standbyme Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I will preface my comment by saying that I KNOW I am in the minority...but having shows in Festhaus has actually driven me and my family away from it. It used to be our favorite place to eat in the park...now we go out of our way to avoid it. It is not that the shows are necesarilly bad...we just prefer to eat in relative peace & quiet. I think the volume of the shows should be turned down a bit. (I know..."If it's too loud, your too old". ) On the off times we do choose to still eat in Festhaus due to inclimate weather we try and schedule it between the shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Sheppard Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I will preface my comment by saying that I KNOW I am in the minority...but having shows in Festhaus has actually driven me and my family away from it. It used to be our favorite place to eat in the park...now we go out of our way to avoid it. It is not that the shows are necesarilly bad...we just prefer to eat in relative peace & quiet. I think the volume of the shows should be turned down a bit. (I know..."If it's too loud, your too old". ) On the off times we do choose to still eat in Festhaus due to inclimate weather we try and schedule it between the shows. Well the good news for you is that you can find LaRosa's at two other locations in the park in relatively quieter places. And the volume of the shows is not that loud unless you're sitting in the front right by the speaker. Its a big room, sit towards the back or on the front sides up towards the stage where the speaker doesn't directly hit your ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN1993 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Settle down there Mr. Kirk, he just stated his opinion of the facility. I have to agree with Standbyme its hard to eat in there while a show is taking place due to the lighting among other things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarketingExpress Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 ^^Your suggestion would be acceptable if Standbyme had mentioned that his family was only there for LaRosa's. There are far more products available for purchase in the Festhaus then LaRosa's products. I think most of the Festhaus' popularity is the fact that you have a variety of products at one stop. This is especially convenient for a large group or family who might all want something different for a meal but don't want to have to wait for each other to get their food. As for the volume, it can vary from show to show. Everyone has different comfort levels regardless of where they are sitting in the building What might be considered loud to me might not be loud to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Sheppard Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Settle down there Mr. Kirk, he just stated his opinion of the facility. I have to agree with Standbyme its hard to eat in there while a show is taking place due to the lighting among other things. Given how I think most of the food looks from Panda Express, I think low lighting would be appreciated. But then again, I hate Chinese food. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PizzaBaby027 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 For the past few years now I feel as if the festhaus is more of a country themed area, maybe they outta them it to a barn. I feel now that the festhaus is themed to country, just the feeling I get when I walk in lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdawg1998 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 It's like a German restaurant in Tennessee with a Chinese culture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 With all due respect, it seems to me someone is lip synching something. Do you know what lip synching means? I have watched these shows countless times and I can assure you that the performers are singing live, not recorded, at each show. Unless, of course, you are talking about the Peanuts productions in the Planet Snoopy area.. Yes, I know what lip synching means. And yes, someone is lip synching. I answered that in the part of my post you chose not to quote: You. The park's Live-E party line.... You are lip synching with the park's viewpoint...which is fine and dandy, but: * There is more money to be made in/by the park than just in the Fest House. If those who used to come for a quiet meal or for German theming/shows no longer come, the park loses their parking, admissions and in park spending revenue. About like Paramount (and Cedar Fair, too) to ONLY consider the point of sale revenue in the Fest House. There is more to a park than a single location, more than just rides, just shows, just parking revenue, just admissions revenue, just season pass revenue, etc. Many small changes over time add up. There is a reason that admissions at the park are much, much lower than in the park's heyday. Many of them, actually. And I submit that the loss of theming throughout the park, not just at Fest House, is one of the major ones...along with focusing on rides, rides, rides; while eliminating tram service, cutting back on live entertainment (a trend Cedar Fair has somewhat reversed at Kings Island, but not compared to Kings Island pre-Paramount), cutting back on quality of food and merchandise while greatly raising prices, cutting back on middle management thinking those people didn't do anything the guest would notice anyway, etc. Al Weber under CBS was forced to make many of these changes in the CBS days, and now we sadly see him doing many of the same things again at Six Flags...from ending the fire department at Great Adventure to ending Temple of the Tiger, cutting back park hours, etc. A guest may not notice a cut here and a cut there, but eventually all the cuts add up to the guests realizing, or at least some of them realizing, that the park is not the Fun & Only....there are other places to spend entertainment