homestar92

One thing I've always wondered is if you buy a digital picture, can you legally get it printed anywhere? I know that a lot of places that do photo printing (Walgreens, etc.) will often not print photos that appear to have been taken professionally.

Not all amusement parks have expensive food. Theme parks, maybe. Large amusement parks, probably. But many small parks have very fair food prices. Stricker's Grove comes to mind.

I do not know which park is the straggler being referred to, but I do know that there is one park in the Cedar Fair chain that is not required to abide by the ADA. Though I'm sure something similar is probably in place for them.

We once had a Top Spin named The Crypt that had the Kings Dominion ride cycle. Then the next year we didn't. Then a few years later still, we didn't have a Top Spin at all. Not to revive a topic that we've moved on from, but one thing that always irked me about Tower Gardens is the sign: Restful? Relaxing? According to who? And if this area is designated specifically for the smoking guests, then that kinda sends a bad message about what the park thinks of smokers. And if it's "specifically designated", then doesn't that falsely imply that I, as a non-smoker, cannot walk through that area?

I don't ever let polls sway my opinions. Pretty much anyone on here will tell you that it is exceptionally rare for my most beloved coasters to be on the top of any major poll, with perhaps the exception of The Beast. Homestar92, perennial lover of Vortex, Mean Streak, and Hurler (of the Carowinds variety).

I prefer the Britannica Roll. It sounds much more refined and sophisticated. Truly a high class roll. Even fancier than a Kaiser Roll.

Are you referring to the Zero-G roll (the third inversion) or the in-line twist (the final inversion)? I meant to quote Magenta Lizard but failed. The in-line twist is what we are talking about. I need to learn all the technical names for this stuff and I need to pay more attention while riding. Lol Knowing the specific names of all the elements will either impress all your friends, or make them think you're weird. With no in between. I speak from... experience -homestar92, most of whose friends refer to any inversion as a "loop"

Are you referring to the Zero-G roll (the third inversion) or the in-line twist (the final inversion)?

Go to Canada's Wonderland and then tell me that walking around Holiday World is a workout. For being located literally smack dab in the middle of the suburbs, that park manages to be amazingly un-flat.

All over the internet, I hear people speculating that this could be their first steel coaster. The silliness of that claim makes me Howl with laughter. It's a real Firecracker of a claim, to say the least.

After riding Lightning Run, I personally would hope that Kings Island decides to take a Chance with a different manufacturer, just as long as they can learn how to better restrain themselves. Realistically, I think our next ride will not be a coaster. I would think that Kings Island will be due for some small flats in the near future. As much as it pains me to say it, I could see KI getting a set of Larson Flyers in the foreseeable future (which would, of course, be the final dagger in our unrealistic hopes of ever getting OUR Eagles back). MAYBE something a little bigger, something on par with an S&S Screamin' Swing in terms of size. But that's the biggest I'd think we'd be getting soon. Remember, we just got a big fancy B&M. I may be wrong, but if I recall correctly, the fastest turnaround between major coasters at a Cedar Fair park recently would be Canada's Wonderland getting new ones in 2008 and 2012 (and another in 2014, depending on who you ask). I think that realistically, you won't be seeing a coaster until AT LEAST 2018, and unless something major changes before then, I'd wager big money it'll be a B&M.

