PKI in 2003
Ok, come on, stop yelling, no more panties comin' off....FOR THE LAST TIME!!!
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Lake Compounce-So Fresh and So Clean Clean
Boulder Dash-I'm just so happy to have you babe'
I find it amusing that in the same sentence you called us dumb, you used "to" instead of "too" like you should have. Chalk it up to a typo, but there are plenty of other grammar mistakes to count in your posts. Don't bother calling people dumb, if your making that many mistakes. Don't get me wrong, I am not calling you dumb, I make grammar mistakes as well, but I don't go around saying "your dumb."
You're being a clam? huh?
And by the way, I'm not 30. Remember, you told us our I.Q.'s were the same as bats or something...... Quite a few people I know are posting here are quite smart.
I hope you don't find it suprising that no one here has backed you up yet. Your all alone on this.
Eric
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"Air time is not a crime. Take a click, you're a prick" - Kris Allen (Jul 2002, HW)
*** This post was edited by eric.walton on 9/2/2002. ***
The research that PKI have done has proven that they are heading in a different direction. Adding a coaster every year doesn't always work. I mean, like you pointed out, they added one in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001. While this may have worked for a while, according to the research the park did, it was time for something different.
Almost all of Action Zone was built in them few years. Where would PKI be if it was all flats?
I have been offline for a good hour now...and this forum still hasn't died. Looks like I tried to give up but yall want to be the best...you look for little things like grammer...punctuations and typos to degrade me. If you have to look that hard then I truly do feel sorry for you. And my gawd people it is the internet. And I will call people dumb because well...they are dumb. Nuff said. You don't like it tough.
All alone. A mind. I think for myself. I don't go along with the crowd... I'm not a mindless sheep... HA HA HA!
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"I live my life a quarter mile at a time. For those ten seconds or less, I'm free." Vin Diesel- The Fast and The Furious
It always amazes me when I see the overwhelming amount of responses that PKI posts get. Good or bad, they always generate a ton of dialogue. That, in itself, represents the interest that PKI has among the public.
This thread is actually quite amusing when you think about it. It is such a heated discussion about things that really have no bearing on our *real* lives. I mean, none of us will live or die by PKI's ride additions. So to get upset, or offended by talk about rollercoasters and/or amusement parks is ludicrous... and immature.
I speak from experience, because after 4+ years on the net, posting about amusement parks has taught me to not wear my heart on my sleeve. In the past, I have caught myself getting angry or disgruntled about a post or reaction that differed from my own. But when I really stopped to think about it, I discovered that I was actually offended by the tone not the actual idea the poster was expressing.
Quite honestly, I couldn't care less if someone doesn't like SOB, or thinks TR:TR is too short, or dislikes PKI altogether. I would not want a person's opinion of me to be based on what coasters or parks I like, so I try not to base my opinions of others on their tastes. However, I do care if a person targets me as an individual because of my likes or dislikes and chooses to use a tone that is attempting to alienate me.
With that in mind, I try and understand that the "conversations" I may read or take part in on a message board aren't necessarily "real." Often the heated things that get typed, or expressed in posts are things that I would probably never hear verbally expressed, or take part in, face to face.
I'll be first to say that outside of Sean F. I really do not *know* anyone here too well. I think that is a pretty common feeling among most of the posters in this thread. However, some terribly lame pot-shots are getting thrown around, and things are being said that I doubt anyone here would have the num-nums to say to each other's face. But that is the magic of the web right? There is a lot of bravery to be had when you hide behind a keyboard/monitor.
Also, differing maturity levels come into play as well. There are often ideas I, or others, express here that simply do not mesh. For instance I wouldn't expect an 11 year old boy that loves Apollo's Chariot to necessarily understand why it isn't necessarily a "good" coaster in a park's eyes. However, someone of an older demographic and business oriented mindset is more likely to understand the rammifications it's addition had on park revenue dips, and the re-focus of marketing strategies that resulted. On the flip side, I do not have the maturity level or experience to fully understand all the facts someone may present to me from a parental or family perspective, as I am single and have no children. That having been said, I always bear in mind that although someone may be reading me, they may not be hearing me. And vise-versa.
