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Okay guys. Why didn't you tell me we got a sweet, new dueling RMC this year?

I finally made it back to Kentucky Kingdom for this season, it was a real mixed bag. But in a mostly good way. The place was absolutely hopping, both the theme park and the water park were busy which is great to see. And you can tell Herschend's got their fingerprints all over it, especially with Discovery Meadow They've completely transformed what used to be a bit of a forgotten corner into something vibrant and alive. It really shows you what this park could be, and that's exciting to me. They've done a nice job sprucing things up. Flowers blooming all over the place, new trees planted and old trees providing some much-needed shade – it all looks so fresh, yet established and well-cared-for. The new pavement and those artificial turf areas make the whole place feel cleaner. Plus, seeing the costumed characters roaming around and hearing some decent music playing? It gives the whole park a lighter, almost Doklywood vibe. It's got a great family-friendly feel that helps you relax a bit. The trampoline show was fun, even though it's a two man show. The flower festival is going on, and there are flowers everywhere. Now, for the stuff that made me sigh. Ride operations were agonizingly slow. I get that Woodland Run is a one-train wonder, but ten-minute dispatches? That's painful-- waiting 35 minutes at the stairs? Seriously? Wind Chaser was out of commission for half my visit, too, which was a real drag. On the bright side, Lightning Run was actually running pretty smoothly with its single train. So, there was that. And while I appreciate the free drinks with the Gold Pass, having to lug around that reusable cup is a bit of a nuisance. Cedar Fair's spoiled me with their disposable paper cups. But, credit where credit's due, this cup is thick, and my ice barely melted. They even say it's dishwasher safe, which is a nice touch. As for Discovery Meadow, despite being a major improvement, it still had some rough edges. I know they were under the gun time-wise, but seeing concrete forms for the lighting rigs still sticking out, and cracks in the older concrete sections, just pulls you out of the magic a bit. It feels unfinished and honestly, a bit of a trip hazard. This is where some of the old Kentucky Kingdom issues still linger. I'm hoping as the park continues to raise its standards and really leans into that family market, these things will sort themselves out. But honestly, the sheer volume of water park attire in the dry park was astonishing. Call me old-fashioned, but seeing adults in bikinis and shirtless in Discovery Meadow, even with Mile High Falls right there, just doesn't feel appropriate for a family theme park. It distracts from the atmosphere they're clearly trying to create. Then there were the hosts. And let me be clear: this isn't a dig at their friendliness – everyone I encountered was great. It was more about a lack of urgency and support. Case in point: at the Bluegrass Bakery, I was the only person in line, wanting some cinnamon bread to go. The lovely young lady literally had to track down a supervisor just to log into the register, and then someone in the back had to assemble the bread. What should have been a two-minute transaction dragged on for ten. If the place had been slammed, it would've been a total mess – and I've witnessed that scenario there myself. Same story at the pizza place. Again, I was the only customer. I wanted a drink and a grab-and-go pudding. They had a non-verbal special needs host at the drink station, which I absolutely support, but there was no support person nearby. It led to this awkward two-minute wait just to get a drink. I genuinely felt bad for that young person; they clearly needed more immediate assistance. Then it was another two minutes just to find a cashier and ring up the pudding. It's those little things that can add up and can really sour the experience, especially when those locations arent busy. Despite these frustrations, I truly believe this park has a bright future. As Herschend continues to put their unique stamp on every part of the park, elevating the whole experience, it's going to become better. It will finally shed the lingering ghost of Six Flags, and even the narrative of being "the park brought back from the dead." What Ed Hart accomplished in reviving Kentucky Kingdom was nothing short of a miracle, and the current investment is clearly building on that incredible foundation. The front of the park, even with some ride shuffles and one removal, still feels cohesive. And with that entire back section now fenced off, from Taco Tequila to where the Larson Loop used to be, it feels like big things are coming. With continued investment, both the front and back of this park are going to be in fantastic shape.

