RailRider

All three of us rated it a 1. What can I say, it's a guilty pleasure. On the flip side, Stitch's Great Escape and Swiss Family Treehouse both received an X from each of us. I still prefer the California Version over this one, but yes I agree it is a guilty pleasure.

Gator Love the ranking system. We do something very similar when putting our trip together. I also create a touring plan for each park, which really helps avoiding lines and crowds while at Disney. Really enjoy watching the plan in action. Also something I learned from Avatar (Esteemed KIC Member, not 12 foot tall blue alien soon to be at AK) is I create Picture Itineraries for our trip that Little Miss RailRider loves, as do the numerous cousins and friends who have a accompanied us. Here is an example. Plus its fun to look at the night before.

I wonder who sat in it first?

Yes someone knows. Sorry I couldn't resist.

^ And I have gone to Kings Island before and not ridden a thing. Those are some of the best days.

I found Disney very stressful when I visited without a plan. Once I did some research and developed a touring plan I fell in love with the place. Both the original and the Kingdom. We have had some of our most relaxing vacations at Disney.

No Magic Kingdom is crowded because its average daily attendance is around 50,000 guests.

A very tough question honestly. Depends on what you are looking for in your resort and if you are going a time of year that free dinning is offered. We have always stayed at the Coronado Springs because of the free dining option (which at Moderate gives you the regular plan while value is quick service). Also CS has one of the nicest and largest pools on property and the rooms are newly refurbished and are equal some of the deluxe resorts in size. Feel free to PM with any questions you might have.

Have fun with your family trip to Disney next year. I highly recommend using a site like easywdw.com to help you plan which parks what days and how to better visit the parks to make the most out of your time while avoiding the biggest lines. Having a plan at Disney makes a world of difference. Especially when you are done with New Fantasyland before the rest of the general public has even made it in the park.

I understand and have always understood the Fast Pass systems, new and old. What upsets me is that I'm paying big bucks to try and have a good time at a given park, and someone with even more bucks gets to cut in front of me. If those people and myself were having a shrimp dinner at Red Lobster, and they had a Red Lobster Fast Pass, would they be seated before me? (I don't believe Red Lobster takes reservations). Having a reservation at a restaurant is fine - but I didn't have to pay to get into the establishment, nor did I pay for parking. The legacy Fastpass system and the new Fastpass+ system were/are free with your paid admission. Any park guest may choose to use either system at no extra cost. So because someone uses the Fastpass+ system to bypass the stand by line you are in, does not mean they spent any extra money than you. Merely they are taking advantage of a free system to better use the time they have in the park, as a park guest you have the same opportunity. Without spending any extra Nickles. This system is very different that the upcharge system KI uses.

Here is an opinion from someone I would consider an expert on touring Disney. Josh over at easywdw.com Interesting insight to say the least.

EasyWDW sums up the new system with this picture perfectly.

No the old Fastpass system and the paper tickets is gone. It has been replaced by the + system. Which limits the flexibility of the old system, by setting tiers and limits. Still free with your paid admission, but not as flexible or beneficial.

Well put. I loved the original FastPass system and had it down to a science. This system for now with the restrictions is crap. That is me being nice. I had Disney World touring down to a science, but now I will actually cut classic rides out. Sorry not Peter Pan for me now, Im not hitting it first thing and will not waist 1 of 3 Fastpass+ tickets on it. This system would be amazing if they let me book my entire trip prior to arrival, but that is not the case. As the system stands now it is garbage compared to the original system.

Emphasis added by me. All things we cannot say about the marketing effort by the New Kentucky Kingdom. Maybe we should all turn a blind eye and just get on board with the excitement of the New Kentucky Kingdom. We could turn this thread in to a Lightning Run construction progress thread, post pictures, webcam stills, and park updates on the status of the ride. Oh wait all of the aforementioned things are harder to find than Swiss war metals. Just adding one more useless post and creating some more pointless drama. Carry On...

This would be an accurate statement.

