IndyGuy4KI

Winterfest was a very fun event! For starting up this event after all these years, Cedar Fair did not set this up for as one season try out. Eveything was top notch, from the decorations to the shows. We only tried the Mac and Cheese Bar, but was wonderful!! See KIC Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more pictures!

More pictures!

More pics

International street views!

All the Winterfest threads open right now are specific enough to a WF topic about it. I see no need to merge any together right now.

Please use the existing threads. This one will be locked.

Winterfest 2017 is just days away and I thought it would be cool to share what KIC has in its archives. From our Park history page here is information written by Admin @CoastersRZ on Winterfest starting back in the 1982 season. There is a link to the page with over 100 pictures from past Winterfest events and then we get into Winterfest 2017! In 1982, Kings Island opened its gates in December to a park that was transformed into a winter wonderland. The Eiffel Tower was decked out as a large Christmas tree, and there was ice-skating in the royal fountain. Guests could visit with Scrooge, or enjoy a ride on the Smurf`s Enchanted Voyage. Guests could also embark on the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad, take a spin on the Grand Carousel or the Hanna Barbera Carousel or take in the shows. Kings Island`s WinterFest debuted in 1982, one year before the Cincinnati Zoo started their winter festival, dubbed “Festival of Lights.” Millions of guests enjoyed WinterFest over the years. Then Paramount Communications purchased the park and wished to keep the park open longer in the fall. The result of staying open through the end of October was that they would not have enough time to prepare for WinterFest. So they decided to discontinue it after the conclusion of the 1992 incarnation. On July 25, 2005 Kings Island announced that they were bringing back WinterFest in 2005, after a thirteen-season absence. Paramount`s Carowinds also announced that they will introduce WinterFest in 2005, for the first time in their history. It would feature many of the old traditions established at the original, and many more. All the decorations were brand new, as the original ones were either sold off or donated. They decided to reinstate WinterFest after years of surveying park guests about the concept. Preparations began years in advance as well: a new sound system on International Street was installed, more indoor dining establishments in 2005 on International Street , and a renovation of the Royal Fountain. For WinterFest 2005, the Eiffel Tower was once again decked out as a large Christmas tree. The Royal Fountain was once again transformed into a large ice skating rink. The Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad wass transformed into the White Christmas Express, complete with a cast of 1940`s era characters. On Swan Lake in Rivertown, there was Holiday Illuminations, featuring an immersive light show on the lake and in the surrounding forest. There was also a Christmas parade through the streets, as well as a Toy Factory musical in the Paramount Theater. Nickelodeon Central was transformed into Santa`s Christmastown and the Paramount Story was transformed into the Nickelodeon Holiday Tree lot. The Festhaus was transformed into the WinterFest Haus, with live entertainers on a revolving turntable stage. The classic Scrooge`s house returned for the reincarnated Winterfest. Also, every night, one lucky family was chosen to light the Eiffel Tower. In addition to the train ride, the park had both the Grand Carousel, and the Hanna Barbera Carousel open. They also had Pixie and Dixie`s Swingset, Topcat`s Taxi Jam and Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle open for the guests enjoying WinterFest. The master planning of this multi-million dollar event was conducted by Jack Rouse Associates. They designed and produced the thematic elements for the White Christmas Express, Santa`s Christmastown, Holiday Illuminations on Swan Lake, as well as the thematic elements in the WinterFest Haus and the thematic elements for Scrooge`s house on International Street. With the Paramount Parks purchasing the park in 2006 by Cedar Fair, it was announced that this second incarnation of Winterfest would not return for a second season in 2006. In 2016, Cedar Fair announced that they would hold a Winterfest event at sister park, California`s Great America, with the possibility of expanding to other Cedar Fair Parks in the future. In the summer of 2016, it was announced that Winterfest would once again return to Kings Island for the 2017 holiday season. Sister parks, Carowinds and Worlds of Fun will also be hosting Winterfest in 2017. This new version of Winterfest will be included free for Gold and Platinum pass holders. Winterfest Version 3.0 is set to debut on Friday, November 24th, 2017. Full article here with Winterfest photo library at the bottom of the page: https://kicentral.com/parkhistory/winterfest/ I will be on FB live and posing to other social media outlets on Friday the 24th as we experience the new Cedar Fair Winterfest 2017. Feel free to use this thread to post your thoughts and pictures. We will also be posing updates in this thread through the evening. We hope Winterfest 2017 will become the start of a yearly holiday tradition for years to come at Kings Island. Here are a few pics the park sent to me this morning for sneak peak! Thanks Don and Chad! See you in the park!

https://www.holidayworld.com/holiblog/2017/11/21/38562/

I don't mind being with others with Fiunpix, but I have no desire to purchase it myself.

I am not sure which side you are defending at this point. A difference in 114,827 in 3 seasons and one of the top 5 coasters for ridership. I don't see it going anywhere unless necessary anytime soon.

Good point. I just don't see it changing Vortex's ridership, but that is why we have awesome discussions on here!

@pianoman True on the fountain ERT!

Why do you say that? Do you think its popularity went down when we got Banshee?

That means we would have gotten Dominator that went to KD. Which would not have hurt my feelings, but I also want to appreciate what we do have.

I know this was part of the rules of the poll by Bacon, but I feel bad for BLSC. It can not help where Paramount placed him or what it replaced. He is getting a bad wrap for things out if his control.

Yeah, thinking of the math, prob more like 400 rph.

@VortexBFForever if BLSC was in say X-Base you would vote differently? I enjoy FH on occasion, but if it was totally gone I am not sure I would miss it that much. @SonofBaconator I miss your old Avatar!

It will look like Dodgems enough without to many people out there. I will be on my behind more than on the skates.

Oh, I thought you were wanting to judge them. @malem and I could do that..

I can ride it several times just needs to be spaced out. Nothing much better than a night ride on Voyage.

So many ideas to make Xbase a full area of the park. One that has not been touched since the addition of FH after they purchased the park. That area should be the next area to receive some TLC!

I guess this will be a members only contest. Mods get disqualified.

I don't ever see them changing from PTC's at this point. I do agree Millennium Flyers would be sweet in it.

I guess I loose. I don't own a sweater much less an ugly one!

I think they should have went with flying DeLoreans.