Leaderboard

Snowball, seen you several times and never said hello, but wanted to thank you for what you do. In addition I'd like to thank everyone involved with Carnivale. It is an enormous success made mostly by the people (culinary team included) involved. From the Carnival King and Queen to the staff of the Crafts tent to the performers in the shows, to the sweeps who follow the parade to pick up the leftovers THANK YOU ALL for what you do. I've enjoyed the event 4 times this year and unfortunately won't be making it to your final night (I'll be at CP with the grandkids). I was hoping to be here for the final day and was planning on the kids makings signs saying "Thank You Grand Carnivale" I think it's a fitting gesture to such an awesome event. Maybe some others on here will take the cue to give a little gesture of gratitude to the staff of KI that works so hard to make 16 days of summer over and above entertaining. Again Snowball to you and your fellow cast/staff, please let them know that they are appreciated, loved, and we will miss the Carnivale until it (hopefully) makes it's magical return next year. Maybe I'll get a chance to say hello during haunt

In general, I feel like Kings Island is better staffed this season than years past. I know this wasn’t the case earlier in the season, but I think the wage increases convinced a lot of people to apply who wouldn’t have applied otherwise. At the beginning of the season, the park was moving people from different departments all over the place. LOL! When Rivertown Freestyle is basically open everyday now, that says something about staffing. Some of the midway games have been closed all season, but I think that was more of a cost-saving decision than not being able to find workers.

4th time. It’s BUSY, and I’m still walking around with a goofy grin thinking, “this is EXACTLY what this park should look like!” So much energy, so much “fun”. Seeing kids dancing in the street, drummers just randomly “parading” around, people chilling on sofas eating good food. It just feels “different” I’m alone tonight, and I’ve had great conversations with total strangers. Events like this seem to put people in a more “get along” mood.

"They are putting me back in storage for how long?"

When people try to make accurate speculations of the future based off of past decision-making they tend to get dogged. I know I get dogged on here for believing the park will get another B&M and it personally doesn't bother me, it just annoys me that sometimes personal biases take place over logical thinking. For example the publicly obtained commencement papers that showed the 2020 project had B&M listed as a company but people still thought that was wrong. From a business standpoint every coaster we've gotten under Cedar Fair has been a good return on investment. These coasters have great capacity, are reliable, and are crowd pleasers. I understand it is desire to want something of greater intensity but the more specific or ride is the smaller the demographic becomes. I know this is a Fiesta Texas thread but there are similarities in my argument. Let's look at this new edition. Six Flags start to work with a company that everybody said was out of their budget range. They wanted a coaster that was reliable, appealing to a great number of guests, and had a unique factor that would keep people coming back for more. I understand that people think that B&Ms aren't as thrilling as other manufacturers but their products last a great long time which is what you want in this industry. I wonder if their decision to go with a B&M dive was influenced by their desire to over take Sea World or if they're just giving Fiesta Texas another 1st for the chain.

The price is low. It’s a crowd pleaser. It’s high capacity. I’m not claiming to know anything you don’t, I just think that it would make sense. I’m not rooting for it or anything, I just think it make sense. Never ever predict more than a few years out. Both the audience and the decision makers at KI are very very dynamic. I was told from official sources that there was no chance in hell that Winterfest would come back. A few years later, what happened? It wasn’t that I was lied to at the time. There was a major change of management that saw the park sitting there not making money in December and wondered why. Now we have the unheard of: surveys showed that people weren’t interested in a new coaster at Cedar Point. They wanted something family friendly, hence the 150th and Snake River. Does this mean that we will see things like Snake River Expedition from now on? Of course not. It’s a matter of time until people wonder when the next coaster is coming, thus the cycle continues. With that being said, it’s difficult to say for certain what’s coming in just a few years, let alone in the 2030s. With that being said, there are a few things I’ve learned in my years of this: 1) Never say never, 2) If you are told something and then the opposite happens, your source may have not been wrong, the truth might have changed 3) Changing appetites and pivot a well run park in less than a year. You know how everyone officially is so adamant that they have no plans to develop The Vortex spot? That they’d rather put capex into events like Grand Carnivale. That’s probably true. Right now. Ask again in a few weeks.

Doing it the other way around would make more sense to me- KI is closer to a major city than CP, not to mention there's more land options to work with around Mason. I'll applaud CF for trying to pull more $$$ into Sandusky though.

Now I don't know about all of you but I am pretty dang content hearing Rush and The Eagles in Action Zone now lol. Also a strong supporter of I-Street's music too. Never thought I'd hear orchestral Muse, Green Day, David Bowie and some Meme songs all play on International street yet here we are and I'm all for it.

Right. I’m not guaranteeing anything. It just would make an incredible amount of sense of the decision were made right now.

As someone in the cast, my days are ~8 hours long. I start by getting costume and makeup on, then I'm in the opening processions and out and about near bandstand until it's time for the parade, then I do that. After the parade I hang around bandstand until fireworks are over. When it isn't Carnivale time, I'm a tech in Entertainment. Most of the cast are in other shows / have other jobs in the park throughout the rest of the season.

