Winterfestguy

While it is really cool that the IStreet Restaurant is open for some special dining experiences this summer (such as a Mother’s Day Buffet), it is sad that their learning experience from Winterfest of “first come first served” that turned out to be a total disaster is again being repeated for special summer events. After their Winterfest learning experience, tickets for specific days/times were sold in advance to help people plan their day accordingly at the park. (And people didn’t make a special trip to the park only to find it was “sold out”) With only limited seating, seems offering advance tickets for specific time on the website would be a better option. https://www.visitkingsisland.com/play/events/international-restaurant-dining-experiences

Definitely need better trained (and even additional) cashiers at the Brewhouse. On Sunday the line moved so slow like the cashiers had never rang anything up before. Took 30 minutes from just inside the door to reach the cashiers..... so slow. Will KI (or any park in the CF chain) ever roll out mobile food ordering from their app? (KI will need to fix their park Wi-fi issues first). - even Six Flags is rolling out mobile food ordering at select dining locations on their app (just like Disney and Universal) in late May, and seems like KI might be one of the last parks to consider such technology.

If the nozzles for the jets do not move (sway back and forth) or spin like the spectacular Bellagio fountain in Vegas, then this is simply just another jet style fountain, nothing special. Just will have to wait and see when work is completed if this re-imagined jet fountain deserves the title of “Royal Fountain”.

Tater tots are not new to Kings Island - they have been served at both years of Winterfest at the Mac&Cheese bar (which turns into Mexican for the summer). Agree, this listing of quotes is a better Facebook post than it is a blog entry.

The “Fountains of Warsaw” is an artillery nozzle style fountain - the large bank of artillery nozzles is what makes this fountain amazing.

I do agree that it would have been nice if the park was honest and up front when they posted the pictures on January 16 of the pedestals removed and against the buildings to simply say something like the pedestals will soon be replaced by a brand new re-imagined jet fountain, or say farewell to the original pedestals. It would have given time for everyone to let go of a piece of the original history of the park before seeing the new re-imagined “Vegas style” fountain. And likely in the future even this new fountain will replaced by something else.

With the new re-imagined royal fountain containing jets, what has happened to the former fountain pedestals? Were they destroyed, sold to someone else, sold for scrap, placed in storage somewhere, etc?

Definitely an interesting note on the Cedar Point WindSeeker - wonder if this statement is also a hint for what might happen in the future at the other CF parks too? Moving to new location in the park or total removal?

If the intent of the re-imagined royal fountain was to restore I-street to its original appearance, the new fountain fell way short expectations (even at park opening when jets were spraying the highest before having to be turned down due to high winds). Without the pedestals the re-imagined fountain is just another fountain, nothing grand or special (and agree the overhead lighting system is very cheap looking but probably easier maintenance wise). The real question now is what happened to the pedestals - were they sold for scrap? shipped someplace else? or put in storage so in 2030 (after lots of feedback) they make a grand come back? On a positive note, the new pavers and re-painting of the I-street buildings looked great. I did enjoy seeing the different country flags return hanging from the buildings as well as the refurbished giant beer stein above the pretzel place.

Big profits on alcohol sales so alcohol sales in throughout the park won’t go away. Recently with the Disney Dining Plan (if over 21), you can have beer or wine in place of the soft drink/tea. And Busch Gardens has launched a craft brew club where they store your individual beer stein and give discounts on their park craft beers all season long! Probably wishful thinking that CF would consider such brew club like as at the new KI Brewhouse (but there is always hope). https://buschgardens.com/tampa/dining/brew-club/

With the new fountain design and since CF cycles their shows throughout the chain, I can see KI borrowing this show from Canada Wonderland sometime soon

CF chainwide is investing heavily their in sit down food options this season. The new Brewhouse at KI will be a great addition to Rivertown (and the beer brews likely will bring in more profits for the park). Other chainwide improvements include the CP Midway Buffet being remodeled to Hugo’s Italian Kitchen while at Carowinds Wings has been remodeled/expanded to become Blue Ridge Country Kitchen.

