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Vortex replacement… does that phrase even make sense anymore? I published a piece on this on TPBD. https://themeparksbydon.com/Vortex-replacement-term-outdated/

At Six Flags Over Georgia they have character meet & greets for the Monster Mansion dark ride, so fingers crossed we get one for Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare as well! 🤞

From 1994-2013 who remembers Action Theater (originally named Paramount Action FX Theater)? I have fond memories riding SpongeBob 3D, a very brief Stan Lee Superhero ride, and even a 3D Dinosaur ride. There are other shows that were shown in a theater such as Days Of Thunder, James Bond, and even a Hanna-Barbera ride. Who else has fun memories of this Kings Island attractions?

I haven't been able to read your article yet (I will read it after work tonight) but I'd like to share some quick thoughts! I do think there is a problem with calling these kinds of projects "replacements" instead of simply "new rides". Anything they build in The Vortex plot will be a replacement in that it occupies the same space, but it will likely be near impossible to replicate the nostalgia people had for Vortex. My personal wishes of a lift hill with chaser lights, some very scenic views, and plenty of inversions are both because I want to see those brought into a new design and because I think they're what the park needs. It's more of an issue at Great Adventure with their 2027 coaster because there are a lot of locals there who are still salty about losing Kingda Ka and keep insisting that this new Mack Tower Spinner will do more than the signs are showing and/or are going crazy telling everyone that it is doomed to fail because it will not be Kingda Ka. They're mainly younger adults saying such things, but I've seen far too much of it.

Holiday World’s Firecracker is more than a spinner—it’s a revived Calypso with roots at Americana near Cincinnati. A true time capsule ride. https://themeparksbydon.com/holiday-world-firecracker-calypso-ride-history/

Firecracker is a lot of fun. I find it better than Tiki Twirl at Cedar Point.

I photoshopped some nonsense after thinking of meet and greet characters. Do y'all think we could see an Arpeggio meet and greet like this (Or Maestro or any other PT ghouls for that matter)?

Another "wish" I have which won't happen this season and likely won't happen in the future as the ROI likely isn't worth it to those in charge is to see popular rides with very little shade get a shaded structure. I mocked up some "queue house" ideas for Diamondback and Flight of Fear (the old Firehawk queue which is used more than the current indoor queue). Diamondback's is based on the old Rivertown Mining Company building that used to be there and FOF's is based on the theme of Area 72

Pretty sure gold passes were $125 last August and $145 now. The gold today is a lesser product with less access to parks than it did in August. I don't really see an advantage here.

I don't want anything with the letters B&M associated with The Vortex plot. Give me a Vekoma, Mack, Intamin, or HECK give Zamperla a shot but please no B&M!