shark6495

Amazing what a few minor changes do for a sentence...

I understand that sometimes lodging a complaint is not easy, but like you found out, once you get through the chains of command it worked out well for you... and some companies may follow up on FB complaints, Im sure action is quicker in other forms...

I dont know why but I love the merely merrily combo.. such alliteration.... But even if its just to stir the pot, its a vested interest to just upset people who enjoy the park possibly? merely merrily mashing the massive metal container...

Something they taught us in Research Methods was: Consider the Source. I read anything and everything (this goes for my job and my hobbies), but the big thing to remember is who is financing the company who is providing the information. The basic facts of the story will remain the same but the details and "sway" words will be different based on the motive behind the company. For example, who would give a fair evaluation of a new Disney ride? NBC or ABC? Neither since they both have stakes in the company for different reasons..... But overall, a forum website such as KIC or KIE can be a great place for information, but ultimately the source of the information comes from people who have some sort of vested interest in the parks (either good or bad), and if they didnt have interest, they would not be on here...

I think there is a fine line between "complaining" and "critiquing" especially a big corporation such as FUN or SIXX, etc. Truth be told, companies look to make the park appeal to the largest amount of people with the most money to spend. If they listened to the enthusiasts or even just the people who love their home parks decisions would be made at the local level. Very rarely are decisions made at the local level for these parks. If it costs a lot of money, then its a guarantee that the decision is made in a board room, not a park conference room (unless said meeting happened in the park). There is nothing wrong with being proactive with a company. If KI needs more family sit down theater shows, then the responsibility falls directly on the customer base to tell the company what they want. In this scenario the customers can be the enthusiasts or normal patrons. When it comes to saving old rides from being discarded like trash, the enthusiast crowd should become more vocal. But ultimately it comes down to apathy. If the general public is okay letting XY and Z happen then it does. When a burger is served cold and no one complains then the company wont make the steps to fix it. Complaining or critiquing a company online is just part of the apathy. Doing it online may or may not get noticed. Odds are it will just get lost in the drowning voices of people complaining and critiques go unheard.

wow! A great article with great reader comments.... I think it is interesting to read about the demise of the park. It does make you look at CF just a bit different. However, I loved the Online Coaster Enthusiasts Model.... is this what happens here at KIC? We have a tendency to not be too harsh unless its a ride that the company has already crushed.... Plus I love this quote I never realized CF owned most if not all of the Ohio and Michigan Parks.... So much for competition to make the parks better. Now we rely on the mother company to make decisions to make all the parks better with a moment of Sameness (WindSeeker?) and why not here are some photos I took as I drove around the park about 2 years ago (nothing like in the article) www.flickr.com/photos/49728734@N02/

Not necessarily. The park always had a "buy one get one free" sale on passes towards the end of the season, and they had multiple levels of season passes. Still, you would think with that many passes being sold that they'd have money to pay bills and make other improvements to the park. Why do you think they would be able to pay the bills with that? Obviously they couldnt if they closed. If the water was turned off, then it was likely not paid. I think we are all underestimating how much the bills at the park would cost. While the passes sold would give the mark just under a million dollars, thats for the year, not a month. If the park only made 1 M then thats just a little more than $83K per month. If the park has to pay creditors (people that financed the park), bills (electric, water), Maintence (paint, fixing of rides), crew (people have to do the work and run the rides), training, goods (shirts, food, etc), and other bills. All is said, does not seem like enough money. What I meant is that they didn't necessarily make $792k off the season passes. Sorry for the confusion. Yea no biggie, I for some reason read that as "They were pocketing the money" not "they probably didnt make that much" ... so my bad too!

I dont ever remember any lateral "sway" in the ride. I do remember the ride being rough and being thrown back and forth, side to side. The construction of the track is sound enough to keep the ride from collapsing (except for the time when it collapsed during construction, and the broken beam...)

I was willing to think that this would have worked out well. Now, it looks like a mess. Watching what happened up in Geuga Lake, the closing of the Beach, and now hearing most of the roller coasters may not be salvaged, then well why would anyone want to get involved with this? Water parks seem like a very expensive business venture, a bad deal with the state, and with multiple other parks near by, this seems to be a money pit...

Not necessarily. The park always had a "buy one get one free" sale on passes towards the end of the season, and they had multiple levels of season passes. Still, you would think with that many passes being sold that they'd have money to pay bills and make other improvements to the park. Why do you think they would be able to pay the bills with that? Obviously they couldnt if they closed. If the water was turned off, then it was likely not paid. I think we are all underestimating how much the bills at the park would cost. While the passes sold would give the mark just under a million dollars, thats for the year, not a month. If the park only made 1 M then thats just a little more than $83K per month. If the park has to pay creditors (people that financed the park), bills (electric, water), Maintence (paint, fixing of rides), crew (people have to do the work and run the rides), training, goods (shirts, food, etc), and other bills. All is said, does not seem like enough money. The park would be a great addition, if KI did not just pour a bunch of money to upgrading their own water park, if the area did not already have an indoor water park/resort just down the road. The Beach was a valuable asset a few years (20) ago, but now the time for the park has passed. It is, unfortunately, in an area that has 2 other water parks, and it went the way other water parks and parks have gone. Plus why would FUN purchase the Beach to build a resort when there is a resort directly in their front lawn. It would look very bad for the park (Hey! Stay at the KI resort located on a sprawling water park, just a 10 minute bus trip from the park. Please ignore the Resort park with indoor water park, located directly in front of the park.)

