05/27/09 Nightmare Trip Report..Linejumping, Please read and help..

[multipleseans]

I don't post much on this site, but I lurk almost everyday.

I live outside of Chicago, and have made a trip to KI almost every year for the past 4 years.

I'm so disgusted with the park that I'm writing this from my hotel. I'm hoping someone on this forum will be able to help me contact the right person to rectify a bad situation.

Today the park was packed, the ASA Sport..etc, but I will say the lines were moving pretty well.

While waiting on Diamondback a male teen decided to cut from the single rider line into the regular line, probably because he saw that line was moving faster? Then he proceeded to push his way to the front of the line. When he was there he was granted a first seat.

When I asked if I could have a first seat I was told that I would have to sit in the thirteenth row. I was a little mad, but the ride was enjoyable.

Later while waiting in line for Back lot there was a teen girl who cut her way to the front of the line. I'm a not a person who likes confrontation, so I just let it slide. My friend was starting to become annoyed.

We headed over to get some Blue Ice Cream in Action Zone.

This was a total utter joke. The girls "working" the counter were too busy chatting with each other to focus on their jobs.

It took them 10 minutes to get me an ice cream. The scenario was: Visiting with each other/ Can I help you/ Visit some more/ Ask me what I needed again/Take my money/Visit more/Then ask me a third time what I ordered.

At this point I was ticked. I bought a two day pass, drove 250 miles/paid for a motel for three day for this.

We proceeded to get in line for Son of Beast. Some one wants to pass us. My friend becomes very angry and says no.

The person trying to cut in front of us has a group (6+ people) that see a an argument is breaking out. They come towards us, I tell my friend to just let him pass. I was worried about getting jumped at this point. At this point we were on the stairs going up to the station. I'm in my late 30's and my friend in his early 40's. This was a group of young hostile men and women. I was scared.

When we got up to the station I got the attention of the attendant. I refused to get on the ride. I told the attendant I wanted security to escort me to Guest Services or the gate of the park, as I felt unsafe. The attendant quickly had security come, and

"Katie". Katie works in guest services, or is a Manager...but would not give us her exact title, name, or name of her boss, as "she did not feel she needed to".

At this point security has the group. There were people in the line who were thanking us for turning them in.

My friend asks Katie if they are going to be kicked out of the park. She responds "NO, but security has warned them to leave us alone"

Katie offered my friend and I a free pass to the front of the line of any ride we want. My friend said he wanted a refund on his ticket. I said I want nothing from the park except to be escorted out, as I didn't feel safe.

I also told Katie if I wanted this kind of treatment I would have saved myself $500.00 plus dollars and what will be close to 500 miles of driving, and went to Six Flags Great America. I explained how my friend and I really used to enjoy the park, the atmosphere..etc. I asked her why my friend and I were being treated so poorly for defending our place in line. I asked her why her staff was not enforcing line jumping rules. She said she'd mention it to them.

At this point my friend wanted nothing to do with Katie. I wanted nothing to do with KI. My friend went into guest services to complain only to find Katie there, telling her co workers "those are the two I was just telling you about".

My friend starts explaining to one lady what happened, and RUDELY asked him why a 37, and 42 year old felt threatened by a group of kids.

SERIOUSLY... this kind of treatment goes beyond words. If I had this work ethic I would be embarrassed of myself, and can honestly say i would not be employed.

Does anyone on this board know who I contact? I want nothing from the park. I don't even want an apology.

Will I return for the second day of my pass? Possibly, only because I paid for it.

Will I spend a single cent inside the park? No

Will I buy an memento's? I might buy a Kings Island T Shirt which I'm thinking of altering. I'm thing I'll write "Where line jumping is completely acceptable, Where else"

I got really sunburned while I was there today. I stopped at a Walgreens to get some Aloe. The sales clerk asked me where I was. I told her. She asked if it was. I was very honest. A couple of people were tisking.

Word of mouth can travel. Will it crush ans empire? Doubtful, but it makes people question if they want to spend their coins there.

[The Interpreter]

Write to Mr. Richard Kinzel at Cedar Fair in Sandusky, Ohio. A letter would be far more effective than an e-mail.

