BeeastFarmer

My point was this: Both HW and KK have changed the market demographics. Neither one is in any way of the scale or dominance of KI. But they have taken away market share. For instance: I visited KI 26 times last summer. I went to KK 5 or 6. Had KK not been in existence, I probably would have visited KI 2 or 3 more times. And each time I visit KI, I spend at least $10, so that is $20-$30 in revenue that the park missed on. Not much, but what if 1000 other people did the same? $20,000.00. I have no idea how many people do this, but I would guess that the reopening of KK and the Thunderbird coaster at HW has taken some of the pie away from KI, enough to warrant what looks like a sizeable attraction. On another note, and I could be WAY off here, because I am no fan of water parks: But the water parks at the other two parks seem superior to Soak City. I was at Splashin' Safari for Holliwood Nights, and walked through Hurricane Bay to get to T3, and they seemed cleaner, better laid out and nicer than SC. Maybe that is why SC got some attention for this year.

Exactly, The Interpreter. I have no idea what is going to come of all the construction up there, but Kings Island pretty much has to respond to the recent additions at KK and HW.

And the Ride Operator took the high road and chose not to file battery charges.

http://www.journific.com/kings-island-closed-down-until-2020.html

No. Snooping. Close to Planet Snoopy.

Ok, talking about Vortex: I rode it on season pass preview night. I think I was in 5-1. If I understand it correctly, 5-1 is the 5th section of the train, front "tub" in the section? If so, it was a great ride. I don't have to worry about head banging, but the only part that was rough for me was the transition right before the MCBR. (side note, thanks for teaching me coaster jargon, if I am still incorrect about my seating terminology, please correct me).

I thought the standard for the park was a grade crossing over the road that bisects the park, inside the fairgrounds, as far as wheelchair access between the two sides. When I was out and about today, I thought about each business I entered. Of those I entered, only businesses that provided shopping carts had automatic door openers. Other places (food establishments, Great Clips, Staples, etc.) did not, nor did they have the button.

On a serious note, The Interpreter, what is it about Swampwater Jack's? The "bumpy" entrance is not the only entrance, and there are doors that wheelchairs can easily access. (Note, this is not a inflammatory question, just trying to understand the situation at this particular location.)

...is something they were lacking.

"The addition of many new plantings in an ongoing horticulture effort throughout the park. More than 100 species of perennials and ornamental grasses, along with many annuals and specimen of trees all have been labeled. Each label has a barcode that can be scanned with a smart phone. Visitors can then be linked to a website, where they will find photos of the plant and information about it. They then have the information to buy the plant at a retailer."-- http://www.courier-j...-2016/83638128/ This makes me very happy. My first visit eleven months ago, I was very impressed with the effort the park has taken with the landscape design and plant tags. Glad to see that is continuing and the barcode was added so I will be able to have more information about plants I don't have a knowledge of. Glad to see the park is doing a good thing for us plantaholics.

New wooden coaster: Rattling Timber. Wooden, same snake family, and falling trees. --I do not know and did type.

You know what would make me happy? If they removed and relocated the junkyard coaster and gave it a new theme to Rivertown and restored the area with Antique Cars/Les Taxis and lush landscaping. This is not speculation, just a wish.

What do I know? Not much. But...I don't think a giga coaster would fit well on this side of the park. What if they relocated Drop Tower and the Skycoaster to Rivertown, rethemed them to a more rustic theme (kudos for THAT on the new funnel cake building!), removed Congo Falls, and put a giga coaster in Action Zone? That makes sense to my mind.

Taking from the Kentucky Kingdom Facebook page, I would conjecture Storm Chaser has been cleared to operate for the general public. The post was about the Education in Motion day and the first family to ride Storm Chaser. Congratulations to Kentucky Kingdom!

The Interpreter, I look forward to our day at Kentucky Kingdom. Any idea of a time I should plan for? Weekends are out since I work, except for mid June vacation, but I will be back east on my epic park tour for 19 days.

I know how difficult it can be to fill positions. I've had to do it before. I've also had to choose to terminate unmotivated employees. That put me in a very short term bind, but it improved quickly when the "bad apples" were eliminated. Morale went up, not down, and other employees took note and improved. (I'm thinking about the guys who were leaning on their elbows at the Skyline Chili location last August, in the area formerly known as Coney Mall.) Now, I am also looking toward the customer. Last Friday, I was at The Chicken Shack and the line was being held up by two ladies who were ordering for their entire family (who were seated). The family was not the problem, their food was simple. But the ladies wanted a salad with this, no that, more of this, less of that, that strip doesn't have enough breading etc. And they seemed proud to have the attention from the frustrated line. Another suggestion for KI to improve: Listen to your customers. I looked at the Facebook page this morning, and it is like a minefield. Not a word from the park. With all the issues Kentucky Kingdom has, it responds to people on Facebook, as does Carowinds. Speaking of Carowinds, food service speed was good. Employees had the same lost look though. Quality and quantity was great, but the Chicken Steak sandwich at Chickie and Petes was not good.

I love the meal plan. I hope it never goes away. However, maybe there could be a process where meal plan holders could use the plan imbedded into the pass to speed things up. I'd love to see the refill cups go away. Ideally, I'd like to see many more refill stations in the park and a higher pass price with drinks included. Or regular sized cups for cold water at each service location.

I have family in Louisville, and the places I have been seem tame. But recently, while visiting my uncle in the hospital, I have seen freeway signs littered with graffiti, trash, and neglect on main freeways. (The Hibachi grill right off I-64 past Blankenbaker is closed and neglected). I shouldn't gloat too much--a teenager just shot and killed another teenager in cold blood last week in a barn just a few miles from my farm. The world gets stranger by the minute.

I was there, after dark, last year during state fair. I felt perfectly safe. In my visits last season, I never felt threatened, intimidated or ill at ease.

What does IIRC mean?

I was dismayed that they didn't try to remove the human grease stains on Diamondback's seatbacks/restraints this year.

What happens when someone cuts a tree down? They yell "Timber!" What is a variety of a rattlesnake? A timber rattler. What is another variety of a rattlesnake? A Diamondback. Finally, what can happen in nature to cause trees to fall? Storms? Lightning with Thunder? Sounds terrible x3. I'm gonna roller skate to bed now. It was a Beast of a day.

Got all the rides I wanted/planned to do. Very satisfied with ride ops. Food service is still sorely lacking, but the server gave me enough food to feed a small army. Time to turn in, gotta be up in five hours for work. Ya'll have a great opening day!

Wow, I never really noticed how the K looks like a Kroger K.

I'm calling it. They are moving Congo Falls out of Action Zone into Rivertown. This goes with the river theme, gets all three water rides closer together, and opens up room in Action Zone. Of course I jest, but it would be nice to have them close so you can get really wet, then dry off and resume your day rather than transversing the park in wet clothes.