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They should show reels and have AI voice overs of Joe Rogan being like “buy a Fast Lane, it saves you time and money.” also more AI, like a TMZ style KI NEWS segment where it’s like that offical sounding voice AI that people use and it’s like “Drake was spotted on The Racer” and it shows an image of him on The Racer in a sweatshirt hands down. Also trends, like it’s just food reviews w different local micro influencers and they’re like “MMMM THIS SANDWICH IS SO TASTY” and it’s just them eating in their cars with KI in the background. Thoughts?

Including a weather forecast that (I don't think) gets updated throughout the day.

Hey everyone! Take this for what you will... visited KI tonight as I do many times each season. While waiting for "The Beast" I noticed construction walls behind the old crypt building. There was also a forklift / flatbed truck. The fences said "excuse our mess" or something of that nature. I couldn't tell exactly what they were unloading but it appeared to be flat black metal beams of some sort on a pallet wrapped in plastic. Couldn't grab my phone quick enough before they were behind the fence. Could be haunt related, could be 2026, could be nothing... could have been there a while... no idea. Just throwing it out there.

Maybe KD won't be part of their portfolio next year

and THAT is the kind of thing that should be promoted in this market as an advantage ot having the all park passport. Visit this amazing "new" coaster, just a day drive away. Again why are they on one hand promoting they have "40 parks" then on the other hand telling no one anything about them?

YES! Ive tried to figure out which parks exactly would be "Flagship" parks, but there needs to be maybe 6 that have that status. The as you said create a unified brand for those lower tier parks. This wouldn't just be based on size. These would form almost the "bread and butter filler" that have light theming, more unifor food offerings, bulk bought things like cups, bags without park-specific branding.

Looks like the SeaWorld parks were a mixed bag…attendance was up (according to the comments on the call, a good amount in Orlando even after the opening of Epic) but revenue was down. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-parks--resorts-inc-reports-second-quarter-and-first-six-months-2025-results-302524044.html

It's a fantastic park. Very well run. Don't remember if I've mentioned that I am involved with ACE Northwest since moving out here and there's whispers of a possible event getting planned there next year. If you are an ACEr keep an eye on the events calendar

You're right, the loop is REALLY small. It's a couple of POVs, a million ads, and then the weather.

Our new CEO:

On an unrelated note, Pantherian opened this afternoon after being down all season, and no announcement on social media advertising its reopening. What kind of PR is that? Truly pathetic.

What did people do in line before cell phones and FunTVs....

FunTV's main purpose is to be a space for ads. Some of the park-specific programming is still there (all of the switch-around games use the park logo), but other parts of it are generally similar to what's available overall. I would assume that we aren't seeing any ride reaction videos because Kings Island hasn't installed a major thrill coaster since Orion, and Snoopy's Soap Box Racers and River Racers don't necessarily work as well for that kind of video. The ride POVs are good entertainment for places like the Festhaus and it would be nice to even see some stuff from other parks come to KI's programming loop. My complaint about things like FunTV is that the programming loop never seems to be terribly long — especially in the Festhaus. There have been times when I've spent a morning at the park and seen the same loop three times in three hours. Much like the music playlists throughout the park, it feels like they turn on one playlist/loop with a very limited amount of things on it and replay it every day with no variation at all. It's definitely more work to create different or longer programming loops, but is it not worth it to make some of the guest experience better? The solution to this problem is to start printing physical tickets/season pass cards again while also providing accessible methods for charging phones. Six Flags America had FuelRod stations throughout the park/gift shops that are just a small battery bank. I'd like to see things like that come to/return to Kings Island. If the park could install the smaller free lockers in each coaster line and start printing season pass cards again, then that would take care of two major complaints park goers have.

Oh it gets better, Ive already thought of a "new Family thrill attraction" that the thoosies (that .5% I spoke of) would eat up, even as an upcharge. Put ZTRs in The Vortex plot, the plots around the Floral Clock and ET, and around the SOB station and operate them like KMAA...One lap around the plot in a ZTR with The Vortex plot being the biggest upcharge because of the "thrilling terrain" during the ride! Now why cant all of these consultants and others with six figure pieces of paper on their walls come up with that??

Did they get rid of the park-specific programming? FunTV used to have short features made exclusively for Kings Island, highlighting coasters or just having fun with things around the park. I'm assuming now it's all corporately run out of the central office and it would cost more to program specific KI stuff (CP probably gets an extra focus because it has the longer lines). But it's a bummer to hear that's gone. I remember years (decades) back, CP tried out DJs in its longest lines. I loved that; was a fun way to pass the time. Cost-prohibitive, I'm sure. But I wish KI would find some way to make its lines a bit more interactive. Mystic Timbers and FoF are about as themed as the queues get.

The issue with this is that anything in The Vortex plot would need to deal with the ravine so any paths or ride foundations would be much harder than it is worth to do. Turning the area from KMAA over toward the Rivertown LaRosa's into a new mini-land would be a possibility, but I think Kings Island already has enough mini-lands as it is. A new indoor restaurant is definitely needed. My idea for a Moonlite Gardens replica building could be used to accomplish something like the Grand Pavilion did. Its a bit of nostalgia from Coney Island combined with a new indoor dining location. The Festhaus has not historically done well when serving purely international options. Reconfiguring and transforming it to be set up more like Carowinds' Harmony Hall would do wonders by consolidating the food lines a little and leaving more room for additional tables. The largest drawback to expanding it would be the amount of service courtyard that would need to be taken for it. Any offices in there would likely also need to be moved.

