Kenban

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2022/10/06/kennywood-shooting-arrest-fall-fest-security/stories/202210060109 Here is an update on the shooting. The police have arrested and charged a 15 year old boy in connection with the shooting. Turns out the police have evidence that there was more than one gun in the park, and are still looking for the second shooter. It also appears the police are still investigating how the weapons got into the park, I find it interesting that the only possibilities listed in the article are thrown over the fence, and carried over the fence by someone who climbed it. I have read the park trimmed bushes and trees near the fence after the incident. Although I have to believe they are also investigating the security checks at the front gate. I would think the park has security cameras at the entrance, and should have recordings of every guest that entered the park through the front gates. They now know what the guest was wearing and what they look like. They should be able to figure out if they went through the gate or not.

Except that is not what I said. The problem is not adding companies, its that not a single company was removed between the version from 2019 and the 2022 filling. I went back and looked at the 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2022 versions and compared them. You used to see companies drop off the list. But the 2022 version which we are discussing is quite literally the 2019 list with a few companies added at the end before the "and Bolliger & Mabillard". Someone opened the old document added a few new companies at the end, added the addresses of the new companies, changed the names from Jeff Gramke to Jared McFadden, and swapped out the property description. The ONLY new additions are Zamperla, Jack Rouse Architects, Abercrombie & Assoc, Beacon Electric, CaptiveAire, F G Schaefr Co, Gravity Kraft, M&E Roofing, Neyra Paving, Piqua Steel Co (PSC), RSL Commercial Architects. Except for those the company list is identical to 2019. Jeff Gramke retired between the last time this document was prepared and now. My guess is Jared McFadden did not remove companies whose work at the park is complete. I find it extremely hard to believe not a single company between 2019 and 2022 finished their work at the park. You can find the documents online at this site for Warren County. If I set that link correctly it will automatically search for the property ID for Kings Island. Open the notices labeled 2019-039065 and 2022-030467, feel free to compare them for yourself.

I have been thinking about this, the percentage of the list which is identical to previous years feels way too high. While our reading of the document is accurate, I suspect the park is purposely not removing companies after projects are complete. In essence hiding what is really happening using a bunch of old information. It’s technically correct since the park has contracts with these companies, just they are not doing anything in the listed time period. A coaster is still possible, maybe they are reusing the same companies, or it could be Zamperla, they are making the wild mouse for Cedar Point. I hate to say it, but I think this document might be pretty limited in its usefulness.

I feel like its important to answer this question. What does it take to make it on this list. The park has a signed contract with these companies, discussions are not enough. This document is intended to mark the start of a major project, the companies on this list will be providing goods and services to the park that will result in an improvement to the property. Regular maintenance, something that you can just call up a company, order a replacement part, and have park employees install will not be on this list. For instance, a lift chain or motor is just not enough to make this list. The company has to actually be doing something substantial for the park. I could see modifications related to fixing the jolt after the turn around on Diamondback being enough, but I don't think that is what we are looking at. This document and list screams the park is getting a new steel coaster. The document is extremely similar to what was filled before Orion, the park quite literally modified that document to add additional companies. I pulled up this document and the last one from 2019 and put them on my monitor side by side. The list of companies, starts out being identical for a long ways down the list, the majority of the companies on this document are the same as Orion. The changes are down towards the bottom where Zamperla, and Gravity Kraft are listed. The only conclusion I can draw is the park is getting another B&M. Still tons of options, wing, dive, flying, floorless, or stand-up. But I feel confident either someone screwed up, or we are looking at the start of a coaster.

I do not believe new passes receive the bring a friend ticket, only renewals. Also it excludes Saturdays, so it only works Friday evenings and Sundays through the end of the regular season. There is no actual ticket, it’s all digital and loaded on the card, you must be present and you present the pass at the front gate and tell the person scanning your annual pass you wish to use the bring a friend ticket and they handle everything.

Rumor is the gun did not go through security. The individual supposedly threw the gun over a fence, then retrieved it after they entered the park. This is completely unconfirmed and might not be correct.

