Creed Bratton

One answer: guests. When guests bring their whole house to the park and to the ride platforms, they have to place them in bins which take up dispatch time. When guests argue with a ride associate that they are safe but the computer won't dispatch the coaster, that holds up hourly capacity. When guests can't decide whether or not they are too scared to ride, that holds it up. Etc. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There is one in Gatlinburg, one opening at Öber (I think that's how it spelled) in Pigeon Forge in the summer. Goats on The Roof is a good one, just about 1/2 mile from Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sweet! What a great weekend we have ahead!

Thanks! Very excited for the event!

Congratulations!

Having just visited Dollywood....where I expected crowds to be light, even had input from 2 employees that are friends saying that crowds would be low, it was still busy. Their "TimeSavers" aka Q2Q aka Q-Bots....are really cheap compared to other parks ($25 per person), easy to use and make riding the big attractions easier. The one thing I enjoy is that if a ride goes down it will tell you that it is down and it will also tell you it's up and ready for you to ride it. I wish we would have spent 2 days at the park...it's not a huge park, but a lot to do there. If you get to, ride the alpine coasters in the area, tons of fun!

I have a dumb question about the event. I registered right before I left for vacation and have since forgot. are we getting t-shirts for the event with our registration fee?

I still get nervous on each coaster I'm on.....I'm not necessarily afraid or have a fear, but the height is what gets me. The honest way that I got over that fear was climbing the lift of Diamondback when I worked at Kings Island.

You know, I'm a big fan....I can't count the number of times I've watched it. Such a huge supporter of you sir! -The guy who was on screen a few times under the name of Chris.

You must have missed the point of my post where I said I wasn't calling you out specifically. Having trained upwards of 100 or so employees/associates on POS systems....you can tell someone how to use the system in a "training simulation" how to do the job until your blue in the face, they still most likely won't get the experience/training they need until they are actually in front of customers. The rough thing about training to actually provide good customer service is that you either sink or swim....to me, as a previous supervisor and store manager the supervisor did nothing wrong by having his/her trainee continuing to serve the guests, no matter the speed. The supervisor may have seen where the development of the associate was and could possibly move them to a non POS position. I apologize again if you think I was specifically calling you out, because I wasn't. Those who know me here, know that I'm not about being empowered but educating and looking at the whole picture.

What if it was?!? I bet you've never been at a fast food joint with a person on the register who that day was their first or second day. Of all things to complain about, a cashier still learning the register going slow. Okay, how about the go fast and say your total is $52.78 for a three way coney, would you be okay with that? Maybe they have a learning disability but can function well and take a few days to learn a concept that many see as simple. At least many here have the ability to go to the park whenever they want and to eat at Skyline on International Street, where some others a snails pace employee is the least of their worries. I get it, it's frustrating to be in line forever and to be rung out by a trainee, but we should be looking at the world from their point of view before we criticize. Sorry to dtk1378, not calling you out specifically. I've seen a lot of "issues" on opening days from all parks from enthusiasts and non, to which I feel sorry for the park employees. I would hate to be treated/belittled (in person or online) like all the stuff I've seen, especially the first two days or weekends I've been on the job as a park employee. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No it didn't, but there is still a chance and I actually pretty upset that not only my safety but my friends safety could have been compromised if a failure would have occurred. If you want to continue trying to prove how his practices were right, feel free to PM me. Back to the Thunderbird experience....... I may have to look over my list and see where it falls.....it ended up being my 171st coaster!

