FUN&ONLY!

Kings Dominion basically only has their Winterfest attractions open for winter operations. I feel like more of an effort could have been made to open Flight of Fear and Racer 75 (which has been open for Winterfest in the past). Without the Winterfest shows and scenery, I feel like Kings Doninion’s winter offerings are a little light.

This article pretty much confirms that Kings Island just gives away the gate.

It also appears that the games storage building behind the Coke Marketplace and basketball game is split in half? Maybe it is also in the process of coming down. It is not in the Adventure Port concept art (perhaps it is just covered by trees), but it’s removal would open up a lot more space. Another flat ride would most likely fit back there.

I am really excited for this retrack. The Racer’s return run has really been it’s roughest and weakest section ever since Gravity Group redid a sizable potion of the first half. From what I have seen online, Blue Racer should be getting its second half redone next off-season, so I am really looking forward to that as well. Beyond a smoother second half, the reprofiling should allow for some really solid airtime on Red Racer’s return run just like the reprofiled sections in the first half. However, what I never quite understood is the one hill right before the turnaround on the Red Racer that was not fully retracked like its counterpart on Blue Racer. I think Red Racer will easily be the best side of The Racer this year, but I think Blue Racer will have the better first half simply because of that one “rougher” airtime hill on Red Racer.

This kind of seems desperate.

Did you see a picture of the new paint job?

I really hope Kings Island opts to rip out the concrete in Adventure Port and replace it with pavers as they age much better than concrete, and they look way better. I haven’t seen any signs of the concrete being torn up yet.

Why did you point that out @Hawaiian Coasters 325? Now Kings Island is definitely going to move the webcam. LOL! But this is VERY interesting for sure.

Kings Island actually did get paid to manage the resort, so they did benefit form that extra money. If I had to guess, I think the whole falling out between Kings Island and Camp Cedar is because the resort may be underperforming. I know that it was originally announced that there would be 100 additional cottages added to the resort after the initial 70, but I have yet to see any signs of construction on those new cottages. I know Terra Firma Associates currently has land right by the existing campground for sale. Also, the elimination of weekdays in the winter also cannot be a good sign. I hope the campground succeeds, but I am skeptical. Maybe Terra Firma Associates will look to sell it to Cedar Fair after all if it gets bad enough.

At the base of the lift hill, there appears to be a small part painted the chocolate brown color over the old faded yellow color. I am curious about the gray color also seen in one of the pictures next to the chocolate brown. Maybe Kings Island was testing different colors for the supports?

Maybe not earlier in the day, but I would love to see Winterfest extended a little into January if possible. The event is very popular the week following Christmas as schools are on break, so I feel like Kings Island could capitalize on the first few days or weekends in January when students are off. I know other Cedar Fair parks have tried this in the past.

I think the last coasters to run during Winterfest would be The Bat and Adventure Express because, like @IndyGuy4KI mentioned, they do have high minimum starting temperatures. I believe all of Kings Island’s Arrow coasters were closed Opening Day 2019 because it was too cold. I also believe the maintenance programs for The Beast and The Racer are what is holding those rides back. However, I could potentially see Banshee opening for the event if it can make it through its layout. It does get slower towards the end, but maybe weight can be added to the train.

I don’t have a picture, but Mystic Timbers got a new lightning package, which looks really neat. It is on the parts of the ride you can see from the midway. However, the light package on The Racer is barely working now. Half of the lift hill is out, and I cannot even remember the last time I saw the third camelback hill lit up on the ride. I hope Kings Island gets those things fixed soon. The same goes for Banshee’s broken lighting package.

The turnarounds have been re-tracked recently, but I still hope they get repainted if the new sections also get repainted. It doesn’t make perfect sense that Kings Island would repaint the turnarounds after initially neglecting them, but I am hopeful anyways.

Maybe this explains why some parts of the structure like the turnarounds weren’t painted this past off-season. I hope all parts of the ride that were left unpainted or will be unpainted get repainted after the re-tracking. I hope it’s Gravity Group too! They have done great work on The Racer and The Beast recently!

I hope Winterfest is more thought out than Halloween Haunt this year. I was a little disappointed with all the broken lights last year, so I hope Kings Island can get those fixed for this year.

I agree with you, but Kings Island does mention Sol Spin goes 60 feet in the air which is closer to the dimensions of the 24 passenger model. The 24 passenger model has a diameter of just over 60 feet while the 48 passenger model has a diameter of just over 65 feet. I feel like Kings Island would say the ride goes 65 feet in the air if it actually does. I hope I am wrong, though, and it is the 48 passenger model.

Has Kings Island confirmed the type of Zamperela Endeavour Sol Spin will be? I REALLY hope to see the 48 passenger model over the 24 passenger model, but Kings Island’s website says the ride will go 60 feet in the air which is closer to the diameter of the 24 passenger model than the 48 passenger model. In some of the concept art, it appears to be the 48 passenger model, but in other renderings, it appears to be the 24 passenger model.

The German theming will be extremely minimal for what Oktoberfest used to be even compared to this season. While the Oktoberfest signage and German themed rides are long gone, it is sad to see the Biergarten go as well.

I wouldn’t rule out a new theming for any ride including Banshee. I would love to see an immersive Dark Forest themed area, but I would like to see some German theming remain in some way.

I think a B&M Surf Coaster would be a great throwback to King Cobra. However, based on what’s been released of SeaWorld Orlando’s Pipeline, it looks to be just an okay ride. I think Kings Island could and should go for something different.

Is it possible that the other companies are still on contract for a few years after the Orion project? I find it highly unlikely that every single company Kings Island worked with in 2019, 2020, and 2021 has new work for the park going forward.

I am starting to think that all the companies on the Notice of Commencement not involved in this project are carry-overs from the Orion project and have simply not been removed. After all, besides the companies involved in Adventure Port, all the companies on the Notice of Commencement are the exact same as the previous Notice of Commencement and may have not been removed. I hope not, though.

I don’t think we will see a Boo Blasters conversion into Phantom Theater as Boo Blasters is open for Winterfest. I wouldn’t mind seeing a new Phantom Theater constructed, though, without replacing Boo Blasters, as an extra dark ride wouldn’t hurt anyone.

What is the show that is usually on the Rivertown Pizza patio for Winterfest?