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Since Vortex was a 48" coaster, can we assume it was a "Family Thrill"? I guess I am saying we could get a very similar ride to Vortex and be considered a family thrill coaster even at the 48" mark.

KY Kingdom just announced via Facebook live, they will be investing $25 Million in new rides & attractions over the next two years. It seems like they are going to start what we have all been waiting for.

In recent years, corporate strategy has intentionally been driving KI and CP in two very different directions. Before Mike took the reins at KI, the push from corporate had been crystal clear: KI is for families; CP is for the thrill junkies. The thinking at the top is that by polarizing the two parks, they maximize profits for each. They’re playing a different game now, one that isn’t necessarily about appeasing the hardcore fanbase but about securing long-term revenue. If you're hoping for KI to get another groundbreaking giga coaster or something to rival Steel Vengeance, you’re not reading the room. That ship sailed before Mike was even hired. They know families with kids are more likely to spend on meals, games, merch, Fast Lane passes, you name it. CP, on the other hand, benefits from the traveling adrenaline-seeking crowd who come for the coasters, and are more likely to drop extra cash on a second or third day at the resort. Sure, you might your buddies on YouTube talking about what's “missing” at the parks, but the real meetings behind closed doors? They're talking about the ROI of adding more Peanuts/DC theming or expanding Soak City. They know exactly whose wallet they're targeting with each investment. I know that’s not the message some of you want to hear, but it’s been the reality of Cedar Fair for close to a decade now. If you’ve got kids, you’re going to love what’s coming to Kings Island. If you’re all about speed and inversions and airtime, your place is at Cedar Point. They’ve carved out the paths for these parks, and they’re sticking to it.

For anyone curious about competition in the Columbus market...Zoombezi Bay in Columbus is getting a massive new waterslide tower for 2025. Two of the slides are first of their kind and one is first in the Midwest. https://www.columbuszoo.org/news/zoombezi-bay-announces-worlds-first-conservation-tower-water-park-attraction

For context, when Kentucky Kingdom was reopening in 2014-15, I was very active in the KK thread here. I was excited that a park could be brought back from the dead and I was a new enthusiast. Most on KIC said the park would never open, never stay open, etc. I was "educated" that Kings Island does not consider the smaller parks as competition and they laugh at the efforts to reopen in their offices. To me, even in 10 people bought a KK pass and didn't renew their SF pass, SF looses revenue. I consider that competition.

Kentucky Kingdom, Holiday World, Dollywood, and Kennywood are very much what Kings Island considers as competition.

It does work at the Aquarium and SDC is fantastic.

I'll put it this way...I've bought a 2025 KK . I have not bought a Six Flags pass. Part of it is that the park is getting stale and absence makes the heart grow stronger. Part of it has been all this bickering about the park's communication ( I was guilty too, but there's enough division in the world today outside of KI fandom). I wasn't going to do KK either, but with their Christmas event and that pass will get me 50% off other Herschend properties, it's a no brainer. Getting back to KK, HW, Dollywood will be great next year. And maybe this will be the kick I need to get to silver dollar city. I think it works at Newport aquarium as well.

You also have to think this amusement park is run by the Mack family which means the park probably does not get that large of mark up on the rollercoaster if any. I could be totally wrong I have no clue how their relationship with the manufacturer works. It seems kind of like a demo ride to show what their rides can do.

I think KI is concerned with both Kentucky Kingdom and Holiday World. Which I believe is the reason why KI is doing more attractions with Winterfest this year. Also there is part of me that thinks they are holding the family thrill attraction piece close to the vest until they get confirmation on what Herschend is doing. I don't think it was a coincidence that we have gotten many of the same flats (in the case of Kentucky Kingdom) and a coaster (in the case of Holiday World). I just need one of those parks to put in a Screamin' Swing so they'll add one to KI.

I make a point to go down to Kentucky Kingdom every summer. Stormchaser and Lightning Run are worth the 2.5 hour drive alone. Same with Holiday World. Have to get my rides on Voyage! Cedar Point is a every other year trip, and this year will be it.

Yet Kings Island " laughs" at the thought of competition from Kentucky Kingdom!

As said above, I hope that whatever family thrill attraction or future coaster it is does not have a shuttle element to it. It seems that those are becoming oversaturated in the industry, and everytime I ride one, my mind goes to "I'm on a stupid boomerBANG". ( Yes I know that there is a difference, but that is just how my brain works)

That might mean they need to repave the parking lot so this would never happen.

Definitely in the camp of not having said family thrill ride in The Vortex plot. That plot should be reserved for something of the same/better caliber coaster. Not saying that a family thrill coaster couldn't be worthy in it's own right, but I think you all know what I mean. Something big, thrilling and something that honors the legacy of Vortex ( and even the original Bat ) should go in that plot. I did see the Intamin family coaster and I find it cool/interesting that the model can include inversions. I will say that I hope it isn't another shuttle type ride like the CGI rendering showed since we already have two. And that is IF we were to receive one of these. Obviously we have no idea what kind of family thrill attraction we are getting since there are many many possibilities and since the announcement was very vague.

I am also in the camp of a family thrill attraction going in to the Boo Blasters on Boo Hill building. I'm pretty sure it's been far longer for something new there as opposed to the old Vortex plot of land. It's entirely possible that 2027, we will receive a coaster in that area.

Interesting, I didn't see the Zamperla announcement, and it does match the survey photos exactly. Thank you for pointing that out! I guess a family coaster from either company is possible. I would be happy with a good lsm family coaster, I just hope it doesnt go into The Vortex plot.

I unfortunately have a habit of only responding to what vaguely reminds me of this, but I will be happy if “Family Thrill attraction” could be referring to a dark ride/themed indoor Crypt replacement or a Phantom Theater reboot, especially considering the terminology “coaster” isn’t used. If this is a small flat ride on the line of Sol Spin, or that Peanuts shooter ride from the surveys, I will be disappointed.

Yeah I'm not sure what "family thrill" means in this case... I see other parks getting "record breaking coasters" and so family thrill doesn't translate to Vortex replacement in my mind.