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What you have to keep in mind, is that every opinion of all coasters/rides/installations on this site are through an enthusiast lens. The general public likely doesn't see Orion as just a taller version of Diamondback. They see it as yet another highly enjoyable coaster that is the tallest in the park to date. It seems @Orion-XL200, we were typing up similar responses at the same time.

Sure, Orion isn't the best of the best....it's not a MF or a Fury (which isn't my favorite by any means)...but it is what it is. It wasn't originally meant for KI...but we got it. It's my favorite in the park and my 2nd favorite Giga. Literally the only people I see who complain about Orion are the 'thoosies online. The roller coaster 'thoosies are the most unenthused people about their hobby.

I am already wishing for warmer weather and longer evenings. These cold, dreary days damage my inner soul.

I am so happy the flag poles are no longer there behind the sign.

According to what metrics?

Exactly this. I mean it's fun to think about hypotheticals and all. But there's no way the park would spend extra money to improve Orion from a construction standpoint. I do wish the ride layout was more about speed and terrain and less with the air time and the similar Diamondback "out and back" format. It does indeed feel a little redundant to have a taller version in the same park.

It would definitely need a more decorative building but I would put something over Cargo Loco before Monster. I do think the park needs more sheltered/indoor rides

My 2026 "wishlist" for KI: 1) New music in the park. While I think Area 72 and Adventure Port should keep their own soundtracks I think it is time for a reset on all the music in the park. The jazz on I street is outdated and just doesn't work with I-street. I want the orchestral soundtracks back. Or maybe since 2026 is the 250th birthday of America, celebrate that with patriotic music on I-street like what is played during Tricks and Treats in Coney Mall. Speaking of Coney Mall, it is time to ditch pop music there and do a custom soundtrack. I think you could split it into two areas. If you want to keep jazz in the park, you could have it in the front half of Coney Mall near Racer's entrance. Then in the back half by Jukebox Diner and Antique Autos, have 50's/60s style music playing. In Rivertown, please ditch the bluegrass covers of pop/rock songs and do actual bluegrass/country songs. Sorry, but as someone who likes rock music, hearing a bluegrass cover of "Enter Sandman" just makes me want to puke lol. In Snoopy, it's time to add a custom soundtrack for Camp Snoopy. I say move the playlist that plays in the Soapbox Racers queue line and have it play in the rest of Camp Snoopy. I just think it is a missed opportunity hearing Kidzbop in that section of the kids area. If you want to have Kidzbop in the Planet Snoopy section that's fair, but have it cut off right around the Snoopy's Boutique and transition to "Camp Snoopy" music. Finally for the rest of the park, I think pop is fine, but change the playlist. It's been the same list of songs the last couple of years so I think it's time to add more and maybe remove a few current ones. 2) More limited time special events. No I'm not talking about Food and Wine or Carnivale. I'm talking about pop up weekend events like the park used to do in the past. Like food truck fridays, dive in movies, etc. I also really would like to see the park bring the color run 5ks back. I don't understand why the park doesn't do that anymore. They could get some local organizations to sponsor it and/or have it raise money for a good cause. KI already does the JDRF walks and the A Kid Again Family Festival so they still do stuff like that, but I think a family friendly fun 5k in the spring time would be perfect. I like the color run idea as it really adds to the fun especially at a park like KI. KD still does Run and Ride so it's not like legacy CF has abandoned events like this. I also would like to see Grad Nites brought back (which tbh would kinda sting to fairly recent HS grads like me who didn't get a grad nite at KI). Multiple legacy Six Flags parks do Grad Nite and I believe I saw somewhere Carowinds is doing one so I think doing a grad nite would be great. 3) More New events: Now I'm going to talk about actual seasonal events. While nothing is confirmed, I'm willing to bet Carnivale is not coming back so something needs to go in its place. Obviously other parks in the chain have introduced "La Viva Fiesta" and while I think that would do well at KI, I want to see KI do their own take on a "Summer Nights" event. Like Cedar Point has Boardwalk Nights and Knotts has Summer Nights. Even Worlds of Fun calls theirs "KC Nights". So I think a custom event for KI would be perfect. I think "Island Nights" has a good ring to it and KI has used that name before, but in Soak City. Another event I'd like to see come to KI is some sort of Kids event like Kidzfest at Canada's Wonderland which is very popular there. Worlds of Fun also introduced their own version of Kidzfest and it seems to be doing well there as well. It would be a great way to show off our large kids area. When it comes to timeframe I think Food and Wine should be moved to late April through Memorial Day. That just makes more sense as Food and Wine feels more like a spring time event instead of a summer event. Then hold Kidzfest in June and Island Nights in July/August. Then Haunt and Winterfest during their normal timeframes. 4) A New Indoor VIP lounge: I know I'm not the only one who thinks this, but our VIP lounge is an embarrassment when compared to other parks in the chain. Plus with more people buying the prestige pass, a glorified patio next to the dumpster and restrooms is not going to cut it. It's time to take a page out of Kings Dominion and move it indoors. I personally think the best location for it would be the International Restaurant as it is a large indoor space with a great view that isn't used that often, but there are some obstacles that would likely prevent them from going that route. The next potential location is the Antique Photos building in Rivertown. The final location I thought of is the Graeters building. Idk if it is just me, but I don't usually see that many people in Graeters at KI. I personally wouldn't mind them moving Graeters somewhere else in the park like Rivertown and converting that building to the VIP lounge.

