Outdoor Man

Manby was brought in as a operational numbers person to pull up the nose. I think the things introduced will place them on a profitable course... in 5+ years- unfortunately there is a significant level of muck to get from here to there. Intriguingly, SW and BG have mostly held an independent leadership structure. I think what's needed now is a seasoned Guest Experience leader. Look around... there's one available. I'm just going to lay a series of initials here in the event I'm right... just to say I called it. GOECL

Waking up to dust off my profile for just my third post since November. Kings Island in 2018- looking forward to the former Dodgem (& Cuddle Up) Building replacement... with a tasty Coney Island theme of the Soak City Smoke House. Dinosaur's Alive, intriguing concept- stuck around a LOT longer than I thought it would. Replacement for that, I'd love a well-themed X-Base expansion that gives an experience you'll come back for time and time again. Hope that the proverbial "giga" isn't destined for that area. It would just be a larger version of Diamondback- and thus move it towards obsolescence. Unique/Creative experience will trump a "thrill" every time and keep lines coming back.

Two things, both regarding the giant Eiffel Tree. brighter lights on the star ease up on all of the lighting changes.. I get that the light strands have a billion or so functions. choose 5, let them go longer And perhaps a New Years Eve event. other than that- for a park that is notorious for "over-hype / under-deliver"- this one exceeded all expectations. Well done, and hopefully an indication of things to come!

Went on Friday; agree with just about everyone in that it exceeded expectations. Someone made a comment a page or two ago about the Peanuts show in KI Theater. It wasn't overtly inappropriate- but have to agree... the short skirts with the flip overs................ not awful; but a kids show. Other than that- the tower lights are great for the most part. The LEDs on the star have to be the dimmest bulbs they could have bought and the pattern programming is a bit "schizo".... I would contend that it doesn't have to be in CONSTANT motion. BUT, outside of very few "preferences"- staffing seemed eerily adequate. The shows were amazing. Lights were incredible. Well done!

you haven't lived until your $15 Churro gets attacked by a team of aggressive seagulls walking through Frontierland at (Disney) Magic Kingdom.

A long time ago I was in a conversation with what at the time was a former Paramount Park mid-manager (older than the typical Dippin' Dots exec but lower than a VP at the park level). They weren't in F&B- but like most of us, had opinions. His math was simple at best but made mention of the Festhaus kitchen area that regularly employed 10 disaffected employees doing the work of 5. I don't remember the dollar amount- but instead of paying $10/hour for 10 people ($100/hour). Have the same output of productivity by hiring 5, pay them $17/hour; pay the supervisor $10 more/hour, have expectations that they actually want to supervise... not make friends. Then pocket the left over and apply to improvements. The thought was that by hiring fewer people that may be older and care about their jobs- it would dramatically improve the guest experience. His contention was that Paramount addressed Customer Service issues by throwing more staff at the problem. the issue with that is that you dilute the pool... it's impossible to reach a "10" if you can only average out a bunch of 4's and 5's in your hiring. Sweeten the pot a little, pay more, get better quality, and have expectations.

and "flavor" for the new smokehouse next summer.

They may very well be using the structure, or at least part of it. If you're demolishing a building you're not necessarily looking to "gut" it- you're just going to start at one end and go until its on the ground. Not being in construction/demolition myself- I could be very wrong.

Anyone can speculate or hope that votes go towards something; but the decision of what is going to happen to that area was probably made in 2015 or 2016. Not knocking Don- but he would have very little to do with the decision. These discussions come from people with last names like: Zimmerman, in consultation with a Witherow. Maybe a Bender or a Decker. As well as Scheid and Koontz. Then a decision is made and a guy with a last name like Ouimet signs a contract, makes an announcement and shakes hands for cameras at an annual event in Florida. Or something like that.

seriously? You said you were fixing your calendar or fixing text on a brochure. I see how it is...

