PKI Unresponsive to Complaint.

On June 16th, my family visited PKI. We found that the number of people smoking in lines to be intolerable. The smoking was so bad, that at one point we actually had to leave the line we were in so my wife could breathe. When we mentioned this to guest relations, they had us fill out a complaint form and said that they would contact us. Weel, so far, I haven't heard from them. SO let this serve as a warning to PKI customers. If you have a complaint about the park, keep it to yourself, because PKI doesn't care.

If anything, they'll probably mail you a response and that could take a long time. One year my brother lost his hat on the Racer and asked to get it back and they said they'd mail it to him. Sure enough, about 4 months later it came back through the mail. After 4 months went by, he forgot he had ever owned a hat.

But seriously, regarding smoking, what do you really expect them to do for you? Are you wanting a response like free tickets? They are probably the worst park I've been to about smoking in line and I agree it's not cool, but all they can really do to let you know "they care" is send you a letter of apology and let you know they're "correcting the problem" which they probably really aren't doing. All they do now is warn people not to smoke over the loud speakers.

I wouldn't tell people that PKI doesn't care. They just can't do much about some problems like that. If there is a huge problem with the park, sure you should tell them. And I'm sure the more people complain about the smoking, the more they'll take notice. But I wouldn't expect too much of a response, and if anything, you shouldn't expect it only after 9 days have passed.

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spoon!

I think he certainly has a valid complaint. It is up to the park to enforce their own rules.

I sent them a complaint last year regarding the SOB closure and the ridiculously careless operations. They did address both directly by e-mail. I must say that thus far operations are much better.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I found the worst park for smoking in line out of all the ones I've done this year (see below) was SFGAdv - it was also the worst park for line cutting along with SFNE!

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Parks done 2001: BPB, PKI, SFWOA, CP, KW, HP, DP, Knoebels, Astroland, SFGAdv, SFNE, SFA, LC, Moreys Pier, PKD, PCW, BGW, DMP.

The smoking there is terrible. The are some very rude inconsiderate people that attend that park. It seems to be worst in the SOB line for some reason, and even though there are repeated announcements, the trash still ignore it and keep on doing what they want to do.

The only answer is a security guard posted on the line queue like CP.

However, there was an incident when i was there where a kid that appeared to be high or drunk (he could barely stand up) was in line for SOB. In getting there he climbed from one ramp level to the other (about a 10-15 drop). While he was in the line in the station, security came along and escorted him off, so their security seems to be responsive when called.

Man, I went on May 12 and the only line that had a lot of smokers was the outside portion of FOF. Maybe it was do to that the lines were moving rather quickly on most rides except FOF. What I mean is that we didn't stand in one place for very long. If the line is constantly moving it seems that less people smoke.

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Gemini Hand Smacker said:
"If anything, they'll probably mail you a response and that could take a long time. One year my brother lost his hat on the Racer and asked to get it back and they said they'd mail it to him. Sure enough, about 4 months later it came back through the mail. After 4 months went by, he forgot he had ever owned a hat.

But seriously, regarding smoking, what do you really expect them to do for you? Are you wanting a response like free tickets? They are probably the worst park I've been to about smoking in line and I agree it's not cool, but all they can really do to let you know "they care" is send you a letter of apology and let you know they're "correcting the problem" which they probably really aren't doing. All they do now is warn people not to smoke over the loud speakers.


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spoon!"

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I have season passes, I am not looking for free tickets, they wouldn't do me any good because PKI is over 5 hours from my home. OBVIOUSLY something can be done about the problem of smoking in line because not all parks suffer from it as much as PKI. Maybe PKI needs to see what other parks are doing about it. As you yourself state, they are the worst park about smoking, therefore other parks must be doing something right that PKI isn't doing.

One step in the right direction would be no smoking signs. In most parks, no smoking signs are clearly visible in non-smoking areas. The only ride at PKI that was clearly posted as a non smoking area was the carousel.

The wheelchair policy (were you instantly walk or roll up to the exit and instantly get on) was really abused a few years ago, since many were teenagers faking having a broken leg or whatever. We actually saw someone get busted by security. Now the park is strict on that issue. Cedar Point is, too.

PKI has enough on their hands. I know that the customer complaints need to be fixed, but give it some time people! Right now, PKI has a huge announcement coming up, plus keeping rides running, and everyday business to attend to! Just calm down and wait!

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http://www.islandguide.8m.com
all about PKI
the Beasts` Den

This seems to be more of a midwest problem than the east coast where I reside. The worst park out of the parks I've been to for smoking? Cedar Point by far. Since none of the parks I've been to post signs outside the rides to not smoke, take my lead and politely ask people not to smoke. You don't have to be aggressive about it, just tell people that there's no smoking in line. Most people will cooperate. If they don't cooperate than keep your mouth shut or tell a ride op/security guard, which I know is not always possible. It's not worth getting hurt or killed over other peoples dirty, filthy, smelly habit. *** This post was edited by Intamin Fan on 6/25/2001. ***

They should worry about the problems they have on their hands now, not an announcement. That's no excuse at all.

