robintodd

Good to hear. Thanks for letting me know.

Went last night and continue to be impressed with the staff and how KI continually is upgrading the event every year with new and different lights. The tunnel for 12 days of Christmas looks amazing. The whole park was beautiful as I've come to expect at the event. Also Juke Box has a 12 days of Christmas burger which has quac on it along with other things (I forget what). Also the Chicken Shack has Honey Mint Garlic wing sauce. Haven't tried either yet but cheers to the culinary team for new items. The mac and cheese bowl seem to have done away with tots in favor of sidewinder fries. I would think tots are much more suited to having the toppings on them leaving it "fork friendly". Almost seems like the sidewinders would necessitate a knife and fork. Will try next visit and see. Finally the Parade was amazing. Large crowds on each side of the street. Plenty of people in the parade with all the wonderful costumes, props and performances and the floats were beautiful. The only thing I would suggest is a "hand out" of small (individually wrapped, of course) candy canes as the parade goes by. Maybe I missed it, maybe it's something they will do later but it just felt like it was something to bring a bit more to the experience. I understand not tossing things out, as it is dark for the event but just to have a little interaction between performers and little ones would be nice. Also some type of dance during the stops is missed. The sing-along is a nice idea but doing it along with pulling kids in and having them dance would be great. Carnivale has definitely affected my opinion as if I had never seen it, I wouldn't have the suggestions I do for the Winterfest parade. It just seemed like not many were singing along. Not sure if that was because of being embarrassed or because of the current C-19 situation. I'm interested to see how things evolve with this during the season. All in all another wonderful experience for Winterfest yet again and I'm looking forward to many visits this season. Congratulations and thanks to all the staff and employees for a wonderful event that elevates the holiday experience!

My guess would be the size of the park. Remember, they have to tear down Haunt and put up Winterfest. Not all parks have a Royal Skating Rink that size and only 1 has a gigantic Christmas tree. There is also staffing to be concerned with. All that being said I could see them extending in a week either way (or both) in the future depending upon how the other parks experience with it. I for one enjoy the break between Haunt and Winterfest. It makes the anticipation more palpable and the first entry into the park more magical. After all I can remember not having it at all so I'm grateful for ANY Winterfest time I get!

The culinary team knocked it out of the park for the fall tastes this year!

My favorite place to eat in the park for the atmosphere.

Congratulations Chef Major!!! Well deserved!

Don't forget the location is now behind Hanks Mexican Grill.

Game Day Grill is on and fantastic!

Most likely could be done the week or two prior (just run 1 train on each track for 1 weekend, usually a park sellout with light attendance) and store the modded trains in the old pull offs (There's room for 2 in each one). I would think 5 days would be enough of a turn around. Inspections with the state wouldn't be that hard if pre-arranged. Think about how when a ride goes down in the middle of the season how quickly they can get an inspection to get it back open. Not likely, but I still think it would be a great tie-in with Haunt and a way to appease those who enjoy the backwards experience and to allow current generations to enjoy it.

I've always thought a great idea would be to set one side of The Racer backward during Haunt only. It would add to the unique experience during the haunt season.

Exactly why I always try to find more than one source (for the Fauchi's wife I found 5). Second, third and fourth opinions are a must when using Google. This is where a peer reviewed article holds more merit than a non peer reviewed one. Basically, the peers will either enforce or dispute the claims made in the article. Often times I'll hear something and say "that doesn't sound right" a quick trip around the web from difference sources backs up my thought. It's also important to hear opinions you may not agree with and not have blinders on when doing research. As far as Natural vs Vaccine antibodies the end result seems to be the same. One of the differences is a vaccine is targeted to a specific antibody where as in natural the body may form many different ones. Also vaccines don't carry a risk of complications from exposure to a virus. https://www.verywellhealth.com/antibodies-from-vaccines-and-from-natural-infection-5092564 As in the linked article from my previous post the best possible thing is to have had covid naturally and have the vaccine as well. Heres another article discussing "hybrid immunity" https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/hybrid-immunity-people-covid-still-get-vaccinated-rcna1974 and one more https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/09/07/1033677208/new-studies-find-evidence-of-superhuman-immunity-to-covid-19-in-some-individuals The more you know......