Here's his address:

Mr. Richard Kinzel

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company

One Cedar Point Drive

Sandusky, Ohio 44870

(419) 627-2233 Tel

Also, stop by guest relations at the park and submit a written report.

The park and Cedar Fair need to hear this. From you.

Also, by 5/27, I assume you meant 5, twenty-second...as in 5/22?

[Scooter4Ever]

Funny you should mention this. I flew in from Milwaukee this weekend to visit my family in Columbus and we decided to drive down today and spend the day at Kings Island. There were a few pluses but a whole lot more negatives.

The line to buy single day tickets and use tickets was very long but it did move fast. However the major problem was that not a single employee would take the time to explain which line was which and direct people in the right direction. They were all just standing around, avoiding having to talk to any customer. If you're going to stand out front, know what is going on. It's simple.

Once in, all the lines moved well. I did see some line jumpers at Diamondback but once I exited, I noticed security really watching the line.

My biggest complaint though, and this is not Kings Island fault, was just the "trashiness" of people at the park. So many people just ignored the no smoking in line rule. And something has to be done about the rather large girls wearing bikini tops with half of the breasts falling out. Not attractive. The entire park seemed like a typical crowed at a county fair. No manners or class what so ever. If this is the crowd that Kings Island attracts now, I will be staying away for a while.

But there were several problems that the park can control. while about to order at Juke Box cafe, my brother-in-law spotted a rather large ****roach on the floor. Middle of the day and not afraid of people. He's in the restaurant industry and said that when a ****roach of that size can be out during the day, chances are the place is infested. We tried to notify someone behind the counter but a girl just told us there's nothing she can do about it. and honestly we did not want to start a panic by pointing it out to other people in line. We quickly left. And before leaving for the day, my nephew wanted ice cream. We stopped at the Ice Scream Zone. Our cashier/server acted like she couldn't be bothered. As she wiped her nose taking my order, she fixed her hair before getting the cones and just about dropping them as she handed to them to us. I thanked her, thinking that a little kindness might help her with her bad day and didn't even get an acknowledgement.

All of this is why i avoid Six Flags Great America. But it appears you can't get away from it. After today, I have had my fill of amusement parks for quite some time.

[The Interpreter]

I'd also advise you to write Mr. Richard Kinzel.

And, with all due respect, the type of entertainment presented does have an effect on the type of audience attracted.

Terpy, who never understood why Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, of all places, had wrestling on Friday nights, when they already had a serious crowd conduct problem...

[Erosarrow05]

I wonder who opens mail addressed to him, because I'm willing to bet everything I own it is not him...

[The Interpreter]

Agreed, but I am certain he receives at least an executive summary of his mail...and the number and types of complaints, broken down by park.

[Beast Man]

It seems that line jumping is the number one complaint about the park...and has gotten worse this year.

[BoddaH1994]

All of the issues you listed are very serious to Kings Island. I recommend calling Kings Island's call center at 1-800-288-0808 and tell them about your experience. By doing that, a log will be made of your call. Each call is handed by the proper channels and the park will follow up on how to resolve the issues.

Ryan

[Diamondback96]

...my brother-in-law spotted a rather large ****roach on the floor.

lol, ****roach. I've seen this problem before on other forums.

[skaterboy22101]

I am sorry you had a bad day at the park. Kings Island is becoming more "trashy" and the employees don't seem to care at all. I love Kings Island but if this keeps up, im leaving.

[Beast Man]

...my brother-in-law spotted a rather large ****roach on the floor.

lol, ****roach. I've seen this problem before on other forums.

You could just call it a (another name for a rooster)roach.

[TopThrill]

Multipleseans, I am so sorry to hear that your day turned out to be so bad. Same thing happen to me, or sort of at Six Flags Crappy Kingdom, were a group of kids with no care in the world. Never going back there ever again. But yeah the line jumping is only going to get worse, unless upper management does something about it. Only thing I bought at the park was a Coaster Dynamix Diamondback train, the lady who rang me up was nice.

[Brandon]

yea I noticed this same thing at another Cedar Fair park, Canada's Wonderland. There were a lot of line jumpers and the only line they were actually were watching was Behemoth. They did a really good job catching line jumpers at Behemoth, but that was the only ride they stopped them. I would have said something, but few of the guests at the park speak english. It was really weird, seems how Toronto's main language is English. It felt like only us and the ride ops were the only spoke english. I said to myself after I saw this, that at Cedar Point, my home park, I wouldn't let people cut in line infront of me. However this year so far I have been really impressed by guests. They have not been line jumping and some people have been going from the middle of the Millennium line to the end. Last year, people would just have their friends come to the front of the line. So hopefully this year keeps going the same.

