BeeastFarmer

How would they enforce no sharing? For example, if I take my niece to the park and decide to give her my coney dog that's on my meal plan, how would they know? These plans are generous in portion size and would they rather the coney dog go in the trash?Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Spent the day in the park yesterday. Observations: 1. Not a crowded day; ride ops were great. 2. Food service is still terrible, even at this point in the season. We went to Skyline in the former Coney Mall area-There was one person in front of us waiting for food, our 2 orders and one person behind us. The food prep people still took over 15 minutes to prepare our (2) Three ways and one coney. Two were resting their elbows on the prep table. No sense of urgency at all. 3. Every mens room I went to was terrible. International Street, Planet Snoopy by Diamondback, Backlot Stunt Coaster, WindSeeker and the former Coney Mall near the Coney Confection stand. Each one was disgusting and smelled worse than an unemptied latrine at a Boy Scout camp at the end of the summer. (If you are wondering why I visited so many restrooms, I was looking for a clean one to use.) 4. I saw several people smoking while walking through the crowds. Maybe it happens alot, but I had never seen it before. 5. The Blue Racer was running VERY well. Adventure Express was not. 6. At the entrance to The Beast que, the phone still has a Paramout's Kings Island sticker on the inside. (I am such a geek for noticing this!) 7. Landscape is looking awesome. The flowers were so nicely tended. 8. Staff are great--even in the heat and humidty, they smile and say, "Have a fun day!" 9. Some staff, even after seeing seeing thousands of people, have an excellent memory. For instance, a particular ride operator, I would see when riding The Beast. I was in Planet Snoopy with my niece, he was working a ride there, and spoke to me. Kind of impressed that some people take the time to remember that. Makes a big place seem smaller. 10. Finally, in spite of the food serrvice wait times and nasty restrooms, we had a blast. Kings Island has really upped its' game in the guest experience arena and it shows.

I am not an attorney, or a finance guru. I am sure I wil be corrected if I am Interpretting these sources incorrectly. 1. Page One, paragraph seven: Bluegrass Boardwalk's starting rent of the KK property was to be $400,000.00 and increasing each year the park is open. 2. Page Two, paragraphs two and three: Bluegrass Boardwalk WAS offered this option to finance improvements. Source: http://finance.ky.gov/services/ofm/Documents/4-27-12_SPBC_Min.pdf The statute that allows using of the KK land to be used in this way: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Statutes/statute.aspx?id=22653 This statement is, of course, from the perspective of the current operator of KK, when BB withdrew and a proposal was in the process of being resubmitted: "The new partners said they are asking the board for essentially the same lease terms the state approved for the Koch family. Their new offer is to invest $10 million in upfront equity, with the other $30 million in money that would be provided by an unidentified lender. The Koch family had offered to invest about $16.5 million." Source: http://www.frostbrowntodd.com/newsroom-172.html To protect the Fair Board and by extension, the taxpayer, all improvements made by the operator become the property of the fair board, including leased rides once the lease is paid off: Update 2:35 p.m. Here’s the Fair Board’s Summary of the Terms 1. Kentucky Kingdom LLLP to invest $45 million to improve amusement park with opening in spring 2014. $20 million in equity investment and a $25 million loan. All improvements become property of Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB). " 7. All rides/improvements purchased with $45 million will become the property of the state. Kentucky Kingdom may lease future rides with other development funds in order to leverage more new rides to increase attendance. When the leased rides are paid off, they also become the property of the KSFB (Interesting side thought: If improvements are leased but not purchased (ie: a flat like Cyclos is leased for five years to bolster attendance, what happens if the operator fails during that five year lease and the park closes?) Source: http://wfpl.org/kentucky-kingdom-lease-plan-hart-led-group-gets-approval-re-opening-targeted-2014/ My opinions: The controlling poiltical party will have little influence over the future of the park after th election. The current governor was pulling out all stops for casino gambling and was repeatedly rebuffed by the public. I would conjecture that this property would have been an important piece of that puzzle and hence his lack of support in the earlier part of his terms. One of Mr. Hart's partners is a political rival of Gov. Beshear so that did not help. If conservatives win the governorship, it would not behoove them to interfere; they would not want to be seen as the party that closed the park. I am really not sure how they could circumvent signed leases anyway. KK will never be a KI. Never. But it is a good option that it closer to home (for me!)

I'm on the heavier side, but have no problem with the ride. Granted, it takes the ride op to push (I have a bad shoulder, so I can only push so far) and they look concerned and ask "Is this OK?" but it doesn't seem to slow down operations too much.

Those who know, dont tell, and those who dont know, tell. This employee was likely just promoted from the Dippin' Dots stand. That's why I said it will be interesting to see what the announcement will bring. [emoji3] Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk Edit to correct the typo "Brin" to "bring."

