electricsun

As you have to show your pass at the entrance of the ride every time, I would think that it would be okay for her to stick around and wait for you. At least that is what I remember seeing at CP pass ERT last year.

I'm sorry the weather didn't cooperate for your visit. Weather in Florida can be quite a challenge. Most of my Florida time has been in the area between Tampa and Sarasota. I've been out with my nieces 10 minutes away from the house and we have a massive downpour and nothing happened at the house. The reverse happens too - beautiful skies at the Gulf and 20 minutes away at the house, thunderstorm. Weather patterns in Florida are very different from Midwest weather patterns.

"Revitalized and expanded in 2014, Kentucky Kingdom has enough rides, slides and other attractions to entice and entertain toddlers, hyperactive kids, blasé teens and harried parents." And what a way to describe your potential customers.

Wait...how did a water cup pay to...oh...Ahhh... Nevermind.

I've known people that believe that if they ignore something or don't mention it, it doesn't exist. Like trash in the queue lines and pathways.

Blech. My solution is to wear a lightweight hoodie/jacket. After securing my seatbelt/lapbar, pull up the hoodie and pull the cords so only my eyes are exposed. Keep mouth closed in case the cords loosen.

Oh no, I agree with you. The whole vulgarity and violence for shock factor is not entertaining. I don't understand its purpose or enjoy it. I was thinking of how people spoke about Martha Stewart's roast speech (written by a comedian) - the shock and apparent humor in someone they visioned one way saying things out of context. But certainly not a smart fit for an event that is supposed to scare you.

Our frustration yesterday came from horseplay in the queue. My friend and I were in the AE line behind a group of 6 kids - likely 5th-7th grade - that couldn't keep their hands off of each other. Pushing, shoving, climbing, and walking on the metal barriers. I was waiting for one of them to fall and smack their head or hurt the ladies in front of them. Same thing happened with two boys in front of me for Woodstock Gliders. Where are their parents?! What is adult's reason behind not standing in line with their kids to make sure they aren't being punks? Maybe I'm too much of a mean aunt but when the kids started that, they had a warning and the second time, we went home. They haven't tried it since. But hey, I was also considered suspicious last night (for what is the second time in my life - that I know of) so what do I know? At least I think that is why the woman behind me in line loudly told her story twice while standing in line for Woodstock Gliders. She talked about how there once were two long-haul truck drivers in line for Woodstock Express. "Why would adults be in line for a kids ride? Hold your children close!" My suspicious behavior was not talking to the kids in line and just reading my blog reader while watching the gliders. Or being an adult in line. Hard to tell. Yesterday was quite interesting.

Hmm. A show like that could be an interesting comedy routine. Get the right person cursing, and it's downright funny. (electricsun who may or may not still make people laugh when she curses.)

Thanks malem! I still...wow. I just don't get the entertainment factor of watching people fight - fake or real. But again, I'm not the target audience for such Halloween events.

Wait...a Taser fight? No! Seriously? So many questions running through my head right now.

Wait times are still as long as earlier today. The Beast has both sections full and a line out the entrance. No ride through the forest for me tonight.

It is really busy. My friend left and I'm resting my feet/charging my phone before heading back in. Banshee was listed as a 15 min wait but was 45 - we got on the ride at 8p. When we rode The Beast (before walking up to AE and Banshee) it was an hour-ish wait. The queue section closest to the exit was open as well as two switchbacks in the station.

As much as I like visting the park with the kids, I'm really excited to be going today with one of my best friends. Saturday crowds aren't a concern as we have so much to catch up on. It's going to be a great day!

Or The Learning Channel (hah!) or...my favorite, T-Boz, Left Eye, Chilli.

You guys and your extra inches of height. It is amazing to me how an extra 6-10" can make such a difference on a ride experience. I may be a bit jealous. Jtro223 and homestar92 - thank you for sharing your stories and keeping the memories of your friends alive.

