robintodd

All of this talk reminds me of the Woodchopper's Ball and the "Shameless Plugs" If ya know, ya know.

I have no proof but for the last 3 years I've been wondering when internationals would be allowed to work at CP again. I don't believe they were all back for last season as come countries still had travel bans. During covid the number of internationals took a severe hit because of the pandemic and that's when they instituted the bonus. It could be this is only at CP because they believe internationals will be back at pre-covid levels for the 2025 season and they make up a large portion of their seasonal employees. Just a guess.

That may be true, but isn't it also true that it opens up a new group of people for camaraderie? I've always seen KI as a "local" park as I think they get more locals than CP. Most of this is due to the Gold Pass and not having hotels or a sports complex. In either case I think having CS at the same time of HWN will make the event have more "Kings Island" fans than "Coaster" fans. The older I get the more I'm a "Theme Park Enthusiast" as opposed to a "Roller Coaster Enthusiast". I think this happens to most people when they get older, I've seen at least 1 you tuber who has made the transition and as the "Theme Park" generation get's older I see this trend continuting. Those of us who are grandparents now have the advantage over our grandparents since we have a memory of what KI was "back in the day". Either way, the event always sold out so quickly in the past, hopefully I'll be able to go and take my grandson. The local population going to KI also would bode well for a winter event.

Actually, they could be using snow blowers. I bought a 21" SnowJoe Electric one for $65 in July from Walmart ($95 off) and it works great! The could have 4-5 of them and start at the center and work to the outside lined up stairstepped like they do on the highway.

Just a guess, but I think they already removed one top section. Maybe the second wouldn't support the weight of a machine?

Had the Turkey Ball last night and it is not to be missed. 2nd favorite thing so far this year behind the Meatloaf Burger. Well done Culinary Team!

Going off the average price of a meal at ki is 14.99, it would make sense to me that the intention is you get $15.00 off the price but it counts as a "meal" on your meal plan. Just my guess.

Went on Friday and Saturday. The park looked fantastic. Seems like there are more merriment charachters than last year. I saw 4 by the time I reached the Eiffel Tower walking in the park. Plenty of places to get hot chocolate. The Winterfest mugs were definitely not a prominent with the new Drink Plan Plus coffee/hot chocholate option. I did notice many more cookie boxes this year. I can't remember how much Ms. Clause's cookies were last year but I think they were more than this year because I don't remeber seeing as many boxes around the park last year? 20.99 seems to be a better price. Finally Shooting Star is fantastic! Such a great call back. Nicely thought out and executed. Well done KI!!!!! Nice to see the park putting in something that is sure to inspire conversations between children and their parents/grandparents trying to explain exactly what a drive in is/was.

And the Meatloaf Burger....don't forget the Meatloaf Burger

If memory serves me correctly Flight of Cheer is fine but in the past it had to be above freezing when they started running Mystic Timbers. It could go below (29 - 26) after it started but the if the temperature was below 32 at park open, it would not run. I would believe the same would be true for The Racer and soap box racers, but haven't heard anything yet.

I have to point out that I believe the first 2 itterations of Winterfest had no coasters and was still so popular that people wanted it back. I believe most people go for the atmoshpere. Then comes the food with the meal plans. It will be cold this weekend, but I'm pretty sure it will be crowded. People gotta eat

I mentioned this on the comments of Tower Topics so I'll reiterate here. I think from the video TT showed that it would be fitting to use the Son of Beast station and the old Wild Animal Safari area to build the coaster. In the video it has different animals. Lots of room for it and the Lantern interaction during haunt would have served as a hint. I'm thinking they will use that building for something or they would have just demolished it alltogether. Anyway, I would be happy with that, assuming they will be saving capital for a coaster in 2027 in The Vortex plot.

Word is retracking. But I would think they are only going to run 2 trains. Not sure if that's two trains on 1 side or a train on each. From what I understand it makes it easier get a start on tearing down trains for off season rehab.

Also Blitzen's Brass Band is returning.

Not sure if this has been mentioned but I'd like to aknowledge the huge improvement to Cornstalkers this season. It's practically a new maze and I absolutely love the upgrade. Last weekend my grandson and I noticed a small burlap "sock puppet" with eyes and a mouth on the hand of a scareacter in a corn stalk suit. It was simply funny that people would look at the puppet and the actor would pop at them. I felt compelled to tell the yellow shirt I saw at the entrance that I appreciated the extra effort that brought a smile to our faces. Well played.