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Agree on the AdLibbing. You could tell the cast was in thew home stretch at yesterdays 5pm. Lots of mugging, ad-libbing and ribbing back and forth with the audience AND each other. Having seem the show quite a bit this season it was so cool to see the "real human" aspect of the cast.

Had a great day in the park today! Rode Congo Falls for the first time since 2018 and it was great (I was inspired by that post about that movie exhibit in one of the old KI theaters; now I really want to see that Congo movie!), rode Bat and Adventure Express twice each along with Dodgem, WindSeeker, Delirium and a rare Night Ride on Viking Fury. I also saw my last two showings of Phantom Theater: Encore (I will not be there tomorrow - to those who are going, enjoy! It had a great run this year!) and I finally got to meet Larry! Larry has become my favorite character of the show, with his witty one liners and friendly demeanor. As I was starting to leave the 4:00 show, I noticed a few of the characters come out and I raced over to that side of the stage (as they've never done Meet and Greets when I've been there). After waiting in line, I told him "You're the best!" and he said something like "at least I'm not second best" or something silly like that. Also talked to the Maestro, but meeting Larry was one of the highlights of my day! Also met up with a friend for a few hours and it was great to catch up. Speaking of friends, I also ran into a few people I know (like always), including @BoddaH1994. Finally, as I mentioned in that thread, the fireworks show was amazing tonight!

I would agree that area is saturated with restaurants. You can stand at that location and see three restaurants (Chicken Shack, Festhaus, and Hank's) and that doesn't count being a short stroll from IS or Coney Mall. That doesn't even count the ice cream stand by Banshee. That area could use a flat. Doing some quick measuring on Google Earth you could easily fit anything from a Top Scan to a Musik Express to a Teacups style ride. With the amount of Zamperla flats they are putting in the chain, this is the ride KI needs in that spot (https://www.zamperla.com/products/tea-cup/). Get rid of that pirate on the top and you can easily bring back a new version of Der Spinning Keggers. It 1. Fits the theme of the area, 2. give you a super high capacity flat ride (according to their site around 1,500 people an hour), and 3. gives you a ride that easily run during Winterfest. During Winterfest that area is quite dead and it would help the area tremendously.

I think that area the park is saturated with restaurants and bars.

Another marker in Octoberfest. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Either way - they can take your photo right at the booth they scan you in if there is no photo attached or they don't like the photo.

The renewal site says the Fast Lane is not Valid on Saturdays or Sunday 9/4. So it will work any day this week except for Saturday. Enjoy FREE PARKING, exclusive perks, discounts, and more with your 2023 Gold Pass. All Passholders: Enjoy FREE visits the rest of this year and UNLIMITED visits in 2023 at Kings Island. Purchase between 8/11-8/14 and get 1 FREE Fall Fast Lane Plus to be used any one public operating day between 8/11-10/30/22. Excludes Saturdays & Sunday, 9/4.

But this Friday, the 19th should be OK?

As long as your payments are current, you are good to go. No blackout period. The free Fastlane ticket isn't good on Saturdays, just FYI.

Just got an answer back from Kings Island and it would be good at all Cedar Fair parks for the rest of this year. Cool.

Got it for me it’s totally not worth it. Paid 310 for gold pass, drink plan and meal plan. Lines are never a big deal to me and I get to eat and drink all day. Parking, it’s good exercise so I don’t mind it. seems like a hassle to have to get that Fast Lane ticket everytime you go to. At double + price of gold pass. Nah not for me. If I need to cool down I will just hangout inside the place with Chinese food court

The show seemed spot on tonight. Maybe the best I’ve seen it look (but no snow -what a tease!)

I can confirm the 15 percent discount is now working. Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

Never thought I’d see the day! $13 at the shop near Banshee.

A very interesting article: https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/six-flags-ceo-parks-turned-cheap-day-care-teenagers followed up by: https://www.businessinsider.com/six-flags-ceo-draws-ire-with-classist-remarks-guest-demographics-2022-8

It wasn’t. But it also wasn’t stated that they weren’t available. Platinum Pass benefits are good at all parks that have Gold Pass benefits. It’s a reasonable assumption that this is the same way. Plus, it’s not so much they didn’t know what they were doing so I got the benefits. I was told by the Guest Services associate that the benefits were good. I was also able to use them. To back pedal after that would be highly unethical.

Bob Chapek on the KIC forums?!

