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Stopped by last evening for my first visit of the year. An afternoon storm cleared out some of the crowd and left us with sub 20 minute waits for everything. Enjoyed my front and back seat rides on Banshee, front in Racer, back on Orion, back on Snoopy Soap Box, back on Mystic and Beast, the train for a nice break, and a long awaited Smurf(blue) cone. Got to watch my son working at his coaster like a boss, and finished with the fireworks and drone show. My first coaster rides since going on some very tough meds, and I felt great!

So, no one asked for this novel, but you've touched on a special interest of mine and now you will pay: The image/presence of Durga(**) was not specifically copywritten, nor was the concept of icy stalactites, nor was the idea of a lava pit. The entire concept of a ride like Tomb Raider: The Ride was patented to Paramount Parks, Inc. You can see the patent here: link. (It's got some cool pictures I geek out pretty hard over.) Included in the patent are the following descriptions, paraphrased: A HUSS Giant Top Spin ride (or similar product with at least three rows of theatrical seating) synchronized with theatrical effects, including music, lighting effects, audio, fog, fire, water, smoke, and/or steam Using said ride to stop riders at a number of predetermined locations in sync with music, lighting, audio, etc. Seated-integrated loose article receptacles, such as a bag An exact description of the TRTR ride cycle, including the locations of the gondola, descriptions of when the gondola was meant to lock and unlock, and which effects were meant to trigger at each location A description of the antechamber (the room before the preshow) that contains specifically named items like stone archways and the stone monkey statues that were used during the filming of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), as well as the presence of fog in the room A description of the preshow room that names specific actions like the antechamber door closing behind guests (including accompanying sound effects), the faux fire lamps, the use of the preshow screen, and of course the audio and video of the preshow itself The door itself between the preshow room and the ride chamber (##) The headlights on the front of the gondola The jewels in Durga's (**) hands and the fact that they are backlit, as well as the lasers in Durga's eyes that scan the gondola Blacklight effects in the ride chamber (##), period The aforementioned razor sharp ice spikes and their use of mist, dripping water, and fiber-optic lights The volcano and its use of mist, water, lighting, and fire (the last of which was never part of the ride experience, to my knowledge, but can you imagine?!) Admittedly, that link DOES say that the process of patenting the ride was abandoned as of 1/10/2005. I don't know how or where to go to corroborate that date or discover whether or not it would have given Paramount additional legal standing to sue if Cedar Fair had been less heavy-handed with the retheme. I'm also under the impression that Cedar Fair absorbed Paramount Parks, Inc., so one could assume that ownership of the patent would have passed to Cedar Fair if it still had any legal merit. If the patent wasn't the reason for the heavy-handed retheme, then it was almost certainly overcautious lawyers and Kinzel-era "thrills first" thinking of the time. Note that short of the loose article bags and the preshow-ride chamber door, none of the things I pointed out from the patent remained when The Crypt opened in 2008--not even the presence of a third row on the gondola. It got reduced down to two rows beginning in 2008. Even then, though, if you ignore the patent, that ride was of course chock-full of references to Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, which remains Paramount-trademarked film. These references included but were not limited to: The Triangle of Light (a magical artifact from the film) in the queue, antechamber, and ride chamber Queue music that sampled the film score and ride audio that sampled film dialogue Monkey statues that were used in filming A preshow room whose decor was an in-spirit recreation of the Cambodian temple scene in the film, including the Brahman statue behind the preshow screen A preshow film that used audio and video from the film If you take those away... there's not much left to work with. There's more than what The Crypt operated with, sure, but you've taken a lot away from the experience. It's not inconceivable that Kinzel-era CF saw what remained and decided to ditch the theming (which was never their forte, and Paramount hadn't exactly kept up with what was there) and go for thrills, which is definitely what the first 1.5 years of The Crypt had to offer. Curiously, Kings Dominion's Tomb Raider: Firefall/The Crypt stayed almost intact throughout its life and only lost its one reference to the Triangle of Light. It straight up kept its monkey statues AND audio references to the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider film score. Which makes me think all the more that Kings Island's drastic de-theming was more because of the patent than anything else. Kings Dominion's ride was not patented and (in my non-lawyer-y opinion) did not match the description of the KI ride's patent. But, that's just my guess! ** = It should be noted that the patent itself claims the god represented in the ride chamber is Shiva. Over the years of being curious, I've never found a depiction of Shiva or Durga (or any other Hindu deity) that seemed conclusive enough to say. Either way, presenting a deity of a real-world religion as the antagonist of a theme park ride is... a choice, and perhaps a product of its time that wouldn't and shouldn't be repeated today. ## = I do love that the patent refers to the ride chamber as the Heart of the Tomb. That's a cool name.

Sounds like a stressful job. I hope it pays well.

So far, track has been installed for the brake run and station. Also, I'd like to add that seeing a B&M being installed next to Flight of Fear like this really takes me back to Orion's construction.

What is this sorcery???

It’s possible he had an AirTag/Tile or similar tracker on his keychain. Only speculation of course. If I were in his shoes, even if I thought I could find my keys, how would I think I’d get away without being found and probably arrested, which would defeat the whole strategy.

I still can't comprehend how he thought he'd be able to accurately locate where his keys fell. That ride is disorienting enough (to even locate on what portion of the track you'd be). But beyond that, you're going so fast that even if you knew the general area, who knows where they would have landed. Obviously the guys wasn't thinking-but it's asinine to think you'd be able to quickly locate them.

I'm sure folks right now are happy Congo Falls is still standing with the heat dome we've been experiencing!

Paramount is currently running the show at CF Zimmerman the CEO and Tim Fischer the COO worked for Paramount Parks before being bought out by CF.

ICEE's are coming to the Diamondback refill station!

On my way home from another awesome day at Kings Island. I got my 50th ride on The Beast (it was amazing), rode tons of stuff including Soap Box Racers, and ate some great food. I will post a full trip report later probably.

I rode Soap Box Racers for the first time today. It packed more of a punch than I was expecting! Great ride for kids. Ps: still in the park, waiting for a pop up thunderstorm to pass so I can get a back row ride on Mystic Timbers. Things are otherwise going good at Kings Island today.

I think 1) all self serve drink stations should move back behind counter for quickservice. With consistent limited options for efficient operation-see PigPens “beer style” dispenser. 2) always have water cups at all locations 3) all pop stations in quick service become water only 4) all drink stations are open for drink plan/ individual drink purchase with monitored entry point and are all self serve with multiple options. You could still get drink plan/refill at all food locations- just have to have them fill/give you the cup maybe BrewHouse and any future “table service” restaurant is different in that you get unlimited drinks, but drinks there cost a bit more. you don’t ever have “free reign” in an area away from the pay station with anything but water. What you would make up in list revenue would cover additional payroll needed.

Eiffel Tower (upper level) is open. All is good in the world

I’m still in the camp of putting another water ride in Rivertown.

More markers in Soak City.

A Gold Pass alone does not get you into all Cedar Fair Parks. You have to purchase the All Park Passport. Your Gold Pass will get you admission to the park from which it was purchased, just as it always has.

Ride wise-Vortex Event wise-Fear Fest. * I saw someone mentioned that it was actually scary and I concur. I mean. I was a teenager back then and I wasn't easily scared even in those days, but it definitely was not the "family friendly" Haunt we have now. I would compare this to the store Hot Topic. I was a huge fan of it was a high schooler. It was truly a dark, gothic store with an edge. A place parents questioned bringing their kid into ( unless you had my parents of course ) and the Hot Topic of now is nowhere near what it was back 20 something years ago. Same with Haunt.