A great (short) read on immersing guests into an "experience" that keeps them coming back vs mis-matching and seeing things go stale. As I read it I think of the I-Street Music, then... queue for Boo Blasters; any mystique created as you enter is lost with the "brighter-than-sunlight" screens playing "Cash-Coaster," find the hidden whatever, etc... and a host of effects that don't work. "International" Street, and probably in a few years- Mystic Timbers (which, meanwhile well-themed- out of the box, didn't fit a Rivertown theme). https://disneyinstitute.com/blog/2016/03/exceptional-service-delivery-a-lesson-from-the-jungle-cruise/?CMP=SOC-DI-Blog-LessonFromJungleCruise-03-15-16

I agree for the most part. I hope that the Peanuts license carries out indefinitely so they don't run into the habit of changing ride names every so many years. However, in a few years our youngest will be out of the kid area all together, at which point I won't care...

when did they announce the Soak City Smokehouse? Many other parks are announcing new rides, coasters, etc... KI has already announced Winterfest... A new restaurant isn't going to cause a bump in Season Pass Sales and no news outlet is going to pick up that story. I could see a small ride... but if you build another eat in area... it's not as big as you may think. And as far as a new set of Antique Cars... dream another dream- I think that one's over. Find another ship... that one has sailed. I don't claim to know anything about what's going on there. I'm content to wait until April to see it- and until May when the line goes down. I just don't see any practicality in opening a new "car" ride.

I would side with it being credible. The smokehouse is too good of a concept to be only at the water park side and there isn't really any other location for a new food option on the dry side. Kings Island is long overdue for a high capacity sit-in eating location. AND... I don't think that a new eatery would be top-secret, hush-hush news. Wonder if they'll come across any old Dodgem or Tea Cup relics during the demolition.

Kings Island (or any park for that matter) will host just about any event where the organization provides "minimums" and $$$. Key words: just about any...

Guest Experience 101 has foundations at the gate as you: pass through the gate see the fountains see the Eiffel Tower Coasters in the background "International" buildings (with non-international fare within...) Sam Smith, Justin Bieber, etc... on the music roll. Which doesn't belong? Goes right up there with: Chinese (fast) food in the German Themed Festhaus Hank's Mexican in Oktoberfest I like Diamondback- but if it's in "Rivertown" how hard would it have been to have a name reflecting it? Again with Mystic Timbers... great coaster, great theming, if not a tone tone deaf for the "themed area" Soccer Game stand (because nothing screams a 18th/19th century Rivertown like Soccer.

And I'd guess the final ride lineup will be subject to staffing levels.

It's 13 years newer too...

Things they could improve on... Train employees in food service to actually take a bit of pride in their work. Everything said on here about Diamondback (seats are really gross)... reminds me of "Soul Glow"... Keep current on the theming for Boo Blasters or retire the attraction Cut the Snoopy's Starlight lights out of the trees already. and Mystic Timbers was really themed pretty well but ended up with the worst ending to a coaster since Adventure Express, should have put shed in mid-course. Actors voices are also real "cheesy"; should have had Marty Brennaman do it. Actually, from where I sit, the things they could do better is a MUCH smaller list than in years past.

"have and keep" is a bit different than building new. I don't care one way or another. I just think it is a low possibility.

If you look at the marketing image of the tower it looks as if the lights will wrap around the observation platform unlike previous WF installations where they only came off the front.

I like the Disney People Mover. Doubt that type of ride is headed to Ohio any time soon though. As for the Antique Cars coming to some of the locations mentioned here.... Flight Commander pad, Tower Gardens? Those may be good areas if it were going to be a virtual reality ride as it would never come close to fitting. That aside, I can't image one of those being built again. Maintenance and fuel for the cars would be cost prohibitive over time.

12-days of Christmas... co-themed with Haunt? I think this is where the train riders are attacked by about 25 birds as you go through the lyrics.

not true. tell them to buddy-up to the Dippin' Dots guy. They know all.

KCKC was a nice family ride in the "nature" of the park- and though it turned out to be a bust in the end... like Griffey to the Reds- you make that decision EVERY time. TR:TR was a rare instance in Kings Island history where the deliverable exceeded the hype. When it was introduced and working... no one longed for KCKC.