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Biggest fanny pack measuring contest this forum has seen in a long time.

I don’t know where they get their data but mine comes from sentiment reports — the same kind of reports used by theme parks throughout the industry and decisions get made from. I’ve done several sentiment reports on Orion since it debuted in 2020. The sentiment is it’s a good ride, but not a ride that drives attendance. It hasn’t delivered the expected ROI. The Beast on the other hand continues to drive attendance going on 47 years since its 1979 debut.

Another "wish" I have which won't happen this season and likely won't happen in the future as the ROI likely isn't worth it to those in charge is to see popular rides with very little shade get a shaded structure. I mocked up some "queue house" ideas for Diamondback and Flight of Fear (the old Firehawk queue which is used more than the current indoor queue). Diamondback's is based on the old Rivertown Mining Company building that used to be there and FOF's is based on the theme of Area 72

This press release they handed out at IAAPA sets the opening in April.

I too like some of the others on here thought the Phantoms were too "cute" or "friendly" when I first saw them but the design has grown on me. In the original they were borderline creepy and I think that's the difference in the two attractions - original phantom they were meant to be creepy and haunted. The new one they are supposed to be engaging characters once again but they are a bit more family friendly. I think it has the potential to be a great ride and as I have said before I think it's great that people are being creative and not just bringing back a 30 year old ride. I know we still have beloved old dark rides at Disney or Knoebels but when you are creating something new for today's audiences I think it's natural that it changes a bit from what the expectations of a dark ride were in 1992. Oh I also don't think I've mentioned yet that I think the red "box seats" or doom buggies look better than even the original ones did. The greyish blue was classic of course but the red gives it a real restored theater vibe. Really digging the red ride vehicles

What you have to keep in mind, is that every opinion of all coasters/rides/installations on this site are through an enthusiast lens. The general public likely doesn't see Orion as just a taller version of Diamondback. They see it as yet another highly enjoyable coaster that is the tallest in the park to date. It seems @Orion-XL200, we were typing up similar responses at the same time.

Sure, Orion isn't the best of the best....it's not a MF or a Fury (which isn't my favorite by any means)...but it is what it is. It wasn't originally meant for KI...but we got it. It's my favorite in the park and my 2nd favorite Giga. Literally the only people I see who complain about Orion are the 'thoosies online. The roller coaster 'thoosies are the most unenthused people about their hobby.

It would definitely need a more decorative building but I would put something over Cargo Loco before Monster. I do think the park needs more sheltered/indoor rides

Me patiently waiting for April so I can have first dibs on rides...😶‍🌫️

I wait to ride the Monster again, it feels like FOREVER since I've ridden it. I can't wait to ride it with my kids in the future.

I really love that they posted about this. I always wonder why the park only promotes the newest additions when the supporting cast is still so strong. It's cool to see the park outwardly caring for something that makes the park unique and special.

Confirmed to be returning in 2026. Not a huge surprise, but still great to see!

I know this is about 2026, but I kinda wanted to look ahead a little bit to 2027 when it comes to capital. I think if 2027 is going to be another mild year in terms of investment at KI and they want to do something to market for 2027, my wish would be to "finish" Camp Snoopy. Hear me out: Camp Snoopy while they did a good job on it it feels unfinished to me. Ways they could finish it without needing to invest too much money would be: stain the concrete in the area to a more light brown color add Kite Eating Tree and Space Buggies into Camp Snoopy (retheming buggies to Pig Pen's Mud Buggies) add the 3 rides behind Surf Dog into Camp Snoopy add another playground to Beagle Scout Acres. More specifically a multi level play structure like what Cedar Point used to have on Forbidden Frontier. You can put it in the open space behind Pig Pen's Mess Hall If there's still space and/or budget left, add some sort of splash pad Finally, add a Camp Snoopy sign at the other entrance to Camp Snoopy right behind Snoopy's Boutique. Make it like the sign that was in the original concept art: Basically do what Magic Mountain is doing with their new Bugs Bunny World coming this year

Regarding a coaster doesn't have to be the tallest to be an airtime machine. Maverick is one of my absolute favorite rides ever for the intensity and airtime. The first time I rode Lightning Run, I was floored how much airtime and how much fun it is in a small footprint. Fury is in a class by itself. I rode it 25 times the day I was there last. It is a truly incredible ride, and I traveled all the way there just to ride it (and my former Eagles too). Saying that, I love Orion's height, quick lift to the first drop and the speed it keeps up throughout the ride. Out of the hundreds of times I have ridden it, no one riding with me has been disappointed afterwards. It's just a lot of fun and I am happy to have it in my home park.

