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Looks Chick-fil-A is going from a hundred people per hour at Kings Island to fifty people per game at GABP:

I believe we already have a thread for this...

Since this topic hasn't been created yet, I did! My profound observation for this historic thread is this: Trees. I have been watching the webcams this week. All the cut evergreen trees the park purchased for the magic of Winterfest have now been removed and sent to the trash, to be chipped for mulch, or used for fish habitat. But in the Orion webcam, it was evident that the trees on the north side of the Junkyard Coaster unused land had cut trees in the lawn area. Why not plant evergreens instead? The ones they planted on the south side, near the Island Paradise stand in 2017 are filling in nicely. And they planted alot of evergreens on the train route for the 2022 season, so it's not unprecedented. I'd love to see some weeping white pines planted in the area. They look so nice over between Invertigo and the KI Theater.

Maybe poor choice of wording or deliberate, but in the passholder preview announcement they do say look at Diamondback (and not ride), but they do say ride the new Racer track...I guess we find out soon which it is LOL... Gold, Platinum and Prestige Passholder Preview Day also offers the first look at newly painted attractions like Diamondback, first rides on the south side of The Racer which received over 1,000 feet of track replacement work over the winter, new food items, games and merchandise.

Hopefully with this small of an area they are really layering on the details since it’s pretty dependent on that to see the story of a jungle outpost (that was my concern in even going with this in that it’s not ‘organic’ to the location.) but so far it’s looking like a cost-managed mild retheme. Hope I’m WAY surprised when it opens “later”

hmmm yeah later hours would be nice

I agree, but lower crowds can only be better for the employees if they can work during the hours of preview day.

I am guessing here, but maybe they don't want a huge crowd on this day. Given the past preview days since Mystic Timbers, it has been swamped and there are always technical delays, new employee issues and the like. Having a smaller crowd would be better for the employees and the clientele.

I agree then that 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM does not make a whole lot of sense. 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM would probably allow for not only better staffing but also better attendance.

Last year though was Good Friday when a lot of people and students (and thus KI employees) would be off work (either holiday/spring break or vacation). But April 14th, the two local Districts Kings and Mason are not on Spring Break and do not have the 14th off, and most schools do not either. Staffing will be interesting... Wonder how many first timer employees will be working the preview day (one of the benefits of preview day is for training of staff)...

Last year it was also 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM. I really wish Kings Island would do the preview day they announced for 2020 before the pandemic started. Preview Day that year was initially scheduled to be 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Before 2020, it was 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM for a while.

It's called crowd control (they hope LOL).... Only open until 7 will prevent the masses from showing up after work for only an hour or two. The crowd in recent years when only open until 7pm was a lot less than staying open another hour until 8pm.

yeah not sure why they dont do at least 9 or heck just open all day

I am glad that they are opening, I was just stating that the hours of the preview event could be limiting to those that work/are in school. Seems rather odd to close at 7. Would have been better to stay open until 9 or 10.

I mean, they could just not do one. Be glad you get this opportunity.

im just taking the day off, itll be good, less crowds hopefully, or they should do like 1200-1000

Kind of stinks that the preview day hours are 12-7. Some people that are in school/work won`t be able to get up there until around 5. Although it is the week after Easter, so some people might be on spring break then. Bring back the 5-10pm pass holder preview days.

Passholder preview Friday April 14th from noon to 7pm. I guess they figure that will hopefully keep the crowds kinda light. https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/gold-platinum-pass-preview?fbclid=IwAR0dqUKycFw2QJuShk8efe1I7Szdiflh-mbPzimMdZgSZyj8V4oStBbvuvg

The 2023 Haunt and Winterfest hours were silently added to the website. As of right now everything is the exact same as last year other than the fact that New Years will go from 4-12 AM instead of 4-1 AM. The addition of Sunday haunt hours remain in place from last year's test run. Park Calendar & Hours of Operation | Kings Island (visitkingsisland.com)

I too thought about the not having Fireworks until Memorial Day weekend. Yes, that does seem odd to close at 7pm on Sundays. Likely due to schools being in session though. At least we still have the 10am opens. There was a year where the park was opening at 11 during Covid.

Based on this, they're likely pulling a last year and won't start fireworks until Memorial Day weekend. Gives them time to get it ready and based on the interview with the guy from Rozzi Fireworks it'll be similar to Fun, Fireworks, and 50. Sucks, that hours are shortened though. Like 7 pm on Sundays? That's 2020 hours lol.

