d-lo775

I've gotten 58 laps in during the last 2 days (Tuesday, Wednesday) and 78 total for the season, all without Fast Pass. I'm starting to enjoy it more and more with each ride I take, still not sure that it's my favorite GCI, but it's close.

It was $15 to replace a pass 7 years ago. If you renew your pass at the park, they will have your picture/ pass information stored in the system.

I let Coaster-Count.com decide for me how credits are counted, but even then there are some issues. They count racing, non mobius, coasters as separate credits, relocated coasters as 1 credit (like Chang/Green Lantern), but it does keep track of the different locations you've ridden each coaster. SLCs, Boomerangs, Batman inverts and other clones are counted separately. They also have what is called a strict count and another category considered a personal count. The personal count allows you, by using the site settings, to include Water, Powered, Alpine and other coasters you choose to count that don't exactly meet the criteria of a "regular" coaster (I have 2 powered, 1 water and 1 undefined coaster to give me 4 more credits to my personal count). I just now checked the site and they now have a category called even more, I have no idea what that includes, but it gives me 2 additional credits. I don't usually count "kiddie" coasters as credits, even though the website does, unless it's a coaster I rode when I was actually a child. I don't normally look to pad my count by riding coasters that have a lift hill height of 20 feet or less. Like several others have commented, it's all personal preference, count however you or in my case how an enthusiast site tells you. I was excited to break 100, 200 and 300 credits, but no one gave me an award or a prize for doing it. The only reason someone's count would matter to me is simply because it allows me know their "experience" level. If someone tells me Mystic Timbers is great and they've only been to 5 amusement parks and been on less than 50 coasters, I wouldn't take their opinion quite as serious as I would someone with 200 credits that has been to 30 different parks. Now is that logic flawless? NOPE!!!! Everyone has different things they like or dislike about a coaster. I've been to 55 parks and have 313 strict credits (by coaster count standards) but that doesn't mean I like all the same coasters as someone with similar stats to mine. For example I don't think Voyage at Holiday World or I-305 at Kings Dominion are great rides, they are more painful than enjoyable to me personally. I think most enthusiasts and maybe even the general public would disagree with my opinion. Generally though I would agree with most of the picks that I see on popular top 10/25 roller coaster rankings.

I've been on about 25 Vekoma coasters and with the exception of maybe 5, I would consider them all to be one and done coasters (credit only) for me. By one and done I mean once in my lifetime and that's it, forever. SLCs, Boomerangs and Ninja all in my bottom 10. Throw in a couple B&M and Togo Standups along with Mean Streak and SoB and that's enough bad memories to last me the rest of my life.

I've been on Prowler over 50 times and Mystic Timbers once, so my opinion is a bit one sided at this time. I love the one huge pop of air that Prowler provides in the ravine on the trip back to the station over anything on MT, but Mystic Timbers has more air overall. My first impression was that Mystic Timbers is on par with Prowler. I would say Mystic Timbers is just outside my top 5 wood coasters at this time. My top 5 would probably be: 1) Boulder Dash 2) El Toro 3) Phoenix 4) Shivering Timbers 5) Prowler I currently have 82 wood credits.

Best Amusement Park- Cedar Point Best Theme Park- Busch Gardens Williamsburg Best "New" Park- Knoebels Best Wood Coaster- El Toro, SFGA Best Steel Coaster- Millennium Force, Cedar Point Best Flat Ride- Skooter's Bumper Cars, Knoebels Best "New" Wood Coaster- Boulder Dash, Lake Compounce Best "New" Steel Coaster- Bizarro, SFNE Best Dark Ride- Harry Potter, IoA Best Kid's Area- Seuss Landing, IoA Best Live Entertainment- Dollywood Best Food- Poutine fries, Canada's Wonderland Best Cow Themed Ride- The Rodeo, SFA