You do realize that others were instructed to use the camera mounts that the park provided that were zip tied, clamped down like 4/5 different ways and then pinned to the mount where it has to be screwed in vs electrical tape. Not butt hurt at all, concerned for safety. No matter how you try to justify it, taping a camera to a roller coaster train or someone's hand using electrical tape is not a safe practice. To be in every station when he did so, taping a camera to the trains, holding up dispatch to me is not okay, nor safe. Especially when there are signs in the station that state holding a camera/using a camera is not allowed. If I have to follow the rules in the park, why doesn't he? His reach and his ability to get people to a park shouldn't be justification on safety. Not to mention, Gator and I met a guy who won a contest, a general public kind of dude, who even mentioned to me about how he couldn't believe this guy was taping a camera to the ride and his hand. Said he hoped it didn't fall off and hit someone. So yeah, not okay. Amen! I don't know if it was electrical or gaffers tape, but it seemed to be the look of electrical tape based on my usage of it. My point really is this, no matter who it is, their method of capturing video/pictures needs to be safe. The practice I saw, in my honest opinion was not safe. Yes, he did capture video without incident, but I'd be willing to bet that the percentage of possible failure would be much higher than using the park provided mounts. Reviews of Thunderbird = amazing. I mean it's not my #1 coaster but it's very good. The launch, absolutely phenomenal. The "show" throws you off so you can never really know IMO when it's going to happen. It is a forceful launch initially taking off but 1/4 of the way down the launch track it's like you are just floating down fast! The course is great, I think it could use a few more elements. The fly through barn and the roll above it....oh my gosh! Love it! I would have to say the best seat is them all! Haha, I rode in each seat, plus got 8 more rides in. I really like the front left outside and back right outside. I talked with Will's daughters and they said the front is the best during the day and back is the best at night. It is a great addition to Holiday World! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Terp you'll be happy to know on the way to Holiday World in Louisville, Gator and I saw a KK billboard! ........... Flanked by two Holiday World billboards. Edit: just saw an advertisement on a Louisville transit bus! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry for the double post. Some of us were told they turned the trims off for coaster enthusiasts today and will for Holiwood Nights because the general public can't handle the ride without them on, generally. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Despite his "good povs" using electrical tape is not full proof with safety. The park was going out of their way to accommodate him, and even asked my group to hold off on using the go-pro we brought for them to mount to let the head of the club go ahead and get the shots he needed. To which he proceeded to mount the cameras to the front of the train with electrical tape. Who's to say the tape won't fail on the Immelmann and fall on someone on the midway?!? The park and he would be in some trouble. I have no issues what so ever with people posting POVs as long as it's allowed by the park and doing so safely. But I highly doubt electrical tape is the safest method for securing a camera on a ride. Had I known that practice would have been accepted, I could have used my camera on Thunderbird, Legend, Voyage or Raven and taped it to my hand. Also, because he has such a "reach" doesn't mean it's right or justifiable. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh my gosh! Thunderbird is a good ride. It's typical wing coaster that is kinda short, but overall good! The launch is phenomenal! Really enjoyed the theming of the ride. The event was good, however was quite frustrated that they let a certain coaster club owner/head honcho, ride all of the coasters (minus Howler) with a camera electrical taped to his hand and then electrical taping cameras to the ride chassis. Yes electrical tape. And the rides were delayed because of this. Now if it were an actual media group such as CBS, ABC, etc. I wouldn't mind but the confirmations said a go pro could be brought to be secured to Thunderbird by the staff..... /Rant Over Really enjoyed my day! Can't wait to head back! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's essentially what it is. I love the little park though. So unique. Where else can you ride a good wooden coaster, exit the ride platform and see a Musik Express half torn down?!? In all seriousness though, the rides that do run are good. I hope to make it back this year just because of it's experience. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm leaving in 3 hours to head over to Santa Claus! I have a 2 hour drive to the Cinci area where I'll meet up with Gator, get my Cedar Fair Platinum Pass processed at Kings Island, then will raise some Cane for dinner in Louisville, to complete the day by sleeping at Santa's Lodge! Stoked to ride Thunderbird tomorrow! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As far as the whole Diamond"stack" comments, realize this is literally the first day that most of the crew has been on the ride with actual guests on it and not in "training mode." Know that I'm not making excuses, but I'm being realistic. Diamondback is more noticeable IMHO because the popularity.

As I've told you already, yes.

I'd like to see something like Wonder Mountain's Guardian. Obviously with a theme related more toward Kings Island. Ride wise, I'd rather it be a roller coaster type experience. I do enjoy the fact that these rides could run more than one theme in a day...during the day it could be something fun, but in the evenings it could be something scary such as the Zombie experience at Canada's Wonderland.

There is a Woodstock Image found here: http://mscourtsieannb.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-week-in-review.html I heard rumbling at some point that the costume is only used on occasion, not in the normal character rotation, as the size of the costume is smaller than the others, so they have to have a short character/entertainment associate available to have it out and it doesn't have the best ventilation system. I have also wondered where Franklin has been....only have seen him a few times.

It's selected as recently updated.

Depends on which members you are talking about....this is the first Coasterstock...so not real sure how busy it will be...