But I digress...
Someone asked for my thoughts earlier... so I'll share them.
PKI holds a deep personal interest for me because I have a lot of fond memories of the park. Every ride, every footpath, every food stand, every coaster, every so-on and so-on holds a personal story I could tell. Those of us that grew up attending PKI year after year have a very significant attachment that cannot be explained or understood. I consider myself very lucky to be among those that truly "get" PKI. It is a feeling I wouldn't trade for the world.
I admit to viewing the park through rose colored glasses from time to time. But, I also become somewhat curious or baffled by decisions that the park management may make. That's right, I don't like everything that PKI does. But although I may not agree with all of the happenings there, past experience has taught me to not run off at the mouth about them. You see, in my relatively un-informed mind, it may not make sense initially, but when all is said and done and the big picture is revealed, then the "Oh, I get it" moment always sets in. The truth is, every decision that gets made, every change we see, is weighed very heavily. There is a reason behind every manuever at PKI. We just may not understand it at the time.
Why?
Well, PKI is a business first and foremost. All parks are. The A#1 goal is to turn a profit. Profit is dicated by attendance. For thirty years PKI has added attractions and made significant changes and updates that have resulted in a swelling of their attendance. When PKI opened in 1972, it had an initial attendance of just under 2 million, I believe. In the subsequent years, the park has upped their average to nearly 3.5 million visitors annually. That is nearly double the original attendance. Last year's Nick Central addition helped significantly boost that attendance average. PKI continually rivals CP for the #2 seasonal park attendance spot following only Great Adventure.
But, when compared to other parks (CP especially) PKI is still the young pup. I mean CP has been in the business for 100+ years, PKI 30. And let me tell you, 30 is not old in any book. No one needs bi-focals to read those figures correctly. Yet, PKI rivals CP in attendance with 1/3 the amount of time under it's belt.
I emphatically believe PKI's sucess has come from the following:
-A large growing metropolitan area on which to draw.
-A highly successful marketing campaign.
-A firm grasp on the wants and needs of the paying public.
-An ability to grow and change with the sophistication of it's guests.
-An ability to deliver an overall pleasing guest experience that keeps people coming back.
There is a formula by which successful parks operate. PKI has been using the same format of capitol expenditures for years. There really is nothing surprising about their moves. They are all carefully orchestrated and are marketing and revenue driven. But inability to recognize that is what frustrates me the most about "enthusiasts" or so-called park "fanatics." I am finding that the bulk of people that call themselves "fans" of a park are always the ones with the most limited knowledge or foresight of what will keep "their" park successful. The enthusiast idea or mindset that a park should put in a coaster year after year is naive. Many times I wonder if folks that proclaim to love parks soooo much wear some sort of special blinders that block out all the other truly remarkable non-coaster things that make parks like PKI great. I wanna just shake them and say "WAKE UP!"
PKI's has had tremendous success with marketing to families and children. On the flip side, their two latest attempts at concentrating on the "thrill seekers" alone have backfired. Even if we take the actual ride quality out of the equation 2000 (SOB) and 2002 (TR:TR) have not been viewed as highly successful seasons attendance-wise. Yet stuck in between the two is 2001 (Nick Central) that absolutely exceeded every expectation.
So, if you were overseeing the business and were given the choice, what would you do?
I would compromise. I would once again re-focus my strategy to target as many groups as I could. I would divide capital expenditure budgets among differing attractions that would spark interest from every possible demographic group. Knowing that marketing to families specifically drives season pass sales (which is the life blood of PKI) I would make sure that any family-oriented additions were announced ahead of time to help boost pass sales. Any other additions I would be planning, would be used to boost sales during the winter lag or spring opening. This helps target those last minute pass buyers (namely thrill seekers/teenagers) who really have little purchasing foresight and tend to make instantanious purchases.
I would continue to plan coaster additions, but I would space them out among several years as to re-build the novelty of them. I would also learn from past fopaws and require more time and planning on future coaster additions. That would help perfect the experience and deliver a higher quality ride that the GP now expects.
