KI 7/22, good and bad.

[PKIVortex]

Well today I went to KI after work, arrived at 3:30. I first stopped at the return visit booth to see if they had any Speed Lane tickets left, well they did, but I guess they ran out of the Delirium ones, as I didn't get that.

I first went to Son of Beast, line was down the ramp up to the station and around the corner and about to the bottom of the second ramp. Got in the station in about 20 minutes from that point, and they shut it down. They removed the blue train from the track for some reason. They reopened about 20 minutes later with a one train operation. I decided to just choose the quickest row, and was glad that at least I was in the station. I rode in 4-1, ride was pretty decent here, not too bad. The lady behind me said and I quote "Oh I like this much better since it doesn't have the shoulder harnesses anymore and I like it better without the loop". I told her I missed the loop and the ride never had OTSR's. Some people are so clueless.

After Son of Beast I decided to go ride Racer to kill time before my Speed Lane time for IJST and The Beast. I rode both backwards and forwards and then went to IJST.

I actually got placed in the first car so that was an easy 2 minute wait for the front car. Has the water effects in the stunt scene worked at all this year? I loved the water effect up there, even though I always got sprayed in the eye LOL.

Off to The Beast, quick 5 minute wait thanks to the Speed Lane, those were the only 2 I used. Lights are still on in the helix tunnel.

I decided that I should eat now, got 2 slices of Pizza and some cold fries. Pizza was good though. I also finally bought one of the Firehawk souvenir cups, this this meal set me back 17 dollars, but at least I'll be able to get my cup refilled with water, or only pay 1.99 for a refill, instead of shelling out 3.59.

Okay here is some negativity about today. After I ate I decided I wanted to ride Viking Fury for the first time in I don't know how long. Well it's said to say, that either the Employees are sick of there jobs already or just don't care. Neither the 3 ops were paying attention to the ride what so ever. A guy sitting on the other end of the boat, kept standing up every time the boat went up on his side. But that doesn't get the cake. The next thing that happened I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I went over to Adventure Express, where I saw 2 employees test riding. The one employee had his lap bar not anywhere near his legs. He was able to fold his arms and were able to fit under the bar. When the op came by she didn't even push it down, she let him ride that way. The other op though did push down on the other employees bar though that was sitting next to him. Unfortunately this really upset me, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I told the Operator that I didn't think that was a very good idea to let him ride that way. She pretty much just blew me off, and was being rude and nasty towards me. After my ride she refused to call a manager for me, and told me if I wanted to complain that I would have to go to GR. Well I did just that, I wrote a written complaint, and also spoke to a rides manager. He agreed with me, that shouldn't have happened, and said he would handle it. After I left GR, I did see the manager walk over towards both Viking Fury and Express. I also expressed to him that I usually don't like to complain about things, but when it comes to Safety that I felt someone needed to know what was going on, with the latest accidents and people getting injured on rides around the country/world, that Safety should be the #1 thing on every one's list right now. I also told him I didn't want to see anything happen here at KI. So that is the bad thing of the day.

Off to Delirium, only had to wait 1 cycle, I lucked out, they were asking in the line if anyone was a single rider, and I raised my hand and got to pass about 25 people ahead of me and got seat #50, that's a first. I just love Delirium fun ride as always.

I also went and Rode Backwards Racer again. Then it was off to Firehawk. The line was said to be about 45 minutes, but guess what? I didn't even wait 25 minutes. They were also coming out in the line asking if anyone was a single rider. I got to pass 2 full Que mazes and go right to right side station. They were also doing a great job on pairing the single riders up in the station. Great job Firehawk crew, I think they are trying to take The Best Crew of the rides department away from The Beast.

Flight of Fear was next, waited about 20 minutes for the front seat. Guess what? I have not seen anyone else post this, but the camera's are now installed on the trains for the ORV, but they are not working yet. The way I see they are going to work is, they are a camera and to the right of the camera appears to be another camera but it's not, it's LCD lights. So it looks as if you'll have a light shinning in your face, I hope this doesn't effect the ride in anyway.

