KIFan1

If you could add rides to KI what would you add? I would add a 1. B&M stand up 2. B&M floorless 3. Intamin giga 4. Intamin megalite(Maverick) 5. Falcons Fury drop ride 6. More water rides 7. S&S Screamin Swing 8. Larson Inc Flying Scooters 9. B&M flying coaster 10. B&M wing coaster 11. Intamin wing rider 12. Wonder Mountains Guardian dark ride 13. Phantom Theater My coasters here would each be the tallest, fastest, longest in the world world with the most inversions, loop wrapping around the lift, cobra roll, zero g roll and be heavily themed.

Thanks! I want to enjoy the posts and have fun but I just want people to use their imaginations and not just look at KI owned by a different company realistically.

Actually I know that Disney was interested since they did make a bid but unfortunately the economy went bad so they dropped their bid. YES Cedar Fair tried to go with Apollo since they were in serious trouble, it had nothing to do with Kinzel. The companies that were interested in buying the Paramount Parks were Disney, Universal, Seaworld/Busch Gardens, Herschened, Six Flags, Merlin, and Parques Reunidos. I just wish that people could be more open minded about other companies owning KI and just use their imagination about what would KI look like under those companies! Is that too much to ask!? You've got to cool it, KIFan1. Realize that you don't have all the answers. None of us do. But some people here are much, much wiser and more well-versed in the industry than you or I. Given time and careful listening and a willingness to learn, you'll come to realize how silly some of this is. Disney owns and operates, owns, or licenses its likeness to world-class, international-destination parks in leading global cities: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Paris, Los Angeles... Consider: do you really think that Disney considered - much less made an actual bid - for a chain of seasonal coaster thrill parks throughout the Midwest? Come on. Think about that. I'm sure you've heard from a friend of a friend whose cousin worked at Kings Island back then that Disney made an offer. You're being told now by those much wiser and more versed in the industry that it's not true. You don't have to believe it, but think about it. Universal, as the Interpreter mentioned, was at the time owned by a company eager to unload non-core business assets. They didn't want their own parks, much less to acquire more. Herschend couldn't have afforded the Paramount Parks... Not to buy them or to keep them running if they had. And you say Cedar Fair bit off more than it could chew, and you wish HERSCHEND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT had bought the parks? Oh, my... Six Flags was under massive debt. In 2004, they unloaded all of their European parks and Ohio's Worlds of Adventure (selling it at a MASSIVE loss... tens of millions of dollars less than what they'd spent on the park in the five years prior). They next years, they closed or sold Six Flags AstroWorld, Frontier City and Whitewater Bay just to try to make some money to avoid bankruptcy as the company's stock plummeted. They sold an additional six parks in 2007... right about the time that you claim they made an offer to BUY Paramount Parks for a billion dollars! (By the way, Six Flags ended up filing for bankruptcy just two years later... And you think they were in a buying mood?!) Anheuser-Busch, like Universal, was eager to let go of the theme parks in its portfolio, not take on more. It was a time when companies were unloading their non-core assets. CBS / Paramount / Viacom was a production company. Even if the parks were nice, they were not part of their core business. Owning parks did not benefit their production company or studios. Same with Anheuser-Busch, whose business was beer. As nice as the parks were, they were NOT part of the core business, so they were to be unloaded. The point is that, to those of us who have been around / been in the industry / were here on Kings Island message boards before, during, and after the Paramount Parks sale, it sounds really silly for you to say, "The following companies were interested in buying the Paramount Parks:" then proceed to list every amusement park operator you can think of. No matter what you've heard from friends or what you've told your friends so many times it seems true, there are actual facts to consider, and people who actually have memories of that time. Similarly, some of us were around during the Apollo debacle. Some of us here are privy to the inside information, and have an intimate understanding of the ins-and-outs of that transaction. It's alright that you don't. I don't either. But trust the folks who do before you decide you know all of the information and go around spouting it. Your friends might blindly go, "Wow! I didn't know that!" But here, you're among folks who actually know their stuff. Herschend buying the Paramount Parks? Just... relax. You don't have to pretend to be an insider. We've all got a lot to learn. Sit back, relax, read, search, think, and ask questions. It's fun to imagine what a Disney's Kings Island could / could've looked like. It's another for you to tell us matter-of-factly that Disney made an offer to buy some roller coaster thrill park in Ohio. It's just not true. Sorry. Actually I know that Disney was interested since they did make a bid but unfortunately the economy went bad so they dropped their bid. YES Cedar Fair tried to go with Apollo since they were in serious trouble, it had nothing to do with Kinzel. The companies that were interested in buying the Paramount Parks were Disney, Universal, Seaworld/Busch Gardens, Herschened, Six Flags, Merlin, and Parques Reunidos. I just wish that people could be more open minded about other companies owning KI and just use their imagination about what would KI look like under those companies! Is that too much to ask!? You've got to cool it, KIFan1. Realize that you don't have all the answers. None of us do. But some people here are much, much wiser and more well-versed in the industry than you or I. Given time and careful listening and a willingness to learn, you'll come to realize how silly some of this is. Disney owns and operates, owns, or licenses its likeness to world-class, international-destination parks in leading global cities: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Paris, Los Angeles... Consider: do you really think that Disney considered - much less made an actual bid - for a chain of seasonal coaster thrill parks throughout the Midwest? Come on. Think about that. I'm sure you've heard from a friend of a friend whose cousin worked at Kings Island back then that Disney made an offer. You're being told now by those much wiser and more versed in the industry that it's not true. You don't have to believe it, but think about it. Universal, as the Interpreter mentioned, was at the time owned by a company eager to unload non-core business assets. They didn't want their own parks, much less to acquire more. Herschend couldn't have afforded the Paramount Parks... Not to buy them or to keep them running if they had. And you say Cedar Fair bit off more than it could chew, and you wish HERSCHEND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT had bought the parks? Oh, my... Six Flags was under massive debt. In 2004, they unloaded all of their European parks and Ohio's Worlds of Adventure (selling it at a MASSIVE loss... tens of millions of dollars less than what they'd spent on the park in the five years prior). They next years, they closed or sold Six Flags AstroWorld, Frontier City and Whitewater Bay just to try to make some money to avoid bankruptcy as the company's stock plummeted. They sold an additional six parks in 2007... right about the time that you claim they made an offer to BUY Paramount Parks for a billion dollars! (By the way, Six Flags ended up filing for bankruptcy just two years later... And you think they were in a buying mood?!) Anheuser-Busch, like Universal, was eager to let go of the theme parks in its portfolio, not take on more. It was a time when companies were unloading their non-core assets. CBS / Paramount / Viacom was a production company. Even if the parks were nice, they were not part of their core business. Owning parks did not benefit their production company or studios. Same with Anheuser-Busch, whose business was beer. As nice as the parks were, they were NOT part of the core business, so they were to be unloaded. The point is that, to those of us who have been around / been in the industry / were here on Kings Island message boards before, during, and after the Paramount Parks sale, it sounds really silly for you to say, "The following companies were interested in buying the Paramount Parks:" then proceed to list every amusement park operator you can think of. No matter what you've heard from friends or what you've told your friends so many times it seems true, there are actual facts to consider, and people who actually have memories of that time. Similarly, some of us were around during the Apollo debacle. Some of us here are privy to the inside information, and have an intimate understanding of the ins-and-outs of that transaction. It's alright that you don't. I don't either. But trust the folks who do before you decide you know all of the information and go around spouting it. Your friends might blindly go, "Wow! I didn't know that!" But here, you're among folks who actually know their stuff. Herschend buying the Paramount Parks? Just... relax. You don't have to pretend to be an insider. We've all got a lot to learn. Sit back, relax, read, search, think, and ask questions. It's fun to imagine what a Disney's Kings Island could / could've looked like. It's another for you to tell us matter-of-factly that Disney made an offer to buy some roller coaster thrill park in Ohio. It's just not true. Sorry. I'm good. I just get upset when I ask people to use their imaginations on other companies owning KI and they just try to make me look stupid. You showed a more informative way so I like your response. It's just others where it looks like their making fun if me. (I've been bullied before and I often take things they wrong way. So I apologize to everyone for my attitude.)

