electricsun

Malem- did you actually get in the water at Zoombezi Bay at 57 degrees? How do you handle such cold temperatures? If it is 70 and overcast, I'll walk around the waterpark but will not be enjoying the water.

While in line for Diamondback yesterday, we couldn't figure out why we were hearing a Selena Gomez song but seeing Jennifer Hudson on FunTV. A bit later, we heard another song getting louder. We realized that a guest had a speaker/boom box in his book bag. I guess that is one way to make sure you only hear music you like...and to share with the people around you.

I've been on Griffon and Sheikra and enjoyed all three rows. Each row gives you a slightly differently experience. I love the thrill of the front row and staring straight down and waiting for the release and drop. However, I found that my nieces preferred the other two rows as it wasn't as terrifying for them. I'm excited to experience Valravn and see how it compares.

Educations Days typically runs the first two Fridays in May and the first full week. Additional days after that are typical but aren't normally advertised as much as the Fridays and week.

It's a busy day - lots of school groups for Education Days. Long lines for food everywhere. The Beast and Diamondback lines looked to be about 30 minute wait. Vortex is about a 20 minute wait.

If you are at KI today, I would avoid Fest Haus for food. The line is wrapped past the stage with school groups. Now, if you want to see the shows there are plenty of seats available as people are in line.

Nope, phones are not allowed as one of my friends learned on Friday as he was told over the system to put his phone away. His response to me after was "it's just Boo Blasters!". It doesn't matter.

Ahh...but I'm missing my sidekick/partner-in-crime/nephew that made last years event so much fun for me. Also NASA Glenn is having an open house the same weekend. I have to choose between two of my favorite things - science and roller coasters. Thought I had decided but forgot about NASA. Grrr.

I wonder if it's the state that makes the determination for stopping? Hershey Park's Wild Mouse didn't stop but MI and Dorney Park's Wild Mouse ride does. I'm just trying to figure out how this happened. I've had stands of my hair get caught on parts of a ride and it is painful. But her hair getting caught and then falling confuses me - unless she started to fall and her caught hair made her slam her head into the ride? Regardless, that must have been a terrifying ordeal for the girl and the others with her.

Decisions...decisions...must be made. After two days of a smashing and booming time, do I want to go two more days?

They are stronger than they look! (Magenta Lizard, you just made me giggle so much. Love your post!)

Wait! You saw a bobcat? They are normally solitary creatures and to see one in the woods with all that noise happening is really surprising.

While this may not be of much help, yesterday was Ohio State Day at Cedar Point (https://www.osu.edu/alumni/activities-and-events/events/2016/ohio-state-date-at-cedar-point.html). While I wasn't there, I would hazard a guess that 15 minutes of passholders entering early didn't create the massive lines but the fact that the park was already open for that special event. But that certainly doesn't fix the inconsistency of opening gate times. I stay in a lot of hotels for work. In the future, if you ever have issues with rowdy guests next to you, call the front desk at that moment. Don't wait until morning. This gives them the chance to correct it for you so you can sleep. Typically they will come up to the offending room and tell them to quiet down. Sometimes the other guests aren't aware of how loud they are being or how much their sound carries. If that doesn't fix it, call the front desk again. And keep doing so if the room doesn't stop. Ultimately, if that doesn't work, there can be consequences for the other room such as fines or getting kicked out or they will move you to another room so you can get some rest. Once the morning arrives and you've done nothing, there isn't much they can do to make the situation better.

Can't speak to wait lines for rides but there is a massive line in Fest Haus. It looks as though the school groups all timed their lunch break time to happen between 12:15-1p.

This is crazy. If you drop an item while riding, you have to wait until the park closes for team to safely retrieve it. Yes, it's inconvenient. But, your stuff should have been secured and the safety of other guests and employees is more important. Things can be replaced. People can't. A man died last year after jumping two fences to see if he could find his phone after riding Raptor (http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2016/02/cedar_point_wont_raise_fence_i.html ). If I'm remembering correctly, a man got hurt at a park last year or the year before for retrieving a hat. Again...a person's life is far more important than a hat or phone.