Alright. So my fiancé and I finally took a ride on River Racers yesterday afternoon and yeah...it was honestly...mid... Here is my personal analysis: -Color scheme is fun, bright and probably the most exciting part of the whole experience to be honest. It gives early Y2K Action Zone vibes, but not in a bad way. Maybe because I am someone who enjoys the bright "pop" and loud colors that scream excitement and invite you to get in. I am a product of my time I suppose. -The "kaleidoscope" section of the slide was neat to see and I wish that there had been more of those kinds of light tricks along the way...but since the slide itself was already so short, that wouldn't have been possible without making the entire experience enclosed. -I will emphasize the shortness. This slide was just too dang short ya'll. We chose to wait for this since it's new and of course we were curious, but also...this slide did not fall into the "short but sweet" category that some rides tend to offer. This thing really could have had some serious wow factor to it had they decided to add a few more uphill launch moments or even some speed sections to really make it feel like you're on a true "water coaster". -Like many of you have already stated, other than the initial uphill launch, this was such a slowwwwww ride. Even with two adults inside this thing, I could not get over how slow it was after the initial launch. -The only good thing about the ending of the slide was that since there were two of us adults in the raft, we got a really decent splashdown, but I saw that with smaller and single riders, there wasn't enough of a splash factor for them. I think a nice waterfall at the end of the slide would have made for a nice effect to guarantee at least one good soaking for everyone before hitting the splashdown. Overall, I know we both wished that this slide was more than what it offered. It's fine. But definitely not the caliber of slide that Soak City deserves. Curiosity has been quelled, but a re-ride will only happen if it's practically a walk on for us. We''ll stick to Mondo Monsoon and the body slides.

Plague Productions built Ghost in the Machine at Dorney Park, which is absolutely stunning. It would be great for them to build a house at Kings Island!

YES - Feel this each time I go to Dollywood. I used to think the paper cup options was silly.... till I had it. SO much easier especially solo trips.

This has been moved to the correct forum.

Imagine if they asked the right questions in the park surveys and got answers like this.

I think the crappy grass is a big part of it. That area would've been PERFECT for a large, tent-like shade structure with synthetic grass under it. Then existing infrastructure from the Shooting Star could be expanded into 3-4 permanent "flex spaces" for food and bev for festivals. Back a small stage up to the showplace to possibly use the backstage infrastructure of that for festival entertainment. Then DING DING DING there's nothing wrong with the bell where it always was.

I've realized what is so off about this picture: the Liberty Bell and the tree slightly behind it are too close in color for me. They sort of blend together and make the topiary stand out less. I can't tell if the posts are new, but they are also too tall compared to the old ones. The patchy grass near the path also does not help the way it looks. A short fence/post & chain barrier near the path to keep guests out, more plants or ground cover around the bell, and something smaller on both sides to balance the view would make this marvelous Living Liberty Bell look 100x better. Oh, and a nice classic flat ride in the Saltwater Circus plot, complete with a covering structure worthy of the area Here's a photo of Kings Dominion's Liberty Bell. Notice that it is touching the ground within a raised planter bed. (Image: @DonHelbig on Instagram) Here is a photo of Kings Island's Living Liberty Bell in its old location. Note how it used to sit lower to the ground. (Image: Andrew from Park Rovers; https://www.parkrovers.com/home/2022/7/4/how-many-theme-parks-have-a-liberty-bell-replica)

I just got a Silverwood ad on KIC today...guess someone found out I moved to Seattle

Gary!!! He was such a fun guy. Saw him a lot that opening year.

Let's not forget that in 2019 the park put up signs in The Beast queue with stats and pictures and recognize Carl Eichelman as the official record holder at 4,400 rides. Or did Rick accumulate 40,000 rides since those signs went up to go along with his over 5,000 Orion rides

If only there was a rumors subforum...oh wait...

I’ve attached the word rumor to this thread to appease the mods (they don’t like when the truth gets out too early…) even though it is the truth, please circle back to this thread in August after the official announcement. A Conjuring house designed by Plague Productions is coming to HAUNT this year in the former Blackout building. They’re building an extended queue now to accommodate the crowds. A sister house is going to be built at Carowinds.

thats in The Vortex spot - the moose out front shoulda told ya

I remember catching some rides with Gary early on when Diamondback opened and just thought of him on a recent visit when the topic of people known for their ride counts (Carl Eichelman, Don, Darlene, etc) came up with a buddy of mine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the review! I figured as much. I'll just go to Holiday World if I want to ride a water coaster. Luckily, HW is not too far away. Living in Texas for awhile, Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels was amazing also. It baffles me that knowing what is only 2.5 hours away as far as amazing water coasters are considered, that KI could not get something that wowed us and was on par with what HW has.

Appreciate your honest opinion on RiverRacers.

47,000 rides baby LOL

That’s sad to hear. I wish him all the best in regards to his health. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When queso was included at Enrique's/Hank's I would say a chicken burrito bowl. I suppose it still counts even if you have to pay extra for the queso... I think the pub burger is just okay. I always preferred the burgers at Jukebox, at least until they "streamlined" that place.

