medford

FWIW, there were 2 bucket lifts and a crane out by the big KI sign near the interstate this morning. I'd assume its part of routine offseason maintance, but perhaps a little change in the signage is in the workds.

I've walked off both rides nearly completely dry, and I've walked off both rides completely drenched.

if you can design a bathroom that can expand and contract based upon the number of people coming thru the gates, you'd be a very rich person. I'm not exactly sure what laziness has to do with the size of the bathrooms, when you've got to go, you've got to go. Secret restrooms? If I had a secret restroom, I certainly wouldn't share it, as it would no longer be a restroom, but the festhaus ones seem to be pretty well attended to, as wel as the onces in the Reds HOF grille.

Hopefully that is correct. Its was seriously an eye sore last season and something I mentioned earlier that needed to be done this offseason w/ the beauty of a new ride right next door, all of the rust showing up was going to stick out even more.

the manufacturing process is pretty complicated from what I've read. The number of companies capable of producing track to such a tight tolerance, the capacity to produce the amount of track needed, and the ability to make B&M a primary customer is probably fairly limited to begin with. You're not going to risk pieces of track showing up on sight out of spec or out of time in order to save a couple hundred thousand in shipping costs on a $20 mil+ project.

Order of rides: whatever order my 5 year old wants to go in. Once upon a time, that was a garunteed Boo Blasters on Boo Hill, until it wasn't and Drop Zone with Mom was always first, now that Mom is pregnant with child #3 and Dad won't do drop zone, I'm not sure. It may be Boo Blasters again so Mom can hand out with Child #2 as she's now grown into several of those rides with height restrictions, might be straight back to The Bat or over to The Beast. Or, if growth proceeds at the levels it has over the last 3 years (4" every year from one June birthday to the next) we may just be starting out on Banshee before the park starts setting up for the Haunt. Only time will tell, but I can just about garuntee you with Mom unable to ride this summer, anything that spins too much (I'm looking at you Monster and Scrambler) will likely not be found on either child's ride count, and most certainly will not be on mine, unless they start installing traschcans on said rides.

Depends if one is at KI Central or if one is at CW Central (or the equal there to)

Or the park map, which is typically shown on the website prior to the day before the public opening (ie media day this season) Of course, if they only release a digital form map, it wouldn't be that hard to have 1 version saying Action Zone for the website, then make the switch on the website during media day w/ the actualy 2014 maps on hand when the gates open up that morning.

I worked on a large chicken egg farm, shoveling beneath the cages for ONE DAY. Believe me, it can be spine tingling. would that explain the username

frozen thunder? You don't say?

I've mentioned this before; there is a 5-1/4" floppy drive disk on one of the computers that has been resting inside the que of FoF. I don't think it needs a retheme, hardly at all, and I wouldn't waste the money needed to make a new video for the que line, they're not going to get much bang for their buck there. However, you have to figure like most companies, there has to be a handful of computers that have more than exceeded their shelf life in the last 20 years at KI. Simply replacing their old models with the 5-1/4" drives with newer computers wouldn't make the que feel quite as dated. In my opinion, they could give an internship (paid or unpaid) to someone or a group of someones at the the Cincy School for the Conservation of Arts (I'm not sure the exact name, I know that is close, but its suppose to be a very good school). They should have a number of qualified people who are experienced putting together stage sets for plays, that could use those skills to update the que for FoF.

IIRC, there aren't any. I think there is a pinball machine in the arcade near The Beast, but don't quote me on that, the only time I spend in the arcades are when our 5 year old wants to spend a few minutes pretending like he's playing the games. If my memory is correct on the pinball machine by The Beast, I have no idea what it is called or themed, I only recall seeing a young couple playing it while my son was messing around.

I've only been to Montreal briefly (flew into the airport, then drove to Cornwall, which is the Eastern most city near the border in Ontario for a job that we were doing across the river in upsate New York) but I'll venture its like most other places where something other than English is the primary language. You'll have no trouble finding someone that can help you around, but life will be far easier if you can learn a few small phrases in French. People tend to open up a little more if you know a little of their language. I don't know if this applies to Montreal or not, but in Europe, there are many people who go out of their way to help American tourists as it gives them a chance to practice their English when they spend most of their time speaking German, Spanish, Italian, etc.. Like anywhere else, you'll encounter people who don't want to be bothered by "the American" but you'll find far more people that are more than willing to point you in the right direction or assist in any questions you have.

