Hawaiian Coasters 325

What bothers me is KI has an indoor area of this size or even larger that is hardly ever used located above the front entrance. I just don't understand why they couldn't retrofit the International Restaurant into a prestige pass lounge like the SeaWorld parks have. It would've probably been a lot cheaper to do that then to build that new structure.

I agree that they should connect the area in between Viking Fury and the funnel cake stand into a path that leads to the Festhaus plaza. I work the Viking ship and I can't tell you the number of times the operators especially the person up in the drive box has to go "If you're looking for the entrance to this ride it is around the pond across from the Festhaus". I can get how confusing it is because you can see the ride, queue, and exit path clear as day from the area near the tower and Enriques, but you can't find the entrance. It also leads to the issue of people jumping the fence onto the exit pathway from the grass/mulch hill there which thats another thing the driver in the drive box has to say over and over "do not jump the fence"

So I had Grain and Grill again tonight for my dinner. This time I had the shrimp and perogies, but added on the potatoes for an extra charge. The shrimp was very good just wish the skewers were a little longer with more shrimp. Honestly the shrimp might be on par with Red Lobster shrimp. The perogies were good, but not something to write home about.

Tried Grain and Grill for the first time today. Really enjoyed it! I got the chicken, potatoes, and naan bread with taziki sauce. They gave me two chicken legs so maybe they got a lot of complaints or something? Idk. The potatoes were very good and yes they have a small kick, but as someone who pours hot sauce all over my Skyline 4 ways and fills my crackers with hot sauce, the kick was nothing. Imo it's a great addition to the park!

It honestly seems like KI wanted their Grain and Grill to be different from KD's version of it as the menu items are a little different which isn't a bad thing. A bit of variety is always a good thing. Looking forward to trying it soon.

I got the news while working today and let me say I'm not shocked. I've always thought it was on the chopping block for years now and I believe it's very rarely open. Now for replacement, I've had this feeling that 2024 is a Soak City year fir awhile now. Honestly if they don't want to reroute the employee access road, they could put in something like Canada's Wonderland did in 2021 with Mountain Bay Cliffs where it's like a cliff jumping experience with multiple levels. Also an upside to this addition, it doesn't have to be the only addition. They could put in a new family or thrilling flat ride in the dry park. We'll have to wait and see though.

Thats why I always check the inside of my cup before I drink lol

The biggest issue with the Coke Freestyle machines is the VIP lounge would become overrun by bees as they love to hang around those machines.

For those wondering, the new VIP lounge opens this weekend! https://www.facebook.com/visitkingsisland/photos/a.226729858367/10162512061848368/

I was wondering the same thing. The only concerts we know of for this year is Spirit Song. However, the one thing I'm interested in is why would they have both Timberwolf entrances labeled on the 2023 park map with concert ticket required if the only concerts they are doing is a 3 day festival? In the past when they had SS, they didn't have the Timberwolf entrances labeled on the park map like that. Also when I looked at Timberwolf from the top of the tower this year it looked like the VIP deck was barely touched from last year and still has the Coke stand and bar and Spirit Song doesn't even mention anything about the VIP deck in their VIP ticket packages. Something I was thinking is what if they pull a Universal and do concerts as part of Grand Carnivale? Ik in 2019 they brought in bands from outside the area for Carnivale to share the bandstand with Hot Rhythmn nights. I always thought that Carnivale would be a perfect opportunity along with Holidays like Memorial Day and 4th of July to use Timberwolf. We'll just have to wait and see.

I think if we see Bat go it'll get The Vortex treatment and not see anything there for a while. Like @Rivertown Rider said I think AZ could get a slow phased revamp. Maybe first a flat package like Aeronautica Landing and then down the line and coaster. For the next coaster I see them filling The Vortex site to sorta finish off that back left corner of the park that included the additions of Coney BBQ, Antique Autos, and Orion/Area 72. Then focus could move to Action Zone. I think Adventure Port honestly is the start of a long term plan to revamp the front left that hasn't received any love since Banshee. Obviously other areas like Snoopy and SC would recieve some minor additions like smaller rides/revamps/restaurants, but I feel like long term priority once Vortex's spot gets filled will be the front left side of the park currently known as Action Zone.

