CoastersRZ

The press release is not under the news section of the Cedar Fair website. It is located here: http://ir.cedarfair.com/newsroom/press-releases/news-release-details/2017/Cedar-Fair-Names-Tim-Fisher-Chief-Operating-Officer/default.aspx, under the Investor tab of the website. Tim Fisher, served as the GM of KI for several years, including when Son of Beast debuted. He left KI in June of 2002 to become GM of Great America, and later went onto become GM of Carowinds. (It has often been rumored that he is the one responsible for the original Flying Eagles from KI leaving to go to Carowinds). Ironically, the person that replaced Tim Fisher as the GM at KI was Craig Ross, who is now the President of the Dollywood Company (the company joint owned by Herschend Family Entertainment and Dolly Parton that operates Dollywood.

I don`t see Cedar Fair being interested in Tampa for one reason. Animals. It is not really in their wheel house. Although, it would add some geographic diversity to their portfolio of parks to have another year round park to go along with Knott`s. The problem is, I am sure that if Sea World were to split the parks and sell the Busch Parks, Cedar Fair would have to take Busch Gardens Williamsburg, which is only about an hour from Kings Dominion. Not saying that it couldn`t happen and that Cedar Fair couldn`t own both parks, but at a certain point, they would be competing against themselves. That would be awesome for Platinum Passholders to be able to get into the Busch parks though. I just don`t see Cedar Fair making that big of an expenditure. They still have a relatively high debt load from the Paramount Parks acquisition.

How were the crowds for Winterfest at Carowinds? I need to get back down to Carowinds. It has been several years (a year or two before Fury opened), since I was last at Carowinds. They have added lots of stellar attractions to the park in that time frame.

A lot of the NDT of that nature will be stipulated by the ride manufacturer. The state ride inspectors can`t possibly be there to check rides during NDT in the off season. Ohio has one of the more stringent ride inspection programs in the country. Some states are self regulated. In Ohio, every ride has to be inspected by a ride inspector before the public can board the ride. Obviously, in this circumstance, the ride inspectors did not see the issue prior to the incident happening.

Good question. Although, I would think the first priority would be given to clearing the parking lot and all the midway paths before opening a ride. There was one time I went down to Dollywood a few years ago. They didn`t open one day because of the snow. The next day they opened a couple hours late, and the entire Timber Canyon area of the park (and all the coasters) were closed. They ended up closing the park after only a couple of hours because of the cold and light attendance numbers.

No worries. Was the link I provided the same one you had copied or from a different source?

Rustbucket, please make sure to include a link to the source of such information in the future. Here is a link to the LA Times that I found by doing a Google search for Santa Clarita wild fire: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-fire-santa-clarita-20171205-story.html

It would be interesting to know how California`s Great America`s Winterfest is going, since it is now in its second year. I think if they can switch up a couple of the shows every year to offer something new to keep people coming back, it will be no different than Halloween Haunt in terms of popularity. There is a perceived value for pass holders since they get more bang for their buck, even if they are paying more for their pass now then just a few years ago. I also think with the fact that the dining plans are valid for Winterfest, that is another thing enticing people to visit Winterfest, and come multiple times. But like you said, if it is not making the park money, this third version will eventually be discontinued.

Not only the shows but the live entertainment and characters. I would love to see street entertainment like the Holly Jolly Trolley in the summer. The amount of energy at the event is simply amazing. Winterfest at Kings Island, in my opinion, has a magical vibe to it. Seems very akin to a Disney park. As I have said before, KI and Cedar Fair have done themselves well. This is a top notch event. It even rivals, in my opinion Dollywood`s Christmas in the Smokies.

Speaking of parking lot striping, when we went to Winterfest on Saturday, we were parked in Racer 19. I had a hard time making out the lines. The car to our left actually parked right in the middle of the line, taking up two spaces.

Yes, Saturday`s crowds were big. When we left around 9:15, the rows in the parking lot were completely full until past the south exit, which is a good indication at how crowded it was. I am glad that KI is getting this large turnout. All reviews I have seen have been nothing but positive. It will be interesting to see what the attendance will be like this weekend since this will be the first weekend with really cold weather forecast.

Yes, I too was blown away by how quickly they transformed the park. In 2005, it seemed like they took much of October to transform the park for Winterfest. This year, they had started putting up some lights on International Street buildings and in the trees, and had started the ice rink on closing weekend (in 2005, they started that in Mid-October). The amount of things they decorated in the short three week time span was amazing. I have visited twice so far, and still want to go back (as I feel like I haven`t experienced everything yet. Kings Island definitely has a big hit on their hands. I think it is safe to say it will return for years to come. I already am wondering what they will change for next year. California`s Great America has the same 5-10pm hours this year as they did last year. But from what I understand, Kings Island has one of the largest season pass base of the Cedar Fair parks.

