Browntggrr Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 There is 100% chance of rain for tomorrow evening. We are leaving at 11am. Going to travel a little over 5 hours. I hope the park isn't closed. Talk about disappointment. I would be calling the park every hour to verify that it will be open. That's a LONG trip to find out the park's closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcc Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 There is 100% chance of rain for tomorrow evening. We are leaving at 11am. Going to travel a little over 5 hours. I hope the park isn't closed. Talk about disappointment. I would be calling the park every hour to verify that it will be open. That's a LONG trip to find out the park's closed. ^ Yeah, I can see me doing that...then make Don take me on all of the rides personally lol.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomTheater Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 The park operating calendar, hours of operation and events are always subject to change. At least they haven't done what Paramount used to do -- schedule to be open from 10am to 8pm and then announce they're closing at noon. Imagine driving for 3 hours and getting there at 11:30 and assuming you had 8 and a half hour to enjoy the park when you didn't. That happened to me at Carowinds in '04, Hurricane Charley was moving through the area that day. The park closed at 1, which is when the sun came out and shined the rest of the day. In a surprise move, they gave out rain checks (even though I had a pass). Luckly I had already planned to go the next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashOverRided Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 There is 100% chance of rain for tomorrow evening. We are leaving at 11am. Going to travel a little over 5 hours. I hope the park isn't closed. Talk about disappointment. I would be calling the park every hour to verify that it will be open. That's a LONG trip to find out the park's closed. ^ Yeah, I can see me doing that...then make Don take me on all of the rides personally lol.... CLEAN AND REPAIR????? arrrrggggg......thats what offseason is for...LMAO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Well, one would hope cleaning and repairing is not done ONLY during the off-season! Though I think CBS didn't even do the cleaning part of that the last off-season it owned Kings Island! Terpy, who remembers well boarding a Viking Fury on opening day, sitting in leaves from the last autumn... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reclaimer Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Sorry, but calling the park every hour to make sure it's still open? That's a great idea to do while driving. Checking the weather well in advance, using the same tools available to Kings Island? Sure...and guess what? Those tools, as of 1pm yesterday when I left for Cincinnati, were predicting a little rain in the afternoon up to around 7 and then breaking up for a bit until early Friday morning (1-2am). So let's see... -Checking weather consistently for about a full 24 hrs leading up to the trip, weather looks like it'll hold out decently. -Getting the night off of work so that I can enjoy an evening in the park (Lost income for me) -Spending around $40-50 on gas in total for a round-trip to Cincinnati -Stopping a couple times along the way to check the Kings Island website to make sure it's open...and finding out it "is" open. (Even well into the night, the Kings Island mobile site was proudly stating the park was open 7p-12a. Considering the main KI site is all in Flash, my iPhone clearly isn't going to open that, so my only choice to use their website was the mobile site that was recently launched...and is apparently negelected) As a long-time fan of Kings Island, last night's fiasco left a really, really bad taste in my mouth. I've worked for the company for a couple years at Cedar Point and know things close due to inclement weather, and for good reason (safety). But when it rains and storms, the park doesn't get closed...the rides do. I can guarantee you that when KI closes rides due to weather, they will proudly tell people there are plenty of other things to do in the park that will stay open during inclement weather. And last I recalled, the majority of the haunts were indoors. Being that this is Halloween Haunt, I'd assume most people coming to the park would be interested in doing some Haunts, especially if the rides weren't operating due to weather. With such a last-minute decision, they should have simply closed the rides if need be...or at the very, VERY least, actually attempt to inform the customers that might actually already be on their way to the park. (Mobile site) Of the group I was going with, we all are probably going to be unable to go to the park any other date for the remainder of the season. I'm busy with two jobs and school, and the people I was with are attending school and/or working at Cedar Point for Halloweekends (hence our going on a Thursday) Looks like Dick lost out on our nickels. Sure we're just a few warm bodies and we don't really amount to too much, but such an event can leave a bad taste in someone's mouth for awhile. The way the situation was handled has definitely made me view the park in a new light. Since I'll be moving to FL right after graduation in early May, I'll likely not be able to return to the park even next year...and not by choice. Let me also add that, while I am disappointed in, and question the logic behind, the decision to close the park (for obvious reasons), that is not my main point of contention. My main problem is simply with the way the situation is handled. Now, there is no certain way to reach every possible person that may be coming to your park if you close it, but at least make an attempt. People that may be on their way, for instance, are considered "mobile" and are probably going to check the new "mobile" site that the park publicized. That's a great way to treat your guests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakota2112 Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Sorry, but calling the park every hour to make sure it's