Kings Island Memoirs: Past & Present

I took Ashley and Logan to Kings Island on Friday. It has been an annual tradition for the past 4 years or so. I choose KI over Cedar Point because it was such a fond part of my childhood from when we went on our annual family outings there. Also, as a teenager and young adult it was a fundamental lesson in job skills; but more importantly a foundation where I made life long friends as I worked in the Entertainment Department starting out as an "Usherette". Quite a fraternal honor, that, by the way, happened accidentally. I applied to work in rides originally. Each year I think to myself "the more this place changes, the more it stays the same" and I get the same excitement walking through the front gates as I did when I was a kid, as now my family and I plan what attractions we're going to hit first. This time Susie & Drew joined us. It is so much fun to experience with friends.

My first dose of reality was paying $10 for parking. Ugh! Then we had to walk to the ticket windows. I don't ever remember walking to or from the car as a kid. There were always trams to pick us up from whatever HB character themed row we parked in. Not anymore evidently. Then I got to the ticket window with my $15 off per person coupon and STILL paid $100 to get in. A far cry from my days as an employee (or when Paramount took over, a more p.c. "associate", if you will) where I just swiped my badge on my days off to get in for free. A major difference was getting my bag searched by security on the way in. Sad post 9/11 necessity. When I worked there I was, however, used to getting my purse searched on the way out to make sure I didn't sneak a souvenir mug or other novelty from a gift shop. Once in the front gate, the sound of the International Street fountains had a familiar comfort. I did, however, miss the characters greeting us. On to kiddie land, now known as "Planet Snoopy" (Hanna Barberra Land in my day)...

I have to say, I was kind of dreading the change from Nickelodeon characters to Peanuts characters since the Cedar Fair acquisition this year (been through that before with the change from HB to Nick). My kids are not as familiar with Snoopy and the gang, and they were looking forward to seeing SpongeBob and Patrick. BUT I was pleasantly surprised! Maintenance was busy over the winter painting rides and the themes were really cute. The kids had no idea who Peppermint Patty, Lucy, Sally, Linus, and the guy who plays the piano was (which, obviously, neither do I), so there was not an overwhelming excitement when we saw them. I think that might be a familiar trend with other kids too because the characters did not get mobbed like I recall HB and Nick characters getting. But I still talked Ash into getting into a pic. with me. Logan was not interested.

The Beastie will always be the Beastie. Nuf said. They can paint it whatever color they want and put fancy stickers on it but it will always be the Beastie in my heart. It is Ashley's favorite ride. And let me just tell ya, those ride folks take their jobs pretty seriously. The train before us got an emergency stop right as it pulled out because someone had their phone out texting, etc. There is one problem we didn't have when I worked there. Hard to imagine life without the cell phone.

After getting a few kiddie rides in I really enjoyed exploring the rest of the park with Susie & Drew. Susie said they never wonder out of kiddie land (by the way, they have season passes and get to go all the time - another early high school memory from those first few summers we lived in Cincinnati). We ventured onto the log ride, which Drew was not quite sure of, but, of course, loved. We got a little splash to cool us down from the 90 degree temp. We walked through Rivertown (is it still called that?) and then over towards Coney Mall (or the former), where I thought I had my kids talked into getting onto Shake Rattle and Roll. Mmm, NO! They saw that sucker in action and when the gate opened to let us on they ran to the exit with Susie. So Drew (a four year old) braved it with Aunt Christy. I told him he could scream as loud as he wanted but no hurling. He loved it. We headed down the mall past the games, which the kids kept begging me to play, and thought about Melanie. She was such a persuasive carnie - LOL! It was time for lunch so we happened past Subway which sounded good, but was a rip off. $6 for a 6" sub!!! You have got to be kidding me! BUT it was a healthier choice than pizza or fries so we did it. I just got the kids subs, icees, and a bag of chips and planned to eat the leftovers for myself. Still spent $20.

We continued toward the front gate lockers where we eventually planned to get our water park gear, but did some rides along the way. Everyone was able to ride Viking Fury, aka "the swinging ship". Always a fave. Drew's face was priceless. Once we got going and his side was up in the air he looked scared to death. So funny. Of course, one of my cautious, less thrill-seeking children decided that the least scary part was in the middle/front. boring Then onto Conga something or another (formerly Amazon Falls). Drew wasn't big enough to ride, but who needs to ride when all you need to do is stand on the bridge when one of the boats comes down the hill and splashes you to the point of drenching?! I tricked the kids into standing in "just the right spot" as I cued Susie to stand by me, the drier spot.

Then, on to the front gate to get our water park gear from the locker. On the way, we passed Kings Island Theater (formerly Heritage/Paramount Theater) where hundreds of people were lined up for the 2:00 show of Snoopy On Ice (first one of the day). It appeared that there were ushers, but not like the ones when I worked there. Not like the kind of usher that I was. Back in my day, you not only sat out in the steamy hot sun (where people can see you) in between shows with your stack of show schedules, but when people started lining up you made sure they line up along the brick wall and curbs so that people passing by could actually walk through without having to cut through people. After sifting through the crowd waiting to get into the show we FINALLY make it to our locker. On to Boomerang Bay (formerly Water Works)...