The same thing happened during Haunt at California’s Great America in 2019. That park cancelled Haunt and transitioned to a family friendly event this year. I expect Carowinds will implement a chaperone policy. I would also not be surprised to see it spread to more of the chain. But I also guarantee executives will have discussions about possibly ending haunt events at more parks. Haunt brings in crowds and money. But at some point it’s not worth it.

From what I understand, the 2023 announcements for the chain were largely intended to be the 2022 changes. The pavilion at Cedar Point, the hotel renovations, etc. Basically projects got pushed back a year. Kings Island was likely not going to get anything this year beyond the 50th anniversary, so our lack of projects gets pushed a year and suddenly the park has nothing really planned and no anniversary. With the pushed projects and both Worlds of Fun and Carowinds having 50th anniversary celebrations next year, the budget is likely gone. Kings Island will do something, building renovations, paint, something. But likely nothing worth announcing in advance.

It takes years for categories like this to move and change. People may not be voting based on experiences this year because how often are they actually getting to these parks? The awards are voted on by enthusiasts, its a select group because you have to apply, and have a certain level of travel to be even considered. Its people who go out and travel and visit parks who vote, although that does essentially mean the people who vote are typically older individuals with the time and money to travel. From what I have heard but have no way to confirm there is a lot of overlap between ACE members and the voters. All of this means enthusiast events might be how they experienced the park. Plus its very common for parks which host a big ACE event like coaster con, which was at Cedar Point this summer, to suddenly see a lot of movement in the rankings. Its possible this really is a reflection of how people felt about an event this summer. I was at Coaster Mania this year, personally I felt it was pretty bad and was definitely the worst Coaster Mania I have ever attended, but I don't want to turn this post into a complaint about one event. I really wished I had gotten an invite to Holiwood Nights instead because I am confident I would have preferred that. How many people have stories about terrible staffing during the start and end of the season? The terrible lines for food and rides during the fall, especially during Haunt? I have a friend who visited during Haunt in 2020, and had the worst experience they have ever had at Cedar Point and I believe one of the worst experiences they have ever had at an amusement park. Even if the park improves next year I do not expect to see it back in the top 5 anytime soon, once you lose the spot on any of these lists, earning your way back up is difficult. You cannot be better for one or two years, you have to really improve and be better then the competition for a long time.

I personally think they should keep the bottled beverages. The pass price is high enough to pay for a lot of drinks. The park is purchasing them directly from the distributors and is definitely getting special pricing. Also I don’t know what the contract with Coke says, but if they can get away with giving away bottled water without a company name on it, generic bottled water with just Cedar Fair and the park(s) name on it would be dirt cheap. It used to be less than 10 cents a bottle in bulk. Since they would not be selling it, they might be able to get away with this. But I have gone back and looked at marketing emails and checked the pages for the Prestige Pass. As far as I can tell it only promised refreshments but never promised what they would be. I also find it interesting it appears the park no longer sells VIP lounge access on its own. It’s only either park of a package or the prestige pass. They did update the package listing to say the lounge has water and snacks. I feel like the park could and should do more, but frankly building an indoor lounge with air conditioning would be more of a VIP experience then bottled beverages. The outdoor lounge does not feel like a long term solution.

Intrasys used to provide the LSM and LIM launches for Intamin before some employees left and formed Indrivetec. Intrasys was the company behind Superman the escape later renamed Superman escape from krypton and tower of terror II. So actually both of the big LSM providers have hit 100 MPH.