"Why are all these people staring at me? Is there something in my beak."

If KI gets a dive, it will be in 2036.

Sure! Glad you got that (I work hard to be subtle yet effective)

I think they would look at other parks in the chain before putting another one in Ohio. They might look at parks like Carowinds, CGA, or Canada's Wonderland before ever considering KI. If they're trying to pull the gamer demographic, including another facility that arguably more people could access would hurt CP's location. CP sees themselves as a destination so I don't think they're going to try and pull people from across the country with this e sports complex just to build another one 4 hours away. That's not to say someone else might not try and do their own complex that's not under CF.

I know the last time they did Carnivale in 2019, they took a bunch people from rides and other departments to help with it. Didn't seem like they did that as much this year as I heard it is mainly the entertainment department doing it.

I'm picking up the hidden meaning. You don't want a gate coaster. You want twin racing gate coasters.

Esports is getting growing, and it's year round and unaffected by weather... Trying to grab a piece of the pie sounds like a good idea...

Very interesting stuff. However, I think it is likely just an idea being considered for the future. Maybe up to 5 years out. Ik parks look at different things to add over the next 5 years and it could change with time. I would love a new indoor dining option in Planet Snoopy. They could even do the Lunch with the Peanuts Characters show they used to do in the Festhaus in there. They could even do a dinner time show as well! Wonder what food we could see in there!

Just out of curiosity, what makes you think a dive is their next move?

These guys have got the moves and the crowd going lol

It's a thing - some people like to turn old buses (even school buses) into RVs by gutting the interior and building it into an RV. Popular Mechanics even wrote an article about it: https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/a30022899/convert-school-bus-house/

Let's keep it real--no-one* knows what KI is getting next. Any forgone conclusion of future events is just unnecessary here. *(the exception being those internally involved with future projects until announced, of which none would ever come here and post about )

Why do you assume Kings Island will be getting a dive coaster next? I think there are some other great options that will be even better fits for the park. A dive coaster would be popular though.

It was our first Carnivale, I'll say I'm already planning to save a few more vacation days at work next year so I can go more than once. I know one of the noncostumed workers with the Spain float works in the crafts area. That guy is "COMPLETLY AWESOME" to my kid lol

"That look you make when they start playing country music"

Most of the parade “cast” is out and about in character from 5 on. They are roaming their respective areas until parade time, then all assemble. The support staff (traffic control, safety etc) do have other jobs I believe (Manning info/craft booth, guest assistance, etc) but also join the parade at “go time”. They learned the choreography for the dance break, so it’s not like they just randomly grab associates and give them carnivale shirts. Not sure if people “signed up” to work the parade from other roles and are just trained in 1-2 practices and scheduled accordingly, but that’s my guess that only the “featured costumed performers” are actually cast by entertainment.

"I'm so glad that people are dancing to my song at Kings Island every day now!"

Look what Orion did to my hair!!

I hope they never change the essence of the front entrance to the park. Updates, for sure, new restaurant/ticket counters/customer service/entry ques....absolutely. Essence - leave it like it is. What is this Essence that I'm talking about? Its about the slow gradual incline from the parking lot up to the front entry plaza. I could do w/o the security aspect cluttering things up, but its the reality we have to live with, and as such, I actually think they have placed the security clearances fairly well. Anhoo, back to the point.... the slow walk up the inclined entry, sure you see the tower, you see some rides, you hear some going, but you don't really get a feel for the park. You proceed to the ticket counter if needed, or straight for the pass/ticket scanners. Now the ground is relatively flat, its relatively quit and its absolutely shady. You can hear the excitement in the air, but if you've never been you don't get a sense for what is about to hit you. As you proceed into the park, you get the 180 flip from shaded cover to full sun. You get the full view of the tower, the sounds of the fountains, the smell of the baked goods, food and sweets. It all combines in a flash to hit you like a ton of bricks and lets you know that you've arrived somewhere special. Above all else, the essence of the front entry they nailed. I have never been to an amusement park that nails it quite like Kings Island has nailed their front entrance. Disneyworld is pretty solid with the castle in view, but you don't get the rush of fountains that makes KI's better. I haven't been to as many amusement parks as others, but in my mind, they couldn't have done it any better. Sure the building/restaurant could use a face lift/update as mentioned earlier, but the feel, the smells, the sounds as you step into the open area is as good a feeling as you can find.

Caption what the bird is thinking: (be nice/respectful) I will go first. They have been giving those beads out to everyone, but have not offered me one yet.

One more thing: the most awesome RV I have seen lol. Was tempted to knock on their door.

Thanks @PatchesC! This is some of the best insight we’ve had on Camp Cedar yet.

I hope the 95 degree drop is a game changer. Let’s be honest- KI is getting a dive next, so hopefully the over 90 makes it a better and/or more unique experience than what is offered.