KIfan1980

Thanks for posting and it is nice to see Kings Island making some changes to their website. Now, if they could just do something really unusual and IMPROVE it (I don't know, they could even use the templates from cedarpoint.com - I think they probably own the rights to those). I'm just not at all impressed with the KI website and minor changes like this do nothing for me - I mean how old is The Beast video anyway (it has no seatbelts and skid trims), could they not have sound as part of the videos, how about a POV video (cedarpoint.com has multiple videos of many coasters along with wallpapers, photo galleries). It really wouldn't take that much effort or too many nickels to do.

I hate that elephant - used to ride the flume a lot more before it was added. My kid works as a pretty good shield sometimes though. It a water ride your suppose to get wet Really - I rode it for many many years without getting wet. A little splash - maybe, but not wet.

Things don't go according to plan every time. Put in factors like: -People switching rows -People not entering the train when they're supposed to -People waiting for friends in other rows; trying to ballance things out themselves Here's what I always say. The single rider line NEVER has an estimated wait time. But the main line does. If using the single rider line is too much of a hassle for you; then use the main line. If the main line is too long for your taste, then go to a different ride or attraction. Every line has an estimated wait - just because it doesn't have an "official" and therefore often inaccurate board at the entrance doesn't mean anything. I look at the length of the SRL when I'm sitting on the brake run or walking back from The Beast and make my choice. What was frustrating to me the other night was two things: - The ride op was not following the standard approach to assigning seats that is used on the ride which caused a change in wait time - The ride op was causing many of the behaviors that you point out (switching, not entering, waiting) because many groups don't understand the Single Rider approach and wouldn't pair up when paired up by the separator. So it's ok for you because it's only you and your sister, but four people is too many? How about a group of three - are they allowed only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday? Single Rider - NO groups.

Not only that, they could charge more to park in these spaces. I think we're on to something now.

The same could be said for the park and the commercial. And it's working....

The reality is that the do know what they are doing. They are following a strategy that is carefully thought out and that they believe will result in improved results for themselves and the CF unit holders. It has worked for them in the past and they believe it will continue to work. The problem is that so many things have changed - the economic situation and its impact on customers, the availability/ability to refinance debt, the overall size of CF, and much more. Whether the strategy is going to work out long term is undefined.

I hate that elephant - used to ride the flume a lot more before it was added. My kid works as a pretty good shield sometimes though.

That was me. Ha. Were you the person behind me in line? Yes, I guess I was behind you in line - I knew I should have asked.

I have two family members that are on special diets due to food allergies and I HATE having to take food into the park when I want to eat a meal there. At some parks (Cedar Point, Holiday World, and Silver Dollar City for example) I wouldn't have to because these parks have up to date and accurate allergy information available on their website and in the case of Silver Dollar City, knowledgable associates at food service establishments. Kings Island on the other hand has nothing on their web site, associates who tell you to visit guest services, and a Food Allergy binder in Guest Services that has the following on the cover "2006 Season" Information. You can imagine how much confidence this inspires. And yes, I did point this out to the nice associate and supervisor in Guest Services when I first noticed it in May. I also sent an email with a request for allergy information and mentioned the binder to Guest Services in May (got no response). Finally, I decided to check on the binder twice in June - it was unchanged both times (I mentioned it both times) before I finally gave up. I guess Cedar Fair can live without any nickels that I'd have liked to spend on food.

All in fun Kat! In line for The Beast on Saturday night there were some kids who were joking around and laughing about people who always put a "The" in front a a ride name. I had to laugh when one of them said something like: Would you call it THE Little Bill's Giggle Coaster? Then don't call it The Vortex or The Adventure Express. Considering the conversation, I almost asked if any of them were KIC members.

I saw that last week and thought 'I know many people who will enjoy that' There were also a couple of normal sized basketballs in the ravine area under FD

Emphasis Added - Unfortunately, this is not where I'd go if I was looking for accurate information which is a shame because I'd really hoped that by now Cedar Fair would have upgraded it to be more like the Cedar Point website. Specifically though, hourly capacity as listed on the KI website is a major FAIL! Examples: - Firehawk: 2 trains = 800pph according to the website. @24 people per train = 1 train every 1.8 minutes. While this might be technically feasible, considering there are often 2 trains in the station and the ride is about 2.5 minutes long. FAIL - Son of Beast: 1000pph according to the website. @24 people per train = 1 train every 1.4 minutes. Since the ride is about 3.0 minutes long and there are two trains, not even technically feasible. FAIL - The Beast: 1200pph according to the website. @36 people per train = 1 train every 1.8 minutes. This may have been technically feasible with a previous blocking scheme (when the ride didn't take almost 5 minutes), but since there is always at least one train on the brake run/in the station. FAIL I can't speak to the others rides as I've never timed them myself like I have these three. For reference, Diamondback would have to be at a train every 1.2 minutes to get to 1600pph.

