BeeastFarmer

I ate at Panda Express a few times last year, and it was mostly a good experience, besides the long wait times. However, on the last day of the season, an employee was so busy on his phone that he almost dropped a load coming out of the wok to the serving pan. That is not multi-tasking, that is being inattentive. Not to mention the thoughts of the phone and how many germs reside on it...

So, I ask platinum passholders who have season long dining-is this slow speed of service/poor caring evident in other parks in the chain, or is it Kings Island specific? It seems strange that they do not appear to do much to correct it, especially since it seems to be the biggest complaint on the list. (At least from my perspective.) For reference: Holiday World, Kentucky Kingdom-minimal wait times. Dollywood-very long lines, but having only been twice, and during the Christmas event, not a fair sampling. And the employees were trying to do the best they could, and seemed concerned. Unlike the 25 minute wait at Skyline in the area formerly known as Coney Mall where there were only 3 in front of me and the workers were leaning on their elbows making orders.

I was quite satisfied with my All Season Dining plan in '14 and '15 and will probably be so again in '16. I was not satisfied with the speed of service/motivation of some workers (Skyline on IS and the area formerly known as Coney Mall, to be precise). But disappointment passes, and the positives almost always outweigh the negatives. Now, I would be really ticked if I did not have a meal plan or a gold pass and had to wait that long. It'll be interesting to see how Kings Dominion, Carowinds, Cedar Point and possibly Dorney compare to Kings Island in terms of speed of service.

Speaking of PR/hype: For those of you who were around when Ed Hart first built up the park, how did he promote it? LIke it is being promoted this incarnation? I was raised here in KY, and the park always seemed to be not that big of a deal. I don't remember any of the early 90's with the park. Then again, I don't really remember any of the KI ads, except the one for The Beast when I was very young. I used to stay up way past my bedtime to watch late night TV and the commercial always scared me.

TombRaiderFTW, I read that somewhere to, but I can't remember where. It had something to do with lessons learned from Twisted Colossus--the maintenance crews had to remove paint from the wheels nightly. calakapepe, a guess here--maybe since there will not be as much wear on the lift, they did not take the time to not paint the strip? Not being a coaster expert, I am just thinking about the distance, but the time is a factor as well.

I'm looking forward to riding this, as well as Lightning Rod at Dollywood. I do think it will increase attendance, I just wish the park would hype it up some more.

Yup, you got it!

I'm trying to post a screen shot from my phone, but I can't remember how to post a photo. It seemed easier on a different thread. I'll find the thread that discussed photo files and then post it. If The Interpreter has Facebook, I am sure he could spot it right away. Magenta Lizard, if I stated what it was about the post, it would give it away, which I am interested in knowing if anyone else spotted the mistake.

Goble, my question has nothing to do with the photo--it is the text.

Did anyone else notice the March 1 15:32 Facebook post?

Pink eye can also be transmitted via lapbars, seatbealts and other "bugs" can come from the seats. I don't think I would use these, but I will never say never. After all, I rode Vortex and went to Kentucky Kingdom in 2015, two choices I am VERY glad I made. (This is coming from a germaphobic nurse, BTW.) Edit: I had put 2016 instead of 2015.

I'd be happy just to get the Coney Mall sign back.

This makes me happy. The Holiday World model, modified, is catching on. Free self serve stations at HW, self serve stations at KK, and now dedicated refill stations at KI, which may also come to other Cedar Fair parks. *Note: Please don't crucify me for the Holiday World model nomenclature, please keep in mind my only parks as an adult are KI, HW, KK, and Dollywood.

Thanks, calakapepe. That was it. When I saw "upper que"--I am talking about the first que section that is normally used. I call the other, rectangular que, the lower que. That's how my mind works.

Refresh my memory: What was in the building that is now the upper que for Diamondback?

This was in another thread last year at Halloween Haunt. I am sorry I don't recall the poster's name, but he posted a video of him and his son at Haunt. In the Octoberfest area, I heard the "old" lifthill music on the speakers. I commented and he replied that it was from the Independence Day soundtrack, but I can't remember the name of the song.