I could also see them doing what Dollywood does for their Christmas in the Smokies event, and opening at 1 or even 3 on Saturdays next year. It might make sense for the park to stay open until 11pm on Saturdays. They do it in the regular season. It would allow extra time to see the lights too. Based on the first weekend, I think it is safe to say that Winterfest is here to stay. (The lines for food in the Festhaus on opening night were quite long).

I agree. With as many photo op spots as they have set up, it would be nice if they could have some more Funpix photographers like at the front of the park spread out. Make it similar to the PhotoPass photographers that Disney has spread throughout the park.

Those indeed are footings/foundatings for a building of some kind. Based on the fact that the rebar is extending up from the footing, it would likely be a CMU (concrete masonry unit, more commonly known as concrete block) wall in that area of the new building.

The park was very crowded tonight. All in all, my wife and I enjoyed ourselves. The decorations are wonderful. I loved International Street. The lights in the trees in Coney Mall were wonderful as well. There is definitely lots to do and see, and I would say it would take multiple visits to experience everything. Sadly, our son lost his sock at some point and was getting fussy, so we left around 8:30, having not done the train, or the Charlie Brown show in the Kings Island theater. There are lots of photo spots to take pictures all over the park. Compared to Winterfest from 2005, there is so much more to do and see at this Winterfest that it makes the 2005 version look like very plan and ordinary. The amount of characters that were present was wonderful (and reminded me of Disney). Kings Island has a huge hit on their hands. We left wanting to go back multiple times just to experience everything we didn`t get a chance to. If you can, I highly recommend going! We plan to go back on Sunday night. (We are headed to the Straight No Chaser concert tomorrow night, otherwise we would be back tomorrow night!) Robbie

I have confirmed with Don that the Grand Carousel and train were open for the first Winterfest. Also, the Festhaus made its debut for the first Winterfest as well.

I am fairly certain that the Carousel and KI and Miami Valley railroad were open for the first season of Winterfest. Other rides were eventually added in later years. I haven`t seen a park map from that first season of Winterfest to confirm. I could always be wrong. I would love to see a map from that first season.

International Street looks fabulous with all the lights. I like how they not only outlined the roofs of the buildings, but have lights casting overall purple/blue hue on the facade of the buildings and the trunks of the trees. It looks like the entertainment is going to be top notch. I am sure that this will be a family tradition for years to come. I can`t wait for Friday!

I think that ship has sailed long ago.

I don`t mind the lights leading up to the star. The one thing I find goofy, is that the current star is just an outline. Would have been nice to have some lights to fill in the star. I do appreciate the fact that the lights go all the way around the tower. Especially since so much of the park will be open for Winterfest this year. Only four more days and a couple of hours and we will be able to experience Winterfest, v. 3.0! I am truly excited!

I went through this on opening night, this past Friday, November 10th. It is well done, and in my opinion well worth the admission of $6. Will be going through again at some point with my in-laws. They have changes the route up a bit. At the end of the route, you actually drive through the picnic grove (right past the river gate and flood indicator sign, which unfortunately they did not light up). You exit the park by Riverbend and drive past the Dodgems and the Python before exiting the parking lot.

And it is a collection which they continue to add to. Next year they are adding the Lumberjack and Flying Canoes flat rides. Interestingly, the logo for Splash Works, is very similar (obviously the type has been changed) to the logo used for Water Works at Kings Island prior to its conversion to Boomerang Bay in 2004. https://www.canadaswonderland.com/explore/new-for-2018

Kentucky Kingdom was heavily advertising in the Cincinnati area this summer with bill boards. There was even one just down the street from Coney Island. My wife and I took advantage of the out of state ticket deal, which included free soft drinks, earlier this summer we had a fun time at the park. It was by no means KI, or even Holiday World, but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. When my son is older and can rides rides, we will be going out to Holiday World. It is a family park and although it has grown bigger in recent years, and the matriarch is no longer greeting visitors, it is still a fun place to go, and not that bad of a drive from Cincinnati.

Christmas Nights of Lights returns to Coney Island for a second season and opens this Friday, November 10th. It includes an additional half mile of lights bringing the total to 2.5 miles. Admission is $6 a person. Children three and under are free. http://www.wcpo.com/entertainment/local-a-e/coney-island-to-bring-back-holiday-lights-show-in-2017