How it feels to eat the muffuletta at The French Corner Now let me tell you something, when you go to Kings Island you’re not just getting greasy diner crap, no no no, NO SIR! You are getting Michelin five star meals, right here in the heart of Mason aka Ohio’s Largest playground. Strolling on International Street it’s easy to close your eyes, let the sounds of the fountains and music transport you to the old country. Am I in the Swiss alps? Am I in the vineyards of Spain? Or am I in a quaint Parisian cafe, with a subtle exterior and bold flavors on the inside, beckoning your taste buds in with wafts of the most delectable delicacies this side of the missippi? Yes, this, now this is real life. *pinches arm* To the unassuming eye this may come across as a mere facade, a simple extension of the themed land known as International Street, but to true fans when we see that balcony we know we are about to treated to one of the best meals in the park. Opening up that door is like being transported back in time to the turn of the century France, Parisian art adorns the wall setting the tone for this first class meal, foreign cigarette smoke emanates off of the associates behind the counter, and if you’re lucky the ice may not be turned on, just like a real European cafe experience. Now this isn’t some chic boujee cafe, no sir. This is like Anthony Bourdain walked you into the heart of Paris to your favorite cafe and opened the door into a portal of flavor, yeah you’re not getting that touristy crap here, these guys don’t play around. My go to is the Muffuletta, flavorful without being overbearing, light but filling, savory with a dash of spice. This flavor combination is bound to satisfy the hunger from any foodie. The bun on this sandwich feels like biting into a fluffy cloud, happy as it could be. I suspect that each morning they bake the bread, fresh, for guests like us to enjoy. I imagine the upstairs has large stone furnaces reminiscent of what you may find in a European bakery, as KI only provides guests with the best day experience spared at no expense. The meats are a culmination of western and Eastern European flavors coming together, to bring bold new flavors that haven’t been seen before at a park setting. The Cheese is representative of the unique flavors that France brings to the table, not too overbearing, but when you bite in it’s like a distant friend just saying “Hey, yeah I’m here, I’m here for you, enjoy.” Now who could forget about the olives? Originating from the Mediterranean region these vegetables harken back to the International Street theme, and truly tie together the sandwich. On a nice summer day there is no better feeling than the cool vegetables against the warm bread and meat, big ups to whoever made this decision. Now with this dish you do get a side, and I’ll be frank, none of them really jump out to me, they’re all just fine. Overall the atmosphere of this place and the sandwich alone are worth a visit to the park. Looking to make a trip across the pond this summer for a culinary adventure? No plane ticket required, The French Corner has got you covered.

Gary is a class act and has a life story that is worthy of a memorial. It's a shame he was not celebrated more in the last couple of years of his frequent rides. I hope he is doing as well as he can despite the health issues.

It was Gary Coleman. He has had many health issues and doesn't make it to the park very often anymore.

Whatever happened to the guy that marathoned Diamondback when it opened? I remember Don would share his ride counts on social media. Gary something? Does he still frequent the park?

At most 430.

@BEASTIEGAL1993

I honestly want the building gone.

I realize feelings do no garner any movement when it comes to these major business matters, but I think the real issue here is that long time fans of the park still feel the absence of Vortex. Regardless of whether you loved or hated it, it was a big coaster with inversions that had a modest height restriction. It fit the bill as a thrill ride with high capacity, but one that allowed smaller riders to step into it pretty quickly if desired. We don't have a looping coaster with a 48" height requirement anymore, so families don't have that perfect balance of thrilling and accommodating for their younger kids who are ready for a bigger thrill that happens to have inversions. Vortex somehow kind of tied that area together and made it feel whole. And again, I know this really holds no bars in any of what is currently happening in this new business model. I'm just pointing out that the absence of a legacy attraction that was super accommodating and thrilling is still felt today and even those who are new to KI often ask what stood there before. It's just a massive plot of land to those who don't know, but to everyone else it's a somber reminder of what has yet to be fulfilled. I realize they have no need to build anything with a hurry. We probably won't see anything take that plot for awhile. Just pointing out a perspective that feels silently shared.

LAME! But I'll let it slide if we get a new ride inside the tomb raider building

If they’d gone longer with a true water coaster, where you didn’t have to carry your raft up a flight of stairs, the capacity would be higher. Go to Holiday World and ride each of its three water coasters to compare.,

They could have put it somewhere else. They chose to go small.

Rode it this past week. Honestly not the best slide. The first drop and launch up the hill are fun but the turns afterwards go very slow. Thought we were going to valley at one point.

I would never mock the best podcast in the world.

Oh. I understand now, you’re mocking Themeparksbydon, and Tower Topics.