[indianapolisman]

I'll give KI the benefit of doubt with the line jumping. This type of behavior is becoming more apparent in today's society.

But for employees to make a mockery or light of a serious situation is unacceptable no matter where it occurs. Ecspecialy in a customer oriented business providing amusement. And if the so called manager was acting in this manner it's not expected for the employees under them to act any different. KI will almost certainly take care of this, sorry to hear your misfortune.

[Tchu]

What's doubly frustrating is just how excellent of a park Kings Island can be.

I've made two trips so far this season and have had an excellent time with nothing but good things to say. In fact, other than a small handful of kids cutting from the SRL to the main queue at DB... I have no complaints. The park has been very clean. Line-jumping has been at a minimum. Practically all my seat requests on DB have been granted.

Got stuck on the brakes of The Beast once this season. Just sat there outside of the station after the ride for probably 10 or 15 minutes while the ride crew worked to take care of some problem with the train in the station. When our train was finally rolled in, the ride-ops apologized profusely for our inconvienence. Did some shopping at the DB Trading Post on my last visit and had a wonderful little conversation with a very friendly employee.

And that's what makes this so frustrating. There's always those few bad apples that ruin it for the bunch (both in terms of guests and employees). There's little that can be done about the line-jumping. It happens at every park to varying degrees. And while that's not to say the park shouldn't step up their efforts to enforce line-jumping policies... there's only so much they can actively do. Having security police the line of the brand new roller coaster is a good move and a step in the right direction.

Plus, as Terpy mentioned... certain events draw certain crowds that aren't usually at the park. This weekends events (coupled with the busy holiday) are gonna potentially lead to amplified problems with guest manners.

But what is absolutely unacceptable are employees who blow off customers and think that work is a social gathering. This isn't study hall in high school. These people are being paid to do a job and provide a service and they need to do so properly.

And if Guest Relations was unhelpful, even rude and dismissing... that is probably the biggest sin. I believe there have been a couple other Trip Reports with people complaining that Guest Relations was rude and short (at times even mocking) and not at all concerned with the guests problems/issues. It could be that there's one or two of those bad apples in guest relations. If so... Kings Island/Cedar Fair management need to be made aware of this, and then need to do something about it immediately.

It's bad enough to know some workers are going to be rude and not take their job seriously. Its a problem on a far worse level when those people start to work in position higher up the food chain, and specifically in a position that is meant to help address the public's concerns with other problems.

In two trips to Kings Island this year, I've had a wonderful time and seen a park run well, and efficiently with a clean, kind, and friendly staff. That's Dr. Jekyll. And that's good.

But sometimes Mr. Hyde rears his ugly mug.

[multipleseans]

Thank you all for your response. Interpreter,I want to esp.thank you for the address. Your posts are one of the reasons I visit the site so much. I just want someone above Katie, and her co-workers to understand. Katie told us several times last night that she was the "highest" person we could talk to.

Yes I did mean 5/22 I was so angry when I was typing last night...

We did fill out an incident report. We actually had to ask for something, because we felt the issue would be swept under the rug.

It took Katie 7 minutes to get a xerox of it.

Again thank you for your help.

Sean

[Avatar]

I truly hope today goes better for you guys today and we hear a great follow up, maybe we will see you there.

[rotag]

sorry to hear about the bad trip. kinda makes me glad for rethinking my visit to another day. dont let one bad incedent keep you from enjoying your visits though. everyone including parks are bound to have bad days. but the bright side i look forward to is the park being open everyday for the season so i can visit on a tues. or wed. when lines are virtually non existent.

[windshawne]

I will be limiting my trips to evenings during the week personally. It is no longer enjoyable for me to go on the weekends.

[TheCryptRaider]

I don't post much on this site, but I lurk almost everyday.

I live outside of Chicago, and have made a trip to KI almost every year for the past 4 years.

I'm so disgusted with the park that I'm writing this from my hotel. I'm hoping someone on this forum will be able to help me contact the right person to rectify a bad situation.