I was thinking it would be better to wait so they could get a new photo (especially with the new paint on the ground) and to let the foliage grow back in for the season. I think it could also be part of a post advertising that "Monster has reopened for the 2026 season", in which case some nice, green foliage would help to show off some of the beauty Kings Island is known for. As little credit the current social media team might get/deserve I do believe they can make some nice posts from time to time.

Thank You, but why wait until Spring?

Oh my God... I forgot about that survey... Touche. haha...

Yes, this topic is mostly for fun. I would say highly, highly unlikely rather than never. Afterall, the park tossed around the idea of adding onto The Beast (survey from 2023? I think) can we really say this is impossible?

^^They have lift hill audio theming already. I wonder why they don't use it?

Seems like I am one of the few true coaster nerds that really enjoy Orion for what it is. Ha! Just kidding. It's no Fury 325, and is on the shorter side of overall length, but it I love that first drop, fun elements and tons of speed. It's a great combo with Diamondback's airtime and repeating big hills. And it is very re-ridable for most everyone. I can marathon both easily which is nice. I think we are lucky to have it at our home park. Now just we need a really amazing install in The Vortex old spot...it's just so empty back there without it.

My problem with the logo where it is, is that if anyone is standing in front of it for a photo, it's hard to get a photo of it without including the people. It's also hard to see when anyone is standing in front of it, as it's too low (so taking a group photo in front of the fountain/sign, you get the fountain but not the sign).

I feel like the coverings wouldn't do much to help aside from maybe some shade from the sun. Any kind of new ride covering is also very likely to look more like Carowinds' cover for their Grand Carousel than anything like Kings Island's Grand Carousel cover. It'd be plain and made of powder-coated metal. I think if the park could've put covers on each Cargo Loco barrel (like existed on Der Spinnen Keggers) it would've accomplished the desired "covered" effect. Something that really needs a cover in the park is Sol Spin's queue line. Removing WindSeeker and putting a dark ride in Action Theater would get my vote! I haven't figured out a good way to differentiate the ride experience from Phantom Theater, but it would be a better use for the building than being an abandoned 4D theater and a haunt maze. Move the maze into a new building and bring in a new dark ride. The park definitely needs more indoor spaces that guests can stay in. Indoor food lines are good, but they could definitely use another indoor restaurant and another indoor theater in addition to a second dark ride. Monster would not be a good candidate for receiving a covering IMO. The view showcased in the images above is really nice to have because it showcases three different eras of Kings Island history (Coney Island, the original Kings Island, and the modern Kings Island) within one vantage point. (That could be a nice social media post once Spring comes around!)

That’s a fair point- I’m sure there are quite a few rides that *could* be enclosed or covered. Cargo Loco Monster Scrambler Great Pumpkin Coaster (I pitched this idea on a different thread)

The lights are still in place and operating in the fountain along with the pyro:

I concur strongly with your first sentence. It's challenging to feel patriotic and celebratory in the climate and state of affairs happening here. I wish I felt differently as I'm sure a lot of folks do. You wanna have pride in your country, but alas. I wish I could feel excited about this historical merch but I don't. And besides, just wait until near the end of the season next year and this stuff will probably still be a-plenty and will be on a clearance rack.