Rando, I do agree with one thing and that is Cedar Fair is trying to make KI just another CP. I think that's what Paramount's flaw was in that it was trying to make it's park's another Universal. But I do think they are doing a better job at what they are doing than what Paramount did. Paramount totally ripped out 90% of Octoberfest which was a big favorite of the general public and it damn near killed Rivertown. I really hope CF can restore these two areas.

 

I completely agree, but unfortunately I don't think we'll ever see Oktoberfest and Rivertown returned to their former glory.  One thing that it seems these multiple-park operators seem to not understand or completely ignore is that Kings Island has been a successful product long before these big guys came in.  The park doesn't need to be completely re-molded and branded...it already has a huge/loyal customer base.

 

Oh definitely! Kings Island was never better than before the big buyouts. It was a great park. I remember the good 'ol days...King Cobra...Screamin' Demon...the Flying Dutchman...Keelboat Canal...even the little 'ol ferris wheel was fun back in the day. R.I.P.

I have yet to be impressed by one single thing from Cedar Fair... and that seems to be a growing sentiment around the industry.

 

Do you mean everywhere but at the original Cedar Fair Properties. Seems as though Cedar Fair, Knott's, ValleyFair!, Dorney Park, and Worlds of Fun all seem to be doing just as well.

 

So, I hear on the grapevine that the Backwards Racer (affectionately known as recaR) is no more. I am really disappointed with that... recaR was always better than Racer.

 

Also, Invertigo is the name of the prototype Inverted Boomerang at California's Great America. It was named Invertigo by Paramount, and I always thought it was better than Face / Off... the Action Zone was an absolutely terrible move.

Kings Island has historically been decent with theming and what not...and Paramount starting place more emphasis on this towards the end of their run (i.e. Tomb Raider, Italian Job).  However, I fear that Cedar Fair is going to let up and simply focus on the rides.

 

The rides are important, don't get me wrong, but there is a reason Kings Island ranks up their with the big-boys in the industry without having the biggest/most extreme rides around.  I REALLY hope a renewed/heavy emphasis is placed on theming of the park...with a new ride mixed in.

I purchased season passes for the first time in two years.  I can say without a doubt that Cedar Fair sucks donkey d*cks.  Paramount was leaps and bounds better from the standpoint of customer service.  Even in my short 5 years in Cincinnati, I had grown accustomed to the great Paramount customer service and initial perks giving to early season pass holders, all that is no more with Cedar Fair. We were so pissed off with Cedar Fair that I tried to return out season passes for a refund.  They will be dealing with me later this year when the park opens again. 

I have yet to be impressed by one single thing from Cedar Fair... and that seems to be a growing sentiment around the industry.

So, I hear on the grapevine that the Backwards Racer (affectionately known as recaR) is no more. I am really disappointed with that... recaR was always better than Racer.

 

You've got to be kidding me.

Word has it on the street, KI is removing the PTC trains from both the Beast and the Racers. I believe the G trains are being moved from the SoB to the Beast and the SoB will be getting the trains from Villian.

 

I would imagine that the Racers would never be changed from backwards to forwards except for maybe testing and fitting of the new trains.

Word has it on the street, KI is removing the PTC trains from both the Beast and the Racers. I believe the G trains are being moved from the SoB to the Beast and the SoB will be getting the trains from Villian.

 

I would imagine that the Racers would never be changed from backwards to forwards except for maybe testing and fitting of the new trains.

 

Well, let's hope that the train moves for the SoB improve the ride.  IMO the ride is much worse now with the lighter trains.

It definitely was in the back! Up front I felt it was OK. So I decided to try out the back cars....ummmm no! It felt like I snapped my spine in half! I was friggin hurting!  :shoot:

Word has it on the street, KI is removing the PTC trains from both the Beast and the Racers. I believe the G trains are being moved from the SoB to the Beast and the SoB will be getting the trains from Villian.

 

I would imagine that the Racers would never be changed from backwards to forwards except for maybe testing and fitting of the new trains.

 

that sure is a lot of amusement park acronyms

That's what happens when you are an ACE member for eternity :-D

Been a while since any news has been posted aboout KI, so here goes....

 

 

First off, many many ride name changes...