Today the park was packed, the ASA Sport..etc, but I will say the lines were moving pretty well.

While waiting on Diamondback a male teen decided to cut from the single rider line into the regular line, probably because he saw that line was moving faster? Then he proceeded to push his way to the front of the line. When he was there he was granted a first seat.

When I asked if I could have a first seat I was told that I would have to sit in the thirteenth row. I was a little mad, but the ride was enjoyable.

Later while waiting in line for Back lot there was a teen girl who cut her way to the front of the line. I'm a not a person who likes confrontation, so I just let it slide. My friend was starting to become annoyed.

We headed over to get some Blue Ice Cream in Action Zone.

This was a total utter joke. The girls "working" the counter were too busy chatting with each other to focus on their jobs.

It took them 10 minutes to get me an ice cream. The scenario was: Visiting with each other/ Can I help you/ Visit some more/ Ask me what I needed again/Take my money/Visit more/Then ask me a third time what I ordered.

At this point I was ticked. I bought a two day pass, drove 250 miles/paid for a motel for three day for this.

We proceeded to get in line for Son of Beast. Some one wants to pass us. My friend becomes very angry and says no.

The person trying to cut in front of us has a group (6+ people) that see a an argument is breaking out. They come towards us, I tell my friend to just let him pass. I was worried about getting jumped at this point. At this point we were on the stairs going up to the station. I'm in my late 30's and my friend in his early 40's. This was a group of young hostile men and women. I was scared.

When we got up to the station I got the attention of the attendant. I refused to get on the ride. I told the attendant I wanted security to escort me to Guest Services or the gate of the park, as I felt unsafe. The attendant quickly had security come, and

"Katie". Katie works in guest services, or is a Manager...but would not give us her exact title, name, or name of her boss, as "she did not feel she needed to".

At this point security has the group. There were people in the line who were thanking us for turning them in.

My friend asks Katie if they are going to be kicked out of the park. She responds "NO, but security has warned them to leave us alone"

Katie offered my friend and I a free pass to the front of the line of any ride we want. My friend said he wanted a refund on his ticket. I said I want nothing from the park except to be escorted out, as I didn't feel safe.

I also told Katie if I wanted this kind of treatment I would have saved myself $500.00 plus dollars and what will be close to 500 miles of driving, and went to Six Flags Great America. I explained how my friend and I really used to enjoy the park, the atmosphere..etc. I asked her why my friend and I were being treated so poorly for defending our place in line. I asked her why her staff was not enforcing line jumping rules. She said she'd mention it to them.

At this point my friend wanted nothing to do with Katie. I wanted nothing to do with KI. My friend went into guest services to complain only to find Katie there, telling her co workers "those are the two I was just telling you about".

My friend starts explaining to one lady what happened, and RUDELY asked him why a 37, and 42 year old felt threatened by a group of kids.

SERIOUSLY... this kind of treatment goes beyond words. If I had this work ethic I would be embarrassed of myself, and can honestly say i would not be employed.

Does anyone on this board know who I contact? I want nothing from the park. I don't even want an apology.

Will I return for the second day of my pass? Possibly, only because I paid for it.

Will I spend a single cent inside the park? No

Will I buy an memento's? I might buy a Kings Island T Shirt which I'm thinking of altering. I'm thing I'll write "Where line jumping is completely acceptable, Where else"

I got really sunburned while I was there today. I stopped at a Walgreens to get some Aloe. The sales clerk asked me where I was. I told her. She asked if it was. I was very honest. A couple of people were tisking.

Word of mouth can travel. Will it crush ans empire? Doubtful, but it makes people question if they want to spend their coins there.

This is awful. Completely awful. Never in my life have I ever heard of such a bad experience at Kings Island (other than people dying and what-not). That Katie lady sounds like a complete you know what. I would've demanded to talk to her manager. That's completely terrible. I'm so sorry that you had this bad experience, but I just think it was a bad time to go. It's Memorial Day weekend, this weekend and 4th of July weekend are the worst times (IMO) of the year to go. Just because of the crowds, and like somebody said, people that don't usually come to Kings Island, come on those days.

[TheCryptRaider]

Agh. Double post.

