Viacom To Sell Paramount Parks?

KI used to be my favorite park,now its not.OK?As far as the comment that theres more to a park than coasters,well thats my stement.Jeff only agreed, sort off.Ive gone there 3 times since Paramount bought it and Ive yet to enjoy the visit.We used to have season passes for 5 members of my family,thats how much we liked it.(we lived in Chicago)Cedar Point was our second park.Now we have season passes to CP and dont bother with KI.

Now I realize that to somebody young,Im 68,the rides and the water park are of extreme importance.But to someone my age,the spectacular shows ,3 major ones,were very important.During the heat of the day, one could also ride the little air conditioned train through the animal preserve.They had a good variety of food including the classy sit-down restaurant over the main entrance.All those things I just mentioned are now gone as is Winterfest when the park opened in Nov and Dec for winter fun and Christmas shows.If you didnt experience all that,then you cant compare what they have now to pre-Paramount.

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for in an amusement park.
*** Edited 3/9/2005 1:55:14 PM UTC by Allan Birmantas sr***

I for one also feel that PKI has suffered from Paramount. Sure there is movie-based themeing, but a ride like Top Gun could have been a lot better if the funds were allocated for the ride and not the so-so theme. And i haven't been to many themed parks, but IMO to claim that the Top Spin has "great" themeing is kind of out there if you ask me. Marginal at best, especially if you compare to a Busch Gardens.

The park used to have good food, now it really isn't better than any of the other fast food fare that's out there.

And i really don't think that they understand how to operate a park efficiently. They never (when i was there) used ride ques, they never staff food units appropriately. All in all i keep going back to hope they figure something out and i'm always dissapointed that they didn't. The ride line up is ok, some variety but a lot of it isn't to my taste so i always end up feeling like it could be so much better.

As for Jr., when i mentioned before that he wasn't interested in Marine parks i was taken to task. Now here you have Jeff responding for Red Garter Rob. Funny how things change...

Anyway why do the Paramount parks have to be bought by an existing park group? Clearly (for the reasons listed) it would make the most sense if a new company was formed by amusement park people to run some or all of the parks... like Funtimes did. SF still has some selling to do, CF would like to see a return on their latest acquisistion, and that leaves BEC, Disney and Universal. And as far as i know they haven't bought an existing park in the past, have they (i'm really not sure on that one)?

If Cedar Fair were to buy the parks, would they change the themeing of say, Top Gun or the Italian Job?

They would have to Re-name the rides, not re-theme the ride.
*** Edited 3/11/2005 1:29:23 AM UTC by imadj***

Just like they did at GL. And they will have to retheme if there is any reference to the movie Italian Job. I haven't see the track layout though so I can't tell you.

They wouldn't have to do anything. There is something called a licensing agreement, you know. Most analysts agree that the Universal parks will be sold eventually, and with that sale goes a licensing agreement that will likely last decades.

I didn't think that Paramount would touch a licensing agreement. I know it would drive the value down but I really couldn't see Paramount dealing with the agreement. It seems everybody is so possesvive these days with copyrights that they wouldn't even deal with their properties for large amounts of money.

[sarcasm][sarcasm]Yeah, because keeping your brand in front of people is just a horrible and destructive thing. [/sarcasm]

Where would Kings Island be today if Paramount haven't had bought them?

I prefer Boomerang Bay over Soak City anyday. KI might not have the best coasters, but they have unique ones. As for KI's kid area, it's #1, enough said.

Benjamin, have you been to Kings Island befor 1993?They were thriving, before Paramount bought them.I get criticized by some on this board for saying how great the park was then,but I suspect some of those people never visited that park at that time.Ill itemize where they have gone downhill and where they are now better.

Rides,better,they have added several new rides.CP still superior.

Shows, big loss

Attractions, big loss(the animals and Winterfest)

Food ,big loss

in variety and quality.

thats 3 negatives and 1 positive since 1992.I rest my case.

I still think your case is so narrowly focused to your personal wants and desires that it's far from any kind of popular opinion. I remember going there in '87, which I think was the year that Vortex opened. That was a really cool ride at the time, and even at that young age I bought a Vortex poster that stayed up in my room through my teen years.

I didn't get back to the park until I think '99, at which time I found there was so much more to do. Ride operations weren't very good, but they sure have come a long way in that respect.

And at least PKI has the good sense to sell fries and beer at the same stand! :)

Jeff,if youre talking to me, who elses point of view can I have except mine?Perhaps other grown ups feel the same way.I have a feeling you were there as a youngster.

Yeah, I was 13. Now I'm 31. It's a great park. I wish I had kids to take there.

Its too bad Jeff that you were too young to appreciate the shows they had.They were spectacular!There was one which was aimed at the kids with Hanna Barbera charcters singing and dancing,but the rest were for adults mostly.Did you see any while you were there in 87?Our first year at KI was in 1988.We had season passes every year until 93 .Every month we would make the long drive from Chicago, and then twice more during Winterfest.I have some videos of the park and the shows,they still look great.

Youre right about kids,I took my two grandsons and they had a blast.After KI they didnt want to go to Six Flags Great America any more.

Too young? Since when is being 13 too young to remember anything? That was the year I had my first date, first rock concert, got braces... the list goes on. You're talking to someone that remembers being in the incubator shortly after being born. No joke.

I think you have it so set in your mind that you wouldn't enjoy yourself there today that you wouldn't no matter what. If you're looking for shows, they've got a pretty serious lineup, including midway shows and nightly fireworks.

It's different than it was, but certainly not worse.

13, good age, good times. (I turned 14 Wednesday);)

Jeff,I never said that you didnt remember.I asked you if you sawthe shows.You didnt answer.As far as I am concerned, Kings Island is no better than Six flags and they arent very good.I was there last year and they have nothing remotely comparable to the entertainment they used to have.Youre just concentrating on belittling my thoughts.So be it.I still think that Kings Island is just an average Amusement park, and I have made my last trip there as long as they have the present ownership.

If your main interest is coasters,there are plenty of them,but since CP has even more and better ones why bother going to an inferior park.We took a friend with us last year, after spending two days at CP and she,an impartial observer,was not impressed.

Can we end this discussion?We just dont agree.

Allan, Jeff can never end the conversation without having the last post...

Don't be an ass, gener. Personal attacks do nothing but demonstrate your inability to participate in a debate.

PKI won the IAAPA "Big E" award in 2003 for best male performer. In 2004 they won best female, best female honorable mention, best male, best production: parade performance and honorable mention best overall production: $50-100k. If you think the live entertainment at PKI isn't good enough, the industry disagrees. Surprisingly enough, CP only scored one award this year (compared to five the year before).

No one is trying to "belittle" your thoughts. If you put an opinion out there, you have to back it up or people will call you on it. That's what the Internet is all about. If all you've got is "nothing remotely comparable," then explain why. You can have an opinion different than mine. I won't lose any sleep over it.

Now now Jeff, personal attacks on my ability to participate in a debate just shows your inability to participate in a debate.