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So here's what the weather breakdown appears. For Muskegon- I get there Saturday, probably between noon and 2 pm. I might get some time in Lake Michigan that day, but it'll have to be before dinner-ish. Sunday looks to be practically spring-like weather. The cooler weather does favor the 2 wood coasters there at least. I was contemplating the water park, but not with those temps. For Port Clinton and CP, Monday looks to be ideal for exploring Port Clinton and maybe downtown Sandusky a bit. Does a look a tad too cool for Lake Erie swimming. Tuesday looks gorgeous for Cedar Point (expecting some crowds, but Tuesdays are the best days to go for most parks). Wednesday starts good, but I may have to get lucky for night rides then as rain appears to be arriving later. It appears far less humid than it initially appeared. This is meant to be a very lax trip compared to my Missouri trip later in July, so for MIA and at least one of the CP days, I'll be taking my time.

You wouldn’t think that a 50 year-old IP franchise was just what a 30 year-old coaster needed, but it certainly was

I really think it’s going to be a Mack water coaster: https://www.mack-rides.com/products/water-coaster Would be such a fantastic addition to the park.

A 60-foot-tall Rubber Duck has arrived at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari for Rubber Duck Days. The limited-time event includes themed food, merchandise, and summer entertainment through June 21. Details: https://themeparksbydon.com/holiday-world-rubber-duck-days-giant-rubber-duck/

So much of that park gets so much right.

Feeling jealous of KD. Check this out. Beautiful.

Disney didn’t change the thrills of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster—but it completely changed the experience. After riding the new Muppets version at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, one thing became clear: this transformation works. Here’s why the Electric Mayhem may be exactly what this Disney World classic needed. Story: https://themeparksbydon.com/disney-muppets-rock-n-roller-coaster-review/

So much better.

I think this is going to be a really good ride with lots of theming and some nice thrills. It's what Carowinds needed as well since they removed all three of the water rides in the dry park. I suspect they might open the second pathway entrance and possible restaurant later on after Six Flags gets more comfortable with their portfolio in its current state. It will also be interesting to see if Thrill Zone gets rethemed to fit in with RRF. I think Fury could mostly fit in as-is (it's themed to a hornet, it's not like it'd be impossible) and Hurler already needs to be helped. The biggest aspect that I'm curious to see how it turns out is the foliage. They won't have all of the mature trees shown in the POV since they tore most of them down with the Rip Roarin' Rapids demolition, but I'm hoping they can get a lot of new trees and foliage planted ASAP so it has time to grow in between now and next May. Having a log flume in a big open field doesn't sound very nice. I'll probably be fine if Kings Island doesn't receive a new thrill coaster until 2030 or beyond, but I think they're already pushing it with a larger section of the general public. Coaster enthusiasts are a loud minority, but a lot of people have been staring at The Vortex plot for the last 7 years wondering why something new hasn't gone there. Personally, I would not like to see a super flume go in Vortex's plot simply because I think it would take a lot of work to create a basin for the water. There's a chance I'd be more open to one if it was done well and themed like Coney Island's Cascades/Lost River shoot-the-chute ride. I don't know how well the super flume would work for that, but that (to me) would be better reasoning than building a new log flume just because it's a family ride. A new Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal between The Beast and Mystic Timbers would be a different story. That would be very welcome, especially if it weaves back into some of those trees without tearing too many torn down.

Ah, love the International Street refurb, minus the tree and fountain situations. Wish we could’ve had both. From one of my favorite zen, solo trips way back in 2018. Sure do miss this view. Just feels a bit open and empty still. Miss the coziness.

Still there as of Sunday. (Are we celebrating trash being strategically placed and left there now ?)

