robintodd

Saw the Nytestalkers show and was overall impressed. The only thing I can say about it critically is the use of the screens is very distracting and I feel takes away from the performers. Either they are flashing in a seizure inducing rate or there is a bald guy and the devil dancing. Focus should be on the performers. In my opinion the video screens should be more of a backdrop to "set a scene" rather than trying to add to the atmosphere in such a jarring way as it does now. It's like the screens are being used instead of lights and that shouldn't (in my opinion) be their purpose. I found it hard to concentrate on the tricks going on. I would almost think it would be more enjoyable with the screens off. The performers are the main part of the show, not the screens. That said, the performers do a fantastic job and I just feel like the screen could be better used to tell the story (some text like "one night in the forbidden abandoned park") and little things before each section ("Susan gets overtaken by the dark side"). I just feel like it's an injustice to have so much distraction from the main part of the show...the performers who are doing a fantastic job. One last thing would be to have some voices and/or singing (someone can do a Rob Zombie impression :)) but it would help further the storyline. I'm not saying mic the entire cast just maybe the first 3 'normals' and 1 or 2 of the demons. As for the 3 normals, I'm guessing one of them was overtaken early and I missed it. Wasn't sure what happened to him. I'll be going to see it again tonight to see if I can find it out. I will finish by saying that even with the screens the show is fantastic and I was impressed (yet again) with the production quality KI is putting into it's live entertainment this year.

Slaughterhouse is great. Was riding The Beast last ride the other week and thought it would be a cool idea to have a special train of The Beast filled with Slaughterhouse and other scareactors every year. I think the pictures would be hilarious and a nice keepsake for everyone working Haunt (plus it could be used for marketing as well).

I did overhear this year that Tinkers may very well be heading to the KI Theatre.

I've always thought a dive on The Vortex plot would be ideal and wondered if you could do 300 ft. using the ravine. Valraven always has a decent line at CP and the uptime is decent as well.

Thanks for confirming my memory. I was sure it was originally tied to HH but never saw any article or one saying it. Glad I'm not losing my mind......yet

Really appreciate how they are going all out with the extras. I'll have to check it out in person next time I'm there. Here's looking to the Winterfest Finale

Nice video and I admire the commitment to getting this done. As for Oldschool's comment, Zac does state in the video that blue ice cream has been around since before KI, at least the Blue Moon version. Not sure what you're saying but from what I can see this is well researched and I found the same information on a google search in a City Beat article from June 2022 (https://www.citybeat.com/food-drink/the-true-blue-story-behind-cincinnatis-blue-creamy-whip-13266792). Again, instead of being snide ("that's how we lean") how about teaching him instead. It would go a long way with him and his future creations of his channel.

In addition a single Funpix account can be connected to two season passes. I have one on mine and my grandsons pass incase he goes to the park without me.

Had the cabbage rolls at the French Corner Sunday and they were on point! Never seen nor expected to ever see cabbage rolls in a park but they pulled it off in a spectacular fashion. Also, if you ask they have a plastic top to those trays so you can transport them home. Fantastic job by Chef and his culinary team, I'm looking forward to trying more new offerings in the coming weeks. On the fudge front, they have new flavors for haunt. Sunday I noticed carrot cake, apple pie, vanilla with spider webs and orange and chocolate (Who Dey !). There were some other new flavors as well but I can't remember them. Congrats to sweet spot for keeping the fudge game fresh

I love my Scottevest wear just for such occasions. Don't go to the park without it

Big KI Foodie here. Hopefully chef's plate will return next year!

If memory serves me correctly they tried it there in the past.

My first reaction is maybe the chaperone policy at Camp Cedar is for the safety of the children not to be wandering around alone. As far as your last point most people who drive don't get into accidents, yet still all drivers are required to have insurance. Most people can handle their liquor but there are still age requirements for drinking. When they moved the age from 18 to 21 it was because of a small minority of people under 21 were the issue, not all of them. It's just part of living in a society and if you don't like it you can vote to put people in place to change the laws.

Seems like they will most likely follow Knotts policy. Which by the was news agencies are reporting as being 'well received'. Must be so considering they are extending the chaperone policy to include Sundays. I doubt they would extend it to Sunday's if the policy negatively affected attendance. This may the wave of the future.

I wouldn't say unused, they did have a game (ladder climb) there. Wonder if it brought in more that the VIP considering both would involve only 1 employee to run it.

No, simply that if people 'like you' didn't go I wouldn't have to hear you complaining about things that don't make a bit of difference to the stock holders because CF is still making money. Biggest problem in our country is the stock market. Neither the person providing the service/good nor the consumer is thought of because it's the stock holder (who most of the time is neither the supplier or the consumer) is the one who needs to be happy. Makes no sense. But it is true, if you're not happy with the season pass, then don't buy one. It's the negativity that seems far too prevalent in our society nowadays. They did announce something, Grand Carnivale. Not saying it's a big something but is is something. I guess I was just brought up to be thankful for what I have rather than what I don't. And yes, from being at the park and talking to people I believe a majority of people like shorter lines. Weird thing is the more popular/longer lines seem to have more people in them....

