Crispy1979

>>>Next we tryed Vortex, but it was broke down,so we decicded to try TR:TR, also broke down<<< Just out of curiousity, does Tomb Rider break down a lot? Cris

This kinda reminds me of the problems Kentucky Kingdom had with the Vampire. The Vampire was a Vekoma shuttle boomerrang coaster like Face Off. The only difference is that it was just a standard steel coaster, not a suspended coaster. In any case, they had a constant problem with the brakes firing when the coaster came down the second lift hill. This would slow the coaster down and cause it to get stuck in the inverted corkscrew section after the loop. And because this part of the ride is high off the ground, the only way to get the people off the ride was to take them off one by one with a cherry picker. Kentucky Kingdom kept getting the Vekoma people out to the park they would pronounce that they had "fixed" the problem. But then it would jsut me a matter of time before it happened again. Basically it was happening on at least a monthly basis and the park was getting sick of it, so they eventually just removed the ride. It was also a PR nightmare for the park. No one wants to be stuck on a coaster for hours and then have to be taken off in a cherry picker. And having to deal with that on such a regualr basis was not good publicity for the park. It seems that the Vekoma boomerrangs are still suffering from the same problem, but it sounds like in the case of Face Off, the train simply falls back down into the valley before the lift hill, rather than getting stuck in the boomerrang corkscrew part. So at least that doesn't pose a sever problem and is mroe of an inconvenience. Cris

Interesting tidbit.... when I visited Disneyland Paris, I saw where the inspiration for Phantom Theater came from.... the haunted mansion in Disneyland is actually called Phantom Manor. Also, I always thought some of the music from the ride sounded like the theme from "Tales from the Crypt." Cris

>>>I was told that the reason they do not race The Racers is because of capasity. Whenever there are big crowds at PKI and long lines, the park wants to have the lines as short as possible. This means not waiting for the other side. <<< So I guess if this is true, then we could say that The Racer doesn't race do to a change in Park policy sometime in the last 10 years. (when racing the trains was require operating policy and not optional) Cris

DragonLord, it's an infrared beam.... like what's used in your TV remote. Cris

I think CoasterXtreme may have been talking about his frustration when BOTH sides of The Racer are running, but the employees don't race them (release both trains at the same time.) Cris

Yep, from Louisville also and took advantage of the $19.99 tickets from meijer. I've bought two to use this summer. Unfortunately because I have class during the week and my boyfriend has work, it means we will only be able to visit on a saturday. I'm still looking forward to visiting, however. Cris

The Meijer's and Blockbuster's in Louisville (I don't live in Cincy, so I'm not sure if they have the deal up there) are selling PKI tickets for $19.99. The tickets are good for the entire summer season, but are only on sale until June 15th. Also, on the tickets it indicates that you can visit the park after 5:00 either the day before or the day after you use your ticket for and additional $10. So, you could go to the park after 5:00 on one day and return the next day for a full day and only spend $30. Cris

Hey Magic. I had never heard the term "Buzz Bar" before. you learn something new everyday. But yes, it was just a bar that would flip down and give you something to hold on to, but other than that, there were no restraints.... this was the same for all wooden coasters in the country before they started installing those orange lap bars around 1990. So if you're wondering why they have those "Do not stand up" signs at the top of lift hills, it is because you used to actually be able to stand up in you car since there was no restraint. And coster riding has changed since the advent of the lap bar.... your butt no longer leaves your seat when you go down the drops.

Back when I was growing up in the mid-late 80's, they always raced The Racers..... it was operating policy and considered part of the "show" and was not optional. It's one of those things that changed when Paramount took over, like the elimination of costuming. Then again, this was before lap bars were used on wodden coasters and they always had two trains on the track, so I don't think they had to worry about capacity issues or slow loading.... there was always a train waiting to be loaded when one was leaving the station. Cris

Ah, thanks for the info. It's great to hear the floral displays are back this year! Cris

Yes, the skating show was in the Festaus, as that's what the building was originally built for. The skating surface was HUGE which allowed for a very large cast and gave lots of room for the skaters to form formations on stage and to do all the big "tricks" and tosses and partnering moves with the girls. PKI used to be very much an entertainment based park. My parents and my friend's parents didn't ride rides, but bought season passes to just go see the shows... they also used to have a dolphin/sea lion show, but they tore down that theatre when Paramount bought the park, also. Cris

