New Here, Recent trip to Kings Island!

[Cormaster]

Hi! First of all I'd like to say its awesome to find some people with the passion I do for Roller coasters. In my life I've been too Six Flags Great America, Kentucky Kingdom (x3), Cedar Point, Disney World, Universal Studios, and Of course Kings Island (more times than I can even count). By Far, Kings Island owns 'em all imo. I've always been a huge fan and I'm glad to find other people that are big fans.

I recently visted yesturday and first of all I find it ironic that it doesn't rain for nearly a month but it decides to rain the one day I pick to go to Kings Island! Its ok though no harm done, the rain ended up being a good thing as it kept the crowd down. The day was awesome but I'm unsure about the Cedar Point purchase. I went to the Point once, went on a saturday, wasn't impressed, most of the coasters are a joke, only a few are world class, and the lines were ungodly horrible. I'm going to give it another chance next year, but with that being said my first impression of them running a park was bad.

lets start with the horrible music. or should I say "MuzaK" because thats exactly what it was. I enjoyed coming to Kings Island hearing all the Paramount music. Forrest Gump Theme, Star Trek, etc, it was all great, and it was music that you couldn't get sick of. Obviously they couldn't play that anymore due to license issues, which I understand, but did they have to pick the exact same muzak station that the Lowes store I've worked at for 4 years plays? Horrible. Mo-town, Paul McCartney, Steeley Dan, Modern R&B hits, etc I hate that station with a passion. I go to Kings Island to get away from that Music and they are blaring it as loud as they can! Its not just them, Many fast food restaurants like that station as well. You know its Kings Island. Its hardcore. Play some Pantera, Metallica, or Megadeth, hell something other than Steeley Dan and Paul McCartney fest. Yuck!

Anyway Secondly the new seatbelt. Redicolous. no one's been hurt or died on these rides before, if its not broke, don't' fix it! Also if The Beast has a seatbelt now and its buckled, and the harness bar clicks once I think its safe to let the person ride it. My GF, is not the smallest girl in the world, and honestly I wasn't happy that she had to get off The Beast just becasue the stupid bar wouldn't click twice! Why does it have to click twice? She had a seatbelt, and IMO if it isn't safe at one click, than it shouldn't click till it gets to the second clicking spot. Have these people who designed this harness rode itallian job? It clicks the like 20 times before it gets to the point where the "second click" position is on The Beast. Redicolous that somone has to be denied a ride on a classic world class coaster just because they aren't quite skinney enough to fit in the sardine canned size cars. Sometimes seems like they build these coaster cars for midgets!

Thirdly lets talk about poor maintenance. The Delirum, Drop Zone, Son of Beast, Flight of Fear, Tomb Raider, and Firehawk were broken down throughout the day. I understand whats going on with S.O.B. and D.Z. and thats forgivable definitely. But the rest theres no excuse. I also understand that Firehawk came from geauga lake and has been running fine for 6 years before it came here... so theres no excuse for KI to not have it running properly. Also if its broke, tell me whats wrong with it! I didn't appreciate waiting in line for FH only to hear "ladies and gentlemen theres been a minor delay". If it was a minor delay why didn't it open up again? Every day on the way to work on I-465 I pass a billboard that says "Firehawk: Kings Island" And I was looking foward to riding it, but after an hour and a half I had to give up, and sure enough It didn't reopen. And it didn't even open untill 3. Redicolous. The park has 6 months to get a ride working right. And its not even a new ride. Way to go Cedar Fair!

Anyway now that I got my little rant of the annoyances in the new ownership out of the way, inspite of all this, I still had a blast! Hit up The Vortex 4 times, The Beast once (by myself, since my GF couldn't ride it), Itallian Job Stunt track twice, Face off twice, The Wild Thornberries Log flume, and Congo falls twice. Also rode The Racer backwards Once. Also had to ride the lame Adventure Express since my G/F made me, but it was still fun.

Me and My G/F are acctually planning on getting married there next year. That was the whole purpose of the trip. We found a great spot, pending that Cedar Fair doesn't destroy it. Its that spot behind the Eiffel Tower where the Movie star names used to be, and theres a waterfall there too. The Recption is probably going to be at Wings Buffet. The whole purpose of this trip was to plan for the wedding, but we are probably going to visit again in August to hit up the waterpark, and hopefully ride everything we couldn't ride this past time.

