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Orion's installation included a major overhaul to a dated themed area. Those changes factored into the overall budget for the capitol expenditure. The park has been very forthright about that when discussing the entire Orion project. My personal opinion is that they made the right call in spending a good deal of effort, and money, to flesh out Area 72, and not just install a coaster. Re: Knotts... I'm glad to see there's a proposal on the table for another signature attraction. But remember, until its announced, things can drastically change (or not happen at all.) I love Knotts as a park - its highly underrated. But there's some overall infrastructure issues the park needs to address - parking is a HUGE issue there. With competing parks upping the ante (Disneyland, Magic Mountain... even LegoLand and Sea World SD) a coaster installation would no doubt be a move to keep them vying for local & tourist dollars. However they also need to continue to concentrate of overall amenities at the park - and most notably the horrible rooms at the Knotts hotel - to keep tourists there for more than a day visit. Now back to the original topic... KI's 50th... I cant remember the last time I was this excited for an upcoming season. The concentration on improvements, and the focus on infrastructure and amenities at the park for 2022 is fantastic. The people overseeing KI are making great decisions.

This news or rumor just burns me up for some reason. Although I love Orion, I feel like it was rushed to Kings Island. I believe after some time has moved on that Cedar Fair knew Vortex was done for, and had to hurry and replace Vortex and Firehawk. Thus they moved the alleged Hyper coaster from CGA to KI, and dubbed it a giga. This layout would have fit perfectly in the spot of land that is being used by Orion, and could have gone left where Orion turns around. This just grinds my gears, and I feel like KI was appeased instead of getting what it truly should have received.

Except, Firehawk was a low capacity ride which required lots of operators to run. Vortex from what I had heard was going to need some major money to keep it running. If you read Evan`s KI history book, we should be fortunate that KI got Orion, since it was originally slated for another park. On your subject of Knott`s, yes they are landlocked. But look at the market that they are operating in. Disneyland and Universal are not far, so competition is more prominent there. Also, look at what Knott`s has added since 2010 in terms of coasters. Coast Rider in 2013 (Mack wild mouse) and Hang Time in 2018 (Gerstlauer Infinity coaster). Kings Island in that same span has added Banshee (2014), Mystic Timbers (2017) and Orion (2020). Clearly Cedar Fair is investing money in KI. Also, Knott`s is open year round, so if they get a major new coaster, it can draw crowds over more days compared to KI. Knott`s is a terrific park. Is it sad that KI lost Vortex? Yes. I think that the park needs to add something in that spot soon, as it makes the back end of Coney Mall seem very barren. I still don`t like that you can see The Beast`s station from the three point challenge.

I am hoping Chef Major has some ideas for the 50th anniversary in 22 in the food department. In the not to distant past there were threads about bad food quality. Now most of the discussion is positive and people looking forward to the next food event wondering what Chef has up his sleeve. He really had changed the game with the food at KI.

Orion has the best first drop on of any NA GIGA. I re-rode all 5 last summer and came away clear on that ranking (Orion, Fury, Leviathan, MF and I305 in that order). It's an outstanding ride. There are so many things to be angry about in this world, I can't imagine choosing such a hill to die on. It's not Fury, but nothing is right now. Knotts and it's year round operation in the middle of the second largest metro area in America might surpass it, but KI still got a great ride that adds to one of the deepest coaster lineups anywhere in North America. Oh yeah, and the park is beautiful and has VASTLY superior food and beverage offerings to Cedar Point. Only Knotts is on its level in that area in the chain. That's my two cents.

Most popular foods of certain decades named off attractions that debuted around that time. Calling it now.