I believe all of this could be done without leveling any of The Vortex plot. Instead of an entirely new themed area, it might be easier to bring back the "Old Coney" name and realign the midway. That frees up space for a larger indoor dining location, fixes the kink in the midway brought on by KMAA, and could still allow for a new flat ride to go back there depending on how everything is placed. Jukebox is replaced by the new indoor restaurant and Coney Potato Works could make a comeback to give purpose to that seating area (and provide another dining location). This all could probably happen for much less money while killing a few birds with one big boulder. Here's a mock-up I've been working on for another topic thread to better show the idea. It does include the removal of WindSeeker and the addition of a new dark ride in Action Theater, but that would come at a later time.

Say this louder for the people in the back!

I think the ornaments are from either a small holiday photoshoot that Sally Dark Rides did or it's from a potential holiday overlay mock-up for PT:ON. There were also some photos with Maestro in a Santa costume, but all of these photos were taken in the SDR workshop so we probably won't know much until later this year. As much as some commenters like to say the art style is "too cartoony" I really like the new looks for everyone. It's taken the original characters and mixed their appearances with No Legs Larry's puppet form from Phantom Theater Encore. Either way, isn't it better for everyone to look more "lively" in preparation for the theater's grand reopening? I'd much rather that than going to see them in their less mortal, more corrupted state

Seems like I am one of the few true coaster nerds that really enjoy Orion for what it is. Ha! Just kidding. It's no Fury 325, and is on the shorter side of overall length, but it I love that first drop, fun elements and tons of speed. It's a great combo with Diamondback's airtime and repeating big hills. And it is very re-ridable for most everyone. I can marathon both easily which is nice. I think we are lucky to have it at our home park. Now just we need a really amazing install in The Vortex old spot...it's just so empty back there without it.

It's a little hard to see anything from the webcams, but the fence is still up and it looks like the central rotor is the only part back on the pad. I did just notice that the path between Coney Bar-B-Que and the Scrambler does line up nicely with the Monster. There is, of course, the planter separating that path from the ride, but it's nice to notice something like this in a park I already know so well!

I came up with a mausoleum concept for Banshee's queue. It goes over the main part of the queue that is usually first to open up when the line gets longer

After seeing the new options, I am also happy to have not bought anything yet. The new Regional Gold will be perfect for me, considering all I will be doing in regards to SF this season will be KI and SF:Great America primarily with many trips planned for both and it ends up saving me a decent amount of money. Even if its only a couple hundo or less in savings once all my add-ons are placed, that will still drop the monthly or will open me up to getting things I may not get on the pass otherwise.

Wait until the upcoming August promotion 🤣 New for 2027 - if you have owned a pass in the last 5 years, you get a 2027 Prestige pass for free. No purchase necessary. And if you accept this free offer before labor day, we will throw in a season long Fast Lane as our special gift. I joke, but who knows what level they may go to....I think season long add-ons for free will probably be the next version....

Every year it feels like they are restructuring the pass system and causing more confusion for pass holders of all kinds. I initially thought that as someone who purchased their pass during the MVP sale that my pass was going to be upgrade to Prestige, but then I re-read the article and confirmed that here. Although I wonder how many system glitches there could potentially be where those who bought their pass during the MVP sale get upgraded anyhow? And for those who bought Prestige passes already, I feel bad because there is nothing being upgraded or amended for them. I truly miss how simple it used to be to buy a pass and there weren't so many nuances along the way. Just when I feel like I have an understanding of how it works, they change it up again. And now I wonder how they will go about selling the pass add-ons. As in, will there be one set of add-ons for Silver passes? One set of add-ons for Gold passes ( regional only add-ons or APP level add-ons ) and then Prestige level add-ons? It's just. A lot. I realize they want so badly to seem like they are simplifying stuff, but instead they seem to be creating more confusion, questions and frustrations.