 

Drop Zone is now Drop Tower

Italian Job = Backlot Stunt Track

Top Gun = Flight Deck

Tomb Raider = the Crypt

Days of Thunder = Thunder Alley (that little go kart thingy)

Congo Falls = Amazon Falls (the original name)

Action FX Theater = Action Theater (still showing Spongebob this year)

Face Off = Invertigo

 

I think that's it for name changes.

 

 

Other park changes will be...

Festhaus will again be hosting shows with 2 this year, the Country Line and Girl’s Night Out.

 

The new KI website is now www.visitkingsisland.com

 

A Cinnabon will open on International Street.

 

The new sign is up

 

 

 

And now for the bigger news.

 

The Racers are running ....'GASP'...only forwards this year! No backwards train...which I'm really pissed about.

 

The former Premier trains on the Beast go bye bye and the Gerstlauer trains from the Villian now call Beast home. Meanwhile, Son of Beast gets a third Gerstlauer train from Raging Wolf Bobs.

 

 

And now for the finale. Video is floating around the internet for Mustang, the new B&M Hyper for 2009...and it looks sweet! You can see the video below. I love how it will go over Swan Lake. This looks like it will bring new life to Rivertown.

 

Rumored specs are...

Height 225 ft

Drop 210ft

Length 5,000+

Speed 80+

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtg3qm0Wiy8

 

 

That's all I have for now. *Whew*

^I do like that Swan Lake part, but the ride doesn't do enough if you ask me...it will be nice though to have another steel coaster at the park thats for sure.

^I do like that Swan Lake part, but the ride doesn't do enough if you ask me...it will be nice though to have another steel coaster at the park thats for sure.

 

 

Well, video animations really don't do justice. When I first seen the animation for Maverick in Cedar Point, I was like "that's just dumb". It is now my second fav coaster out there. lol.

 

I do admit it looks bland, but according to sources, it will make extensive use of the landscape like Beast does. Supposedly, there will actually be a section that dips in the ravine 'under' the railroad bridge! That sounds pretty good.

 

So I guess we have to wait for a year and see. I hate waiting ;-)

I wish it had a tunnel in Swan Lake ala Anaconda at PKD but whatever, I'll take it.  KI is due for it.

yea...no that coaster sucks. 

If you go to a coaster site called screamscape, there in the news from yesterday it shows you a link to a site that has the construction pictures. The costruction

site is huge. In my mind there is no doubt as to the fact that they are building a new monster attraction that is probably a coaster. 

Do you have a direct link to that story or pictures.  I can't seem to find anything pictures of any construction on the site.

try this

 

http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj4/kirbias/

 

 

 

^So Swan Lake is gone for the time being it looks like.

So, I would conclude by those pics, that "Mustang" is official. I kinda hope that is a working name though. I know it's a horse which somewhat relates to the old west, but it really doesn't sit well with a river town based theme....then again, neither does Beast or Crypt...I'm just rambling now, ain't I?

Swan Lake is gone, probably forever.  How about naming the ride Swan's Revenge.  Have some sort of evil looking Swan as a mascot.  Is it even possibly to create an evil looking Swan?

Swan Lake is gone, probably forever.  How about naming the ride Swan's Revenge.  Have some sort of evil looking Swan as a mascot.  Is it even possibly to create an evil looking Swan?

 

The animation shows the ride going over Swan Lake. I'm sure it will be back. I'll admit, this is one thing Cedar Fair is good at...utilizing lake theming. Now if they'd just refill the pond around the Beast...

Swan Lake is really a retention pond so you best believe it'll be filled up again.

Swan Lake is really a retention pond so you best believe it'll be filled up again.

 

A retention pond for what? White Water Canyon? :-D

Oy.

Oy indeed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retention_basin

New coaster coming to Kings Island

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080627/NEWS01/80627013/1059/NEWS0103

^ Keep it coming! So, what is this -two new roller coasters since they've taken over and in 2 years? I hope this lives up to the hype.

The Enquirer is just covering this story now?  LOL

 

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,16320.0.html

 

"We’re thinking it’s going to be a Diver Coaster, which has a very steep drop associated with it, about a 200 to 300 foot range,” said Dennis Spiegel, President of International Theme Park Services located in Cincinnati. “There are only five of them in the world … and there’s nothing like it around here.”

 

Apparently Mr. Spiegel doesn't read other forums.  It is not a dive machine.

You'd think Dennis would read First Drop, wouldn't you? The layout looks nothing like a Drop Coaster.