After FoF, I went and power rode Vortex 3 times, still love Vortex. I always sit in 7-1, that's my favorite seat of the entire train.

Went Back to The Beast for a night time ride. I timed it perfectly and got the last ride before they closed for Fireworks at 9:50. Great ride, but I wish they would turn off the lights in the helix.

So a good day pretty much at KI today, but I still can't believe what I saw on Express.

[welchce]

The lady behind me said and I quote "Oh I like this much better since it doesn't have the shoulder harnesses anymore and I like it better without the loop". I told her I missed the loop and the ride never had OTSR's. Some people are so clueless.

Ha, one of my friends said that as well and I was quick to tell her that she must've been thinking about FoF because SoB never had OTSR.

Flight of Fear was next, waited about 20 minutes for the front seat. Guess what? I have not seen anyone else post this, but the camera's are now installed on the trains for the ORV, but they are not working yet. The way I see they are going to work is, they are a camera and to the right of the camera appears to be another camera but it's not, it's LCD lights. So it looks as if you'll have a light shinning in your face, I hope this doesn't effect the ride in anyway.

Ah yeah, I forgot to mention that in my trip report on the 20th. It kinda looked like some of the cameras weren't angled correctly. Did you notice that? And I also hope that the lights aren't too bright because that would be killer.

I think if you report a worker you should get some money like Crime Stoppers. Stuff like that isn't acceptable and I'm glad you made sure KI knew. Overall great trip report.

[PKIVortex]

To be honest I was shocked. In my 3 years of being a ride op, I would never think of ever letting anyone ride like that. I worked on Express/Ship in 1999. At Ship, and other rides our policy was to watch the ride at all times, I can't even count the # of times I got on the PA to tell people to remain seated at all times. I guess I took my job very seriously.

[MarketingExpress]

Okay here is some negativity about today. After I ate I decided I wanted to ride Viking Fury for the first time in I don't know how long. Well it's said to say, that either the Employees are sick of there jobs already or just don't care. Neither the 3 ops were paying attention to the ride what so ever. A guy sitting on the other end of the boat, kept standing up every time the boat went up on his side. But that doesn't get the cake. The next thing that happened I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I went over to Adventure Express, where I saw 2 employees test riding. The one employee had his lap bar not anywhere near his legs. He was able to fold his arms and were able to fit under the bar. When the op came by she didn't even push it down, she let him ride that way. The other op though did push down on the other employees bar though that was sitting next to him. Unfortunately this really upset me, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I told the Operator that I didn't think that was a very good idea to let him ride that way. She pretty much just blew me off, and was being rude and nasty towards me. After my ride she refused to call a manager for me, and told me if I wanted to complain that I would have to go to GR. Well I did just that, I wrote a written complaint, and also spoke to a rides manager. He agreed with me, that shouldn't have happened, and said he would handle it. After I left GR, I did see the manager walk over towards both Viking Fury and Express. I also expressed to him that I usually don't like to complain about things, but when it comes to Safety that I felt someone needed to know what was going on, with the latest accidents and people getting injured on rides around the country/world, that Safety should be the #1 thing on every one's list right now. I also told him I didn't want to see anything happen here at KI. So that is the bad thing of the day.

Totally unacceptable! Employees are required to follow the same rules as guests, and in this case it sounded like it didn't happen. I hope that the manager laid into them after talking with you.

Being a member of that crew for 4 years including being a supervisor of those rides for 2 of those years, it sickens me to hear of this kind of behavior from this ride crew. While I was there as a supervisor I worked hard to make these one of the top and most efficient rides in the park and I know I succeeded in that goal thanks to a great crew.

I am sorry about your experience on these rides, but hope that you enjoyed your day.

[coasterville]

July 22 must have been a very popular day at the park, I was also there with cousin Rick.

