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Thank you, as someone who worked incredibly hard on all of the entertainment options this year, this really means a lot! It was a hectic, stressful year, but the effort and passion myself and the rest of the team put into the park this season really showed. There were quite literal blood, sweat, and tears involved. I’m so proud of everything I worked on this year, from the April 29th 50th show, to the cavalcade, to Fun Fireworks and Fifty, to haunt lasers, to jingle bass, to NYE at bandstand, it was a very good season. Already excited for 2023! Also, as for the Knotts part, just gotta give it time, I think the park is headed in that direction! Happy new year everyone!

It is such a fun way to end the year and begin the new one. My son Logan hit the 54" on the very last day. Two weeks ago he was just a hair to short and he could not get his 54" wristband. He was ecstatic to be able to ride FOF. We ended up getting 3 rides in on it. We took a ride on the train: Logan drove us on the KMAA. Dodgem Waiting for the fireworks on IS. A KIC tradition for the Mods is after the fireworks we take a walk around the park. This allows the parking lot to clear out. You also get your first walk in the park for the new year. We stopped and took a picture. Left to Right: @pianoman, @malem, @IndyGuy4KI's daughter Kaylee, and @IndyGuy4KI @electricsun and I before we left at the end of the night. We hope you have a wonderful 2023!

The sign is in someone's home now. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2253091231651091/posts/3104356979857841/

GORGEOUS night with a sheen of rain on the pavement reflecting the lights. Koontz lit the tree tonight, and it was a pleasure to catch him right after to give him and the ENTIRE TEAM props for the best season I personally have ever seen at this park. I missed the “glory days” but based on what I’ve seen this year, we haven’t been too far off with some of the best entertainment, ops, food, and EXPERIENCE at any regional park. Do I wish we could hit Knotts level? Sure, but darn him proud to call this “my KI” these days!

I agree on the Knotts thing. I’ve talked to Mike a couple of times this season and every time I mention how I love seeing a shift to embrace a bigger picture with more entertainment, experience, theming and less focus on JUST ride stats he always gives a very “knowing nod” and agrees that is the way they see more long-term success and “brand building” going forward. I feel like the CF parks have the operational resources to fill in some of the blanks where I hear the Herschend parks are struggling (sadly) right now. Great job to you and all you did this season. I’ve offered “constructive observation” on things you may have been involved with, and you’ve provided “in the trenches” context around that, but know that those comments are only based on the incredible strides I see the park making, and the excitement I feel in seeing what you guys are truly capable of. Keep up the GREAT work.

Who attended and enjoyed NYE 2022 at Kings Island? What was your favorite part and what would you like to see different in the future? Here is a preview of the NYE party and then the full fireworks show.

For those who may not have seen it yet, The Vortex sign has been refurbished and polished off for the rides 30th anniversary. I think it looks very nice but what is your opinion on it? Picture courtesy of Kings Island's Instagram page.

It’s my favorite day of the season every year! I love the party atmosphere after 10:00! It’s always a running joke within my friends group that something inherently goes wrong with the Tinker ballon drop, and this year was absolutely no exception. Still, the balloon drop is a lot of fun to watch and kids LOVE it! I did the IR buffet last night and I do have some thoughts: The food was excellent, service was great. 10/10 would recommend. They did it a little different this year. I bought tickets for me and my girlfriend and another couple bought their tickets. Because of this, they couldn’t seat us at the same table. They had assigned the tables this year, while it was first come, first serve last year. I totally get why they did it this way, with a sold out event; but, it kind of took away from it when our group was seated at side-by-side high tops instead of all together. I wish there was a different way to make reservations so that you could guarantee that. Even the “two top, four top, etc” options like they had for the 50th ice cream would have worked, I suppose. Or even have it so you can pick out a seat like when you buy a movie ticket. Just food for thought. I suppose we will just buy them all together next year.

This coaster is well on the way. These are pictures from 1/1/2023.

Go ahead and mark “added language not guaranteeing a spot in Preferred Parking” off your Bingo card. Shows that they know they can’t/won’t accommodate another benefit that we paid for. Such a disappointing bait-and-switch.

…and never has had it. It would be different if they had it then took it away or something like that.

That one I can excuse them since our Winterfest does not have FastLane.

