Cleaning up the park.

[PKIVortex]

I noticed yesterday 7/23 while I was at the park and riding Racer both forwards and backwards, that they have cleaned up the tunnels in the break runs. Most of the gum has been removed, and the writing on the walls have been covered up by white spray paint. Do you guys think this is an action from Cedar Fair?

[Reclaimer]

Probably so. The main changes I've been reading about since CF's take-over are mostly stricter dress codes and a cleaner park.

[jillevan]

We were at the park on July 21 and 22. I found the park to be in need of major cleaning. My father spoke to several employees who said the CF is working hard to get not only the park cleaned up but also the employees.

[KIBeast]

That is fantastic news. I would expect more garbage cans for next year as well.

[King Maple The Tree King]

No, CF is not the ones making these changes, it is current PKI management (which has not been shaken up that much by CF as much as many seem to think). The current re-emphasis on dress code is just a brush up on all the tules that were set in stone already but not enforced well, and the clean up of some of the ride areas and stuff is just because certain CF (not just Dick Kinzel) executives have been visiting the parks almost daily throughout the past month over-viewing it. Kudos to the Operations area managers who are brushing up on the rules.

[WooferBearATL]

No, CF is not the ones making these changes, it is current PKI management (which has not been shaken up that much by CF as much as many seem to think). The current re-emphasis on dress code is just a brush up on all the tules that were set in stone already but not enforced well, and the clean up of some of the ride areas and stuff is just because certain CF (not just Dick Kinzel) executives have been visiting the parks almost daily throughout the past month over-viewing it. Kudos to the Operations area managers who are brushing up on the rules.

How many contradictions can you have in one post?

[King Maple The Tree King]

^What I mean is, CF hasnt directly put people into the park who have said "START DOING THIS! and I WANT YOU TO DO THIS NOW INSTEAD OF THAT!". THey havent changed any regular policy at all, more emphasis has just been placed no rules that were laxed before the sale, not cause some CF boss told anyone to, but just because maybe someone wants to make a good impression.

[The Interpreter]

Oh, just wait.

You'll see policy changes.

And drastic ones.

They will come during the off season.

And some managers will be kept, while others will not be, or will choose to leave.

[Reclaimer]

Nobody's said new rules where in place...If they're getting more strict on dress code and cleaning up, I think that implies there are already rules in place they are simply concentrating more on.

[criminaljustice]

^What I mean is, CF hasnt directly put people into the park who have said "START DOING THIS! and I WANT YOU TO DO THIS NOW INSTEAD OF THAT!". THey havent changed any regular policy at all, more emphasis has just been placed no rules that were laxed before the sale, not cause some CF boss told anyone to, but just because maybe someone wants to make a good impression.

Exactly...I got what you were saying,

I've seen those tunnels painted every so many years, it's nothing new. It's the ride operations clean-up crew that is responsible for that. kudos to Operations for keeping up on that. I'm sure within the week the rednecks who deface park property will have that tunnel looking bad, and KI will yet again be criticized for it, and someone will blame Paramount for that, and when it gets fixed again Cedar Fair will be praised.......hmmmm I see a trend brewing.

[A_Titanic_Mess]

No, CF is not the ones making these changes, it is current PKI management (which has not been shaken up that much by CF as much as many seem to think).

I was also at the park this weekend for a company picnic. I ran into one of the VP's that I worked for during my tenure at PKI. This person told me the exact opposite of your statement. This person said that Cedar Fair does things very differently than PKI, and that a lot of internal changes were happening. This person said it has been difficult to adjust, and that many of them are unsure of how things will play out. This is a very similar statement that my friend that works at what is left of Paramount corporate at Carowinds told me. Cedar Fair will be going to each park throughout the next couple of months to give 'town hall' type meetings that will spell out what to expect.

IMO, I would expect that on the surface, we the guests won't notice many of these internal changes. It will be next season before we see any big changes.

[A_Titanic_Mess]

We were at the park on July 21 and 22.  I found the park to be in need of major cleaning.  My father spoke to several employees who said the CF is working hard to get not only the park cleaned up but also the employees.

