Opening days, preview days are far from the most crowded days of the year. 

If that were the case, then the chaperone policy would only be needed the first couple of opening weekends...

Totally agree with this. Guests have expectations of what they want to get done and what they should be entitled to. You see this a lot at bigger parks like Disney or Universal where guests pay so much money they feel like they "deserve" a certain experience. And if that expectation isn't met, people get mad. Then those people meet each other and they're just looking for a reason to fight. The parks have been closed for a little while now, and guests can't wait to get back on their favorite rides. But what guests don't always understand is that ALL the other guests want the same thing they do. KI Opening Day is always so crazy because it's new and it's been a while since everyone has been. Plus everyone wants to use of their new pass they just bought or renewed and so they all go on Opening Day. Going on Opening Day is fine, as long as you manage your expectations. I went on Opening Day last year, waited 45 minutes just to get in the gate, ate lunch, and rode 2 rides. Waited 90 minutes for both Beast and Diamondback. Then I waited 10 minutes just to get a drink. Then I went home. I don't go very often the first month because it's so busy, but I still go and have a good time because I manage my expectations. I know that when I go on Opening Day, I will only get a few rides in. But when people get their expectations too high, that's where disappointment leads to tempers flaring. And that is when fights occur. Just my thoughts

Granted, we haven’t seen the entrance in its entirety yet, but I can’t imagine why they’d have to remove the trees they did, here. 

Whirly birds and racer currently running.  We're getting close!