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I hope Jess Naderman will eventually (someday) fill a lead position at KI. She and I started on Beast crew together in 1999.... now she's the Director of Operations at Dorney. (Following stints as the Dir of Ops at Valleyfair, Asst GM at Schlitterbaun etc ) She's a gem, and going places. Id love for her to come full circle.

The Rick thing is news to me. If Mike were to retire (which I’m not rooting for, I like that guy) then the park would need: VP, GM Director of Operations Executive Chef Thats a lot of heavy hitters. It makes me weary because I feel like the park is pretty well-run now.

Mike has done such a great job we can’t thank him enough! I really hope he doesn’t retire.

With how many positions are changing over this season, I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Koontz stays around one more year just to help with the transition. But I agree, the leadership team has been absolutely phenomenal these past few years.

My bad - you are absolutely correct

During his speech at the 50th anniversary celebration, Mike Koontz said he MIGHT possibly retire at the end of the 50th anniversary celebration or stay one more year afterward. Also today I noticed on LinkedIn Rick Bulhumeur , listed as Assistant GM at Schlitterbaun in Galveston TX. and that he had ended his VP of operation at KI in August. With both positions looking forward, who will be the new #1 and #2 at KI next year ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The ever changing terms of conditions....the original terms said it was part of it and many people have used it with a KI Prestige pass....first front of the line and lounge was part of Prestige Plus, then they took away the front of the line, and now apparently lounges at the parks that have it. Now it appears the only thing plus gets you at another park is the extra discount of food and merch... Looking more and more like this should have simply been a park specific season pass add-on as that would have eliminated all the confusing and changing terms...

Happy for the promotion, just hope food quality and service doesn't decline without his immediate watchful eye.

Just imagine next year if the VIP lounge is always packed with nowhere to sit because they sold thousands of the Prestige Passes, imagine if they nix bottled drinks as a cost cutting measure… uhhh… I mean, because people were sharing them with non Prestige Pass holders!, or parking in Preferred is granted to those who get there before 9:30 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. because it will always be full and “subject to availability.” The park knows what they got themselves into. They have your money. It’s going to tell us a great deal as to how the benefits are interpreted now versus how they’ll be interpreted next year.

When you are not on KIC you miss a bunch!

I thought she was the GM of Dorney? Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

I hope he doesn't retire, but if he does, I hope he is given a title like VP/GM Emeritus.

Yes it was the slogan, also it was not owned by Paramount during those years.

While a dark forest theme would be nice, it would require...trees. And If they started planting even large boxed trees (expensive) this fall, it would be years before they grew in enough to complete the theme. I'd rather see a phased in approach with Oktoberfest getting some flats and theming first. Do some background work in AZ and then retintroduce it as something to pay homage to the OG land it was--safari themed. We have a great templated about 8 hours southeast of here we could use...

That would be wonderful, but a massive amount of infrastructure work I don’t ever see the park doing. I also don’t know how you would fit Adventure Express in there without major queue rerouting which we know they will never do. While I think “anything goes” ideas are cool, I thinks it’s more challenging to try to think of realistically grounded things the park would actually do with their existing resources to improve the experience. There’s really never been a “horror theme” in that area other than one ride “lightly themed” to a cemetery, and another ride named after an animal people associate with horror stories but nothing about it other than the name conveys “horror” unless you are scared of concrete and long walks.

I agree with this, however, I think that the Action Zone land should continue to cater to the more dark, mysterious horror theme. Think of it as a Black Forest sorta thing on the outskirts of Oktoberfest. The old Germanic feel would contrast well with a scary, forbidden land outside of town. Adventure Express would also work well with this theme I think.

I made a prediction if Areas get refurbish and new ones added. That's the result I made.

Speaking of live music, I thoroughly enjoyed what I would refer to as the Fury band at Carowinds. Very talented. Maybe put a band in the Orion area to entertain guests while they wait?