Sound familiar? It should, because it is exactly what PKI is doing. Again, it falls into that equation that the park has perfected over the last 30 years.
But enthusiasts continually question and challenge these ideas as if we, people that are not involved in actual daily operations, have some sort of superior knowledge than actual park management. It is embarassing. We stomp and pout, threaten and whine, cry and scream all because we may not get what we want. Never realizing that we may actually like what they have planned. Never considering the fact that park management is a lot more capable than we will ever give them credit.
So, before you make your mind up on what you think of a new attraction, give it a try first. If you don't like it, then move on. But try and see the big picture. Something that will satisfy our tastes is always just ahead. Limiting ourselves to what we "think" we will, or will not, like is only hurting and ultimately alientaing ourselves.
Shaggy
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Shaggy
R.I.P. Maestro
Phantom Theater 1992-2002
*** This post was edited by Shaggy on 9/2/2002. ***
Shaggy, some of the dummies in this thread aren't even worthy of such a well written, mature post. Thank you for expanding on what I was trying to say earlier.
Ultimately the public decides, not the whiners, and you know, there is plenty of justice in that...
I just LOVE the fact that enthusiasts do not have the last word. :)
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"Escuse me, can you tell me where the heck the Mystery Lodge is"?
Wow! Great post Shaggy. I feel the same way it's just that some of us don't have that was with words...
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www.moviecoaster.com
Thanks,
I feel like I just typed a senior thesis.
Shaggy
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Shaggy
R.I.P. Maestro
Phantom Theater 1992-2002
pkifanatic said:
Almost all of Action Zone was built in them few years. Where would PKI be if it was all flats?
Nobody would know for sure. Back in 1999 and 2000, a coaster was what they thought would bring the crowds in, which it did. In 2002, something a bit different brought the crowds in. If the park was to get another large flat ride, then there is no doubt in my mind that people will take notice.
Remember, just because there might be a strong rumor out there doesn't me the park can't surprise us. True?
-Sean
Sean F. said:
pkifanatic said:
Almost all of Action Zone was built in them few years. Where would PKI be if it was all flats?
Nobody would know for sure.
C'mon Sean, I think you *missed the boat* here...clearly, PKI would still be in Ohio....;)
edit: and Shaggy, that was an excellent "dissertation"....sometimes I actually DO wonder if the real enthusiasts are those who recognize that a short-term gain (the coasters, coasters, coasters philosophy) has a HUGE downside long-term...;)
*** This post was edited by rollergator on 9/2/2002. ***
Shaggy said:
I doubt anyone here would have the num-nums to say to each other's face. But that is the magic of the web right? There is a lot of bravery to be had when you hide behind a keyboard/monitor.
Bravo Shaggy! I couldn't have said it better myself.
You see, in my relatively un-informed mind, it may not make sense initially, but when all is said and done and the big picture is revealed, then the "Oh, I get it" moment always sets in.
You are truly on a roll! This is what I have been telling people everytime someone complains that something isn't built. I honestly don't think they get it.
Think about it this way...
If it wasn't for Scooby's Ghoster Coaster, would Face/Off be built?
If it wasn't for Face/Off, would we see Nick Central?
If it wasn't for Nick Central, would we see Tomb Raider?
....and so on and so on.
Let's just say Tomb Raider wasn't built and only "general improvements" were made this year?
Would we have an exciting new attraction in 2003 and even 2004?
The bottom line is, you need a lot of drops of water to make a lake. Does that make sense?
So, for those that only want to see what THEY want in the park, I ask you, please, PLEASE take a moment and realize the "big picture" as Shaggy pointed out. Perhaps it would even increase your love for the park.
Thanks for posting that Shaggy! You typed everything I was wanting to say earlier.
-Sean (ready for Chicago?)
Shaggy,
That was so beautiful. (wipes tears from eyes) I was just thinking the exact same thing.
Anyone got a hanky? :)
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Bill Yost
"I never rode a B&M I didn't like.":)
http://www.small-business-webs.com/pkizone
Shaggy said:
But, when compared to other parks (CP especially) PKI is still the young pup. I mean CP has been in the business for 100+ years, PKI 30.