Anyway Just thought I'd say hi to everybody.

[WooferBearATL]

Never seen a wedding performed at the park. I'm sure that you've cleared this with the park?

[Cormaster]

Yes we have acctually. They said they don't have a problem with it and they were even cater to it, but they will not keep it private for us: ie there is no where we can go to perform the wedding with out spectators walking by. Not a big deal. Our original location right in front of the Eiffel Tower but after further investigation we discovered the Walkways were too Narrow and the park isn't going to let us block off a walkway.

[The Interpreter]

In all my years of reading and listening to theme park comments, I have never heard anyone say that most of the Cedar Point coasters are a joke. Nor have I ever heard anyone think that Kings Island "owns" Walt Disney World or Universal Studios--Florida or California. In what ways do you think this is true? Theming? Landscaping? Shows? Rides? How? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

There are NO license issues with playing the former music at the gate. Cedar Fair CHOOSES not to. And if they played Pantera and Megadeath as you suggest, I am quite sure they would attract the families with young children who spend the most dimes in the park...NOT.

As for seatbelts, the ones on The Beast and Racer were installed at the insistence of the manufacturer and were not optional. The others were doubtless installed at the behest of Cedar Fair's insurance carrier. Sadly, people HAVE been hurt on these rides, and died on similar rides across the world. Safety is safety. You get to live with it (usually), and may not without it. That's the way it is.

As for not fitting Beast, I can identify. I was almost there myself, once upon a time. Let me be kind about this. If a person is of "exceptional size" and cannot fit Beast, it is probably a wake up call---to be kind, it's time to do something about a problem. I know I did, though that was not the reason why (nor was Superman in Georgia nor V2 in Chicago, the only two coasters I got to the point of not fitting...) Even then, I fit Beast with ease. Flight of Fear was becoming a big problem, and it would not have been long before I would not have fit. Same with Drop Zone.

Know that at Cedar Point, Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster are very unforgiving of people of stature. I know some people with 38 inch waists who do not fit either, and some women who wear a size 18 dress who do not fit. You can't go by that, though. It's not the size clothes you wear, but your body shape that determines whether or not you fit those rides.

[Cormaster]

I went there in 1996. Have you rode a coaster called "the Corkscrew"? Its just that. A section taken out of The Vortex basically. other than the Raptor, Magnum XL 2000, and the Mean streak (pretty weak in comparison to The Beast), everything else they had at the time was pretty weak. I find it odd that a park of this size doesn't have a Vortex-style coaster. That was one thing that definitly dissapointed me. The other rides I remember were the Gemini (weak), Blue streak (weak), a wild cat roller coaster (almost a fair ride), some indoor bobsled coaster, some top gun style coaster, and many other tiny coasters to add up their coaster count. Now they have Mantis, Millinium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, and Maverick. Prior to my visit, the only other park I had been too other than Kings Island was Six Flags Great America which I was quite impressed with(they had the shockwave...like The Vortex but even bigger. They've since Removed the ride, and I'm dissapointed, but at least they still have the Demon)

But you gotta admit that Music sucks. Maybe Pantera and Megadeth are a bit extreme (hell I don't even like Megadeth, just used them as an example) but you get the point. How about some music people can tolerate? Anyone who works in a retail store sureley will hate the music. How about some classic rock? Maybe some AC/DC, Led Zeplin, Ozzy, Pink Floyed, Aerosmith, etc? Or just go back to Movie themes. I just really hate that station with a passion. Wait till you guys hear the "tenderness" song, or the "new shoes" song. I sit there and make fun of these songs working night stock on a dailey basis at my lowes store.

As for My GF she's lost 50 pounds already this year. She's doing the 3-4-5 diet and exercising, loosing an average of 5 pounds a week, but she fell just 10 pounds short of her goal for ever coming back to the park. But its ok, the main purpose of this trip was to plan for the wedding.

We still had a great time inspite of the short comings, but I really do hope KI does something about that music!

[The Interpreter]

Congratulations to your girl friend. I know it's hard. And the hardest part is keeping it off, sad to say. I should know. I bet I have lost five hundred pounds in my life!