I've tried to bite my tongue as I have some very strong feelings regarding this topic. However, paranoia? Really? No. It's not paranoia, it's looking out for the best interests of the child and adult. I will not have my niece and nephews ride with someone that I don't know well. I will not be riding with a child that I don't know well. Done. End of story. And I work with children! I'm concerned with what if a kid, for whatever reason, freaks out on a ride? What if there is an evacuation? I can talk my niece and nephews through a situation, but a stranger won't. Let me share another example. With work, we have very set rules about what to do with children's attention. They want to hug us, we can't hug back. It is to protect ourselves, our institution and the child. How easy is it for someone to misinterpret a simple innocent interaction? How easy is it to overlook something that is leading to a dangerous interaction? As for me, should I really never travel or visit parks unless I have someone with me? Yeah, that's not going to happen. I chose to live my life and will not sit on the sidelines because my "single rider" status might upset someone. I'm okay with someone joining me on rides that have more than 2 seats, or space between the two seats (Diamondback, Maverick, TTD, for example). But on the rides that are tight spots? No. I haven't had positive experiences with strangers there. I've had guys follow me onto those rides to take the other seat and proceed to get very much into my personal space. I don't know him, I don't want his sweaty body touching me. At KD, I had a woman decide to join me for a ride on I-305 and proceed to tell me ultra personal details and then hug me. At Busch Gardens, I had a large man - twice my size - decide to push through waiting groups to put his sons and himself on the log ride with me - where I was already siting and waiting to go. His boys in the front, him in front of me and me...very much wedged in the back, in pain because my legs are being squished against the bars. Not a very positive experience for either ride. As others have mentioned, if it is an adult, ask if you can ride with them if you want. But don't assume and don't be upset if they say no. They may have their reasons and they don't have to justify them to you or anyone else.

That is great to hear. I'm so glad you had fun too!

Okay, my friend and I have done 5-1 which is way better but...still lots of head banging. We are visiting Saturday and we want to ride with minimal pain. Other tips? Staple the OTS? Keep it loose? My upper body prevents me from getting it too tight as I'm *thisclose* to one more more click down. And I'm not tall enough to push myself up against the harness.

My guess would be that they were vendors or 4H folks. Those groups can buy passes that cover their parking and admission into the fair each day. When I worked our space for the Ohio State Fair, I was given a pass that they hole punched each day I entered. Many county fairs just give us a vehicle pass that gives my team entrance into the fair. However, fair works it differently. And edited to add that I didn't read your post clearly enough. I wonder if there was miscommunication between the gate and parking? Ohio State Fair has parking and then you get tickets at the main gates.

The vast majority of vendors pay to be at the state fair. If they do not get the turn-out expected, they will not return. At most fairs the vendors are located in a nicer space, typically air-conditioned, as a way for people to escape the heat and likely spend money or sign up for various services. It is in the Fair Board's best interest to create an atmosphere that encourages people to visit the fair and spend their money at the fair...not at Kentucky Kingdom. As Interpreter said, people in KK aren't spending money at the fair.

You have lots of really good tips above. Depending on how hesitant she is, Flying Ace and Surf Dog would be good starters, then move on to the bigger rides. Something that helps me with the niece and nephews is to watch the new ride and observe their reaction. If they are excited, hop in line. If they seem nervous, talk through how the ride will feel: bumpy or smooth, a dark or dim tunnel, lift out of the seat, feel pushed to the side, etc. I will say that Diamondback seems to be the ride that many kids have to get over the fear of the height and how the first drop looks. If you can get her on The Beast first, you can compare the first drop to Diamondback and that will likely help get over any fear.

This American Life replayed their Amusement Park program this weekend. It originally aired in August 2011 and features a games manager at Worlds of Fun. This gentleman's energy and enthusiasm is pretty impressive. If you'd like to take a listen, you can find it here: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/443/amusement-park They also talked about his videos and songs he would do to excite his team. Here is one:

Hmm. To call a Banshee a "she devil that kills" is quite an interesting perspective of a legend that simply foretells someone's death.

The platform looks like a Bob (Brown On Board).