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Invertigo is currently testing, so if it were done for the year I doubt they would waste resources testing it... EDIT: it is now open

On a different (related) note: I know I beat the park up a lot (only because I see so. Much. Potential that it frustrates me at times when they get so close and stop) But did chat with Koontz tonight when I bumped into him at Beagle Scout Acres as my 9 year old was running around (for like the 10th time). Told him I rolled my eyes last year when I saw this area was the big addition?!!? But as proven by my kid running around - Playing tag with kids he’s never met, laughing and begging to stay even though Orion only has a 15 min wait??? They’ve tapped into something very needed. A place where kids can just be kids and play. He smiled and said, “thanks. I need to hear that” I think the bad often outweighs the good they hear, so make sure you balance the narrative any way you can.

Here’s my long-winded rants of what I’d add to each section: International Street: Could technically count as the Planet Snoopy one, but retheme Boo Blasters into an updated Phantom Theater. I feel like there’s been a recent trend in parks to bring back nostalgic past attractions (Think Knott’s Beary Tales or DarKoaster) and I think Phantom could be KI’s best attraction for that since the dark ride selection of the park is weak. Planet/Camp Snoopy: Retheme the remainder of Planet Snoopy into Camp Snoopy. Basically just making the exteriors of the current rides more rustic and replacing that Kidz Bob type music. Rivertown: The Tomb Raider/Crypt building desperately needs a replacement, as the park doesn’t have many indoor rides and it takes up a large spot of land. For the theme of the replacement, I can see a mineshaft as you’d be able to use some of the existing rockwork in the queue. Unfortunately, I’m not too familiar types of rides, especially that can fit into the building, but a wild mouse coaster similar to the newly added one in Cedar Point could be a good option. Vortex/Backlot Area: As I and I alone have uniquely noticed, the area where Vortex was remains empty. Unlike most who pitched ideas, I don’t know much about what coaster manufacturers to suggest what type of coaster it could be, but I think the park could use a spinning coaster akin to the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster at EPCOT. I have two themes I think could work well for this idea: Either set it in a new area make it a shipyard or move it to coney mall and make it carnival themed. For the shipyard, the queue could be a themed fishing village, and the coaster could be set over water with sunken ships to the side. I could see the coaster’s name being “Maelstrom”, as it’s another type of storm. For the carnival idea, you could theme it to going past a carnival ride graveyard (like going through the center of a Ferris wheel). This idea could keep the blinking lightbulbs on the lift hill, paying homage to Vortex’s lift. Coney Mall: There’s no way any park would invest in something like this any year past the 90’s, but I’d love to see a continually running theatrical show in the old action theater. As someone whose favorite theme park attractions include MuppetVision 3D and the Country Bear Jamboree at the Disney parks, a 10-20 minute air conditioned show that doesn’t require actors can be great for crowded days at a park. Unfortunately can’t think of a theme that’s not a blatant rip-off of one of the two above, but would love to see something like this regardless. Area 72: Currently a very solid area, but if they wanted another addition a themed indoor flat ride could be neat. You can have something like a Matterhorn attraction with a preshow and themed queue (similar in sale to Alien Encounter at Disney or the Alien Abyss Haunt House, minus the horror aspect). Adventure Port: Only unrealistic change would be to add more ability to spin to cargo loco, but I imagine you can’t randomly change the ride mechanics after opening (same applies for more capacity on sol spin) Action Zone: Bulldoze everything but The Bat and Banshee and start fresh. I have the same ideas basically everyone has suggested, either being a haunted themed area or a DC universe area. Invertigo has horrible capacity, and Congo Falls is the worst of the water rides. Thus ends my Action Zone roast. (Upon reading the initial question of this thread, I realized area was referring to different park aspects rather than park sections, but put too much effort into typing these out so enjoy my ideas lol)

Just posted today. Are they taunting us?

