CoastersRZ

On Cedar Fair`s current conference call this morning, they stated that they are committed to rolling out WinterFest to three more parks in 2017. They did not disclose which parks would be receiving WinterFest. They did state the parks they will be rolling it out to have strong metro markets with a strong season pass base. Obviously, I hope that Kings Island is one of those three. My guess would be Carowinds, Kings Dominion, Kings Island and Worlds of Fun are the parks that could be in contention for Winterfest. So which three parks do you think are on top to receive Winterfest in 2017?

Well, one logical thing that would be in part of the shed is the transfer track/storage area for the trains. They are going to run three trains, so there has to be a transfer track/ storage area somewhere, and I don`t see it shown after leaving the station (a la Beast and Racer).

I think there are several things. I would love to see the return of Winterfest (and loved all the Christmas in July touches they had), I doubt that they will announce this August for Winterfest for next year. Right now California`s Great America will be the test this year, and it was stated on a conference call that if successful, they would look to roll it out to up to four additional parks in 2017. The revamp of the Action theater makes sense. it also makes sense if they added a flat ride to the former Flight Commander site. (I would also love to see them add a flat ride and restroom back in X-Base.) I could also see them adding a flat ride to the Crypt building, and keeping a theme of Mystic Timbers to tie in with River town. The other thought I had was a retheme/revamp of Boo Blasters on Boo Hill. There are lots of options. I am excited for Mystic Timbers and whatever else the park is going to add for 2017. It is hard to believe that it has been 17 years since Son of Beast was under construction!

There were some serious talks about five years ago to bring a family sized wooden coaster to the park, but those talks never materialized into anything. I think a ride like that would be a huge hit. Will we ever see it? I don`t know. Coney`s long time park president, Vic Nolting, retired at the end of last year. Rob Schutter is the new park president, and he is also president of Leisure Systems, Inc. (which licenses the Jellystone Campgrounds), which is the sister company to Coney that is also owned by Park River Corporation, which is in turn owned by Brenda Walker and Ron Walker Jr.

I can hope that one day we will get a coaster or a log flume ride. Both would be big hits at Coney.

I agree. It is amazing how often I used to visit the park. I used to average about 25-30 visits a year. The last several years it has been about ten visits. I still live the same 25 minutes from the park that I always have. But things in life have changed. From being in a serious relationship, to now married, there just isn`t as much time to spend at the park. Especially with both my wife and I each having full time jobs (and I work about sixty hours a week in the summer when you include the time I spend as a rides manager down at Coney). This year has had far more solo visits by me, as my wife cannot currently ride most of the rides. Next year will be a fun year though.

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/warren-county/mason-community/new-kings-island-roller-coaster-another-clue-hints-at-new-wooden-coaster-coming-to-kings-island?autoplay=true Shows the inside of the card.

But that is not guaranteed until the park confirms it. Past precedents does not always ring true for future events.

So the question is, will the public be able to attend this announcement, or is it for working media only?

They seemed to love to have budget cuts. In case some of you didn`t see the post I made last night in the Coney Island forum, Coney has announced Christmas Nights of Lights for this year. See the thread here. No rides will be open as it is a drive through experience, which will be open November 11-January 1st. -Robbie "CoastersRZ"

A two mile drive through Coney with over 1 million lights. Daily November 11- January 1st. $6 per person, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Salvation Army and the Ruth Lyons Children`s Fund. More information on Coney`s website here: http://coneyislandpark.com/christmas-light-show

Hobby Lobby is starting to set up their Christmas displays and items currently, so there is availability to get Christmas decorations...

Thanks for sharing the pictures. I went down there last August. Hoping to make it down there this year to check out Storm Chaser. Not sure if I will make it given my schedule.