I agree on most every point. I still enjoy the park after a second visit, but definitely not as much. Water park is good. Deluge was almost as much fun as Wildebeest. Almost, but not quite. Lightning Run is still amazing. I don't find the restraints to be that bad. But I'm very, very thin, so perhaps that is why. They do win for the most bizarre restraints I've seen, however, edging out my beloved Phantom just slightly. Phantom and Lightning Run's restraints could not possibly be more polar opposite. Phantom's always seemed... insufficient to me, but very very comfortable. Lightning Run's restraints are not the most comfortable I've seen, but I know that I'm not going anywhere. Funny that these come from two companies that are now very closely related (if not one and the same... I have no idea how that merger worked. Perhaps someone could shed some light on the Chance Rides/D.H. Morgan situation for me?). I ate late meals both times I went, and had no issue with availability. First time, I ate at the Italian place right in the front of the park. I got a very fresh slice of pizza, and it was the best pizza I'd ever had at an amusement park. The second time, I ate at Swamp Water Jack's. It was OK. I've had better and I've had worse. Nothing too special about it, in a good or a bad way. Thunder Run is still wonderful. Not sure yet if I see it as a front-of-train or back-of-train sort of coaster. Smoking is a problem. I noticed that more yesterday than two weeks ago. I saw someone flick a lit cigarette butt onto Thunder Run, and I cringed. I'm sure the embers are not likely to ignite a wooden coaster, but I'm very much a "what-if" person, and I do worry about that possibility. Another issue is that guests do not realize that FearFall is not the same ride as Superman: Tower of Power. I heard many people comment about remembering "the time when it cut that girl's legs off". I feared and suspected that would be the case, and I truly have NO IDEA why they would choose to install a drop ride of any sort. I saw their Sea Lion Splash show, and enjoyed it. I sat through some of the other live entertainment and... Let's say I'd rather sit through Graveyard Shift. And believe me, I NEVER thought I would utter that sentence, as I think Graveyard Shift is the single most cringe-inducing thing I've ever seen at Kings Island. The park's layout is just silly. The entrances for their pirate ship and FearFall are in a location that is frankly bizarre. Landscaping is bad. Really bad. Case in point, the Flying Scooters. They sit on what I can only assume to be the former footprint of a relatively large ride. The ride is surrounded by concrete for probably 30-50 feet on every side, except for the narrow strip of dirt directly surrounding the ride with small shrubs. The layout will only get stranger when T2 reopens as it will be the only major (dry) ride in its general area, which happens to be behind the water park. This isn't necessarily a huge problem, but it is is something that I noticed. Overall, I still see a lot of potential, but there are definitely some glaring issues that need to be addresses ASAP. As Terpy said, get down there and ride Thunder Run (and I'll add Lightning Run to that statement) while you can. There is no denying that they are great rides, and you want to experience them. There's no telling how long the park will be around. I really, truly want them to get it all together and make this place work. But as it stands, I don't think Holiday World needs to be too worried about their Louisville market. I have a few friends who want to go there, so I may be returning August 2nd with them. It's not a terribly long drive for me, and I want to get my money's worth out of my season pass. I may report back then if my findings are different. And I really, really hope they are. Perhaps that is where #jonathan is headed next. I think his noodly wisdom could be the very thing that park needs to get it all together.

^ I certainly think that a park like this WILL have growing pains. Whether or not recent events can be placed in that category, time will tell. I really want this park to succeed. I see SO much potential here waiting to be tapped into. Lightning Run is stellar, and is honestly in my top 5 coasters. And I've ridden a lot of them. I like it almost as much as Phantom's Revenge. Anyone who knows me well knows that I place that ride on an enormous pedestal, so for me to place a small coaster at a young park in its league, believe me, it's saying a lot. Thunder Run is running like a brand new coaster (though the fact that it runs one train KILLS me... WHY? It is plenty long enough for two, and it has 3 block sections... But no transfer track, so a second train can't and won't be happening). I'll be at Kentucky Kingdom again tomorrow, without the rose-tinted glasses that come with being at a new park for the first time. I'll see if my positive thoughts hold up the second time around. And since this trip was much less impromptu, I have my swim trunks and will have a chance to take a look at the water park. And as for the clientele, I really didn't even get the feeling that they were "rough" as some have described. In fact, I met some very nice people in line last time who noticed that I was a single rider and ASKED me if I wanted to ride with them, and in my years of going to Kings Island, I have not had that happen ONE time. I only have one serious complaint, and that is with the operators on their Himalaya ride. During the ride, riders were encouraged BY THE OPERATORS to put their hands up. Um, how about no. I realize everyone does it anyway, but if the posted sign says "keep hands down and inside vehicle", then my hands are staying down and inside the vehicle. Not sure about Kentucky, but in Ohio, that's the law under ORC 1711.551. Maybe I'm just a Debbie-downer, but when it comes to rides, my thoughts are, "As with any driving stunt, safety first, so STAY SEATED. Keep your head against the headrest and your hands and arms inside the vehicle at all times." (Oh, wait. I've heard that somewhere else before...) Like I said, the park has potential. Most of the problems are fixable. Thunder Run is running with capacity about as good as you can get on a two minute ride with one train. Lightning Run is another story, but I'm confident that time and training can fix that. The PR situation is also a mess, but again, training or replacement of current staff can save them there. All of the problems I see are fixable, and I want so badly to see this park succeed, because they have a heck of a fun coaster that rides like greased lightning (or Greezed Lightnin' as it were...). I'm giving this park a chance, if only because I think they have a great Chance already. (Note the capitalization there, it's important). As an added aside, to the nice young lady that I rode Thunder Run with two weeks ago, I wasn't kidding about being back at the park on July 12th. So if you are somehow reading this, I'll be at the entrance to Lightning Run at 1:00 PM

^ For me, no, no, and no, respectively. I ocassionally do the mazes because they are there and they are free. But for me personally, any price tag is too high. I'm sure that haunted maze fans might pay those prices, even the $259 price, depending on the rumored quality and their level of interest.