The Columbus Zoo does this type of show as well. The first several times they talked about rescuing the animals I teared up. (No laughing bkroz - I'm sure you're not surprised). There is something wonderful about animals deemed "unworthy" being rescued and having a second chance at life. I don't believe the animals are forced to do these tricks. I saw the predator show at BGW this past summer and watched as one of the animals decided to ignore all the cues and just walked around the stage. The presenter and handler just laughed and explained that this is the process and the animals have a choice. If anyone is interested in seeing how powerful positive reinforcement can be with rescued animals, check out Lucky Dog on CBS. http://cbsdreamteam.com/lucky-dog/show-background/

No such thing as too old. I don't have it but my boss is in his 40's and Snapchats with our team. We joke that he's the "cool uncle" and I'm more like the "mom". No point in me getting Snapchat as no one Snapchats mom.

Haha I remember last year when I had bought a band (that didn't exist) for the free unlimited drinks I asked for a big cup of water. He said he couldn't do it but I could get a big pop then have it refilled with water. I asked if he could ring me up for the pop (which was free because of the band) but not pour it and instead fill it with water.... He did but man oh man. That is so odd! I wonder if the person was new or just never dealt with someone asking for water instead of pop? When I've chaperoned camp trips, we have a rule that the campers have to alternate a pop with water. Our group never had any challenges with getting the large cups of water. The servers sometimes look a bit confused as to why we would get water, but they never denied us.

Many school/charter busses in the parking lot. At least 15 that I counted as I was turning around Drop Tower. Drop Tower was an hour and ten minute wait. By the time I was done 5.5 of the 8 rows were full. Delirium was quite full as well. Viking Fury and Invertigo had reall short lines. The Beast queue is full. BLSC queue was 3/4 full. All the food lines are long. I would say it's a busy day. Going to ride the train and head home.

And here's more info. https://www.festivalsofmusic.net/ext/mip/Events.aspx#top

I'll keep an eye out. It may be too late for performances. Decided to wait for Drop Tower so I'll get a good view in a little bit. There is a Festival of Music next month which seems to be dedicated to choral groups. https://www.visitkingsisland.com/festivals-performances/festival-of-music http://www.edprog.com/CedarFair_FOM/Kings_Island/KI_Main.html

I just got here about 25-30 minutes ago. It seems like a pretty steady crowd but as I don't normally come on Saturdays, I'm not sure how this normally compares. Drop Tower had 3/4 of the queue building full. I'm in line for Banshee going on 15 minutes. Likely another 15-20 minute wait. There are signs for "Music in the Parks Ceremony". If that is like Carowinds, they had choirs and/or bands competing today. But that's just an assumption.

I was on WindSeeker during the fireworks one night last season. It looks as though the launch site is also close to the turnaround for the blue Racer. But I remember seeing the coasters run. I just can't remember if it was both, or just one side. It made me curious last year and I forgot to ask. Do they run both sides or just the red side during fireworks? Side note- if the timing works out, being on WindSeeker during fireworks is pretty darn awesome. That is if you like fireworks and heights.

