Hawaiian Coasters 325

Someone on Reddit was able to explore some of the station and queue area with permission by the park recently. Kinda surreal to see how overgrown it is over there. https://www.reddit.com/r/rollercoasters/s/5TGLC6ZIqK

It's listed as a demolition permit under "record type"

If they are in fact tearing down the SOB station, I hope they also take the time and remove the old queue rails and clean up that whole area basically making the overlook area like it was when Top Gun/The Bat first opened.

I actually took a survey from the park a few days ago and part of it was they had a list of possible enhancements to the park and had me rank my top 3. One of the options listed was a mini "sphere" theatre with seating. There was no concept art or anything, but what I have in mind is a much smaller Las Vegas sphere type theatre. I'd be all for that as long as it isn't dark for the peak summer season like the KI Theater is.

That was probably the most creative and fun announcement video I've ever seen and it's hard to top Banshee's announcement video. You can tell everyone had a great time making this video! I really hope those kids (and adults too) used in the video get the first ride on it when it opens!

And everyone grilled Cedar Point and Zamperla with Top Thrill 2 saying they should've gone with Intamin...Newsflash! Intamin can't even get a mid size water ride/coaster to WORK!

Wait it costs more than Thunderbird? Must be a major addition!

I want to clarify by saying, I myself have yet to have a bad KI food experience to where I can't finish what I eat. I've enjoyed everything I've had at KI. However, I will say the food isn't as good as it was under Chef Major and over the last few years, I have seen numerous complaints about food being undercooked, food being left out under the lamp too long, food being overcooked, among other things that really take away from the guest experience. While some of that stuff is at the fault of the food employees, the fact it continues to happen despite all the complaints comes down to training/management which falls on the executive chef. Things like portion sizes, no ice in the machines, watered down drinks, machines being out of drinks is a budget thing while things like properly preparing, cooking, and/or storing food has nothing to do with budget. That's a management/training issue.

Curious if Joseph stepped down, got the boot, or was promoted/demoted? While I hate to see anyone lose their job, I cannot deny that food quality has declined at KI in recent years. Just look at posts/comments on the KI pass group/other fansites including on here.

Im thinking it's a mix of budget/staffing as well as employees not caring to clean up. Like I've seen stories on here as well as in the facebook groups that employees were standing around doing nothing/yapping with each other when they could be cleaning. Imo that's a discipline issue. When I worked in rides, our supervisors would get onto us daily almost to make sure we were cleaning after park close and not standing around talking the whole time.

At this point they should just attempt to restore the fountain similar to how it was before. If corporate isn't going to give them the budget to have a fully working dancing fountain 24/7 then they should just axe the "bellagio style" fountain altogether. Also while I understand the purpose of lighting, Im not a big fan of how the park has slapped multi color LED lighting and trusses everywhere on all the buildings and along the fountain. I personally think I-street would have a better atmosphere if they just go back to just having the white light bulbs on the buildings and the gas lamps while still lighting up the Tower and fountains in multi color like before.

Came up with a little sketch with how a Rip Roarin Falls style ride would work in the Congo Falls/Timberwolf area. Safe to say it would fit well there

I've been thinking and I'll say a ride like Rip Roarin Falls at Carowinds would fit well in the Congo Falls/Timberwolf plot. Give it a dark forest/wolf theme to go with a spooky/dark forest retheme of Action Zone.

I've said numerous times in the past that the 4th of July at KI should be more than just "come and enjoy the park as is during the day and watch a bigger firework show." It should have special activities, entertainment, and food offerings during the day. Sounds like the new regime has similar thoughts.

Im going to stick with my gut and say park improvements and enhanced live entertainment and maybe a more stacked special event calendar with some pop up events like 5ks, food truck festivals, pass holder ride nights, maybe a concert or 2? Think 2008 or 2022. Best case scenario for a new attraction we see a new flat ride or another expansion/renovation to the kids area or Soak City. I mean KD during their 2010-18 coaster drought got 2 Planet Snoopy expansions in 3 seasons.