WoodVengeance

The article is behind a paywall, but here's some stuff that was noted in it: Richard Zimmermann (Cedar Fair) is going to be the CEO for both companies, while Selim Bassoul (Six Flags) is Executive Chairman Both offices for Six Flags (Grand Prarie, Texas) and Cedar Fair (Sandusky, Ohio) will be relocated to a new office in Charlotte, North Carolina near Carowinds They are going to be using the Six Flags name for the new company, but will still trade under $FUN Both the Peanuts and Looney Tunes/DC IPs were mentioned, no other information was listed Keep in-mind while this is the Wall Street Journal reporting on this, I would still take this with a grain of salt until we hear anything official from Cedar Fair and/or Six Flags. Assuming this is real, I'm hoping that it won't be too much of a change for Kings Island since Richard Zimmermann is still CEO. *Update: Six Flags has confirmed the merger on their website. https://investors.sixflags.com/news-and-events/press-releases/2023/11-02-2023-100020810

Here we go again...

But it has affected the line for Top Thrill Dragster, in more ways than one.

Not a surprise Intamin is promoting Falcon's Flight a lot given the records that ride is going to break.

Snoopy's Soap Box Racers.

Yeah. At Holiday World, we started to see land clearing around the former Pilgrim's Plunge area back in May/June, whereas it's just started with SSBR at Kings Island. I would say Good Gravy will probably get a month or two head-start over SSBR.

I do think it's likely we may very well see a new coaster with near-misses, quick transitions, and/or multiple smooth inversions, but I don't think we would see something that's like an exact replica of a coaster that already exists at Cedar Point. I think Cedar Fair does want to have the coaster lineups for Kings Island and Cedar Point as different from each other as possible, since it helps give people more reasons to visit both parks. That's not to say it's unlikely Kings Island would get a coaster model that already exists at Cedar Point, as Banshee was added to Kings Island when Cedar Point already had Raptor. However, it is worth noting that these two coasters were built 20 years apart and that definitely does become apparent if you look at how the two rides differentiate from one another. (Raptor being more snappy, while Banshee is more graceful. Raptor having traditional OTSRs, while Banshee has vest restraints. etc.) Even if they're both the same model, they do feel like completely different rides. (Also, Inverts are just so common that I don't really think Cedar Fair really cared if they built a second one in Ohio) Even if Kings Island gets a coaster model that Cedar Point has, it's likely it would have some sort of key difference or marketing draw to help set it apart from its counterpart at Cedar Point. Take a Dive Coaster for instance. If Kings Island wanted to add a Dive Coaster in the future, they may look to put a beyond-vertical drop on it (like Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger or Iron Menace) and/or add different elements to help differentiate it from Valravn. Either that or they go with a completely different ride model/manufacturer to help it stand out even more.

I agree. I think it would make more sense for Rivertown to get a flat ride package similar to Adventure Port. Rivertown is the only section of the park without any notable flats.

Yeah that would be great. Just some more shaded queues in general would be absolutely nice to see.

Definitely an interesting approach and would be neat going under that lift hill to get to Beast. Given the amount of land Kings Island has, however, I feel like it would make more sense for future additions in The Vortex plot and TR:TR/Crypt building to be separate, as I feel whatever goes in Vortex's plot should be added as a Coney Mall addition to really round out that section of the park. That's not to say I think a coaster using the TR:TR/Crypt building wouldn't work. Seeing how Seaworld Orlando is building Penguin Trek for next year, which utilizes a former ride building to have an indoor and outdoor ride experience, I could see something like that also being done with the TR:TR/Crypt building in the future whenever Kings Island decides to focus its attention towards Rivertown again. Not saying I would want it being the same model as Penguin Trek (A B&M family launch coaster), but some sort of coaster using a similar indoor/outdoor ride concept would be nice to see there. Not sure if it would really fit the theme of Rivertown as much, but they could also theme this ride to Phantom Theater and knock out two birds with one stone.

I had the thought some time ago of additional theming being added to Diamondback, including: Theming added in and around the queue area. The idea is that you are tasked with finding and handling a giant snake (The Diamondback in-question) that has been spotted near a section of Rivertown known as Swan Lake (of course referencing the old Swan Lake that used to preside in that area of the park) Wooden shade structures are added, as well as other themed buildings that surround the queue area (kind of like the themed buildings placed around Copperhead Strike at Carowinds if you've ever been there) Mist effect added to the splashdown element, giving the section a more eerie and swamp-like vibe Adding a hissing snake sound to either the top of the lift hill or in the station when a train dispatches Maybe adding a wooden tunnel at some point during the ride, maybe after the MCBR. I would prefer it was on the first drop, but I don't know if it would be too difficult considering the track turns to the right a bit

Does it? I heard that was a feature included on Wonder Woman Golden Lasso, but it wasn't included for Railblazer. Regardless, given Cedar Fair's history with RMC, as well as the maintenance/capacity issues that come with single rail coasters, I highly doubt we'll see one built at Kings Island.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Wild Mouse's trains move in the station at Cedar Point?

