malem

Enthusiasts and other interested parties can subscribe to Amusement Today and vote. Many do. The subscriber base doesn't change a lot from year to year, so repeat awards are common. Sponsorship, such as that from Cedar Fair, certainly helps keep the awards (and the method of picking winners) in place. "Best new ride" is a crowded category this year.

The article states that the kids' event takes place Sat-Sun 12pm-6pm, starting on Sunday, September 21. According to the park calendar, Kings Island is open to the public during those hours. (11am-1am Sat, 11am-7pm Sun.) Note that Kings Island is only open in the evening on Saturday, September 20. The kids' event doesn't start until the following day.

^ Not to mention the environmental benefit of fewer Kinzel cups in the landfill. I usually ask for two without ice, finishing the first cup before I get the second.

It's extremely sad how people can turn something positive into something so cruel and antithetical. This is one of the most disturbing stories I have read in a long time. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/09/05/special-needs-student-pranked-with-ice-bucket-holding-feces.html

^ If the 2015 platinum passholder renewed a 2014 gold or platinum pass, the same renewal perks are available. If you are upgrading from gold in 2014 to platinum in 2015, you might need to renew gold before upgrading due to system limitations. (As of 8/22; the problem could be fixed now.) Contact the park for details. As I understand it, renewal perks are not available to regular passholders. These passes have already expired as of September 2.

The card used to hold a hotel room doesn't have to be used as payment, unless you are a no-show or a deposit is required. Just present the card you want to use at check-in.

^ Any hotel should let you change the card details on a reservation. If you have questions, call their reservations number. Just make sure to call (again) after you get your new card.

Sounds great; thanks! Looks like I'll be there for the weekend.

^ It could make Fast Lane a worthwhile investment for that ride. Avoid the mile walk-around.

^ Kennywood has 3.

You must have joined the line at 4 unlucky times. In my 11(!) visits this season, the only time it was down when I was trying to ride it was Opening Day. (Not counting weather, of course.) Go ride something else, and it will probably be back up by the time you work your way back.

^^ They're structures, not people. Saving parts of them can be financially and environmentally prudent.

^^ I wonder what Silver Dollar City thinks about that.

Mean Streak's structure is much more impressive than the current ride experience. I'd love for it to incorporate a great ride, whether it's wood or steel. After the success of the new "wooden" coaster in Illinois, an answer from Sandusky in the not-too-distant future wouldn't surprise me.

^ How's the line for LaRosa's?

^ For questions about current policies, calling the park is always your best bet. In general, passes are non-transferable and non-refundable once processed. I would recommend buying a new pass for your wife; she would get one free fall 2014 visit with her new 2015 pass.

A couple weeks ago, crews were working at the top of Gatekeeper's lift hill with a crane into the afternoon hours. It reopened around 6:00pm.

What's wrong? Probably nothing. The park has been closed this week. Whatever maintenance work they were doing there is evidently not done yet.

LivingSocial has a voucher to make it relatively cheap, but Saturday night is sold out. I bought a voucher for Friday night, but that wouldn't be very helpful for your trip. You could keep reloading the page to see if more Saturday night vouchers become available. See my post in the HalloWeekends meetup thread: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php/topic/30088-cp-halloweekendskalahari-meetup/

If such a configuration were used, it could meet the definition of a slot machine instead of a game of skill. Amusement parks, for legal and other reasons, install the latter type of game. If any park which isn't a gambling establishment is using a game where winners are partially (or fully) determined by the number of previous winners/losers, they should be informed of the defect. Depending on the laws of the particular jurisdiction, it could be a serious matter.

^^ Already certain that you won't find yourself in Ohio for a certain preview night, or confident that you would be invited by other means?

^ Just renew in person at KI, then. You'll save the processing fee, and you can replace the card and get a new picture while you're at it. You should also get the KI renewal perks (preview night and voucher for Sunday Fast Lane). If they have to create a new record, make sure that they transfer everything over that's necessary. (2014 pass, any 2014 dining plan(s), address/phone number, your name, etc) I recommend renewing at Guest Services and asking them to check your pass after they finish.

I'd not trust it until I see it raining.

^ Dollar Days don't begin until Saturday, so there won't be $1 pizza slices on Friday. There will be ERT at 11:30am.

We don't know how crowded the park will be on a specific date, but there are some general hints that are useful. Devan, Andrew and Jonathan have some good advice above. If the park is crowded, riding at the right time of day can save you a lot of time waiting in line. Get to popular rides like The Beast, Diamondback, Flight of Fear, Firehawk, and Backlot Stunt Coaster early - before noon if possible. Ride Banshee and other attractions in Action Zone during "early rides" if you have a gold/platinum pass; otherwise wait until later in the evening when the lines are shorter. Whether you "need" Fast Lane is also a difficult question to answer. Many guests find Fast Lane beneficial even on slower days; others prefer to ride at times when the regular lines are shorter.