I doubt you will see the movie music return. Oddly enough, it plays at the Batman The Ride Plaza at Six Flags Great Adventure. They used to play it at their entrance plaza til noon each day, but this year it moved back to the Batman The Ride Plaza where it plays all day. We always jokingly called it "Paramount Gate Music." I could almost swear it is the same soundtrack.

[Cormaster]

She was only about an inch away from riding The Beast so it should be all good in August. I really hope the Son of Beast is up and running by then. I've gone 4 times since its opened, and only one of those times it was acctually open. What did I think? It was so good that on the one time I was there when it was open, I had to ride it again. Probably one of the best coasters in the world easily, but considering it seems closed all the time, it makes me think "they tried so hard...but in the end nothing beats an original". Maybe the design of the original beast really is as good as it gets? Maybe the reasons all these records haven't been topped is because they simply can't safely and reliably build something better out of wood! I dunno but hopefully with the loop being gone, new cars, and other modifications, the SOB will stay open more often.

I'm already looking foward to the August trip. We missed out on the waterpark because we forgot our swimsuits. I haven't been to Water Works since 1995 or so. Riding by it on the train made me realize how much I missed it

[jcold1]

I went there in 1996. Have you rode a coaster called "the Corkscrew"? Its just that. A section taken out of The Vortex basically. other than the Raptor, Magnum XL 2000, and the Mean streak (pretty weak in comparison to The Beast), everything else they had at the time was pretty weak. I find it odd that a park of this size doesn't have a Vortex-style coaster. That was one thing that definitly dissapointed me. The other rides I remember were the Gemini (weak), Blue streak (weak), a wild cat roller coaster (almost a fair ride), some indoor bobsled coaster, some top gun style coaster, and many other tiny coasters to add up their coaster count. Now they have Mantis, Millinium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, and Maverick. Prior to my visit, the only other park I had been too other than Kings Island was Six Flags Great America which I was quite impressed with(they had the shockwave...like The Vortex but even bigger. They've since Removed the ride, and I'm dissapointed, but at least they still have the Demon)

But you gotta admit that Music sucks. Maybe Pantera and Megadeth are a bit extreme (hell I don't even like Megadeth, just used them as an example) but you get the point. How about some music people can tolerate? Anyone who works in a retail store sureley will hate the music. How about some classic rock? Maybe some AC/DC, Led Zeplin, Ozzy, Pink Floyed, Aerosmith, etc? Or just go back to Movie themes. I just really hate that station with a passion. Wait till you guys hear the "tenderness" song, or the "new shoes" song. I sit there and make fun of these songs working night stock on a dailey basis at my lowes store.

As for My GF she's lost 50 pounds already this year. She's doing the 3-4-5 diet and exercising, loosing an average of 5 pounds a week, but she fell just 10 pounds short of her goal for ever coming back to the park. But its ok, the main purpose of this trip was to plan for the wedding.

We still had a great time inspite of the short comings, but I really do hope KI does something about that music!

In 1996, TTD and MF were not open. They are, in my opinion, the 2 best rides at CP.

[katreina]

Hi! First of all I'd like to say its awesome to find some people with the passion I do for Roller coasters. In my life I've been too Six Flags Great America, Kentucky Kingdom (x3), Cedar Point, Disney World, Universal Studios, and Of course Kings Island (more times than I can even count). By Far, Kings Island owns 'em all imo. I've always been a huge fan and I'm glad to find other people that are big fans.

I recently visted yesturday and first of all I find it ironic that it doesn't rain for nearly a month but it decides to rain the one day I pick to go to Kings Island! Its ok though no harm done, the rain ended up being a good thing as it kept the crowd down. The day was awesome but I'm unsure about the Cedar Point purchase. I went to the Point once, went on a saturday, wasn't impressed, most of the coasters are a joke, only a few are world class, and the lines were ungodly horrible. I'm going to give it another chance next year, but with that being said my first impression of them running a park was bad.

lets start with the horrible music. or should I say "MuzaK" because thats exactly what it was. I enjoyed coming to Kings Island hearing all the Paramount music. Forrest Gump Theme, Star Trek, etc, it was all great, and it was music that you couldn't get sick of. Obviously they couldn't play that anymore due to license issues, which I understand, but did they have to pick the exact same muzak station that the Lowes store I've worked at for 4 years plays? Horrible. Mo-town, Paul McCartney, Steeley Dan, Modern R&B hits, etc I hate that station with a passion. I go to Kings Island to get away from that Music and they are blaring it as loud as they can! Its not just them, Many fast food restaurants like that station as well. You know its Kings Island. Its hardcore. Play some Pantera, Metallica, or Megadeth, hell something other than Steeley Dan and Paul McCartney fest. Yuck!

