Shaggy

Did no one notice the parade floats are now located there? They are covered in blue tarps behind Zephyr.

He’s painted silver - and it’s a bronze sculpture. He was painted at some point.

I've now seen the "new" International Street about 4 different times in person. Here's my overall take: - The buildings look terrific. Seriously - the color scheme, murals etc look better than they have in 30 years. Whomever picked the colors should get a HUGE pat on the back. - They should NOT have painted the bronze statue of Don Quixote. They literally painted it silver - oy vey. It should have been polished and buffed. Tsk Tsk. - The pavers and new trees are, IMO, much improved. They'll never top the original streetscapes that existed there (the ones removed in 1982.) But this is a good "nod" to them. - Matching the umbrellas to the buildings, and lining the fountains symmetrically with tables is a vastly improved look. - While I understand ease of upkeep, I do think the "grass" along the side of the fountains needs more color/foliage. - The light towers don't really bother me - my eye looks past them. - They missed a HUGE opportunity to bring back "balloon girls." Well, make them "Balloon people" now... That was a staple of KI for it's first 25 years! - I do miss the pedestals. However I'm not camp "hate" when it comes to the new fountains. Pictures or videos don't do them justice - they look better in person. However they seem very temperamental. When I was there this past Sunday, the fountains completely cut off for what seemed like extended periods during the day. Maybe they are having computer/relay issues? They did start back up, but frankly, I cant recall the last time I was there during full season operations that the fountains weren't working. I kind of feel like the GP should never see them shut off... it would be like (in my book) seeing a Disney Cast member wearing a Frontierland costume walking through Tomorrowland... it breaks the awe and illusion. - I prefer the overall "open-air" feel of KI's International Street to any of the entrances of other CF parks. While I appreciate others enjoyment of Dominion's heavily-tree covered IS, it is my personal opinion that the overall majesty of the entrance of that park is completely hidden and obscured. - I appreciate the focus they've created by placing the American Flag front and center of the fountains... but it does obscure the view. You cannot take a direct, straight shot, all-encompassing picture of the fountains and tower. You have to take it from the side. IMO, they could have placed a planter in the center of the large entrance plaza with the flag poles in that. Right where that current directional sign exists. - The ever-changing night-time lighting on IS is terrific. It is truly beautiful and I find myself making time to stand there and take it all in before I leave. - My biggest gripe - which I've said before - is the color of the fountain pool. That light blue is awful. Even looking into it from the street level the pool bottom looks dirty. They seriously need to paint it a bolder, brighter shade of blue (like in the 1980's) to mask some of the gunk. Plus, a darker pool would show the white of the moving waters/water jets better. Now, all that having been said, I will quickly acknowledge the conflict I've read between posters on this thread. Everyone needs to take a deep breath. Not that I'm some guru or something, but when I post, here's the little rules I always keep in mind that seem to work for me: -Try to post a positive for every negative. - Remember that others love KI as much as you, and critical opinions often come from a place of caring. (Dont take things to personally.) - Don't post or use a tone you would not say or use to someone's face. Its simply not nice. - Always remember there is a very hard working, talented group of people who's everyday job is to make KI the best it can be. They listen to feedback, appreciate the support, are aware of the things that need improving. - Its easy to be an armchair critic when you have nothing - nothing at all - to do with the internal decision making and creation process at KI. Trust the folks in charge.

If memory serves me, Uncle Walt always required it to smell like popcorn when you entered Main Street at Disneyland park. I think all the Disney parks still make this a priority at the entrances. I know the bakery on MS at WDW pumps a concentrated vanilla scent into the air. Pirates of the Caribbean & Voyage of the Little Mermaid have "salt air" filters in the air conditioning systems, and at the Germany Pavilion at Epcot they pump caramel scent into the air. Frankly - I'd love it if KI did the same thing on IS.

Who was talking down? Not me. My post was informational. Please do not try to cause a conflict on these boards when there wasn’t a negative tone to my post.

You do realize the elevator on the left (when waiting in line)goes to the lower level only, and the elevator on the right goes to the top level only, right? There’s no random option as to what level your elevator stops at. It just depends which level they decide to operate for the day. I can’t remember the last time I was there when both levels were open simultaneously.

The lower one has been open the past 3 times I was there... and it wasn’t raining either time.

Was at the park today... went up the Eiffel Tower just to get a quick look. Here’s a pic. BTW - I hate the lower deck of the ET... that flooring needs replaced - it buckles in spots and scares me to death. I was weak in the knees the entire time I was up there. The upper deck isn’t nearly as scary.