Thanks for the condolences and the same to you for your best friend. I agree about the lack of credible information and will offer the following after some quick searching (read through it, I was surprised by somethings, especially that Reagan was quoting a Democrat!): I'll cover the article and Fauci's wife first, the the Reaganism. The fact that is not peer reviewed should make it suspect. I can write and article and have it published to say that the sky is purple. If the same article was peer reviewed then then peers would soon prove my findings inaccurate. As far as the Phizer vaccine and Fauci's wife, things are not adding up for you because the accusations are not true. This can be found y a quick google search. Here is what I found: "In recent days, other users on Facebook have shared similar versions of the claim that have racked up hundreds of shares. But the posts are wrong. Grady is not involved with the FDA’s vaccine testing and approval. " and ""Dr. Grady does not approve the conduct of any research protocol, and she has no input into the FDA process for issuing EUAs (emergency use authorizations)," the NIH told the Associated Press in May." https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/08/30/fact-check-faucis-wife-has-no-role-vaccine-approval/5616304001/ "CLAIM: Dr. Anthony Fauci’s wife is the chief of bioethics and human subjects research at the National Institutes of Health. That means she’s the one who rubber stamps exceptions to normal drug and vaccine testing. AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The COVID-19 vaccines received emergency use approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, not the NIH. THE FACTS: Throughout the pandemic, social media users have posted false and misleading claims involving Fauci and those around him. This week, posts emerged suggesting that the vaccines received rapid approval because of Fauci’s wife, Christine Grady, at the NIH." https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-170254166936 "Christine Grady, Dr. Anthony Fauci’s wife, is chief of bioethics at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. She isn’t involved in issuing emergency use authorizations for unapproved medical products. Grady teaches medical ethics and researches ethical issues related to medicine and clinical research, according to the National Institutes of Health. She does not have authority to approve the conduct of any research protocol, “and she has no input into the FDA process for issuing EUAs,” the NIH said. " https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/may/21/viral-image/no-faucis-wife-didnt-issue-emergency-use-authoriza/ As far as the Reaganism. You do realize that he was quoting a democrat right? "Senator Edmund Muskie, Democrat from Maine, was reported to have said to a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Chicago in early 1976, The three most common lies are, “I put your check in the mail yesterday,” “I gave at the office” and “I’m from the federal government and I’m here to help you.”" https://www.professorbuzzkill.com/reagan-terrifying-words/ I would argue that the companies that made the vaccine are, in fact, acting as participants in the capitalist system. They are not freely giving the vaccine, exactly the opposite. There is a profit motive behind the research and more than likely any nefarious reason for the government to push it would come from lobbyists from those companies driven by the almighty dollar. How do you feel when the fire department shows up to a fire? or a paramedic shows up to take someone to the hospital? How about the dozens of terrorist threats (foreign and domestic) that have been thwarted by the FBI? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unsuccessful_terrorist_plots_in_the_United_States_post-9/11 It appears to me that if Reagan was so bothered by the government and it's handling of things then why did he put so much of our tax dollars into it? "Reagan significantly increased public expenditures, primarily the Department of Defense, which rose (in constant 2000 dollars) from $267.1 billion in 1980 (4.9% of GDP and 22.7% of public expenditure) to $393.1 billion in 1988 (5.8% of GDP and 27.3% of public expenditure); most of those years military spending was about 6% of GDP, exceeding this number in 4 different years. All these numbers had not been seen since the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War in 1973." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaganomics (By the way, I'm still waiting on the "trickle down effect") It is exactly the amount of red tape and checks and balances that make the government look ineffective that keep us from being under a dictatorship. It all depends on your outlook. Everyone picks on the United States Postal Service but I challenge you to go to a UPS or Fedex store and put a letter addressed to someone in California on the counter and 60 cents and let me know when it gets to it's destination. The government may not be perfect but it's still the one I choose to live in and that's the greatest thing about our government. Unlike other governments in other countries, if you don't like it here, you can move somewhere else. That is the freedom that too many who are critical of our government takes for granted. Aside from all this thanks for the discussion. I believe the one thing we need nowadays is an exchange of ideas and the ability to discuss them and either grow our own assertions or take the opportunity to re-shape them.

There is one big difference between vaccination and natural infection. You may be betting your life on it: “While a natural infection may induce maturation of antibodies with broader activity than a vaccine does—a natural infection can also kill you,” says Michel C. Nussenzweig, the Zanvil A. Cohn and Ralph M. Steinman professor and head of Rockefeller’s Laboratory of Molecular Immunology. “A vaccine won’t do that and, in fact, protects against the risk of serious illness or death from infection.” https://www.rockefeller.edu/news/30919-natural-infection-versus-vaccination-differences-in-covid-antibody-responses-emerge/ I would also point out that the study in Israel has NOT been peer reviewed as referenced in your link. I believe it also only looked at the Phiser vaccine and seemed to be concentrating on the Delta variant. There is a reason studies are peer reviewed. (https://lib.byu.edu/faq/244739/) "The study relies on data from Israel's Maccabi Health Services, and was conducted by researchers from Maccabi and Tel Aviv University. A preprint of the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, was published last week on medRxiv." It should also be pointed out that the it is better to get a vaccine even if you've been infected for the best results. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine-comparison-natural-immunity-covid-19-verify/85-6b531cb8-b604-46ef-b575-7566a4a6699a Those people you know who got sick after getting vaccinated and having it previously just shows how effective the vaccine is at inducing the body's immune system to an effective response. Most people who didn't have COIVID had a reaction after the 2nd dose because the first dose trains their body to recognize the antigen. I was relived when I had a reaction to the 2nd dose because it meant my body was ready to do battle with the disease and the vaccine had done it's job. BTW, did any of them die? https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/why-vaccine-side-effects-might-be-more-common-people-whove-already-had-covid-19 COVID affected me because my uncle died of it. He refused to get vaccinated and his last days on this Earth were spend fighting for is life and in pain. His last words were (as so many others have conveyed on a ventilator) "I wish I would have gotten the darn vaccination".