Its about as good as media reporting gets. They at least were right that its a coaster. If its a Dive coaster then the coaster train is going to have a lot of damage when it hits that splashdown pool (since its not large enough for Dive Coaster cars).

Kings Island threatens withdrawal from Mason

Business Courier of Cincinnati

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/06/30/daily24.html?surround=lfn

^ WTF?

Thanks KI and West Chester and people who are against Public transportation!

 

American Dream Taken for a Ride

King's Island WISE Work Program

Reported by: Hagit Limor

 

Every summer more than 100 international students scrape together up to $3,000 to come to America, to work one summer at a spectacle unlike they've seen before - the great American amusement park.  But some of those students who've come to King's Island north of Cincinnati, Ohio, say their experience hasn't been so great.

 

On a sumptuous, sunny summer's day, thousands of people have come to enjoy the swinging good time, stuff-your-face, buckle-up-the-kids Screamfest that is King's Island.  And there to greet them at the front gate are Ghenadii and Vasili from Moldova.

 

Mederer from Kyrgyzstan is selling soft drinks drinks. Daniel from Colombia is serving Skyline coneys. And Melissa from the Dominican Republic is selling trinkets at a store geared for little girls.  They're some of 138 international students who spent thousands of dollars each to come here for the summer to work at King's Island.

 

Read full article here:

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=76b7df73-2080-4380-a42a-f8b5321418d1

Mason had it planned all along when it annexed Kings Island about 4 years ago. Cities are bad. Mason has some nerve.

Thanks KI and West Chester and people who are against Public transportation!

 

 

Hold on a second.  West Chester isn't against public transportation.  It's just that the Cincinnati bus system only runs an express route out here during rush hour.  But that's not West Chester's fault.  They need to get more routes out here.  Regardless, I don't see how West Chester should be made to look like the bad guy in all this.  It sounds like KI messed up - not West Chester.  Let's keep this in perspective, okay?

Hold on a second.  West Chester isn't against public transportation.  It's just that the Cincinnati bus system only runs an express route out here during rush hour.  But that's not West Chester's fault.  They need to get more routes out here.  Regardless, I don't see how West Chester should be made to look like the bad guy in all this.  It sounds like KI messed up - not West Chester.  Let's keep this in perspective, okay?

 

West Chester doesn't pay for service aside from the fares paid by riders.  Can you blame Metro for not serving them more when they aren't paying a dime?  Personally I don't think that West Chester is against public transportation, but at some point they are going to have to start ponying up for urbanized services (i.e. libraries, parks, transit, social services, etc) given that they are an urbanized area.

 

Secondly, the places where these individuals were living are in West Chester.  Whether you want to blame the municipality for a landlord's crappy living environment is another issue.  If West Chester did something to attract these international workers there to live, then they should be somewhat accountable for the standard of living and the general transportation needs of these people who obviously don't have personal vehicles at their disposal.

 

Previously these workers lived on UC's campus and were able to commute to KI via Metro's shuttles.  They were then easily able to check out the sights/sounds of the city without needing a car.  Plus they were living on a college campus so that gave them easy internet access, at the libraries, within walking distance.

LOL!  Rando, I REALLY have to laugh at your obvious oversight in really READING the news article.  I mean, come on - DID you read it?  West Chester did NOTHING to invite these workers to the area.  They were originally supposed to be in a hostel within a mile of the park.  At the last moment, without the opportunity to let the workers know, Kings Island made arrangements for them to be placed in a complex in West Chester.

 

According to YOUR logic, if a community invites me to come live there, it should be responsible for taking care of my transportation needs - is that what you're saying?

 

Oh....don't lie to me.  These workers did NOT live on UC's campus previously.  This is a first-time experience for them.  Nice try, though, trying to make me look like a fool.  I'm not an idiot......well, actually I AM an idiot - for coming to this pathetic website all the time, and putting up with the jealousy of everyone who just can't stand West Chester, period.  It's really quite sad.  Everyone in Cincinnati wants us to respect them, but they don't respect us.  Amusing.  Quite amusing.

Honestly, it still baffles me that one small item in this whole news story is being used to paint West Chester in a bad light.....no public transportation.  Anything to make West Chester look bad.  Well, have at it you guys.  I'm sure if a cow farted out here, it would cause a car to fly off a cliff in France.

 

Enjoy your website.  I have no use for it anymore.  Go ahead and cancel my membership.

