CoastersRZ

Thanks for sharing the photo TombraiderTy!

Yes, we did mention the flags around the base of the tower. We concluded that those flagpoles were still there.

I will dig it up tonight and share it when I get home from work.

https://kicentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/KIC-Podcast-4.mp3 Show Notes: Join host Robbie Zerhusen (CoastersRZ) and Brad Perdue (IndyGuy4KI) as they are joined by Eric, KICentral forum member Pianoman. We discuss the recent announcement of renovations and enhancements to International Street and the Royal Fountains. You can find more information on this renovation project on Kings Island`s blog: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2019/january/international-street-and-royal-fountain-to-get-major-offseason-renovation

Really like those trains! This ride looks amazing. Not the biggest or tallest but looks like so much fun!

Thats what I get for trying to type a logical post so early in the morning. Yes, the city owns the land that the park is built on. Cedar Fair owns the park. That park is one of the Cedar Fair parks (and the only former Paramount Park) that I have not visited.

Hadn`t it been mentioned as part of the long range plan for the park that they filed with the City (who actually owns the park) that they intended to install a hyper coaster? I might be remembering that wrong, but I seem to recall hearing that.

I still wish that some form of the Celebration Parade would return. The atmosphere of the park when the parade was going on was electric. The parade did not run all season at KI, but rather the floats traveled to all five Paramount Parks. I too like the Winterfest Parade they had. With the current incarnation of Winterfest, a parade is not needed due to the abundance of entertainment elsewhere. It would be cool to have a parade return during the peak summer season in mid-June through early August.

But Millennium Force is an Intamin. Are there any B&M coasters out there that have a separate unload and load area?

Thanks! I have not attended HWN. I have heard nothing but great things about it. One of these years we will get out there.

I unfortunately will not be able to attend this year. I have an all day leadership seminar to attend that Friday. My wife is also pregnant with our second child (due June 23) so she is unable to ride coasters at the moment.

He is stating that the three hotels likely are going to be occupied by tourists and not locals to the area. These tourists likely will go to Kings Island for at least one day. There was a figure from early after the Cedar Fair acquisition of the Paramount Parks that stated roughly 40% of the attendance at the Paramount Parks was from pass holders. Granted that was over ten years ago, and a lot has changed since then. I still disagree with your sentiments about the percentage of pass holders who visit the parks. There are group sales and walk up admissions that contribute to the attendance.

Again, how do you know that the majority of Kings Island`s attendance is from season pass holders? Furthermore, the notion that season pass holders do not spend money while in the park is somewhat false. With the addition of the season pass dining plan, drink plan, I believe that the park today is getting more money out of their season pass base then they ever have before. It also incentivises the pass holders to visit more frequently. add in special events like the Snoopy event last year, and the ice skating and cookie decorating at Winterfest and you provide more opportunities for pass holders to open their wallet and part with their money.

I would imagine that the exterior of the shops will receive maybe a fresh coat of paint and some spruccing up. I would not look for significant changes to any of the shops. Likewise, I would not look for the street and sidewalk motif to return. At least not with an actual 6" high curb. That would be quite a tripping hazard as well as an ADA issue.

Which resulted in chaos and depending on the day, it would be nearly 10:30 before you were in the park.

Don`t forget that during the CBS year, they made the decision to not open International Street before the park opened. They didn`t start scanning people in until 10am, when the park opened.

Not to sound harsh, but how do you know that KI doesn`t really keep sustained growth after a major attraction? Are you privy to their attendance numbers? Keep in mind that it was reported one one of the Cedar Fair conference calls, that season pass sales were down at KI this year compared to last year. But last year they apparently had a record year for pass sales, which makes the comparison difficult. I believe they said that while pass sales were down this year at KI, they were still one of the top years they have had.

I doubt they build a hotel in the park. Carowinds is already building a new hotel on property that is slated to open by the end of this year.

Hmm. That is interesting. It sits on a very large tract of land. How often is the ampitheater used at Carowinds? Together, they take up a sizeable amount of real estate near the main entrance to the park.

I completely agree. I think it is safe to assume that Cedar Fair has been very good owners for Kings Island. Yes, Diamondback did destroy some of the charm of Rivertown. But all in all, they have been adding very nice attractions (and family friendly attractions). I still am in awe at how amazing Winterfest has been the last two seasons.

I think that ship has long since sailed. Haunt was an upcharge the first several years it was held at Kings Island, back when it was known as FearFest. 2000, 2001 and 2002 it was an upcharge event. Then they made it free with passes starting in 2003. There were a couple of years after including it with passes that they opened some of the indoor haunted houses in mid afternoon. If you tried to make it an upcharge now, pass holders would surely be upset with the loss of what use to be included. Besides, the immense crowds during Haunt surely help fill the coffers. Also, it bears mentioning that Kings Island is one of the few Cedar Fair parks that stays open until 1am during Haunt. I believe most of the others close at midnight. There are still some hard ticketed events within the Cedar Fair Chain. I believe Scarowinds and Knott`s Scary Farm are the stand outs in that aspect, but they have always been a separate charge.

The sign by RFYLCB is more for Planet Snoopy than a sign for Rivertown, isn`t it?

https://www.wcpo.com/news/crime/mason/kings-island-international-street-gets-facelift-before-spring-opening Looks like the Royal Fountain will be getting new LED lights and new nozzles. Hopefully the pedestals return as well. Curious to know what the more room in front of the Eiffel Tower for celebrations means. Are they taking out the bandstand, or pulling the midway closer to the base of the tower? I too hope they do not cut down all of the trees. I also hope that the seat walls return. It is a great place to grab a quick seat. I am excited to see what the finished product looks like. Is it April yet?

The main corporate offices for Cedar Fair are in Sandusky, although they do have some corporate offices in Charlotte.

World`s of Fun`s water park, Ocean`s of Fun, used to be a separately gated water park as well. It was not included with park admission. Then several years ago, they combined it with the main park, so it is similar in set up to Kings Island now.