MysticTimberwolf

This isn't a budget issue, it's not even a staffing issue, it's sheer incompetence. Here’s what literally any competent company would do, using 100% free tools: Export your passholder database. Use Mailchimp, Sendy, or even LibreOffice Calc to segment users based on pass level. Add a basic logic rule: IF “Gold+” THEN exclude from Silver campaign. Done. No more irrelevant spam. Honestly, if an indie band can separate emails by merch buyers vs show attendees using a free Mailchimp account, a multimillion-dollar park chain has no excuse.

We really need to quit all the cynicism and start appreciating that Six Flags has finally revealed the true purpose of a theme park: quarterly returns. Sure, a ride might be closed four days a week in peak season, but have you seen the electric bill? And don’t even get me started on paying employees. Why bother hiring ride ops when you can run one side of Racer and rebrand the 95-minute wait as “demand.”? Who needs in-park marketing when you can schedule 47 identical “Join us for thrills!” posts with a stock photos of coasters at other parks? Kings Island has evolved from a beloved regional park into a case study in corporate austerity cosplay. Every corner of the park is now a reminder that enjoyment is a variable cost, and your nostalgia a line item to be optimized. Edit: Just got an email. They're replacing Haunt with a corporate seminar called "Spreadsheets of Terror." Attendance is mandatory for Gold Pass holders. BYO calculator.

Having been a part of a similarly minded group during an ERT event, here's what we found: The back right side tends to exaggerate lateral and positive G-forces on that initial turn. Don’t brace or tense—just let your body go with the motion. Eat light beforehand, going in with an empty-ish stomach will heighten your body's adrenaline response, but PLEASE stay hydrated. Tilt your head slightly down during the turn. As intense as the ride is, even the most knee-locking thrill seekers in our group were only able to stay grayed out until the top of the subsequent hill.

I remember hearing rumors of a potential new main entrance building with ride interaction like Cedar Point and Carowinds. I would assume that only works if Invertigo and Congo are on their way out alongside our beloved Skycoaster.

Executives always thrive. The hardworking employees remain increasingly crushed, hopeless.

Thank goodness the chain is embracing AI art. As a shareholder, I was really concerned about having "artists" on payroll, but this is much cheaper!

I don't agree with the decisions made since the Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger—I hate them, to be honest. But claiming this is some plot to keep Cedar Point on top is just nonsense. The sheer scale of Kingda Ka makes every repair exponentially more expensive. A single malfunction in the launch system or a minor structural issue becomes a multimillion-dollar headache due to the ride's height, speed, and the engineering required. No park, not even Great Adventure, can sustainably absorb those costs indefinitely. This isn’t about Cedar Point or “keeping anyone on top”—it’s about the unsustainable nature of maintaining something as extreme as Kingda Ka. Strata coasters like this aren’t built to last forever, and the decision to remove it is a logical, albeit unfortunate, financial move.

Sell? Well, now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Plenty of exciting changes are on the way that will be sure to increase shareholder value!

Admission prices will increase by more than 20% over the next five years. Haunt will become a separate ticketed event, similar to Knott's Scary Farm. Small, themed escape rooms will be added as year-round, upcharge attractions.

I think with the park's family focus, it makes sense to rebrand not just to D.C. in general, but Teen Titans "Jump City". Arguably their most popular IP with kids and teens from both the original show as well as "Teen Titans Go!". Assuming we're not losing any of these rides yet, here's how I'd split it: Banshee → Raven The Bat → Robin Drop Tower → Cyborg Invertigo → Starfire Congo Falls → Beast Boy Delirium → Slade Even if done in the expected "Six Flags way", it would at least allow it to stand out against the other parks with D.C. themed areas.

I'm curious what makes D.C. garbage compared to other IPs the park has held in the past. We've seen both extremes in terms of quality under Paramount and Cedar Fair's leadership. At the time Tomb Raider: The Ride was announced in 2001, CoreDesign had pumped out 5 Tomb Raider games in a 4 year span, the Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider movie had released to critical failure, and fans were unhappy such a large investment was going to a dying IP. TR;TR went on to become one of KI's most ambitious and critically acclaimed experiences upon opening. I hope we see the beginning of more ambitious experiences like that again, even if it is "DC garbage".

Ah, yes, the nuanced artistry of Snoopy's Soap Box Racers—with its unparalleled narrative complexity and Oscar-worthy performances by animatronic beagles. Good Gravy, with its simple charm and dare I say relatable non-IP theme, could never hope to ascend to such lofty heights. It's like arguing whether a Big Mac tastes better in Cincinnati or Columbus. Same ride system, same layout, same thrills—just one has peanuts, and the other has mashed potatoes.

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.