sky ride question

[dakota2112]

People complain about rides like Top Gun, Adventure Express, etc. but as soon as the park replaces them, people will complain and say the park had no reason to do so.

Just curious - what do people complain about regarding Top Gun and Adventure Express? I jokingly complain about Top Gun's three mile hike, and the remarkably anti-climactic lift hill at the end of Adventure Express, but those are two excellent rides nonetheless and I personally will miss these rides when they are gone.

If low usage impacts the decision to keep or lose a ride, then I fear for Shake Rattle & Roll. I can't remember the last time I had to wait for that ride. (which is fine with me... great ride + no line = )

[flightoffear1996]

I love Fight Deck and Adventure Express. Mild rides yes. Fun rides yes. I wish the park had more classic flats though.

[KIBeast]

Still don't know why everone was so high on the old TR:TR theming. It wasn't remotely even cool to start with. Not to mention the program was boring and uninspired. I thought it was a waste of time. I even remember thinking that these top spin rides must suck if they are all virtually like this one. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Texas Twister at Geauga Lake. The theming was cool, but it added zero to the ride experience, just like Tomb Raider. Except I wasn't forced to look at the theming nearly the entire cycle on TT.

[mplebanon]

Now since you're history writer, can you tell me why they ripped out King Cobra, The Antique Cars, KCKC, and the Fast Tracks slides removed/downgraded? I mean, can't paramount relocate rides instead of adding new ones at the cost of an old one?

Because relocating isnt free. It requires a considerable amount of work to disassamble a ride, ship and reassamble a ride at a new, prepped location. King Cobra was already in BAD shape. Why would another park want a 20 year old piece of crap. Dont get me wrong, I love King Cobra as much as the next guy, probably more, but I can understand the parks position.

KCKC, come on really? Honestly, from the parks perspective, do we really need two 30+ year old log flumes right next to each other? Besides, when Tomb Raider opened, nobody had regrets about the removal of KCKC. Again, I love KCKC as much as the next guy and probably more, but it wasn't THAT great. The park is constantly trying to upgrade. Yea they want to hold onto some nostalgia but some things have to be cut, decisions have to be made. The park cant hold onto an old stinky water ride that you do NOT get wet on, for a select few that would rather have it than the current state of Tomb Raider. People only miss it because it's gone; what I mean is, if it was still here, people would not go around saying: Man I'm so glad the park still has this ride. People complain about rides like Top Gun, Adventure Express, etc. but as soon as the park replaces them, people will complain and say the park had no reason to do so.

Fast Tracks? Seriously? People miss those? These slides burned the **** out of your back. I think the only reason the park kept them around so long is because occasionally a womans top would fly off.

Antique cars- no comment...

The park is constantly upgrading. The park is not trying to appeal to us individual enthusiasts. One day out of the year on KIC day the park is catering to us, ever other day of the year, they're trying to appeal to the average familys that dont even notice when a ride is replaced. Do you know how much more money the park makes off of those familys than the do off of you? I know how to save money at KI; honestly, I'm probably the last kind of guest KI wants because I rarely buy merchandise, rarely buy more than one or two slices of pizza, always get free water, never play games, and never pay to get in. Why in the hell would the park want to please me.

The park wants familys of 4+ who buy 2 complete meals every time they go, everyone has to get a souviner, everyone plays games to get 10 cent plush toys, etc. etc. etc. The park makes more money off of one family of four in one visit than they do off of me in 10 visits. Honestly, why did they remove the antique cars? Because the average guest didn't even notice. And to boot, they dont even notice that half the effects dont work on IJ. All they see now is a flashy launching coaster that the kids that are too afraid to ride The Vortex are willing to ride. Why remove antique cars, because all they see is a big swinging thing, and a flashy Sling Shot ride. Why replace KCKC, because there is still a log flume next door, and when it works, the average guest enjoys tomb raider. Why replace fastracks, because now a family of 4 can race, have fun, and not burn up their backs.