still open? That's a great idea to do while driving. Checking the weather well in advance, using the same tools available to Kings Island? Sure...and guess what? Those tools, as of 1pm yesterday when I left for Cincinnati, were predicting a little rain in the afternoon up to around 7 and then breaking up for a bit until early Friday morning (1-2am). So let's see... -Checking weather consistently for about a full 24 hrs leading up to the trip, weather looks like it'll hold out decently. -Getting the night off of work so that I can enjoy an evening in the park (Lost income for me) -Spending around $40-50 on gas in total for a round-trip to Cincinnati -Stopping a couple times along the way to check the Kings Island website to make sure it's open...and finding out it "is" open. (Even well into the night, the Kings Island mobile site was proudly stating the park was open 7p-12a. Considering the main KI site is all in Flash, my iPhone clearly isn't going to open that, so my only choice to use their website was the mobile site that was recently launched...and is apparently negelected) As a long-time fan of Kings Island, last night's fiasco left a really, really bad taste in my mouth. I've worked for the company for a couple years at Cedar Point and know things close due to inclement weather, and for good reason (safety). But when it rains and storms, the park doesn't get closed...the rides do. I can guarantee you that when KI closes rides due to weather, they will proudly tell people there are plenty of other things to do in the park that will stay open during inclement weather. And last I recalled, the majority of the haunts were indoors. Being that this is Halloween Haunt, I'd assume most people coming to the park would be interested in doing some Haunts, especially if the rides weren't operating due to weather. With such a last-minute decision, they should have simply closed the rides if need be...or at the very, VERY least, actually attempt to inform the customers that might actually already be on their way to the park. (Mobile site) Of the group I was going with, we all are probably going to be unable to go to the park any other date for the remainder of the season. I'm busy with two jobs and school, and the people I was with are attending school and/or working at Cedar Point for Halloweekends (hence our going on a Thursday) Looks like Dick lost out on our nickels. Sure we're just a few warm bodies and we don't really amount to too much, but such an event can leave a bad taste in someone's mouth for awhile. The way the situation was handled has definitely made me view the park in a new light. Since I'll be moving to FL right after graduation in early May, I'll likely not be able to return to the park even next year...and not by choice. All of the weather resources I use here locally have been predicting a MAJOR rain event for several days now... they were predicting rain on the order of 2-4". So this is no surprise to me whatsoever... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reclaimer Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 All of the weather resources I use here locally have been predicting a MAJOR rain event for several days now... they were predicting rain on the order of 2-4". So this is no surprise to me whatsoever... According to Accuweather, Intellicast, WCPO.com, WLWT.com, and Kings Island's own mobile site, there was a chance for some rain in the evening but most of the rain would be coming in the afternoon and then again early Friday morning (KI's site, for example, claimed a 30% chance) And guess what? While I was in Cincinnati yesterday between 5 and 11pm, it pretty much stopped raining around 8pm and didn't start again until I was well on my way home (around midnight). I'm not trying to say you're wrong, because I'm sure we all know you could ask 5 weathermen what the weather will be like and probably get 5 varying (to some degree) answers. I hope you aren't trying to imply I didn't plan my trip very well. Considering I was missing out on wages from work, driving ~3 hrs each way by myself, using gas money, etc., you can bet I planned and looked at the forecast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhartley Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Your cell phone is your friend. Call ahead and then keep calling if you think there will be a chance they will close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reclaimer Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Your cell phone is your friend. Call ahead and then keep calling if you think there will be a chance they will close. I prefer not to use my phone while I drive. Thanks. And again, I see excuses being made. You seem to be saying it's ok the don't update their website with current info simply because I could call? If I am able to get to the park next year, I'll be sure to call Guest Relations for my questions. Nearest bathroom? No problem. Nearest food stand? No problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakota2112 Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 All of the weather resources I use here locally have been predicting a MAJOR rain event for several days now... they were predicting rain on the order of 2-4". So this is no surprise to me whatsoever... According to Accuweather, Intellicast, WCPO.com, WLWT.com, and Kings Island's own mobile site, there was a chance for some rain in the evening but most of the rain would be coming in the afternoon and then again early Friday morning (KI's site, for example, claimed a 30% chance) And guess what? While I was in Cincinnati yesterday between 5 and 11pm, it pretty much stopped raining around 8pm and didn't start again until I was well on my way home (around midnight). I'm not trying to say you're wrong, because I'm sure we all know you could ask 5 weathermen what the weather will be like and probably get 5 varying (to some degree) answers. I hope you aren't trying to imply I didn't plan my trip very well. Considering I was missing out on wages from work, driving ~3 hrs each way by myself, using gas money, etc., you can bet I planned and looked at the forecast. Reclaimer, no offense intended! I'm just saying that I've been