Good Yellow, wow thanks for that. My wife and I were thinking of doing only a 2 or 3 day park adventure (so a total of 5 days). The idea was to either hit both universal and islands of adventure or to hit 2 or 3 of the disney parks. After reading your detailed post I think you may have answered my question for me. I had not been to either disney or Universal in over 10 years and I forgot how massive the Disney parks are. We dont have 6 or 7 days to fully enjoy the Disney trip. I do like the bonuses for staying in a Universal hotel (even if its more expensive). Where is Mythos?

^^ fill out a comment card and deliver it to management!!! Plus we all need to remember that this is a soft introduction meaning that some issues may happen (for example some places may not be hooked up/broken/trained/etc)

My wife and I are looking at a quick trip to FLA in Aug. We are looking at either Universal or Disney. At either park we will be staying in/near the park and most likely taking part in the parks offer of food (unlimited food at select locations for universal or the Disney Deluxe Dining plan). So who is THE person to talk to on here for disney and/or Universal. I have some questions about the best places to get vacation deals (through the park, AAA, piece meal, etc), whats worth it to do/not to do, which park is the best, etc. I have been reading trip reports and such and we dont know where to go for what. Hope this makes sense. Thanks

I mean I wenty into a Frisch's a few weeks back and the sandwhich I had, had mold on it(just a very small spot on the crust). Its not like I just ate the burger around the mold. I asked the waitress for a new sandwhich and pointed out my problem. No sooner than 2 mins later the manager came out and said hey Im sorry, heres a free dinner, etc.... but if I never said anything they wouldnt know. But if many people get cold burgers, then yes its a problem...

its okay I can go by just shark... no need to be formal

well when Jurassic Park had its first tour, the T-Rex broke free and ate a tourist, Disney's hall of presidents didnt work the first time, and as such the loyalty program has a few kinks as well... lol

well when its #1 fan site is openly discussing how its cheaper and easier to drive down the road to go to skyline then come back it has to be noticed, if you are person who cares about such things and not record breaking thrill rides.... food improvements was just 1 step, this loyalty program seems to me that the park is really understanding that people choose to spend their money in the park and can choose to spend it elsewhere if they feel the package is not worth the price...

terp, just to play the other side of this, is it possible that the woman most involved in HW is keeping out of this for no other reason than to let her children make a name for themselves? The obvious way to look at this is that she does not see it as working and that is why she stayed away from it, but could it be she wants the kids to know failure/success on their own and is letting them do this on their own? Plus how can we know for sure that she is not secretly advising them on the side? Again just playing devils advocate...

while yes the picture people are very annoying, it takes no time to stop, smile, get your ticket, then throw it away. Im guessing they have to get a certain quota of pictures each day. I always stop for a picture, plus others wont stop me when I show em the lil ticket. Plus, in my experience, if they take a picture with their camera they may take a picture with yours. /rant I am liking all of these season pass perks..

^ kind of wonder if the track had the extra supports from the beginning if it would never of had the "crack".... I have been looking for a news video about SOB but I just cannot find it. It had a man talking about the crack and had an animation of the train going over the broken track... anyone else have this video saved somewhere? and if they do, I would appreciate them posting it...

while Im not sure if this is true or not but I had read/heard that the "mismatch" look of the track is because of something to do with the physics of the train and the weight. It was something about the way the force is spread out to be supported by all of the track and supports and not just wood directly below the cars...

Im not sure what is different considering I havent worked there long but I will say this...the employees feel valued and that makes all the difference in the world. I love my job and I know I go out of my way to make others happy just because I am. Its infectious...in a good way Usually a company that makes the employees feel appreciated expect the emplyees to do the same for the guests. And most times this happens. If the employees are not happy to be there then they will not go out of their way for the guests. While this may (and prob) is true, lets hope this enthusiasm continues all summer. If you like your job, then you will come to work being positive all summer long...

I could see the lost river idea, i have seen the mountain at another park, but i do not know where. The enclosed idea is not on the looks like for KI, maybe a congo adventure, yes but an enclosed one is a variable not likely taken. Busch Gardens had a water ride where you were going through the city of Pompei before dropping down

and I get that, but I look at this as all branding. Its like when a restaurant changes their fries. Its to get more butts in seats (or trains). Not a bad thing at all. Plus by telling people you are now a family orientated business and not just going for the thrill seekers then you are changing the direction of the company. It all starts with attitude and it can change the way a place is ran and percieved. But I still cant help to think that its just a shell game. We get a few changes but ultimately we get the same park but with a different attitude (so I guess its a big win). I hope, I make sense and I am not just rambling on...

my wife graduated from there in 06 and I am graduate from 08 (walked early so technically Dec 07)... Lived in Kelley, Finney, and the Townhouses.... loved and hated that college (sorry now university) but that place has a special spot in the middle of my heart and home.... worked at WMCO and MCTV for all my college days... man now I miss that place... haha good luck!