I'm confused, how will they name a ride after Lebron James? What would it be called?

A 500 ft wooden coaster seems a little dangerous.

Since Michigan's Adventure is owned and operated by Cedar Fair then why don't they have a Halloween event like what Cedar Point and Kings Island have at their parks? Just curious is all.

These look so cool. It'll be more convenient for guests.

Actually I know that Disney was interested since they did make a bid but unfortunately the economy went bad so they dropped their bid. YES Cedar Fair tried to go with Apollo since they were in serious trouble, it had nothing to do with Kinzel. The companies that were interested in buying the Paramount Parks were Disney, Universal, Seaworld/Busch Gardens, Herschened, Six Flags, Merlin, and Parques Reunidos. I just wish that people could be more open minded about other companies owning KI and just use their imagination about what would KI look like under those companies! Is that too much to ask!?

Well Kinzel had Cedar Fair buy the Paramount Parks JUST because he wanted to own KI, Disney was interested and Herschened wanted parks with major thrills. You'd be surprised how much these theme park companies wanted us. Don't judge a book by its cover. Herschened looks like it couldn't afford it but they would really push for it. Disney would go where the money is and would want their own thrill rides. Plus Cedar Fair spent 1.24 Billion dollars and put themselves in lots of debt. That's why they tried selling to Apollo.

