Kings Island has always leaned more toward families than parks like Cedar Point, Magic Mountain, or Universal. That wasn’t always the case though. Before Cedar Fair bought the Paramount parks in the mid-2000s, KI was basically a thrill park going head-to-head with Cedar Point. That’s when we saw rides like the original Bat, backwards Racer, King Cobra, Vortex, Top Gun, Tomb Raider: The Ride, Delirium, Flight of Fear, Drop Zone, Face/Off, and Son of Beast. When Cedar Fair took over, rides like Diamondback, Banshee, Mystic Timbers, and Orion were more about catching KI up to the rest of the Cedar Fair chain and keeping pace with the other former Paramount parks - since most of them were getting big additions too. Hypers, inverts, modern woodies - other CF parks already had them. Now that KI has those, and with KI and Cedar Point in the same chain, it’s easier to see the split: CP and Magic Mountain are all about thrill-seekers, while KI leans a little more family without dropping thrills altogether. If I ever have kids, I’ll want to ride the big coasters with them, but it’s the family rides that make a full day worth it. Without stuff like the Miami Valley Railroad, Planet Snoopy, Dodgem, Shake, Rattle & Roll, Zephyr, etc., I’d be less likely to bring the family. Even Cedar Point has those balance rides. I get being frustrated that we haven’t had a big thrill ride in a while, especially with Vortex gone and Invertigo probably not far behind. I miss Vortex too, and yeah, it stings not having something new in that spot. But the timing was bad. We don’t know if Vortex was supposed to run alongside Orion or if its problems just made that impossible. Then 2020 got wiped out by the pandemic, so 2021 became Orion’s real first season, and a few years later the Cedar Fair–Six Flags merger likely slowed major project plans again. That said, KI’s still been adding plenty in between coasters: 2010: Planet Snoopy overhaul 2011: Dinosaurs Alive 2012: Soak City expansion 2013: Cincinnati Reds Grille 2015: Flying Eagles return + kids’ ride 2016: Tropical Plunge 2019: Antique cars return 2022: 50th Anniversary celebration 2023: Adventure Port 2024: Snoopy’s Soapbox Racers + other kids’ rides 2025: River Racers + Soak City updates + Backlot Stunt Coaster retheme 2026: New family thrill ride From the Paramount years to now, KI has gone from being almost all-thrills to a mix that keeps both thrill-seekers and families happy.

As of August 2025, Six Flags cancelled at least six (6) 2025 seasonal events to "focus on [their respective] core operating season". Parks like California's Great America were originally reported to host zero special events in 2025, however its schedule gained some smaller events near the beginning of the summer season.  SCarowinds and Halloween Haunt at Kings Island are both having their 25th anniversary seasons this Fall (having skipped 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). SCarowinds announced and is creating new attractions for this celebration while Kings Island seems to be following the quieter route having only recently released merchandise with a 25th Anniversary line.  The former Legacy Cedar Fair Halloween celebrations have seen a flurry of activity and conversation as they will now charge admission to their haunted mazes for the first time — a practice that Legacy Six Flags parks have been operating with for years. Prices start as low as $10, but a vast number of potential guests are outraged by this change due to the quality of these mazes in recent years and the surprise upcharge coming after 2025 and 2026 passes went on sale. It is currently unclear how this will end up shaking out among each event.  New experiences are coming to four parks including Canada's Wonderland, Carowinds, Cedar Point, and Kings Island with The Conjuring: Beyond Fear. Expected to be an escape room-style attraction, this experience will take guests into Ed and Lorraine Warren's haunted museum as they attempt to place the haunted Annabelle doll back into her case before it is too late. Kings Island's The Conjuring: Beyond Fear is expected to be located in the former Tomb Raider: The Ride building, while the experience at Carowinds may be located in the Aeronautica Theater. The location of this new experience at Cedar Point may be located in the former Town Hall Museum, while the location at Canada's Wonderland is currently unknown.  Notable event cancellations include Tricks and Treats, Fright Fest, and Holiday in the Park / Winterfest celebrations. These cancelled events were to take place at parks big and small. An important change in the event lineup was the cancellation of the final Fright Fest at Six Flags America — which was to be the last event the soon-to-close park would ever host. 