I sure hope he's real or I have had the best imaginary friend for the last 4 years. I've have traveled over ten thousand miles with him on several road trips, from Canada to Florida and from New Jersey to Kansas and all points in between. I have rode over 100 different coasters with him, heck, he helped me increase my count by 60+ coasters in both 2010 and 2011. If not for him I would be lucky to have a coaster count of 100, instead I'm well over 200. I've ate at countless BBQ spots across the country with him, Oklahoma Joe's in KC still can't be matched. Maybe his name hasn't changed from the sign in 8 years because he has done it every year since it has been there. He did it on opening day at KI this year. I personally have seen him do it 10 different times at several different parks. Heck, I've seen him do it 3 times in 3 days once and 3 times in 2 days another time. If you need proof he exisit you can search my channel on YouTube. My user name is CincinnatiSniper or you can simply search "perfect 3 point challenge". I have videos of him doing it at Cedar Point, NBA City, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Tampa, and Six Flags America. None of them are very recent, but I haven't had the desire to travel much in the last year and it's a real pain trying to secure a video camera in your shorts pocket when you're on a coaster. If you need more proof that he actually exisit, he's a member of KIC. He only plays games one day a week a KI, because of prize limits. I would tell you the day and approximate time, but he doesn't care much for crowds watching him and he is very humble and modest guy. As incredible as he is at 3 point challenge and other games, it fails to compare with what a quality person he truly is.

I know of one that I find superior to KI, with better landscaping, ride selection and friendlier patrons. It's truly is a wondrous land for kids and parents, eh.

Dishonorable mention to Vortex at Carowinds and Iron Wolf at SFGAm, but the clear winner to me is Time Warp at Canada's Wonderland.

Maybe they will get a computer system that scans your Kings Island platinum pass without having to spend 20 minutes at guest relations. That would be a new record setting accomplishment for them. In my opinion, that would be out of this world, hence the rocket ship.

Best Amusement Park- #1 Cedar Point, #2 Six Flags Great Adventure, #3 Six Flags Over Georgia Best Theme Park-#1 Universal's Islands of Adventure. #2 Busch Gardens Williamsburg, #3 Busch Gardens Tampa Best Value- #1 Cedar Fair Platinum Pass, #2- Holiwood Nights, #3 Six Flags Season Pass Best Wood Coaster(s) (You can name just one, or make a "Top X" list)- #1 El Toro, #2 Shivering Timbers, #3 Prowler Best Steel Coaster(s) (Same thing as Wood)#1 Millennium Force, #2 Montu, #3 Behemoth Best Flatride- #1- Drop Tower (KD),#2- MaxAir (CP). #3 Shockwave (CW) Best Darkride- #1 Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, #2- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, #3 The Curse of Darkastle Best "New" Ride (New for you, does not have to be a brand-new ride)- #1 Shivering Timbers, #2 Behemoth, #3 Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit Best New Ride (Has to be a real, brand-new for 2011 ride)- #1 Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, #2 Cheetah Hunt, #3 WindSeeker (CP) Best Park Food- #1 Poutine Fries,(CW), #2 Boneless Buffalo Wings, (CP), #3 Green Beans (HW) Most Beautiful Park- #1 Busch Gardens Williamsburg, #2 Busch Gardens Tampa, #3 Dollywood Best Water Ride (Includes river rapids, splash rides, and waterslides etc etc)- #1 Skull Mountain (SFA), #2 Wildbeest, #3 Journey to Atlantis Best Waterpark- #1 Splashin' Safari, #2 Boomerang Bay (KI), #3 Soak City (CP) Best Park Staff- #1 Holiday World, #2 Dollywood, #3 Worlds of Fun Best Kids Area- #1 Planet Snoopy (CW), #2 Seuss Landing, #3 Planet Snoopy (KD) Best Park Shows- #1 Dollywood, (This is the only park that I watch shows at). Cleanest Park- #1 Holiday World, #2 Dollywood, #3 Busch Gardens Williamsburg Most Overrated Park- Kennywood Most Underrated Park- Six Flags America