Cliff's Notes:

Overall, ride crew's were doing exceptional at getting people through their rides.

Face/Off - 10 minute wait, and I got an end seat. Running intense as ever.

Top Gun - walk on, same as usual

Son of Beast - line was down and into the tunnel. I'd guesstimate 30-45 minutes. I like the new trains, the seatbelts are long enough to accomodate most, maybe even the vast majority, and the redesign of the seat queues doesn't look too horrid. That said, I rode in seat 3.2 of the blue train and thought it ran as rough as the original trains in the two helixes. Ouch, my back!

Delirum - 15 minute wait, then had to wait a cycle due to a rider that just couldn't contain themselves. always a winner

Adventure Express - walk on, and I think I heard the boss guy at the top of lift 2 speak, "YOu have distrubed the forbidden temple, now you wll pay!" - he still isn't lit up, but either I hadn't noticed it in awhile but hearing the line seemed different.

Racer - walk on, exhibiting some floater air in front car

Arcade - looked around to see what's there

Flight of Fear - line back to greeter taking shortest possible route. Preshow video was running, which it hadn't my last couple visits ride and crew seemed to be in top form, noticed the new cameras, but the booth isn't quite ready yet. got the belt fastened with no trouble, that's a rarity.

Firehawk - rode twice, 30-45 minutes each time. Got to ride in both stations/trains during the day. First ride was right station (the one you go down stairs to get to), noticed the crew professionally respond to a guest that had a full on panic attack after the chairs lowered but before the ride started. Good job crew. Second ride was left station in back row, we were dispatched right as Fireworks were starting and rode during fireworks, made for an interesting ride, the show started just as we dispatched, and I caught the finale as I was walking up the exit ramp. I think I saw you get expressed, PKIVortex. The park is getting single rider friendly, reminds me of some of my early trips to Cedar Point.

Vortex - line over the bridge and down the stairs, no big deal with three trains. Still running great.

Spongebob in 3D - Noted some of the decorative items in preshow have been removed, walk on, could not even fill theater.

Games - noted game jointees willing to make deals on the game prices. Goblet Toss needs more than 1 person working it however.

3 Point Challenge - my cousin tried it, noted they usually had no fewer than 10 people queued up to hand over $5 each, INSANE license to print money.

Italian Job - we walked into the queue which was just back into the queue house. Crew called for 2 riders, no one in entire queue answwered so we indicated we were a party of two, and were expressed right into the speed lane entrance, then right into row 1. I can get used to that sort of VIP treatment. Noted the water effects have been shut off or turned way down.

Beast - Exhibiting some roughness, line was down to bottom of ramp.

Barrell of Fun - tried the foot massager chair at Beast Exit, I liked it.

Tomb Raider - Service lights on in buidling as we were in line, no preshow video. Had show audio, show effects all seemed to work up until the ice sccene, then the bright work lights came on, ride audio and cycle completed cycle however. Line was back to entrance of cave.

Train ride - walk on, no improvements to the set peices and still no animations have returned.

Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle - all but 1 switchback open, fast moving line, I way outscored Rick, which is all that really matters, right?

Waffle House after park - I think quite possibly the fastest (and best) service I have ever gotten at a Waffle House.

[neo8820]

Flight of Fear was next, waited about 20 minutes for the front seat. Guess what? I have not seen anyone else post this, but the camera's are now installed on the trains for the ORV, but they are not working yet. The way I see they are going to work is, they are a camera and to the right of the camera appears to be another camera but it's not, it's LCD lights. So it looks as if you'll have a light shinning in your face, I hope this doesn't effect the ride in anyway.

Do you think the lights might be infrared? In other words you can't see the light and the video would have that green tint to it?

[PKIVortex]

The LCD's appeared to be white so I have no idea. I guess we'll find out.

To the poster who thought they saw me, I was wearing a gray USF t-shirt. I rode Firehawk around 8:30ish.