Here's an update as to where Six Flags sits with its seasonal events as of August 13th, 2025. I haven't been able to see everything, but this will hopefully be a comprehensive list nonetheless.    Parks with no events listed as of 03/21/2025: Hurricane Harbor Phoenix (Phoenix, AZ) https://www.sixflags.com/phoenix/events Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) https://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharborla/events Knott's Soak City (Los Angeles, CA) https://www.knotts.com/soak-city Hurricane Harbor Chicago (Chicago, IL)  Hurricane Harbor Rockford (Rockford, IL)  Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa (Jackson, NJ)  Hurricane Harbor New Jersey (Jackson, NJ)  Wild Safari (Jackson, NJ)  This park's events page redirected me to Great Adventure's event page. Cedar Point Shores (Sandusky, OH)  Hurricane Harbor OKC (Oklahoma City, OK)  Hurricane Harbor Arlington (Arlington, TX)  Hurricane Harbor Splashtown (Houston, TX)  Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec (Mexico)  Magic Mountain (Los Angeles, CA) https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/events Thrill City 2025 (Music Festival) DC Heroes & Villains Fest Star Spangled Nights  Out On The Mountain (LGBTQ Pride festival)  Fright Fest presented by SNICKERS  Tricks and Treats Oktoberfest presented by Cash App Holiday in the Park California's Great America (Santa Clara / San Jose, CA) https://www.cagreatamerica.com/events Memorial Day Weekend Fireworks Star-Spangled Nights Fun Friday Flicks Labor Day Weekend Celebration Labor Day Car Show Discovery Kingdom (San Francisco / Sacramento, CA) https://www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom/events Education Days Star Spangled Nights Conservation Days Deaf Awareness Day On Fire NorCal Jam Oktoberfest Tricks and Treats Fright Fest presented by SNICKERS Veterans Day Winterfest Hurricane Harbor Concord (San Francisco / Sacramento, CA) https://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharborconcord/events Father's Day July 4th Knott's Berry Farm (Los Angeles, CA) https://www.knotts.com/events Knott's Boysenberry Festival Summer at Knott's Includes Ghost Town Alive and Knott's Summer Nights Scary Farm: Nightmares Revealed Knott's Scary Farm Knott's Spooky Farm Knott's Merry Farm Six Flags Over Georgia (Atlanta, GA) https://www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia/events Spring Break Grad Nite Summerbration Star Spangled Nights Six Flags Coaster Fest Kids Boo Fest Oktoberfest Fright Fest presented by SNICKERS Holiday in the Park  Cancelled as of August 2025 Six Flags White Water (Atlanta, GA) https://www.sixflags.com/whitewater/events/national-water-park-day National Water Park Day Atlanta Ocean Wave Pool Party Six Flags Great America (Chicago, IL) https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/events 2025 Physics Days 2025 Math & Science Days Grad Nite 2025 Dance Fest 2025 Technology & Engineering Day Star Spangled Nights Great American Nights Viva La Fiesta Oktoberfest presented by Cash App Kids Boo Fest Fright Fest presented by SNICKERS Coaster Challenge Cosmetology Day Six Flags America (Baltimore / Washington, DC) https://www.sixflags.com/america/events Spring Break Days Education Days Viva La Fiesta Juneteenth Celebration Star Spangled Nights Kids BOO Fest Fright Fest Cancelled as of August 2025 Six Flags New England (Agawam, MA) https://www.sixflags.com/newengland/events Spring Break Days Educational Days Sensory Friendly Day Star Spangled Nights Food & Brew Employee Appreciation Days Oktoberfest Food Festival presented by Cash App Fright Fest presented by SNICKERS Kids Boo Fest Michigan's Adventure (Muskegon, MI) https://www.miadventure.com/events Exclusive Season Pass Preview Event Tricks and Treats Cancelled as of August 2025 Valleyfair (Shakopee, MN) https://www.valleyfair.com/events Star-Spangled Night Juicy Lucy Festival Latin Days Corn Fest ValleyScare Tricks and Treats Six Flags St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) https://www.sixflags.com/stlouis/events Music in the Parks Low Sensory Sundays Music Festival Summerbration Listed as Brad Ross: International Star Illusionist at Summerbration Star Spangled Night KidZfest featuring SPLASH! Water Parade Kids Boo Fest Fright Fest presented by SNICKERS Worlds of Fun (Kansas City, MO) https://www.worldsoffun.com/events Passholder Preview Day KidZfest Star Spangled Night KC Nights Tricks and Treats Halloween Haunt Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ) https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/events THE FLASH Vertical Velocity Event Spring Break Days 2025 Physics Days 2025 Dance Fest Education Days Grad Nite Summerbration Star-Spangled Nights DC Heroes and Villains Fest Added after the start of the regular season. Fright Fest presented by SNICKERS Oktoberfest Cancelled as of August 2025 Kids Boo Fest Holiday in the Park Cancelled as of August 2025 Six Flags Great Escape (Lake George, NY) https://www.sixflags.com/greatescape/events Education Days Oktoberfest Fright Fest Kids Boo Fest Six Flags Darien Lake (Corfu, NY) https://www.sixflags.com/darienlake/events Laser Light Spectacular Oktoberfest Food Festival presented by Cash App  Fright Fest  Kids Boo Fest  Carowinds (Charlotte, NC) https://www.carowinds.com/events Spring Break Summerbration  Removed from Carowinds website on 3/27/2025. Star-Spangled Nights Viva La Fiesta Charlotte FC Fan Day SCarowinds presented by SNICKERS Oktoberfest Tricks and Treats WinterFest New Year's Eve at Winterfest Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH) https://www.cedarpoint.com/events Coastermania Light Up The Point Boardwalk Nights presented by Blue Bunny HalloWeekends presented by SNICKERS Both Daytime Delights (traditionally Tricks and Treats) and Nighttime Frights (traditionally Halloween Haunt) are a part of HalloWeekends.  