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As noted on the park's website, White Water Canyon along with Soak City Water Park will open for the 2022 season May 28. A new map will be uploaded then.

I personally hope that if KI chooses to re-use the vacant land on which most of SOB existed for another attraction, then they completely re-think the entry/access & queue to that ride (no matter if the station is used or not.) One of the worst things about SOB - that most people dont recall - was it's queue and lead-up to the station. It was not well thought out, completely esthetically un-pleasing and poorly conceived. You had to enter the "exit" of a ride, then stand in a que that was squeezed into a former observation area. The wait through those full queues then up the ramps to the station took much longer than what you expected. There was zero shade.... and it was excruciating. Once you entered the station, there was a 2-row set of switchbacks before you entered a free-for-all loading platform - jam packed with people. It's queues created a bottleneck for those exiting Top Gun... and it also afforded those exiting Top Gun the ability to line-jump. Fights were known to break out over this, so it ultimately led to park security having to regularly staff the area to keep an eye on things. With all the time they spent designing and building SOB - it amazed me that they literally threw together a queue at the very last minute. It was an obvious mis-step. Below is a picture taken (by myself) of the queue on Passholder Preview night April 28, 2000. The media preview had been held earlier that day and then SOB opened late that night (with one train - and sporadic - operation) Entry to the line was cut off around an hour or so after it opened. It operated that night, then It closed the next day and did not re-open for another month.

Its ridership? The Bat annually ranks among the top attractions in the park for rides given.

They will repaint DB because of everyone (rightfully) talking about the biggest white elephant in the room that didnt get touched for 22, and one or two flats for 2023, there wont even be official, non-thoosie talk of a coaster until Memorial Day-ish 2023.

My advice is this: pick which rides you wish to ride beforehand and make sure to get those done (if possible). And if last year is any indication, Opening Day will be busy. If you have no preference on ride choice or order, head to Flight of Fear and Orion first and then work your way either further back (toward Beast) or towards the front of the park. And remember to have fun! Also, question for my knowledge... is it generally crowded the second (operating) Saturday in April? That is my planned "Opening Day" as I will not be attending this weekend.

My game plan for tomorrow: 1. Show up late and leave early 2. Admire the myriad of general park improvements 3. Have a beer 4. Get a lap or two in on The Racer, Train, and Adventure Express 5. Repeat step 3 6. Have a nice lunch 7. Get home to watch The Reds lose

Best to get there right at opening (or 30 minutes earlier). Start off to the right and make the loop as most people tend to go to the left. Not sure what shows will be available during the "preview" weekends. Shows usually don't start up until main season (Memorial day and after). As far as food, Can't go wrong with Brewhouse or Coney BBQ. I would suggest around 11 and then 4 for the afternoon. Finally remember, you're going on opening day/weekend. Nothing will have a chance to start running smoothly so expect hicups in rides and food. These are seasonal employees and it usually takes them through the weekend openings to get into their stride. Be patient and understand that they are doing the best they can. I've always had a great experience opening day. They really do a great job with the staff always being freindly and smiling. Make sure to give it right back to them, they deserve it!

The main thing now is getting a large multi-looper back. Without Vortex, there are no sit-down multi-inversion coasters other than FOF. Vortex plot is prime for a large B&M floorless or S&S Steel Curtain-type ride. Something with a major visual statement like Vortex was.

A little rendering on the park map of what the block party could look like. Reminds me of Celebrate 150 at CP a little: A rendering of Off the Rails: Link to download map from KI website: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/directions

Cedar Fairs logos are as uncreative and bland as their theming used to be pre-Mystic Timbers. I hope someone didn’t actually get paid to dot the I”s with a flag and call it a logo lol.

Please use this thread to update wait times for the 2022 season! Please remember a ride going down is normal and it's okay to report, but please don't post "Riders are stuck on the lift hill of DB." A vague statement like that is not helpful and that is when the media starts calling the park. We can not wait to get the 50th Anniversary season underway in 2022! The KIC Admin looks forward to seeing everyone at the park on Season Pass holder day and opening day next week. The KIC Admin Team

yeah we're in for a treat there Diamondback is a walk-on rn

The Park map page has been updated. https://kicentral.com/park/park-map/ There is also a link to see the old park maps gallery.