Just announced on the official Kings Island Facebook page KI Essentials Is Receiving A Complete Aesthetic Refresh. https://www.facebook.com/share/1FPUk27sKR/

What Giga? We got 2 Hypers!

Now what I wish they would do is expand the men's restroom up there so its not just one stall anymore.

Vekoma has really upped their game. All of their recent designs and track layouts have been stunning.

I don't want anything with the letters B&M associated with The Vortex plot. Give me a Vekoma, Mack, Intamin, or HECK give Zamperla a shot but please no B&M!

the same way that 47 years after it's construction, The Beast is still a top 3 (maybe even 1 or 2) at KI- and is usually featured on a majority of their marketing pieces. It always has a wait, high on guest reviews.... and that popularity has endured the pandemic, droughts, hot weather, terrible summers, bad ride attendants, GMs, and countless recessions. It is a a textbook definition of a "Great Coaster". It is remarkable, out of the box, and not available anywhere else. People come, sometimes specifically, to ride the legendary Beast.

It is after all a flat ride.

Absolutely they don't look the same but I think everyone knows that even if they create a carbon copy of the original somehow it still wouldn't be as good in the eyes of the original fans. So pleasing the original fans is not the goal. The goal is to bring back characters that are popular in park lore and to create a ride that original fans will enjoy because it's a new version of the original and create something that appeals to the average guest and to kids because while I know phantom theater is located on international Street technically it's so close to Planet Snoopy that alot of kids go through that building

100%, my dude. They look significantly better than the original figures. Not that they were bad or anything, but 34 years allows technology to develop in such a way that, on a surface level, makes them superior. The movement and articulation of the new Maestro when specifically compared to the original makes it obvious. To go further, yeah… I adore the art direction of the original ride. Everything about it. But I’m not going to sit here and say this new direction looks worse. I know that’s mostly objective, but come on: Ultimately, comparison is a thief of joy. I’m just hyped for what’s in store. Sally knows what they’re doing. Based on what little we’ve seen in the Curtain Call BTS series and via the filed plans, it seems like it’s going to be done right. Only time will tell…

Introducing... Sir Pretzel!

