Why do you love PKI?

[italianchef]

Logically speaking, the majority of the populance on these forums love PKI. My question to the rest of you is why do you love PKI? Please tell us why.

My reasons?

1. It's close to home.

2. The rides - especially The Beast.

3. The theming - especially H-B Land which reminds me of my childhood.

4. My book which has given me much fame.

5. It's the first American theme park Mrs. Chef and I visited together.

6. The shows - especially Graveyard Shift....and I miss it!

Have a totally groovy day!

Sincerely,

Italian Chef

[fyrfyter]

1. It is close to home

2. Environment - Nice to visit and plenty of places to relax. On good days, you don't have to worry a bout being on top of other people as you move around

3. Rides - Coasters, thrill rides, and old favorites -- need I say more?

4. Extras like FearFest and passholder only nights - nobody else does this, even if it is once a season.

5. Fun Fun Fun and time to relax!

[BoddaH1994]

I'd have to say that I love the park because it's almost like a euphoric place to go. It's like my own personal taste of Shangri-La. I can go there and forget about any problem I have. I guess that has to do with the fact that it's almost an hour from where I live, so it's accessable, but still no one can find me there. I think that rides are great stress relievers. I guess the best example I can give is the launch for Flight of Fear. I mean, when you're strapped into that seat waiting for the launch, you're not thinking about the test you have next Tuesday that you haven't studied for, you're not thinking about whether or not your girlfriend's cheating on you and what you're going to do if you find out that she is, and you're not thinking about how you were supposed to read chapter 16 of European History but didn't because you were on the forums all night. The only thing you're thinking of is the fact that you are about to be catipulted like a pebble out of a slingshot directly into a cobra roll.

I suppose everyone has their own release. I mean, some people play sports or write for the same reason. I suppose that since my release only happens for part of the year, I need to blow off steam while it's open. That's why I go like 3 times a week, all the way from Northern KY. I have always wished that I lived closer to the park, but I suppose it just would be the same that way.

[Mrs. G.]

Excellent topic once again, Chef. Also excellent answers. Why do we love PKI? How to narrow it down?...but I'll try.

1, 2 & 3. The Beast!

4. The rest of the rides.

5. The atmosphere and the employees, without whom the atmoshpere would not be what it is. Relaxed and happy and safe, not a care in the world. I am many years past History exams and cheating boyfriends but the idea still applies to us old folks. When I'm waitng for FoF to launch the furthest thing from my mind is dirty laundry or bills, assinine bosses or cleaning gutters. Just that tunnel...

6. Used to be a negative, now a positive. It is 300+ miles from home. Now that my kids are teens it is the only place I can take them and spend time with them without running into 87 kids they know, where I get them all to myself. The only place where my little girls are still my little girls. (And I can be too.) That's some kind of magic.

7. The fudge! Never have found better fudge anywhere.

[Vortex]

I'm glad this question came up. I live in Upper Michigan, and can only go to PKI once every two or three years, when we go to Cincinnati to visit relatives. I just got back from Cincy today, which also included a visit to PKI. I guess I love PKI because it was the first theme park I ever went to.

Even though I know whats coming, I can never quite prepare myself for the feeling that I get when I first see International Street laid out before me. I rode my first coaster at PKI(Beastie ) And The Beast is my favorite coaster on the planet! I guess I agree with BoddaH1994, that PKI is one of the few places I can go and not have to worry about anything else.

[Beastfreak]

1) It's Close to home

2) I've been going there since I was a little kid

3) I got over my fear of coasters slowly by riding things like The Beastie and eventually working my way up, and now I'm obsessed

4) I got over my fear of Fireworks from being at the park during closes. Now I'm obsessed (I used to cry like a baby)

5) International Street/Tower

6) I've now worked there for 6 years, so I feel connected

7) The people, you meet so many new people every year. Its the reason I keep coming back to work there

8) I too, go to Kings Island to get away from things. I've taken homework to the park to be done (I take college classes in the summer). I go to ride rides when I'm in a bad mood.

The list could go on and on but I think everyone gets the point. Kings Island is like my home away from home.

[Mr. Fusion]

1. Close to home

2. The rides

3. Been loving the park ever since I was little

4. Great feeling when you're there.

5. Place where you can forget all your worries

6. Overall fun place to hang out with friends.

[missdi]

Why I love PKI:

1. Not too far of a drive from home (this trip also gives my husband an excuse to go to the Bass Pro Shop)

2. The rides and the food. I used to be scared to death of coasters, when I rode The Racer the first year the park opened it made me so deathly afraid that I didn't ride another coaster til about 3 years ago, I finally rode The Racer again and loved it, now I have managed to work my way towards the bigger coasters, I love The Vortex and FOF, don't really like The Beast because it beat the heck out of me and was sore for days. Our favorite place to eat is Bubba Gumps.