While WWC is opening this season according to the site, I'll be beyond upset if they remove it in the future without another river rapids ride to replace it. More so than the loss of Vortex, which meant a lot to me. BLSC being in Rivertown could be indication that they want to expand Rivertown further in that direction. Or maybe all of this is meaningless and we're just a bunch of dopes reading too much into a map.

I think he's just being cynical but there's good reason to believe The Bat may be the next coaster to get the axe such as it's location, its ridership, the fact that its creator is no longer in business, etc etc. And then when it happens "service life" will be the reason given (which is fine. They have to say something and that's about the only thing you can say). The size was definitely clearly a major factor but probably compounded by the manufacturer's incompetence. I'll be curious to see if either TGG's precut track or a mix GCI's titan track leads to some larger rides. I agree that KI isn't needing another woodie. I wouldn't be against it if complements the others well enough but there are definitely bigger holes to fill.

The Racer almost looks like a new ride.

There was a four year period between Fury 325 and Copperhead Strike at Carowinds. I would think that would be a similar time table for Kings Island. I really would like to see an upgrade to Camp Snoopy, and a flat ride package of 2-3 rides of various extremes.

Something else is missing….take a look. Don't go howling looking for it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes they were painted as well.

New thread made.

I like the sequins. But this would have been so much more impactful with the vintage logo, especially when taken in with the restored International Street around it.

I feel like nowadays they could build them better. All of those coasters were from the 90's (2000 opening for SoB but designed in the 90s). Designs have gotten much better and have been longer lasting with coasters like Wodan and Voyage topping out above 120' just fine. They might need to supplement some steel with the supports to make it sturdier as I do agree an entirely wooden structure isn't strong enough for the massive heights, I believe this is what the Voyage did as well. And with us having a decent collection of wooden coasters right now I don't feel we need another right away but I wouldn't mind seeing KI get a Gravity Group/GCI coaster like Voyage and a ground up RMC to really cement us as the wooden coaster capital with having all types. Our current collection is great with the classic out and back racing family coaster, unique thrill coaster, modern woodie, and kid's/family starter coaster. But if we could add an intense hybrid and a tall, "out-of-control" out and back like Voyage with possibly a twister type section on the back end then we would hit all areas.

Kings Island crews are putting the final touches on the park before its 50th Anniversary Season kicks off this weekend. Workers are busy decorating, testing rides, painting, stocking shelves, and more – all to get ready for guests on Saturday who are coming to the park to get their first rides of the season on Orion and their first tastes of the park’s famous blue ice cream. Details about the 50th Anniversary Season are available on Kings Island’s website at visitkingsisland.com. Add your name to our roll call list and join KICentral for a picture under the Eiffel Tower on opening day 4/16/22 at 1:00 PM! https://kicentral.com/forums/index.php?/topic/40430-opening-day-and-preview-night-roll-call-2022/ (You must be logged in to kicentral to see the list.) Don Helbig puts together a history timeline of Kings Island with a quote from KICentral's Indyguy4KI: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2022/april/a-look-back-at-50-years-of-fun-and-memories-at-kings-island Here is a look at the work going on at the park this week to prepare for opening day!

I remember polka style music, Flight of the Bumlebee and violin music during the pre Paramount days. I would love to hear this on I Street:

Sometimes a surprise, when you walk into the park, is nice. That might be why the webcams are not active on the KI website yet. I know we are all chomping at the bit, but let's save some mystery for opening day!

I would love to see some improvements in the snoopy area. Maybe a couple of newer kid/toddler flat rides.

If there is to be a new coaster installed (I doubt it) in 2023 I imagine we will see signs right away. Maybe since The Vortex plot has been mostly cleared they could hold off on a coaster in that spot for a bit longer, not sure what is the latest they could possibly start something in that area. Anyhoo, I went to go look at the webcams (not that I expected to see anything) and saw that they are off line. Its been a long while since I've bothered to look at them so perhaps they have been offline for a year + or its just an off season thing or whatever... just something that made me go "hmmmmm....." At any rate, I kind of expect any 2023 improvements to be either in Planet Snoopy or in the water park. Wouldn't mind a new coaster obviously, just not counting on it.

Personally, I don’t like the idea of removing The Bat. It’s a unique ride and underrated one at that. I love the idea of a big coaster going in the space behind Banshee tho, the combination of SoB’s tall station with a sharp incline lift hill could clear Banshee. This space is honestly where I was hoping we would get a Giga Coaster.

One can certainly hope!

Bringing back the '72 lettering?