Outdoor Man

i'm not offended in the least. the typical christmas tree has an angel or a star topping it out. with the light scheme of the tower it was a little difficult to tell what they were trying to be. A christmas tree, the Eiffel Tower, or a tower with lights on it. was taking a friend from out of town past KI on I-71 telling them that they have never seen a christmas tree this large... and the typical christmas tree lighting NEVER came up. we saw no lights, then corner lights- then had to turn around and try again.

I don't know what rides B&M manufactures- but PKI would kick tail by getting a heavily themed ride like Spiderman or Dueling Dragons at Universal Florida. I agree with the IJST comments... the ride starts getting interesting...... then it's over. This was not a Paramount thing... the the absolute largest LET DOWN of any roller coaster ever made was the build up/exit to the loading station on Adventure Express. I remember my first time riding that thinking "i bet the track is going to go straight down after this tunnel." then you come down and gently ride into the loading area.

uh... i think this is it. hope i don't waste space trying. and, Reclaimer.... yes- but you had to see it at night.... and call me a pure-ist... but if it's to be a Christmas tree, use "A" star... not a logo.

the main reason I didn't care for the Eiffel Tower "tree" was because when they last had Winterfest in '92- the Tower had a star at the top and really looked like a HUGE Christmas Tree. It really looked imposing. If i could figure out how to post pics to this site I would post one. It was impressive. the way they had it this year it seemed like they weren't sure if they wanted a Christmas Tree or a tower with lights and a paramount logo on it.

Now that the "inaugral" season of the PKI Winterfest is about history, I am interested to hear every/anyones feedback. give 1-2 high points and 1-2 of your opinions of the low points of the event. As some do, don't just "dump" the low points without giving the positive.... as negative as some can be... it wasn't all bad. and don't even make it a long post.... just a few words for both. High points: 1. tremendous effort made to create a great event 2. Festhaus looked festive for first time in a decade low points: 1. WAY too expensive 2. lights hanging on tower. sometimes on... dim... only corners... off completely... leave em on already.

i am not a "code" guru by any means, but have had some experience in the last year working with State Health Codes as it refers to handicap accessible, food, etc... And any smarter chimp than I can correct me if I'm wrong. But as far as no elevator for handicap accessibility, I believe that would not matter as long as the following are not encroached: - change in the original use of the facility - a particular dollar amount had been passed in renovation and upgrades. otherwise, I believe that the old codes could be "grandfathered" over. Now, that is but a nutshell- but I believe that since it is open sporadically now, it could be open anytime if they chose.

(Hope you don't mind the double post... but I made my inaugral trip to Winterfest last Saturday as well. This is my post from another thread.) I believe that the park was truly at it's BEST last night. though I was concerned to be driving up at 5:30 and see no lights on the tower (didn't know that it doesn't light until 6-- years ago, it was always on). International Restaurant was bustling with people (which was nice to see). the Festhaus has not looked that good in at least a decade (maybe more). The lights on the Intl St. buildings looked good (i hope they carry that into the operating season... now that all the bulbs are changed/work). The souvenirs were all reasonably priced (at least I thought so). OK, Holiday Junction was a little hokey... but it's a Christmas show.... which ones aren't. And the actors seemed to really enjoy doing it (though I don't think in 32 years I've ever seen the line for the trains that long). the show at the paramount theater was great. Hokey as well.... but lots of enthusiasm and great energy. was also pleased with the amount of times that the upcoming holiday was referred to as christmas. The thermometer said 32... but my word it seemed like -32. I remember going there in my early 20's and it being in the teens, single digits... didn't care. Now I wonder, "why on earth would anybody with half a brain freeze their a## off like that more than once?" The ONLY suggestion I would even have unfortunately is with the marquee attraction..... the Eiffel Tower/tree. OK- the schizzo light show was annoying. Sometimes the lights were on; then only half on; then only the corners, then they were off all together..... then they were dim. Made it difficult to take picutres... and actually have the tree in the background. Suggestion.... just leave them on.... and turn the tower lights off.... looks more like a tree that way..... AND- call me a "purest"- but I ditch the paramount logo and go back to the traditional one-star approach. none of that takes away from the experience though. The park was at it's best last night.... employees and decor. I don't know what festival some harsh critics were at (maybe they were at Carowinds accidentally). if you're disappointed because not enough was open or doesn't match your PKI experience. then you want to go to Kings Island in July.... not Winterfest in December.