>>>Since I like this site so much and don't want to be banned all i will say is I think PKI should stop Gay Day. <<< As someone wrote before, this is an instance of PKI renting out the park just as they do to corporations. Anyone with enough money can rent out the park, as was done on June 1st. Also, as for the event in September, if you look at PKI's operating calendar, you will see that PKI is closed all of that month so it isn't like the general public is being shut out of the park because of a park rental. As for the Red Shirt Day (which sounds like it isn't widely attended anymore). It's Red Shirt Day, not "Let's play tonsil hockey in public day" as I think everyone believes that is inappropiate. I'm also not sure what PKI could do to "stop" that day. Not let anyone in who happens to wear a red shirt? Cris

Well, if you put it that way, then I'd really like to go in September. Problem is, my boyfriend would not get out of work until 5 and we'd have a 2 hour drive up to cincy.... but I suppose it would still be do-able. I've also already bought tickets for the summer. I can just see my boyfriend telling me "But we are already going to go Kings Island this summer and you want me to pay how much for a ticket?" lol Oh well, maybe I can talk him into going to Cedar Point for a weekend. hehe Cris

Well, mainly I was asking because I didn't want to show up and be like one of 10 people in a red shirt and look like a dufus. lol. I guess those type of events are the things you'd want to go to in groups, anyway. However, you bring up another point.... I want to take my boyfriend up to PKI with me this summer. The problem is that I have class during the week and he has a government job and will not receive any vacation days until the fall. So it seems that our only chance to visit the park would be on a saturday. I'm not especially looking forward to the crowds. Cris

>>>Most gay people go to pki in Sept because of the fact they can be more open about being gay then when the general public is there. Yes there will be some that goes on red shirt day but not like it was when red shirt day started back in the early 80's<<< In a way that's a shame. I've always kinda enjoyed the informal unofficial "meet at the park" type of events. Back in 93, I met up at Walt Disney World with a group of Disney enthusiasts from online. To me, that was a lot more fun than any special Disney Fan Convention could ever be. I do realize the fall event is for a good cause, however, the park is only open from 6-midnight and only certain rides are open. Plus ticket prices are pretty steep. I read online that they sell out of tickets for the event by early June. I was considering going to the event this Saturday (June 7th) , but didn't want to make the drive all the way from Louisville if the June event is no longer well attended. Anyway, thanks for the info! Cris Cooper

>>>The June day is simply a gathering.... nothing special about it in terms of PKI. PKI does not support it or promote it as an event. It is completely unofficial.<<< Yes, that is why I was asking if this event is still widely attended, as it now seems that the gay community would rather attend on the special event date in September. >>>As someone else mentioned, in the fall there is usually a Friday evening that is used as a gay event. This is treated in the same way that corporations or others goups buy out the park. No different. Either way, it has nothing to do with PKI promoting the lifestyle, or condemming it. They are completely nuetral.<<< Yes, in some way that is true. The park is rented to an outside group (the Cincinnati Gay and Lesbian Center) who in turn sell tickets to the event as a fundraiser. However, PKI does make special concessions to the group as far as working with the event planners provide special entertainment for the event, letting the event planners print and sell special event tickets, and allowing event planners use PKI art and logos in advertising. So, no, PKI is not throwing the event. But they do very much work hand in hand with the event planners. This is in contrast to say, the Disney Gay Days, which is like the June day,.... simply a gathering on a regular scheduling operating day. And Disney is very careful in no way supporting that event or offering any concessions to event organizers in order to stay neutral in every way and avoid controversy. They simply open the park and sell tickets that day like every other day. It just happens that a lot of people show up that day in Red Shirts. This is how the original Gay Day (Red Shirt Day) started in June. However, after Paramount bought the park, they were willing to work with the event organizers for the Fall event. So it seems that more and more people refer to the special ticket event in the fall as "Gay Day" and I never hear anyone memntion the Red shirt event (which was the original Gay Day) anymore. That's why I was wondering if people still attend. >>>I started late in the season and my first time on the crew was during the Friday Night Fall Gay event. Truth be told, I had dramatically less problems with guests that night than any other regular day.<<< I worked at Six Flag's Kentucky Kingdom, and the corporate days always seemed to be the nicest. For some reason, when people know there is a lot of money being paid for use of the park, they seem more respectful. The absolute worse days were during the Kentucky State Fair when admission into the park is free and you have to buy tickets for the rides. I have some stories of some very bad guest experiences during that time. Cris

Tumble Bug was taken from Coney Island... I actually have memories of riding it from when I was like 4. Also, years and years ago they had a bobsled ride that went in a large circle, but this was located in the Oktoberfest area and not in Coney Mall where Tumblebug was. Also, it's kinda strange that I remember riding so many rides with my parents when I was so young... wondering if they weren't strict with height requirements then. Also, anyone remember before the wodden coasters at the park (or any park) had lap bars?

