Outdoor Man

Oh my word, at park tonight. They're lucky they don't really have any competition for several hundred miles. Their customer service is terrible. In addition I'm not sure how their food service could have gotten worse than last year but they have.

I have another Winterfest question. In all other installments of Winterfest only an arc of the front of the tower had lights. If you look at the image online there are lights shadowed into the background. Almost as if the lights will be hung 360 degrees around the tower. Did I miss something or has this already been a thing?

Replying to my reply from a reply over 2 months ago. The educational climate has changed quite a bit, but I remember a number of years growing up in the magical decade of the 80's- classes would take "field trips" to WinterFest. 1985, 1989, & 1991 stick out in my head.

Overall I would give the park a solid "A" for the day. I don't know that they expected the crowds to be as huge as it was/ We've been at Gold Pass night before and never have I seen it this crowded. For the first time in a long while, the staff seemed equal to the task. For a park that has shown themselves to be a quart low on customer service in years past... bravo! Walking up in the parking lot after 90 minutes navigating the drive in (we only live 15 minutes away) I noted that it seemed to be the same crap pop music roll in the parking lot. Immediately upon entering; the music befitting of an International street was noticed by our entire family. EXCELLENT move! Food lines were long, but seemed to move pretty well. The Mystic Timbers area looked amazing! Very well done! Only critique really... Upon leaving and strolling back through I-Street. I noticed that not only were the lights on the buildings not on, they appeared to be completely gone. Not awful; they were usually half lit anyway. But, the fountain lights weren't on and the buildings don't illuminate much (this was at 9:30p not 1a). The exit to the park really seems like it needs a lot more light. But other than that; KI has upgraded themselves across the board it seems.

That too... the economy didn't resemble normalcy (whatever that is) until 1985'ish. It wasn't a "depression" but one heck of a sluggish affair for 12 years. People who say the last recession (2009-2010) was the "worst since the great depression" either didn't live during 1970s-1980s it or have short memories.

And no, I don't see it returning to that. Not so long as it is just one of 16 other siblings- or really ever.

Partial blame comes from the Recession of 1973-1975. That recession cut hard and canceled a number of projects (not just for Kings Island). It was termed at the time the worst recession since the Great Depression. Funny how every recession is somehow the worst since 1930.

you can't be serious. roller coasters in 20-30 degree weather.

and I stand corrected. Just viewed the "pov"... and TR:TR is still there. Sort of.

Acknowledged. But by the time the webcams come back on, theoretically people will have already roamed the park and witnessed/posted first hand. I'm not claiming to know something more than just a suspicion. I'm probably wrong. But...

Probably not; but the webcams are just a line of code/plugin on a site page. Don wouldn't likely mention anything they were doing anyway, unless it was to specifically cause a "buzz."

This has probably been discussed, but I've never been accused of reading all posts in a particular thread. The fact that the web-cams have been "off" for a while now... anyone suspect that they are concealing some change happening prior to opening day? I've suspected the demise of the Tomb Raider building was happening- but that's probably a long shot.

As someone with a deep appreciation for imagination creating a unique theme and experience... I'm blown away by the early visuals. They've sort of outdone themselves on this one. Rivertown has become the best themed areas in the park (going way back). Please, please, please don't ruin it with "pop" music; not unlike bright, cheerful videos in the Boo Hill line queue. Rivertown has: The Beast Diamondback (no all "Rivertown"... but close'ish) Train Whitewater Canyon If not mistaken, Run for your life Charlie Brown is in Rivertown too... would be good for a "lumber/logging" retheme because it certainly "fits" with its new neighbor. But since the entrance is decidedly Planet Snoopy possibly not. Mystic Timbers seems to pull it all together. It seems really well done.

with regards to websites. domain configurations have changed and have more flexibility. Some ad agency in Toronto, Canada has kingsisland.com... To have a more contemporary look and have all the parks in alignment they should do: www.kingsisland.online www.kingsdominion.online www.carowinds.online etc... they're available. just a thought.

As far as rides leaving... I could see Congo Falls. Kind of a simple/boring/pointless ride. Would have been good if Banshee could have taken some of that road 'frontage.' The Bat could be refreshed 'big league' for the cost of new -floorless- trains. Not sure what all is involved in that but it would provide an awesome new experience for a 24 year old coaster. And yet... I see an end in site for Boo Blasters. They tend to not like keeping the theming operable anyway.

I'm sure if there isn't a retrofit of the attraction happening it will be open. I wouldn't count on any seasonal theming inserted to any extent. It could complement the verse of the song 'Most Wonderful Time of the Year' that's says 'there'll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago...' I never understood what that meant anyway.

kind of surprised that they wouldn't be open during the day some of December to get school groups.

"International" Street.

Lot of good suggestions listed. I side with the theming experience every time. A few of my "suggestions": Panda Express as well as a Country Music Review in the German Themed Festhaus is always a big irritation. The music loop last year was nothing short of.... i'd rather listen to someone drag their finger nails across a chalk board. Food service employees seem to need basic expectations placed on them. 2016 was not a banner year. Clean up and remodel restrooms. they're in pretty gross shape. Part of this isn't their fault; may I call out the gentlemen reading here specifically. Not to get too graphic, but if you have such horrible aim that you can't pee into the bowl without leaving your mark all over the seat... they have an entire bank of urinals just for you.

I'm guessing that's the Kissimmee park? It was torn up pretty good when I was down there last month.

Didn't CF have a Trademark on the name "Amusement Dark" for a while (if not still)? I sort of thought that's where Action Zone was headed, but apparently not.

Most of the ride additions were good. But it didn't seem that they had an overall plan in mind as to how each new addition "fit" into it's area. Action Zone was actually as close to congruent theming that Paramount had... in that there was no theming to fit in to. But lets be honest; other than being iconic to the skyline of the park- Son of Beast was a terrible coaster. A terrible ride experience in addition to a thoughtless approach to design. The roughest part of a wooden coaster are curves; for the most part that was all the coaster was. Curves are rough at 35 mph... SOB was 70+ (wasn't it?). Being a movie production company with access to thousands of theming titles- they could have really had an iconic park but didn't seem like they wanted to dive into it.

hmmm. My ride tally winner is probably The Beast. Been riding since 1993 and I'm pretty sure that I'm up close to the 50-55 mark. 23 years... an average of 2-3 times per year. Sounds about right. Would love to have more to the tally but....

very much agreed, Ouimet was an upgrade to DK. But I feel like his main concern has been shareholders. Always having record breaking attendance and profits, which is great. But yet coasters and rides that require TLC, i.e. Racers / Beast need paint and stain. Diamondback seats needing cleaned or replaced, animitronics needing replaced or repaired on BLSC. Water affects no longer working on The Beast or BLSC. Lights needing replaced all over. Food concession operations needing major overhaul. There are probably much more to add to this list. Granted Cedar Fair is not Disney, and I do not expect Disney like themeing, but at the very least have some pride in the parks. Doesn't some of that fall on the local General Manager though? ie- light bulbs needing replaced all over the place. "Holiday" lights from Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular (that hasn't happened in what... 4 seasons)... still wrapped around the trees. I mean, really, couldn't they have designated a crew of teens to go rip those down a few years ago?

Not terp, but I believe that if you modify 'anything' you can no longer grandfather code to it. Moving to a new location strikes me as a scenario that fits that. That said, I doubt that any of the original structure is salvageable to rebuild after sitting/rotting for 9 years. Let my fact-checking begin.