You know, I was soooo close to filling out an endorsement form and paying the fee to the Ohio Board of Nursing today, only to realize: 1. If I worked at KI as an RN, it's only seasonal and I love my current job. 2. If I did get a 2-day a week job at KI, that would be doable, but where would I stay? 3. If #2 was solved, who would take care of my pets and livestock while I was away each week. Sometimes it sucks being an adult!

I had heard that they had the second train last year but never added it. I take that with a grain of salt since I never saw it, or saw where it could be stored when it wasn't being used (like they do with the second train on Lightning Run.) Just another thing to look forward to finding out about. I think that is why I am such an advocate of this park. I went in with very low expectations, and my socks were blown off when those expectations were thrown out the window. But I tend to set the bar low for many things so I end up not being upset.

So I have changed my mind about The Beast music. I think the first lift hill is better without it. The announcement is annoying. I do like it on the second lift and have found my happy place. That means they will probably change it for 2016. Still kind of forlorn about not having The Beast as my first coaster in 2016, but will do Thunderhead so that my first 2016 coaster will be a woodie.

And back to Kentucky Kingdom, the T3 ride operators were great last year in the handful of times I rode. Granted there was only one train and waits were long, but the ride ops were mostly efficient and had good interaction with the public. Lightning Run was consistently average, but really slow about sending vehicles out after the all clear was issued. Thunder Run had some great crews and some terrible crews.

To echo the advice given earlier today: If you are on the fence, go. Had I listened to my internal voice and not gone in 2015, I would not have had some great times with friends and ridden some great coasters. I would not have appreciated the revival of a park that was left to decay in the shadow of SIX. And I would have not had an opportunity to see areas that my home park is strong in, and areas it is weak in. If my 2016 plans go swimmingly, I will have many more parks to compare and contrast to.

I think that the park has surpassed many expectations and that each year it is opens bodes well for the future. It has had two seasons-many said it would not have one. It has a new coaster-Lightning Run, that many said was not impressive. It is. Thunder Run reopened, and gives a tremendous ride. T3 reopened, and it was actually enjoyable (my opinion, and I had never ridden T2). Storm Chaser looks like it will be a hit. The water park gains good reviews. The park has many issues to overcome, and I think they are making some good inroads. All this is coming from someone who swore he would never step foot inside the park again after his miserable experience in 2008. He may also try another SIX park in the next year or two. I honestly think it is amazing that a park that was vacated and given up for dead is as good as it is.

What I would like to see: A modern wooden coaster that is reliable and low maintenance. I really think that a wooden coaster is needed to balance out the line up at Kings Island, and to pay homage to the past. I'd like to see the giant box in Rivertown removed, and this coaster to go in this spot and go back in the woods, but not too close to The Beast. After this installation, I would like the next coaster to be the B&M giga, but in the giant space where SOB stood. Would be a good skyline addition and if done correctly (station entrance near Timberwolf/Invertigo) this coaster would keep adding to the action in this zone. I am easy to please however. I'd be happy to get the Coney Mall sign back, and consistently cleaner/non smelly restrooms. (Note: the wooden coaster that I'd like to see is a larger version of something like Thunderhead at Dollywood, and climate controlled restrooms like at Kentucky Kingdom.)

I ordered my Dollywood Gold pass online, and processed when I went back in November. It was quick and painless. The thing about Dollywood is that compared to KI, the gold pass seems more expensive, but...I was also able to get in two visits in 2015, and may be able to get one in 2017, depending on the weather. Dollywood will be the first park I visit this year, and even though it is further away than KI, it is more of a destination than KI. So I may stay in the area and do more things, whereas when I go to Cincy, it is usually only to go to KI.

When the park posts a photograph and states that The Beast trains are back on the track and ready for opening day, and you breathe deeply and all seems right with the world for a moment.