i think it goes without saying... and this is off topic, but I think the Winterfest program and PKI is outstanding.... like I said in another thread if you're disappointed then maybe it is Kings Island you want to visit in July rather than Winterfest in December. But I do agree that PKI did price themselves out of the market.... $25 was WAY too much. we paid $15 each last weekend which i felt was still a little high.... but acceptable.

wow deidre.... thats harsh...

well, i tend to agree with the coasterbuzz comments, but the fact that it was reported through Rueters offers a better hint of legitimacy. Let's see what happens. It would appear that Paramount has put a lot of investment towards these parks only to sell- but crazier things have happened..... if the reds can trade one of the most popular figures and PR machines since Pete Rose and (early) Barry Larkin for a no name... i guess anything is possible.... (sorry, a little bitter about the trade).

i know most on this forum would go. many would visit the waterpark if it were open during winterfest. But most of you are probably season pass holders or employees that get in for next to nothing.... not exactly cash in Paramount''s pockets for such an endeavor.

OK, be realistic. What would there be to do at Kings Island in sub-zero temps in the middle of January/February? Whats more... who would want to go? At least christmas offers some sort of reason to come out... but once the lights are down...

nice thought WooferAtl.... but not likely to happen. Paramount uses the parks to get extra mileage out of their movies.... which is good marketing on their part. To bad the Shrek / most Steven Spielberg titles won't come with the Dreamworks deal.... would much rather see Donkey roaming the park than the Star Trek characters of a few years ago.

ok, i don't want to sound stupid... but are those actual shots.... or a computer generated image?

this may or may not be the right forum, but here goes anyway. My wife and I just made our 2005 visit to Winterfest... and a few things: I believe that the park was truly at it's BEST last night. though I was concerned to be driving up at 5:30 and see no lights on the tower (didn't know that it doesn't light until 6-- years ago, it was always on). International Restaurant was bustling with people (which was nice to see). the Festhaus has not looked that good in at least a decade (maybe more). The lights on the Intl St. buildings looked good (i hope they carry that into the operating season... now that all the bulbs are changed/work). The souvenirs were all reasonably priced (at least I thought so). OK, Holiday Junction was a little hokey... but it's a Christmas show.... which ones aren't. And the actors seemed to really enjoy doing it (though I don't think in 32 years I've ever seen the line for the trains that long). the show at the paramount theater was great. Hokey as well.... but lots of enthusiasm and great energy. was also pleased with the amount of times that the upcoming holiday was referred to as christmas. The thermometer said 32... but my word it seemed like -32. I remember going there in my early 20's and it being in the teens, single digits... didn't care. Now I wonder, "why on earth would anybody with half a brain freeze their a## off like that more than once?" The ONLY suggestion I would even have unfortunately is with the marquee attraction..... the Eiffel Tower/tree. OK- the schizzo light show was annoying. Sometimes the lights were on; then only half on; then only the corners, then they were off all together..... then they were dim. Made it difficult to take picutres... and actually have the tree in the background. Suggestion.... just leave them on.... and turn the tower lights off.... looks more like a tree that way..... AND- call me a "purest"- but I ditch the paramount logo and go back to the traditional one-star approach. none of that takes away from the experience though. The park was at it's best last night.... employees and decor. I don't know what festival some harsh critics were at (maybe they were at Carowinds accidentally). if you're disappointed because not enough was open or doesn't match your PKI experience. then you want to go to Kings Island in July.... not Winterfest in December.

found it. Posted September 19, 2002. Here is the link, though of course the site says that the page can no longer be found. From: aeilerman Date: Thu Sep 19, 2002 11:59 pm Subject: King Cobra For Sale aeilerman Offline I have found the web-site that is selling the King Cobra from PKI. here is the link http://www.italintl.com/coaster/index.htm

a museum of Coney / KI / PKI history I think would be excellent. Honestly, why else would they be keeping the trains? And to make a quick correction, King Cobra was for sale at one point. In early 2001 I saw a post on a PKI Yahoo group that had a link to the site where it was listed. Sure enough, it was there- pictures and all. I believe it was listed at $1.1 million.... which might explain why it was never sold..... I'll look up that post. Though likely the link is long gone.