Like every other thread on every other message board, there is only so much that can be said and the thread either dies or diverges in a different direction. When something new comes about that promotes further dialogue, it will be discussed again. At the moment, track is installed, trains have arrived, and there is a limited amount of work that can be visably seen. There will come a day, very soon, where the mystery of the missing Action Zone circle will be solved, testing will begin, first hand experiences will be shared. Until that time, there is very little to discuss at this point, until there is.

thanks rider. We went when my son was 1 in late July or early August for a family reunion of sorts. While the weather was hot, and hit rained pretty good eacy day, the crowds never seemed unbearable. Of course we took full use of the fast pass system, and with much of the time in the park spent just w/ my wife and son, we never made it to Space Mountain (which was closed anyways for several months of maintance), thunder mountain and what not. W/ the fast pass, and jumping on the smaller lines for dumbo or pirates of the carribean, it wasn't too bad. Next time, though we'll have the daughter with us, so I envision some splitting up. Our 5 year old will ride anything that his 48" will allow him at KI, don't know what kind of ride warrior our daughter will be. Certainly the wife is going to want to do some of the princess stuff with her, while the won will want to do anything but the princess stuff. I'll be coming back here for advice as I begin to plan, probably a year in advance so we can work all the perks into our budget.

OK, so I keep hearing "go when its not peak season" When is peak season exactly? We've been talking about going in a year or two, youngest turns 2 at the end of May, I'm thinking when she turns 4 would be a great time as the oldest will be (almost) 7, if it slides to a year later, 5 & almost 8 isn't too bad either. Either way, we're probably moving this summer, so I'll need that vacation time to get things done around the new house, fix up things on the old one, get it on the market, etc... My wife is a teacher, they've recently pushed up the end of the school year to just after memorial day. I think next school year (ie 2015 and the 1st year I think we could make the trip) their last day is a few days after memorial day, like May 28th or something. I know somebody that teaches w/ my wife who went down as soon as school was out, the last week in May or the very first week of June. They said it wasn't too crowded as most people were just getting out of school. In the minds of the experts here, was that the exception, or the norm? Ideally, for my wife, I think the 2nd week of June or later would work better from a schedule standpoint (ie having to get her room cleaned out, grades turned in, etc...) but if it made a huge difference in crowds, it would be worth me prodding her into going a week early and working to get all that stuff done as soon as school was finished so we could hit the road and enjoy the lighter crowds. B/w her teaching, and the kids in school, are there other time periods that are lighter in crowds? They're still young enough that they are not currently heavily involved in out of school activities that tend to tie familes down w/ older kids. However, teachers don't have the luxory of just heading on vacation in the middle of May or October, so it would have to work around a teacher's schedule. There is a week of spring break that always falls on the first week of April.

So, does anyone else see the "face" on the Banshee 2 cam? Kind of freaky, like a Banshee is lurking.

I look at the picture above, and I ask myself the same question I've asked many times, but have never seen an answer for (not that I'd expect Don or anyone else that may have the correct answer to bring me into the loop), just how much money does the Christian Rock Fesitval make for KI? I happened to be at the park last year when it was going on. I forgot all about until I pulled into the parking lot and it was packed (which for mid-week is sort of rare) and started seeing a bunch of Skillet shirts on people walking thru the park. Anyhoo, while the parking lot was crowded, the actual park wasn't significantly more crowded than a typical mid week crowd that I've come to expect. When we were leaving that night, you could hear the crowd singing in unison to whichever band happened to be on stage at that moment, so for those that attend, its definently a popular event. However, I can't think of any other events that make use of Timberwolf these days. The Sean Hannity tour did for a couple of years, but that is over. Anything else? Does the Christian Rock festival make enough money for the park to cover the cost of maintanence associated with that area? As the picture shows, that is a very large area. A good area for a small "family" coaster and some flats. Though it would cost a fortune to bring all that land "up to grade" as it slopes down to the stage.

I know B&M has a good safety history, but I wouldn't feel very safe using the trains from The Great Pumpkin Coaster on Banshee

I have no authority or inside information, just a gut feeling on this after reading the tea leaves, but I think the "5 year plan" for Cedar Fair (ie across the chain) is to install 1 large attraction per season at their 5 biggest midwest/east coast parks. CW got Leviathan 2 years ago, Cedar Pointe got Gate Keeper last season, KI gets Banshee this season, there is the rumored (Centurian?) 300'+ ride at Carowinds for next season, then KD will get a large coaster/ride installation in 2016. Starting in 2017 the cycle will repeat itself. Knotts is kind of out on an island in respect to the rest of their parks and will operate on an independent cycle from the rest of the chain, the other parks are smaller parks in terms of revenue and will get "large" attraction much less frequently. As seen at all of these parks, there will be small to intermediate additions made in b/w each parks 5 year cycle. Gate Keeper is still relatively fresh and there is a decent chunk of fans that would like to ride it, but haven't made it up to the Pointe yet (myself for one), to add another huge addition next season would be a Dick Kinzel move, taking away some of Gate Keeper's glory while its still "new" in the eyes of many.