True, but at the same time just because you live far away doesn't mean you're going to spend money at the park either. After spending money on gas, hotel, etc. (expenses the park doesn't see any money from) many people I know simply do not have the extra cash to spend. I don't live close to the parks I mentioned in my previous post, but I still have no desire to drop $4 on a soda or purchase a souvenir. If the park is worth remembering I don't need something sitting around my house to remind me of it. Of course, the park makes money. You don't stay in business for 40 years by losing money. When they do start losing money to an individual guest they do things like have prize limits and offer lower end prizes to cut back on their loses. Case in point. Why does KI only offer an itouch for a choice prize at 3 point. challenge, when almost every other park in the Cedar Fair chain offers an iPad? Because 4 different people were able to get 15 points last year at KI, a problem other parks don't have to worry about. This isn't a guess or an estimate either, as I myself have heard several games associates or managers at various parks tell my friend that he is the only person or that they've never had anyone accomplish that feat at the park in "X" amount of years. Why does KI have a prize limit of 2 jerseys per week or 1 choice prize a year while some parks have no or daily limits. Because they have certain pass holders that live in the area that could take them for hundreds, if not thousand, of dollars daily if they didn't. Its kind of like counting cards at a casino. It's a skill that's not illegal and not many people have, but if the casino is going to lose money they would prefer that you not play and go to the slot machines instead. I can't begin to tell you how many times we've been to park without prize limits the first time we've visited, but after my friend cleans out their inventory, you better believe there's a sign with limits on it during our next visit. I have watched numerous games managers at various parks rushing (and yes I do mean running or briskly jogging) to 3 point. challenge within 5-10 minutes after my friends starts playing to inform him that there are prize limits. I seriously doubt they would rush to the scene to tell me that I could lose an unlimited times if I were to start playing. My personal favorite is when they ask him to stop giving away stuffed animals and basketballs he has won because it discourages others from playing. How can you tell someone what to do with something you charged them for and they won fair and square? Don't ask KI why they do this on their facebook page or they will ban you....How dare someone ask a legitimate question....lol

The cheap pass price doesn't always work out for the park as they would hope. Take me for example. I've been to KI around 190 times in the last 3 years and I would seriously doubt that I've spent more than $50 total during that span of time. I live 3 miles from the park and seldom spend more than a couple of hours there at a time. I usually will go for ERT and leave around noon or I won't go over until after 7-8 at night during the summer and occasionally I may do both in the same day. I have no reason to eat while at the park since I live so close. I have no reasons to play games, because I have a friend who is the games department nightmare and he will always pick up anything I may want and refuses to take any cash from me. Even if I didn't know him I doubt I would play any games. Dinosaurs are of no interest to me. I know when the crowds are light, so no need to purchase a fast pass. The only things I can think of that I've purchase in the last 3 years is 2 on ride photos and that was because I had family members from out of town ride with me that hadn't ever or don't usually ride coasters. I have those pics now and have no reason to purchase any more in the future. I've done Xtreme Skyflyer twice and SlingShot three times in those 190 visits, but have never paid more than $5 to do either. I know I'm kind of in a rare situation, but not really. There's probably tens of thousands of people with passes like me who visit the park very regularly and have no reason to spend any extra cash while at the park. The population of Mason alone is 30,000 then take in to account all those from Lebanon, West Chester, Deerfield Township, etc. etc. that live within 10 miles of the park and that adds up to a lot of people visiting while not shelling out any extra cash once they've bought the pass. I do have a Platinum Pass and this year alone I've been to Cedar Point three times, Kings Dominion twice, Worlds of Fun twice, Canada's Wonderland twice and Michigan Adventure. Once again it's rare for me to spend more than a few hours at any of these parks because I've already ridden every coaster and most of the flats, at least the good ones, at all those parks already (exception M.A.). So it's just a matter of how many times I want to ride (insert coaster or flat here) at that particular park before I get bored and leave. The majority of the time I've been to these parks I'm with my above mentioned friend and if we get hungry while we are there, we just pick up a small snack (around or under $10, Boneless Wings @ CP and Pountine Fries @ CW) and split it between us and drink water to hold us over till we leave that park and head to the next park or drive back to the 'Nati. My friend will usually purchase a groupon for a restaurant that is along the way. Yes, it's really rare that we only attend one park in a day as we also have passes to Dollywood, Busch Gardens and Six Flags. The only parks that we eat at somewhat regularly are Dollywood and Holiday World and that's basically because it's just as easy and cheap to eat there as it would be to eat at any restaurant in the nearby area. Basically my point is this. For every person that spends hundreds of dollars every visit, there are people like me who only average spending about a quarter a visit. Yes, I did the math.....lol

Canada's Wonderland has 3 coasters and a water ride in their kids area and has much more landscaping.

