CoastersNSich

As little as the park had, ridewise or landwise, I found it to be a nice experience last year, which was my first ever visit to that park. A small, classic wood coaster, several flat rides, and a good water park. The wave pool was intense, the lazy river went underneath the Sea Dragon coaster - innertubes were optional, meaning you could freely swim in the lazy river without tubes. Simply, a relaxed atmosphere for someone with just a few hours. Whatever Columbus Zoo does next, I hope includes much of the existing Wyandot Lake - plus some more water attractions, and maybe even a small-medium roller coaster. When I think of Six Flags, I think of large parks that require the whoe day to do - Wyandot didn't really fit in. I'd compare it to more like Coney Island - a small assortment of rides, small coaster, and a waterpark/pool with slides - and affordable, even when buying an all-day pass*. It will never be Kings Island or Cedar Point - but not everyone wants to mess with a megapark for rides, a coaster, and swimming/slides. *Wyandot is POP only, which is still relatively affordable.

This question was asked to Cedar Point/Cedar Fair officials during the Question/Answer session at CoasterMania this month. They said that they "might look into it." You may know, that Cedar Fair is the only large park chain to not have designated smoking areas in their amusement parks, and that fact was mentioned in the question. My 2¢: Either have a designated smoking policy with clearly marked, separate areas, slightly off the midways. Lots of signs, PA announcements, warnings, and employees armed with park guides explaining the rule.... Or no policy at all. The current PKI system is a joke.

What does "Moskau" mean and what language is it? Thanks, Italian Chef "Moskau" is German for Moscow. It is a song perfomed by the German pop group Dschinghis Khan in 1979. YouTube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=D43yn6g6pb4&search=moskau Download: http://www.koreus.com/media/dschinghiskhan-moskau.html

Generally you get a smoother ride on a middle row of a car, a.k.a. "non-wheel seat." Also a good strategy when you ride Son of Beast, too. Notice how when I ride in the mid rows, and enjoy the thing, but the people in front and back of me use some words I shouldn't repeat here. Anyone else here notice this?

Kings Island 2007 - Cedar Fair Style - Coasters 'n Sich plan Old Name --- New Name INTERNATIONAL STREET Paramount Theater --- American Heritage Music Hall* Paramount Story --- Tower Gardens* Thrills are Paramount --- KI Shop International Restaurant renovated into American style sit down restaurant A variety of popular and light music similar to Cedar Point, in this section PARAMOUNT Action Zone --- Action Zone Congo Falls --- Amazon Falls*** Days of Thunder --- XS Raceway Drop Zone --- Gyro Drop FACE/OFF --- Invertigo Top Gun --- Swoop** Xtreme Skyflyer --- RipCord*** Pop-Rock mix OKTOBERFEST Bubba Gump Shrimp Shack --- Cajun Shrimp Shack Lt. Dan’s Bar --- Bayou Bar German Pop music played in this section! (outside of Shrimp Shack, of course) Can you say "Moskau" CONEY MALL The Italian Job --- L.A. Highway Italian Job Souvenirs --- Metro Souvenirs Happy Days Diner --- Coasters Drive-In Flight of Fear Paramount FX Theater --- FX Theater Pop-Rock mix RIVERTOWN Wings Diner --- Columbia Palace* or Red Garter Saloon TR:TR --- Treasure Hunter or removal Contemporary and/or classic country CDBB --- BOOMERANG BAY Dundee’s Outback Shack --- Outback Shack Wally’s Walkabout Pub --- Walkabout Pub Mick’s Seaside Supplies --- Auzzie Seaside Supplies Go beyond the darn Australian loop! * Pre-Paramount name ** One of the "original" names given to this ride before Paramount bought KI in 1992 *** Name prior to Action Zone retheme

There used to be, it seems, a ton of major acts playing at TimberWolf prior to the Paramount days. The amount of those acts seemed to wane some around 1995 or so. Anyone remember the children's group Sharon, Lois & Bram? I think Britney Spears' first Cincinnati area appearance was at TimberWolf in 1999. The past few years, it's come back some, with acts like Styx, REO Speedwagon, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Raven, Ryan Cabrera. Now, surprisingly, many of the touring acts aren't coming back - even though their concerts are an additional charge. Whatever Cedar Fair does with TimberWolf, I hope change is involved. They should at least replace the seats, with some of the closer sections having backs or individual seats like Riverbend. (Does Kingswood at PKD have a setup like that?) Separate restrooms would also be nice - currently TW guests have to get their hand stamped and use the facility between Congo Falls and Face/Off. Of course, demolition/redevelopment is always an option, though it does host events that bring in big numbers of guests, so why turn them away? The only current Cedar Fair park with a large amphiteatre similar to TimberWolf is, I think, at Worlds of Fun, the Heart of America Theater. Looking at WOF's website, I don't see any major concerts scheduled.

As a former PKI ride operator, I was allowed to test-ride rides while in uniform, but I had to take my nametag off. This was probably because of the chance of the tag becoming loose while riding. Many times, this was a good way to "inspect" the ride to make sure things don't look, feel, or sound out of order. Sometimes I'd ride before or after going on break, or even during a shift (when there was enough staff to do so). Of course, this would be at a ride I was ether assigned to or sent to - it's not like I ever hopped on King Cobra when walking to the Cafeteria from Drop Zone or Congo Falls.

Of course, some people are unhappy that there was no fire (i.e. some on CoasterBuzz). P.S. I'm not one of them. That's good news.