Anyway Secondly the new seatbelt. Redicolous. no one's been hurt or died on these rides before, if its not broke, don't' fix it! Also if The Beast has a seatbelt now and its buckled, and the harness bar clicks once I think its safe to let the person ride it. My GF, is not the smallest girl in the world, and honestly I wasn't happy that she had to get off The Beast just becasue the stupid bar wouldn't click twice! Why does it have to click twice? She had a seatbelt, and IMO if it isn't safe at one click, than it shouldn't click till it gets to the second clicking spot. Have these people who designed this harness rode itallian job? It clicks the like 20 times before it gets to the point where the "second click" position is on The Beast. Redicolous that somone has to be denied a ride on a classic world class coaster just because they aren't quite skinney enough to fit in the sardine canned size cars. Sometimes seems like they build these coaster cars for midgets!

Thirdly lets talk about poor maintenance. The Delirum, Drop Zone, Son of Beast, Flight of Fear, Tomb Raider, and Firehawk were broken down throughout the day. I understand whats going on with S.O.B. and D.Z. and thats forgivable definitely. But the rest theres no excuse. I also understand that Firehawk came from geauga lake and has been running fine for 6 years before it came here... so theres no excuse for KI to not have it running properly. Also if its broke, tell me whats wrong with it! I didn't appreciate waiting in line for FH only to hear "ladies and gentlemen theres been a minor delay". If it was a minor delay why didn't it open up again? Every day on the way to work on I-465 I pass a billboard that says "Firehawk: Kings Island" And I was looking foward to riding it, but after an hour and a half I had to give up, and sure enough It didn't reopen. And it didn't even open untill 3. Redicolous. The park has 6 months to get a ride working right. And its not even a new ride. Way to go Cedar Fair!

Anyway now that I got my little rant of the annoyances in the new ownership out of the way, inspite of all this, I still had a blast! Hit up The Vortex 4 times, The Beast once (by myself, since my GF couldn't ride it), Itallian Job Stunt track twice, Face off twice, The Wild Thornberries Log flume, and Congo falls twice. Also rode The Racer backwards Once. Also had to ride the lame Adventure Express since my G/F made me, but it was still fun.

Me and My G/F are acctually planning on getting married there next year. That was the whole purpose of the trip. We found a great spot, pending that Cedar Fair doesn't destroy it. Its that spot behind the Eiffel Tower where the Movie star names used to be, and theres a waterfall there too. The Recption is probably going to be at Wings Buffet. The whole purpose of this trip was to plan for the wedding, but we are probably going to visit again in August to hit up the waterpark, and hopefully ride everything we couldn't ride this past time.

Anyway Just thought I'd say hi to everybody.

Thanks for posting this, I haven't been to the park yet this year and this has given me an idea of what to expect. I agree with you on the music, I would rather hear classic rock than what you say they are playing.

As for The Beast, two clicks on the lap restraint has always been the rule on that. I myself am a "person of excetional size" as they put it. I first went to the park in 1999 and they have told me every time I've ridden The Beast that the bar had to click twice. Also the difference between Beast/Racer and rides like Italian Job(which, from what I remember, doesn't have a "restraint click rule" is that the cars on the first two probably haven't been replaced in at least twenty years. Therefore, they were made when people were just smaller. I agree with you about those cars being too small and I think they need to either replace them, or go back to the full bench seats without those sections in the middle.

[The Interpreter]

The current restraint system will not meet safety standards without the seat dividers...so that won't be changing unless and until there is a major rehab on the trains.

