the RMC's for 2013 look to continue the trend. As far as traditional wooden coasters go, the trend over the past decade and a half seems to be delivering intense rides with low maintenance costs/reducing maintenance costs on present installations without significantly altering the ride experience. That's why we've seen trains with several single-bench cars (i.e. Millennium Flyers and Timberliners) make their appearance, as well as the creation of Intamin's prefabricated wooden coaster track. I couldn't guess what the next step will be in that direction, but with the way things are going, it should be quite impressive.

Do they take the table away in Eerie Estate after the meal, or do they leave it up?

The Paramount Story/"Story Area" is now called Tower Gardens. If you drew a triangle with Viking Fury, the Eiffel Tower, and Grand Carousel at the points, Tower Gardens would pretty much be inside that triangle. It's a forested path area with several benches, lamps and fences throughout. There's even a waterfall, though I don't think I've ever seen water fall from it. It's really there to create atmosphere and serve as a relaxing area, but it's gone somewhat uncared for (in terms of preserving the rockwork facades, etc.) for several years now. Cedar Fair decided to make it a designated smoking area a season or two ago. For the rest of this season, it's where CornStalkers will be located, and thus access to the area will only be during Haunt, save for what you may be able to see from the entrance and exit.

^ No, he's talking about the "half off admission" perk in FUNPerks when you reach two stars. I have to admit that I've had the same reservation, too. Why do you get a great deal under one star and then get a ticket deal that's not as good under two? I wonder if they're changing things as the season goes along.

I'm so tempted to eat what sounds like an excellent meal inside what used to be my favorite ride of all time... But, I could also eat at any upscale restaurant I've been to (i.e., where one dish is $35) for less. As much as it hurts me to say it, that's not affordable for me right now.

Nope, that's just a Haunt prop. It was there last year, too.

^ Okay, that makes a lot more sense, particularly if they had actors incorporated with the theme like that. I've never seen such a thing during that house (save for the electric chair, whose context is confusing without seeing the "abused" actor beforehand), so I didn't know that was the point. Thanks rotag!

"LESS FILLING!" TASTES GREAT ( Couldn't resist) LESS FILLING! A couple Haunts ago (I want to say 2010), I once saw a fight break out outside Flight of Fear between some thug-ish types towards the end of the evening. Nothing too severe went down, as KI security quickly stepped in, but it was escalating enough that the participants were running into people all over the place in the midway. Really, that's the most fighting I've ever seen in a park.

^ You're right--I forgot about the slow opening last year.

In previous years (meaning since 2008), the guests were usually allowed through the turnstiles onto IS at the time of opening, and no sooner. The Wall of Monsters rushed the crowds waiting in front of the metal detectors, the crowds filed through the metal detectors, and the evening was officially started. How that will work without the detectors remains to be seen. In the past, the Wall of Monsters started by flinging open the garage door-like doors on the front gate, but I wonder if, assuming the crowds are allowed to near the doors, that is considered a safety hazard. Also, it's just hit me that I'll be seeing that whole thing again on Friday. Man, I can't wait.

^ No insult at all. Truthfully, I hadn't much thought about the possibilities. That sort of system isn't something I've studied before.

I always figured the reason the cabin shot to the end of the tower was Never knew Space Spiral had a counterweight! (Learn something new every day.)

Replace the cowbell-playing, spandex-clad men with men in inmates' costumes. Now, fill the room completely with thick fog, play a really annoying siren constantly, and turn on approximately 6,205,829 strobe lights at once. I wouldn't be surprised if someone announced that more people left that haunt of a haunt through the emergency exits than the actual exit, because that was miserable. I'm not epileptic, but it messed with my head (and not in the "good" way) and made me sick. EDIT: Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure Death Row's siren is used for Mysteria, at least as of 2011. Rather than just blaring the darn thing, they just "pulse" it--let it rise to a certain pitch, then stop. Better yet, it isn't constant.