Of course we take the train to the water park. That part of the park has been different for years since after I left and it appears that the Cedar Fair acquisition has not affected it at all. It was nice going over there this year because the kids could do so much more (slides, etc.). I did notice that the life guards have a very visible scanning technique where they literally move their heads in a "V" or "W" scanning the pools, and then in a line down the side. I had never seen that before. It looked really looked odd, but I guess it would keep them more alert and assure that they are, in fact, watching. Still odd looking and I think it would suck to have to be a life guard and do that. Also have memories from "Teen Night" at Water Works when I was an Area Manager for the ushers. Cheesy and unsuccessful event, but yours truly had to schedule ushers for the event, so I would pop over there to check in with them. I have fond memories of standing in the tower of one of the water slides looking down on the action and playing "How Many Beers Would It Take?" and "Who Would You Rather Do?" with other managers on duty. Pretty funny.

After the water park, Susie and Drew headed home (they were leaving for vacation Saturday morning, and Drew was winding down). The kids and I changed and headed back for more ride fun after one more round in the wave pool. On the way through "Planet Snoopy" we stopped to get blue ice cream which will forever be known as "Smurf" ice cream to me. Then, on to catch the 6:00 show of Snoopy on Ice. The ice skating shows never disappoint. It was awesome as always. And I coincidentally sat in front of some groupies...ah, memories of those people with no lives who travel in groups to see EVERY show of their favorite skater/entertainer(s), most every day, applauding and yelling the loudest, prompting those around them to do the same. I was most impressed with the renovation of adding theatre style seating in the Kings Island Theater. I wonder if that prevents the ushers from having to make announcements for guests to move toward the middle to make room for those coming in when the theater is going to be at its capacity? I was surprised that we exited out the front doors instead of the sides as in years past. What?! No one is going to be lining up for the show an hour before it starts?! Oh, except the groupies.

On to get pizza at LaRosa's on International Street where again I found myself paying $15 for four pieces of pizza and two bread sticks. Only this time I only spent $15 though because I filled the water bottles that I had brought in the park with me with water from the drinking fountain. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that we could take our dinner into the International Showplace to sit down and watch the Motown show. Bringing food or drink into a show was a huge "no, no" in my days as an usher. Anyway, the kids and I sat there and chomped down on our pizza as the show began. I was actually disappointed with the entertainment. It was basically a cheesy show choir rendition of Motown hits. The singers were pretty good, but the costumes were not flattering on the ladies. I think the shows that leave the dancing to dancers and singing to singers were more entertaining and better. I really like the country and pop shows there back in 92 and/or 93. Those were my faves.

As the evening went on we headed back and rode a few rides for a 2nd time. We rode Snoopy's Surf's Up (formerly The Last Airbender). Ashley would not ride it last year. This year she mustered up the courage and loved it. I was more entertained by a 50 something man on the opposite side from us that was very animated when the spinning car would fly to the top of the track (feeling like it was going to fly off the end of the track). Every time we came to the top/end of the track he would get a look on his face that I cannot really describe other than his eyebrows went really high and his mouth made an "O" and his hands would point at the end of the track like "HA!". Maybe you had to be there to appreciate the humor...but trust me, it was funny. They sell alcoholic beverages that you can carry around the park with you, so maybe he was having "happy hour". lol! Seriously, though, I don't think they had sold alcohol in the park since an intoxicated person died falling out of a ride, Flight Commander, in the late 80s.

As the night wrapped up I asked the kids if they wanted to stay for fireworks which was a very enthusiastic "YES!". They wanted to watch them from inside the park so we just dallied around for the the last 45 minutes walking through gift shops, going up in the Eiffel Tower, riding on the carousel, and walking through a really cool light show on the walkway between the tower and Rivertown. The lights were choreographed to music. Kudos to CF! Brilliant! The kids loved it. I, of course, noticed the ushers placed along the walkway to keep people from walking onto the lawn near the lights. That would suck. lol!

My favorite part of the night was the very end when we sat down in front of one of the gift shop windows to wait for the fireworks and each kid laid their heads on my lap. They were tired but patiently waiting for the finale of our Kings Island day. They reminded me a lot of my sister and I who always insisted that our parents, too, stay for the fireworks, as if that is what we waited all day for.

We made a quick stop by McD's (along with everyone else leaving KI) to get a coffee. Grandpa & Grandma Johnston insisted we meet them there "to get a toy Jenna left at their house a couple weeks ago" (wink, wink). On the way home I called my night owl sister, Cindy, insisting that she keep me awake for the drive home since the kids were asleep within minutes of getting on 71. She did so successfully for over an hour until I arrived home just after midnight. I carried both sleeping kids in the house (separately); all 58 pounds of Ashley and 48 pounds of Logan. It did not take long for me to drift off after saying a little prayer thanking the Lord for our safe travels, and for a wonderful day with my babies at a very happy place that has been an influential landmark in my life with so many memories of wonderful people and really good times.