I'm not sure if any of you rememebr from the year before KI was bought by Paramount (early 90's), but they had a show called "Escapades" in what is now the Paramount Theatre. In my mind, that was the last great song and dance revue show they had at King's Island. The Skating show used to be in the Festaus. I believe that Paramount continues to have the skating show in the Faustaus for another year after they bought the park and had the various numbers themes to Paramount movies. The following year is when they moved the skating show to the Paramount Theatre which simply didn't work.... they didn't have as much room to skate as they did in the Festaus. Just curious... i read on the PKI website that there is a magic show in the Paramount Theatre. Has nyone seen it? How is it? Cris

>>>Shman-Why would they put random movie props in places where they look out of place? That just doesn't make any sense.<<< Haven't they been doing this since Paramount bought the Park? Like the movie props in the Paramount Story gardens. Also, is the location of this statue where the floral clock used to be? I know that in this area around the tower there used to be a floral liberty bell, a floral date (the floral numbers were changed every day), the floral clock, and a floral basket across from where the taxis were. So the large vacant spots of the former locations of these large floral displays would seem the most logical place for pki to put something of interest. (although I do agree that the floral displays fit in better) Cris

>>P.S. I think it is stupid that they have things like this. I'm not homophobic but it kills me that they can't go to the park and enjoy it like everyone else does. Special day for themselves... ha. << The special event in September is much the same type of thing as how corporations can rent out the park for a price. For example, Sunday June 1st the park was closed to the general public and passholders because a corporation had rented the park out for its employees. If you go to PKI's website, they even had a little disclaimer on their calendar that reads "PLEASE NOTE: Paramount's Kings Island is closed to the general public and all Season Passholders on Sunday, June 1, 2003 for a private company rental." I know that things like this can bug people, especially during the regular summer season. It conjurs up images of Chevy Chase pulling up to Wally World with his family in his station wagon only to be told that the park is closed for the day. However, in defense of the event in September.... unlike the private company rental June 1st, the other event takes place September 26th when the park is no longer on a regular operating schedule. In fact, if you go to PKI's calendar, you will see that the park is closed for all of September with the exception of a few days. So in that way, the September event is not a disruption in PKI's normal operating schedule and will not affect regular park guests. Also, unlike the private company rental that was on June 1st, the proceeds from the event in September go to a non-profit organization. Cris Cooper

I have to say The Smurfs. Something about it being a boat ride made it very enjoyable, not to mention that the scenes were fully realized with full sets and a great soundtrack. I've often described the Ride as being like Small World, except with Smurfs... and they sang their La la la la la la song instead of "It's a Small World" The Halloween room was my favorite. I can rememebr passing that waterfall with the buzzards with the glowing eyes above it. I think Phantom Theatre was good in it's first season. Unfortunately, the park did not keep it well maintained and it seemed like eventually few of the effects were working and it was incredible dirty. When I went last season it seemed like many of the animatronic figures weren't working at all. I have a vague memory of the Enchanted Voyage (the pre-smurf version), but I could have only been 2 or 3 years old at the time because it was turned into Smurf's Enchanted Voyage when I was young. The only thing I seem to remember fro the pre-smurf Enchanted Voyage is a skeleton playing a guitar. I'm not exactly sure what kind of scenes were included in the ride. I've still yet to ride Scooby. I know it has the interactive element, but I wondered what other special effects the ride has. ANyone care to share? Cris Cooper

I've read that Saturday June 7th is Red Shirt Day (the original unofficial gay day) at King's Island and was wondering if anyone is planning on going or if any of the cast members could tell me if there is a substantial attendance on this day. For the past several years, Kings Island has been sponsoring a special event Gay Day in September (which requires the purchase of a special ticket) as a fundraiser for Cincinnatti's Gay and Lesbian Center. I know that most in the gay community now prefer to go to this special event and have the park to themselves. So I was wondering if the Red Shirt Day still draws a large crowd of participants. Cris Cooper