Lots of money is spent to please this demographic of patron. You think the park is having Robbie Kineval jump for amusement park enthusiasts? As though the park is expecting 70,000 Acers on May 24th? No way! The park wants to give average money spending familys a reason to come to the park and spend $$$. And if that means giving people hope to see robbie kineval get extremely hurt, so be it!

My cousins/aunts/uncles come in from out of town about once a year and go to the park. For ~6-8 of them, with maybe a couple free tickets, and some to pay for, between admission, food, games, merch, etc., they spend $300-400 EASY, probably more. They come every year and barely even notice the changes. They NEVER complain about ride replacements. At most they say: "didnt the park have antique cars? Oh well, lets get in line for Italian Job." I havn't spent $400 at the park in the last 2 years, including employee meals! Steve, no offense but you work at the park, the park isn't making money off of you; why would they care about pleasing you.

No ride replacement is ever a downgrade in the parks eyes. If it was then they wouldn't do it. You cant promote KCKC after 30 years but you can promote Tomb Raider; you cant promote fast tracks but you can promote collangata(?) racers; you cant promote King Cobra but you can promote the hell out of Delerium; you cant promote antique cars but you can promote the Italian Job; and that is what brings people to the park. Also with the rising price of gas, it probably would not have been long before the park replaced the antique cars anyway.

The park does not remove/replace rides to spite patrons, they do it to please them. If you're not pleased, then honestly, you're probably not worth pleasing.

Progress is progress. Out with the old, in with the new; it's the american way.

Bottom line: To the average american guest, for the money they pay to enjoy the park, they want new flashy, swingy, launchy, top spinny, racing, rides, not old slow, rusty, stinky watery, gas guzzely, back burny, rides.

I'm sorry to be so blunt, and I'm sorry if I offend anyone, I'm just trying to make a point.

I understand your reasoning about KI catering to out of town tourists rather than season pass holders because the out of towners spend more money. But I disagree about the value of older rides.

If it is purely about not being able to get parts, then I guess I understand.................but on a recent trip to Cedar Point, my pre-teenage daughters rode alot of the classic old rides because they were available. They even mentioned they wish KI had some of them. They even mentioned that they would rather ride "The Wildcat" than "The Beastie" and wished KI had one.

My kids love Shake, Rattle, and Roll. They were really upset when the planes were taken out for the basketball challenge. They always ride the swings (is it called Der Dutchman?)......they love those.

My point is..........don't discount those old classic rides. Some company should go in business and re-establish those rides and make parts for them. They could probably make a killing. For example, if some rollercoaster company came out with a new improved "Bavarian Beetle", maybe a little taller and more exciting, and contracted with some other company to continue making part for it, I think it would fly. Same with some of these other older rides. Go in business making classic rides instead of constantly coming up with new thrill rides. Not everyone likes thrill rides. Some people like classic rides.

Just my $.02 cents.

[The Interpreter]

No one has to go back in business to sell rides like Bavarian Beetle. The simple fact is S&MC GmbH Structures and Machines is the residue of what was SDC, the company that made Wildcat. Similar coasters can be bought new today.

http://www.coastergallery.com/2001/USA4.html

If you aren't seeing new ones in parks, it is because parks aren't buying them.

[skaterboy22101]

People complain about rides like Top Gun, Adventure Express, etc. but as soon as the park replaces them, people will complain and say the park had no reason to do so.

Just curious - what do people complain about regarding Top Gun and Adventure Express? I jokingly complain about Top Gun's three mile hike, and the remarkably anti-climactic lift hill at the end of Adventure Express, but those are two excellent rides nonetheless and I personally will miss these rides when they are gone.

If low usage impacts the decision to keep or lose a ride, then I fear for Shake Rattle & Roll. I can't remember the last time I had to wait for that ride. (which is fine with me... great ride + no line = )

WELL. ME PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM GO. they are so slow and just so stupid. they could put a great flat ride where AE is or even add on to a ride. and in top guns spot they could put in a great coaster whos statioon is colser so you dont have to walk alot. the only reason you have to walk so much to get to top gun (flight deak) is cause of the giant bilbord that used to reside there.

[Thrill_Biscuit]

A long walk because of a billboard?