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.:| Brandon Rodriguez |:.
http://www.coasters2k.com

If other parks can handle smokers PKI can too. You can't use everyday business as an excuse. Besides, an announcement has very little to do with hiring more security. *** This post was edited by mamba on 6/25/2001. ***

Smoking in lines is intolerable and unnaceptable. Come on I don't mean to complain but it is a family park. They should enforce the rules. I am personally asthmatic so I know how uncool it can realy be. I am not dissing people that smoke but I am saying they should at least have the common courtesy to do it away from other people or at least ask them if they care.

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If you think this thread is stupid, then don't reply. *** This post was edited by JORDON DUNHAM on 6/25/2001. ***

Remember that the lack of a personal response does not necessarily mean that the park has been unresponsive to your concern. Think of it this way: Which is more important...to fix the problem, or to inform the complainant that you're working on a solution to fix the problem??

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Who has seen PKI fix a lot of things he's commented on...

I agree. The smoking in line issue at PKI is terrible. Every line I've been in so far this year (except the Reptar and Beastie) has had at least one person smoking in it.

I have been a smoker for 17 years, and the smoking in line bothers me probably as much as it bothers a non-smoker. WHY CANT THEY RESPECT PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T CHOOSE TO RUIN THEIR LUNGS.

Love the sign that says, "If you don't smoke, I won't FART"

I'm also sure that something will be done soon about this issue. Because it gives a bad impression to the non-smoker and smoker alike.

PKI the worst park for smokers in line? I've been 7 times this year and haven't seen one. And I'd know since I hate smoking more than almost anything else at parks. I'd say Cedar Point had the most smokers in line overall. Especially for Mantis, MF, and Raptor, in lines where it's hard for security to see them. I wouldn't blame the park for something like this. A lady entering the line for Mean Streak was smoking and the guy asked her to put it out. She did, said "Sorry", and lit up again when he was out of sight. I don't think many parks enforce this very well and it's sometimes hard to control, but I do hear the announcements about not smoking a lot of the PKI speaker system which is a good thing. Disney and Universal were one of the few parks I've seen with almost absolutely no smoking overall.

I think 9 days after is also too soon to expect a response although I did get next day return e-mails about the PKI 2001 announcement date and about the opening of the Smash factory and Mummy show. I say try an e-mail to one of the big guys. They really take it seriously and they more than care about anything wrong with the park. The complaint list for FOF was the highest ever in 1999 and the ride was constant walk-ons so guess what they did just for the people(and for some business).

About crowd control, where's a problem? Besides the occasional Vortex spill, I never see any of the line queues go out onto the midway. And if you mean crowds in the midways, the parks can't help that and at PKI it's always much better than at some points at Disney and CP where you can be shoulder to shoulder in areas. They have some of the biggest walkways and a very easy to get around layout.

And I don't think all of PKI is holding their breath about the announcement. I think they care more about a smoking problem than the announcement. That's a given. Just for you, when I go tomarrow, I will count each and every smoker in line and if I see more than one, I promise to file a complaint as well. Not because of you really, but because I couldn't agree more that there should be no smoking in the lines. I don't know if you remember the set up of some of PKI's coaster queues, but they're mostly more of a single file one way thing instead of line, turn, line, turn, line, turn, etc. like CP and other major amusement parks, so it's a little harder ro go up and down the Adventure Express, Beast, or Top Gun queue looking for smokers. I would think the guests should have more respect for the park's rules than that. I'm glad you filed the complaint as well instead of leaving the park and just complaining to us about it. Thank you. *** This post was edited by Koaster King on 6/25/2001. ***

Its strange we should bring this topic up, because I noticed a few example of Smoking in Lines when I went to PKI earlier this month.

One fairly disgraceful incident was when I was about to get on The Beast, this Kid next to me was smoking,and we were in a Wooden station for god sakes, It could have only taken a stupid move from him to start a little fire and for the station to possibly burn down. It would have still been unlikely that it would have happened, but as we were in a wooden station, the chances are dramitally increased as you might know.
I even saw the same incident on Son Of Beast in the station, What the hell were these people thinking, A serious accident could have happened here if these people decided to be stupid. Luckly everything was ok, but it could have still happened and what made it worse was No Ride Ops failed to spot it, I was tempeted to say something but decided against it in the end incase I got in trouble with the person.

but Seriously, if these problems keep arising at PKI, they better sort it out Soon incase something serious happens

You must have been lucky to not see any smokers in line at PKI. I have a season pass, and in my 10 trips so far, almost every time when there has been a line SOB, i have been behind at least one.
Last trip as the train i was in on Beast was rolling out of the station, a couple of these morons where smoking away right behind the airgates. Don't tell me that the ops didn't notice that. And like the above post says, Beast station is wood, so you think it would be stricly enforced there. PKI obviously doesn't want to enforce their rules and offend anyone so they can take their money, although the smoking is VERY offensive to me.

Smoking in line for the Beast scares me. Those who have ridden know that a good portion of the line is completely surrounded, even above your head, by wooden slabs, almost like you're in a cage. Great for the theming, but terrible if a fire would break out. Also, a portion of the "cage" is 10-15 feet above the ground. If a fire broke out in that part, people *would* die.

Can you guys do me a favor and if you see smoking like this in any lines at any parks to report it to Guest Services? You have no complaint if you don't complain. That's to complain to the big guys at PKI. I know I will be from now on if I see it. If they had enough complaints to put lap bars on FOF, they'll have enough complaints to higher more security. If you don't tell them, obviously, they think they're doing a good job.

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Danny