I had hoped that either Merlin Entertainment, Herschened Family Entertainment, Disney, Universal Studios, or Parques Reunidos had bought us instead. I feel that Cedar Fair bit off more than it could chew.

I hope they work with Intamin soon.

1. First, let's just throw out the notion of a stand up coaster being built at Kings Island since they're pretty much done with. A new one has been built since the late 90's and the current ones are just waiting to serve out their service life. 2. Intamin? Really? Have you not seen their track record lately? Cedar Fair especially is fed up with them after the numerous modifications they've had to make after rides have already opened (Wicked Twister, Maverick, Shoot the Rapids, I305 to name a few). 3. How much are you willing to sacrifice of Kings Island's atmosphere towards families? I for one don't want Kings Island to become some utopia for die hard coaster enthusiasts. I feel Kings Island should focus on the intermediate group, rides not as intense as the bigger coasters, but more so than Planet Snoopy's rides. Sure, B&M's are nice. I certainly won't complain about Diamondback or Banshee, but you also gotta attend to the park's biggest spenders- families. I can list numerous other better improvements the park could use. 4. Why do you want wing and giga coasters from both Initamin and B&M? Redundant much? Let's not fool ourselves that being from different designers mean's their different rides, a B&M wing coaster (like Gatekeeper) and an Intamin wing rider (like PortAventura's Furius Baco) accomplish pretty similar things, and the Intamin 'wing' coaster that is Skyrush at Hershey wouldn't be that much different than Diamondback, assuming Intamin has fixed the lap bar issues. I for one like variety. This also goes back to my #2 point. 5. You want all of them to have length, height and speed records? I know Kings Island has a lot of room, but most of that is steep hills, and a river at the bottom they can't build too close to. Where are you going to place them and give guests easy access? What do you plan on removing to accomplish all this? 6. I really, really hope you don't mean all of these back to back to back each year. FUN will go bankrupt if that's the case, plus you do know there are 10 other parks in the chain, right? Just see what got SIX into financial trouble in the 2000's when they tried to build coasters at the rate you're describing. Kings Island is much more than roller coasters and thrill rides my friend. I know but these are all good rides to have. Plus, the ONLY reason why Cedar Fair owns KI is just because Dick Kinzel wanted to own KI.

I enjoy the fact that the park wants to spruce up the waterpark after working in the theme park side.

The Falcon's Fury ride is a PROTOTYPE so it won't be perfect the first time but future installments will be better. KI needs several new coasters, I'd put in a B&M Floorless, Standup, Wing, Giga, Flying, and Dive. From Intamin, we need a Wing Coaster, Wing Rider,(two separate rides, just look it up, a Giga coaster like I305, a Strata Coaster, and a Maverick like coaster. All would be the tallest, fastest, longest in the world, and have some theming. The B&M Flying, Stand up, Dive, Floorless and Wing coaster would all have a cobra roll, zero g roll, loop wrapping the lift, and other massive inversions. The Intamin rides would also be the tallest, fastest and longest in the world with inversions if at all possible. The Intamin Wing Rider would have key holes over the main gate(similar to Gatekeeper) then use a cobra roll the dive under a small pass( similar to Fury 325) and the train would themed as a dragon protecting the main gate. This would help Kings Island and also add some water rides, thrill rides and family rides.

They should remove Action Theater and extend Coney Mall.

I'll never forget the day that Cedar Fair purchased Paramount Parks. I, like many others, totally didn't see that coming. how you feel f Disney, Universal, Merlin Entertainment, Parques Reunidos, Six Flags, or Herschend Family Entertainment bought the Paramount Parks?

I voted NO since each coaster type has a lifespan. People thought inverts were dead but Banshee came in, people thought flying coasters were dead but Japan is getting on, people thought floorless were dead but India got one last year. Stand ups will come back one day.

I agree. Cedar Fair needs to work with Rocky Mountain and Sally Corp. plus they need more intellectual properties. Or another crazy idea is for Cedar Fair to sell KI to a different company. I made a post about it. Check it out sometime.

Guys, Banshee is new so there will be some downtime.

I'd rather build from the ground up. Like what Silver Dollar City did.

No, I just wanted to know what others would think if Cedar Fair DIDN'T buy KI.

How would you feel in The Beast had a "Rocky Mountain Makeover"

Apollo and Blackstone are INVESTMENT BANKING FIRMS. Look it up. BLACKSTONE lowered ownership in Seaworld is why their attendance dropped and finances dropped. Just look it up.

Blackstone is a BANK like what Apollo is. Blackstone is a majority owner in Seaworld and Merlin.

How would everybody feel if Cedar Fair lost the bid to buy KI and a different company bought the park instead? Read about each company online and what would be different, the same, and other miscellaneous items. The companies are: DISNEY, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, MERLIN ENTERTAINMENT, SIX FLAGS, HERSCHEND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, PARQUES REUNIDOS, and SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT/BUSCH GARDENS.