Electric Light Orchestra songs have been heard in the park. I've heard ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky" in Action Zone, and "Shine a Little Love" in Coney Mall. I long ago heard "Fooling Yourself" by Styx in Coney Mall, but it's been a few years.

It may have been running earlier, but guess what? Delirium broke down today near the end of the day. Hopefully maXair has a better story this Thursday-Sunday.

I've heard of such volunteer acts at an amusement park. This one was to paint the Blue Streak at Conneaut Lake Park in Pennsylvania. This is a small, traditional park that has lately had money troubles, and has hired volunteers to clean and improve stuff. It might make sense for some old place that is hurting, but at a park that gets over 3 million visitors and owned by a huge media conglomerate - probably says more about the people at the top than it does at the bottom. (Of course, that may change...)

Let me guess, the Dragon coaster? That got stuck (with large riders) mid-course, and up in the air, on the Media day I went to in early May. Nope, that would be the Scat 2. The ride just totally broke down electronically. So the ride op had to spin it around to unload Ryan, Tom and Arial. So when they got off, Tom and Ryan helped spin it the other way around so that Bobby, Dane and I could get off. Was pretty funny. VOYAGE FRICKING ROCKS! Best wooden coaster!! Scat 2 was probably one of the most intense and painful rides I had ever been on. Partly because there was a Backstreet Boys song playing over the loud speakers.

If you ride in any of the middle rows, it will be much more enjoyable. The best so far for me has been the second row of the first car!

Too bad no such sale has started yet, I forgot my towel at home and had to buy one at Boomerang Bay today. At least I have what may be a collectible souvenir...

Let me guess, the Dragon coaster? That got stuck (with large riders) mid-course, and up in the air, on the Media day I went to in early May.

I couldn't disagree more with Mr. Burkes, about the coaster variety at Kings Island. What about Little Bill's Giggle Coaster, Fairly Odd Coaster, and Rugrats Runaway Reptar, which are by no means "intense thrills?" but simply coasters designed for small children to pre-teens to ride with their parents? Has he tried looking at other family-friendly coasters likeItalian Job: Stunt Track or Adventure Express? This is NOT to say that KI is simply family coasters: Son of Beast is the other "extreme." In fact, I'd argue that Cedar Point is more thrill-oriented, though Burkes is right that there are a few "training wheels" coasters at CP.

Rest of article: http://pointbuzz.com/news.htm?id=929

Again, there's do doubt that the use of metal detectors will be "evaluated" by Cedar Fair management this season. Now, there haven't been any serious incidents at Geauga Lake since detectors were removed (that I know of) - is it a park that has "better clientele?" I know other CF parks, especially Cedar Point, don't have them. Metal detectors, to some, can make people uncomfortable - but when done right (signage, proper instructions, competent people, staffed adequately) they can be a hassle-free experience, and make guests and employees feel more comfortable around people that they think might cause trouble. A ****ed-off guest packing heat is never good. Somewhat related, I have been to other parks, Cedar Fair related and not, that have staff/security check bags/purses, etc. but not persons. It's also a good question what the new owners will do with the front gate area. I don't doubt that eventually there will be remodeling. I do though hope they renovate and reopen the old International Restraurant space - this park deserves some sort of sit-down table service restaurant.

Hell, 12 broke into The Price is Right for a Carson Palmer press conference, the day after the Wild Card loss to the Steelers. "OW! I broke my leg! Please feel sorry for me!" PATHETIC. They couldn't have waited 10 minutes to show video?

WHAT??? No it doesn't. Yeah, reports from the CDC (Based Right Here in Atlanta) show compelling evidence in the connection beteew Plague and Pepsi. Atlanta, huh? Where COCA-COLA is based?

I sadly won't be coming this weekend. But don't feel too much pity for me: I was amongst the first to ride The Voyage, on Media Preview day, May 4. I got 50 rides that day, which may make you question my sanity - but it was the most insane coaster I've ever ridden!

Competition? My guess that KI's most competitive market is the greater Columbus area, where it's Kings Island vs. Cedar Point. KI with a 1.5 hour drive, and over 2 hours to CP. Wyandot Lake, of course, best appeals to the locals, rather than as a destination. In Cincinnati, KI "somewhat" competes with The Beach and Coney Island. The Beach offers a complete, waterpark-only experience, while Coney offers rides, and a large pool with slides. But they can compete for those who are looking for a day or less of fun at a budget - and a lot less walking and hassle! But around here, no park on a similar level. Indianapolis? Most from there may choose KI, but Indiana Beach and Holiday World are, in a way, competitors. IB offers a more traditional amusement midway, as HW is a family-friendly, "laid back" theme park. Louisville? I can bet that Kings Island, Holiday World and Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom compete, having seen billboards for HW across the street from Twisted Twins at SFKK. Just like the Fox News billboards outside CNN Center in Atlanta. HW gives guests free soft drinks and parking, plus a large water park and highly-ranked wood coasters, while SFKK has large, fast steel coasters, a waterpark, at an accessible, easily located location at the Expo Center near the Airport. KI is of course the destination we've all come to love for almost 35 years.

Of course, we have complete morons that feel the need to jump railings at every opportunity. I feel the urge to say "you can't walk a few darn feet or so?" to those people. Hopefully our new owners from Cedar Fair will correct some of these "opportunities."

To save you all some time: More buying power = lower prices?