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Double post, but looks like Hifi Honey will be performing in Soak City on its opening day in May. Wondering if they're installing a permanent stage back there or a temporary one. I'd like to see live music in Soak City on a more consistent basis mainly on busy weekends like memorial day, 4th of July, etc.

Wonder what the Dippin Dots guy thinks about this

Vortex was more forceful than Banshee and it was only 48". It's more about ride restraint and seat design.

I have similar thoughts, but mine is to keep the stage, but split the seating in half. Use the back half towards the midway for park expansion/new ride/s, and have the front half/stage area be for shows/mini concerts (local up and coming artists/bands in residence even). They could even just take out all the bleachers entirely and put in grass turf and make it more festival seating/standing room.

https://www.wlwt.com/article/freeze-dried-blue-ice-cream-dessert-kings-island/64422403

THIS!

Universal started selling preview tickets for AP holders starting 4/17 and going until right before opening day. I saw the announcement yesterday but didn’t look at the offerings until this morning and I was still able to get two tickets for Saturday, 5/3 (cost with tax was $130/each). It looked like the initial week/ten days or so was pretty much sold out, but there still seemed to be availability most days after that.

According to their site, they make them in Carignano, Italy. https://www.panzera.it/en/about/

The 5 height requirement changes in 2025!! -Bat is 42in minimum/ alone -Pumpkin coaster is 36in minimum/ alone -shake rattle is 42in minimum and 54in alone -Viking fury is 40in minimum and 46in alone -Sally’s sea Plane’s new minimum height requirement alone is 36in alone and with adult accompanied

I think if the park really wanted to have a good spot for it, Timberwolf amphitheater is right there. It wouldn't be the easiest to accomplish, but would theoretically only require the removal of the stage and seating sections closest to it. After that a new stage could be built closer to the remaining seats. The park might even be able to splurge a little and get a covering for the area like the International Showplace has. If there's no more use for the whole amphitheater, why not reuse some of it and demolish the rest? I think it was removed as part of the cuts seen across the chain. Kings Island was one of the only big Legacy Cedar Fair parks that didn't suddenly lose a coaster (Wonderland-Time Warp; Carowinds-Nighthawk, Scream Weaver, Drop Tower; Cedar Point-their skycoaster; Dominion-Anaconda, Berserker, Skyflyer, go karts, and two children's rides). Canada's Wonderland removed theirs for AlpenFury, possibly planned before the merged financial situation was clear to the then-CF execs. If the 2026 attraction goes there I think it will either have been a sudden change or a poorly planned exit for Xtreme Skyflyer. Kings Island didn't lose any events (RIP to KD's Winterfest), the entertainment seems to have stayed its course (thank goodness), and the park is receiving some much needed maintenance across the board (especially with all of the restroom renovations). I think the park made it out far better than expected considering what has been happening throughout this new Six Flags chain. Now for my specific thoughts on the 2025 lineup. I thought this entertainment release timing was somewhat standard for Kings Island, although I can't remember much about it prior to 2023. I'd prefer if they would release it and the events sooner for everyone who has to plan trips before February though. I know everyone was going crazy waiting for the events lineup, but that was released on March 4th — the same day it was released in 2024. Kings Dominion is celebrating their 50th anniversary and the only entertainment I've heard about is their Clown Band, a parade, a Peanuts show, and the Gazillion Bubble Show (which is also in their big theater). Is it cheaper to hire an outside group/production than it is to make one in-house? Is that why we keep seeing bubble and stunt shows? If anyone has some kind of data to share on this, I'd love to know. Country Crossroads: Hooray!!! I love this show. I'm really happy that it's back for most of the summer. My only complaint is how packed the Festhaus will probably be on hot days. Funny fact: the description is still the same as last year and calls it "all-new". Gazillion Bubble Show: I seriously thought "Bubble" was plural, but I guess not. I enjoyed this one when I saw it last year, but it's not something I'd come back for. It doesn't use much of the theater and seems to use a lot of performative happiness. That might just be what it's like when something is made for toddlers and young children; again, this show's not my thing. It would be awesome if another show could come in for the other half of the summer, but I have a feeling that the Tinker's Toy Factory set is behind one of those curtains and nobody wants to move it : ( [put Wake The Dead in there during Haunt, gosh darnit] HiFi Honey & River City: I'm putting the bands together because they're very similar setups. I really like them, and wish there were more throughout the season. A Bands-in-Residence program would be awesome. Hot Rhythm Nights: Seems very nice! I hope it can be better than RetroSpect! was for me. I saw a show with a very similar name at Dorney Park last summer, and if this one lives up to the hype that one had then I'll be a very happy camper. Kings Island's Nighttime Spectacular: Very very very happy we get to keep our fireworks. I wish the park didn't have to constantly fight to keep them. The name is a little bland for me, but I think that's just because I like to name things even if they don't need one. I hope we get to see many many more years of nighttime fireworks. Meet-N-Greet Experience: Not a show, glad it's there for the kiddos, I wish the Peanuts Showplace could be used for a show though. Trailblazers X-treme!: Speaking of being a happy camper... I won't sugarcoat this: I don't like the stunt shows. The cast and everyone involved are great! I just don't like them. I think these fall into the "Shows for families with toddlers" and "Hype show" categories. I do wish this could be the last year we see a stunt show in the International Showplace. I think even having something like Hot Summer Nights (but a little bigger) would still bring the crowds into the Showplace, it just hasn't happened because of either contracts or because nobody wants to take the set apart. In conclusion, I'm very pleased with this lineup, but hope we can see a little more variety next season. Thank you for coming to my rant : )

Looks like the royal fountain got a fresh coat of paint, or I’m just not used to seeing it this clean! Video is posted on tik tok of them filling it up.

That was a different era. 2022 was the best season I have experienced at KI in my life. Everything was done top notch. Then 23 rolled around and budget cuts were apparent. Maybe it's because 2022 was so good and it felt like it could only get better, the events of '23 and '24 seemed magnified. To be fair, '24 did have some redeeming moments, but with all the prognostication of what the merger with Six Flags would bring, and negativity on social media with park happenings, it's just lost the appeal. This entertainment lineup just magnifies this. It's pretty much a repeat of last year. I enjoyed the bubble show, but it's a short run show. The theater being out of commission for that long is a shame. Trailblazers is fun but this will be the fourth year. The only show I'd want to return for four years would be PTE.

To be fair, River City and Hifi Honey are meant to be early season entertainment and a placeholder for the summer shows. I will stand by my word and die on the hill, that the park needs to branch out and look for more local bands and not juzt settle with the same 2 bands every year. You can still have them play once or twice, but branch out and look for more like Cedar Point's Bands in Residence Program. There's lots of bands in the local area that would love an opportunity like this. If they can bring the school bands in, I'm sure they can bring more local bands that play at festivals, clubs, etc outside the park.