super7

Zodiac. That was an amazing ride. It was a long ride, high capacity and had a great loading system. Unfortunately they aren't made anymore. However, this would be a nice replacements. WindSeeker could be converted to this as it is waning in ridership. I personally do not like WindSeeker. It "feels" unsecure. http://mondialrides.com/towerrides/all/sky-seeker Cable Skyway. The one KI had was short and did not take a very scenic path (over rooftops include in the huge roof of Enchanted Voyage and it allowed you to see that I Street buildings are a 2nd floor façade). A better path would be from Rivertown to the Flight of Fear Area. Monorail. Not through the animals. Through the park. Bayern Kurve. Such a great ride that made Oktoberfest feel like Oktoberfest. Keelboat Canal. It was beautiful with the lake beside the train, versus that hideous warehouse that is there now. Plus the ski jump at the end was thrilling and you didn't get wet! Enchanted Voyage or even Phantom Theatre. The ride that is there now is cheap cheap cheap with 2d cutouts. The real Flying Eagles. Skylab and Flying Dutchman instead of the buildings that are there now. I think that Adventure Express occupies Flying Dutchman's spot so it would look nice where that T shirt stand is by the Bier Garten (where spinnen keggers was).

I am expecting something like the one at Cedar Point in Frontiertown. I am hoping for something where the cars go over and under the covered bridge, not just over it like that one.

Did you know that the band from "Off the Charts" perform at live venues around the Cincinnati area? The lead vocalists of River City also performed in that same show in current and/or previous seasons. They just had a 3 hour performance at the Fitton Center in Hamilton and it was incredible. http://www.rivercitycincinnati.com

If they remove the unused arcade and never open drink building (the former Coney Island Disco), there is more space than I originally thought. I was thinking just the Zodiac and DA alive shop areas. Hopefullly it will be as nicely landscaped as the one that was removed in the center of the park.

I think its wonderful. Since Paramount rampaged the park, the park has been seriously lacking total family attractions......things that everyone can do together regardless of motion tolerance. Now there are antique cars, railroad, the Eiffel Tower, helicopters and the carrousel. They still need a few more..... This does partially reverse on of the biggest pieces of damage that Paramount inflicted on the park, although the location will not be as scenic and there is still that horrible eyesore in the middle of the park..... I am really happy with the direction that Cedar Fair is taking these parks. Back to the Taft standard......

Retheme Adventure Express to Barvarian Railroad and extend it after the final lift hill. Then they have a new ride they can market without removal and for minimal investment. Real Oktoberfest is full of flat rides. So was the original Kings Island Oktoberfest. This area needs some flat rides in a package like Carowinds got for their new County Fair. Some more fantastic flat rides with great lighting packages like Huss Tri-Star, Magic, Breakdance, Flipper, etc or Mondial rides. Retheme Hanks back to it original German theming (they can still serve burritos thought, that food is better than German food lol) Oktoberfest flag and lighting package.

KECO was sometime in the mid-80s. I remember being VERY disappointed in what happened to the parks after they took over. Ride removals and general lack of park maintenance (sort of like a 6 Flags Park today). I remember at Carowinds they painted some of the rides in this awful off green color. They must have gotten a discount on that color! I think Frontier Canada was supposed to have a full blow steam train circling it. Imagine what that park would be like with that! CW did fare better with their flat rides than the other parks during the Paramount era.

The Paramount era was the darkest time in Kings Island history. The 4 original Taft parks (KI, KD, Carowinds, CW) were excellent, beautiful, THEMED regional parks. (Carowinds was not built by Taft, but was a high quality them park under them) There were the best regional theme parks in the nation (along with Busch Gardens). Under KECO, the parks suffered. Ride removal and general neglect were the pattern. Probably because KECO had loan payments to make. But they did overall keep the theme of the parks coherent. They were responsible for leaving Oktoberfest in its current condition for the most part. They also made a serious error at Kings Dominion by draining the lake and installing that horrible water park in its hole. I believe they were also responsible for not following through on Frontier Canada..... But then Paramount came along and totally decimated the parks. They were more concerned with promoting their horrible, forgettable movies instead of managing theme parks. They removed great family rides in may of the parks (trains, skyways, dark rides, car rides, monorails, etc). Their new installations often had nothing to do with the themed area, and were completely out of place in the parks. The Stunt Coaster is an excellent example. What an eyesore. They also neglected live performances as their focus was only on thrill rides. They neglected the landscaping and items such as the floral clock, etc. Kings Island survived better than the other parks. The most notable Paramount damage there is the hideous Stunt Coaster in the middle of the park, the decimation of Lion Country into the generic Action Zone and the awful warehouse that now sites where the Keelboat Canal lake once was. I believe the saving grace of the train was that it was transportation to the more remotely located water park.... KD fared very poorly. They lost their train, cable skyway, dark rides in the Lost Mountain. They destroyed the aura of the Grizzly by cutting down most of the trees around it. The park lost many of its live entertainment venues. Carowinds was totally decimated by Paramount. The park was once a beautiful park with lots of water and 8 sections themed to the Carolinas, Almost all of the water and theming were lost under Paramount. Most family rides removed including the riverboat, speedway cars, monorail. And again live performance venues removed. The park is just a shell of its glory. The look at Great American in CA vs Great America in Chicago. The CA version was decimated by Paramount as well. There is hardly anything left of the original theming of the park! While Six Flags is horrible neglectful management, they have left the Chicago park in tact much better... And even coaster-wise, Paramounts installations at these parks were not significant. When CF bought the parks is when they started getting great coasters.. For the most park Cedar Fair has done a great job with the parks. Before purchasing these parks, they did not seem to be a company that cared about theming, but most of their installations in these parks have enhanced the themed area of the parks. They have made some major errors like removing Thunder Road and Powder Keg Flume at Carowinds. But all in all it was a miracle that they saved these parks from the horrible wrath of Paramount.