As other have said, thanks for sharing with all. Cheers!

I remember as a kid, a time when I can't recall a single pair of cargo shorts anywhere in existance (I'm sure they existed or a cut off pair of "Army" pants, but they certainly were not popular like they are today) entering the park with nothing more than a handful of cash that I'd fold up and shove in my sock until I needed to pull it out. Probably not the best for cashiers in those days, but it was an alternative that many of us employed "back in the day". Change was always a pain, but with our cash safely tucked into our socks, we never lost a thing. Perhaps what is needed is a return of Kangaroos.

They offer free ice water, as many cups as you ask for, all around the park. KI has covered itself well in that regards. I'm no doctor, nor do I play one on tv, but I'll venture a guess that a significant majority (likely all) would tell you that the free water is a signficantly better option than soda for preventing hydration. You can grab 2 or 3 cups of ice water and drink them thru the line. I've had them fill up my souvenior cup with ice water before as well as numerous sippy cups or "push button cups" for our kids. I've never asked them, but I'm willing to bet if you told someone that you have a hydration problem and could they please give you a large cup of ice water, similar to the size of the soda cups, rather than the 8 oz glasses they typically hand out, they'd accomadate you, all at no cost. Bottom line, it is not Kings Island's responsibility to cover every single possible condition. The park does a good job of informing the public about the dangers of the ride. If waiting in line a long time presents a potential danger, well they have an expected wait time listed out front. If they have back problems, are pregnant or some other condition, they list those warnings on a sign in front of the ride. Above all, use some common sense. If it a severe hazard to your health to be out in 90 degree weather, there are times you should not visit the park. If you have allergies to bees and being more than 5 minutes away from your epi-pen presents a life threatening problem, KI really isn't a great place. What happens if you put your bag in a bin at The Beast, climb in and get stung as you the train starts to leave the station, what happens if the train stops on the 2nd lift hill because there is a problem loading another train in the station? I've sat on that hill for a couple of minutes. I've left The Beast station and not returned to the station for well over 10 minutes before. If your epi-pen is sitting in the station, that could spell trouble if your allergies are that severe. If you got stung in line for Banshee, you could get back to your locker in under 5 minutes if you really needed to.

I believe they're doing the new Drop Tower at New Jersey's finest amusement park. As far as coasters go, I was wondering about that, according to RCDB its been several years since they've installed a new coaster in the US with none planned to open in the US this season. I didn't know about their hand in Universal's expansion. One thing appears to be true, Cedar Fair has moved away from anything Intamin (short term? long term? Only a few know and plans do change) which is a significant portion of the large amusement park operators in the country.

according to Walt Disney World's website: a 4 day park pass, is $279 for an adult, $260 for a child ages 3-9 a 5 day park pass is $289 for an adult, $270 for a chile ages 3-9 a 6 day park pass is $299/$280 taxes for all of those is roughly $70 a ticket ($75 for a 6 day pass) So in figuring the cost of a WDW vacation, assuming your looking at a minimum 4 day window, but you're going to be in town longer, there is minimal savings/ticket if you don't extend your ticket package out the full time that your down there (Obviously if you know for certain that if you go down for a week, there will be at least 1 or multiple days you're going somewhere else, say like Universal or out to the ocean/gulf, then it would be a waste of money to spend the extra day, but if your going to remain on property the entire time, even a day spent at the pool can turn into a quick evening at one of the parks, so I'd go for it. In either case, when it comes to budgeting, it doesn't make a big difference to the overall budget. so, if we pick the 5 day package in the middle , and I look at my family of 4, that is $1,190.68 including tax. I happened to look at hotel packages the other day, and it seems that a middle of the line disney hotel room, that would fit a family of four was running approx. $160 a night, plus taxes. If I figured I needed 6 days of a hotel, to spend those 5 days in the park, that would run me another $1000+ by the time I factored in taxes. Add it up, and you're looking at over $2,000 before you start talking about gas, transportation costs, food, souveniors, etc... Obviously you can find ways to save over the average person, find a hotel room w/ a microwave and/or sink so that you can make some cheap lunches, breakfastes or dinners in your hotel room. $10,000 would make for a very nice, plush vacation at WDW for a family of 4, but as its something on my mind to do in the next 2-4 years, I've been tucking about $4000-$5000 into the back of my mind budget.