I too was referring to the original Winterfest. Other than some of the flat rides, and the Great Pumpkin coaster, no roller coasters were ever open for Winterfest. There are minimum temperature requirements for those rides to operate, see also Dollywood which will not run their coasters in December if the temp drops below a certain threshold. They did not have the entire park open either. You were pretty much limited to International Street, part of kiddy land, Rivetown to the train station, and Oktoberfest. Action Zone, and Coney Mall were almost completely off limits in 2005. I do not think it would be as big of an issue as you think. The event is not marketed towards thrill seekers, but rather families. The entertainment offerings at the 2005 version were top notch. That being said, I have always thought that Flight of Fear would be a ride they could run during Winterfest since it is in doors.

The main reason Paramount cited for discontinuing Winterfest was not the unpredictable weather, but the fact that they wanted to extend the season in October and would thus not have time to prepare the park for Winterfest.

Yep. The barge that had the Christmas trees on it remained in Swan Lake much of the next season, but it was moved kind of out of sight back behind the Tropical Paradise drink stand which is seldom open.

Yes, that was a fun time, as was stopping by to see Scrooge. If they brought it back, I would imagine they would have the Festhaus open, and potentially have another show going on in there, in addition to the one in the Kings Island Theater.

And by all accounts I have heard, the original incarnation of Winterfest was successful, both from an attendance and a financial standpoint. The reimagined version they did in 2005 had several issues. They overcharged for the event which was one of its biggest hurdles. The event cost $24.99 to enter, and pass holders only saved $2 or $3 off of the admission price. And passholders had to pay the normal rate for parking. Santa`s Toy Factory and the train were wonderful experiences. The parade was also a good time. However, there was not much to do beyond that. The Grand Carousel, and a couple rides in Planet Snoopy were open. In 1991, they had the Antique Cars and Dodgems open. Competition now is a little more intense for winter event dollars, especially with the Zoo having Festival of Lights for so many years now. The one thing I felt was missing in the 2005 version was a lot of Christmas lights, especially given the amount of lights that Dollywood puts up. It will be interesting to see how things go with California`s Great America WinterFest this year. Which, by the way, is free with a Gold season pass to that park. It should be interesting to see if KI does get Winterfest again. This post has been way off topic.

There is a lot of cost in upkeep when the wood is painted. The sun does wonders on paint after several years. Look how faded the steel coasters get after a few seasons. Yes, the property that Coney owns today is smaller than what it once owned. Several acres of land were donated to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) for the creation of Riverbend Music Center. Coney actually has the parking concession for Riverbend, and the food concessions for Riverbend. If you have not been, Coney is definitely worth a visit. I hope for the day that a wooden coaster returns to Coney. Hopefully that day is not far down the road, but I haven`t heard any rumblings about it recently.

As an aside, Coney Island never even opened on the fourth of July this year. Granted, it rained most of the day this year in Cincinnati. And Coney`s fireworks are on the 3rd, and they started at around 9:15 instead of 10 because of the rainy weather this year.

Trust me, that the park will have if figured out eventually. These rides are a huge investment and they aren`t just going to throw it all away. Few remember, but Flight of Fear didn`t open at Kings Island until June of the year it opened in 1996, and then had lots of issues, since it was the first roller coaster to use LIMs.

I think a log flume at Coney would be a big hit. I am still personally hoping for a wooden coaster (which was strongly rumored several years ago).

I rode this ride at a FEC outside of Memphis. It is a fun little ride. The manufacturer (SBF/VIsa group), is also the manufacturer of River Runner, Top Spin and Fender Benders at Coney Island.

Coney pays their ride operators minimum wage. And we have been struggling the last couple of years to get enough staffing. Its hard to entice people to work at Coney when people can go out to Target, etc. and get $9 an hour starting out.

I also believe that Kenton`s Cove Keelboat Canal never operated during the 2001 season. 2000 was the year that the original log flume that came from Coney was closed and started its refurbishment. Then it reopened in 2001, at the time that KCKC started to be removed. It was a fun ride, although the water had a certain odor to it. When in line you could see fish that were in the water...