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I agree with both of you. I stayed at the hotel for Coasting For Kids this year and the only problem I had with my stay was the fact that the website said I could check in as early as 2 pm but when I got there, the front desk said 4 and my room wasn't ready yet. The room was nice and clean. It was a big room actually for 1 person. I'd be upset if this place closes as I'd definitely stay there again.

John Stamos bought the old DL sign some years back.

As far as a family-friendly "dark" ride goes, I will once again point to Holiday World. During my two-day visit in late August, I rode that more than any other ride in the park (although that's partly due to the fact that it was also extremely hot that weekend). Nearly every target was working properly and all of the "turkey callers" were working perfectly as well. Granted, Holiday World's ride is newer than Boo Blasters, but still, if they can maintain a well-themed, family-friendly Sally ride (it's tough to call it a dark ride because it's not really dark in there), there's no reason why Cedar Fair can't do the same, considering their budget is likely much higher than that of Holiday World.

^ same here. I have only stayed there once, but I thought it was decent and I really liked the fact that it was close but not expensive.

*shrug* I actually like the place.....suits my needs perfectly.

And now... ...at Carowinds.... 2015. The best is yet to come....

I went to Fantasy Farm 2-3 times a year prior to Kings Island opening. It was a fun time, something my family and I always looked forward to.

Without having to read spoilers - yes they ask you to. You do not have to. Everyone is saying KI's Skeleton Key rooms are better than Cedar Point's. If you liked theirs, you'll LOVE Kings Island's.

There are lots of businesses that have "Kings Island" in its name, just as there are businesses that has "Cincinnati" as part of its name. I don't think there is any trademark or other protection to prevent using it as part of its name. Lets face it, the Inn was constructed in the early 1970's and it is dated. Why the current owner did not update the motel is a question mark. I think it had been remodeled in past years but not sure what has been done lately. You would think new carpets, new beds, and bathrooms would be part of any basic rehab plans, but who knows. Maybe they do have plans to do either a complete rehab, maybe just paint and new carpets and beds, or a complete deconstruct and build NEW buildings to bring it into the 21st century and compete with the newer hotel/motels. If the current owners or new owners if it might be sold, might close the entire hotel, tear down the old, and build a new hotel on the same spot. Or they might do sections at a time and remain open for partial business. Time will tell. It would be interesting to see what the current or past employees are saying. With potential changes like we are speculating about, rumors must be spreading among the employees. Maybe time to go into the bar, have a beer or two and pop the question to the bartender as we make small talk. They know the current condition that the rooms are in and I am sure they have pointed them out to management. The condition of the motel rooms reminds me what has been in the news about that hotel in downtown Cincinnati that has been in the news about its similar room conditions and its infrastructure that has had serious issues.

I think this place closing could be a blessing in disguise for Kings Island. Most of the reviews I read about it range from mediocre to terrible, and I think in many cases that can reflect poorly on Kings Island. I know that Kings Island/Cedar Fair does not own the Inn, but, as others have said, many in the general public think that they do. They share a name and have a shuttle service going to and from the park. I once came across a 1-star review on the park's Facebook page which, to paraphrase, said something along the lines of: "The park is great, but the Kings Island Inn is not etc. etc...." For that reason alone, I would think the park would be happy to see it go, getting bad publicity for another company's low standards is not something that the park would want I don't think. I'm also curious as to why the Inn was allowed to still use the Kings Island name after it was no longer owned by the park operators... I guess the golf course did too, but it also enjoys a better reputation...

After running the CF chain for a few years now, it seems most everything is on the up and up. I won't be going back until the 2015 season to see how everything has come along. Come to think of it, I haven't even been to KI or CP under Ouimet's reign. Should be an interesting trip.

I'll start using FastPass+ tonight. Stay tuned.

Not really. The SoCal parks see 50 degree weather during our "winter" months and lots of rain generally. When I was at the Merry Farm people were bundled up in heavy winter coats, lol... and see the dopey people sit in front row at Shamu at SWC but usually nearly all of them just end up running for the dry zone anyway the moment the whales come out. Already wet from the downpour of rain what difference is the 55 degree salt water gonna make? XD Unless you are talking about Florida and even then it isn't truly hot and humid year round.

The Yelp reviews for the KI Inn are abysmal.

That is the best thing on the internet. I was kinda making an homage to the Onion article that was popular when Blackfish came out. http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-documentary-reveals-seaworld-forced-orca-whale,34449/

http://www.cincityreptileshow.com/Pages/show_dates.htm Here is the new location starting Nov 2. Sent from my iPhone using Taptalk

Can't speak for Dollywood or any other ropes course except for the one I worked around and near at camp. The lines had to be checked daily, crew had to be over 18, waivers signed, etc. I can see how it would be expensive to maintain for an amusement park.

It is said that is where Tomb Raider: The Ride was originally to be sited.

