DonHelbig

They could be fully staffed and not cut hours but choose not to. That's what's going to irk people.

With Kings Island and other SIX parks looking to do minimal staffing across the park, combined with reducing pay and hours, it's hard not to see the guest experience eroding.

But the bottom line will look good for the investors.

The pay cuts are across the board at Six Flags parks. You will see less returners this year.

These were good episodes. Hope to see new episodes in the foreseeable future.

The guest experience will suffer at Cedar Point and other Six Flags parks because of the pay cuts for seasonal associates. These are the people that bring the parks to life every operating day and deliver the experience, not those sitting in the corporate office in Charlotte. The season pass price should be higher but that wouldn't have made a difference in what the associates will be paid this year.

There are a couple people that would be out the door if Herschend bought Kings Island. Their antics would not be tolerated.

Fair reporting, the media just doing their job, it's just unacceptable by some of the people that make those decisions as to who is and who isn't invited to media day.

I'm there in my office more than some other people.

Yes, I know where.

The Columbus Chill were coached by Terry Ruskowski. He was one of my favorite players in my teen years when he played in the World Hockey Association for the Houston Aeros and Winnipeg Jets, then in the NHL for the Chicago Blackhawks and a few other teams. Intense guy. When I did media relations for the Cyclones, I enjoyed the games at the Fairgrounds Arena and talking to Ruskowski before the games about the WHA days.

There aren't as many true theme park people involved in this theme park company as there used to be.

We now have a Buy or Sell segment as part of every episode. We'll also be adding back in the "Your Kings Island Stories" segment in February. Anyone interested in sharing their Kings Island story (favorite memory) can submit it via email to donhelbig@themeparksbydon.com. Use Story for TT in the subject line.

Kings Island could run one side on The Racer backwards if they wanted to, but they choose not to. PTC didn't, after 26 seasons, tell them they couldn't do that. It was a management decision to run one side backwards in 1981, and a management decision to turn it back around after the 2007 season.

Meanwhile, while Dollywood is looking to expand to year-round operation, one chain is looking to cut operating days and hours across its parks.