For years I dreamed of a very large mega-style coaster to take the Timberwolf/Congo/Invertigo area and run alongside the north parking lot. I always envisioned it like how Apollo's Chariot is placed at BGW, or how Goliath was placed at SFOG or how Leviathan turned out at Wonderland. Guess that wont be happening ;-)

I stayed up to watch the live stream. Looks very cool! They trotted out Lucas, Billy Dee, Mark Hammil, Harrison Ford and even Chewbacca to “fire it up.” Can’t wait to see it in person!

Off topic - but to address the Action Theater speculation... https://blooloop.com/theme-park-3d-technology/ I think, ultimately, 3D or 4D etc has never performed well because, well frankly, people aren't that thrilled by it. Its temperamental, the visuals are often blurry or ineffective, what you see does not match what you feel, makes people sick, costly to maintain etc. Until technology perfects the art, it just isn't going to take off. In my experience, 3D technology has never worked. My eyes do not see the dimension - no matter movie, ride, various glasses etc. It all simply looks like a blurry double exposure to me. My most recent "try" at a virtual ride was "Battle for Eire" at BGW last Nov. This is about the 4th or 5th incarnation of a 3D ride simulator they've put in the same show building. Just like the others, it's "Meh." As soon as the ride started, my visual unit (its like a smart phone attached to each seat of the ride that you snap into headgear you put on while waiting in queue) malfunctioned, and I had a big digital error message box in the center of my screen the entire ride. Murphys law - and not fun - and not worth the wait - no matter how long. Sucky experience. But BGW keeps trying, trying, trying, trying over and over for 30 years now to make it work - it doesnt. That having been said, there is absolutely NO indication Kings Island has any intention of re-opening Action theater anytime soon. I was literally right beside it two weeks ago - and there's nothing happening. So I am not sure why people are now on this tangent. Give me a 300' or 286' (or whatever height people are arguing over now) coaster over a crappy "3D" experience ANYDAY.

Truer words were never posted.

Wachs not Walks.

You know, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if “Project X” is actually the name & theme. Seriously- everyone could be overlooking the obvious.

I'm pretty sure you introduced yourself to me on Friday morning - outside the gate ;-)

Slaughterhouse

A tremendous event. Here's a link to the KI Blog with a summary of what made "Coasterstock" so special: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2019/may/kings-island-rolled-out-the-carpet-for-some-of-its-biggest-fans-at-coasterstock-2019?fbclid=IwAR1ufz5TjH_3g-v9L8p1TsfcbIZ_VB7zFfEjme3DnAV9_6btIThJGCUp218

You know... it would make a ton of sense for them to name a "possible" new coaster "Shooting Star." It actually works on multiple levels... a nod to history, fits the Coney/XBase space theme etc etc etc. If it ran with 2 trains... (unlikely, but maybe...) Polaris and Orion. Just sayin'...

My guess is, there's a need to raise the floor above grade.

By all appearances, its not. .. well, not directly...

The name "Royal" was originally chosen when the park was conceived to coincide with the name of the park - Kings Island. Currently, in park materials, in park staff interviews, and on the official park website - it remains it's original namesake.

The footer forms in the picture posted earlier presumably have nothing to do with the massive (and it IS massive) clearing on the other side of X Base. I too saw both areas today - I was on the tours - and I can assure you that area they have cleared is way bigger in person. Photos dont do it justice. Whatever is planned for the area looks to be a very large project. It will be exciting when KI officially decides to reveal what they have up their sleeves. On a separate note - KI is to be congratulated on pulling off a tremendously fun event - and thanked for allowing us those tours so we can be nosy and take pictures of The areas in question.

Of note - I didnt see any signs of electrical or plumbing...

I am most anxious to see photos of any work that's taken place at the park. More clearing, footings, grading etc. The physical indications really get my anticipation blood flowing. For those that regularly visit the park and post photos of the area in question - keep those coming (albeit taken within the appropriate confines of the park.) Tomorrow morning... if at all possible ;-) LOL!

Nor am I ;-) Point taken about the "leaked layout" - that pushed things over the edge unfortunately. I wear my KI heart on my sleeve. I just think it would suck to be one of those making the actual decisions, trying very hard to keep a secret - only to be scooped by "leaked" plans (authentic or not) from people that aren't doing the heavy lifting or internal decision-making. My point all along is, and will be, speculation is a good thing (and I bet the park thinks so too) but once too much gets revealed, or someone takes it too far, it takes the fun out of it.