PKI 6/30/01 the final TR of my trip.

I don't know why, but for some reason, I'm not terribly fond of PKI. The great rides, but there's something missing. Something that they used to have, but don't anymore. Maybe it the fact that the park seems too spread out. Maybe it's the smokers, I don't know. Of the four parks we visited on our trip, the only park we liked less was SFWoA. What is it about this place and smokers. It had more problems with smoking in line that all three other parks combined.

The day started great, we used our gold passes for ERT on FOF, after two walkons, we took a spin on Vortex. FOF is great. I can't say enough about this wonderful ride. My favorite parts of this ride is the launch at the begining and the spin at the end. I thought Vortex was disapointing. After this, I took my 7 year old nephew on Taxi Jam, this was his first coaster ever. After that we went over to Beastie. After this I hooked up with the rest of my family and we rode the Thornberrys. Runaway Reptar ws closed today. I had ridden it last time I was here, so it was no big deal. However, it is a good ride and I was hoping Robbie could ride it. After this re rode the river raft ride. I love this ride. It's the best one I've ridden. Then we split up. My youngest daughter and I rode the Beast while the rest of my family rode the train. While riding the Beast, it broke and I was stuck at the top of the second lift hill for 20 minutes. From here we went to 7th Potal and Smash factory. These are both fun shows. I like Smash Factory better because of the humor in it.
Then we all rode the Racer. This was Robbies first adult coaster. On the way back to the RV for lunch we stopped to by some plush Rugrat dolls that were on sale for $5.00. This was quite a good deal so we bought some to be used as presents this christmas.
After lunch, we went to water works. This place is such a drag. It definately is too spread out and the lines are too long. The wave pool is marginal at best. PKI could learn about wave pools from MiA or SFWoA.
With my family becoming tired my oldest daughter and I cut out on our own. Our first stop was SOB. This ride is fun and was not as rough as we had expected. Next was Top Gun and then Face Off. To finish things off, we rode the Beast again. This ride is so much better at night. On the way out we watched a mediocre fireworks show.

What PKI is missing is the magic it used to have. The theming of each area used to give you a certain "feeling". Oktoberfest--Germany,
Rivertown--Frontier, Adventure Village--Africa, Coney Island--midway. But since Paramount has taken over, focus has been on theming rides to certain fad movies and tv shows. While some good coasters have been installed, many flat rides have been removed without being replaced leaving less and less to do.

IMO, Paramount has not improved any of their parks since taking management.

That pisses me off that I never see smokers in line at PKI. All of you guys say this and every time I go, I'm just waiting to tell on them and report to Guest Services, but dammit, I never run into it.

I personally find PKI to be far less spread out in attractions that any Busch or Universal park and even a few of the Disney parks. The only big area is Rivertown, which I think will change next year and that area is one I don't mind being that way.

What's wrong with the Wave Pool at PKI? Not big enough? Not 'wavy' enough? Not themed enough? Not deep enough? Just curious.

I guess i figured out why Waterworks is the 'largest water park in the tri-state'. It's either because it's too spread out or a mistake made by the Discovery Channel. ;)

Anyway, it sounds like overall you had fun besides smokers and the size of the park. *** This post was edited by Koaster King on 7/16/2001. ***

When compared to the wave pool at SFWoA and MiA, PKI's wavepool is just too mild. I typically enjoy larger waves.