You stated It is the driving me to renew my pass that I took as you being done with Cedar Fair, since there was nothing compelling you to RENEW your season pass. I never said go away and leave it for the rest of us. Simply that I do not share your seeming need for the park to put up something new every year to get me to come back. They haven't added anything new to the water park yet it is still packed during the summer. As far as the 10% and shareholder thing I would point you to their TMM 2019 vs 2022 results in their latest financial disclosures. (they don't look at 2020 and 2021 because of covid reasons and to show how things have rebounded post-pandemic) Attendance for all of CF parks in 2019 was 27.9M and in 2022 was 25.4M a decrease of over 9%. However the net revenues in 2019 were 1.47B and in 2022 were 1.71B and increase of 16% (if I've done my math right). Per capita spending went from 48.32 in 2019 to 61.89 in 2022 with out of park revenues increasing from 169M in 2019 to 193M in 2022. (https://ir.cedarfair.com/overview/default.aspx) Bottom line is season pass attendance isn't the only thing that drives their business. They have diversified very will with the hotel properties and sports complexes (oh, and a golf course) such that even a 9% drop in ATTENDANCE (50% of which would be season pass holders, on average) didn't make a difference in the long run. They are servicing less people and making more money in the meantime. My guess is they could survive a drop in season pass sales at KI (even a large one) which they may face with the new gold pass price point. Not to mention Breakers has been practically sold out with a price increase for this season. I understand about downgrading, I myself am downgrading my grandkids from a platinum to a gold pass this year since I only take them to CP for 1 weekend and only go into the park on one of the days it's cheaper just to get a bring a friend pass on my platinum for them as opposed to paying the extra $100+ for the platinum.

Beast work definitely brought back life to that coaster (and Racer as well). It's had a line all year and that keeps other lines down as well Notice no one is talking about a new show and house for Haunt. Those are new things they get this year when they renew for next. They will actually have more houses this year than last. Maybe they don't count anything to do with Haunt and Winterfest as a value add (Don't worry Snowball and Gator, most of us still love you and the other employees that work Haunt and Winterfest!! )

My understanding was the little stages were not there in 2021 because of COVID.

Me and my grandkids love Carnivale (and the food, don't forget the food LOL). I have an acre and a half and it takes alot to keep the flower beds weeded, grass cut, bushes trimmed, planting tulips for the next season, etc. It takes a large effort to just keep up the landscaping not to mention painting, plumbing (those toilets don't fix themselves) in a park the size of KI. They do a great job and so do the employees. I always make sure to tell them they are doing a great job and always feel for them when someone is yelling at them for something that is beyond their control. Methinks some people just feel entitled or like they are owed something. They take for granted the little things that add up to a great guest experience. Be thankful for what you have today, for tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us. Keep up the good work KI!

Back on the topic at hand, where as I do see the value of a Gold and Platinum pass I never saw the value of prestige. I would be surprised if they even offer it after next season because it seems to be more confusing and more trouble than it is worth currently. Instead I would love to see them open the International Restaurant more often. I think the desert viewing option was a great idea, but was obviously overpriced originally. It's better to price something low and after seeing great demand raise the price than doing the opposite. If there is a VIP section to put people in the park, IR is it. There could even be a small buffett up there.

Interesting way to look at comparing it to any other entertainment value (been to a 2 hour movie lately with refreshments ). Agreed on the last point but with the shows and the little things like the new beavers on the train and the "train village" as well as the water wheel at run for your life I hardly see the park becoming run down anytime soon.

I understand what you're getting at and I'm sure you're not the only person but I do strongly feel that you are in the minority. There are 7.7 billion people on the planet, 329.5 million in the US, 11.6 million in Ohio and 2.2 million in the greater Cincinnati area (29th most populous metropolitan area in the US and 1st in Ohio. I remind myself every visit to KI how fortunate I am to not only live 20 minutes away from an amusement park but 6 hours away from 5 of them (KI, CP, KK, HW and Kennywood). Let alone a park the quality of KI. It's not something I take for granted no matter what the cost. Through covid, the last 2 years have seen season pass sales stay steady or increase. This was after people saying the were "done with CF because they didn't offer refunds in 2020". If you want to spend your money elsewhere, go right ahead and visit Fritz at the zoo all summer next year. I'll be riding The Beast and supporting a park that gave me a free renewal year during covid and a summer to remember this year with the 50th anniversary, oh and the food, don't forget the food :). Still the best deal for the money all things considered. I remember people complaining when they were selling gold passes for $99 and that it was too cheap and they were just trying to get people into the park. Well looking at the past financial releases it seems to work in their favor as spending per person is up. We read all the time people saying "this is the last straw" and making mild threats about what a multi-million dollar park with nearly 2 million attendance each year should and shouldn't do (remember last year on 5/22 when they hit capacity? That was after covid!). As a longtime season pass holder (ever since they started offering them in the 80's) I still maintain that over the years I am still thousands of dollars ahead on the bargain. If they lose 10% of the season pass holders it would only mean shorter lines and a less crowded park for those of us that continue to support this gem of the midwest.

Hotel St. Michelle will be in the action theatre. If you ride racer you can see they are working on the front. As far as the name I saw a picture that had all the letters burned out except for HOTEL and HELL in St. MicHELLe (Motel Hell).

Not just that, Fun, Fireworks and 50 got 2nd place for best show and Phantom Theatre Encore was 4th! Congratulations to everyone involved in the shows at KI this season. Truly one for the books!