PKI Homey

Can't really remember where I read this, but Stealth still had one of the longest lines in the park. So, I don't think you can say that they removed it due to unpopularity.

My point was that all of these parks have themed areas, just because they are not named after a specific themeing like Rivertown. Is a midway not themed? Of course it is. And, I agree with Icarus Lives. What does Tomb Raider have to do with the themeing of Rivertown? That could have just as easily went into the Action Zone considering it is an action movie and has nothing to do with the Rivertown themeing. And about the parking lot nonsense. Nobody was referring to the parking lot, just the park itself.

So, beastfreak, if somwone says where is the Top Chill Snow Cones located , then I can't direct them anywhere because it's not in a "themed" area. It is actually located on the Gemini Midway. And, if someone asks where SOB is, you can't actually say the Action Zone because technically it's a giant slab of concrete, not a well themed area. When I say themeing, I'm not just referring to a name. That's the simple definiton. True themeing is the atmosphere that surrounds that area whether it be coasters, food stands, or bushes, trees, benches and etc. So, when you get right down to it, every park has themed areas. IMO, the only true themed parks would be Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Disney. What makes Frontier Trail any more of a themed area than anywhere else in the park? Because it has water rides that go along with the name and a petting zoo to boot. You're just splitting hairs when it comes to "themed areas". Just because it is called the Gemini Midway doesn't mean that that is the only thing located there. They are often surrounded by games, food stands and merchant sellers there. CP has just chosen a different way of naming their areas instead of just a general area theme. It doesn't make it any less of a themed area.

If you check out screamscape and look into the features section, they have a new take on a wild mouse coaster. It appears that your train is going to go off of the edge of the track, but, inetead, you go upside down momentarily, just to do it all over again about three times. They have a workin model and video on the features link . Looks like a pretty cool ride to me. I love the scream machines that are tall and fast, but I also like the slower ones like The Racers, or Adventure Express or even Runaway Reptar.

Actually, if you're considering naming certain parts of the park as themeing, then CP is just as much a theme park as PKI. You have the Main Midway, the Gemini Midway, Frontier Trail, Oceana Midway, and Challenge Park. These are themed Midways even though they are not themed to movies. Disaster Transport is a waste of money and I hope that they tear that thing out to make way for a new coaster or ride. So, before anyone says that it is not a large enough area to put in a coaster, you obviosly have not been to the park or know that these coaster builders can do wonders with limited space. I also agree that some of the damage to PKI is done by the losers who have nothing better to do with their time than to pick the paint off of themeing. My message to them is get a life and learn some respect for OPP. Aiding in the destruction of themeing does not make you "cool". How would you like it if I came to your neighborhood, saw your or your parents car and just started peeling the paint off of your car or house because it seemed like the cool thing to do. I highly doubt that you or your parents would think that it is too cool because it takes money to repair these things. (Getting off soapbox now). People who do this just make me sick.

It's not that I mind them themeing their rides. It's just that within three or less years, their themeing goes straight down the drain and they never bother to fix that problem. So, why not just come up with a cool name and forget about themeing? Look at Cedar Point, they only have one themed coaster and that is TTD. I don't think that too many people care about that kind of crap when you have to look at some old, beat up, rusted out themeing. I was not comparing PKI to Six Flags anyway. They are just a joke and will probably go bankrupt within ten years anyway. And, what about the general upkeep of this park? The only thing that I can see that they manage to do right is keep the trash under control. I wouldn't mind at all if they did not put in a coaster in 2005 if they would spend the money to get that place back to its former glory like when I first started going there before Paramount bought it and ruined the darn park. Yes, they have built some first class rides, and soon afterwords, they become an eyesore.

How can PKI continuely claim to be a theme park when most of their themeing gets trashed in a couple of years and they do nothing to improve upon it. And, I mean more than just a new paint job or totally rebuilding a ride(*cough cough*) like Scooby Doo and the Haunted Mansion. I'd like to start a betting pool on how long it is going to take before SD & HM starts deteriorating with no upkeep. Paramount might as well sell the franchise to some company who cares more about their parks than the crappy movies they keep producing every year. Let's not forget Top Gun which hasn't looked good for at least the last five years. I don't seem to recall crappy upkeep at CP, why can't PKI seem to do this? The only major problem I see at CP is that they need a better kids' area.

I agree AZ Kinda Guy, Six Flags is not known for their great maintenance and upkeep. Let's face it, Raptor and Mantis are in excellent condition, so you can't blame B&M. Which is why I have heard that B&M will probably be building CP's next major coaster. There's rumors of a flyer for 2005. I also have a B&M type of question...Has anyone rode the Nitro Hyper coaster at six flags? I imagine that it would have to be a lot smoother than Magnum XL 200 at CP, not to take anything away from that coaster because it kicks butt. But, I would like to ride one that is a bit smoother. Which brings up another point. Since S&S acquired Arrow Dynamics (whom built Magnum), I've not heard any plans for them to build any more Hypercoasters. Wonder if they have abandoned that line altogether.

