robintodd

I can see the t-shirts and posters now (which would be a must for those who love to show to purchase and have signed!!). And after a year or two run we can have a male lead in the show for "Night of The Beast"

Had another thought about NyteWalkers. This is driven by the main demon and her screams. I think if they bring it back next year they should call the show "Night of the Banshee". A guy and his girlfriend are in line for the ride/walking through the park, etc.. and he keeps talking about how much he loves it. She quips something like "I think you love Banshee more than you love me" he says "That may be true" or something like that and cut to a hard blackout and thunder/lightning and the ghouls come out and the show almost runs the same way it does now. He has released the Banshee, who can be released from her curse with one kiss. You could even use the Banshee scream from the ride for her screams at the end. Just think it would be great to tie it to a KI IP and make it unique to the park. The tricks resemble cars on a coaster and would (in my opinion) be a fantastic tie in.

Went last night and saw the 7pm show with my wife, son and 3 grandkids. Standing room only. Not sure if it is this way normally but the screens were off. (Maybe because it is still light out they don't use the screens for the 7pm show). Bodda, if you get a chance to see the show without the screens on, I would be interested in your take. Like I said I don't necessarily think the should be "off", just not as much of a distraction. Anyway, it was AMAZING. What a difference without the distraction of the screens. We all agreed. It was much easier to see each performer and clearly see them as they were doing their thing. It felt like the focus was 100% on the performers (which in my opinion is where it should be). Still not sure what happened to the third "normal" (the one with the backpack). There is one voice part that I heard in the performance and that is when the head demon (the one in black) screams a couple of times near the end of the show. Hard to hear over the music but I would suggest that if she's not going to be mic'd (and she shouldn't be if that is her only vocal part) they tape her screaming and play it during the show as a manually triggered effect with her lip synching it. In my opinion it would be easy to pull off, save her voice and be much clearer to those in the back of the audience. That being said it was easier to see the story, I just think it might work better with the male and female walking in together alone (maybe with a woods montage on the screens) aka the Triller video. No offense to the "third wheel" his comic relief is appreciated but he runs around the stage to the back (I guess that is to be him "running away" but would read better if he ran back up the audience the way he came in. The biggest problem with that is getting him back around backstage without anyone seeing as I'm sure he is one of the demon performers during the rest of the show. My save him some time to just have the 2 walking in alone at the start. Again the show is amazing as are those who are in it. I do see your point about the sound system, and the music. In my opinion this could be "fixed in post" by re-equalizing the master if it is done by tracks. If not, they could turn it down 5-10% and it would help the struggling system but the theatre as a whole definitely needs an overhaul and hopefully will get it for next season. With the quality of the shows getting such a major boost I think it's almost a must. Not sure how easy it would be but at the end when each performer takes their own "curtain call" it would be nice to have their name and hometown put up on the screens so they get the attention they deserve. It may have to be something manually switched for each performer but I think would be a nice way to acknowledge them for their effort I plan on seeing the show every weekend as I noticed new tricks being put in and all around the energy in that place was off the chain. Overall well done by everyone connected with the absolute crowd pleaser. They have definitely keep the bar high for this amazing 50th season of our beloved park!

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.