Ha Ha Jump...... I see what you did there

Just posted. As we roll out fall celebrations, for this Saturday’s (Sept. 25) Chef’s Plate, we are going to do it with a BANG! This Saturday’s theme is El Diablo with Smoked Devil’s Hoof (Smoked Shank with Spicy Ginger Glaze), From the Ashes Potatoes (Marbled Potatoes with Parsley Butter) and Country Green Beans (Simmered and Seasoned) on the menu. https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2021/september/foodie-news-el-diablo-the-theme-for-saturdays-chefs-plate

You would think they would look at it from a budgeting standpoint sometime along the line while taking in the consumer's standpoint. I think with the $5 off online they are trying to cut down on the lines for the food. During carnivale half of the wait was people purchasing lanyards. Of course the other $5 off for pass holders increases the value of season passes. Being on the dining plan I notice that a meal that costs the GP 13.99 gets rung up for 9.95 (I'm guessing cost without park markup?). Going off of this idea with each taste at 7.50 probably 2.50 of that is straight profit leaving the true "cost" 5.00 for each taste. So that's the way I'll be judging the "value" of each one. Would I pay $5 at a venue outside of the park for what I'm getting (knowing the other 2.50 is going toward park expenses (wages, other operations cost and, of course, profit). Betting more often than not the answer will be yes. By the same token, I look at the meals I eat in the park on my dining plan as if I would pay 10.00 for it when considering value, and that answer is most always yes. Also we most definitely need a hard push next year to get KI the golden ticket for best food. They have proved it for over 2 years now and I would love for the culinary team to get recognized. KI Foodies UNITE

Last Chef's Plate I was talking to Don and Chef Major and Chef said through Haunt (I'm assuming weather permitting).

New Taste offerings are posted! Can't wait to try them this weekend. Looks like Chef and the culinary team have out-done themselves yet again! https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2021/september/foodie-guide-taste-the-flavors-of-fall-at-tricks-and-treats-fall-fest-at-kings-island Also looks like passholders get $10 off tasting cards when buying online. With a pass and buying online it's 6-tastes for 44.99 and 9 tastes for 69.99. Doing the math the 6-tastes comes to 7.50 each and the 9 comes to 7.78 each. So, buying the 9 is actually more expensive on a per-taste basis. I wonder if it may have been better to do a 10 taste at 69.99 making the cost 7 each or having the 9 tastes for 64.99 making the cost 7.22 each (probably the more realistic option). The only reason I bring this up is there is usually a discount for buying more. Not being critical, just wondering. Either way, I'm in for the 9! Between this and the chef's plate on Saturday (A "plate" like no other!) I'm going to have to be taking some extra steps to keep the weight off this fall.

Word I heard is it will

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/haunt/attractions Click on Map near the top of the page (on the right, next to list).

Back on topic I for one am proud of KI winning this award. Seems to me like a USA today poll is much more "diverse" of a voting pool than amusement park fan boys for the golden ticket awards. To be clear the USA today poll would also include people who do not necesarially have their finger on the amusement park pulse. Either way kudo's to the home team. It's a recognition well deserved!

My thought would be they would relocate it next to white water canyon. Having all the water rides together is nice, like at CP. I have been thinking that they may remove/relocate congo falls, remove timberwolf and remove/relocate Invertigo to create a coaster to interact with the main gate. It just may take 2 - 6 years till it happens (which means it may already be in the planning phase).

I believe I didn't make my point clear. My point is in the past people would use the tax credit when they filed their taxes thus receiving the credit on a lump sum, and increasing the refund they would get or decreasing the amount of taxes they owe. What the tax act is doing is allowing people to receive the credit over months (like a payment plan). In that instance they won't have the lump sum amount to claim as a tax credit on their taxes when they file. These monthly payments were automatic and you had to opt out of them. Some families may have a surprise bill coming next April if they didn't plan accordingly. That being said one of the sites did say that 1 million families have already opted to forgo the monthly payments in favor of the lump sum when they file. Some families in the past may have used a tax return for a vacation but if that total is reduced by $3,000 (more for over 1 child) they may find themselves not going on that vacation. Instead they were spending the money all along which may account for some of the raised per-cap spending in the parks. Just my 2 cents. BTW, the current administration is wanting to extend the child tax credits till 2025. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/26/opting-out-of-monthly-child-tax-credit-payments-makes-sense-for-some-.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/child-tax-credit/

Have to wonder how much of the stimulus has to do with per cap spending. With the monthly checks a family with 4 children gets $1000 a month that's alot of extra cash floating around. It ends in December so next year we will feel the effects. It will also be a big surprise to people when they file their taxes next year because the cash they are getting now is what they would usually deduct on their tax return. So basically those refunds people usually get may be lower or they may end up owing taxes.

Actually it was 9 for $45 (for season pass holders) ($5 per taste). With how successful it was it's no surprise that it would go up in price with the supply-demand. With such a large rise I would expect slightly larger portions. Either way with the state of the culinary team at KI, I'm in and looking forward to it.