I agree. While the use of video screens in any attraction is just a cheap way to do effects, it is much better than a brake block in the sun. And it was a good way to put a 3rd train on the ride to increase capacity and make it a longer experience.

I never liked the refillable souvenir cups. You have to carry it around all day, and try to protect the straw from touching dirty things......I also believe the soda gets a funny taste in the souvenir cups. It tastes much better out of the paper cups. The new option is more waste with paper cups though. Its a huge shame these parks don't recycle paper. I believe people would use recycle bins if they did it! Were I live, we have curbside recycling and we don't have to sort the paper, plastic, etc. The small drink cup seems to be big enough if you are just getting a drink. It is a little small if you are eating a meal. My only wish is that they had a bigger size if you were getting a meal. But again, for $30 for all season, I can't complain about anything with the plan. I am very happy that they no longer force you to carry a souvenir cup around all season long.

Yes I forgot that! Points to Cedar Point for still having that great ride.

Dueling Dragons was not a good concept. Aiming inverteds at each other where things could fling off. Hersheypark's Lightning racer has a dueling turn that works great. It's isn't designed to fling shoes off of people like Dragons. The only modern bathroom I can think of is across from the Burrito Shack. The ones at Action Zone and festhaus are Ok but definitely dated. They at least don't smell. The ones at log flume, stunt coaster, WindSeeker definitely smell of urine when you walk in and need attention.

I think Cedar Fair has done a good job restoring the park after Paramount devastated it. Especially considering that before the purchase of the former Taft parks, Cedar Fair did not seem to care anything about theming. They have rebuilt the infrastructure with new pavement, new buildings (that are in theme!) like the funnel cake shop in Rivertown and the new Bar-b-que. They have done a good job with the landscaping, especially making sure the clock is landscaped and working, the liberty bell, the calendar and the mini Eiffel Tower. The bathrooms are still an area of contention. They look (and smell) like they are the original bathrooms. I-Street could be amazing if they would make it like King's Dominions with isolated areas from the walkways with umbrella tables to sit and exist by the fountain. I believe the sitting areas are closer to the water at KD to accomplish that. Kd's entrance is one of the most wonderful places just to sit and relax, and KI could accomplish that. But right now its pretty trashy feeling with those white tables with no shade..... Oktoberfest is really due for something to make it alive again. Its a pretty slow area as-is. A flat ride package would be the right thing for that. The parks need more things for non-thrill riders. They seem to be missing that market of people (parks like Disney and Dollywood sell a lot of tickets to people that don't like thrill rides). Some slower rides like a monorail, skyway, slow ferris wheel (the Zodiac was perfect!) and more shows would fill that gap. Overall, I am thankful the parks got out of Paramounts hands. I think I would not be going there if they still were!

Opinion Cedar Point - More coasters Bigger coasters. Not as many re-rideable coasters Kings Island - Less coasters, smaller coasters. More re-rideable coasters Winner depends on if you want the biggest coasters or if you want coasters you can ride over. Cedar Point - The atmosphere is mostly from the lake outside the park. Majority of the park except Frontiertown/Trail is barren and lacks shade. Miserable on a hot day. Very little theming. The historic arcade building is an eyesore. The entrance to CP is very mundane. Kings Island - Better overall atmosphere. Great entrance with the fountain and tower, but it looks trashy with the white picnic tables and lack of shade at the tables (compare Kings Dominion). Themed sections, although Paramount did a huge chop job on the theming, CF has been brining it back slowly. Winner Kings Island Cedar Point - Great entertainment lineup this year with like 10 non-kiddie shows. Kings Island - Entertainment dept has really downsized schedule. Only 3 non-kidde shows this year. Winner-Cedar Point Cedar Point - 2 car rides, train, ferris wheel, carrousel, skyride Kings Island - Eiffel Tower, carrousel, train, helicopters, boo blasters Pretty much a draw on the total family rides area. Both lack them! (any ride with speed such as a flat ride is NOT a total family ride) Cedar Point-the most god awful food of any amusement park. Struggle to find anything edible there. Too many franchises at lower quality/higher price than real world. Kings Island - Same as Cedar Point, just slightly above. Winner - all of the restaurants outside of the parks!