You should wear a bathing suit and smoke a cigarette on your way back to Diamondback next time. Because I've seen security walk past dozens of people in the last 3 years and not do a thing about it. I'm sure you could run all you like if you give KI an extra $50. Rules don't apply to people who have money. lol

Speaking from experience, operating the north gate by yourself completely stinks. I worked two gates, at that location, by myself on a couple of occasions for about 4 hours. Only to get some help an hour before they closed that entrance. The only good thing about it was staying so busy that time went by very quickly.

Best amusement/theme/water park in the country. 3 awesome wood coasters, free parking, suntan lotion, and soda. You see the owners doing the same jobs as entry level employees and they are always willing to chat with anyone. A very clean park with friendly employees. Every guest is treated great. Not the biggest, but a lot of bang for your buck.

Assuming that the same rules apply this year that applied last year. Yes, the park can look up your previous season pass history and will give you the discounted renewal price. I worked in admissions last season and I was told by my supervisor to give the renewal price to anyone who had a pass within the last 4 years. Once again, this is what was done last year and I have no idea if this is their current policy.So you may want to keep trying to reach someone by phone.

They're called the general public and they always find a way to make things take 3 times as long as it should.

Gad198, I know you are much to humble to ever brag about anything that you ever won playing a game at a amusement park. Let me just say that I'm willing to bet you've paid more in taxes on amusement park prizes than anyone in the world the last couple of years. And when you say challenge....you mean obsession, right? lol

I had never experienced a gray out on any coaster until riding I-305 last year. Then probably the next 30 times I rode BLSC at both KD and KI I grayed ever single time on the helix. I can't explain how or why, but I know I never had this problem before riding I-305. I'm glad to read that I'm not the only one that doesn't have 305 anywhere near their top 10. I can't even honestly say that it was one of the 10 best rides I rode on my 2 day trip last year to KD and SFA. I look forward to giving it another try soon because as far as I'm concerned it couldn't do anything except get better.

Disney, for instance, does not have the carnival-type games- and the park is much better off for it. So to answer your question: I would rather have something that costs money to operate as I paid money to enjoy the rides. Ummmmm......how did that answer my question? My question was if you were in charge of finances at the park would you rather make money or spend money? Not as an enthusiast, would you rather the park spend money or make money? Disney may be a better park for you, not everyone. I have a friend who has won a Jet Ski, a luxury suite for a Caviler game, VIP tickets for 4 to Cedar Point, an autograph Kobe Bryant basketball, an i Pad, several PS3 consoles, i Pods, i Pod touches, digital cameras, electric guitars and at least a few hundred NBA/NFL jerseys within the last two years playing these carnival-type games all across the country. So, I seriously doubt he would say that Disney is better off for it. I know I wouldn't say that because I'd rather pay a lower admission price and have the choice to skip the games, instead of paying a higher price to enter the park because they don't make the extra cash elsewhere to make up for it. I guess it's like Eddie Murphy said during his comedy act back in the mid 80's. "The moonwalk is the dumbest dance ever. I can't do the moonwalk, so that's why I say its the dumbest dance ever". There is absolutely no reason to dislike something just because you lack the skills to succeed at them. Don't blame the games for your lack of enjoyment....blame the player.

While I mourn the loss of these things as well, these were good reasons for the removals, unlike moving The Flying Eagles hundreds of miles south to make room for a stupid basketball game... er, I mean "Italian Job's entrance". Don't quite see how a game that can produce $5 every 40 seconds (and probably nets the biggest profit of any game in the park) can be considered "stupid" from a business standpoint. If you were in charge of finances, would you rather have something that makes money for the park or something that costs the park money to operate?

Every sitcom on television for the last 60 yrs. has been fake too. Are you disappointed in NBC, ABC, and CBS? Movies, even those based on a true story, are more often based on fiction than fact. Parents even fake charters that bring gifts once a year, sorry for the spoiler.

Add 3pt. challenge to that list also. I find it extremely humorous to see a certain member of these forums make it look so easy and then watch others who must be thinking if he can do it, I can do it. Then they proceed to throw up 6 air balls and brick the other 6.