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MrSourNinja

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Posts posted by MrSourNinja

  1. 6 minutes ago, disco2000 said:

    Um....they sold a record number of season passes for 2023...but people aren't attending or spending...

    Can you link? I know about the record number for 2022 but not this year... Maybe I missed something, but I would be VERY surprised to see this year's numbers top last year.

  2. Not surprising given the lack of investment post covid. They also lost all of the season passholders that don't buy every year since the most likely bought in 2021 or 2022. That combined with inflation hitting American families hard means less misc expenditures. 

    I had season passes from 2017-2022 but did not renew this year. Lack of investment across the chain, but more specifically KI was my reason. 

    • Like 1
  3. 20 hours ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

    I'm thinking the same. The upside though, if there is a large coaster coming in 2024, next season would be a decoding year. Honestly those seasons are just as fun as the season a new coaster debuts. Honestly, I had a blast during the 2019 season with the decoding thread of Orion and the buildup to the announcement and the construction progressing throughout the season and off-season. I also remember the Mystic Timbers one pretty well even though I wasn't on here then. Looking forward to potentially a decoding season ahead. 

    I agree. It was an insane feeling being the first person to post the initial K and I posters on here to start the official teasing. "Decoding" is easily my favorite activity on the forum.

    • Like 5
  4. This document has been extremely accurate in the past and will continue to be so. Like others have mentioned, this is an official filing with the county, it isn't going to be messed up.

    While a coaster is not guaranteed in 2024, it certainly seems likely unless we are getting a renovation from GCI or B&M. Neither of which seem likely at this moment in time.

    • Like 1
  5. Hey Yall!

     

    It's that time of the year again. The 2022 and 2023 additions and improvements notice has been filed with Warren County. Please see below for the first page of the document. 

     

    What stands out to everyone so far? Obviously, the big standout here, for me, is once again B&M. We saw them listed on the 2018 notice and that ended up being Orion (announced in 2019). This time around though, I think it is very possible this could be maintenance work and maybe not so much a new ride. Of course, the possibility will always be there.

    Let's Discuss!

     

     image.png

    • Like 10
    • Thanks 1
  6. On 8/20/2022 at 7:16 AM, robintodd said:

    I also seem to remember the uproar over not offering refunds during COVID and yet the number of season pass sales is significant enough to raise the prices.  It's simple supply and demand.  I believe the last financial report revealed that even with lower attendance they brought in more profit.  Also your statement makes it seem like others aren't renewing their pass just because you are.  Which I is a pretty flimsy reason not to renew.  They should not renew for their own reasons....unless your their leader or something :) (don't get offended, just having a little fun).  But seriously, check your wording again and you'll see what I mean.

    50% of the GP that goes to Cedar Fair parks do not buy season passes.  (I would guess the KI rate is around 45%).  I've met a lot of people who live close to the park that get the pass mostly for the meal plan which is their driving factor to get it.  Trust that the park is in a very good financial situation and they are adjusting pricing according to the capitalistic system of supply and demand.  Also they bring in alot in businesses and picnics.  They have them every weekend it seems.

     

    I'm not getting my 2 grandchildren platinum this year because of the price increase.  They only go up to CP once and usually spend only 1 day in the park and the rest of the time on the beach.  Since I can get them bring a friend passes with my platinum it's cheaper to go that route even to get them in twice during the trip.

    My wife and I however go up 3 times a year and usually never hang out at the beach (my beach bod left me decades ago :)).  Even with the price increases I still find it an outstanding deal.  I have been to the park 35 times so far and used the meal plan 30 times.

    My guess is that they recognize they have to pay their employees more and things just cost more because of the economy so they are raising the prices because of those factors.  In the end supply and demand drive costs in our current system.

    There is so much to unpack here. I am on mobile and don’t really want to type out responses to everything, so here are a couple.
     

    I say that some people aren’t getting passes that have before because they think similar to us. Ironically enough, I am not getting a pass because my (almost) wife is not getting the pass. So in this instance, I am the follower. 
     

    I never said the park isn’t in a good financial situation, nor did I say the pass isn’t a good value. It simply isn’t worth it for us (and others) next year. 
     

    There is more to discuss but I do not believe this thread is the place for that, so I will stop here. 
     

    I appreciate your perspective and opinion on things. The more discussion, always the better. 

    • Like 1
  7. On 8/16/2022 at 6:56 AM, brenthodge said:

    Good thing they don’t ONLY market to you, and they have a lot of other customer profiles to pull from. Like you said-to each their own, but to imply the park is loosing total OVERALL revenue because you are pulling out isn’t maybe grasping their overall strategy. 