I am glad you specified those are vocal chords...lol

This was tested a few months ago on Soarin'. It didn't stick because folks rioted. "What do you mean it was either reserve a ride a month ago or miss it entirely?" Imagine the confused hordes running to the ride first thing only to find that it's "reached capacity for the day.." mere moments after opening. At least Soarin's test replaced stand-by with a paper return-time ticket (like... you know... old FastPass...) Is your vacation easier yet? More fun? Less stressful overall? All Fastpass+ does is shift the planning from throughout your trip to before. There are very sincere benefits to that - no more FastPass runners, for example. There are very sincere detractors. If you think this system's primary goal is to make people's trips more fun, you're not looking at the big picture. Not that Disney shouldn't pursue profit. But don't misunderstand this is a giant, billion-dollar favor.

So I thought I would be funny and do a quick image search for Shamu wearing clothes, to go with the discussion. The results page was even better than I could have expected https://www.google.com/search?q=shamu+wearing+clothes&client=firefox-a&hs=vTv&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Yl81VL-AEMH38AHT2oHYCA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=609

In his defense, I also thought, "really?" when reading your post before realizing you were kidding.

If the park got far less of your money when it had a campground, tell me why Mr. Ouimet and company would want to replace the campground, especially since the same amount of land would support far more occupancy and spending as a hotel.

I'll be there this weekend and will try to verify the rumor.

It is in far, far better shape than the Best Western in KD's parking lot was several years ago. Our family stayed in the Best Western near Mason back then. There was very limited lodging in what was known as Kings Mills and vicinity, and it was comparatively VERY expensive.

See also the SFA parking lot brawl.

I'm assuming I'm not the only won that was expecting much much worse when opening this thread.

Thanks, now I have the "Jack Benny Show" intro running through my head. (Lucky Strikes Means Fine Tobacco.)

^ Yeah, the baton slid to one end on Friday (or last Sunday--can't remember) when he was spinning it around his neck. The fire end was on his neck when he was meant to be taking the baton off his shoulder. He grimaced but passed it off as smiling. I totally couldn't have been that subtle about it, but he's obviously been doing that for quite some time. Between Cirque and Skeleton Key, my curiosity about next year's Cirque sequel is very high. I'm wondering what else there could be for them to do. Of course, I'm sure they're going to knock it out of the park with something that none of us are expecting.

I remember kids having fun with candy cigarettes...the kind that were hollow and you could blow through it and a cloud of powdered sugar was created if you blew through the center....I usually blew out the sugar then promptly ate the cigarette....I know OMG a candy cigarette! The candy was banned many years ago, but the real smoking and smoking of other stuff still continues.

If that's the most idiotic thing you see at a Halloween event, consider yourself lucky. Or visually impaired.

They're maintained and well-cared for. Every once in a while, technology leaps forward and they're rebuilt. The first human Audio Animatronics (a registered trademark of the Walt Disney Company, by the way ) figure line was called A-1. Their most recent incarnation is the A-100. The earliest Audio Animatronics were pneumatic. As the figures became heavier and larger, they became hydraulic. Many were updated when that technology became the standard (except the Enchanted Tiki Birds, who remain pneumatic. Otherwise they'd drip hydraulic fluid on the audience below whenever they malfunctioned). Hydraulics are still the standard. Technological leaps forward since have been in programming and internal actuators. Whereas a single actuator used to be assigned to each hand, for example, newer figures have one for each finger. Disneyland's Lincoln is also a great example of the newest, most fluid and lifelike technology in a refurbished figure. Instead of hydraulics, it uses electronics. Disney's trademarked the technology as Autonomatronic, which allows furrowing brows, wrinkling nose, drooping eyelids, etc. Even the lips-and-tongue articulation is beyond anything Disney had ever accomplished before, simply because you can fit more into a smaller space. Imagineer Tony Baxter has often discussed his desire to update the Indiana Jones hydraulic Audio Animatronics in Disneyland's ride with Autonomatic versions. Disney partnered with microelectromechanical engineering firm Sarcos to rebuild the figures for Pirates of the Caribbean and the Wicked Witch of the West at Hollywood Studios' Great Movie Ride, which are now very, very fluid in their movements. See also, Sinbad's Storybook Voyage at Tokyo DisneySea for surprisingly fluid motion from "it's a small world" sized figures. A great example is Spaceship Earth, which has some of the most sophisticated and lifelike Audio Animatronics out there right now despite their frames being from the 1980s. The next big leap appears to be projection technology. It was used first in the Sebastian figures on the Little Mermaid dark rides. His head was too small for the mechanisms required to power eyelids / pupils, so they instead used a miniature projector. They then famously used the same idea to bring the Seven Dwarfs to life on Magic Kingdom's new coaster. Supposedly, those figures are more properly robotic, using repetitive mechanical motions more than pre-programmed profiles. I'm not privy to that information, but the projected faces reduce quite a bit of mechanical strain while being totally lifelike! ANY Audio Animatronic takes lots of love and care. And unlike flames on Backlot, they can't be left broken for weeks at a time without really harming the ride experience. You know what's easier / cheaper? 3D screens... That's a conversation for another time... http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20140709/19259/15-worlds-most-incredible-animatronics

Paging GoodYellowKorn....