Kings Island (Mason, OH) https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events Passholder Preview Day Food & Wine Festival Coasterstock Star-Spangled Nights presented by M&M's Grand Carnivale Halloween Haunt presented by SNICKERS  Tricks and Treats Winterfest Frontier City (Oklahoma City, OK) https://www.sixflags.com/frontiercity/events Spring Break Education Days Star-Spangled Nights Brews, Bites & Bands Food and Brew Renamed Food & Brew Festival in 2025. Fright Fest Kids Boo Fest Dorney Park (Allentown, PA) https://www.dorneypark.com/events Star-Spangled Nights Viva La Fiesta Tailgate in the Park Halloween Haunt presented by SNICKERS Tricks and Treats Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington, TX) https://www.sixflags.com/overtexas/events Spring Break Viva La Fiesta Education Days Grad Nite Summerbration Star Spangled Nights Kids Boo Fest Tricks and Treats Replaced by Tricks and Treats in 2025. Oktoberfest Food Festival Fright Fest presented by SNICKERS Holiday in the Park Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio, TX) https://www.sixflags.com/fiestatexas/events Spring Break Season Passholder & Friend DC Universe Appreciation Event Viva La Fiesta Grad Nite Education Day Summerbration Roller Coaster Rodeo Star-Spangled Nights FT92 Fan Event End of Summer Bash — Season Passholder Night Exclusive Event Oktoberfest presented by Cash App  Kids Boo Fest Tricks and Treats  Replaced by Tricks and Treats in 2025. Fright Fest presented by SNICKERS Holiday in the Park Rockin' New Year's Celebration Schlitterbahn Galveston (Galveston, TX) https://www.schlitterbahn.com/galveston/events Spring Preview Days Bonus Days Schlitterbahn New Braunfels (New Braunfels, TX) https://www.schlitterbahn.com/new-braunfels/events Spring Preview Days Bonus Days Kings Dominion (Doswell, VA) https://www.kingsdominion.com/events Season Passholder Preview Night Spring Break Days A Golden Summerbration (50th Anniversary Celebration Event) Star-Spangled Nights Halloween Haunt presented by SNICKERS  Tricks and Treats Oktoberfest Winterfest  Cancelled as of January 2025. Canada's Wonderland (Vaughan, ON) https://www.canadaswonderland.com/events Canada's Wonderland Fireworks Special holiday fireworks happening four times throughout the season. Food & Wine Festival Celebration Canada KidZfest The Great BrewBQ Oktoberfest Halloween Haunt Camp Spooky WinterFest La Ronde (Montreal, Quebec, QC) https://www.sixflags.com/larondeen/events L'international Des Feux Loto-Quebec  International fireworks competition. Extreme Flavors Monster's Birthday Pink Weekend With the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation La Ronde Vire Country Country Vibes at La Ronde Adrenaline Nights Fright Fest presented by fizz Kids Pumpkin Festival Six Flags México (Mexico City, Mexico) Spring Celebration (25th Anniversary Celebration) Héroes y Villanos Fest (Heroes and Villains Fest) Fun Nights Missing from the Six Flags Mexico website as of August 2025; unsure if the event was cancelled or not. Kids Boo Fest Festival del Terror (Festival of Terror) Christmas in the Park

Questions that need answers.  1. Are very affordable say sub-$150 passes still a sustainable business model chainwide/industry wide? If so, what is the replacement? (Very?) expensive season passes, no season passes? ★One thing I'll say is that I think sometimes the very concept of a pass de-values the product. Historically a day at a pay-one-price amusement park was a special day, not a place to kill a few hours on a Wednesday or a place to get rid of the kids. Going all the time makes it less special i.e. valuable. 2. Are fast lanes a net positive? Positives: appealing for big spenders i.e. additional revenue. Negatives: Devalues season pass in terms of number of expected rides per visit, potential hostility and hard feelings from single ticket and standard passholders. 3. Are meal plans a net positive for overall profit of food sales all things considered? Are there other business models that would be better, (no meal plans with more affordable/better food, switching to a being a landlord for private restaurateurs. 4. Is the current park clientele part of the problem. If the clientele is a problem are payment plans for passes a net benefit? ★★ One issue that seems to be way out of whack is that the park seems to want to cut hours. Historically, cutting hours was the same as cutting revenue. With some exceptions,  if the gates were open they were making money. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore and it doesn't lead to great attitudes towards customers in general.

After reading this thread as it is now, I’m really thinking the Six Flags board members could all benefit from playing the RCT game scenarios. See what it’s like to be in charge of a park all by yourself with some advice from notifications or RCT3’s park inspector: building things, hiring and managing staff and giving them patrol routes for more efficiency, etc. Some of the scenarios are real tricky too. I say the RCT scenarios for a reason. It’s not just because I’m most familiar with them(especially RCT3’s) but from what I’m seeing in the few scenarios on the original Planet Coaster game I’ve played so far, their scenario challenges just don’t hold up that well by comparison. Hopefully the new CEO actually knows what they’re talking about when it comes to the industry and is devoted to coasters and such.