Kings Island could play on its history with the newest coaster for this area, and add a B&M Surf Coaster, this will remind guests of King Kobra which was closed in 2001. This would be the world's 2nd Surf Coaster, the one at SeaWorld Orlando looks awesome! It would take up the place of Invertigo, Congo Falls and cut through the trees turn around in the parking lot and come back, it could run through the Congo Falls area for some nice water effects as well. This would help give KI more variety and not copy something CP already has.

totally agree - good IDEA - bad execution. Truthfully ALL of th midway based performance areas need to be revisited if they are going to keep doing it - Busker Jam suffered last year from hordes walking through every performance, and even the IS Bandstand is a terrible place to watch the level of show they are putting on there now. I really wish the two front quadrants of grass and weedy mulch would be paved over and made into tiered seating with benches (not mall food court round tables). To break it up they could have 2-3 trees pr side in tree wells and large urns of flowers. Just think all of the performers deserve more than they are getting as a stage to work on. While a much grander execution, these idea from DCA are what I was thinking - image the bandstand where the water is and Eiffel Tower where Little Mermaid ride is.

another LONNNG post, but all my ideas distilled here - some new intros, some vintage returns, MAINLY aesthetic improvements that add to the overall experience of the area and opportunities for in-park spending on enhanced food and beverage: New entry archways off of International Street by the KI Theatre, Festhaus, Bier Garden Redress backside of Festhaus to continue front architectural detailing - Add waterfall feature into the landscaping and enlarge the outdoor seating on the backside of Festhaus New fountain at entrance to Festhaus - “Village Style” Festhaus becomes “International Food Hall” with better dining options and clearer separate stands for different types of food - Hanks concept moves in here along with Italian, Chinese, Rotating other international options. “American” (chicken, burger) Banners inside return for more color and “festival” atmosphere Rework queue of Viking fury to open up path behind IS block again - Vine tunnel here to hide back of buildings - entrance to Viking Fury come off of this new path with signage for it at both ends of the vine tunnel. Exit to Viking Fury is by funnel cake building. Seating area by viking fury is better laid out with paving change to delineate seating/bar area. Bar opened as a seasonal beverage location - possible “Beers of the World” to tie into “international Food Hall” retime of FestHaus Der Spinning Keggers returns to original layout and design with banners - Airbrush shop removed - possible relocate product to area in former ActionZone? Move “coaster Connection” ride specific product to Banshee Shop - Airbrush goes into Coaster Connection as part of an overall apparel shop “FestBest” Adventure Express - no major changes. Lighting in first tunnel and refurbish snakes - add projection mapping or fire effect lights in “lava” tunnel, refresh temple tunnel. In queue - add framed photos of German explorers to justify a jungle trick in Oktoberfest. Tell the story of Humbolts Latin American expedition - add additional travel props etc to the station. Overall refresh on a budget. Hanks food concept has moved into FestHaus or Food Factory - this area is returns to full BierGarden with German cuisine and beer options Bridge is re-established to connect more directly to FestHaus area. Larger Flat ride is added to area where SlingShot was - themed to spirits, ghosts, cemetery etc to tie into Banshee right behind it. Possible Zamperla Gryphon - Can be programed for different ride sequences for re-ridability. Beer Stein Topiary moves to former ActionZone round seating area - becomes "SteinPlatz" All flats/coasters of ActionZone are incorporated into Oktoberfest. Possible name tweaking to bring German influence (DropTower -> Falltrum, Chicken Shack -> Hähnchen Haus, CongoFalls -> Rheinfalls, IceCream -> das Eis, Invertigo -> Achterbahn Pole mounted banners and pennants are reintroduced throughout the entire area to bring additional life and color. Possibly even incorporate lighting for evening excitement (see EPCOT lighting banner pole) Small stages added in BierGarden and SteinPlatzor mini performances to add to the festival atmosphere Possibly add 2-3 additional flats with lower (36-48 max) heights to give younger rider options throughout the park. Possible by KI theatre or in former Action Zone Redo all paving to introduce different materials and colors to better define seating areas, traffic flow and provide visual breakup. Bring more mid-level landscaping to former ActionZone, but most of she comes from overhead banners and sunshades to Bring more color to the area. Midways are lined with “streamer ceilings”.

Went back again today for it. Today was with chips, I assume they ran out of yucca. But it was great and the truck has shorter lines than any other food option in Soak City. (It was packed today) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That’s what’s great about this time of year before Haunt! It allows the park to finally address other issues that they haven’t had the manpower for. Glad to see them taking care and fixing broken things around the park.

Not too shabby.

Todays food truck offering Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's what all the black lights are for. Helps with the cleaning. ...I preemptively apologize for this post.