Winterfestguy

We enjoyed the park being open daily the week before Christmas - even though the days were work and school nights, we were able to enjoy dinner, a show, the lights, and leave by 830 with our mug of hot chocolate. What is missing is the advertising on TV and Radio (my friends in the tri-state area said there have been no Winterfest commercials or TV interviews about the event with staff whereas in the summer KI ran a commercial about every couple of hours).

Several years ago KI built a building behind the blackout haunt to house their Winterfest decorations. Since many decorations are new this year and many are different from last season, what percentage of decorations are leased for the season compared to actually being owned by KI (or CF)?

This is really is not similar to Disney or Universal - those plans (depending on which plan) give one full service sit down, one quick service, one snack item OR one quick service meal and one snack item. With the CF all day dining (assuming you eat every 90 min from 11am till 9pm in the summer) you could have a total of 6 meals. I cannot imagine adding another snack on top of the 6 meals (which the snack seemed to add another $5 bucks to their all day dining plans). In my opinion CF really missed the boat on what people were asking for. My friends feedback has always been why can’t you substitute a snack item at the 90 minute interval in place of a meal with the all day dining plan? (Example - So you might at 90 minute intervals have 3 meals, one ice cream, and 2 pretzels that day from 11am-9pm). Seems that CF might save some money on food costs if they would the structure the plan that way for just one person. Adding a snack on top of typically 6 meals a day will only encourge more sharing (which happens frequently because there is already too much food for just one person in a day).

Next year KI should advertise WF to the surrounding states like they do for their summer season. Many out of state people do not even know that KI is open for the winter Holiday season (and that there are coasters running weather permitting!). Hopefully KI will never cut back on their lights like Dollywood did this season.(Dollywood definitely had far less lights than in previous seasons which may be why they ended up third).

When the scoreboard closed to public viewing in the last few days of the contest, Branson was in first, KI Winterfest in second, and Dollywood in third. The top ten will be announced on Dec 21 so will see if KI could secure enough votes to move ahead of Branson to the top spot.

CP experimented with bringing out the huts (like those used during KI Winterfest Artisians Village) and serving foods from various countries on the weekends this last season. It sounds like CF wants to expand the same concept to other parks like KI. I wish KI would have a Beer and BBQ event like CP does in June. Since CF has said they need to reduce their labor budget, I would be surprised it next season’s budget has lots of extra dollars (but of course depends upon how much Winterfest at the four parks influences the overall Q4 results).

They should move Tinkers back to the Kings Island Theater to have a fantastic large set design, sound, and bring back the North Pole Penguins which were the original and 2005 Winterfest tradition (seems the penguins got dropped when the new Tinker production was made last year for Winterfest 3). Then a new production could play in the Festhaus. Charlie Brown and Friends can move over to the new Enchanted Theater venue. Bring back the North Pole Penguins!

See page 9 of this thread for the IS Winter Buffet menu (there is a blend of zucchini and squash in a red pepper sauce that might be appropriate for vegetarians). There is a different menu for the Reds buffet for which the menu is also listed earlier in this thread.

That’s the type of Star that is needed on the new Winterfest tree (with hundreds of twinkling bulbs) rather than the current dimly lit rope light star.

Some newer belts and belt buckles can now hide dangerous items. The purpose of the scanner is to help identify dangerous objects like knives so that they are not taken into the park for your safety. An example of a belt buckle with a knife blade. Why someone would wear something like this to an amusement park is a complete mystery to me. https://www.slidebelts.com/products/survival-belt?variant=5432466374671&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2Mjk-Nb03gIVgrfACh19qQHUEAQYBCABEgIwK_D_BwE

The park did a fantastic job of listening to all the comments from last year, and I was surprised to see nothing done with the very weakly lighted star on top of the tower (the same as last season), which had many comments about changing to something different because of being so dim. Maybe the park should buy back the old Winterfest star tree topper with hundreds of twinkling C7 bulbs to use as a pattern to create something new and exciting for next year.