    My opinion is my opinion, but I can tell you that if I am not renewing my pass, others aren't as well. There are people that think the same way my fiancé and I do, and that amount of people isn't insignificant. That income, while not deal breaking, isn't insignificant. If it was, they would invest the bare minimum into rides.

     

    The hardcores will always buy passes. The GP may not.

  8. Just now, KI FANATIC 37 said:

    I also just really doubt we will see a coaster for a few years. Kings Island is normally on the 3-5 year cycle (2009,2014,2017,2020) for new coasters. I just keep thinking back to how much revenue theey had to lose in 2020 and 2021. I bet the ROI for Orion was so bad due to the awful timing of its opening and COVID.

     

    All things considered, given how bad the past 24 months had to be for Kings Island, I thought the park was in great shape this year when I returned. I was so pleased. I would really be surprised if we go anything "big" before 2025. This is all just  my novice opinion. You all are all much more in tune with the park than myself. 

    I hear what you're saying but I really don't think CF is in a bad spot anymore with their record revenues. If they wait until 2025 for something big, I fully expect attendance to decrease substantially at the park. I think they HAVE to add something solid next year or people will just bail on their season passes. I am already not renewing ours next year. So, they will have to win us back.

    • Like 4
  9. See the plan I wrote in early 2021 for how I would like to see money spent over the next few years to upgrade the park:

     

    Kings Island plan
    ------------------------
    2021 - New Campsite, General Park Improvements
    2022 - 50th Anniversary, Re-paint Racer, Retheme the Entrance to The Beast, Substantial track work on The Beast. Pipe Dream: New trains for The Beast.
    2023 - A lot of teasers that something big and daunting is coming, general park improvements. Plant lots of trees/ foliage around the wet and dry park to add shade (Light Year)
    2024 - A Intamin Blitz coaster replaces Vortex. Record setting length and inversions. The Beast defeated Vortex, the last effort to control the monster, Kings Island would not let that happen this time. Billed as the most intense rollercoaster in the world. King's Island invites you to test your limits on this massive knot of steel. (A clear competitor for #1 in the world. The capital should be here after a couple light years in a row)
    2025 - Invertigo is removed, Action Zone Rebranded to The Dark Forest, Additional Theming added, (Light Year)
    2026 - Water Park improvements, a new water coaster as well as repaving/ adding more shade, slides that need repainted also get painted
    2027 - Bat is retired. Planet Snoopy is converted into Camp Snoopy. Theming and more water added. A new thrilling flat added in the place of Invertigo.
    2028 - A new S & S axis coaster that replaces The Bat. Coaster heavily interacts with the terrain and near-miss elements are a feature.

    • Like 1
  10. 4 minutes ago, FUN&ONLY! said:

    I don’t know if we can trust them. I just posted the tweet, but I have absolutely no idea if it is accurate.

    Gotcha. Seems really unlikely at this point since announcements were all today. Especially considering they are promoting season passes for next year. 

    • Like 2
  11. 4 minutes ago, brenthodge said:

    The new area at Carrowinds seems to be exactly the type of attention that KI should get with Rivertown and Oktoberfest. Both of these areas are perfect opportunities for them to develop along the strategy lines that CF seems to be pursuing:

    Carowinds Vice President & General Manager Manny Gonzalez said, “Guests can look forward to in Aeronautica is a new way to experience this property from food to the attractions and the theming of the celebration of flying. Guests will be immersed into this new experience.”

    Gonzalez goes on to say that “The Company has been focused on looking at the areas of the park that we are able to develop a comprehensive way to hit our five senses, as we invest and bring in new excitements… that is what I’m most excited about.”


    Those two areas seem perfect for the "5 senses" approach. I personally wouldn't care if we got another "major coaster" for another 8-10 years if they had used the 50th as a time to launch a 4-6 year long range plan to "bring back classic thrills and themes, while introducing exciting new and thrilling experiences (flat ride and maybe smaller coaster) as we look to the past to set a course for the future of Kings Island". Then as the core areas (An enlarged and totally themed Oktoberfest, and a revamped and integrated Rivertown, Camp Snoopy, and River City Water Works) come to completion, announce a complete re-work of Old Coney to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the park with a massive new coaster Big Red Machine taking the back area (WindSeeker  - Vortex) that completes the "revisioning" of the park. 

    Agreed!!! I LOVE coasters but man I really just want investment into cohesiveness and experiences. I loved some of the flats at Carowinds and wish we had more. 

    • Like 1
  12. 21 minutes ago, beastfan11 said:

    A significant addition doesn’t always mean a new coaster. 

    No but food and entertainment is not significant either. 

     

    23 minutes ago, beastfan11 said:

    I mean, if you break down a lot of the 2022 additions you’ll see that they can easily carry over. 
     