^Some feel we need more bars

I'm in a state of mourning. Hands down the best show I've ever seen at Kings Island. I never experienced the ride, but when I first saw Maestro spin around on the organ, I was into the story of it all . I'm an elderly person, but it really is inexplicable magic to put into words, song and dance the characters that were made back in 1992. A ride was brought to life. Lines are in my head: " they say it isn't over til after I sing, but they didn't mention the scariest thing! When I hit a note that's a little too high, someone round me's about toooo--aaaahhh die!" (Are Hilda and Eve sisters?)

I think I'll just stick with my Gold/Platinum passes for now. Sounds like another half baked promotion that really wasn't worked out before selling.

So I am planning a visit this Friday, August 19th and was just going to buy daily tickets however with the Gold Pass sale I'm really, really tempted to buy the Gold Passes and just do installments. I have a few questions and maybe someone can give me insight. With my down payment and installment agreement the rest of 2022 is included, right? Is there a blackout of wait period? I see there is a free Fast Lane Plus for 2022 included as well. Anyone have any experience using the installment plans for Gold Passes? I live around 2 hours from King's Island but 2 or 3 visits in 2023 and it's paid for itself and the perks seem really, really awesome. Plus it's kind of nice that I can get my visit this Friday for like $100 down payment instead of almost $300 for one day tickets (there are 5 of us). Any help appreciated. Thanks!

It was SO COOL to see the house PACKED yesterday at 5 for Phantom. I had to sit extreme house left - front row since I was running there form the 4:30 Off the Rails (where I ALSO had to sit house left - shows were ROCKING on a packed day yesterday) I'm SO impressed that people seem to be appreciating the effort that went into this this year - give me more of this and I'll take a year or two (or three) off the CapEx train. This park has had a more well-rounded, full family slate of offerings this year than any I remember since the early years.

I'm thinking a new restaurant. Any new ride for next season would've been announced the same day the other CF parks announced. KI usually announces new restaurants over the off-season.

The wooded survey stake is literally within 30ish feet of the launchpad, between slingshot and Banshee. The pk-nail is between Slingshot and Hanks. That is simply a control point so they have a known X,Y,Z to go from.

So wait, from my understanding if you buy let’s say 3 of passes during the flash sale, every single pass gets a free FLP?

it is my understanding that upgrades need to be done at the home park. I upgraded at KI to platinum from Gold in July to get CP access without problems. Only issue was funpix had to re enter my email at keyhole photo. Not sure why. May have something to do with the qr code. But it must done at the issuing park from what I have been told from others.

(39.3440237, -84.2658599) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree. Honestly, I’ve had a very good experience with the Prestige Pass+ so far, both at Kings Island and Cedar Point. The price I paid, almost $400, was justified by assuming I’d have the added benefits at all of the parks. Granted, the Kings Island benefits are by far the most valuable to me, but I still feel like if they pull back on the benefits at the other parks then it will still feel a little like I was sold a bill of goods. Knowing that this is a new program, I still have the following questions: 1. Do I get the Prestige perks at all of the parks? I understand the most parks don’t have a VIP lounge, but front of the line? Preferred parking? How, in the name of whatever god you believe in, was this not discussed, clarified, and finalized before the passes went on sale? 2. If my perks aren’t good at other parks why I able to use them at Cedar Point? Are you going to take that away at this point? 3. Why were (presumably) hundreds of thousands of emails sent out offering a immediate upgrade to Prestige without the employees knowing? The first girl we spoke to at CP hadn’t even heard of the pass. Why was this not prioritized? 4. How many Prestige passes are you going to sell? Preferred parking is limited. Heck it was nearly full yesterday. Did I pay for a perk that can only be used if you get there at 9:30 a.m.? Are you going to continue to sell Preferred Parking? If so, why are you selling someone else a parking spot that I already paid for? Same goes with VIP Lounge. Will that be expanded to meet demand? I think that all of these questions are, like, day one things that should have been addressed. I do not believe that this being a new program is reasoning for none of this information to have been secure. From what it appears, the demand looks to be pretty high. I think the next 12 months will be very telling as to whether Cedar Fair has created a tier of loyal Prestige Pass holders for 2024, or disgruntled Platinum Pass holders.

Awesome! I appreciate the info. I'm about to buy 5 Gold Passes today. So I can just do the photos at the park or is it best to go ahead and do them?

A pass on a payment plan is valid effective immediately and remains such so long as the payments are made on time. Buy a pass today on a payment plan and you can use it immediately. The exclusion for the free FLP is specifically every Saturday, as well as the one Sunday on Labor Day weekend.

The Fast Lane Plus passes will work on Friday.

For KI’s Gold Pass, the payment plan is super simple. As long as you make your monthly pass payment, your pass will be active from the moment of purchase. If for any reason you miss a payment, your passes would have a block placed on them until the payment issue is rectified. As far as blackout days, a Gold Pass will get you into the park on any regular operating day, which includes Haunt and Winterfest. It also gets you the free parking as well!

