jcgoble3

To be a bit more blunt on this, I highly recommend the Microtel Inn over by The Beach Waterpark. I have stayed there twice before, for Opening and Closing Days last year, and can't really complain about anything.

Ahh, I see. it dosen't look complicated, but sometimes I'm lucky to turn my computer on. As for mobile, I've owned one, old flip style cell phone in my life. Lost it on Firehawk. Possibly one of the best days of my life. I cannot imagine life without a cell phone these days. How do you do it?

Implantation? Don't tell me they're implanting miniature Wi-Fi radios in every guest that enters the park?!

Nope, I'm in Xenia.

On Friday evening, the line for Beast was just outside the entrance with zero switchbacks open, yet the greeter had set the wait time sign to 45 minutes. As we passed the greeter, he changed it to 60 minutes. Actual wait was about 10 to 15 minutes. To his credit, by the time we came off the ride and got the kid in the ride photo booth to censor the photo of my car (the idiot in front of me flipped off the camera), the sign had been corrected to 15 minutes.

If someone could install the Speedtest.net app and test the speed of the Wi-Fi network next weekend, I'd be very interested to see the results.

I know that. I was kidding. For a long time, there was an "FBI Van 7" network within range of my house. According to the scan I did just a minute ago, it seems to have disappeared.

On Friday morning, I approached Panda Express and asked the employees what the dining plan options were. The ladies working there informed me that it had been opened up to any two-entree plate because of confusion over the limited choices last weekend, but she also said that it might not remain that way going forward. In other words, they're still testing and experimenting.

Why were you connected to a network named "FBI"?

Great report! *adds BGW's roller coaster insider tour to his bucket list*

To be fair, I myself have walked into Kings Island at 9:30 specifically for the purpose of getting in a quick Beast night ride and going home... I wish I lived close enough to do that.

Wait, isn't that the ride next door? jcgoble3, running for the exit

I think the closer one is on KI Drive and the two further in the distance are on I-71. I'm not sure, though. I believe that was a special deal for the preview night only, not a regular offer.

Sorry...I may have missed it. Did this get answered? I certainly hope so! Per Guest Relations this morning, the answer is no. They are not (no longer?) available to the public, only on group sales orders.

The path to Invertigo was still blocked off just past the restrooms as of about 11:30 this morning.

You know it's a school group day when The Racer has one of the longest lines in the park. We're approaching 20 minutes in line, but we're next to ride.

Top Thrill Dragster does have a light beacon atop the tower. It is clearly visible flashing in this video: https://youtu.be/_hRp3RzvHZU

Lights are required by the FAA on EVERY structure taller than a certain height. (Side note: Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom was deliberately tweaked and reduced from its originally planned height to avoid being forced to put a flashing red light on top of the structure.) The issue with height restrictions, or at least one issue (I don't know if there are others), is that structures too tall can potentially interfere with the ability of airplanes to take off and land safely at nearby airports. An extreme example of this is Kentucky Kingdom, which is not only directly across the highway from the Louisville International Airport, but also directly on the flight line of a major runway at said airport. KK cannot build above a certain height in order to ensure that the ability for planes to land and take off at the airport safely is not jeopardized. (Insert "I am not a lawyer" statement and disclaimer here)

I get that too, along with a "Storage" forum. This is a new issue as of today, as they were not showing a couple days ago. I have seen "Offseason Blues" on one occasion in the past (but likewise, could not view anything inside), but the other two are new (to me).

I decided a couple nights ago that I will not be doing Coasterstock, as I do not think my budget is capable of surviving two whole busy days at the park (I tend to spend more when the park is busier because I end up doing less riding and more people-watching/photography). I will instead be doing the Color Me Rad 5K that Saturday morning. I might be up for joining the group after ERT for a normal, non-event ride or two, but I will probably leave by early afternoon to save my budget (after I've gotten at least one dining plan meal, of course).

^ ICANN, the international body that oversees domain names and IP addresses, has its own dispute resolution policy. And I found a copy of the kingsisland.com archived here. It appears to have been an online business, and Googling the address provided by the "contact us today" link shows that it appears to be a residential address. So I would say that the business indeed most likely no longer exists.

But if the bona fide "King's Island" business no longer exists, then wouldn't renewing with the sole intent of trying to get Cedar Fair to buy it from him be considered illegal cybersquatting? (insert disclaimer that I am not a lawyer here)

Just want to note that Paula Werne shared this video in the HoliWood Nights group on Facebook this morning. Apparently the park likes it as well.

My mother brought me to PKI about once a year in the mid-90s (for reference, I was born in 1987). However, I was mostly a chicken, and wouldn't ride anything other than what is now the Great Pumpkin Coaster and Woodstock Express, and some of the small flats like Scrambler. I even chickened out of the Days of Thunder ride in Action Theater. After a few years, I suddenly decided that I wanted to do something bigger, so I begged to join my mom on The Racer (forward; I was too chicken to go backward). She knew me too well, and realized that I didn't realize just how much bigger and faster The Racer is than what is now Woodstock Express, so she tried to talk me out of it, but I insisted. So we rode together, and by the time we got back to the station I was crying and didn't want to ride anything else. Soon after, changes in my parents' employment stripped them of the ability to afford trips to KI, which was fine by me since I wanted nothing to do with the place; it had spooked me that bad. Fast forward to May 2010, at age 23. I was sitting at my computer, idly surfing the internet while keeping one eye on a Reds game on TV when an ad for KI Gold Passes came on the TV. Over the previous few years I had beaten several of my childhood fears, and I had also been looking for a diversion; something that could get me out of the house a couple times a month. I did a few Google searches, which allowed me to find both KI's website as well as KIC. After thinking about it for a few hours and studying my budget, I pulled the trigger and bought a Gold Pass online. On the first visit, I stuck to the smaller rides, starting with Adventure Express and Backlot Stunt Coaster, and then continuing with Flight Deck and The Racer, and found myself to be comfortable on all of them. The second visit I added The Beast, Firehawk, and Vortex, and on the third visit I added Diamondback, Invertigo, and Flight of Fear. I still remember my first ride on Diamondback, during morning ERT. I was nervous going up the lift hill, and screamed all the way down the first drop, but I quickly found it to be a fun ride, and by the time I got off I was ready to hop right back in line (and did, this time without screaming). I've been hooked ever since.

Ask to speak to the manager on your way out, and tell him or her what your experience was like. Managers get far more complaints than compliments, and good managers will offer positive reinforcement (extra paid time off, small bonuses, etc.) to employees who get lots of compliments. This could even be done at an employee meeting, handing out the awards in front of everyone, which would not only reward that employee, but motivate everyone else to work harder so they can be recognized in front of their peers as well.