[Cormaster]

Honestly though its not really a complain towards Kings Island. Its a Complaint towards all of them on the restraints. This is America, the fattest country in the world. This is also the Home of the NFL and the NBA. There are a lot of people in this country that are "of exceptional size" in fact I'd wajor more so than small people. So isn't it time that Roller Coaster cars start getting bigger? I mean what if Shaq went to an amusement park?

I had trouble with The Beast even when I was a kid, due to my height, and weight. Right now I'm 6'2, 250 pounds, but I was a tall kid as well. Lets face it, Midgets design roller coasters.

[The Interpreter]

Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Over Georgia opened with cars that didn't accommodate about 1/4 of the guests. I, myself, didn't fit on the first day of operation. About a month later, the then president of Six Flags came to ride. He didn't fit.

The following year, the ride had trains with larger seats. Honest!

On the other hand, The Georgia Cyclone in that park is perhaps the tightest fitting traditional wooden roller coaster in America, with the Coney Island Cyclone and Rolling Thunder at Six Flags Great Adventure being close runners-up.

[Cormaster]

Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Over Georgia opened with cars that didn't accommodate about 1/4 of the guests. I, myself, didn't fit on the first day of operation. About a month later, the then president of Six Flags came to ride. He didn't fit.

The following year, the ride had trains with larger seats. Honest!

On the other hand, The Georgia Cyclone in that park is perhaps the tightest fitting traditional wooden roller coaster in America, with the Coney Island Cyclone and Rolling Thunder at Six Flags Great Adventure being close runners-up.

Funny Stuff!

[katreina]

Honestly though its not really a complain towards Kings Island. Its a Complaint towards all of them on the restraints. This is America, the fattest country in the world. This is also the Home of the NFL and the NBA. There are a lot of people in this country that are "of exceptional size" in fact I'd wajor more so than small people. So isn't it time that Roller Coaster cars start getting bigger? I mean what if Shaq went to an amusement park?

I had trouble with The Beast even when I was a kid, due to my height, and weight. Right now I'm 6'2, 250 pounds, but I was a tall kid as well. Lets face it, Midgets design roller coasters.

You have a point. The fact that Racer and Beast are old isn't an excuse for the cars to be so small I guess. Especially when, in the case of CP, it's their newer coasters that have the stricter weight limits and smaller cars. In fact, CP's weight restrictions are so bad that I refuse to go up there. I'm not paying that much for admission if I'm not going to be able to ride half the stuff up there.

[Cormaster]

One thing they could start doing more is putting sample restraints outside for people to test before they got in line. Prior to Tomb Raider Breaking, My G/F got to test out the harness to see if it would fit, and it didn't, so wedidn't even waste our time.

[Cormaster]

In all my years of reading and listening to theme park comments, I have never heard anyone say that most of the Cedar Point coasters are a joke. Nor have I ever heard anyone think that Kings Island "owns" Walt Disney World or Universal Studios--Florida or California. In what ways do you think this is true? Theming? Landscaping? Shows? Rides? How? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Well all is just IMO. Places like Universal and Disney World, I can definitly see why they rank above places like Kings Island. For me a lot of the reason I feel the way I do about the 2 parks is by the time my family could afford to take me, I was 18 years old, and into thrill seeking experiences. At disney world it nearly is all shows, and at Universal its all movie simulation... not exactly thrill seeking. I feel like I was too old to really enjoy either of them. Had I gone as a small child I was of enjoyed it more, but I was acctually annoyed because I had missed out on hanging out with my friends during Spring Break!

Cedar Point, you can see my reasons listed above, but yes when I went the only real serious coasters they had were Magnum XL200, Raptor, and Mean Streak. The rest at one point were awesome but had since been beaten by other rides. Honestly though it wasn't that, it was the youth group I went with's poor choice of date... they chose Saturday. Honestly after Cedar Point I was never the same. I swear I lost all patience at that park that day. Shortest wait was 45 minutes to get on the corkscrew, longest wait was 3 1/2 hours to get on the Raptor! Now that the point has constructed 5 or so more world class coasters, I'm definitly going to be giving it a second chance in the near future... and trust me it won't be a on a saturday this time!

Six Flags Great America I acctually liked better than KI for the most part, but what killed it for me was their lack of a waterpark...in which they recently added. Above all for me Kings Island might rank above the rest for sentimental reasons. It was the first true theme park I had ever been too, and The Vortex was the first true coaster I had ever been on!