Before I posted this topic, I actually did a search and came across a post (from a long time ago) where you listed your club memberships. It was quite an impressive list Big Surprise . I bet Monroe is one of those that know what OABA is. My guess was for "Organization of American B&M Addicts", but sadly that's not it. Seriously though - I appreciate the input from all

I don't think it is possible to lean out so far as to get your left arm beyond the spray. You'd have to be as tall as Tom(Random #'s), have a double jointed back, and not be properly restrained. What can actually happen is if you lean over too far (i.e. your body/head is in a horizontal position parallel to the ground) and you also bend back toward the spray - your leading arm (in this case your left) gets too low and too far forward to get hit with the water, but your trailing arm gets soaked.

I've considered joining a coaster club a couple of times over the past few years, but haven't actaully plunked down the $20 to $60 membership fee so far. What I'm looking for is input from members and/or past members: - What coaster club you are/were a member of - Do you feel there is value to the membership, or why you are no longer a member. I obviously recognize the value of being able to participate in RWW/Coaster Mania type special events, so am more interested in any club specific items (both GOCC and ACE could get me into Coaster Mania). I appreciate your input, but will request that you not respond if you are not/never have been a member and your opinion is along the lines of 'ACErs are a bunch of bald, fat, fanny-pack carrying know-it-all's'

Any row during the Fireworks is pretty cool, but so is a midnight ride in row 16.

Yep, this is exactly how I would expect it to be done (and has been done). Actually, my fear was that it was some sort of "test" to see if they could effectively fill trains without a Single Rider Line - if it was, it failed, but after my conversation with the supervisor I don't think it was.

Really - Big Bad Wolf has a 42" height limit when Flight Deck has a 48". There really is no consistency in the amusement industry when you cross state lines.

I was a witness at the time. She wasn't tall enough - and I hope (as I assume they will) that his complaints fall on deaf ears at Guest Relations where they could put here up on the measurement stand they have in there! I feel bad for the girl - and not about the ride.

With all the rain earlier and the open til midnight Saturday hours, I looked at the webcam at 7:30pm and decided to hit up the park for some laps on DB. While I had fun and still got a bunch of rides in, the Single Rider Line was not very helpful due to an unusual seperation approach. The seat assigner was filling the train out of the main queue from both ends, sending odd numbered groups to the front and even numbered groups to the back. The unusual thing was that he was matching up odd numbered groups from the main queue without releasing single riders. An example of how this worked: Groups: Assigned to - 4: Two in 16, Two in 15 - 3: Two in 2, One in 3 - 6: Two in 14, Two in 13, Two in 12 - 2: Row 11 - 5: One in 3, Two in 4, Two in 5 - 4: Two in 10, Two in 9 Single riders were only released if a large group came and there was only one row left (2 single riders were released together) or if the odd numbered group came as the train was filled. While this is a potential way to use the single rider line, the approach had a big unintended consequence - there were a BUNCH of empty seats on trains (many groups got confused and waited for the next train to ride together, rows were just flat missed, odd groups were never paired up). This also led to a very long wait in the SRL. I should also mention three positive experiences as well though: - the supervisor I talked to about it seemed to genuinely care about my concern - the ride op who was doing this was also watching closely for line jumpers and actually removed many people who "appeared" in the SRL when he knew it was closed - a couple of ride ops remained calm and respectful when a dad got heated (trying to intimidate, pointing fingers in their faces) for not letting his 53 1/2" tall daughter ride

And not only you

Unfortunately, I think many (definetely not all but a growing number) of the Nick U ride ops need a refresher in a few areas based upon my last couple of trips. I will note that Safety has NOT been the problem - but excitement (they are part of the experience for the kids), speed (I joke not that Diamondback train dispatch was faster last night than the exchange at Nick Jr Drivers), and common sense (if the line for a ride like Blue's skidoo is long - double the kids up, and my favorite example when there are only 4 people in line for Timmy's Air Tours - don't "assign" us to row 2 when my kid wanted to ride in the back. I mean seriously, assigning rows on Timmy's!)

I also remember the roar you could hear during testing and earlier in the season, but agree with folks that something is different now. I think the roar is a much deeper and more distinctive sound that can be heard more places in the park. I can't believe anything on the ride has changed (except for initial wear-in) to cause this, so would have to assume there is an environmental change (perhaps the cool temps we had after the heat up combined with summer humidity levels - although I really have no idea)

Now you've got my mouth watering! Although I have to split my lunches when in California between In-N-Out and Baja Fresh

You know, I read this and thought to myself, how many posts until Terpy responds "Yes"