I feel like a Surf Coaster would probably be unique enough from other B&M models that the general public wouldn't really bat an eye over it being a fourth B&M. I've seen many comments from people who have ridden Pipeline at SWO, and they usually rave about how unique the ride experience is from anything else they've ridden. Keep in mind, SWO is a park that already has four B&M coasters and is about to get a fifth next year.

Thanks, Don!

No. It's being reused as a shade structure for the new playground area for Camp Snoopy.

It's a rough sketch, but I came up with this concept of a B&M Surf Coaster named "Moonwalker". The main theme of this ride would revolve around an early 20th century experiment to test how it would feel to walk on the moon. The inspiration I had for this theme mainly came from the standing airtime you get on a Surf Coaster like Pipeline at SWO, making it feel like you're hopping in a low gravity environment. I also included the early 20th century "Art Deco"-inspired theming to help it fit in with the early 20th century theme already present within Coney Mall.

Also, I believe the reason we don't see 10-seater dive coasters anymore is because of the vest restraints requiring wider seats.

I do think a B&M Dive would look really good on that plot, they could have the lift hill and turn into the drop mimic the lift hill and drop on Vortex. However, I just don't know if Kings Island would want a B&M Dive considering Valravn is in the same state and apparently Cedar Fair stated they wanted to add unique attractions to their parks. For a new B&M, it seems a B&M Surf Coaster would be a good option for that as it's a new and unique model that doesn't have anything like it nearby.

I've given some thought regarding a new launch coaster for Kings Island. From a pure marketing perspective, I don't think a standard launch or multi launch coaster would make the most sense for Kings Island primarily for two reasons: Kings Island already having two launch coasters. Although they are both old launch coasters, specifically with Flight of Fear almost being 30 years old, some of the general public still see it as the park's signature launch coaster and also has the benefit of being indoors, in-the-dark and has great theming for the park that it's in. Cedar Point recently adding Top Thrill 2 and already having Maverick. Although they are different parks, they still exist within the same state and do share an audience that visits both parks. Assuming our next coaster comes in 2026 or 2027, Top Thrill 2 would still be rather new addition by then. That's not to say I don't think Kings Island will get a new launch coaster. I think if they do get a new launch coaster, it will likely have some sort of marketable gimmick that will set it apart from the other launch coasters in the area. I think a Mack Rides Xtreme Spinner would fit this criteria well (and would be my personal favorite), but I think there are other options that could be likely as well, maybe even more-so. New-gen Vekoma Flyer (akin to F.L.Y. at Phantasialand): This is important to mention since Kings Island will be working with Vekoma on SSBR. Although I don't believe Kings Island got a package deal from Vekoma for it's next major coaster (as I think it would already be paid for and installed sooner than 2026), it is possible Kings Island's relationship with Vekoma could strengthen if SSBR does very well for the park. If KI does go with this option, this would give Ohio a flying coaster back (since the removal of Firehawk) and would give a different flying experience than any other flying coaster in the area. I also believe it would be good for capacity, given the new load system and 20-person trains as opposed to the 16-person trains you would get on an Xtreme Spinner. B&M Surf Coaster: I know some people might not like the idea of Kings Island getting a fourth B&M (myself included), but it is difficult to ignore just how strong Cedar Fair's relationship with B&M is. A surf coaster is one of the few options Kings Island has for a new B&M coaster that doesn't overlap with anything at Cedar Point. It would also provide an unique stand-up experience that would make it stand out (no pun intended) from any other B&M coaster at Kings Island. Capacity is also important to note here, as Pipeline runs with 24-person trains (the most of the three models mentioned). This is the most likely option of the three in my opinion.

Regardless, it will probably need a new venue even after Camp Snoopy construction considering the play structure that's being built.

Taron is an Intamin blitz coaster while F.L.Y. is a new-gen Vekoma flyer.

Regardless of the coaster model it ends up being, I do think it will be a highly-themed attraction since that already seems like the direction Cedar Fair is going with their new coasters. (The exception being TT2, though that's likely due to it being an unplanned addition) The specific theme itself will likely depend on where it's going to be located in the park. If it's in The Vortex plot, I could see it having sort of mid-20th century theme to match with Coney Mall. Though, I would prefer if it didn't have a car theme since KMAA and Backlot are already right there. Maybe some sort of county-fair science project theme where you've been tasked to test it out? Or maybe some sort of major storm system has hit the coney mall area and you are tasked with investigating it? (the storm theme could also connect to Vortex as well) For Action Zone, I've always said that the area itself needs a major re-theme, likely a haunted woods theme to alllow the theme work with both Banshee and Bat. Keeping with this theme, I've had the idea of some sort of Owl-themed flying or dive coaster. Despite all of the bird and hawk coaster names that Cedar Fair tends to love using, an Owl-themed coaster hasn't been done yet (at least to my knowledge).

From my rides on Invertigo this year, I thought it was running quite well for the type of ride that it is. It isn't glossy smooth, far from it, but I wouldn't necessarily say it was unbearably rough either like some people say it is. In my opinion, I wouldn't say it's notably rougher than Banshee.

Not unless Kings Island waits 4-5 years after The Vortex replacement to do the new Action Zone coaster or vice-versa.