Driven by Snickers, presented by SafeAuto, we'll get it right eventually. Terp, who came up with BooFest when keeping Fear Fest and Fright Fest separate was too hard, and who calls most coaster club events Cockle-Doodle-Doo, which somehow seems very apt.

Between people, or just with Don? Terp, amused by the thought.

I kicked your butt on it last week.

So long as there are Montgomery Inn ribs on the menu, I'll never know anything about the wings. Nor will I care to. The mouth waters just thinking of those scrumptious delights.

Those of you who have tried the Reds HOF wings known that they're pretty darn good too.

I remember Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle being advertised as an interactive dark ride experience. Everyone thought that was the coolest idea ever. Then they rode it... Boo stinks, but it's not nearly as bad as Scooby was. At least you can ride it and not be ashamed to be there.

It was truly Disneyesque. Themingwise, no higher praise can I award. Its removal was one of the saddest decisions the park ever made. In retrospect, it was a truly stupid decision. The same thing can be said of Enchanted Voyage. On a lesser scale for different reasons, also the removals of the Flying Eagles, Zodiac, Antique Cars and Kenton's Cove: Keelboat Canal. At least the last mentioned wasn't of the original flume from Coney Island of Ohio, which almost happened.

But, in said bathroom, you can enjoy a cold drink of water from their conveniently-located drinking fountain. Or not. (I really want to love that park...)

Or...you could just visit the bathroom at Camden Park on any normal operating day. Yuck. It was not always thus.

Welcome to KIC. I scare easy when things jump out at me. Ok, when I see them and they say boo, I jump. Walking by the crazy Jack-in-the-box knowing it is going to go off made me scream and almost run someone over. Had a scare actor sit beside me while waiting on someone to get food. I screamed like a Banshee. Make someone go through in front of you that is semi-humored that you are just going to be jumpy. I am not sure if the ones I go through with are humored or just take pity on me.

^ I don't particularly enjoy being startled, though it's hard to scare me when I'm expecting monsters around every corner in a Haunt attraction. I'd post some tips to help avoid being startled, but certain scaractors would read them and be ready for you. Perhaps they'd be less scary if ohiocolts would go through them with you.

Well between Boo Blasters and Scooby Doo it has been almost 12 years? Essentially its the same ride as the one it replaced (Scooby) just with less theme? I will say this, on Sunday I really realized how much KI is missing a family dark ride. My son cannot shoot anything (he is 1) and the ride is a very generic shoot-em-up ride. I dont think we need to get a "thrill" dark ride with a bunch of movement, as then that would ruin the family aspect for the youngins. TBH something like the original Theater or the Smurf Ride (didnt ride it before the Smurfs) where the ride is enjoyed by many of all ages.

For those who are gold/platinum pass holders, do you plan to attend the luau that Kings Island is hosting on July 12th?

I spend alot of time in Planet Snoopy with my daughter and I will say that all of the ride operators there are awesome. Not to say that they were not last year but this year they do seem happier. They even made me laugh a few times . I even like some of the new props they have around the area. The front gate people were also really happy it seemed. I feel overall that the park itself has a better positive feel to it. Cant wait to see the park on travel channel .

If the rest of the season continues to be executed in the same fashion as what I (and others) experienced yesterday, there is a lot to look forward to for this park and the rest of Cedar Fair. Friendly staff, great ride experiences, great food (didn't try anything yesterday so that one is still up in the air for me) will lead to the "best day ever" experience.

i will second all of that. Went for the first time yesterday and the things mentioned WERE noticeable. 1000% agree about The Beast. It was probably the smoothest ride I have EVER experienced on it. Now, I will say that on 3 different instances yesterday we were bunkered down in the Festhaus while explicit lightning and torrential downpours came and it still confuses me that our German themed building has: Italian Pizza (LaRosa's), Chinese Food (Panda Express), and a "British Invasion" show. all in all, It was a great day, all the way to the Fireworks going off 5-minutes early because "another" storm was approaching. One thing I did notice yesterday was a group of Park Officials (about 5-6 of them.... not Dippin Dots guy) in Action Zone overlooking the pile of wood, commonly referred to as SOB. Couldn't hear what they were saying (and didn't try to put myself in a position to hear)- but they were "getting into" hand motions while pointing at it.

Actually, the whole "Tastes Great" "Less Filling" thin has been heard at Coney on the new River Runner several times this year. In fact, on the last weekend of operations, I was in admin, and could hear people screaming "Tastes Great". They were clearly adults shouting this, and the other side wasn`t responding, because they didn`t know the whole notion behind that concept.