3. Been going off and on since first year the park opened, have been a religious season pass holder for the last 6 years. Enjoy the wonderful feeling of when you walk in the gates and see the water and the tower you feel as though you've left all your worries behind. Being there gives me the special feeling that I'm privileged to be able to come anytime I want and there are so many unfortunate people out there that have never felt the excitement of such a wonderful park. Mrs.G said it perfectly-the furthest thing on my mind is dirty laundry, bills, bosses and household chores. Also the part of having your kids all to yourself and acting like one too! (If you have kids you'll know where we're coming from, this time spent with them is priceless!)

4. The atmosphere is relaxing and you feel safe to be there. I can turn my son loose and meet with him later and know that he is safe on the rides. That's not something that you can do anywhere these days.

My list also could go on and on but it is one of my favorite places to be.

[Derek]

- International Street which features the Eiffel Tower, food/shop buildings, and the beautiful Royal Fountain.

- The Beast, and many other rides.

- The park's atmosphere, landscaping, and theming.

- PKI is my favorite place to go, and it's also my favorite park.

- Great feeling before entering onto the Kings Island Drive.

Derek

[CYoung2003]

Why I love working at PKI:

Because I have met some of the best people you can meet by working there. When you work a ride an entire summer, your crew members become your good friends. You joke around, you have fun, and after work go out to eat with the people.

Because SOME of the guests can be very pleasant to talk to. When I check bars a give a quick hello to some of the people I see and I talk to them. You can meet new people and make new friends with guest relating. Most employees dread like I did, but I got used to it and I think its fun.

Because I cant think of any other job where after an open shift you can just go and clock out, change your shirt and then go a couple feet and ride some world class coasters.

Last but not least.....................Because they pay for my car!!!!

[Stitch]

1: First Amusement Park I Visited!

2: Son of Beast and King Cobra(R.I.P)

3: The Fact that once inside you cant see the outside world except for maybe 4 locations.

4: The Geese around the lake!

5: Racer

6: The Euphoria of International Street and Coney Mall

7: Top Cat's Taxi Jam

Those are my main reasons for loving PKI!

[DanielRadsgrl]

My reasons for loving PKI

1. It has Deliruim

2. I love the memories with my firends (getting my hair painted, hugging charectors, getting in trouble for stupid stuff with my firends ect. ect. ect.)

3. All the cool things we get for haveing goldpasses

4. The Racer (when they race wich is hardly never now)

5. just all the land and the endless things you can do

6. the cool shopps like the glass making shop and the fudge shop with the free samples lol.

That is a really hard question to answer. Thats like saying why do you love your child? There's so many reasons.

[BoddaH1994]

6. the cool shopps like the glass making shop and the fudge shop with the free samples lol.

Speaking of which, what happened to the glass blower? I haven't seen that guy in years. If he still works in the park, is his shop where it normally is?

[missdi]

He's still there, just in a different spot, still on the same side of International Street. He's at the very end of the buildings that house the candy shop, candles and figurines, if you start out by the end where they sell the fudge and walk straight thru then you can't miss him, actually he is sitting next to the door that looks out at the bakery and pretzel shop.

[Chatter]

"Why do you love PKI?"

Well, I don't. I "like" it. But I don't "love" it. I use to be in "love" with it, but I'm not anymore. It's more like "like", not "love". But "like" is still a pretty strong emotion to have. It's almost like "love", but not quite. Maybe while "liking" PKI again, I"ll fall in "love" with it all over again. Then I can answer this question. I will "like" answering this question when I'm in "love" with PKI again.

[italianchef]

"Why do you love PKI?"

Well, I don't. I "like" it. But I don't "love" it. I use to be in "love" with it, but I'm not anymore. It's more like "like", not "love". But "like" is still a pretty strong emotion to have. It's almost like "love", but not quite. Maybe while "liking" PKI again, I"ll fall in "love" with it all over again. Then I can answer this question. I will "like" answering this question when I'm in "love" with PKI again.

Your statements remind of a 1970s episode of Soap when Danny (I think) was dumped by his girlfriend. She told him that she loved him but wasn't in love with him. It was comical, you'd have to see it.