Wicked Twister had a dedicated 34kV power line installed. It was the only attraction in the park on that power line. There also has to be a decent amount of power at TTD already to power the hydraulic pumps, likely enough with a storage system. I am VERY interested in what coaster company is doing this. Because I am doubting it is Intamin. First Cedar Fair has been very reluctant to work with them on anything for several years and has been steadily removing rides they built. But Intamin, recently within the last few days, removed TTD from their website. Maybe it’s because the name will be changing but it’s a marketing website, and normally they remove attractions when they close, but it’s definitely not because the launch might be changing they already listed it as an LSM launch and have for several years. I remember that people were seeing markers in the woods behind TTD. The assumption was a rerouted queue. But I am not ready to rule out ride design modifications. Could just be a new transfer track and storage so that the trains are no longer stored in the middle of the ride. Could be adding some elements to utilize the speed and add something extra to the ride to help justify the expense and make it a more marketable change. New trains, a new launch, paint, changing the name, etc does not feel easy to market. Add elements and they can market it as a new coaster. It would also fit with the idea of reimagining the ride. I would think being able to market this work as a new coaster will be important. What I would do is a wide sweeping turn to the right where the brake run starts right now. Follow the shore around the water past Iron Dragon. Airtime hill over the water onto Adventure Island. Go around the outside of the island, have a few elements and finally an airtime hill back across the water into the brakes. Would need to go through, under, or over Millennium Force, but there is tons of space to do so safely. Just put a metal tunnel around the track. The other big issue feels like the rafts which were built where shoot the rapids was located, it comes really close to the edge of the island. That and the trees that would need to be cut down to do this. The goal would not be to make the longest coaster in the world, just make it so it’s no longer 17 seconds long, right around 40-45 seconds from launch to brakes would be perfect.

The TRTR building is roughly one quarter of the size needed for even a ride this small. The building really only has height going for it, the only type of coaster that would fit inside the building is a kiddy coaster, like the great pumpkin coaster, which even then I believe might need to go diagonally to fit.

I feel like the coaster is getting a new name, a new theme, new trains, a new launch, a new control system, and the crazy part maybe even an expanded layout after the top hat. Makes me wonder who is doing the work. Cedar Fair seems reluctant to work with Intamin which makes me think we will be seeing someone else. The two big LSM providers are InTraSys and Indrivetec. Intamin uses Indrivetec, the fins are physically larger and I believe more powerful, they are what was used on rides like Velocicoaster or more importantly here, Red Force. Intrasys is used by most of the rest of the industry, B&M used them on Thunderbird, Premier on Ice Breaker, and Mack on Copperhead Strike, typically you will see two rows of stators, so if you see two rows it was likely Intrasys. Other possibilities exist, like an Air Launch system from S&S but frankly I doubt it. I suspect we will not see an announcement on what exactly is being done until late next year. Because I believe we are looking at a 2024 project. Daily operations have ended making it easier to do work, and we might see construction walls soon.

The terms and conditions make it pretty clear that lounge access and other prestige benefits only work at your home park. But I figured I am at Carowinds for the weekend it cannot hurt to ask. So I stopped by the lounge and asked if a prestige pass from Kings Island would work, and they said it should let me scan it. Then proceeds to scan it, says that it’s valid, and gave me a wristband. I honestly have no idea what is going on. Is it supposed to work or not? Is it a training issue? They scanned the pass and said the computer showed it as valid. The Carowinds lounge did not have any bottled beverages. Just two large containers of ice water, one which was infused. Plus bags of pretzels and Chex mix. I spoke with some regulars to the park and their lounge used to have a cooler with bottled beverages, a large selection of snacks, and granola bars. They have been cutting back None of these things feel permanent or long term.

For the Paramount years I suspect the park will just use a name from after Paramount sold the parks. So instead of Top Gun it will be either Flight Deck or Bat. EDIT: Also a chance they will double dip, it could be both…

The secret to how the posters are so accurate is simple. They are done after the fact. The vague references might make you think it dropped clues to additions years in advance when in reality they were references to something that already occurred. Seaside Boardwalks, could be Cedar Point, but I suspect it is the boardwalk at Knott's, Hangtime did open in 2018. The thing about Camp Cedar is it was not a Cedar Fair project it is owned by and was built by another company, Cedar Fair just operates it. Carowinds has a campground that had recently been renovated when this was made, could also be Cedar Point which had also recently expanded their camp ground. I actually think the Topspin structures that you think has not happened is a reference to the old Tomb Raider ride at Kings Island, the ride itself was a Giant Topspin. The artwork at the top is the station for The Beast, that lead car on the left is RailBlazer at CGA, the tractor is Twisted Timbers at KD. From what I understand the employee who made these posters used to work at Kings Island, and is an enthusiast, so they tend to go a little overboard on the references to Kings Island.