So thats why Its my favorite

[Browntggrr]

From your experiance at CP it sounds like any other Saturday. If you are expecting short lines on a Saturday, the bar you are trying to reach has already been set too high. Of course you would be upset with the park. But what park is not busy on a Saturday? I have seen KI with lines that are 2+ hours for both Beast and FoF on Saturdays. I have even seen TG with a line of over 1 hour on a Saturday, that is why experianced park goers will avoid going on Saturdays.

You complained about Corkscrew? That ride is 31 years old. When it opened in 1976 it had the record for inversions. But now it is a great starter coaster for those who are just tall enough to ride. Not every ride has to be the fastest or most thrilling to meet everyone's needs. There happen to be people out there that don't need the most thrilling ride to have a good time.

You shouldn't expect parks to just reach out for the thrill seeker.

[Cormaster]

I'm just saying CP is known for its coasters, but IMO it doesn't have a true Steel Looping coaster? Vortex Ownz the Corkscrew!

[Browntggrr]

Vortex should own the Corkscrew. Technology & engineering advanced by leaps & bounds between 1976 & 1987.

So you are saying that since CP has not built a "true looper" (I suppose that Raptor, Mantis & Maverick don't count for some reason), CP should not be known for their coasters?

[Cormaster]

No but I'm saying it dissapoints me. I'm giving CP another chance next year. it should be on a monday and tuesday that I go..

So I'm confused, I come on a Kings Island Website,and say I like Kings Island better than other amusement parks and i get attacked for it? Maybe this should be called "Cedar Point Central Forums"!

[Kman6]

I agree about the music playing this year...really sucks! My cousin will be joing me in a few weeks at the park and she`s plus sized too. So a question for cormaster? Did your gf have any trouble on the other rides that day? your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[welchce]

So I'm confused, I come on a Kings Island Website,and say I like Kings Island better than other amusement parks and i get attacked for it? Maybe this should be called "Cedar Point Central Forums"!

That's probably because we've been to KI more than any other parks and therefore we are more critical of it. I have no agruement against you saying you had a bad time at CP at a Saturday in 96 since they didn't have as many rides as now and everything had huge lines. I am glad to hear you're giving it a second chance.

And I think that the old "Paramount Story" area with the trees and waterfall is an extremely beautiful place and I want to say congratulations to you and your girlfriend.

[The Interpreter]

No but I'm saying it dissapoints me. I'm giving CP another chance next year. it should be on a monday and tuesday that I go..

So I'm confused, I come on a Kings Island Website,and say I like Kings Island better than other amusement parks and i get attacked for it? Maybe this should be called "Cedar Point Central Forums"!

Wait til someone tells him about Fort Kinzel!

Plus no one attacked you. They asked why you feel the way you do. To be honest, Kings Island in 1996 wasn't the park it is today, either. In ways both positive and negative. It just isn't fair to compare a 1996 park to a 2007 park, no matter what two parks they may be. I, myself, would like to go to Riverview. In about 1950. But I wouldn't compare it to either today's Kings Island OR today's Cedar Point.

[Cormaster]

Well anyway no I'm not comparing the modern day Kings Island to Cedar Point... in fact the year I went to Cedar Point, I went to KI twice that summer. I can't even tell you how many times I've been to Kings Island, in fact it was my amusement park at age 8, and my first coaster I ever rode was The Vortex (which is probably why its my favorite). Honestly with Cedar Point, it was just the poor choice of scheduling for the youth group i went with in 1996. If we had gone on a different day I might like it more. I usually try to completely avoid all parks on a Saturday, in fact thats the only park I've ever been too on saturday! Acctually our wedding's going to be on friday, and on saturday we are just going to play in the waterpark in the great wolf lodge. Sunday we are leaving KI and heading up towards Cedar Point, where we will be staying for 3 nights and 2 days in one of their resorts, and Wednesday we leave Cedar Point to head for Six Flags Great america. Wednesday night we'll just hang out in downtown chicago, then Thursday and Friday we will spend at the park.