dollars. And always there is someone who will parrot the park's lines for this month, which seem to encompass that the German theming for Fest House is old and outdated and needs abandoning... By the way, it is not YOUR Fest House show, it is not mine, it is currently Cedar Fair's. They will do with it what they wish, whether or not we like it. And I will go or not go, whether or not anyone here likes it. It's all I can do and I do what I can do. You see, I'm not ready to see a midget bleed. Not today. Not Friday. Not Saturday. And I won't. Not voluntarily anyway. It's my money, I choose how to spend it. You can do the same with yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Sheppard Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 * There is more money to be made in/by the park than just in the Fest House. If those who used to come for a quiet meal or for German theming/shows no longer come, the park loses their parking, admissions and in park spending revenue. About like Paramount (and Cedar Fair, too) to ONLY consider the point of sale revenue in the Fest House. There is more to a park than a single location, more than just rides, just shows, just parking revenue, just admissions revenue, just season pass revenue, etc. Then they should open the restaurant above the entrance back up. I totally agree that more options are good. I just don't think German is a good option anymore. My personal opinion and preference. I also am glad that they have two shows in there and think its a good venue for them. Again, just my opinion. Many small changes over time add up. There is a reason that admissions at the park are much, much lower than in the park's heyday. Many of them, actually. And I submit that the loss of theming throughout the park, not just at Fest House, is one of the major ones...along with focusing on rides, rides, rides; while eliminating tram service, cutting back on live entertainment (a trend Cedar Fair has somewhat reversed at Kings Island, but not compared to Kings Island pre-Paramount), cutting back on quality of food and merchandise while greatly raising prices, cutting back on middle management thinking those people didn't do anything the guest would notice anyway, etc. Al Weber under CBS was forced to make many of these changes in the CBS days, and now we sadly see him doing many of the same things again at Six Flags...from ending the fire department at Great Adventure to ending Temple of the Tiger, cutting back park hours, etc. A guest may not notice a cut here and a cut there, but eventually all the cuts add up to the guests realizing, or at least some of them realizing, that the park is not the Fun & Only....there are other places to spend entertainment dollars. Agreed completely. I went to Disney World 4 times in 2009 and on one of those trips rode a total of probably less than 10 rides in the three days I was there. I LOVE theming. I love details. And always there is someone who will parrot the park's lines for this month, which seem to encompass that the German theming for Fest House is old and outdated and needs abandoning... I didn't realize the park had addressed this issue so I don't think I'm parroting their opinion. Agreeing without my knowledge, maybe. But I - unlike you, from what I've gathered from your other posts - am not privy to these kinds of things from park management. By the way, it is not YOUR Fest House show... And I was completely kidding with my friend Gordon Bombay, poking fun at the reputation (deserved, I guess) I'm getting for being a gigantic mark for the shows at Kings Island. Sorry I couldn't make that humor more clear. And before anyone freaks out that Terpy and I are flaming one another or other such nonsense, it should be noted that he sent a friend request today and I gladly accepted. People can disagree - passionately - without taking it personally. It's just a message board, folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I learn a lot more from people I disagree with than I ever did or do from people with whom I agree. I admire your ability to disagree without being disagreeable, and hope I can and do do the same...well, maybe not the doo-doo part! Terp, who knows we are all here because of a park we love... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Well, to chime in on the subject of the International Restaurant. One big challenge is that to re-open it as a restaurant would require some work, to bring it up to the current ADA standards. The biggest problem is that the elevator is not readily accessible from a public area, so it would require some substantial upgrades. Not to say that the park can`t (or even hasn`t) thought about doing those upgrades. Even Moonlite Gardens has had an elevator added to service the upper level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Sheppard Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Well, to chime in on the subject of the International Restaurant. One big challenge is that to re-open it as a restaurant would require some work, to bring it up to the current ADA standards. The biggest problem is that the elevator is not readily accessible from a public area, so it would require some substantial upgrades. Not to say that the park can`t (or even hasn`t) thought about doing those upgrades. Even Moonlite Gardens has had an elevator added to service the upper level. You know what would be amazing - and I get that it would never work or ever happen, but I wish they could enclose the lower level of the Eiffell Tower, with floor to ceiling windows, and make it into an upscale dining experience. That would be a dream come true. And while I'm dreaming, make it into a revolving platform so it circles around the park throughout dinner. Again, this would never ever happen but wouldn't that be cool?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muppetfan1999 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 International Restaurant used to be open to public? I thought it was always available only if you rented it out! When did this change? Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 A few years back...supposedly declining patronage and lower profits. It has a very small capacity, access issues and was difficult to staff adequately. Kings Island is lacking in sit down, table service restaurants compared to most parks of its stature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muppetfan1999 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I always thought it was a really fancy restaurant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 It was, but the little secret was it cost very little more to eat there than in the park itself...and the food and service were both superb. I had some very nice meals there back in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 And the volume of the shows is not that loud unless you're sitting in the front right by the speaker. Its a big room, sit towards the back or on the front sides up towards the stage where the speaker doesn't directly hit your ears. We already sit at the end table as you enter the door...any farther away from the stage and we would be back outside! I have worked in a music store for decades...I am the master of tuning out music that I don't want to hear...but that still does not make it any easier to carry on a conversation. I think most of the Festhaus' popularity is the fact that you have a variety of products at one stop. This is especially convenient for a large group or family who might all want something different for a meal but don't want to have to wait for each other to get their food. It is as if you know my family! That is one of the main reasons we loved Festhaus...that and the air conditioning! Also, Topgun, thanks for the defense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonks Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Well, to chime in on the subject of the International Restaurant. One big challenge is that to re-open it as a restaurant would require some work, to bring it up to the current ADA standards. The biggest problem is that the elevator is not readily accessible from a public area, so it would require some substantial upgrades. Not to say that the park can`t (or even hasn`t) thought about doing those upgrades. Even Moonlite Gardens has had an elevator added to service the upper level. You know what would be amazing - and I get that it would never work or ever happen, but I wish they could enclose the lower level of the Eiffell Tower, with floor to ceiling windows, and make it into an upscale dining experience. That would be a dream come true. And while I'm dreaming, make it into a revolving platform so it circles around the park throughout dinner. Again, this would never ever happen but wouldn't that be cool?? I for one love that idea even though as you said it would never happen. One of my favorite things to do at the park is to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower at night when the entire park is lit up. Add a nice dinner experience to that and they would get so much money out of me and my girlfriend every time we come to the park lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I, too, like this idea, but I assume by lower level you do NOT mean the 50 foot level...that isn't high enough to make this work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Sheppard Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I, too, like this idea, but I assume by lower level you do NOT mean the 50 foot level...that isn't high enough to make this work... No, the 275 (I think?) foot platform that they only seem to use when its rainy. The elevator on the left side goes up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 The two upper levels are at 265' and 275'. The first level is at 50' and was at one time open to the public, but accessible only by stairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erosarrow05 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 With regards to the IS dining facility... While my feelings are not acrimonious at neither Cedar Fair, nor its predecessor I am slightly disappointed there is still no indoor table service facility at Kings Island. I suppose this disappointment stems from feeling as though I am being taken advantage of for the sole reason of 'their ability to be take advantage of the client' i.e. make them pay top dollar, for a lackluster product, make them wait in line to get it, then find a seat and have to clean the previous diners garbage from the table... Especially when one travels to the Mecca of theme parks - Orlando - and you not only get a better quality product from a friendlier staff, but at a lower price point. Truth be told, (and this is in no way a plug) you can go to The Beach and find a higher quality product at a lower price point In my eyes, I would be a little more willing to spend the price they are asking, if it were a full service facility. I don't particularly care where the facility is located, to be honest, I don't think I could provide a suitable location if asked, but that is what R&D is for I suppose. I am not remotely naive enough to think Cedar Fair is in business for anything else but to make money - it's a business. However, when your business relies so heavily on client satisfaction (although, what business doesn't?) it would seem to me it is time the executives at Cedar Fair, be it the good ole' boys or the new blood, start asking themselves the following question with regards to future expansions... It isn't necessarily do we have to, but moreover, should we? Just my opinions though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muppetfan1999 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 The two upper levels are at 265' and 275'. The first level is at 50' and was at one time open to the public, but accessible only by stairs. I've learned 2 new things while reading this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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