Interesting that Carowinds is offering 50% off Winterfest pre-purchase admission tickets through Nov 14 and is also having a Season Pass Preview Night. Too bad KI is not offering the same deal.

Maybe for a change Holiwood Nights and CP Coastermania won’t be the same weekend so we can attend both (since CP Coastermania is typically the first Friday in June which would make it June 7).

There is ice skating at KD just like at KI. There are a few less lights at KD (approx 2 million), but there will be 12 live shows at KD which is more than Christmas Town will have (wonder if Six buys the SeaWorld chain how much Christmas Town might change?). Also, KD has the same 300 foot tree on the tower with LED lights as KI which is taller and more technologically advanced than any tree in Christmas Town. Since this is the first year of Winterfest at KD, look for it to be expanded in 2019 just has KI has done in their second season. It is likely KD will have some impact on Christmas Town attendance.

We can only hope KI also extends their Saturday Winterfest hours too - when asked during the podcast, they have indicated there are no plans to extend the current KI Saturday hours of 4-10pm (but as we know, they do sometimes change their mind at the last minute such as last year when they decided to open at 4 instead of 5 on Saturdays).

Winterfest 2005 ran both trains so not sure why last year they made the decision was made to only run one. Glad to hear the boiler issues in colder weather have been figured out, so the trains will actually run. The train sat at the station all day yeasterday, last night, and is still at the station today possibly for decorating the cars?

Will KI be making any technological advances in their app so that food can be ordered/paid for using cell phones and then simply picked up at a special window (similar to what the Disney and Universal apps are currently doing, even with their dining plans)?

Universal Orlando offically launched their “Mobile Express Pick Up” app for food this week which is very similar to the Disney’s mobile food app. Guests and pick their restaurant, view menu, order, pay or use their dining plan, and pick up their food when they are ready. Will KI/CF ever make the technological advancement to using an app instead of their current kiosk approach? (which never has worked well for me, especially with a season drink plan)

Interesting article on food quality across the CF chain, but primarily focused on CP. KI too has seen its fair share of food inconsistencies (jutebox, mac&cheese bar, panda, etc.). If season pass meal plans do indeed account for about 30% on the bottom line, it could be an interesting 2019 if many decide not renew their plans. Even though it may cost a few dollars more, I am waiting to see how the food quality is at KI Winterfest before committing to a 2019 season meal plan. http://www.sanduskyregister.com/story/201710120034

The new Igloos seem to be on the expensive side since there are lots of “additional fees apply” and you can’t even use your meal plan to have food and drink brought to you (menu prices apply).

I image the park will immediately begin their 26 day transformation to Winterfest immediately after the last guest passes through the exit (which is likely why no extended ERT on the last Sunday). With lots of rain and unsettled weather predicted in the coming weeks, it will be a tough schedule to remove all Halloween and be totally ready for Winterfest Nov 23. Carowinds even has less time to transition since their opening Winterfest date is Sunday Nov 18.

There is likely a good profit in beer and alcohol sales, so doubt the CF would ever stop selling it in their parks. It is impossible to monitor the parking lots for people drinking before one enters the park. If you have ever been to Universal Horror nights, alcohol is sold everywhere, and at least KI limits the few places that sell beer during Haunt hours.

For those that don’t have a season pass and may be thinking about purchasing Winterfest tickets for their other guests, note that the on-line ticket processing fee comes up as $6.99 for one advance ticket which defeats the purpose of buying in advance on-line to save money and time at the gate. Very tricky marketing by the park when you see savings but only come to find out at checkout the ridiculously high processing fee.

The Saturday nights later in October are historically the busiest for Haunt. If the approaching rain hits KI during Haunt tonight, it may thin out the crowds some, especially since the outdoor scare zones will likely close due to rain.

It seemed like every time I visited CP this summer, WindSeeker had malfunctioned and stopped at the top - on one visit, it was stuck for 15 minutes at the top until lowered (and did not run the rest of the night). I agree that for whatever reason the one at KI seems more reliable and less likely to malfunction.