    1. Food - In today’s announcement they mentioned improvements to service and delivery systems. That’s definitely a positive. Any menu items created specifically for the 50th could continue to be options or options of the same caliber could be introduced (hopefully). 
     

    2. Fireworks - The 50th show could be brought back easily if they wanted too. It would require a few creative changes, but it could be done. Even if that’s it for the 50th show, the infrastructure of the current show (projections, drones, lasers, etc.) could be used in a new show that could be just as great. 
     

    3. Shows - I’m not sure if there are any 2022 shows specifically tailored to be dumped after this season. They could all theoretically return. 
     

    In addition to what you mentioned, you have a vast amount of general park improvements and the massive undertaking that was The Beast retracking project. That’s a capital investment worthy of being a season’s “new ride” by itself. 
     

    Much of what 2022 brought will carry over I’m sure. KI’s time in the sun will be coming. 

    Ride maintenance should be expected not praised. Even with the retracking The Beast still needs a lot of work. This is after they put aside general maintenance and let it get to the point where it was so rough. 
     

    Did it cost a lot of money? Definitely. Was that also partially their fault? Very much so. 

    • Like 5
    • Thanks 2
  13. 26 minutes ago, rlentless said:

    Getting no new attractions for a few seasons is the reason why I don't understand in other posts people say "It's time to get rid of Congo Falls, Invertigo, The Bat, AE, etc.".  We would just likely look at an empty spot for a few years like The Vortex area.  I know The Vortex was removed for some unexpected EOL reasons.

    Since we are not getting new KI attractions, what are the 'improvements' you would like to see next season?

    Diamondback repaint would be my #1.

    Diamondback and Banshee both need a repaint if we are being honest. 
     

    If we are getting no new additions they better continue to retrack The Racer and The Beast. Bring back missing/ broken theming all across the park. Fix/ remove the funTVs cause right now they are mostly all broken. And actually fix boo blasters. The guns don’t work properly literally any time I go on it. 

    I would also like to see them use queues more efficiently. The one that gets on my nerves is FOF. Put the people inside the AC instead of making them wait outside in the heat. 

    • Like 7
  14. 22 hours ago, Browntggrr said:

    Sorry, I'm a bit confused by your posts.

    Did you not enjoy the new Phantom Theatre show?

    If you did, then that would be a new addition to 2022.

    Just because it’s a new addition does not mean it’s an important one. 
     

    Personally, I don’t watch the shows so no I didn’t enjoy it. Also, that show is replacing a show that already ran. So at best, it’s a small net positive if the show is better. 
     

    As other posters have mentioned, most people go for the rides. For the things they cannot do anywhere else. I can go to plays in any town. I cannot ride rollercoasters or large flats in any town. 
     

    Only 2 out of the last 6 years having additions is concerning any way you paint it. And with nothing being announced today my season pass is seriously up for question. That’s 2 platinum season passes might I add. 
     

    They had a chance to win my $600+ on passes alone and they are losing that chance. There is definitely other things I can do with that money. 

    • Like 6
  15. I know it’s not “cheap” to repaint or retract rides. However, the cost of a new food item or show is pretty small. They need new rides to attract the GP, like my fiancé. If they don’t add anything then she won’t want to pay for a season pass. If she doesn’t want a season pass then I won’t get one either. 
     

    New rides aren’t for the diehard fans. They are for the average person. I think not adding anything will hurt the park. If that is the route they take. 
     

    We rarely even have years without additions. Let alone 2 / 3 in a row depending on how you count Covid. 

    • Like 4
  16. 22 hours ago, SonofBaconator said:

    Not to sound crude but do you base your renewals on whether or not the park gets something new?

    It definitely contributes to the conversation. I would probably get a pass every year, but my fiancé may not. There needs to be a new experience to keep her interested. She isn't an enthusiast and doing the same thing she has done hundreds of times before doesn't make her want to get a pass. If she doesn't get a pass, I don't either. New rides are crucial to keeping interest and memberships up. That is why there are only a handful of years without new attractions since the park's debut. Same reason there is always new food options or new shows. You gotta keep the interest somehow.

    We have gone 2 years (2021 and 2022) without a new attraction. I like all the painting and park improvements, don't get me wrong, but it's time. 

    The thrill rides section of the site has 3 non-upcharge attractions, Delirium, Drop Tower and WindSeeker. I've ridden a couple S&S Screamin Swings now and would love to see one at the park. 

    • Like 4
  17. 40 minutes ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

    Antique Cars didn't have a teaser dropped until like the day before the announcement. 

    True. There are also no new documents online on the county site and not much in the way of physical markings. We will see what happens, but I'd really like something new to make it worth renewing my pass next year.

    • Like 1
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