[skaterboy22101]

A long walk because of a billboard?

they had to have a place to put it. my dad is a retired enjineer for Kings Island. he was there for 25 years. Action Zone was his main area. mostly top gun and king cobra. thats why they had to be so far out. cause of the bilbord

[Guest TombraiderTy]

^Why am I doubting that?

I personally think Adventure Express is a great roller coaster. Great themeing, fun ride, good sountrack. I only wish that it could get a small face-lift, perhaps replace the big statue at the top of the hill with a large rolling ball like in Indiana Jones and use an elevator lift to speed that train up to the top

Seriously, the elevator lift system would make the train speed over that little hill at the top, tossing riders out of their seats. This would be a thrilling moment of the ride and would stop (most) confused guests on why there isn't some giant hill after the lift.

[skaterboy22101]

^Why am I doubting that?

I personally think Adventure Express is a great roller coaster. Great themeing, fun ride, good sountrack. I only wish that it could get a small face-lift, perhaps replace the big statue at the top of the hill with a large rolling ball like in Indiana Jones and use an elevator lift to speed that train up to the top

Seriously, the elevator lift system would make the train speed over that little hill at the top, tossing riders out of their seats. This would be a thrilling moment of the ride and would stop (most) confused guests on why there isn't some giant hill after the lift.

yea... but really it would only be fun with a loop in it. or at least make a bigger hill so you can go faster.

[Guest TombraiderTy]

^I think all AE NEEDS, besides an update on themeing, is it to be a bit smoother. It's a family coaster, it doesn't need any inversions.

[skaterboy22101]

^I think all AE NEEDS, besides an update on themeing, is it to be a bit smoother. It's a family coaster, it doesn't need any inversions.

i compleatly forgot bout that. it is a family coaster that usally has no line. but they could move it or add more to it.

[Phantom Theater]

People complain about rides like Top Gun, Adventure Express, etc. but as soon as the park replaces them, people will complain and say the park had no reason to do so.

Just curious - what do people complain about regarding Top Gun and Adventure Express? I jokingly complain about Top Gun's three mile hike, and the remarkably anti-climactic lift hill at the end of Adventure Express, but those are two excellent rides nonetheless and I personally will miss these rides when they are gone.

If low usage impacts the decision to keep or lose a ride, then I fear for Shake Rattle & Roll. I can't remember the last time I had to wait for that ride. (which is fine with me... great ride + no line = )

WELL. ME PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM GO. they are so slow and just so stupid. they could put a great flat ride where AE is or even add on to a ride. and in top guns spot they could put in a great coaster whos statioon is colser so you dont have to walk alot. the only reason you have to walk so much to get to top gun (flight deak) is cause of the giant bilbord that used to reside there.

Wow,Im positive thats not the reason.If they wanted they could have put it right above where the entrance is.I think its because they needed a flatter terrain so they didnt need to do so much clearing and leveling.And AE is a family coaster,not meaning to be a big thrilling rollercoaster.Hell,much much better than SOB.

[Outdoor Man]

I don't think that AE is in any threat of leaving; there isn't anything that could go there in its place. It's well-themed (maybe would have fit better with Rivertown but oh well). the only issue i have is the EXTREMELY lame ending. Maybe they should have a dinosaur-like creature lunge at you like the Jurassic Park ride at Universal at the end just like before you drop.

AE will be there until maintenance makes it unprofitable to operate, not because something is ready to occupy the area. When it leaves, that parcel will likely just be trees and weeds.

Flight Deck is a little fuzzier. I can't imagine that the lack of upkeep on the track bodes well for long-term retention. People on this board have talked about how remarkably terrible the tracks look for almost 3 years..... and neither Paramount or CF did/have done anything to correct it. I know someone who consulted on removing Top Gun and designing an entrance plaza while GWL was being built for a northern / alternative entrance to the park, but fell through in early 2006 when Paramount sought to sell the park. Not sure what KI's long-term plans are with Flight Deck but would have to assume that if they don't so some maintenance and much needed TLC soon, nature may take its course for them.

I'm sorry, what was the topic again?