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.

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.