Opening Day and Saturdays in May are VERY busy. The more I think about it, the more I think the changes were made because of staffing even though I previously said otherwise. The last few days in August seemed to struggle in terms of staffing, and I assume a lot of the workforce is still in school until late May.

Yes, it does stink that there are no 10pm closings in April/May on Saturdays. I am sure they had their reasons why the change. Likely to save on labor costs for one. Maybe that last hour just wasn`t as profitable as they had hoped. I am sure that Cedar Fair/Kings Island have analyzed things like that and know how much they typically make for any given hour based on the time of the season.

I am not a fan of the changes. Kings Island changed many of the early 8:00 PM closings to 7:00 PM as well. I am almost positive these changes are not because of staffing too as it is so early and the park had normal hours last season. It’s probably just for Cedar Fair to save money.

yea they usually are opened the full week in mid august but only until 8. not sure why only man and tuesday. Also somewhat screwy to close weekday operations on august 15 when national rollercoaster day is the next day august 16.

I know there was brown test paint on Diamondback's supports a few weeks back and was discussed in another thread.

On the webcams I thought the yellow supports looked brighter. Then KI said the support color is changing to Mushroom brown. That is what I was laughing at because 1 hour after I posted that KI said they were changing the color of the supports to not be yellow. Lol. I haven’t seen mushroom brown on any of the supports yet. Just the images here.

The new colors make the ride look more mature, it's not super flashy, rather it is apart of the landscape. It will certainly complement Orion much better!

Right after I post DB’s supports look brighter, KI goes ahead and makes me look bad with a post that says the support color will change. Lol. I am really excited to see the finish product! I think the new support color will fit much better in Rivertown.

Not perfect, but it should give a good glimpse of what the lift hill and supports should look like after the repaint. (Original image is from CoasterBuzz on Pinterest)

I recall someone posted a video of DB with the new paintjob back when people saw the tests on the supports. It looks really good, if I can find it I'll edit the message.

Does anyone know photoshop? It would be cool to see what it will look like!

One of my main concerns with repainting Diamondback was if they went with the yellow lift hill again and seeing it fade out again within a few years. The brown should blend in a lot better in Rivertown and should look nice for a lot longer compared to the original color scheme.

I agree. I LOVE seeing the park put some more thought into how the colors of the ride interact with its surroundings.

Incredibly happy with the color choices. This is what I'd hoped for when we first saw that swatch on the brake run support. That will look SO much better in Rivertown.

This will honestly fit better with Rivertown. Gives Diamondback a little more of a rustic look and no more McDonald's lift hill lol.

Interesting! I think the brown will blend better in the wooded part of the ride. With it peeking out of the woods for the crests of the hills. Estimated Color Visual: (it'll be very similar to this, but we'll likely get photos soon of the new colors!) Mushroom Brown: RGB (144, 110, 88) Crimson Red: RGB (124, 41, 42)

What does everyone think?

Diamondback’s support colors are really starting to get brighter! Can’t wait to see the finish!

Yeah I know you have been around long enough to know the story lol, but we have many here were not here and do not know who he is or the backstory, which was why my attempt at a joke a few posts up fell flat LOL. But it is also a lesson for the youngsters to not do what had happened that ended up making this an inside joke here LOL.

I know who he is, I was making fun of the person who said he has stories to share with his kids and grandkids about who he met.

https://www.wcpo.com/john-matarese

Grandpa, we don't know who John Matarees is, for the 30th time.

I secretly admire your determination and grit for doing so. It makes for some great story telling and is something you can tell your kids and grandkids about! I'm glad you got to meet John Matatress!

Actually, I know it's the gravel and that is not what I was sharing. I was mainly sharing the white thing to the left of the gravel and the white/black thing behind the tree to the right of it and the day I posted it, it looked like there was some digging going on on the ground there, but again it is hard to tell from the webcam. I agree, it is likely nothing, but it's usually fun to speculate. I'm glad I learned my lesson about messaging media personel. I will never ever do that again even though I actually like John and it was great to meet him at the Orion announcement.

However there are no cranes or marking on the ground as of yet.

This! Can’t wait to see what awaits us in April. AE deserves some TLC.

The future is looking bright for KI!

Me too! I have seen vans parked over by the drummer hill/tunnel. Here's hoping they are working in there!

I can't wait to see Adventure Port and the 2 new rides! Not to mention the refurbished theming for Adventure Express...