I almost feel bad disagreeing with anything in a post as good as this one, but while PKI has been in their current location for 30 years, the park's history starts in Parker's Grove in 1870, on it's way to becoming Coney Island. The influence of the Schotts and Wachs on the amusement industry in general and KI and PKI in particular cannot be underestimated. Taft, KECO and Paramount have all, to a greater or lesser degree, learned the business from Coney Island's operators.
So whatever PKI puts in for their 133rd will, I'm sure, be a crowd pleaser.
BogeyMon has a valid point in that the success of Cincinnati's Coney Island actually laid the path for PKI' success in it's initial years. If you factor in the years that Coney Operated, then you could indeed say that PKI is a very old park.
However, when I think of PKI and Coney, I think of two completely seperate parks. Taft had come along and bought Coney only to close it and design a park suited to their desires. Coney was a victim of it's own success really. At that time, Fess Parker of Davy Crockett fame was planning a themed wilderness park in Northern KY.
Knowing this, Taft chose to close up shop at Coney and completely create a park by which they could capitalize on their highly successful Hannah Barbera characters. The end result was a very well-thought out park complete with new management team and direction as well as a new location and new name. It worked, as PKI found it's new niche and nixed the Fess Parker Park possibilities.
Would PKI have made it without Coney's laying the ground work? I believe so. But Coney sure was a terrific start to PKI. Yet, the parks cannot be confused. They are two seperate entities and I personally view them as such.
It is interesting to note that when the park was first proposed, the press labelled it "The New Coney." KI execs did not really like that, as they didn't want comparisons. Yet they settled on a name that was reflective of the past. Hence the "Island."
Finally, this is PKI's 30th birthday, but is actually their 31st operating season.
Shaggy
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Shaggy
R.I.P. Maestro
Phantom Theater 1992-2002
*** This post was edited by Shaggy on 9/3/2002. ***
Shaggy & Sean - thanks for giving this thread a well-needed reality check. I only have one question for you both:
WHEN WILL PKI BUILD A TERA?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Moosh - in smartass mode ;-)
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"Three simple words: I am gay." - Homer Simpson, giving advice on how to dump a girl.
They also put in the Coney Mall section and patterned it after the main walkway at Coney Island, to point out that while the park was new, they weren't abandoning the past.
Interestingly, Coney Island never changed its name, but as soon as Kings Island opened, Cincinnatians all took to calling it "Old Coney", and they do to this day.
Mamoosh, they put in a terra coaster in '79, they just spelt it with two r's - oh the state of our school systems...
I am excited if they get a Giant Frisbee. I've never ridden one although I have been on the ride that is similar at the Ohio State Fair. I can't wait to ride a taller version. I have no doubt that PKI will add a major coaster in one of the upcoming years and I can wait. I'm just glad they're doing something to spice up the park every year. Sure I was one that was a little dissappointed with TR:TR, but mainly because I wanted more flat rides. Now I'm having an "I get it now" moment. They are adding more flat rides, great!
I also remember a couple of years ago when the general consensus on this board was that PKI has a lack of flat rides. I guess they realized it also and are slowly rectifying that situation. Kudos to PKI for continuing to be a great overall amusement park.
I think that some of the younger posters have become spoiled with the coaster boom that was ongoing when they first started riding coasters. My entire youth was spent attending SFOMA (SFStL) and they added ONE coaster, Ninja, while removing two, Jet Scream and one side of the River King Mine Train. It wasn't until I was in college and living in another state that they built Batman, Mr. Freeze and the Boss. Yet, I remember having a great experience each and every time I attended the park. I didn't complain and moan that they weren't building a new coaster every year, or every other, or even every 5 years. They made some small additions to keep it entertaining for their patrons. Too bad not everyone can understand that.
At least they're building something, actually two somethings. Would you rather they only built coasters and then nothing in between the coasters? Give me some great filler material in between the big boys to keep my experience fresh and fun.
*** This post was edited by Incidentalist on 9/3/2002. ***
Closed topic.