As someone who managed internationals back when they had decent living conditions at Clifton Colony / Sawyer, I feel bad for these people / people who had better conditions. They come here expecting to learn things. For me, I had 4 to 5 Dutch People working for me. They were going to school in Holland for retail management, but when they got here they were made associates under an 17/18 year old, whose goal was to become an engineer and just run the store, not really teach them anything. We weren't even told they came here to learn stuff. That has to be demoralizing. I don't know how they recruit, but I can't help but think internationals feel as though they were getting a raw deal. If I was in some of their positions, I certainly would.

 

It's pretty amazing that this is being used to paint West Chester in a negative light. Since when did the township of West Chester have any influence over apartment renovations or Kings Island Affairs? This is a problem of Kings Island not locating their associates where they have reliable transportation, not a "West Chester doesn't have public transportation; therefore, it is their problem." It's a bold statement to say that this development is West Chester's fault.

Hold on a second.  West Chester isn't against public transportation.  It's just that the Cincinnati bus system only runs an express route out here during rush hour.  But that's not West Chester's fault.  They need to get more routes out here.  Regardless, I don't see how West Chester should be made to look like the bad guy in all this.  It sounds like KI messed up - not West Chester.

 

I would think West Chester does have a say in more routes.  Do they or Butler county pay anything towards the existing ones, and are they willing to pay more to add more routes?

 

KI definitely messed up in this situation.  One of the messages I get out of this story is you don't own a car in West Chester (and many other areas), you're screwed.  There are no other ways to get around.

 

These workers did NOT live on UC's campus previously.  This is a first-time experience for them. 

 

This particular set of workers may not have lived on UC's campus, but this program has been around for years.  It sounds like in prior years participants lived on UC's campus or nearby.

  :-o

For Jorge, the experience has changed his opinion of the United States. "I'm really frustrated."

 

He says when he goes back home and his father asks, "How was Cincinnati?," he'll have to answer, "West Chester, you mean?"

According to YOUR logic, if a community invites me to come live there, it should be responsible for taking care of my transportation needs - is that what you're saying?

 

Yes it is a communities responsibility to provide certain services to their residents.  They should be providing you the public infrastructure needed in order for you to live your life.  That's the way government works, just because West Chester (or most suburban areas) don't adequately provide these services doesn't mean that it is correct.  Would you find it acceptable if you went out to a restaurant and they had no restrooms, or the ones they had were disgusting?  Or if they were out of your favorite dish?  Didn't think so.

 

Oh....don't lie to me.  These workers did NOT live on UC's campus previously.  This is a first-time experience for them.  Nice try, though, trying to make me look like a fool.

 

Yes, I managed a ride out at Kings Island for a Summer and was responsible for several of these international workers.  I became friends with one who was from Romania and lived in a dorm on UC's campus for the Summer.

 

I'm not an idiot......well, actually I AM an idiot - for coming to this pathetic website all the time, and putting up with the jealousy of everyone who just can't stand West Chester, period.  It's really quite sad.  Everyone in Cincinnati wants us to respect them, but they don't respect us.  Amusing.  Quite amusing.

 

West Chester is an urbanized area that doesn't seem able to provide adequate transportation services to its citizens.  On top of that WC is a well-off municipality that isn't fighting budget crunches every single year.  You should expect more from these municipalities, not less.

 

BTW, there is no West Chester with no Cincinnati.  It shouldn't be an us v. them mentality.  I criticize places like Nky and West Chester all of the time because I want them to do better.  They have a significant role, in this region, and I have seen what similar places elsewhere are like.  After seeing that I can tell you WC has a lot of things to work on if they want to be that preeminent suburban power they seem to stake claim to.

So how, some way they need to repair this ASAP. It just gives people a bad eye for the whole region.

So how, some way they need to repair this ASAP. It just gives people a bad eye for the whole region.

 

It definitely does.  Even though the city of Cincinnati had nothing to do with this, I'm sure that people are saying things like "Look how stupid this city is!"  I hope KI handles this situation soon.

BTW, there is no West Chester with no Cincinnati.

 

There is no SUB-urban, without the URBAN.

Looks like a bad situation for the international works and a big black eye for KI and  Cedar Fair.

I saw a group of young foreigners at Fountain sq getting off a peterson bus and they looked VERY happy,  turns out they were from KI.  Channel 9 was there getting video and taking photos.