Thats our Wedding and Honey Moon for next year! Oh BTW Kman6 my GF was just an half an inch from being able to ride tomb raider, but luckily there's a test harness outside of the ride so you don't have to chance the line if you know you can't ride it. She tells me she can't ride Flight of Fear either because the harnesses are like the itailian job except they come down and buckle.

[art_star]

First of all, just because America happens to be the fattest country in the world (which Americans should definitely not be proud of), doesn't mean that large people have to be accomodated for. Just as The Interpreter proved, you don't have to stay that way. I don't mean to sound insensitive, but it doesn't have to be a problem. Also, I don't like the music at Cedar Point, but I hate classic rock. How about classical music, like strauss, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky. That is good music that most people can ignore.

And about Cedar Point, just because they don't have the exact same roller coaster designs, doesn't mean that they are better or worse than King's Island. You can argue that KI doesn't have a true stand-up or stratacoaster or whatever.

I know what you mean about liking KI better on a sentimental level. Same goes for me. There is just something about the atmosphere at KI that keeps me going there. I love it.

[Cormaster]

Its always been a good park regardless of the owner. The key thing is they keep expanding. People heard me complain about Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. Thats because it was still a relatively new park when Six Flags bought it, and since they've bouht it, other than the recycled Greased lightning (which is weaker than the Vampire coaster it replaced) they've failed to expand the park at all. Last time I went to Kentucky Kingdom I rode Chang, and T2, and I was like "what now?" There was an hour line for all the weaker coasters, you know all 2 of them so I decided "lets go ride Chang again". After riding chang again, we all got bored and left. Even when Kings Island only had 4 (when I first went there: The Beast, The Racer, The Vortex, and King Cobra), at least they were all good quality coasters, and line flow has always been good. The Beast was much better in the day when they actually had a concession stand working in the line, and music videos on moniters. I remember going in the early 90's and seeing Nirvana playing live on one of the moniters.

But yeah above all my thing with Kings Island will always be sentimental value. No other park has it. For a while when I was kid, twice a year was a stable, but sadley, I've only been 4 times since 2000. Thats going to change though, as I might be going back in August and even October (the best time to go... last time I went in october, I staid only 5 hours and rode everything twice!)

BTW I'd be fine with Classical music, or even poppy mainstream stuff. not that I like it, but still better than Paul McCartney and Steeley Dan Fest! The Music might not be as bad if I hadn't heard it for 4 years. When I first started at lowes I was like "eh this aint to bad", and 2 weeks later I acctually started plotting to steal the Muzak box and smash it!

[Kman6]

You can`t please everyone with whatever music you play. I say a good assortment of top 40 would be better than anything. I don`t like all of it..but its better than some other choices.

[Cormaster]

lowes switched there music to top 40 (btw I guess thats the term I was looking for) for 2 weeks, and it was so much better, then I came in one night and guess what? Steeley dan and paul mccartney fest was back. I was very very angry... I almost walked out.

[Cory Butcher]

As a little advice, go to Cedar Point on a Tuesday! I have went two tuesdays this year with friends, and on the first tuesday every line was under 50 minutes, except for Maverick which was an hour and a half that turned to 2 1/2 with downtime and 1 1/2 on the second ride of the night.

This past Tuesday I went to Cedar Point as well...I never encountered a line longer than 50 minutes...even Maverick we got on in under an hour! And I rode my favorite ride at the park....Blue Streak 9 times that day...it was a great day...rode everything!

As for rides having difficulties...it is not maintenance causing the rides to not operate. Plain and simple, on rides big or small there are so many pieces and parts and technologies that just have their days. Im sure you've had those days where you come home after work...and the microwave wont turn on, and a circuit tripped and the milk in the fridge is going bad. Things just happen, when you get so much technology together you will have problems...that is the nature of anything in life from your car that just got a new tire and gets a flat, to someone who opens there door into your car and breaks your mirror. Its not your fault for "not maintaining" your car or your appliances...just there are moments where weird things happen. So dont attack maintenance for the rides being down, they are there to maintain them and be sure that the rides are safe at all times, which our maintenance crew does an excellent job at. Remember at all times that if a ride is down it is to protect your safety and is a good thing to have so many "fail-safes" on rides. Just be patient and when the difficulty is erased, take your seat and ride!