brent

A darker color would hide that growth starting to form. Might make the water “pop” more as well.

Totally agree, but be careful, you don’t want to point out shortcomings or make criticisms of the park. Remember they read thus forum and according to some people, only respond favorably to positive remarks!

I think they do a great job with the budget that is allocated to them, and the overall creative and operational strategy of the park.

I don’t think a lighting rig with banners on the sides is “Disney level theming” it’s just taking that extra step to not have exposed lighting rigs lining the main entry fountain. That’s the only picture I found that illustrated what I was talking about. That picture also references more decorative light poles that were actually there on IS years ago. These could have easily been put back if the goal was to make it “like you haven’t seen it in years”. I’m tired of the “do you even like the park” attitude that people get when people share opinions that are 100% positive. You can like something a lot and share your opinions how you think it could even be better. I think the intent was great. I think the buildings look great. I think they worked hard. Do I enjoy my time there? YES. Do I see whet I think they could have done more? Yes. I this a forum for sharing those opinions? I guess not.

I agree. I’ve always found their work to stop about 3 steps short of “great”. It all looks “nice” and easy to maintain. But never “next level”

They could have used something similar to Disney EPCOT banner stand/ light speaker rigs all around world showcase. Hides the equipment yet makes it easy to do it’s function. Also looks better in the day than the truss, wires, speaker on the ground look. Oh and look, decorative light poles!

That looks sloppy. There’s no way speakers couldn’t be pole mounted or hidden on the buildings? I just don’t understand why this whole set up looks like a one night concert at riverbend when they just had the entire area torn up for redevelopment and all of this infrastructure could’ve been integrated much more subtly. At least if there were some larger, fuller landscaping it could hide this more.

Would be better if the truss work didn’t look like...truss work.

Pretty sad huh? I liked last year better. It seemed like they were really trying to make something using the existing infrastructure they had. Then they go through a major renovation. Have the whole area torn up and have the chance to do AMAZING(in here) and we get lights on cheap trusses no longer hidden by trees and fountains that are weak during the day and basically bounce up and down to a pop song at night. Again, I’m really glad some people think it’s an improvement. I view it as a lateral move at best.

Now THATS a royal finale. We got water squirting up and down to one pop song while some fireworks go off. For a “major reimagining” there wasn’t nearly this much imagination at KI.

Based on that, that’s why I don’t feel it’s successful. They COULD have been majestic during the day with a few tweaks to the design. They could have paid homage to nostalgia yet combined new technology with a grander daytime look. Is there no actual nozzle movement? Looks like they just spray up to the music. That’s basically what was there before (now it’s just more nozzles, faster reaction time and no physical pieces to break up the sea of spraying water) there could’ve been animated, moving LED lit water coming out of pedestals and it would’ve kept both camp happy! I’m glad they attempted something. Something needed to be done. I wanted to love it. I been saying for years they should do something like this, now we have it and I find it lacking. Oh well. Each their own.

And while they were doing renovations I feel they could’ve made that color change. And the piping didn’t seem as visible because there was more “turbulence” in the water. I’m glad you found them spectacular. I find them lacking.

And I think that’s been a lot of people’s concern. That’s the only time they look best. The rest of the time I think they look weak. The bottom of the pool is too light to me still. The hardware sort of sticks out too much against the almost white bottom. I could care less about pedestals and am not hung up on nostalgia but these were not an improvement in my opinion. Too spread out and thin for the water to be as light as it is.

Quantity does not make quality. Lighting should add to the experience in an outdoor environment, not BE the experience in an outdoor environment. That means for the bulk of the day you have a sub-standard product. I could care less about bowls on pedestals. I just think they didn’t design/execute this in a way to give a robust daytime experience. Even something like KD “mass” of water down the center would’ve worked with the little squiggle of squirts down the middle they have. But on a positive note, the additional sign details look great.

Great detail, but please relamp the edge lighting. LEDs should last longer than they seem to be. I’m also a bit surprised that the light cords weren’t “cleaned up” a bit more with cord covers and generally disguised a bit more since I assume they were removed to paint over the off season? Also a bit more decorative waste cans would’ve looked great. Like go back to the original designs just on I street.

Even more “vegetation” and some simple movement fake animals. Don’t even try to “escapee to a different time” since Soak City stop ruins that immersion anyway. But some thicker landscaping that hides all the backstage areas would help a lot.

I don’t understand why the dont over plant and let things grow in a little wilder along the train path. It would minimize mowing and add to the atmosphere. Overall the train is great. It just needs some love.

They took out two this year, but I think that was honestly a way to get a start in the renovation, not desk people out, and only take out the two “not needed” for wintetefest. They never even hinted during winterfest that they were reinstalling them. People only assumed as such. It’s intetesting that KI is the only winterfest park that had the challenge of those. I actually liked them at winter fest as it gave height and depth to the rink and kind of kept people from getting crazy. instead of just being a hockey rink.

I don’t see the old logo returning except maybe in apparel items. Clearly CF has corporate branding standards that seem to apply to all of their parks (but knotts- who seems to have their own style logo) so I don’t thing they would use the old in a permanent way. I’d live to be wrong as I really don’t think the current logo says anything about the history of the park.

Anyone else notice the info about international restaurant reopening for “special dining events” through the season. Could we be testing the possibility of a full reopen down the road?

That looks so cool the way it looks like an actual street with a giant fountain in the middle. I wish the pavers could’ve been arranged in a way to give more of them that impression in a nod to the original design concept.

I was wondering the same thing about the winter comment. I thought it was one of the mildest. Hell in Feb we had 60s with people wearing shorts. Maybe I missed a “winter weather event” lol.

That’s been my point all along. This “give them time” and “it’s not fair to judge it till it's complete” line doesn’t hold show fountain water. If they want to call April/May “preview days” and communicate that there are still projects being finished, and minimal show offerings, then that’s great. Let people in for a tease at a reduced rate or at least do what Disney does and call it “soft opening” but they don’t. They call it OPENING DAY. Its on. I could care less about pedestals or no pedestals. I just think the overall project could have brought even more to the table. It still might. But as of now the park is open for regular operations. This is the project as they have presented to the public and I will judge it based on what I see presented. I’m certainly one to say “hey, now that they’ve added... its way better than I thought it looked way back in April.”

I’m not necessarily a “devoted fan”, just a person in a creative profession that is allowed to voice my professional opinion on a discussion forum. I’m glad opening day went well, sounds like that, as a devoted fan you had a great time. I’m also glad it’s a work in progress, but when you put a product out there in a public way, the public is allowed to provide feedback. As I have stated, once Saturday hit the park was not in “preview” status, but was in regular operating status. Things can certainly be tweaked, added and improved, but once the show opens, the critics can write their reviews.

Totally tri county! Lol. I don’t think it’s that bad, and I think if all the other “hinted at” elements were there it wouldn’t feel so unimpressive. I get operationally that this will also make the rink bigger at winter fest, and make that conversion easier (like did anyone REALLY think they removed two pedestals with cranes for winterfest and were EVER bringing them back to do that every year?) But, I also think that it’s a fail to not have at least the intended day “show” operation working when you know you’re making a big change, to a devoted fan base, you’ve hyped it up, and what you put on show is underwhelming. It’s early in the season-got it- but if this isn’t the “final product” I wish they hadn’t put it out there until it was really ready.