HomerJay

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I thought that Spongebob was the only one I enjoyed. Maybe because when I first went in the Action Theatre I was expecting something along the lines of the "Back to the Future" ride at Universal Studios. If you ask me, THAT'S a simulator ride. Seeing other people's chairs next to me and having the views switch from 1st to 3rd person really destroyed so much of the illusion on all the rides. But at least Spongebob made me laugh. . . I had never caught an episode of it before, and we went in the ride basically to get out of the heat, but I laughed a lot. PKI needs to spend some $$, tear down the action FX theatre and put in a good, quality simulator ride there, like at Disney or Universal. They have so much they could do, too. I'm not a Star Trek fan, but you could do an awesome simulator off that! Or The Core, which pretty much did suck, but would make a cool sim, too. Paramount has a ton of awesome action/sci-fi movies that would be cool to do! And maybe they could work out some deals with other film companies (like they did with James Bond) that don't have theme parks. An Independence Day sim would be awesome! What movies would you all like to see? And don't let that Paramount logo stop you! AFter all, PKI isn't going to put in a decent sim ride anyway, so we can dream!

I think the Mountains where there when the parks opened, before Paramount bought them. I remember going to Canada's Wonderland as a child before Paramount bought it, and they had a mountain as well. Kings Island opened up with the Eiffel Tower. So I think the mountains were there originally with the parks but had nothing to do with Paramount. . . . although they fit in now.

Remember the International Restaurant that was above the main gates? Why did they close that down? I remember it was so nice to just take a break on a long day and have a nice meal and look out over the park. I know they still use it for certain events, but I miss having that option for a good meal. If you ask me, PKI needs a good sit down restaurant. And I mean one where you're not going through the cafteteria lines. I like some of the ideas like a TV Land restaurant. But I'd like to see something a bit more elegant. Plus, my favorite part of the International Restaurant was when you would be in the lobby and they had framed newspaper articles from the years back. It was so cool to look back on them. I'm just a Detroiter, so that was where I first heard about rides like The Bat, the first Winterfest, and found out that The Beast didn't open up with all the tunnels it has now.

I've always thought SOB was rough, but in a good way. It makes the ride more exciting. And if you expect it to be rough, it can be rough without being painful. It's not near as headache inducing as The Mean Streak at Cedar Point. Besides, it's nice to have a ride that isn't just typically smooth. . . gives it character, which is someting so many other parks lack in their rides. I've always enjoyed SOB, even if I don't think it holds a candle to the original.

While Cedar Fair runs good parks and I think Cedar Point is one of the top amusement parks in the country, I'd have to say I'd like to see an independent firm run it. I miss the days when Kings Island wasn't a chain park. When it was original and unique and didn't rely on brand names (well, besides Hannah Barbara). While I do enjoy many of the changes Paramount has made, I sometimes feel like the emphasis is more on PARAMOUNT than Kings Island, which is logical with a parent company. But to have a company come in that really cares about the theme park business, has a unique vision for where KI would be headed, and brings its own flavor to the park, would be great. I just feel now that we're seeing KI change from the destination it once was to just a part of a franchise. How long before we see International Street changed to Hollywood Blvd, see Coney Mall just taken over by the Action Zone and see (big exaggeration) the Eiffel Tower transformed into the Paramount mountain? On the other hand, I wonder what would happen if Viacom did sell the parks. Rides like Top Gun, Face Off, and Drop Zone would be pretty easy to rename and retheme. But what would you do with something like Tomb Raider which pretty much IS themed to the movie or the IJST?

How is it that PKI has gone this long without a Mission:Impossible themed coaster or ride? First off, they've basically used everything else they've done with Tom Cruise like Top Gun and Days of Thunder (wouldn't be surprised to see a Cocktail bar down the road). But an M:I ride could be themed around pretty much any idea, already has a good brand name behind it and there's a third Mission:Impossible film due out this year!! Wouldn't a darkride of The Godfather be cool? You're being chased by the mob througout it? And let's not forget that Paramount did most of the SNL movies. Superstar, Night at the Roxbury, Coneheads. . . they could just do a ride with that where you pay money and nothing happens. It would be a total waste of time. . . just like those movies!! The full experience!!