I sure hope so. We stopped by the food stand 'It's Fried' in Coney Mall to grab some drinks before we left the park. The employees 'working' (if you can call it that) were the sorriest group I have seen in a long time. And the food stand was just a mess. Time to tear this one down to the ground and start over.

[Vortexlover2]

woah

I'm guessing that Cedar fair likes making changes.

or they just like making things better- and that is good.

to A_Titanic_Mess: on the *messy meter* (1 imaculate, 12 cant' see walls floor or celing) how messy was it?

[A_Titanic_Mess]

Vortexlover2, love the messy meter! I would give this place a 10, pushing towards 11. It certainly has seen better days!

[Reclaimer]

I agree...Many of the Coney-area food stands are in need of some TLC. Nah, they need to be replaced. Even Subway is in a sad state. (With some sad employees as well!)

I should've went to GR on my last visit due to a Subway employee. We were waiting for the parade to start right across from Monster. Right before the parade started, I wanted to run and get an icee. I ran to Subway, seeings as it was closest and nobody was in line, and as I walked up to order, a girl was just leaning on the cash register kind of cradling her head with both hands, totally ignoring me. I had to actually say "excuse me" to get her to acknowledge my existance. After placing my order of a single icee, she took her sweet little time to crawl across the food stand to get a cup, and then to the other side to fill the icee. After paying and getting my drink, I BARELY made it back to my spot before the parade started. Not ONCE during this whole experience did she smile or seem happy to even be alive. Needless to say, the parade was a welcome "happy moment"

[TheKlockster]

I saw the tunnels like last Sunday. They looked about half done - and they looked GREAT. I hope it can keep that way!

[PKIVortex]

I also thinking that new speils they are saying at The Beast could be from Cedar Fair too. They tell you what train your are going to board, and to put all loose items in the storage area on the unload side marked 1. They do this for every train coming into the station. Also the Supervisor as Vortex was welcome back riders and saying push down and pull up on your restraint and to enjoy the rest of your day at "Kings Island". Also they are new signs on some of the turn styles that say "Welcome to Kings Island".

[The Interpreter]

Any:

Welcome back you crazy Magnum riders, how was your ride?....etc.

[PKIVortex]

On Beast they where. But they always do that. Has anyone ever heard the op at Beast sing "If your going to ride The Beast Clap your hands" LOL. That's so funny. But they have always pumped people up at The Beast. Great Job to The Beast ops.

[screamingnight]

I heard that Busch Gardens Europe is much cleaner that KI.

[The Interpreter]

So is Holiday World, and it's a lot closer. . .

But Cedar Fair is known for spotlessly clean parks.

[marlfox_21]

Well, yea it's Cedar Fair. They own it. But P.K.I. management taking the initiative.

I don't know. Sounds more like people trying desperately to keep their jobs to me.

Now don't get me wrong. I am not saying that all are this way. I know that P.K.I. has great management. But you've got to admit. I am sure that it is happening somewhere.

[Purplehaze]

i think the dress code has gone down hill, when i use to work there in the 80's and 90's it was pretty strict.....now some of the employees look sloppy, one guy had long hair in a pny tail, i thought that was against the rules but i might be wrong

[DeMoN]

I really could care less if it is Cedar Fair prompting the employees to do this or the management themselves at PKI taking the initiative to strictly enforce the rules. My wife and I just visited the park on July 21 with our 2 children and I could tell the difference in the park immediately. It looked so much cleaner with the gum having been scraped off the rails walls etc. I also noticed very little if any trash on the walkways as we strolled from ride to ride. I remember vividly the last few years seeing cig. butts on the ground everywhere, but not in our last visit.

I also noticed more presence of employees in the restrooms cleaning them (aside from the few employees that decided to take breaks and chat with other employees in the restrooms, then again as humid as it was I can see a few breaks in some shade now and again). Ialso noticed more pumping up of the riders on various rides to name a few Avatar, Delirium, Racer, and The Beast. I thought some of the rides looked to need fresh paint jobs which I figured was the next step, but the changes were drastically evident.