The IF statement will come to fruition IF the passholders stay silent and simply let the park devalue the pass. What can they offer to take away the bait-n-switch feeling the prestige passholders are experiencing and expressing on social media? Does moving the VIP to the grassy area next to the Restroom across from Hanks constitute an improvement? Does providing fountain drinks next year constitute an improvement over the bottled beverages? Does.... Or...what can they offer that is above and beyond what was proposed when they purchased that folks will feel like they got their money's worth? Is it ERT for just Prestige holders? Extra BAF days?

Well said. You could add, depending on the day, the variety of snacks offered. For a good stretch, all that was available was no-name jalapeno chips, a stark contrast from the variety of Frito-Lay offerings that was available when people made the decision to purchase said pass. Thankfully the Frito-Lay has returned in recent days. I know many that filled out the comment section on the website expressing many of your points and most only got back the standard response. Is the park really listening to the concerns or will they just continue to sell the Prestige Pass in quantity and thus further water down the experience.... Let's face it, most that bought the Prestige Pass are not the typical passholder that uses the pass 5 times or less. Most of them are the frequent visitors, so the amenities are going to be spread thin.

So, assuming that there aren’t widespread changes, this is what you get vs what had/what was advertised: VIP Lounge (Was) Open park hours (Now) Limited hours Bottled drinks (Was) a feature (Now) Not available Bottled water (Was) a feature (Now) Jugs with rotten fruit sitting in the top Other parks benefits (Was) available (Now) not competent to tell us for sure Preferred parking (Was) a feature (Now) possibly inaccessible many days Pass Perks (Was) some sort of joke (Now) offers “enhanced” prizes which are equal to the ones you paid for with your pass I implore you NOT to tow the company line. Remember you paid for these features. If other people were taking advantage of things like the bottled drinks then that is not your problem. You paid for it. That’s the park’s problem to figure out. Also, taking your payment and then changing the terms is not something you should accept. They offered a product and you accepted it. They can greatly reduce the value and you cannot opt half way through to downgrade your pass and get a refund. Remember, the people that bought this pass shelled out $300-$400. The things listed above are not like gold pass benefits. You paid extra for these features. You should demand to get what you paid for. If you think otherwise you are nothing more than a sycophant, and even if you think highly of the park this alone reflects how the park thinks about you.

I think they have realized that they sold way more Prestige than available preferred parking (even if expanded), so instead of expanding the lot, it is cheaper to just add some restrictive language LOL. So now everyone that bought said pass with preferred parking as their primary reason for purchasing will need to get there at gate opening on many days in order to receive said benefit (unless they require a reservation as Boddah was told).

I should've been a little more detailed in my post, that's on me. In the FAQ of the Prestige Pass it is stated "Space is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis." So my thought process is if you bought a ticket already you have your spot reserved already. Prestige Pass just gets in if there's an unreserved spot.

The majority of benefits started this year. Preferred parking is one of I think 3 benefits that does not start until 2023, the others being a preferred entrance and the waterpark VIP area, neither of these currently exist, so it made sense why they could not start immediately. This suggests to me there is something changing with the preferred parking beyond just giving access. My assumption is the preferred lot will be expanded into what is currently the bus and RV parking, I expect to see at a minimum the fence and access booth moved. Although I suspect we might see more changes since maintaining access for large vehicles to the service road that goes around the park is important.

I was told by Guest Services that they were going to have an online reservation system for Preferred Parking. I’m hoping that’s just the rumor mill.

Yep, it was never on main page. Only by email link which was then shared generously across social media lol, and now by that little link above the main page.

Pretty sure always? I don’t recall it ever being on the main season pass menu rather it’s own section. Five columns of text in one tab is a little crazy as well.

How long has the Prestige pass not been a pass listed? You have to click on the bar at the top to see it. Since I renewed as soon as they went on sale I have not gone to this page recently.

Also the Lays chips are back!!! Lounge is open until 9.

@BoddaH1994 People are starting to get Pass Perks for a one day VIP lounge - just your luck that will be what you get LOL

That's fantastic!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQeQYedFbrZ/ Instagram/cpfoodblog ~~ It goes beyond the sign

Repaint anyone?

The sign looks great! I love The Vortex and it was so awesome getting to ride it with my son for his first time last season.

Man I feel old. I love me some Vortex. Top 3 ride in the park for me.

You'd think it would get some more love for it's 30! Anything 30 years old is nostalgia, and nostalgia SELLS! I expect to see more 1987 themed Votex logos on shirts, etc, this season.

I think that would be awesome. An LED chaser light package that changes colors would look awesome with WindSeekers package.

Maybe new style LEDS for the lift? [emoji14]