going to make our journey to WinterFest on Saturday, Dec. 10. I guess I didn' notice from the pictures before... but the trees on IS aren't lit. that's kind of sad. To answer a post from before... no they didn't charge parking during the first run. When it gets cold... that would be an AWFUL job duty! Can anyone point out the "don't miss" points? Do I hear correctly that there are no horse-drawn rides? It will be hard "not" to compare this one with the old one... but a comparison isn't really fair. I do know that price-wise... if they don't do something with the price they might as well forget being open Monday-Sunday during that week near the end of the month. Especially if it gets REAL cold. I remember my fifth grade class going there.... IT WAS SOOOOOOOO COLD! And again 1991 with my lady friend at the time. We were making our "n-th" trip... and it was so cold people were literally running out of the gate holding their heads. Of course our thoughts turned to "oooooh, shorter lines." Point of those stories.... school groups will go at $5-8 admission per student. I doubt many field trips will go at $19.99. Idiots, such as my former self, will make repeated appearances in near-zero temps at $5-10 admission. At $19-25.... We are going on Dec, 10. It's been an usually tight year financially for my wife and I and we've decided this is our Christmas to each other. It's sad to think that we'll shell out close to $50 just to get in the park.... if we choose to skate we're up to $70... if we eat or get anything else we're going to be in the $100 range... then there's the babysitter. My point. I haven't been there yet- we're excited to go, but I am dissappointed in the decision on price structure.

they probably could have made a few more dollars with.... say a $15 admission. $25 is WAY too much.

the guy said that what he read stated that just about everything but the lift and first drop were being retracked. I'm sure he said the Business Courier... is there another publication close to that name?

can anyone who "works at the park" independently verify this? A person I was speaking with recently said that they were reading in the Cincinnati Business Courier (I didn't read or see, the person I was talking with did) which reported that one of the lawsuits filed against the designer of SOB settled. As a result PKI was hiring a construction firm to re-track over 60% of the coaster beginning in February and that it would not re-open until early summer. has anyone else heard this or can verify?

I don't think they should abandon FearFest.... I have never really been to the fearfest event specifically for that... but I think it is worth-while... i DO think that they should abandon the "let's be open the first weekend of November though." I know I'm talking to the wrong crowd on this one, but no one really wants to get frost bite while riding a roller coaster... keeping in mind that a good percentage of the population on this site would frequent the water park during WinterFest if it were open. I do have to differ with saying that the price is good for the event. I have a young family. But some of my friends have 3 children.... that's $125 just to get in the door.... which they may do once.... and ONLY once. If pass members were allowed to get in, i really think it would increase the bottom line. People would make several visits and lay down other dollars once in the park. They'll come around. Remember the absurd rules they had for the first FearFest? "let's clear the entire park out... then only let paying customers back in"???

eh... love it or hate it.... paramount has spent too much money on this to be a "told you so" lesson. I think too many are expecting them to pick up where they left off 13 years ago. Same idea, but I beg to doubt that most of the supplies from 13 years ago still exist.. therefore, even though it is a "old" event brought back... it's basically starting from scratch. And ANYONE who has seen the pictures on this site (even if you haven't been there yet)- you have to be impressed with the effort being placed forward. I live 90 minutes north of PKI and WHIO TV runs spots of Winterfest at least twice an hour.... Kroger has posters EVERYWHERE.... I think that this year will e the best the they could possibly put together for a first-year run. Maybe next year the park will not be open that first weekend in November to give more prep time... a week would make a big diff.... and the last two years, wasn't it soooo cold anyway that the park shut down early?

wow. very spirited thread. Haven't been there yet, but really from all the looks I think it will be impressive. I do have to agree with titanic a bit; i do think that crowds will be light because they have really priced out the typical family of 4... it will cost minimum of $80 just to get in (and that's if they have discounts)... then there's the food factor. I think they are hindering crowds by not allowing season pass holders in. 1992 and before, my girlfriend and I had passes and even though we lived 90 minutes away would make evenings out of the event and not think a thing to drop $30-50 each visit on various things. The high price pretty much assures that families will visit ONCE. As far as the lights; I can tell from pics that the tower has fewer lights on it than before. And I gotta be honest, I really prefer the tradition single star atop the tree to the "logo." By and large. It is the first time back for the event. i think that Paramount Parks has really done well to make this good for the first time around. As I recall the FIRST ever Winterfest wasn't much either..... and they aren't picking up where they left off. I'm pretty sure that paramount had no intentions of brining this back when they ended it... so even though they are bringing the event back.... they're basically starting over. They've put too much into it for it to be a 1-year event.... I;m sure that next year will be much different/better... and I look for the price to dramatically ease as December goes on (that's just an opinion though).

EXCELLENT VIDEO! really want to make it down there now. Unfortunately, its not real set to be return-visit friendly. back before season pass holders got in... and even without that, admission was only like $6- and we would visit several times a season. Are they charging to park?