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There's a difference between having people in place that can make a pretty PowerPoint for internal use and people that can take what's going on in the park and generate high-level awareness, interest, and excitement outside of the park's backyard.

The marketing for Good Gravy was amazing. The coaster might as well have been Fury 325 with the excitement they were able to generate around it. Since GG and SSBR are almost identical in layout, the question I would be asking if I were the park is why SSBR would not be right next to Good Gravy? If GG can hit the #1 spot, SSBR should have been #2. GG should have won on the detail of theming, even though I think the ride experience is better on SSBR. How far could SSBR have gotten up the list if there were a better marketing campaign for it? Over the past few years, it seems CF/SIX has really scaled back on the PR/Marketing of their products. I don't know if that is coming from Charlotte or what, but the lack of marketing is showing big time in polls. If they want to win those #1 titles again, they have to really change their marketing and PR strategy. As someone who wants to see KI win those #1 spots, and who promotes the park as much as the park itself, I want to see them on top a lot more!

Not necessarily. AlpenFury has a huge price tag; I believe it will be the largest investment in a single ride in Canada's Wonderland's history. Iron Menace and its accompanying land at Dorney Park last year was the largest investment in that park's history. Rapterra is a very expensive ride and there's also a significant amount of money being invested into Kings Dominion this year for the surrounding area/50th anniversary-related projects.

I agree. Although some might argue SSBR has the better layout, I think Good Gravy was better executed when you factor in the theming around the area and the near-miss with the cranberry can.

I agree. For one, the storytelling was better for Good Gravy, and as important story telling is, GG itself followed up with that story with the details and theming in the queue. Which, even if there was good story telling with SSBR. Guests would have gotten into the queue of SSBR and noticed there was little to no storytelling, details, or theming at all. I joke and tell folks SSBR is a nice, unfurnished home. Kings Island has a talented team when it comes to decorating. They display it every season during Halloween Haunt and Winterfest. However, that talent was omitted with SSBR. I mean heck, Snoopy stands flag-less, in the dark on top of the roof of SSBR. A main Peanuts character who interacts with the ride. But nobody thought to put a light up there so he can be seen by the people on the ride at night? GG is a better executed coaster overall, and that's why it earned its spot. SSBR got the ride experience right. You add storytelling, details and theming to SSBR, it would be #1, possibly even earn itself a GTA.

Respectfully, you're talking about a clickbait list published by USA Today. They're not diving into any scientific analysis or rubric for judging/comparing these things. A few more local "stories" on the evening television news broadcast or a handful of retweets form enthusiasts probably wasn't going to move the needle in this "ranking."

Just got back from Dollywood (first time in several years at Christmas.) Compared to years past, there are a lot of shifts in decor that I’d consider cutbacks, but so much thought put into what is there, that it’s hard to ding them. I’d really love a “love child” between KI’s “more is more just keep throwing Christmas crap on it” with Dollywood’s thoughtful use of decor as storytelling (and their ability to staple cords and burry things under mulch) and we’d have a winner! KI definitely wins the “lush overstuffed decor award” now, if they’d just take the time to straighten and fluff stuff each year… Honestly I’d almost give the edge to KI for overall energy and complete Christmas vibes now, and I never thought I’d feel Dollywood had slipped.

Kings Island was able to get two people to talk about Snoopy's Soap Box Racers. Holiday World was able to get the country to talk about Good Gravy!

I can forgive the lack of notice when the decision to remove a ride might have happened after the ride was already closed for the season. However, Berserker is still open this weekend. I don't understand why they wouldn't post something, considering that Kings Dominion knows this is the last weekend ever for it.

I still can't wrap my mind around the why or need for these quiet ride removals? Both Disney and Universal Studios give amble time for guests to ride attractions that are set to close for good. If the argument is season pass sales, then why not announce ride closures earlier in the regular season like in May? Scarcity mindset can be used to drive attendance. I just visited Entertainment Junction today which is set to close for good January 5th. The place was slammed!

They strike again! According to KDFANS.com, a demo permit has been filed for Berserker, their 360 degree rotating Intamin Viking Ship. It was a WinterFest ride, not sure if it's open today or tomorrow. They seem to care not about respecting park patrons...surely they've heard the backlash from patrons about these unannounced closures. Shame on you, Richar Zimmerman! Shame on you, Bridget Bywater! Shame on you Kyle (forgot his last name) if you are still working there!

Don't put too much stock into spending "records." They're not useful for anything other than marketing and stock reporting statements. Take KI for instance, Son of Beast, Diamondback, Banshee, and Orion were all the most expensive investments in the park's history the year they were added.That's how things go with inflation. Dorney had not added a new coaster since 2005, so any decent coaster would have been a spending record. It's much more meaningful to look at what they are spending on average annually per park. "Scaling back their products" includes reduced park hours, early ride closures, ride removals, stale/lessened Haunt experience, lack of special events, etc. It's so much more than just how much they invest in new attractions.

I personally believe Good Gravy earned it. It has absolutely amazing theming and a pleasant, smooth experience that can be enjoyed by basically anyone. I also rank Good Gravy slightly higher than Soap Box. Good Gravy was an awesome addition to Holiday World.

Another accolade for Good Gravy! at Holiday World with its first-place ranking.

I for one really enjoy Skyflyer. Its the biggest thrill in the park to me. I always do it on Pride Night as is tradition. And I might do it if I catch it on the cheap on other visits. I will be sad if they take it down, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Dear god no. NO DC GARBAGE. KEEP THE DC COMIS GARBAGE OUT OF KI.

Here is the first half of fireworks on New Year's Eve 2024.

Had a fantastic time with the lady friend at Kings Island to kickoff the new year!

It missed the mark. It fell well short of garnering the same level of anticipation, interest, excitement that teaser campaigns and earned media placements did for Diamondback, Banshee, Orion, and the parking tolls leading up to those announcements. Slapping posters on a wall as teasers just didn’t net the same results. It would have created more buzz had the teasers been things like boulders being placed around the front gate area and around park with steam coming out. The posters were not aligned with what planning and design had in mind for the backstory. And then on the night of the announcement, a banner was unveiled with a rendering and it had The Racer with one side running backward. So, guests were wondering if that was returning instead of talking about Orion. Plus, half the conversation on social media was is it really a Giga? The parking tolls announcement had everyone buzzing because an aerial photo from behind The Racer that showed the parking lot and tolls was used on social media with the accompanying post copy saying two things that had been at Kings Island since 1972 was going away. Naturally, everyone assumed The Racer. “What’s Kings Island doing?” stories were everywhere. New York Times. Los Angeles Times. Boston Globe. I worked with KIC on that teaser and that really helped amplify the speculation. When it was announced new parking tolls and the original parking tolls would be torn down, there was a lot of conversation on social media with people breathing a sigh of relief The Racer wasn’t being torn down. Because of all of the chatter, news of the new tolls was nation wide. Matt Ouimet, Cedar Fair’s CEO at the time, was impressed that I could take new parking tolls and get it in the New York Times, and other major papers. Orion could have had that same kind of media coverage leading up to and for its announcement. It didn’t make it much further than the park’s backyard. just a lot of misses from start to finish.