Our big Christmas gift to our kids was tickets to Winterfest on NYE (we live in the Detroit area, so it was a big deal -- driving down, doing two nights in a hotel; they were pumped). I always wanted to do Winterfest, and I have to say my expectations were definitely met. I've heard some people criticize the decorations -- I don't know what they could have been in the past, but these were pretty great. I loved that every area of the park had its own look and feel in terms of lighting; my particular favorite was either International Street with all the blues and whites, or the gorgeous area by where BLSC is and Vortex used to be. The only area we didn't spend much time in was Action Zone, mainly because it was 10 pm by the time we got out there and everything was closing. A few of the pros/cons. Starting with the pros: Like I said, the decorations were great. I expected there would be entire areas of the park closed off or that we might just get some Christmas lights thrown willy-nilly around some of the lesser-traveled areas. But it's really impressive how many lights and displays there are, along with all the photo opportunities. Also loved the snow machines over Snowflake Lake (on a 60-degree night, it helped it feel wintry). The ride selection is really great in the winter. Adults can just walk and enjoy things, which is why I don't mind that only Flight of Fear and Mystic Timbers were open (due to lines, we didn't ride either). But for kids, it can be hard to go to one of their favorite places and not be able to ride anything. So I was glad that a lot of kids' rides and flats were open. My daughter loves Boo Blasters, so we got a good ride on that, and my son was thrilled that his personal favorite, Shake Rattle and Roll, was open. For me, I loved the Antique Cars with all the Christmas lights. I wanted to do the International Restaurant buffet, but that appeared to be switched over to a $100/person lounge event for NYE, so we didn't partake. I didn't realize they also had the buffet back in Rivertown, so we ate at the BBQ in Coney Mall instead. Great smoked turkey, brussel sprouts and biscuits. I still am holding out hope that maybe International Restaurant will get a seasonal reopening for the 50th. We'd purchased the souvenir mugs online, but they were all sold out by the time we went to get them (at least at Graeter's). But we still got unlimited hot cocoa through the night, and it was darn good hot chocolate. I was really impressed by the parade. I didn't expect so many floats, singers and dancers, and my daughter (6) was excited to be chosen to ring the jingle bells during one song. I really wish they'd do a parade all year, but I understand that maybe staffing doesn't allow that. But it was great. Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, despite working a holiday night. As the night wound down, I saw many of them hugging each other goodbye, and I realized it was the last night of the year, and the last time working together for many of them. The camaraderie was good to see. We didn't see any shows, except for my wife and daughter stumbling onto the Mistletones, which they enjoyed. I liked the talking reindeer display in Rivertown. The train ride was fun. Nothing special, but a nice nighttime trip to take. If you have young kids, you really can't beat springing for preferred parking. Makes that end-of-the-night walk so much easier. I was a bit worried about walking around a park that just had vacant rides standing, reminding you of everything you couldn't do. The park does a great job of covering up any rides not in operation. I never felt like I was missing out on anything. Cons: We'd purchased ice skating tickets online, but the line was so long that we couldn't justify doing it. Really, only one. It was advertised that the rides would be closing at 10 p.m. However, I took that to mean the park's traditional rides would close at 10, not that pretty much all Winterfest attractions not on International Street would be closed (the tubing hill, crafts, any restaurants, etc.) Basically, they were funneling us all toward International Street or to the Festhaus. Which meant we were all being packed in tight quarters for two hours -- I get the idea of turning it into a party atmosphere, but at this time of the pandemic, it really felt irresponsible. Very few people were wearing masks and it just really felt like it had the potential to be a super-spreader event. Our kids were starting to crash and my wife and didn't like the idea of being packed in close with a bunch of mask-free strangers, so we peaced out around 10:30. I get wanting to get everyone to one area for crowd control and a celebratory feel, but I wish they'd had different areas throughout the park to do this and spread people out a bit. But that's the only real con. General question: I was trying to sneak a peak back at Timberwolf. Is it gone? It was dark, so I probably just couldn't see it. But I'd heard rumors here about it potentially going.

Agree, and honestly I’d venture that with the fountain renovation, they actually lessened the experience. Now, if the grand renovation on international street involved pushing the seating out closer to the fountain all the way around allowing for the seating to be further out, bringing back a true “street” hardscape and light posts along the building side to better define the “street”, hiding speakers so they aren’t just hung on the buildings, building out soffits to hide lighting equipment instead of having cords bundled all over the buildings, installing enough electrical outlets to properly light all Winterfest trim with out running extension cords that are left up all year, replacing mall food court options with true international foods, bringing back some compelling retail instead of a mall build a bear, and creating a program fir a show fountain that stays grand and refined through the day, then amazes at night…THEN I’d say WOW that’s the most impressive project they’ve ever undertaken. As it is, they performed needed maintenance with an eye toward historical references, replaced aging pavers and cleaned up traffic flow, and replaced aging fountain equipment that resulted in an overused, too thin spray “show fountain” that looses its impact by the time of its show by showing off all its tricks throughout the day. I know I’ll get the usual “why do you even come here because you clearly don’t like the park” line I always get, but it’s just that I feel they could’ve done so much more when they had the chance (which won’t probably come around again for a long time) and that’s BECAUSE I enjoy the park and hope it to be the best it can.

The budget was $31 million. Yes, they had to work within it, but they had enough money to do what you said. Like I said, it was a choice. The length is because they thought that this layout proposal had the best pacing. You might think it's dumb, but that is the reasoning. Why should I believe it? Because I sat across a table from Mike Koontz and was looking him in the eyes when he was telling me this. It lines up with his vision for the park. It was corroborated by other people I interviewed. And why do you think they would lie about this and not anything else I talked about in the book? People can misremember...but I do not believe any of the people I interviewed lied to me. I do believe that people should feel however they want to about stuff that gets built, but the notion that Cedar Fair is purposely making Kings Island worse off or that they purposely cheapened out on Orion just isn't supported by any known facts. The management teams at both the park and corporate levels adore Kings Island, its history, and its legacy, and are committed to investing into the park and making it the best it can be. I just wish that love had translated into the 50th Anniversary logo!

Orion being "scaled down" was Kings Island's choice. They wanted a giga, but they also wanted a ride that people of all ages would be able to ride over and over again comfortably. It had nothing to do with Cedar Point.

I think the discussion about Vortex’s plot of land would be a bit different if it weren’t for the pandemic. Probably true for a lot of parks.