The things internet sleuths find. This post was made to reddit about a week before the incident on the Giant Wheel, it is from a VERY NSFW section of the site. So I am reluctant to post a link, but here is the text. It appears they got caught.

It says two bring a friend free tickets annually. I suspect it’s based on pass year, so you only get two total. But since it says annually it feels like it should be calendar years, and you should get two this year and two next year. Also, you get a free bring a friend ticket for renewing you pass, how do you make sure they use that and not the prestige benefit, since the renewal one expires in October.

I have been told that Disney has similar problems on the Haunted Mansion ride, they have a lot of cameras and speakers to inform guests they can see them. Most people at least do it in a slightly more private location or in the dark. Kings Island does have a dark ride…

There are reports that at least two Six Flags parks have closed entire sections of the parks for the rest of the year. SFA has removed references to Coyote Creek and Whistle Stop Park, and the rides in them from the website. For people not familiar with the park this is the kids area of the park. I have heard something similar is also occurring at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom but they do not appear to have completely removed the rides from the website just marked them as closed for the season, but it looks like there is a lot that is closing. So far these are the only two parks, but its possible it has just not spread to the rest of the chain yet. This is not going to help with attendance, or help attract more families. This feels like a desperate move to try to save money that is likely to do more damage then help.

My guess is a restaurant, and I know there are a lot of restaurants, but that’s also what the chain is focused on right now. Except for Coney BBQ what dining has Cedar Fair built in the main park from the ground up? The park has a lot of older restaurants which could likely be more efficient, and modern. I doubt a new restaurant would be intended to add an additional food service location, my guess is we would see something close after it is complete. I also do not believe it would just be another food stand with tables scattered around. Looking at what Canada’s Wonderland is still working on with the Lazy Bear Lodge, or the Pavilion at Cedar Point. The chain is building larger dining locations, both of those will be multi-level and feature indoor seating and an outdoor patio area on the second floor. The current VIP lounge feels temporary. A multilevel building could have an area on the second floor with an indoor section and a private patio devoted to being a VIP lounge. Although I will say when I went to Cedar Point this spring I left wanting a restaurant like the new Farmhouse. I really like what they did with the area, and I enjoyed the food. I also feel if the park was getting a ride, it would have been announced already. Corporate made it pretty clear the rides were all being announced at the same time for the whole chain. Could also be the start of work on something for 2024, look at how long Cedar Point has been working on the Grand Pavilion and the Lazy Bear Lodge at Canada’s Wonderland is still under construction and it is supposed to open this year.

The system asks a question along with the pass number to verify it’s your pass. This year during renewal it is your phone number, I know if you were adding the pass to an online account it was asking birthday earlier this year. If you do not enter exactly what it is looking for it cannot find your pass. Likely some piece of information was set wrong, guest services can fix this.

I have renewed my pass through Canadas Wonderland before. You can renew a platinum pass through any park, I would pick a park based on what you whatever is best for you. Renewing using Canadas Wonderland does change your “home park” to CW, but very little real differences. COVID did mean those of us who did this in 2019 received a very nice bonus since the park was closed all of 2020 and much of 2021, those passes are still valid and do not expire for several more weeks. I can only think of one downside, the renewal Fast Lane is from whatever you park you renew at, so renew at CW and you can only receive the free Fast Lane perk there. The tax on passes at CW is significant, it is still a considerable savings over renewing at Kings Island, but last time I did it half of the savings due to the exchange rate was taken away due to the taxes.

According to the press release from Cedar Fair total Capital expenses for 2023 is the highest ever at $200 million. It feels like there has to be something more, maybe not rides, but paint, retracking wood coasters, new restaurants, something likely not worthy of being announced today.