My 2026 "wishlist" for KI: 1) New music in the park. While I think Area 72 and Adventure Port should keep their own soundtracks I think it is time for a reset on all the music in the park. The jazz on I street is outdated and just doesn't work with I-street. I want the orchestral soundtracks back. Or maybe since 2026 is the 250th birthday of America, celebrate that with patriotic music on I-street like what is played during Tricks and Treats in Coney Mall. Speaking of Coney Mall, it is time to ditch pop music there and do a custom soundtrack. I think you could split it into two areas. If you want to keep jazz in the park, you could have it in the front half of Coney Mall near Racer's entrance. Then in the back half by Jukebox Diner and Antique Autos, have 50's/60s style music playing. In Rivertown, please ditch the bluegrass covers of pop/rock songs and do actual bluegrass/country songs. Sorry, but as someone who likes rock music, hearing a bluegrass cover of "Enter Sandman" just makes me want to puke lol. In Snoopy, it's time to add a custom soundtrack for Camp Snoopy. I say move the playlist that plays in the Soapbox Racers queue line and have it play in the rest of Camp Snoopy. I just think it is a missed opportunity hearing Kidzbop in that section of the kids area. If you want to have Kidzbop in the Planet Snoopy section that's fair, but have it cut off right around the Snoopy's Boutique and transition to "Camp Snoopy" music. Finally for the rest of the park, I think pop is fine, but change the playlist. It's been the same list of songs the last couple of years so I think it's time to add more and maybe remove a few current ones. 2) More limited time special events. No I'm not talking about Food and Wine or Carnivale. I'm talking about pop up weekend events like the park used to do in the past. Like food truck fridays, dive in movies, etc. I also really would like to see the park bring the color run 5ks back. I don't understand why the park doesn't do that anymore. They could get some local organizations to sponsor it and/or have it raise money for a good cause. KI already does the JDRF walks and the A Kid Again Family Festival so they still do stuff like that, but I think a family friendly fun 5k in the spring time would be perfect. I like the color run idea as it really adds to the fun especially at a park like KI. KD still does Run and Ride so it's not like legacy CF has abandoned events like this. I also would like to see Grad Nites brought back (which tbh would kinda sting to fairly recent HS grads like me who didn't get a grad nite at KI). Multiple legacy Six Flags parks do Grad Nite and I believe I saw somewhere Carowinds is doing one so I think doing a grad nite would be great. 3) More New events: Now I'm going to talk about actual seasonal events. While nothing is confirmed, I'm willing to bet Carnivale is not coming back so something needs to go in its place. Obviously other parks in the chain have introduced "La Viva Fiesta" and while I think that would do well at KI, I want to see KI do their own take on a "Summer Nights" event. Like Cedar Point has Boardwalk Nights and Knotts has Summer Nights. Even Worlds of Fun calls theirs "KC Nights". So I think a custom event for KI would be perfect. I think "Island Nights" has a good ring to it and KI has used that name before, but in Soak City. Another event I'd like to see come to KI is some sort of Kids event like Kidzfest at Canada's Wonderland which is very popular there. Worlds of Fun also introduced their own version of Kidzfest and it seems to be doing well there as well. It would be a great way to show off our large kids area. When it comes to timeframe I think Food and Wine should be moved to late April through Memorial Day. That just makes more sense as Food and Wine feels more like a spring time event instead of a summer event. Then hold Kidzfest in June and Island Nights in July/August. Then Haunt and Winterfest during their normal timeframes. 4) A New Indoor VIP lounge: I know I'm not the only one who thinks this, but our VIP lounge is an embarrassment when compared to other parks in the chain. Plus with more people buying the prestige pass, a glorified patio next to the dumpster and restrooms is not going to cut it. It's time to take a page out of Kings Dominion and move it indoors. I personally think the best location for it would be the International Restaurant as it is a large indoor space with a great view that isn't used that often, but there are some obstacles that would likely prevent them from going that route. The next potential location is the Antique Photos building in Rivertown. The final location I thought of is the Graeters building. Idk if it is just me, but I don't usually see that many people in Graeters at KI. I personally wouldn't mind them moving Graeters somewhere else in the park like Rivertown and converting that building to the VIP lounge.

I am so happy the flag poles are no longer there behind the sign.

I am already wishing for warmer weather and longer evenings. These cold, dreary days damage my inner soul.

I think WinterFest 2025 was great! As far as rides, pretty decent lineup. I had a rare opportunity to marathon FoF a few times on slow nights. Because of that, I've ridden FoF more times during this WinterFest than at any other point period. Racer being open is an absolute win. Some of my best rides on Racer have been taken during WinterFest. And it runs amazing! Mystic Timbers is always a blast. I absolutely love our train, but going with what @SonofBaconator said, they really either need to retheme the experience or add , like, a lot more lights. As far as food, I was able to get quite a bit of the seasonal meals. Per the advise of @DonHelbig, I was finally able to try the much acclaimed Holiday Meatloaf Burger. And it really did live up to the hype! The Meatloaf Burger is a top 10 food item at Kings Island. I also tried the Honey Ham & Cheese fries from Potato Works and they were pretty good. The Mac & Cheese bar at Enrique's is always awesome and hope it sticks around. As far as lights, the park looked amazing as it always does! Kudos to everyone involved with setting up all the lights and decorations. On the subject of the Holly Jolly Trolly, good riddance! Yes it was something to do. But on busy nights it would crazy walking through Coney Mall and trying to avoid the path of the trolly. Overall, WinterFest was great and I can't wait for April!

My biggest issue is that preferred parking and the VIP lounge are already comically overcrowded thanks to the clearance sale on passes that ran for like 3 months, and now they've just given free access to a bunch of people who intentionally chose not to purchase the prestige pass. You already have the park defenders scolding people for having an issue with it, too, since they didn't upgrade everyone who bought during the clearance sale, just the people who bought it after that. Presumably, though, a good number of people purposely didn't buy a prestige pass since the big sale, since Six Flags felt the need to make a public announcement about it. They did something similar at Wonderland when they discontinued the regular season pass (after selling tons of them) and replaced it with the silver pass, and upgraded everyone who had purchased a regular season pass to a gold pass, and the people who paid extra for gold passes were basically told "tough luck, your fault for buying a gold pass and not a red pass". And then they wonder why people are hesitant to give Six Flags their money.