[Scooter4Ever]

I have to add that as I was experiencing the "couldn't give a rat"s **s" ice cream girl, my sister, two cashiers down, had a "delightful" young man waiting on her. When we walked away from the stand and I made a comment about my cashier's short comings, she said her cashier was "delightful". So there were some bright points to our visit. We all enjoyed Diamondback very much and my nephew, who just became tall enough to ride everything, had a great time on the rides. Although he did ask why people were smoking in line and why some girls were almost naked.

But as stated before, I got my fill. I'm good for amusement parks for a while.

[TheCryptRaider]

Although he did ask why people were smoking in line and why some girls were almost naked.

Those two things and line jumping need to have something done about them. I see women with little children walking down the midway with see through swimsuits. It's just really annoying, because they say you have to wear shirts and pants in the park, but they don't enforce it. Shoot, what rules DO they enforce? I couldn't even tell you how many times I see little kids having coughing fits because of some idiot smoking in a non-smoking area. Don't even get me started on line-jumping. If Kings Island keeps this up, I don't know if I'll want to come back anymore. And that's saying a lot.

[gigacoaster2k]

I too have noticed the way line jumping is pretty much overlooked at Kings Island. We shouldn't have to repeatedly call the park and tell them it is a problem.

Four of my friends from the Cleveland and Detroit area drove down to Kings Island on opening day, and even they noticed the line jumping issue on just that one day. One of them even noticed ride ops directing line jumpers to their party, and the four of them were so disgusted with the situation that they all left after only two hours, and said they aren't coming back to the park. These are the kind of people that base park impressions on guest experience, no matter how big and bad the rides are or how great the park looks.

Yesterday, Cedar Point had a zero tolerance policy for line jumpers. Security was straight throwing line jumpers out of the park left and right. The ride ops were watching the queues and picking up the phone to call security every time they saw a line jumper. I was impressed.

[rotag]

Yesterday, Cedar Point had a zero tolerance policy for line jumpers. Security was straight throwing line jumpers out of the park left and right. The ride ops were watching the queues and picking up the phone to call security every time they saw a line jumper. I was impressed.

i would love to see that cause the mental image i get is security holding patron bye shirt collar and belt loops and just straight chucking them out like you see in them old black and white cartoons.

[The Beast Rider]

Yesterday, Cedar Point had a zero tolerance policy for line jumpers. Security was straight throwing line jumpers out of the park left and right. The ride ops were watching the queues and picking up the phone to call security every time they saw a line jumper. I was impressed.

Good for them! I hope they waited and met the line jumpers in the station of the ride. Make them wait as long as possible and throw them out! If they keep that up, people will learn pretty quick not to line jump there. Kings Island needs to get their act together and do the same thing. Maybe people that spit can go right along with them.

[KIfan73]

We proceeded to get in line for Son of Beast. Some one wants to pass us. My friend becomes very angry and says no.

The person trying to cut in front of us has a group (6+ people) that see a an argument is breaking out. They come towards us, I tell my friend to just let him pass. I was worried about getting jumped at this point. At this point we were on the stairs going up to the station. I'm in my late 30's and my friend in his early 40's. This was a group of young hostile men and women. I was scared.

There is something about SOB's queue that makes you feel isolated, like if something did go down, there's really no one around.

The "queueing" experience for that ride has always stood out as being not good in my experiences.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

I don't post much on this site, but I lurk almost everyday.

I live outside of Chicago, and have made a trip to KI almost every year for the past 4 years.

I'm so disgusted with the park that I'm writing this from my hotel. I'm hoping someone on this forum will be able to help me contact the right person to rectify a bad situation.

Today the park was packed, the ASA Sport..etc, but I will say the lines were moving pretty well.

While waiting on Diamondback a male teen decided to cut from the single rider line into the regular line, probably because he saw that line was moving faster? Then he proceeded to push his way to the front of the line. When he was there he was granted a first seat.

When I asked if I could have a first seat I was told that I would have to sit in the thirteenth row. I was a little mad, but the ride was enjoyable.

Later while waiting in line for Back lot there was a teen girl who cut her way to the front of the line. I'm a not a person who likes confrontation, so I just let it slide. My friend was starting to become annoyed.

We headed over to get some Blue Ice Cream in Action Zone.