Weird I fixed the original link and here it is for easy navigating since we are on page 2. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/01/meet-captain-america-from-captain-america-the-winter-soldier-this-spring-at-disneyland-park-in-anaheim/

Meet Captain America this Spring at Disneyland http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/01/meet-captain-america-from-captain-america-the-winter-soldier-this-spring-at-disneyland-park-in-anaheim/

Just an outsider looking in, but you don't thing the timing of New Fantasyland between the original Potter Land and new Potter Land is purposeful? Just a mere coincidence this was the first major expansion at the Kingdom in years and that it was aimed at drawing more families to the park for longer. The expanded resort offerings and Vacation Club upgrades is also playing a role to keep more folks on property than not. I guess my thought is would these expansions and additions happened if Potter hadn't? I am not sure they would have. I will for sure read what you linked when I have some free time.

Hello Pot, this is Kettle calling... A few days of not checking this forum and it has gotten a bit interesting. I love the off season. Rather than reply to so many numerous and amusing posts let me just make a simple statement. 2 things for the sake of the New Kentucky Kingdom. I have always said I hope they do well, although I strongly believe in a few years they will be in the same boat again. The reasons for this have been well stated throughout this forum. Secondly for the sake of the New Kentucky Kingdom I hope that neither of the 2 "fanboys" (I use this term lovingly) are on the marketing/promotions payroll of the park. Not because I don't want you to have a job, but that I would be even more concerned about the parks future if they are employing individuals who obviously have no understanding of the industry, marketing/promotions tactics, and knowledge of Kentucky Kingdoms past. A blindingly ignorant mouthpiece for the park will have zero effect in so called Consumer Buzz Monitoring tactics on a "Fanboy" site like this. Please bring a well conceived and constructed argument next time... Now I must run, the Kettle is calling...

I would imagine the whole area in front of Banshee will receive new pavers in place of concrete. See Diamondback and WindSeeker for examples of the love the surrounding area will receive because of a new attraction. This is a big reason Flight Deck became The Bat. New major ride = Beautification of surrounding areas.

They are in the same market as these other parks, therefore comparison is warranted and if KK thinks they are not competing against KI, HW, and DW then they are worse off than I thought. I am scrutinizing KK because the tax payers of the Common Wealth are on the hook if it fails, not much benefit if it succeeds. When I see a so called start up park making the same mistakes that others have made, who have failed, I am concerned in the parks viability, sustainability, and impact on the Kentucky tax payer. Being truly honest I see the lack of vision and planning for the future after the initial year or so as clear sign that this is a fly-by-night operation that is more political stunt / short term money grab than a project that is aimed at truly solving the issues that have plagued Kentucky Kingdom for years...

Here is another thought. Would Potter Land be popular without the Harry Potter tie in? Would Avatar Land be popular without the tie in? I think what Universal is doing is excellent and it will raise the bar for what happens at Disney. Which is why Star Wars Land will more than likely become a reality at the Studios. Disney doesn't want their guests to leave their property and will need to offer more incentives to stay in and on Disney. Which is the main reason Avatar Land is happening, although I think it would be better received if it were not Avatar branded.

Back to the Future also had 3 movies, not as many HP, but was a franchise. And was eventually removed after 16 years of operation and I believe less than 20 years after the last movie. Compare that to a specific area at Magic Kingdom say Fantasyland that has remained unchanged for nearly 40 years before the New Fantasyland expansion. Which I think only happened because of HP. I know it is comparing apples to oranges, but still something to ponder. Even look at Amity and Jaws, that area and ride existed around 20 years and then the area was bulldozed for the new HP area. Just throwing thoughts out there.

These are great points and to show the reach I have seen from the marketing approach KI has taken. I have family in the Norfolk VA area, they called me about a week after Banshee was announced to ask me questions about it and the park. They are now planning a trip here to stay at Great Wolf and visit KI. They are not park enthusiasts and are not looking for this info, yet it made the news. Remember they could easily go 30 minutes away to Busch Gardens and the Great Wolf in Williamsburg, but the marketing and advertising KI has done has worked for this family. I asked them recently if they had any plans for other stops on the way home and they said yeah we are going to another park with a new family ride. Kentucky Kingdom, I asked. Where? No we are stopping at Dollywood on the way home. Just a small example, but interesting.