Yep, I think guest services will be fielding lots of buyer remorse over this pass. I think many people bought it thinking it was more value than it is, plus it seems like every iteration of the conditions becomes more restrictive. I know several that bought it based on other's experiences of being able to get a front of the line to CP with a KI Prestige+ pass. My one group of friends went last weekend to to CP and got the front of the line ticket each day and they were turned down this weekend for it. But I also have several friends who they are part of the demographic that this will work well for - the grandparents that take their grandchildren to the park during the weekday and all the teachers out there that take their kids to the park and they now have a somewhat secluded area to work on getting ready for the next school year. I am sure some ride junkies will purchase as well, but I see this pass being more popular with the non-riders of the family. And you are right, on the hot days, there are a lot better AC places to cool down than a VIP lounge that is some tarps and fans LOL.

The system asks a question along with the pass number to verify it’s your pass. This year during renewal it is your phone number, I know if you were adding the pass to an online account it was asking birthday earlier this year. If you do not enter exactly what it is looking for it cannot find your pass. Likely some piece of information was set wrong, guest services can fix this.

they also do not have public transportation that drops people off at the front gate. CP is more a resort where aside from the people from michigan/sndusy area mosy stay on site/hotel. This is why you see more crowds at CP mon-fri while KI is not nearly as busy. These are 2 different parks with 2 slightly different ways of doing business. So I understand the difference in price. Not a problem to me.

Question. If you upgrade from a Gold to a prestige plus or platinum plus does that include unlimited fall visits to Cedar Point or is the "unlimited fall visits" just for Kings Island and the other Cedar Fair parks entry not start until next season? I am guessing the latter.

Saw tonight's show sitting down in the viewing area (near the front entrance) and finally got to see (and hear) everything as intended. People are right when they are saying it's a Disney caliber show. That is a lot of cool stuff packed into 15 minutes! I found the projections on the buildings interesting and felt the heat from the flames. Also love the Also, for some reason, I had never heard that "Our KI" song before in the show (just the narration), but it went along great with the show. I love how there is so much to look at, but it all comes together into one complete package. I also like the laser that creates a colored "background" above the fountains; that's really cool.

Ferris Wheels are good for one thing only. A light package. They get maybe 250 pph? I feel they are a waste of real estate and cost of operating. I would be very happy with a tilt a whirl, but that is just my opinion.

I have renewed my pass through Canadas Wonderland before. You can renew a platinum pass through any park, I would pick a park based on what you whatever is best for you. Renewing using Canadas Wonderland does change your “home park” to CW, but very little real differences. COVID did mean those of us who did this in 2019 received a very nice bonus since the park was closed all of 2020 and much of 2021, those passes are still valid and do not expire for several more weeks. I can only think of one downside, the renewal Fast Lane is from whatever you park you renew at, so renew at CW and you can only receive the free Fast Lane perk there. The tax on passes at CW is significant, it is still a considerable savings over renewing at Kings Island, but last time I did it half of the savings due to the exchange rate was taken away due to the taxes.

Personally I agree with change. Cedar Point as a destination park should only have early entry for Platinum and higher passes, along with resort guests (as it used to be). $99 is too cheap and brought too many people to early entry at gate drop.

Put it back to how it was before SlingShot, a landscaped green area (back then, King Cobra vantage, now Banshee). Put some pine trees or something in to spruce it up.

Could be for a permanent and fancier VIP location as the current VIP area near Adventure Express seems like it is mostly temporary.

^and hope they limit the quantity of prestige passes sold or you still may be back to Racer using your one-time front of the line pass their lol. I see visions of some of the October Sundays where FL line is longer than regular line cause everyone is redeeming their free fastlane lol.... Edited to set the record straight since people keep replying to this post thinking I don't know what the front of the line pass means - I HAVE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD AND I AM FULLY AWARE THAT THE FRONT OF THE LINE PASS IS A ONE TIME USE FOR ONE RIDE PER VISIT AND IT IS NOT A FAST LINE WRISTBAND....I HAVE USED THE ONE TIME VOUCHER BEFORE GOING BACK TO AT LEAST 2016 AND I AM WELL AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY ARE USED... I was making a sarcastic comment that apparently people miss what lol and can imply in that situation...

Heard from an employee the other night that they will be carding people and under (18/21 not sure), you must be with an adult and they must have a cell phone on them at all times. Hope they really crack down and keep it fun and safe.

Beautiful night at the park! Walked on everything.