I heard this in the voice and expression of IBEW_Sparky and I laughed for a good minute.

At Kings Island, funTV has gotten worse over the years. While some people don't care about it, people at the park 10 to 10 who need to save their phone battery rely on it for entertainment. The only thing on funTV now is ads for Coca-Cola products, and Skittles. KI really needs to take notes on Cedar Point's funTV. They have a good mix of ads, music videos, the weather station, and videos like "Sirens Curse'D Reactions". What's even cooler is that there, each of the bigger coasters have their own funTV station, with different theming. They also use way better TVs and put them in the shade so they last. The park really needs to take a break on adding new rides, and should enhance the other things instead and put their profit into those areas.

It's either get this started for 2026 or hope you're still around to do it when (if) the situation fully improves. I'm a huge advocate for dropping the brand name from a lot of the parks entirely. The largest issue they'd have to deal with is making sure the trademarks are up to date and processed for each name after dropping the "Six Flags" from it. Frankly, I think all of the park trademarks need to be cleaned up in general. Once things stabilize/the will becomes available, I'd start out by letting the top-tier parks have more unique logos and identities, then create a new and consistent branding identity for the lower tiers of parks, and then keep working to improve the experiences in each park. If it continues to be a massive company some more variation amongst the parks would help out the vibes in each park. One of my biggest issues with Six Flags has been that they treat themselves as one giant brand with multiple locations instead of multiple parks that sit under the same roof. Zimmerman stepping down will hopefully allow someone else to come in and at least stabilize things. He's not entirely in control of things, but as CEO he hasn't entirely been great at leading the combined company. Six Flags might get a breath of fresh air when a new CEO is finally appointed, and hopefully it will be someone who is able to finalize the merging efforts and get through the rest of the growing pains. The 2026 announcements need to be made, the new apps and websites need to be released, and the company as a whole needs someone at the helm who will be able to make a much-needed course correction.

A place to dine in like Grand Pavilion would be nice. And you're right, Festhaus is really needing a remodel. The only international food there is really Panda Express, which has horrible and overpriced food portions (the smallest portion is a Food Plan exclusive).

At least the bathrooms at KI aren't covered in mayflies..

They started not washing the walkways in '23 as part of the first year of budget cuts. I think they did it every three or four nights. It was really noticeable during the parade when parents would often remark about how dirty the park has become. Hopefully they are doing it at least once a week this season.

Ive got a good compromise.... do you remember or did you ever see the stunt show at CP? Id LOVE to see one like that at KI because here is the thing with me and what makes me enjoy Cirque and GB for instance, the stunt show they put on there spent 90% of the time showcasing the skills of the bike and board riders and as a former of each, THAT is what I want to see. I understand your point and you make a good one, especially with my example using 2 outside shows, and if the park can keep one show like that, and one "in house" show of that level Id be in 100% all day, every day along with the bandstand show you mentioned. Im a high energy person as some here may have noticed, and if Im going to spend 30 minutes sitting outside watching a show I need to be locked in with action like Dive at HW or the former stunt show I talked about at CP. And of course for the most part Ive always enjoyed the shows at Festhaus because yes I CAN throttle myself back from Mach 12 and relax sometimes, and its always been nice to be able to cool off for an hour or so and enjoy Kis very good performers in that type of environment. Also, with the exception of the guest segment that makes up about .5% of total guest headcount, being able to have SOMETHING to place marketing emphasis on (new or solid returning shows) is always better than "Hey check out our new addition, GRASS, because thats all thats coming!".

Spokane is pretty sparse, but it's unexpectedly scenic, especially the river and waterfalls.

Personally, I think Kings Island should better utilize two locations that have been used better in the past for food: 1.) The obvious is to reopen International Restaurant. I know there are logistical issues, but we're blue-skying here, right? Back in the day, it was a great way to take a break from the heat and enjoy a nice meal (steak!) with a great view. I'd love it if they reopened it. Barring that, I've always thought that rather than put a roller coaster in the old Vortex plot, they should put a mini land, maybe complete with a really nice restaurant that offers a nice view of the other side of the park or has some sort of scenic view incorporated (maybe have it face The Beast). Kings Island needs at least one good sit-down, fancy-ish dining experience. 2.) Rehaul the Festhaus. Get rid of the cafeteria lines, Panda Express and the crappy pizza. Use the stage and turn it into a dinner theater experience, maybe even with wait staff. Or keep the cafeteria style but make it truly international themed and make the shows there ones that are can't-miss attractions. Years ago, they had ice skating shows in there and it truly felt like an event. Treat the Festhaus like the gem it used to be, not just a food court/air conditioned holding pen. 3.) I think the park's also missing a really good sit-down, indoor family restaurant in Planet Snoopy (not sure where it could go, though). Kids get hot and tired and need extended time to sit. A good pizza/burger/chicken wings joint in Planet Snoopy with air conditioning and a fun atmosphere would really help.