hearing about this major rain event on the local news for a couple days now, flood watches and all that, so I personally would've already canceled any outdoor plans that I had beforehand. Even though the rain did let up some last night, I'm not surprised the park closed given the circumstances. You just were one of the hardest hit by the closing unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reclaimer Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 And I understand my situation is one of the more extreme ones. Believe me, I normally would cancel or postpone plans if there is any sort of chance that my trip could be affected by something like this. I'm totally in agreement with you there. Unfortunately, things just didn't work out that way this year and I didn't have much choice. Again, I'm honestly "over" the whole closing of the park thing...I'm just angry at the way it was handled and hope that they improve upon their communication of such things in the future. That's my beef. (...and now I'm hungry) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 reclaimer I agree with you that the park could update their mobile site more often, but with that being said you said you pulled over to check the web site. If the web site says one thing, and the weather is showing another why didnt you just make a 3 min quick phone call. Not attacking just offering up an idea for next time if there is one.... How did we ever survive with out cell phones and the internet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcc Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Well, I hope all is well tonight. I'm getting ready to head out the door for our 5 hour journey. It's nice and sunny here, but my friends in Lexington say it's terrible there. At least I have all day tomorrow too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 well up here in columbus its wet on the ground and just cold..... as of right now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarketingExpress Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Hate to break it to you Reclaimer, but KI can't notify every single person that is thinking about going to the park, although they do their best to try. In this case, you just happened to be one of the people who never got updated information. It sounds like not too many people showed up at the park after they announced the closing, so obviously they did something right in getting the word out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Hate to break it to you Reclaimer, but KI can't notify every single person that is thinking about going to the park, although they do their best to try. They certainly did ok when they sent out those robo-calls to attempt to sell you a Season Pass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
touchdown62 Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I got a text from KICentral about the park closing last night. I got that text around 3 or so. There's another resource you can use. Sign up for the KICentral messaging service thingy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reclaimer Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Hate to break it to you Reclaimer, but KI can't notify every single person that is thinking about going to the park, although they do their best to try. In this case, you just happened to be one of the people who never got updated information. It sounds like not too many people showed up at the park after they announced the closing, so obviously they did something right in getting the word out. Woah, sir. Where did I state that KI had to notify every single person that is coming to the park? Nowhere. I'm stating that they clearly can't be bothered to make anything other than a half-hearted attempt by updating only their main site (not accessible to many mobile devices). For a park that just launched a mobile version of their site and tried to get people to use that version, this is a pretty laughable mistake. Cedar Fair as a whole has become a horribly mismanaged company. This coming from an inside prospective and from a guest prospective. Kings Island simply proved this even more last night. As for KICentral sending out a text. That's great and all, but I don't subscribe to it because I don't want updates to KICentral texted to my phone. I do think it's great the site offers that service and it is fantastic that they were able to help get the word out, but the park shouldn't rely on the thinking that fan sites will do the work for them. On another, somewhat related note, the park also showed that its presence online is more of a charade than anything. The official website is a joke and is still a relic of 2006 and before, its mobile site is apparently just a gimmick so that they seem "cutting-edge cool", and the park's Twitter account and blog is nothing more than a revolving door of press releases. The park wants to seem "hip" and into social media and having a large online presence, but it's just not getting it. Engage your users and guests. Appreciate them. It kills me to this park, a park I've been going to since I was a little child, and the park that first grew my love for coasters, is failing miserably at guest relations of late. What kills me even more is that there are people, even on this site, that follow everything the park does blindly and without question. In their eyes, the park does no wrong. It's that mentality that keeps the park, and Cedar Fair as a whole, on its current belief system that follows the Kinzel mantra "People have to eat." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 ^I thought you said you were over it! (I am just kidding.) I think you have a legitimate complaint...if they are going to hype the mobile service they should stay on top of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnrealNightmare Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I also got that text around 3:30 yesterday. You don't really get too many of them so it's really not a bad thing to sign up for. I think the entire season i got a total of 5 texts. So it's not that big a deal and yesterday's text certainly would have helped me if I was planning on heading to the park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotag Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I'm so tissed!!! I drove 2 HRS to get there for work to find out from ringmaster, my sup, & the make-up team who said they just got there & just found out. But I made light of it by drivin past my favorite flea-market to get to justin m_17's house. Stalkerchick showed up at his house exactly as I got there (wich I saw as humorus). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RingMaster Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I had actually been there since 9 AM that morning getting all the restrooms ready for later that night. No sooner than I clocked out and walked over to the theater and sit for the next hour and a half (roughly a quarter after 3), I got a call saying they would be closing the park down due to inclement weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSonofBeast Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 they canceled the flood warning for today already, which is at least a sign of hope for tonight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewart32 Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 hey everybody! TGIF The boy turns 9 in 4 days and we had planned on celebrating with a Saturday trip to KI/HH. This would be our first trip to KI all season. I had hoped for good weather and Saturday looks promising (better than today anyway). We plan to spend the day on the thrill rides then, once the fog rolls out, check out some haunts. If the haunts prove to intense for him... well we can just leave (having already enjoyed the day on rides). He seems brave at present. We shall see... bwaaahahahaaaa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reclaimer Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 ^I thought you said you were over it! (I am just kidding.) I think you have a legitimate complaint...if they are going to hype the mobile service they should stay on top of it. Oh, I'm over it. (kinda) I just need to get some lunch to make things all better. I might still flail around some responses here if I need to defend myself though. haha I love KI, but I will call them out for bad decisions. If Disney or Apple did something stupid, I'd call them out as well. (Apple has been 'on notice' lately in my books ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh4958 Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Is it written in stone some were when KI will shut down the rides for weather reason? Or is it day to day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSonofBeast Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 they have a radar service that they use. its normally when rain becomes so heavy they shut rides down. or if thunder and lightning are within x many miles then they get a call and the rides go down. There is a little discretion, but not much... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RingMaster Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 hey everybody! TGIF The boy turns 9 in 4 days and we had planned on celebrating with a Saturday trip to KI/HH. This would be our first trip to KI all season. I had hoped for good weather and Saturday looks promising (better than today anyway). We plan to spend the day on the thrill rides then, once the fog rolls out, check out some haunts. If the haunts prove to intense for him... well we can just leave (having already enjoyed the day on rides). He seems brave at present. We shall see... bwaaahahahaaaa Hey, Happy Four-Days-Until-He-Turns-Nine Birthday to your son then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Hate to break it to you Reclaimer, but KI can't notify every single person that is thinking about going to the park, although they do their best to try. In this case, you just happened to be one of the people who never got updated information. It sounds like not too many people showed up at the park after they announced the closing, so obviously they did something right in getting the word out. Woah, sir. Where did I state that KI had to notify every single person that is coming to the park? Nowhere. I'm stating that they clearly can't be bothered to make anything other than a half-hearted attempt by updating only their main site (not accessible to many mobile devices). For a park that just launched a mobile version of their site and tried to get people to use that version, this is a pretty laughable mistake. Cedar Fair as a whole has become a horribly mismanaged company. This coming from an inside prospective and from a guest prospective. Kings Island simply proved this even more last night. As for KICentral sending out a text. That's great and all, but I don't subscribe to it because I don't want updates to KICentral texted to my phone. I do think it's great the site offers that service and it is fantastic that they were able to help get the word out, but the park shouldn't rely on the thinking that fan sites will do the work for them. On another, somewhat related note, the park also showed that its presence online is more of a charade than anything. The official website is a joke and is still a relic of 2006 and before, its mobile site is apparently just a gimmick so that they seem "cutting-edge cool", and the park's Twitter account and blog is nothing more than a revolving door of press releases. The park wants to seem "hip" and into social media and having a large online presence, but it's just not getting it. Engage your users and guests. Appreciate them. It kills me to this park, a park I've been going to since I was a little child, and the park that first grew my love for coasters, is failing miserably at guest relations of late. What kills me even more is that there are people, even on this site, that follow everything the park does blindly and without question. In their eyes, the park does no wrong. It's that mentality that keeps the park, and Cedar Fair as a whole, on its current belief system that follows the Kinzel mantra "People have to eat." I'm still not exactly certain how you would have wanted to have been informed of KI's closure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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