Based on the crowd drop I’ve seen, the nightly expense isn’t keeping them there till close. Maybe the numbers make sense (must or they wouldn’t do it juSt out of tradition) but I just don’t see the need for 10 pm closes every day if the week when most other parks don’t do it (and certainly don’t end with several thousand dollars in show expenses every night)

As far as fireworks and drones go. I know they’re tradition but I would take all the rides being open from 930 till 10 over a five minute fireworks show anytime. It used to be just The Beast they close but now its several including multiple coasters. The fountains and lasers could stand on their own in a show if it was well done ( and the fountains worked)

Is the pineapple still on the rock over at The Beast ? Or was it removed or blown away from one of the recent storms. Curious minds want to know. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was thinking about a potential Christmas overlay and this is my opinion of what we could do, Christmas trees and decor in the queue area and in Maestro’s balcony and basically the premise could be that the Phantom Theater cast is having a party to celebrate the festive season but the ghost notes wreck it when Maestro goes to play the festive songs on the pipe organ. I think that would be a fun ride and give it some festive theme along with altering the sound track to Christmas music played over pipe organ or something.

Speaking of the dining plan, I wonder if we will see the 1-Meal/day plan also come to Kings Island now that Memberships have made their way across the chain. I think that one was about $99 at Magic Mountain rather than the $155 for the 2-Meal/day plan. The quality of everything F&B related has improved so much since the program began in 2014. I'll also say that the dining plans also set Six Flags apart from their competition with how easy it is for families to come to the park, even if they only go 4-5 times per year. So far this season I've effectively paid off my All-Season Dining Plan and my All-Season Drink Plan. I'll admit that I'm part of the minority that "abuses" the dining plan. (It's not really abuse, it's using something we paid for while other guests barely use half the value of theirs.)

https://local12.com/news/local/farmer-music-center-venue-riverbend-coney-island-sunlite-pool-cincinnati-ohio-deadline-construction-cost-prices-symphony-orchestra-millions-grant-grants-donate-donations-music-musicians-bands-concerts-events-entertainment-festivals-grand-opening Basically looks like moonlight gardens might get refurbished however Aftab reducing the funding is not a great sign

The new Carowinds ride looks very similar to the two flumes at the Walibi parks over in Netherlands/Belgium. I enjoyed both of those flumes and anticipate this being a great new addition for them

There was a pretty loud personal matter that I'm not going to describe too much. A very upset parent pulling their very upset disabled child in some direction, which resulted in another guest chiming in. I was at the tables outside of the station itself but could still hear most of it. I guess there might've been a better word than "witnessing", though that described being able to hear it well enough. On another topic: I would love to see some more statues like Don Quixote blended into the theming around the park. I've long been an advocate that Kings Island should be more of a thrilling theme park than a themed amusement park, and well-placed static figures/displays would a good inclusion for that.

What happened at the train station?

Wild Adventures Theme Park in Georgia will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with fireworks, Travis Tritt, Parmalee, LOCASH, Harlem Globetrotters shows and free admission for military members. Details: https://themeparksbydon.com/wild-adventures-celebrate-america-festival/

So weather is looking alright-ish. Sunday for MIA looks on the cool side, but nice. Wednesday is looking better than Tuesday for Cedar Point.

I just re-watched UNDER THE STARS and ADVENTURE AWAITS. Either of those shows, with a little better fountain programming, and better laser programming to use the lasers for the logos instead of the drones could run nightly without fireworks or drones as a "cheaper" alternative on weeknights with 9 or 9:30 closes. They've even gotten rid of the moving lights used on the tower a little bit more each year. Don't know if these were rented or owned and have just been retired as they quit working or they no longer see the need to rent them. I think the problem was they kept trying to do the "50th light" shows (and were fairly successful) for a few years after and now they have just started a weak "copy and paste" form year to year

everyone on the merch cart is moving again!

they are - each fountain has a feed pipe that runs at 100%. There is then a control valve with an antenna that the nozzel attaches to. If it looses the signal, it seems to just default to whatever it likes and stays there regardless of what is happening around it. The alignment gets off when they are adding/removing the ice rink and they get knocked off their "mark" and no one ever takes the time to walk the fountain and re-align them to their positions. The "Finger jets" are pointless anyway in that they need to be way more arched to the center. ASs it is now they are "slightly angled" and just look crooked.