jcgoble3

I wore a Gatekeeper jacket this weekend at Kings Island, and it managed to start a few conversations with random guests. I hope he was joking....

^ I think he's referring to Pipe Scream at CP, which is the same model as Surf Dog.

Some of the KICers used their free FL+ renewal perk yesterday, including me. Early in the day on Banshee, those with FL+ entered the FL line, while silver2005, who had burned his free FL+ earlier in the fall, entered the regular line at the same time. silver2005 actually got into the station and boarded two trains BEFORE those of us who used the FL+ line. For the rest of the day, it was a judgment call as to which line would be faster, and it became a bit of a game as we sometimes "raced" each other. I will say that FL+ was useful toward the end of the night, as during my one-hour Banshee marathon, using the FL queue sometimes made it possible to board one or two trains earlier, meaning that I might not have been able to be on the same train as the 2 millionth rider if I hadn't had FL+.

Beats me as to what's going on. I'd consider that it could be an internet connection problem, except that as you typically say when reporting that issue, it was only on KIC, not on any other site. We need someone that speaks the language of the server here (a server whisperer?).

In the past 10 minutes or so, the site has been taking about 30 seconds or so to respond to virtually every click.

Sorry, Kings Island, but in terms of coaster credits, Lightning Run just slightly beats Banshee for me. The airtime on that machine is, among all of the coasters I've ridden, second only to The Voyage, and it manages excellent and powerful ejector airtime without inducing pain and despite rules that literally require you to be stapled. I wish I had had time that day to ride it more than once, or room in my schedule to go back, but unfortunately I did not, and will have to hope that the Hartland survives for another year. But overall best "credit"? Also found at the Hartland in the form of Deep Water Dive. Rare is the ride that is well worth climbing twelve stories of stairs, but feeling that floor drop out from under me and then plummeting down 120 feet was worth every single step. That was the most fun I've had on a thrill ride in a few years.

What a wonderful season, capped off with an amazing closing weekend. I can't decide what my favorite thing from this weekend was, between the Haunt walkthroughs Saturday morning, the 2015 announcement that afternoon, breakfast at Frisch's with friends, seeing the park in operation for the last time of the season, and a one-hour Banshee marathon in an attempt to become the two-millionth rider. And all of that finished by being on the same train as #2,000,000, three rows back (so since we all technically rode simultaneously, I consider myself a co-two-millionth rider ), which I then decided would be my last ride of the season. Funny how, for me, the season ended the same way it began: riding Banshee with the sun below the horizon and temperatures cold enough to require gloves and several layers of clothes.

Correct. I would be surprised if KI's petting zoo is an upcharge.

I have walked through Snoopy's Splash Dance as an adult by myself several times, especially on hot days. I only did so if I was willing to be completely and totally drenched from head to toe, with every inch of my clothes literally dripping wet. And since that was unavoidable, I would often walk slowly under each water feature, letting the waterfalls drench me for as long as possible. I will slightly miss it. Now, if they want to install something similar over in the waterpark, I'd be all for that.

After the announcement, Don handed out a few extra flash drives with the press release and renderings. He gave me one, so I assume it is OK to post the images here. They are uploaded to my Flickr account in my "unowned images" album, clearly labeled in the description as being copyrighted by Kings Island and Cedar Fair. Starbucks building: Planet Snoopy rendering: Thank you again to Don for giving me these.

Replacing Thrill Seekers on International Street. Transmitted from Wild Space via my datapad's DROID brain

It will become a yogurt shop.Also, the picnic grove will get a makeover with the removal of the asphalt and addition of new concrete and pavers. Transmitted from Wild Space via my datapad's DROID brain

Don says that the scooters will be Larsons and yes, they will allow snapping. Transmitted from Wild Space via my datapad's DROID brain

Transmitted from Wild Space via my datapad's DROID brain

Transmitted from Wild Space via my datapad's DROID brain

International Street will lose Thrill Seekers, which will become one of the largest Starbucks in the Tri-State area, with Wi-Fi. New funnel cake store will allow you to build your funnel cake Chipotle-style with toppings and stuff. Transmitted from Wild Space via my datapad's DROID brain

Also, the theater in Planet Snoopy will be replaced with a petting zoo. Transmitted from Wild Space via my datapad's DROID brain

Snoopy's Splash Dance will be removed and replaced will flying scooters and a Zamperla Jump Around ride. Transmitted from Wild Space via my datapad's DROID brain

Transmitted from Wild Space via my datapad's DROID brain

There is one camera set up, operated by a KI employee. That's all I know. Transmitted from Wild Space via my datapad's DROID brain

They just brought Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Woodstock out. Interesting. The KIC group is occupying the front row of tables on the right side. Transmitted from Wild Space via my datapad's DROID brain

I wore a Holiday World Thunderbird shirt to Kentucky Kingdom the day after Thunderbird was announced. I've also worn a Voyage shirt to Cedar Point, and a variety of Kings Island shirts to all of the major theme parks in Orlando.

Common Core? Did someone say Common Core? http://madworldnews.com/angry-mother-destroys-common-core-writing-sons-test/

The portion sizes are way too big, if you ask me, but then again, I no longer have the appetite of a growing teenage boy.

1,210 − 1,001 = 209 / 5.5 = 38 days, assuming that 1) all schools are doing the absolute minimum number of hours per year currently (which, as I demonstrated, is not true), and 2) all schools are doing the minimum number of hours per day of 5.5 (also not true).