I think it's pretty funny to see everyone comparing a roller coaster's removal to a flat ride like Eagles or the Antique Cars. I have to drive six hours to get to PKI (I live in Detroit). When people here talk about PKI, the topic that always comes up is the one of the coasters that they have. People know Vortex, Beast, and Top Gun. Parents take family vacations for family rides like AE or Hannah Barbara Land. As much as regulars like the Antique Cars or the Scooters, that's not what brings out of towners to the park. So it's not the same thing at all. PKI would easily remove some flats because the visitors to the park (who drive up revenue around the park in the hotels and campgrounds) are coming for the thrill rides or family attractions. Most people don't recognize the flats are even missing. Heck, I've gone to PKI for nearly all of my 25 years and never once rode the Eagles and it's been a good 20 years since I rode the Antiques.

Okay, no offense. I love PKI as much as most people. I've gone almost every year for over 20 years. But, you need to get something straight. 1.) As people have said, this is just a preview day. It's not so much for the guests as for the employees to get some dress rehearsal time and get the bugs worked out. 2.) It was 40 degrees, or so I've heard (I'm in Detroit, but it was in the 30s here.) Of course things in a SUMMER PARK are not going to be up to par. But most importantly. . . IT'S ONLY AN AMUSEMENT PARK!!!!!!! Some of you take this place way too seriously. If you go and not everything is working well on a preview day. . . so what!?? You have a season pass!!! You're going to get to go many many times this year, while some of us only get to go once a summer!! And if you have a bad day--or even, God forbid--a bad summer at PKI. . . SO WHAT!!!!!????? It's just an amusement park. It's not the best thing in the world. It's not that important in the grand scheme of things that this park give you joy every single time!! And if it really really bugs you that much. . . you have many other places to choose from! Cedar Point's only a few hours away!!

It's kind of funny. I put a post on here the other night about Spirit Song! I'm driving down tomorrow from Detroit to go. All three days. . . I can't wait! Groups I love at the park I love most. Can't wait to ride TR:TR, The Beast, The Vortex and King . . . shoot. Anyone every stayed in the PKI campground? That's where our group's staying at. Just one more day and vacation starts!!

I would say to take out the Paramount Action Theatre because really it is not a good simulator at all compared to some of the things they're doing at Universal Studios or DisneyWorld. Nothing spoils the effect of a simulator like looking around and seeing everyone's seat next to you. I would take it out, get the rights to Back to the Future, and put a Back to the Future simulator in there from Universal Studios. I know they don't have the rights, but this is my dream, darnnit! Also, take out Face/Off and put in the Raptor from Cedar Point. And Congo Falls and put in Snake River Falls from Cedar Point. Or you could replace Top Gun with the Raptor. But don't touch FOF!!! That ride is da bomb!!

Does anyone remember that they used to have a pool outside of Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canals? I don't know if you could pay to go swimming in it or not, but it always seemed there were about five people splashing around in it. It was odd. . . an above ground pool if I remember, I think advertising for a company that sold them. I always wanted to go in it, lol Also, for those of you who remembered the smurfs ride, I used to LOVE that ride! I remember you'd float in and there was this green tunnel with flashing lights and then you'd see a huge Gargamel laughing at you. Then it would take you through all the seasons. I always thought that Halloween was the scariest, because the lightning was flashing and Gargamel was soooo close. Then at the end you'd go through Christmas, go up a small hill and under a curtain, and the ride was done. It was actually pretty elaborate, if I remember correctly. I loved the Smurfs, but I was always terrified of the ride getting stuck in there. Did that ever happen to anyone here?

sorry . . . I meant Thursday-Saturday

I was just wondering if anyone out there was going to Spirit Song on Thursday-Friday. Do you know what the weather's forcasted to be those days? We're driving down from Detroit to go and I'd hate to be camping out in rain all those days. Can't wait to go! Haven't been to PKI in two years (since Spirit Song 2001, actually) and I HOPE TR:TR is open. . .they were just building it when I went. Any ideas for how to get the best out of 3 days in the park?