An example of their hypercoaster would be Nitro. It is located at Six Flags Great Adventure. I was also looking for their sight, but have had no luck other than the one mentioned above that is not developed yet.

I would also think that monster would be hard to work. Seems like you have to be pretty accurate to get the cars in the correct position to load and unload. I would think that the easiest and most fun would be the major coasters. I would be so hyped to run a coaster. I wouldn't be able to not help but hype up the peeps in line. As far as running them goes, I'm not too sure what is involved. From what I understand, the person in the booth does little more than push a button to let the train go. Of course, there's always going to be unlocking restraints if someone didn't adjust theirs properly. Other than that, I don't know. I'm also curious about how the computers operate these scream machines. I know that there are sensors on many of the tracks, if not all of them. But, when I think of computers, I think of PC's, which happen to crash a lot. I know they are nothing like that, but exactly what kind of setup do they use?

My earliest memories date back to early KI(before Paramount). I remember that the first thing my family would do upon entering was to walk over to LaRosa's to have lunch. Then we went to ride. I remember my mother used to have to bribe me with a dollar or two to ride The Racers. I thought that it was the most terrifying roller coaster ever. I recall riding the Rotor, the Bayern Curve, der Spinnin' Keggers, the Skyline, the Tumblebug, the Bavarian Beetle. I remember being greeted at the front gates by Dino, Fred Flintstone, Captain Caveman, and other HB characters.

I think that the two main differences in the designs is that The Beast is a terrain coaster while Son of Beast is more of a wooden twister. I love that SOB has two helices, one that spins you one direction while the other spins you in the opposite direction. The loop is to die for. I think that the only major improvement that SOB needs is at least one tunnel and a reworking of the trains. I think that the trains are the major reason that it is not a smoother ride. Hopefully, if PKI is not going to build a new coaster in 2005, they will bring someone in to fix the train problems. After that, SOB would arguably be the best wooden coaster next to The Beast.

I must agree with you on the lighting. Maybe we'll see some improvements in the off-season. It's not like they would make a major announcement about that. I hate to keep bringing up this name, but CP has really nice lights on many of their coasters. Ex: Millenium Force-color changing chasing lights on the hill, the white chasing lights on Mantis, the color changing lights on the Power Tower. There are many more, but I can't think of them off the top of my head.

You may want to check out Delirium, a new giant huss ride. There are great pictures located on this site.

How funny, I thought for sure you could buy on-line somewhere. CP has a way of purchasing many items from their park.

That would be a good idea for another park. 410 ft. would be a seriously long freefall drop. I would definitely ride it.

Ok, let's all calm down here. I was just inserting a little sarcasm. Anyway, no one said that they would pull money from PKI, but when you talk about building a new park and spending that kind of money, it will affect the budgets of all of the other parks in some way or another IMO.

So, does this mean no new coater for PKI until 2044? Sounds like a lot of money to be spent for a new park. Hopefully, this won't effect PKI's budget plans.

Even though I didn't use the Freeway system at CP this year, I nvever paid for it in the past. When did they start charging money? I thought it was a good idea and generally, the people who get upset are the ones who forgot or didn't get one.

Yeah, I remember the water shooting up as well. Always though it was a cool concept. It was my first stand up as well. My favorite part was the trick track. And, I remember the pain as well, especially those awful bicycle seats.

I wouldn't say that 99% of people in that degree programs have never considered it. I would say that many coaster enthusiasts as well as engineering graduates have had the same idea. You also forgot to mention that you would need some kind of computer program that would aid in your design and would show G-forces and all of the other calculations that go with it. Not sure what a program like that would cost, but I can't imagine that it would be very cheap, otherwise everyone would be buying it and designing their own coasters.

Yeah, I was thinking of visiting Busch Gardens Williamsburg while I was already at PKD. I did not know that BGW was that close to PKD. That will make the trip that much easier to visit both parks. I also thought that TG:The Jet Coaster looked cool as well as their Vortex. Anyone know who designed Top Gun: The Jet Coaster and Vortex both at PC?

The King Cobra was the first standing coaster I had ever been on. It was really freaky the first times I rode it. But, after I rode the Mantis at CP, KC wasn't really worth riding any more because the B&M's do so much more. It was just o.k to ride for nostalgia.

Not to be negative, but you have chosen a difficult dream, but do not get discouraged. What I mean is, there are only a limited number of coaster manufacturers and designers out there. Therefore, you would be battling against many other applicants and probably some that have experience. I'm sure that many have tried to enter that field in the last 10-15 yrs., so the competition would be tough.

If only 30 somethings and enthusiasts know about The Bat, then how do you explain the younger generation knowing of it? Because of sites like these. Now you have pics posted and the history of the ride posted.(not here). Also, there is not enough flat rides to choose from out there to fill the next ten years. The kids' area doesn't really need any work either.