MysticTimberwolf

This new corporate era within the company are mostly industry outsiders. No company is completely homegrown, but corporate's prioritization of cheaper outside hires vs internal promotion has slowly gutted any passionate talent. To them, rides aren't ties to memories and experiences that last a lifetime; they're big colorful machines that make money the same way an industrial line robot does. And just like those robots, it's cheaper to get rid of the old expensive ones and put that money into something (or somewhere) else. I remember how great it was to be out in the park on Firehawk's final night; people had traveled a long way to get their closure. Those people also spent a lot of money on Firehawk merch, as well as food, and parking, etc.. I have a feeling those same wallets would've made the journey for Nighthawk as well.

I think this judgment is symbolic of the court holding the company accountable, but in practical terms, recovering any amount of money across international borders is exceptionally difficult. If Funtime wasn't even willing to show up to court, it means they are either done working in the U.S., or they will set up another entity to eat some of the loss. In either case, the family likely won't see a dime.

The focus in operations is just different now, and dispatches across the park have gotten steadily worse over the last 5-6 years. Removing "Priority Seating Not Guaranteed" signs, shrinking ride crews, and reducing operational budgets have all caused the decline in efficiency. It's a story the park has grappled with forever, every new department head has a different idea on how these things should be run. When ambition replaces passion, all becomes hollow.

Typically steel coasters cannot run in temperatures below 41°F unless fully enclosed. These are usually set by the manufacturer, meaning if the park decides to run it anyway and something happens, they have no legal recourse against the manufacturer. The reason Wooden coasters can operate in freezing temperatures because wood is more flexible than steel. Steel coasters are a lot more sensitive to thermal contraction, which misaligns the rails and makes the track more brittle.

I found a really interesting looking family thrill ride model that I think could fit inside the Crypt building pretty well. Here's a video of the ride experience as well. I think even if this doesn't go in the old Crypt building, it would be a good family thrill ride that doesn't seem to be at any other park in North America.

In recent years, corporate strategy has intentionally been driving KI and CP in two very different directions. Before Mike took the reins at KI, the push from corporate had been crystal clear: KI is for families; CP is for the thrill junkies. The thinking at the top is that by polarizing the two parks, they maximize profits for each. They’re playing a different game now, one that isn’t necessarily about appeasing the hardcore fanbase but about securing long-term revenue. If you're hoping for KI to get another groundbreaking giga coaster or something to rival Steel Vengeance, you’re not reading the room. That ship sailed before Mike was even hired. They know families with kids are more likely to spend on meals, games, merch, Fast Lane passes, you name it. CP, on the other hand, benefits from the traveling adrenaline-seeking crowd who come for the coasters, and are more likely to drop extra cash on a second or third day at the resort. Sure, you might your buddies on YouTube talking about what's “missing” at the parks, but the real meetings behind closed doors? They're talking about the ROI of adding more Peanuts/DC theming or expanding Soak City. They know exactly whose wallet they're targeting with each investment. I know that’s not the message some of you want to hear, but it’s been the reality of Cedar Fair for close to a decade now. If you’ve got kids, you’re going to love what’s coming to Kings Island. If you’re all about speed and inversions and airtime, your place is at Cedar Point. They’ve carved out the paths for these parks, and they’re sticking to it.

Especially at 0:07, you can hear some signature AI audio generation struggles. Most people unfamiliar with these tools probably won't even notice it's an entirely AI song, but the vocals seem very similar to what you can create on places like Udio or Suno. In about 1-2 minutes on both of those sites, my friends and I were able to generate a couple of songs about the Tricks and Treats festival. All we had to do was enter the prompt: "Fun spooky song about Kings Island's Tricks and Treats festival". These websites will auto generate lyrics as well; and while I can't say for sure that was the case here, I'm suspicious. It's one thing for an individual or a group of friends to mess around with these, but it's concerning when a park with a large entertainment dept can't be bothered to write their own song for their event and instead rely on a free website. Why even bother having a creative team on payroll to theme a new attraction when an intern can create the storyline, logo, and soundtrack for a ride in 5 minutes.

Incredible work, especially in an 8 year old game. Do you have any Planet Coaster 2 project plans?

Was the AI generated song added to that video or from the park?

Which is very unfortunate considering how excited non-enthusiast groups were getting using their lantern by the SoB station. After seeing parents in the general public excitedly telling their kids about this crazy huge wooden coaster coming back, it rubs me the wrong way knowing it's more or less a troll.

I would actually argue the capital invested in KI recently has been way more focused on family friendly additions. Has the park done a good or even decent job at marketing these? I think that's a horse with not much left to beat. Family areas drive serious traffic and spending.... when people hear about it.

I think it's more likely Kings Island goes for their Best Kid's Area crown again and turn that plot into a large family area. A family coaster with a bunch of new flats and shops would probably bring in more money than Vortex 2.0.

Imagine how much more incredible it would feel if it were a REAL giga as advertised.

Not too far off from what we have now, I've had lights on rides that could've fooled me. The amount of exposed and falling insulation, mold, and vomit in that tunnel makes me think it should stay in the dark.

If the park wants to try and compromise, retheme Backlot Stunt Coaster to "antique cars gone off the rails" The ride could start as a bootlegger car chase with early 1900s cars speeding through city facades or barns and replacing the helicopter part with a police blockade or something similar. This could even be a chance to have a "Mini 1920's Cincinnati" area that embraces the throwback. If they extend the coney cobblestone and lamps into the ride plaza, it would make the whole ride and area feel less like a junkyard. Maybe add a small kids are similar to Good Gravy at Holiday World where the empty pad is.