Ok I didn't know Beast's plaza used to be surrounded by chainlink fences. Granted I was 5 years old at the time, but man that looks so ugly. I'm glad they changed it! Also I didn't know that gold passholders had a "speed lane" access. I'm guessing that was Paramount's version of Fast Lane? Correct me if I'm wrong.

What has to be very hard for Kings Island management is they are told what they are doing by corporate. Then the park looks like they themselves are incompetent or incapable when they don't have much say in the matter. That has to be most frustrating for them. I really do feel bad for them in that regard.

That’s why sites like KISeasonPassholders that copy paste anything the park tells them to, or gush about how “amazingly, fabulous, wonderfully, specially, amazingly wonderful” everything is don’t help. There’s little room for actual dialogue about how things might not be as rosy as they paint. I’m all for having a good time regardless, but I refuse to go on and on about how AWESOME this event is when it simply isn’t anymore. It’s fun… it’s ok… it doesn’t cost me anything extra and that’s about what I’d spend on it now. Flashback to 2019 when I didn’t even have a pass and bought 3 after 5 tickets and 2 tasting cards and went 2x. Once alone and once as a date night with my wife. Felt like I could’ve gone a third time to catch all the local entertainment, tried 2-3 more things that sounded tasty and seem the parade one last time. THATS what you aim for with events like this, not “let’s provide the bare minimum to the people who already paid to come and eat to hopefully milk them for at least another few dollars.” I’d be embarrassed to bring anyone to this “cultural food festival” as it stands now.

I couldn't agree more. As much as I love Kings Island, I wish cargo falls was near the other water rides. Rumor is Carowinds is getting a water ride next year so depending on how that goes, I could see Kings Island getting one of those to replace Congo falls when the time is right.

At least Snoopy Soapbox can still claim the highest operating spike coaster in Ohio

Anyone seen him at the park this year? I have seen him and talked to him lots over the past few years but not seen him this year at the park.

We're in a new era, remember the last removal (Vortex) didn't give us a new ride.

Tbh I feel like Carnivale has run its course. If the park is not going to return it to the 2019 version with the individual stages with live performances as well as a special Carnivale themed nightly bandstand show and not retrospect, I feel it's time to lay Carnivale to rest and do something else. I also agree with your comment above about doing more seasonal events. Here is my idea of how I would do events during the season in order if I ran the park with an unlimited budget obviously lol: Opening Day: Start with a big opening day ceremony right before the park opens with a presentation from the GM and/or other park representatives as well as a countdown and a "Kings Island is officially open for the season!" cheer to officially kick off the season. Have multiple local bands come in and perform throughout the park on multiple stages (ie Festhaus, Bandstand, Gazeebo in Rivertown, etc). Also hold an opening day parade like the Reds does and invite all the local High School/College marching bands as well as local organizations. Also would make custom designed "Opening weekend" T shirts for employees to wear as part of their uniform for the weekend to help celebrate the occasion. Finally, to end Opening Day, have a special opening day fireworks show. April and May: Food and Wine Festival. Much better time of year as it felt more like a Springtime Event than an early Summer Event. Also would try and bring in some sort of special event for Memorial Day Weekend June: KidzFest in Planet/Camp Snoopy like what Canada's Wonderland does. Held on the weekends in Early June just as kids are starting their Summer Break. Brew and BBQ Fest: Weekends in late June in Rivertown/area around Backlot/Floral Clock. Live Music and Games in the grass area near Diamondback's brake run. Also in Camp Snoopy every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night from 8 pm - 9:30 pm throughout the summer, campfire pits would be set out and s'mores kits would be for sale for "S'mores with Snoopy!" 4th of July: Independence Day Celebration! Have special patriotic themed performances/activities throughout the day in the park as well as Soak City. I would bring in the folks from the Cincinnati Balloon Glow that used to take place at Coney and would block off a section of the parking lot for them to set up their Balloons at the park. Then of course would end the night with the best Independence Day fireworks display in the area! July/August: Summer Music Festival. Just like Carowinds is doing this year, on select weekends in July and August, the park would turn into a music festival ground with headlining acts at Timberwolf and local/up and coming acts at different stages in and around Action Zone. The locations for the two smaller stages would be one in front of Congo Falls and one near Festhaus where Hifi Honey played during Food and Wine. September/October: Haunt/Tricks and Treats Fall Fest. Would add more mazes as well as bring back the tween mazes for during the day. Oktoberfest: A german themed food festival during the day in the area near Festhaus/Viking Fury. Would take place in conjuction with Tricks and Treats November/December: Winterfest. Bring back the holly jolly trolly as well as the other smaller pop up entertainment that was cut last year. Also would try and find a way to figure out the tree light wiring on the Eiffel Tower and open up the Eiffel Tower for Winterfest. Enclose the 265' platform with a glass barrier like what Coney BBQ has and add heaters to the top. The views of the park with the christmas lights from up there would be nothing short of spectacular! New Years Eve/Closing Day: It's almost perfect as is, but I would personally bring in local live bands to perform during the New Years Eve party like Carowinds does. Finally to wrap this all up, I would also bring back the smaller pop up events the park used to do. Like the dive in movies in Soak City, Coaster Campout, as well as Passholder late night ERT events. Obviously this is just me dreaming as doing all of this would cost a fortune, but I always liked the idea of doing more seasonal events during the season.