You're missing the point. Look what KI LOST to get it....and it's the lesser of ALL the gigas even though KI has so much land to work with. Look what Knott's is about to get in a landlocked park. That will probably be 50 million dollar investment without losing anything except parking spaces. Get it now?

I just saw it a few minutes ago and thought the same. First thought, do they have a shuttle to Cedar Point, and there are not 100 roller coasters in Ohio.

Great review, and I agree, the decor is over the top in a good way. It’s so well done that it’s a shame most of the great detail is lost at night. I wish they did more general low level wash lighting of all the buildings not on I street so you could really make out things like the garland on Skyline is trimmed in all yellow and blue, Subway has all yellow and green ornaments, Racer had a split red/blue wreath and garland, but then they lit it all white and you totally lost that. The trim is designed as much for day as night, but they open so late,that you don’t really have a chance to appreciate the details like the wheat and cotton in Rivertown decor.

Kings Dominion has the perfect International Street, at least to me. The updated one at KI is still beautiful, and it sets the tone every time I'm there for a great day and then a great end to the night when we walk out. I miss the larger trees and lived in atmosphere that Dominion has, but I hope I never take it for granted. My home park of Canada's Wonderland's International Street feels a bit less special but still beautiful. The bridge over the water near the mountain is great.

I like the new International Street and new Royal Fountain. I used to feel iffy about the aesthetics of the fountain changing, but seeing the reintroduction of the European theming of the buildings made up for it. At the end of the day, it's the architecture that makes International Street what it is, the fountain leading to the Eiffel Tower just ties it all together. I do think that it would have been cool to see street lamps returning to the street, but it is what it is. In terms of food, I will say that these past couple years I've noticed that Cedar Fair is starting to show that they're not afraid to delve into theming a bit more. French Corner opening up during Tricks & Treats Fall Fest in 2020 is a great example. I didn't expect the park to add French food to their dining line up, and I was pretty impressed when I ate there. I really like the croissant sandwiches with the pomme frites on the side. And the interior is decked out with pictures of French landmarks and maps of Paris. I recommend eating there; it's a nice food stand and it enhances International Street's theming I think we should give props to the park for returning some "international" foods outside of Grand Carnivale, because this could be a step towards returning International Street to what it used to be prior to Paramount's tenure.

Thanks. Some, with their passion and love for the park feel they need to negate anything they view as critical of the park, when it’s really not meant as a negative, but a wistful desire for things that you personally see as creating the “best possible guest experience “

I hope some version of the pedestals can return to the Royal Fountain sooner than later. There has to be a way for them to coexist with the dancing fountain idea.

I usually agree with most of your opions…but never once did I consider the fountain with the pedestals just something to walk through…on my very first visit decades ago, the ONLY thing that has stayed with me is the majesty of walking into the park and seeing the tower and the fountains.

based on what you said about being designed for the parade, it’s an odd layout they did in that the pavers could’ve been used to define the parade route and where peopke are to stand instead of having to use tape to create lines. As it is now, there’s NOT a defined “standing area” vs “parade area” with the pavers, so that’s a bit of a fail in the layout in my opinion. People seem hung up on the actual raised curb idea. I was simply expressing my feelings that the project as a whole stopped short of really bringing the area to the next level with lighting, hardscspe etc. It looks nice, I agree, but I don’t feel it’s the second coming like some make it out to be. It’s actually just reversing only some of the bad decisions made over the past few decades.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this was Mike’s way of saying no.

I didn’t say I wanted a return to 1972, but I felt like there were elements of the original park that looked better (and some certainly didn’t look so great) Yes, there have been years of neglect, bad choices and odd design “add ons” that the park has done a lot to correct these past few years, but I still think there are things they could’ve done to bring more of a street scape to IS and the placement of trees in the narrow strip of black pavers to mimic a street was odd. It just feels like the tan “sidewalk” is too wide, and the third material by the fence is unnecessary. Wish the made the black wider in the center and edged it on both sides with the cobblestone. I don’t know, it just looks like half the tables and the trees are in the little “street” part.

I think others have made it work quite well. And it’s not one matching surface it’s three styles of pavers that that seem oddly scaled in their application to me. This image is essentially all one level plane, but it looks like a street with curbs and brick sidewalks

They deserve it. That park is spectacular and in dire need of a high capacity attraction. When it's busy there it feels PACKED.

The park has now made their 50th Anniversary season events page live. They are not waisting any time staring the 50th anniversary. https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/50th-anniversary

Busch Gardens Williamsburg has totally ended 3 production major shows 4 days early. This virus is real and many people making 0 effort

They do need a good people eater B&M, but with the price of things right now (if this is real) will they make this investment? Possible plans are not the same as an announcement or seeing construction.

Kings Island is releasing a 2021 Holiday Video later today. This caught my eye because Cedar Point usually does something similar to this, but Cedar Point doesn't seem to be doing it this year. Cedar Point usually implants some sort of teaser into their holiday videos. They're usually just joking around but it is fun to see. I am wondering if Kings Island might tease something that is actually legitimate. Thoughts?

Squid Game x Kings Island