Timchat2

When running at full tilt with its custom music and sound effects TT2 is quite a fun spectacle with trains almost always on the move. Lots of energy around the midway and grandstand.

Splash Country is a wonderful park with a unique wilderness setting that seems to fly under the radar.

The former Snake River Expedition at Cedar Point has a full set of animated figures and props that aren't being used which could easily be installed along the WWC ride path like Calico River Rapids.

The new hanger lighting is wonderful! Some really great detail work in the lighting design throughout the preshow. I especially love the touch of having the lights on the steps flashing as the aliens invite guests onto the ship. Major props to all who worked to make this happen!

The renovation of Monster Plantation to Monster Mansion is one of the major miracles of dark ride history. Somehow at Six Flags park circa 2008 (not exactly the best of times for the chain) decided to put that much money and effort into a slow-moving, animatronic-heavy boat ride with original characters. This goes to show that if park management believes in something enough they can make it happen.

That's right, they are still included on the dining plan. The out-of-pocket price is $20.99 for the "premium" meats and $19.99 for the others, if I remember correctly.

Two posts have appeared in the circular planter between International Showplace and the Eiffel Tower:

This might be old news but we noticed Coney BBQ lists rotisserie chicken and burnt ends as "premium" meats and they cost one dollar more than the other entrees. Farmhouse and Grand Pavilion at Cedar Point have similar "premium" entrees but I don't remember seeing that at Kings Island before.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIzN5hQBAXc/ Wonderful to see the actual people who pour so much heart and effort into classic attractions like Monster Mansion. It's hard not to see this and hope for what might have been for Phantom Theater.

I think so. A few parks like Six Flags Great America will have fireworks on Saturdays only during the summer. Otherwise, Cedar Point might be the other park that comes close with the finale show at Boardwalk Nights, which isn't nearly as much nightly pyro as Kings Island.

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/dining/meteor-canteen Stop in for a refreshing treat or something sweet! We offer Oreo churro bites, cheese curds and delicious mocktails and frozen drinks. Did Meteor Canteen have these items last year?

Summerbration had a fairly vague description, so it might not have been an event with a distinct theme like Grand Carnivale or Viva La Fiesta but rather smaller-scale activations like local bands or limited-time food offerings.

Hopefully if there is a new Bandstand show it is more like Royal Rhythms, and of course a live band would be nice. I appreciated the jazz for not being the pop music or orchestral covers but I would certainly welcome a loop like Kings Dominion.

Last year the special events and most of the live entertainment were posted on the same day. The entertainment page (which usually includes the fireworks) hasn't been updated yet.

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events Grand Carnivale and Food & Wine Festival are both returning for 2025.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom announced the park's 2025 events including the "NEW" Tricks and Treats as well as WinterFest, presumably using the seasonal decor from CGA.

Sounds like the Wilderness Pass restaurant will be opening mid-April with a menu of rotisserie chicken, beef, pork and catfish with various Southern sides.

Talk on Facebook is the Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience will be at Showstreet Palace with Gazillion Bubble in Celebrity Theater during the Summer Celebration. The Pines is likely where the new 40th anniversary show will be.

It appears Food & Wine isn't returning at Kings Dominion for 2025, so it might not be returning at Kings Island either.

https://www.carowinds.com/events Viva La Fiesta appears to be a replacement for Grand Carnivale.

No Grand Carnivale either, but that might be due to the 50th celebration.

For a few years Cedar Fair would have charts in their FUNForward reports that showed the revenue mix between the parks. The most recent one I could find at a glance is from 2015: (Charts pulled from this blog post that includes links to FUNForward presentations.)

California's Great America, which is apparently not having WinterFest in 2025, makes the distinction that a 2025 Gold Pass applies to the 2024 WinterFest:

Snow in the Grove has a couple walkaround characters like Roly Poly (from the defunct parade) along with the year-round characters like Flit and Flutter, but that doesn't quite compare to the variety and guests interactions Kings Island's Midway Merriment crew. Despite the long-in-the-tooth productions, one of Dollywood's strengths has always been the quality of its shows. This year Kings Island took a major step forward with Yuletide Follies, but that still is somewhat hampered by the usual KI outdoor venue issues (weather, area noise, etc.).

We had similar feelings this year about Dollywood as well. Smoky Mountain Christmas is still a solid event with decor in nearly all corners of the park, an extensive lineup of live entertainment (which could perhaps use a new production or two) and the usual Dollywood warmth/charm, but Kings Island's WinterFest truly feels like "Christmas everywhere you look" (to quote Tinker's Toy Factory and Elf: the Musical) in comparison with lots of lights and detailed decorations all over the park, but perhaps lacking the finesse of Dollywood. In recent years Dollywood seems to have shifted away from covering seemingly every building surface with lights that way Silver Dollar City still does and Kentucky Kingdom is just starting to do with its new holiday event. Instead Dollywood has focused more on area-specific decor to give each sections a unique look like the "candlelight" in Craftsman's Valley. The pre-lit trees placed throughout the landscaping beds appears to be their way of keeping the light count up without attaching lights to every last board like they might have done in the past.