Coastermania 2019 sold out shortly after noon today - full schedule to be released soon

Paris Las Vegas just launched as 1.7 million dollar new light show on their Eiffel Tower. Would love to see something like this on the KI Eiffel Tower to compliment the new fountain show, fireworks, and new international street upgrades. A new Tower led light package could make Haunt even more spooky and spectacular as well for special occasions. https://www.avnetwork.com/news/eiffel-tower-in-las-vegas-debuts-dollar17-million-led-light-show-from-vision-sign

Most people within driving distance don’t stay at the hotel and already have season passes. The average rate during this time period for Breakers is around 275/night and express $160/night. Adding another 60 bucks per person for wild card makes the current stay pretty expensive for a family (including parking/food for the family for the current stay). For a family to return, they still would have to find an area hotel, pay another $20 for parking, fight the traffic, and have food expenses for a return visit which still seems expensive.

This is one of those stupid cases and hope this does gets thrown out of court. Otherwise if the case succeeds, it could have Haunt implications at all CF parks including KI https://pennrecord.com/stories/511741307-mother-of-girl-scared-at-amusement-park-s-halloween-event-seeks-150k-in-lawsuit

Carowinds already has published their Winterfest 2019 calendar on their website. The good news is that it appears CF will be keeping the NYE events at their parks. The bad news is that with Thanksgiving 2019 being the latest it can ever be on the calendar (Nov 28), there will be one less operating weekend to enjoy Winterfest (previous years opened after Thanksgiving Nov 23/24). Wonder if KI will have a preview day like Carowinds is on Sunday Nov 24?

Tickets for CP CoasterMania on Friday June 7 went on sale today earlier than ever before. This year is unique since the way the calendar falls CP CoasterMania and HW Hollywood Nights events are on different weekends (so you don’t have to choose one over the other this year!). Tickets are limited and you must be a member of one of the approved coaster clubs to attend. The summer is going to be very busy with all the park coaster events and can’t wait for ERT on Steel Vengeance. https://www.cedarpoint.com/play/events/coastermania

Wonder if they will put back the two pedestals taken out for Winterfest back in place to restore to the original 6 pedestals or will they only put back the four shown in the picture (thereby making future Winterfest conversions a bit easier).

There definitely has been a transition from an adult theme of years past to a more family friendly theme that occurred in 2018 (even my friends that attended commented that 2018 was much more family friendly) - I would image 2019 will bring even more family friendly events, shows, and scareless zones. My opinion is supported by the movement in the International Showplace from Dead Awakenings (remember the sheer white teddy nighty costume) to Hot Blooded (lots of blood, vampires, and scantily designed dancer costumes) to Haunted Homecoming (which was very poorly done in my opinion) that was so lame like a G family movie with nothing really adult themed and you could snooze through. (Go back and watch the YouTube videos of all three shows over the years). And Club Blood with its shirtless vampire men transitioned into a more family haunt of Blackout a few years back.

Would like to see the Coney Mall sign return - when the concrete walkway was enlarged several years ago, the sign disappeared. Creative ways like at Haunt with portable concrete anchors or large flower pots could hold it

With the emphasis on attempting to make this successful, staff will be pulling out everything they can with the multiple events of the conference occurring at the same time. I agree there have been multiple events going on at the same time with Coasterstock before, but nothing of this magnitude (it would be like having Coasterstock the same day as Spirit Song - huge crowds and wait times). There really are not many other good dates that remain to select from without competing with other coaster events (not that makes any difference but two coaster events on same day can make a difficult decision) - May 10-12 ACE Preservation conference which includes Kentucky Kingdom, May 24-25 is Memorial Day weekend, May 31- June 1 Hollywood nights, and CP Coastermania confirmed for June 7. Can’t wait to see which dates are finally confirmed for Coasterstock and this summer to arrive.

I imagine the Kings Island Theater will be utilized with its large projection screen since Cirque does’t begin showing until the Memorial Day weekend.

See the Coasterstock thread under Kings Island Central News

Will the gaming convention announced today for May 18 have any impact on having Coasterstock the same weekend? With Saturday school field trips and the popularity of the gaming convention (combined with the park is not typically fully staffed this early in the season) the park will likely be extremely crowded on Saturday. Maybe better enjoy Coasterstock on Friday if the May 17-18 date still holds for Coasterstock.