The tweets were probably made before the tornado watch was given. Is that the case? Theme parks should close in the case of a tornado watch. They lack safe shelter for the number of people in the park. Most of the park structures would not hold up in a tornado. It's a huge liability. Remember the Kennywood Whip accident a few years ago?

The final lifthill is a huge letdown for first time riders. I always thought they should extend the coaster past that point, re theme it with a winter theme to fit Oktoberfest, retheme the trains to Carowinds Goldrusher type trains, and boom they have a brand new family coaster to market with a small investment.

That area makes me sick every time I walk by. one of the most glorious flat rides ever was located there. Zodiac.

The park definitely needs a few more flat rides like Carowinds got last year. Especially in Oktoberfest which was originally a flat ride area. That area has been lacking anything much for about 20 years...... Screamscape is rumoring Racer retracking and light package. They mentioned that RMC sells topper track which would smooth the ride out. Wishing - if they were really going to remodel that coaster, I wish they would demolish where the turnaround splits out so far, and rebuild it so the trains stay together with some kind of dueling turnoaround. Also wish they would put the last drop back in with a tunnel like Racer 75 and Thunder Road (had). Vortex would be a great coaster if it had a track system by a better manufacturer. Except for that sharp brutal turn around before the break run. I always thought Adventure Express should be extended to have another section with a giant 540 or 900 degree helix at the end and a long tunnel. Remarketed as a Barvarian Mt Railway with winter theming...... Remodeling coasters is a great concept. These parks are maxed out with coasters. Renovating them gives new life and the ability to market a new ride, with lesser of an investment. But lets hope they are willing to spend a few $ on the stinking bathrooms that date back to the 70s......Or renovating I-Street to give it a better sit-and-relax atmosphere like Kings Dominion. The cheap white picnic tables right on the main walkways offering no shade in the daytime are very trashy. These are two major items that keep this park in the B class category at best.

$30 for drinks ALL SEASON LONG is a tremendous bargain. Be thankful its available, instead of $4.00 drinks all day long. The season pass meal plan is also a tremendous bargain. I am surprised that they offer either at such a low price, considering the offsest for low cost season passes has always been the profits on food and drinks. I would love to see the financial data of how they can offer these at such a low price and keep the same revenue stream.

The biggest improvement they could make to this event is the Christmas lighting. International Street was amazing. Planet Snoopy had an the overall giant light theme, and Candy Cane Lane was well done. Outside of that, the lighting was sparse compared to some other Christmas events. Carowinds did a better job with their lighting with lots of lights in the large trees and mostly having lighting schemes that changed in each section of the park. Other than that everything else gets a A+ at Kings Island last year.

Did anyone see Cedar Points entertainment for 2018? It's like Winterfest with shows all over! THAT is what all of the parks should be doing! They have 14 show listings for this year and only 2 of them are kids shows! https://www.cedarpoint.com/play/shows

1. Zodiac 2. Skyride 3. Monorail 4. Keelboat Canal I agree with Turnpike, Les Taxis/Auto Livery, Enchanted Voyage in any form, Bayern Kurve, and Skylab!

I disagree. The racing aspect makes this a great ride. When it is just one train, its a boring out and back coaster.

1. The quality of entertainment over the past seasons has drawn me back to Kings Island. Along with the fact that Cedar Fair is keeping new installations in line with the theming of the areas. The park has gained some of its magic back over the last several seasons. 2. Winterfest proves that live entertainment attracts crowds. Even with few rides open. 3. Very happy Off the Charts/Playlist Live is coming back again! It's always been top notch. Hoping some of the great talent from last year returns. The 4 vocalists that were in this show in the past and in Sounds of the Nativity last year are amazing singers. 4. The lineup last year and this year are slightly disappointing. They have went from 2 (highly) choreographed shows in Festhaus to 1. All of the Festhaus shows have been excellent over the last several seasons with the exception of the last country show. The talent was great in that show, but the format of the show itself was not. Hopefully this country show will be better AND choreographed! 5. The dog show in the Showplace is a waste of an excellent venue. The talent in Off the Charts/Playlist Live deserve a better venue where people can sit and watch them. 6. Remember the season when they had Playlist Live on the I-Street Stage, 2 choreographed shows in Festhaus (Boy Band and Rock show), 80's show in the Showplace and Cirque Imagine? I wish they would maintain that level of entertainment. 7. I hope the new cirque show lives up to Cirque Imagine. That show was quite inspirational with its powerful music and movements choreographed to the music.. Origins missed that mark with a lot of drum beat music, and just didn't cause the same feeling of emotions.