Shaggy Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 LOL! Hysterical! It's really amusing when I think about it now, but at the time I would get terribly aggrivated. There were a few times on shift when I literally refused to go back to that backside position. In '98 it was still an extremely popular coaster, and the guests would bombard that thing. Of course, back then it had all it's bells and whistles... all the in-station speels, sound and light effects. Of course it had OTSR's with those disgusting ear pads that came off at the drop of a hat (and ride attendants were forbidden to re-velcro them back on, had to shut the seat off and call maintenance who would literally just stick it on.) I think I lost about 5 name tags from leaning over checking those restraints, and the cheapos in wardrobe would charge you like $3 every time for a new one. I had some interesting/hysterical situations there too. I was working FOF the night of the huge blackout at the park. Of course as a ride op you are not allowed to say what is going on with a ride when it shuts down. So there I stood on load side trying to dodge questions like "Are they stuck?" with the sounds of "Help, we're stuck!" being bellowed from the block-braked train in the drum. I also recall working unload once and all of the sudden "KABLAM! HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" I thought the world was coming to an end. Of course it was just the hydraulic/air line to the brake caliper bursting. Scared the devil out of me. Shaggy P.S. Steve... I think I recall you. I transferred to Beast crew in '99, and worked there all season (just part time though, my working at PKI was just for kicks.) Carla and Beth were supervising, and you moved up to an Area Manager I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 I remember the black out in '99. I just got off work, and was in wardrobe changing my clothes getting ready to ride some rides, and it went black. I came out of wardrobe and noticed something wasn't right. The fountain was turned off, Vortex was stopped at the top of the hill. Then I figured out what happened. Everyone on the coasters had to be taken off where ever they may have been on the ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 And you know what? During that blackout was the best time I ever had with guests. Many remained in station and so we made a game of it. We did really silly stuff like throw around KI trivia, even sang old KI commerical jingles! The guests were extremely fun and smart. LOL It took a looooooong time for the rides to get evacuated and up and running again. All had to be evacuated, and it was late on a Sunday evening... so they only had the thin/late shift Supervisor crews on. I recall that there was one guest that took like 30 minutes to come down the lift of Vortex. Female, I think, and the only way she'd come down was to sit on the stairs and drop her butt down one step at a time. Shaggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 That would have been scary. You ever seen how big the gaps are between each step? I didn't know how big the gaps were myself, until I had to climb up there one day. But the stairs to the c breaks are the worst ones. I had to climb up there once too. Not fun, but interesting once I got up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steveo3631 Posted July 9, 2006 Author Share Posted July 9, 2006 LOL! Hysterical! It's really amusing when I think about it now, but at the time I would get terribly aggrivated. There were a few times on shift when I literally refused to go back to that backside position. In '98 it was still an extremely popular coaster, and the guests would bombard that thing. Of course, back then it had all it's bells and whistles... all the in-station speels, sound and light effects. Of course it had OTSR's with those disgusting ear pads that came off at the drop of a hat (and ride attendants were forbidden to re-velcro them back on, had to shut the seat off and call maintenance who would literally just stick it on.) I think I lost about 5 name tags from leaning over checking those restraints, and the cheapos in wardrobe would charge you like $3 every time for a new one. I had some interesting/hysterical situations there too. I was working FOF the night of the huge blackout at the park. Of course as a ride op you are not allowed to say what is going on with a ride when it shuts down. So there I stood on load side trying to dodge questions like "Are they stuck?" with the sounds of "Help, we're stuck!" being bellowed from the block-braked train in the drum. I also recall working unload once and all of the sudden "KABLAM! HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" I thought the world was coming to an end. Of course it was just the hydraulic/air line to the brake caliper bursting. Scared the devil out of me. Shaggy P.S. Steve... I think I recall you. I transferred to Beast crew in '99, and worked there all season (just part time though, my working at PKI was just for kicks.) Carla and Beth were supervising, and you moved up to an Area Manager I think. Shaggy, you recall me well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelixSpiral Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 At IOA, any visable loose article had to be taken to a locker. Bags, even hidden, could not be taken on, or left on the platform. Glasses and cell phones had to be placed in a pocket (which may have changed since a pocket is less secure than a hand in my experience). We had very few lost items, all from pockets and very few instances where a guest was hit by a flying article. I can't imagine that loose articles should even be allowed on any coaster. The gentleman allegedly hit by a snow globe on space Mountain can verify that! Yeah. Don't get me started on the loose items at Tomb Raider.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKlockster Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 What are you guys talking about? Backside is probably the worst position at Flight of Fear - but I still like it. You only have to check 2 cars for one... Then you get to yell at people to stay behind the yellow line. And another fun thing about it is that you get to guest relate to the people in line for the back seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Ackbar Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 Wow - I haven't posted in a while - but I just wanted to say how excited I am that Kings Island is now part of the Cedar Fair family. I hope that they really turn things around for the park - and undo all the damage that Paramount did. Now if they would only come down and buy MY home park! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstrwomann Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Cedar Fair owns enough parks now. Let's keep Kentucky Kingdom and the other Six Flags parks that we have now so ther isn't a monopoly in the USA. Support your park chains or Cedar Fair will be the only chain in the USA before long and everything will become stagnant and parks will close if new attractions aren't added and people don't visit the parks we have now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstrwomann Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 What do you mean about fix the damage that Paramount has done? They were one of the highest visited park chains around. They must have done something to attract people to their parks. People go to their parks to see a variety, theming, scenery, and they buy season passes because they offer perks and they treat their customers good. Six Flags is a good chain also it's just they are in alot of debt right now because htey expanded to quickly. I like SFKK alot I just wish they would add a hyper coaster in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 What do you mean about fix the damage that Paramount has done? They were one of the highest visited park chains around. They must have done something to attract people to their parks. People go to their parks to see a variety, theming, scenery, and they buy season passes because they offer perks and they treat their customers good. Six Flags is a good chain also it's just they are in alot of debt right now because htey expanded to quickly. I like SFKK alot I just wish they would add a hyper coaster in the future. Unfortunately you'll likely never see a hyper at SFKK. Due to their proximity to the airport, the height of their rides and attractions is greatly restricted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Not to mention that with Six Flags current financial condition and the family friendly focus that Messrs Shapiro and Snyder are taking, the chances of a hypercoaster at Kentucky Kingdom in the near future are somewhat less than zeo, even if there were no height restrictions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maestro Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 P.S. Steve... I think I recall you. I transferred to Beast crew in '99, and worked there all season (just part time though, my working at PKI was just for kicks.) Carla and Beth were supervising, and you moved up to an Area Manager I think. Shaggy, Carla remembers you well (and fondly) - funny, I found a picture of you at a Rivertown crew dinner this weekend (that belonged to her) while I was scanning some pictures for Steve. Maestro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast79 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 I was on FOF 97, 98 and trained 99 crew do to supervisor problems early in the season then went on to Face/Off. And there was nothing better than back side. Trying to check restraints, and open and close the gate with your feet while holding 5 basketballs 10 stuff animals and pushing a wheelchair HAhahaha. But nothing beats spinning kids for 8hours in 96degree heat on monster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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