The Reddit source claims programming starts the first week of March and will take to months (installation’s definitely still going to be happening awhile into February regardless of how long it takes to program. My understanding is the animatronics and ride cars aren’t at the park yet, but don’t quote me on that.) If taken literally that would place the ride’s completion date at the start of May, but since the park did say it opens in April I’m now leaning towards it opening with the park (if nothing has changed it’s essentially a difference of a week, assuming there’s not a charity thing that would happen before passholder previews.) I’m also optimistic because the park said since the beginning that PT’s set to open in the spring, and Camp Snoopy/Adventure Port were always advertised as opening in Late Spring/the Summer.

Put me in the camp that hasn’t been this excited about a new ride at Kings Island since Mystic Timbers debuted in 2017.

In 2026, Cedar Point’s pioneering looping coaster marks 50 years since it opened in 1976. http://sanduskyregister.com/go/6c78ba01489fd

We do? As an enthusiast I’m pretty aware that my opinion on rides and parks will be vastly different compared to the GP. And I think we often sell the average guest short on their opinions and feelings.

There was no concern it wasn’t record-breaking. That’s marketable until a ride opens and then it doesn’t matter if the ride doesn’t live up to the hype. People who were at the park at the time knew that, and knew it well. (Son of Beast) The decision to make it more family oriented so more guests would want to ride it was based on who the majority of the visitors to Kings Island have been, is now, and will always be: families. So, where does that come into play? The height. At 287, it looks less intimidating from the midways than 300-plus would have been. It still hits speeds over 90 mph and just 4 mph slower than Fury 325. It’s not because the height is only 287 that Orion ranked outside the top 40 in the 2025 Golden Ticket Awards for Best Steel Coasters. It’s not because of the length of the ride. It’s not because it opened during the pandemic. It’s because it’s missing an element that Fury 325 and Diamondback both have that riders absolutely love about those rides: an abundance of airtime. If Orion had Diamondback’s airtime, the sentiment about the ride is dramatically different. More parkgoers would be talking about it as one of the best.

Or just keep it simple and open a new looper and just reuse The Vortex name. Its a household name and it leans into the park's affinity for nostalgia. The park has now had two Bat coasters, while the current one was not originally named that upon its opening, it still bears the name of a historic landmark coaster. And we are literally getting an updated Phantom Theater which bears the same name + some extra verbiage. I think older fans would appreciate the nod and the new generation would have their own Vortex to grow up with.

What do we think these white tarps (?) at the bottom of Mystic Timbers' drop are for? Maybe some new wood (already though?) or general coverings for some reason?

I honestly love the new animatronics compared to the old ones and I've actually ridden the original PT. These animatronics look a lot more lively and interactive more so than the original PT animatronics. I'm just hoping it's going to be more of a dark ride than Boo Blasters meaning less bright lights. 😅

I actually really love Sir Pretzel and the reasoning behind his name, he’s my favorite now because there’s no previous design from the original to compare him to. (I had a shock seeing they slightly changed Lionel’s outfit in the background and I’m hoping they do him justice (as if he was a vital character in the original)) Also RIP Bosco for real now, iykyk.

I've always said that KI's 4th of July event should be more than just "come for what's already here and stay for a bigger firework show". Add specialty food offerings, have special activities and entertainment geared towards the holiday. Give the locals something that would make them decide to spend their 4th of July day at KI rather than their local July 4th festival. Bc locals can go to KI pretty much anytime over the summer, but they can't go to a local 4th of July event any other day. Also since Soak City usually gets the most crowded on the 4th, I wouldn't mind spreading some of the "special activities and entertainment" over there. Like set up a stage and do live bands over there. I also think doing some sort of camp fire/s'mores thing in Camp Snoopy as the sun goes down would be kinda cool. I believe Knotts used to do something like that as part of Summer Nights. Like imagine spending your day in Soak City then coming back after the waterpark closes and seeing special camp activities and campfires/s'mores going on. As a kid I would've LOVED that.

As opposed to making SC a separate admission, I feel like it might make more sense to just increase the prices of season passes. Which, unpopular opinion, I wouldn’t be opposed too if it meant improved experiences.