This was a total utter joke. The girls "working" the counter were too busy chatting with each other to focus on their jobs.

It took them 10 minutes to get me an ice cream. The scenario was: Visiting with each other/ Can I help you/ Visit some more/ Ask me what I needed again/Take my money/Visit more/Then ask me a third time what I ordered.

At this point I was ticked. I bought a two day pass, drove 250 miles/paid for a motel for three day for this.

We proceeded to get in line for Son of Beast. Some one wants to pass us. My friend becomes very angry and says no.

The person trying to cut in front of us has a group (6+ people) that see a an argument is breaking out. They come towards us, I tell my friend to just let him pass. I was worried about getting jumped at this point. At this point we were on the stairs going up to the station. I'm in my late 30's and my friend in his early 40's. This was a group of young hostile men and women. I was scared.

When we got up to the station I got the attention of the attendant. I refused to get on the ride. I told the attendant I wanted security to escort me to Guest Services or the gate of the park, as I felt unsafe. The attendant quickly had security come, and

"Katie". Katie works in guest services, or is a Manager...but would not give us her exact title, name, or name of her boss, as "she did not feel she needed to".

At this point security has the group. There were people in the line who were thanking us for turning them in.

My friend asks Katie if they are going to be kicked out of the park. She responds "NO, but security has warned them to leave us alone"

Katie offered my friend and I a free pass to the front of the line of any ride we want. My friend said he wanted a refund on his ticket. I said I want nothing from the park except to be escorted out, as I didn't feel safe.

I also told Katie if I wanted this kind of treatment I would have saved myself $500.00 plus dollars and what will be close to 500 miles of driving, and went to Six Flags Great America. I explained how my friend and I really used to enjoy the park, the atmosphere..etc. I asked her why my friend and I were being treated so poorly for defending our place in line. I asked her why her staff was not enforcing line jumping rules. She said she'd mention it to them.

At this point my friend wanted nothing to do with Katie. I wanted nothing to do with KI. My friend went into guest services to complain only to find Katie there, telling her co workers "those are the two I was just telling you about".

My friend starts explaining to one lady what happened, and RUDELY asked him why a 37, and 42 year old felt threatened by a group of kids.

SERIOUSLY... this kind of treatment goes beyond words. If I had this work ethic I would be embarrassed of myself, and can honestly say i would not be employed.

Does anyone on this board know who I contact? I want nothing from the park. I don't even want an apology.

Will I return for the second day of my pass? Possibly, only because I paid for it.

Will I spend a single cent inside the park? No

Will I buy an memento's? I might buy a Kings Island T Shirt which I'm thinking of altering. I'm thing I'll write "Where line jumping is completely acceptable, Where else"

I got really sunburned while I was there today. I stopped at a Walgreens to get some Aloe. The sales clerk asked me where I was. I told her. She asked if it was. I was very honest. A couple of people were tisking.

Word of mouth can travel. Will it crush ans empire? Doubtful, but it makes people question if they want to spend their coins there.

I can share your frustrations with line jumping....same thing happened to my friend & I yesterday at KD while in line for Dominator when this kid has the nerve to cut in front of us to join the rest of his group after getting out of line for something & then to make matters worse a whole group of people standing in the empty section of the queue(that wasn't being used) decide that they want to hop the rail to join their friends,who were standing right in front of us.It was at that point that I'd had enough & just left the queue because I wasn't gonna put up with that nonsense....after all if I want line jumpers I'll go to SFA but won't tolerate that BS at KD.

[Browns4life]

Kings Island is getting more and more trashy... I am not saying everyone from SW Ohio and Northern Kentucky is "trash." And i am sure there are many nice people who attend, but that is what KI draws, many locals. They return year after year and they feel the own the place and can do whatever they want. You also get locals who are employed there.

"My friend starts explaining to one lady what happened, and RUDELY asked him why a 37, and 42 year old felt threatened by a group of kids."

I am 22 years old, I would feel threatened by a group of kids there is no telling what they will do these days!

I would not feel threatened if i was with a group of my friends though and i would not allow them to cut in line.

[Jasper]

As someone previously stated in this topic, the run in you had with the certain group of people was more than likely due to the action sports event that was going on. I am sure if you were to come back on a summer weekday your experience would be entirely different and much more pleasing.