Cedar Fairs overtaking of Kings Island is in my opinion one of the best things that could have happened. I noticed some employees with what I would deem sour attitudes but I also had great fun with some of the other employees with great attitudes. That reminded me of my trips to Kings Island in the late 80's early 90's and I am glad to see it start to go back to this. I hope it stays this way so that my kids enjoy the true essence of Kings Island that I remember and not what I had seen in the late 90's until now.

[bsktgrvy]

This may not be totally related but on our annual park visit this year we had dinner at Bubba Gump's. The fish I received was the most gross fish I have ever had in a restaurant. It was so greasy it was like rubber, and the fish inside was yellow due to the grease.

I took it back and showed it the girl that gave it to me, and she gave me another couple of pieces - exactly the same - gross.

I asked for a manager. She came out and I showed her the fish. She asked "What's wrong with it?". I took it apart and showed her the greasy yellow fish inside and asked her if she would eat it. She said "I don't eat fish".

I then asked to just have some chicken strips - which they gave me and were fine. I just was not happy with the response the manager gave.

[TheKlockster]

Even before the Cedar Fair buyout I used to say.

Ladies and gentlemen - were going to take you up 151 feet and drop you 138 feet at speeds over 55 miles per hour. Were going to take you upside down not once, not twice, not even three times - but six times. Enjoy your ride on Vortex.

Welcome back Vortex riders, how was your ride? When your train comes to a complete and final stop, please release your restraint by pulling down first, then pushing up, and exiting to the left. Thank you for riding Vortex and enjoy the rest of your day at Kings Island.

[WooferBearATL]

i think the dress code has gone down hill, when i use to work there in the 80's and 90's it was pretty strict.....now some of the employees look sloppy, one guy had long hair in a pny tail, i thought that was against the rules but i might be wrong

When I worked at the park it was as follows:

Men: Hair could not touch collars. No face hair other than mustache. No ear rings

unless both ears were pierced and then only post ear rings.

Women: Hair had to be pulled back and off the face. Only ear rings were post ear

rings.

No tattoos showing while in uniform.

Could only use employee paths and uniforms would be required to match the area in which you worked. (ie- no HB Uniforms in Rivertown, etc.)

Nametags worn at all times.

[jillevan]

I am sure that I will make several of you upset about this- but I found KI to be dirty. We were there last week (first time back in over 15 years). It is not the park that it use to be. The restrooms were dirty- paper on the floor, toliets dirty, soap dripping- just gross. People were smoking all over the place, of course leaving smoke buds on the ground. Lots of painting needs to be done. Last year we went to Dollyworld and Disney World. Both parks were so much cleaner and the employees were so much friendlier. None of the employees in the Nick area showed any excitiment. It doesn't matter who is causing the clean up- KI or CF. It should never have gotten that dirty. There is no excuse for gum, smoke buds, chipped paint everywhere. If Disney can keep their parks clean- than KI should have no problem since so Disney has so many more guests.

[ScootZilla]

Yes i was at the park a few days ago and yes the park is much cleaner.I have pics of The Racer tunns and on top of some coasters i will post soon.The floor and all in the building of FoF is much much cleaner and better looking without all the gum and everything.The 1 thing i think still needs to be done is some of the food stand ar very very bad the crew just dont care and i dont think they will be there long.Well at Pot works the crew is very lazy took the guy 5 mins to take my order and i was the only 1 in line.

Scoot

[The Interpreter]

I'd feel much better about a potential cleanup at Kings Island but for one thing.

The dirtiest restrooms I have encountered this year...and it was all day and every single one of them, were at Cedar Point. Not once did I see a single employee cleaning in any of them. The cleanest, by far, have been at Six Flags. ANY Six Flags. And, thanks to Mr. Shapiro, there is an attendant in at least 90 percent of them virtually all of the time. How smart this is is debatable, but it's happening.

The cleanest park overall was, as always, Holiday World. And the dirtiest park overall? Kings Island on opening day. There were still leaves from last fall in Viking Fury! The Racer trains looked as if they had simply been put away at the end of last season, maintenance performed, and then put back on the track without any kind of cleanup whatsoever.

I am sure Cedar Fair will clean up the parts of Kings Island that need it. But they could begin by cleaning the restrooms at Cedar Point!