I too had issues with the dining plan. I had it last year on my dining plan with no trouble. Last night I went to use it at Chick-Fil-A and it wouldn't scan. A supervisor took my pass and asked my name and headed to the back and was gone for reveal minutes. The cashier was friendly and said that they've had issues with some of the Platinum passes. I stepped to the side dishes could help others while I waited. The supervisor came back and said the dinning plan was on the pass but it needed to be processed. I had to go to Guest Relations as they had to do it in person and not remotely. No food for me. I then headed to Guest Relations. There were several KI team members helping guests and they seemed very calm and not overwhelmed. The gentleman who helped me said that they've been having issues as some of the platinum passes were showing things as a single/one time use instead of season long. He fixed it, checked it himself, and then had his supervisor confirm that it was now good. He was very friendly, calm and polite. He said it was his first day and I wouldn't have known if he hadn't told me. I was able to use it later at La Rosa's with no issue. So internally, yes this was a bit of annoying situation. I don't understand why something I had last year with no issues would have issues this year - especially as they were both purchased online and KI is my home park. However, externally there was no point in me getting upset or short with anyone. They clearly didn't choose their processing system and handled everything in a calm and professional manner. I also realize that some quirks or gaps in the system can't be discovered until it is being used by real people, not by team during training. That was our experience when we launched our new reservation system. I just hope for their sake, they have lots more people in Guest Relations tomorrow to assist the guests when these issues happen again. As well as reevaluate their back of house processing system. Knowing a tiny bit of BOH systems, I'm surprised that it is this difficult. In theory, the company that built the system shouldn't have made it almost impossible to assist a Platinum pass guest from a different park. Or, was it set up that way so any additions to the pass have to be made at the home park so the home park gets that revenue? Regardless, Cedar Fair is losing a bit of potential revenue from guests that want to spend a chunk of change by adding something to their pass.

Ahh, camping! Now that is something I can give advice about. I actually, oddly enough, camped for four of those parks last summer. Kings Dominion - Kings Dominion Camp Wilderness. It was nice. Tent spaces are decently shaded and a fair amount of space. Depending on where your tent site is, you can see the park on the other side of the power lines and hear the rides. There are discounts for AAA (call them as that discount doesn't show up online). There is a free shuttle but with a Platinum pass that likely isn't a concern. Restrooms were really nice with great showers and private dressing areas outside the shower. A bit pricier for a camp site but I would do it again. Busch Gardens Williamsburg - KOA Williamsburg. They have 2 locations (on the same road) which can be a bit confusing. The first one has more of a group camp site feeling. There are spaces on the packed sand/dirt with a camp fire and picnic table but you have to park your car on one side and walk your stuff through the tent sites to get to yours. If I was part of a big group, that would have been fine but as a solo camper, it felt a bit awkward. The "quiet side" is farther down the road. The camp sites are on leveled areas on a grade road. Each site is large and shaded with more than enough room for your car. There is a hill on the backside of the camp sites - at the top of the hill are cabins. I loved that side and would camp at that location again. Bathrooms were nice with private dressing areas outside the shower stall. Another perk about the KOA is that they discounted tickets for local attractionshttp://www.williamsburgkoa.com/tickets.html - as always, some pricing may or may not be better deals. Dorney Park - Allentown KOA. I want to camp there again. A bit more rugged and rural area. When you arrive, they will drive a golf cart in front of you to guide you to your campsite. There is a small creek that goes through the campgrounds and it runs next to the tent/pop-up sites. It had rained quite a bit but there didn't seem to be a risk of the creek overflowing. If you like to listen to water babbling, pick site 4. If you don't call them and ask which site would be best. The campground is well shaded. The restroom was fine - not as nice as the two above - but absolutely fine. Hersheypark - Hersheypark Camping Resort. Yes...it's a bit pricey compared to the KOA BUT there are some great perks that led me to camp there. There is a free shuttle that runs to and from the park on a regular basis. This means no parking fees and with the drop off location, you have a short walking distance to enter the park. What sealed the deal for me was their Sweet Start deal. You get in an hour earlier on the day of your visit AND 3.5 hours the night before your visit. http://www.hersheyparkcampingresort.com/amenities/hershey_resorts_advantage-summer.php I had an issue when I stayed (no electric at the sites where I was) but I was satisfied with how they handled it when I brought it to their attention. I would absolutely stay there again. I would avoid the Pavilion spots - there is a train that runs near the train tracks which could be a bother for some people. The sites were also the smallest I've seen and very rocky for when I was putting in my stakes. The best ticket deals seem to found online at Hersheypark's website. There are lots of different options, including meal deals. The food at Hersheypark was far more reasonable than I expected. They have an amazing s'more funnel cake for like $5.99 or $6.99 - so good! Their shows are also top notch. Make some time to see them. I saw their dueling pianos show and was highly entertained. Let me know if you have any additional questions about the campgrounds!