CoastersRZ

Yeah, I was really shocked that they were open that first weekend in November. Hopefully, they learned their lesson and will not be open the first weekend in November next year, so they will have an extra week to get ready for WinterFest. They could do a lot with an extra seven days.

JPButler365, WinterFest is also running at Paramount`s Carowinds in Charlotte, NC this year. It is their first winter festival in the history of the park, unlike at PKI.

That is what I am thinking. I`m thinking they possibly ran out of time. Also, in the rendering from when it was announced, they showed lights in the trees on International Street. I wonder if these too were not completed due to lack of time.

Nope, not even Santa hats on the ride operators.

Actually, when I saw Scrooge tonight he was singing different songs. (He was still using some of the same jokes.) I again saw the 9:00 show tonight, and discovered that there has been a magician both Friday night and tonight, in front of Scrooge`s house right before the 9 o`clock show. The Scrooge show is funny! Gotta love the way he picks on people and add libs.

Well, I just got back from WinterFest (this time I started out volunteering up there in the foodservice department before they released us into the park because that particular location was overstaffed). I can say that the crowds were about double what they were on Friday night. (The train ride was filling up every seat on the train car.) I do not think that this will just be a one year event. The park has clearly invested some money into preparations/hardware for this event. A new sound system on the train, all the decorations, even the coat uniforms for the employees were not cheap (I heard around $50 per hoodie) and will be reused again next year. Granted there are things that the park will discover that will make the event better in coming years. My only real gripe with the event is that with the exception of Hanna Barbera Land, and the two trees on the train ride, they don`t have any lights in the trees. It would be more magical if they added lights in some of the trees. That being said, I still think it is a pretty good event. As far as the price goes, it is priced a little steep. Especially when there is the Beach right across the street advertising a family of four gains admission for about $30 or $40 and pass holders get in free. I think PKI was wise not to let pass holders in, at least for the first weekends. The place would be mobbed with people. I can see them offering lower prices, and possibly free admission to pass holders the week after Christmas. I would definantely say that they have some learning to do on the new version of WinterFest. Just like they have learned about the Nick Parade (which was popular enough that they included a parade in WinterFest, which is also very popular).

I for one was very muched impressed with WinterFest. I thought it was wonderful. The live entertainment, was done very well. They made the train ride a very enjoyable and fun filled ride with the new sets and the live onboard entertainment. The parade was a wonderful addition, and was very well done. Yes, my one complaint about WinterFest is the lack of lights in the trees. There is always next year`s WinterFest. Yes, attendance was light yesterday, but I think the Thanksgiving weekend and it being the biggest shopping day of the year might have had something to do with it. Not to mention it was bitterly cold. I would imagine that as it gets closer to Christmas, more and more people will show up. I think the park is learning alot about how to set up and run WinterFest, so that next year they can improve upon this years. I saw PKI`s general manager out walking the midways last night, so I`m sure he know what is going on. On the topic of FearFest, I believe that this year`s FearFest was one of the best to date. They made a lot more general improvements to the theming. And the Cornstalkers area was a big hit. I`ve heard that they have even better things planned for next year.

I just uploaded a few pictures I took tonight, including one with the Mayor driving one of the old Antique Cars in the parade. As for the lodge, I actually spotted framing rising above the trees in the parking lot tonight, over by Top Gun. But at this point, it is nothing spectacular looking.

I`ll upload some more pictures from WinterFest later tonight. I have to say that the live entertainment is what makes WinterFest so magical. The Scrooge show on International Street is hilarious!

Yes, that stage is being used for live entertainment in the WinterFesthaus at WinterFest. You can see an image of the WinterFesthaus here, taken during media day.

I love the Christmas time of the year. It is the time after Christmas and New Year`s that is the gloomy time. The dark cold winter months, where the only bright spot is the hope of spring and PKI in April.

It has to be stored on a website somewhere. The forums do not actually store the images, but link to the webpage that the image is hosted on.

Yes, the batteries in my camera were drained quickly last night as will Rickster! I`m sure the cold weather was likely to blame as I fully charged my batteries before I went to the park.

Nicely written article, Italianchef.

Well, even a couple of strands of garland in the queue room would have made it feel more festive and like WinterFest. Once you stepped inside the building, it felt like you were there on just a normal summer day.

Well, a couple of strands of garland with lights. A Christmas hat or two here and there, a couple boxes of presents. It wouldn`t cost all that much.

Thanks, pkiboy. I had a fun time at Winterfest last night. Although it was a little on the cold side. PKI did a good job bringing back Winterfest! I did have some disapointments, but those were more related to the decorations (or lack there of) to some of the rides that were open. Excluding the White Christmas Express, which was very well done!

Nope, not even a christmas hat or strand of lights anywhere within the ride. The ride was EXACTLY the same.

Just a heads up to everyone. I just uploaded 25 images I took at WinterFest`s media day tonight to the photo gallery . Ryan and Bill will have further updates and images from WinterFest later on.

Well, I became aware of the date media day was on in October. I was busy working at school in the summer, so my trips to PKI were few and far between.

Jeff was a world class act! He will be missed at PKI. But I`m sure that Maureen is up to the challenge of filling the void left by Jeff Siebert as he moves onto bigger and better things. Congratulations Jeff on your new job! Hopefully, Muareen and the new person that comes into the department continue to offer enthusiasts such wonderful opportunities! Jeff`s enthusiasm about the park will be a hard void to fill! But I`m sure that there is someone out there up to the challenge of promoting our beloved park!

Well, don`t expect anything that elaborate this year! But I doubt that PKI has totally forgotten what day it is.

Well, I had actually known it was media day long before this week. Since the middle of October. But yes, I was reinformed that it was on Tuesday this week.

That would be correct.

Only members of the media get into the sneak peak on Tuesday. Anyone who has a valid ticket can attend on Friday! The article that pkiboy referenced appeard in today`s Cincinnati Enquirer in the A&E section. The article was written by Jim Knippenberg, who has written several article on PKI over the years. Cincinnati Enquirer article