Just want to put this on everyone's radar: WDTN (Channel 2 in Dayton) just announced they will feature a segment on Halloween Haunt on Monday night's news. It's a Jim Bucher segment, which means we should hopefully get some mildly interesting shots and information (with plenty of talking in the background, too. ) Wonder if they'll give any sort of preview of Madame Fatale's Cavern of Terror.

Favorite: Holiday Horror. I can't even give reasons why I like it as much as I do, except for maybe the experiences I've had in it. What makes even less sense: New Years' Day was often tied with Thanksgiving as my favorite part of it, even though New Years' was easily the weakest holiday of the mix. Least favorite: prepare the flames, because I don't care much for Massacre Manor. I know! I'm sorry. It's not a bad house, but it feels themeless to me. The "progressive pictures of the psychopathic girl" thing doesn't do it for me, because I don't understand what that's supposed to symbolize. They get progressively more intense as the house progresses, but nothing happens because of it. It would be one thing if the scare intensity increased with the intensity of the pictures, but it never has when I've been through it. It's just a house facade with spontaneous gore and a simulated electric chair at the end. I don't get it (though it's been known to have some of the best scareactors in it.) Even less endearing of me to you guys: even though it's the obvious choice for least favorite, I kind of like Mysteria. I don't understand what the theme of that was supposed to be last year, but it grew on me a little because it was so freaking weird. Plus, it wasn't Death Row, which is always to its benefit. Favorite ride: The Beast. Heaven knows I love me some Adventure Express, particularly at night, but it's not what I get excited about at Haunt. The theme of The Beast just fits Haunt, and the fog machines they added last year were pretty stinking cool. Beast is another beast entirely during Haunt, and it's something you can't experience any other night of the season.

I actually think they'll more than likely run the train for Howl-O-Palooza, if the past is any indication. In prior years the train made regular runs around the track on Sundays (and Saturday mornings/afternoons, I assume) without stopping at Boomerang Bay/Soak City. Tombstone Terror-tory, at least in previous years, never really affected the train much; the trail's contained to the exit of White Water Canyon. Year-round, the most you'll see of TT is the "station" it stops at for the haunt, which is a wooden platform with regular old chain-link fencing running the perimeter. Any other non-Haunt day of the year, it passes by that "station" like it's not even there. I'd bet they'll still run the train; it'll just stop at Soak City rather than making the full circuit in previous years. Maybe Don can confirm this?

^ Now now, let's be optimistic. For all you know, they're bringing a Peter Pan-themed ride to Carowinds next year. Yes, I think I will start that rumor. Aquatrax themed to Peter Pan coming to Carowinds in 2013!

TTD-120-420: Glad to see the park's taking advantage of the space it has in Soak City. I've always wondered why it's never been used for either Halloween event in the past.

Thanks for that explanation, KI-ORIG-EMP. I've seen that gravel road (meaning the one jdawg mentioned, there behind Great Wolf and running parallel to Kings High School) many times, but I've never gone down it for fear that I'd end up trespassing and getting in trouble with the park. I know it used to be part of the campgrounds, too, but I never knew it had to do with Lion County Safari--I didn't think it went back that far. LCS must have been huge.

Because they just knocked it over this morning, that's why.

How is that even a record?! Next year's record breaking announcement: we're the world's largest park named Kings Dominion! Regardless, that video looked decent. Seems like KD's kids' area's about to look much more like KI's.

Yup. Definitely feeling nostalgic. That was almost sad to watch. Ironically, that's also the highest I've ever seen Space Spiral's cabin on the tower or the most I've ever seen the cabin move. Go figure.

I've noticed that several rumors start as enthusiast speculation that is taken as fact. Take a look at old posts on sites like PointBuzz, and you'll see that Maverick was all but confirmed as an Intamin Aquatrax back in 2006. Also, did you guys hear they're going to extend Flight Deck and give it floorless Vekoma trains?