It’s so weird how I had to reread the first part of hour response because…well…”Six Flags.” Regarding what @CorkscrewMcPuke said, I think it all comes down to how much a legacy the coaster has had in the park: like Loch Ness Monster. Also, and I’m no engineer, but I think if it’s purely a retrack, and it’s a popular coaster, a park will make an effort to preserve it. I’m not sure if supports are as easy to recreate as opposed to track- perhaps they’re easier- like I said I’m not an engineer.

I always thought that Congo Falls was expendable-it’s no where near other water rides to make it appealing. At least if you got wet on Kenton’s Cove, you could ride White Water Canyon after as well as the former Wild Thornberry’s. Cedar Point had the same thing going with having Shoot the Rapids, Snake River Falls, and Thunder Canyon all within the same area. I wish all 3 of our water rides were in the same place.

Hersheypark and Knott's Berry Farm say hi. I think Banshee and Orion both are begging for another ride to interact with, especially Banshee and the currently unused SOB station.

In addition, just look at how Mystic Timbers was designed to intertwine with White Water Canyon.

I agree. It has been done before. Just look at how Diamondback and Mystic Timbers were built around the path of the railroad.

I was thinking about it the other day but what if they were looking at stretching the Mack tower coaster concept across the front gate and have the station be in Invertigo’s plot of land. It has an inverted launch so theoretically the inverted launch could stretch over the entrance of the park. Just a possibility I thought of.

I’d argue you could utilize a larger footprint:

Why would they "need" to replace Congo Falls too? Rides can intertwine with each other.

With the merger potentially reprioritizing future projects and the need to replace Vortex, I have this hunch that Invertigo will be gone by 2030 a the latest and not replaced given its overall size and capacity. If they did decide to replace it, they’d need to remove Congo as well.

Out of curiosity, are we still thinking The Bat is next to go? I'm personally leaning towards Invertigo, Congo Falls, and Timberwolf as the next removals. While The Bat is old, Invertigo is also a rare model these days and one could argue for a new front of the park coaster. Of course I wouldn't be crying if they announced Boo Blaster was closing at the end of the 2024 season but I don't see that happening.

Snoop Dog’s Smoke Box Racers.

i've been saying the same thing myself. i hate to see it go cause i love The Bat, but with its age and especially with that incident happening, i can see it being removed in the next 5 years. i had assumed that anyways with how long its been there, but that incident definitely furthers my belief.

We're going to be seeing a lot of Arrow coasters dying this decade, I feel.