I know of another park in West Mifflin that definitely DOES have bins for some (if not all) of their coasters (though I only remember for certain that they were present on Racer), so if such a thing was a state law, then it is either repealed, or there are parks that are actually willing to assume responsibility for loose items. EDIT: Just noticed that you said "local" court. Carry on. Though I will add one thing that always intrigued me, and that is how despite this park having no gates on any of their coasters (except perhaps Sky Rocket? I don't remember if it did or not), I cannot find evidence that this has ever caused an issue. Not really relevant to the conversation, but I do find it to be interesting.

It still irks me that the park map says "The Vortex". There is no "The" on the sign, on the merchandise, or in the ride's name as listed on the park's website. Plus, how can it be "The" Vortex when there are 3 other ones in the same chain of parks?

I'm pretty sure calling it "King James" could be pulled off (in a legal sense) as long as they are very careful in their approach and don't make it obvious that it is related to LeBron James. I mean, King James could describe any of several monarchs throughout history, a couple different translations of the Bible, or any number of other things. Now, that's not to say a legal battle over the naming rights wouldn't happen if they did that, but I think it would be a legal case that Cedar Fair COULD win, if they wanted it badly enough. Of course, if you try to justify the name with the King James Bible, I think from a political correctness perspective you would have a different set of problems. Then again, another Cedar Fair park has two coasters built back to back that share a name with Biblical creatures, so maybe it wouldn't be as problematic as it might seem.

I will give you Gemini and Corkscrew for sure. I've never known many non-enthusiasts to care about Blue Streak. So while it is definitely underrated, I still wouldn't call it one of their major coasters. That is the same reason for the exclusion of Mine Ride. I will say that Maverick, while good, didn't wow me like everyone said it would. As for Twister, it's fun, but definitely not something I'd stand in line more than about a half hour for. And I've always kinda used the terms "amusement park" and "theme park" relatively interchangeably. I'm sure there's a difference, but at the end of the day, I have just as much fun at either, so I've never felt a need to differentiate. Also, don't get me wrong. Cedar Point is a great park with a lot of good coasters. I just don't think it's nearly AS great as everyone claims. Give me Kennywood, KI, or Carowinds any day.

I specified "major coaster". Considering that most of my casual coaster riding friends don't even realize that Blue Streak is there, I can't call it a major coaster, though I do love the ride. And I personally do find Maverick overrated. I'd rather be on Sky Rocket, because that means I'm at the world's finest theme park.

Absolutely, and will stand by that statement any day. I've been to 4 Cedar Fair parks, and frankly, the one in Sandusky is my least favorite. I really don't See Der Point of all the hype.

Please don't ruin Mean Streak for me... It and Maggie are the only major coasters at Cedar Point that aren't totally overrated.

Not to mention walks of shame, last minute wimp-outs, parent swaps, wheelchair access, and other means of either entering and not riding or not entering through the turnstile and proceeding to ride. Though I'd bet it averages out to be pretty close. I can't think of any reason other than these "millionth rider" promotions and similar such things that you would need exact figures down to the individual.

Six Flags had a B&M hyper with a seat belt-ish thing years before Cedar Fair did. Of course, they also removed said seat belt-ish things years before Cedar Fair even had a B&M Hypercoaster, so...

Raptor is located in Ohio. As such, a retrofit of that sort would be much, much more complicated than simply making the trains work in a mechanical sense.

Thoughts and prayers to everyone involved. This is truly horrible. I hope first and foremost that there are no serious long-term injuries from this incident. Even if there is no physical injury, I can imagine I would be traumatized from going through something like that. Magic Mountain's PR department will likely have their work cut out for them for the next few days. I really hope this isn't the beginning of the end of the Arrow Suspended Coasters. There are only 5 left in the world, only four in their original form, and one of those four isn't exactly a thrilling and dynamic ride... I will say that I continue to stand by my statement that coasters are among the safest forms of amusement in the world.