Also the food at Taco Tequila is great!Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

At Kentucky Kingdom today...small crowds r/t the threat of rain. Great rides of Thunder Run and Lightning Run. T3 was a fun ride! The only rough part was on the turn around heading back into the station and that was more abrupt than rough. The green buttons on the joystick handles are seat belt releases. A park employee joined a conversation I was having with another enthusiast...he said that TT is being removed and KK will get two new coasters next year. Will be interesting to see what the announcement will be! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

JCGoble, at least you some form of response. I have stopped by guest services at Kings Island almost every visit in '14 and '15 to compliment park employees. They have me fill out a form, saying that they would like to follow up and I have never gotten follow up communication. Not that I want it per se, but if they want your information and tell you they want to follow up with you, it would be nice to get that communication so in some way I could know that the manager of these people knows how great the employees are. Yes, I do my best to remember names. I have not had any negative employee interactions in '14 and '15, someone is doing a great job training in customer service. Food and beverage...still issues, but that is another discussion, haha.

Some people have to work to support the thrill habit. But I'll let you know how much better than Banshee it is in the next couple of weeks. (Kidding although Banshee was so so for me)Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

I've done some reading on this. I'll reread and cite my references and if I'm wrong (which happens), I'll own up to it. But for now I'm off to bed. 2 12 hour shifts are ahead of me this weekend. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Both of which were part of the Bluegrass Boardwalk deal. The fair board, I would hope, would recognize that a tenant that brings in at least $500,000.00 plus a percentage of revenue, both of which increase incrementally each sucessive year of the lease is better than zero dollars. The collateral-very legal. This option would be available to any operator such as the Koch family, CF, SIX and even Ed Hart. After the Bluegrass Boardwalk venture collapsed, Mr. Hart was the sole bidder, (that we know of).

Leaves the impression, yes. But this tourism tax credit is available to any entity that brings in people from outside of the Commonwealth. Bluegrass Boardwalk would have been able to use the program had they become the operator of the facility. As far as Kentuckians subsidizing by paying increased prices--$59.95 season passes were available in Louisville and Lexington Kroger markets (whose reach is very deep into most areas of the Commonwealth) from last season up until late Spring 2016, Granted, Louisville prices were increased to $79.95, but still very affordable to many citizens. I'm just glad someone advised me to visit this year. Two great coasters and now I am actually going to try T3 next trip.

On the KK FB page, someone created a meme that has a picture of Mr Hart. The text days something to the effect of "all superheroes don't wear a cape." I thought the folks on here might get a kick out of that. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

I haven't tried Taco Tequila yet. I went in to the Italian place (can't remember the name) and left because the food in the warmers looked terrible. Swamp Water Jack's was not much better, but I asked them to make "new" food and they did and it was actually decent. Junior's was good for me! I liked the pretzel roll bun.

It's one or the other, not both. St. Louis is about 4 hours away, Chicago is about 6 hours.

i have been pleased with my experiences at the park. It has some work to go, but has come a long way from my singular SIX experience in 2009. On another note, which park would anyone suggest I visit next: Dollywood SF St Louis SF near Chicago Beech Bend These parks are all about 6-7 hours away and doable with my work schedule. Notice that FUN parks are not on this years list, as I plan to get a platinum pass in '16 and will hopefully hit up CP, KD and CW.

That's what I love about these forums. I learn so much! I just assumed that since they were suspended and looped they were SLCS. (I knew Banshee was inverted but didn't know there was a different terminology. ) Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Are Banshee and Invertigo SLCs?

In my limited "coaster enthusiast" experience, I will say that Thunder Run is a great ride. I am in no way a small man, but the airtime in the back at least made me feel almost like I was standing. Lightning Run is a great ride as well. I daydreamed that I dreamed that I was invited on an exclusive test run of T3 Sunday. Being that I just rode Banshee last week, I have to say that T3>Banshee*. Of course I kid about this, but since I didn't hurl in the Banshee station, I may actually ride T3 when it opens. *I did not ride T3, it was a joke. Edit to ensure that any person in political power in the Commonwealth of Kentucky would be able to understand this statement is a fable and in no way happened at any time.

What he said

There is supposed to be an announcement in July. Hopefully T3 will be operational at this time.

RMC did work for KK in 2013. They retracked Thunder Run. It is quite the ride. If speculation holds true and RMC converts TT, it will strenghthen KK's future.

I no longer ride The Vortex, but will be sad when/if it goes. Holds memories of a high school friend who is now gone. Roller coasters are so much more than machines or material, they have a life in the lives of people.

A friend said on Facebook that she rode it this morning, and I believe it was open yesterday evening also (not sure on the latter). I rode Diamondback the day of the incident. It was the last ride of the nite for me, during fireworks. They were back to three train operation at that point.

I voted for Diamondback. Have only ridden a few of the others. I rode Banshee for the first time this week. It was fun, but not all that. It was quite loud on the lift, and was not smooth as I expected. It was not rough per se, but wasn't smooth either.