Heres mine: 1) Phantom Theater will be revived in the Boo Blasters building within the next couple seasons 2) The Crypt building will be used for a ride again 3) Action Zone will be completely different by 2030 likely with multiple rides being replaced with new flat rides 4) The next coaster will go on Vortex plot and will be a multi launch of some type 5) The Bat will be retired immediately after the next coaster gets announced 6) Soak City will only recieve one new ride this decade 7) Planet Snoopy won't become Camp Snoopy 8) Festhaus will recieve a complete food overhaul with a menu similar to Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Festhaus 9) The Bat gets replaced by a large scale GCI Titan Track coaster (likely GCI/Skyline Attractions' crown jewel project) 10) The park goes year round within the next couple seasons 11 BOLD PREDICTION) The International Restaurant and current front gate get replaced by a new 2 level entrance building that also features a restaurant on top but with easier access so the restaurant can be open as a normal restaurant year round and also features a patio overlooking I street.

But I'm really hoping those weird tangled looking string lights are just temporary and we get the multi color hanging flags eventually like in the renderings. Also hoping we see the boats and stuff added to the Mercado along the dock like in the renderings

Was @King Ding Dong in the park?? lol

I think what he means is that the structure was there for years. The VIP structure last year was from the old ladder game.

^^I don't think this is the final product theming wise. I think as the weeks go on especially as we get closer to summer and the eventual opening of the rides we'll see more theming and props added as well as signage. I also am hoping they do some themed signage around the restrooms like Jungle X at KD where they have the posters referencing past rides and maybe an Adventure Port art map like Jungle X.

Ik Spirit Song has already been announced, but the fact that they are labeling the entrances to Timberwolf and talking about concert tickets makes me think there are going to be more concerts this season. I don't think they would label the entrances to Timberwolf for just a 3 day festival. Now I'm kinda hoping we get a concert series that goes on along with Carnivale similar to Universal with Mardi Gras.

With the Timberwolf entrance being labeled and talking about concert tickets, makes me wonder are they doing more concerts than just Spirit Song this year? Like they announced last year's concert series at the end of April. In the past when it was just Spirit Song, they only had Timberwolf labeled and not the entrances.

My step sisters are on Spring Break this week. They go to Little Miami which is very close to KI.

Looks like they're putting the Grain and Grill sign up:

I'd take any hourly forecast with a grain of salt. Radars are more accurate than hourly forecasts.

Everyone has different opinions and I respect them. I liked the jazz at first especially for the 50th last season where the whole season was about celebrating and Jazz has historically been used with celebrations. However, I just feel like the old style classical music fit better with International street. Part of me hopes it was just temporary and they aren't done with the 2023 playlist yet like last year with Planet Snoopy where they added a new playlist mid season.

Wrong. I rode Mystic Timbers tonight. It was later in the event though. They actually kept the event going until 8:30.

So I went to Friends and Family preview night and here's some things I'll mention: 1) Adventure Port is looking great so far. It is colored concrete while not pavers it looks better than the regular white concrete the area had before. There are pavers in a circle though where a giant fountain looking planter is in the center of it. 2) The VIP area was moved to the area next to the entrance to Viking Fury where the bar was. My friend and I think that is a temporary spot for now as over by the restrooms across from Enriques where the grass area was, there is currently a building going up where a wooden roof was being installed. My friend and I think that is where the VIP lounge could move to as it would have a nice viewing area of the parade and could be controlled climate which would help for like Winterfest and very hot days. It could just be a new stand though we'll just have to wait and see. 3) Grain and Grill is looking pretty good. Not sure if it is ready to open this weekend though. 4) They got the soundtrack playing in the Orion station again! 5) The most disappointing thing was that they are still playing the jazz from last year on I-street. Not gonna lie, I liked the jazz for the 50th last year, but I was really hoping they were going to go back to the old style classical music that they played pre 2020 as it really works well with the grand first impression of seeing the tower after entering the gate. Also it was great to run into @DonHelbig and chat for a bit. Really looking forward to Coasterstock this year!

Ik Mike did hint at potentially redoing Boo Blasters at Coasterstock last year with better technology. He mainly referenced Toy Story as an idea for what type of dark ride he is looking at. However I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Phantom Theater is what they would want to do theme wise as it would be aknowledging their past and would be very nostalgic to those who today have families and kids of their own to relive those memories. Knott's did something similar back in 2020/21 with Berry Tales.