BoddaH1994

I went last year on Halloween, although I'm not sure what day of the week it was. It wasn't terrible. I remember going through Urgent Scare, which was the new haunted maze last year, and the wait wasn't particularly long...

I think there was some kind of miscommunication in there. As stated on both Kings Island's official site and in the Kings Island newsletter, Halloween Haunt will be included with 2010 Gold and Platinum season passes but will NOT be included with 2010 regular passes. All the more reason to purchase your 2010 pass early and get the FREE Gold Pass upgrade.

I know there are some people who absolutely love the ride and there are some people who hate it, but here's my take: The ride wasn't unbearably rough, but it also wasn't that spectacular. It was kind of a footnote of a ride. I never found it particularly thrilling. Now, if they make major renovations to it and make it smooth and enjoyable then that's great. Who could argue with that. On the other hand, if they remove it I'll be sad in the fact that I hate to see any ride removed but it certainly won't be the end of the world for me.

It has its own topic here.

It always amazes me how Kings Island can offer so many rides, attractions, live shows etc and yet all that's one some peoples' minds is that very small percentage of people who smoke outside of designated areas and line jumpers. Makes me think that some people either need to 1) take a break from the park and this site or 2) go through their old photo albums and video tapes of them visiting KI as a child... all the fun they had back then... back when little things were irrelevant in comparision to the fact that they got to go to Kings Island that day. One of the biggest reasons why I have distanced, and tried to distance KIC, from some of the mainstream fan club avenues is because it seems like it becomes less of a "let's enjoy Kings Island together" ordeal and more of a "how many laps can I get in during this ERT" ordeal. Everyone has their own cup of tea, but in my opinion that, not unlike the above statement, misses the entire point. There's a "Why do you love Kings Island?" thread somewhere on the forums. It's worth doing a search for it if you have the time. And no - the above statments were not direct toward or intended to be a shot at you, Thane of Price Hill.

Since it's now official that we will be seeing the Peanuts characters at Kings Island next year, I figured that some interesting facts would be appropriate: Peanuts was written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000 - which ironically was the day after Schulz's death. The Peanuts comic strip is considered to be one of the most popular and influential in the history of the medium, with 17,897 strips published in all, making it "arguably the longest story ever told by one human being" Peanuts had its origin in Li'l Folks, a weekly panel comic that appeared in Schulz's hometown paper, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, from 1947 to 1950. He first used the name Charlie Brown for a character there. Peanuts premiered on October 2, 1950, in eight newspapers: The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Minneapolis Tribune, The Allentown Call-Chronicle, The Bethlehem Globe-Times, The Denver Post The Seattle Times and The Boston Globe. Peanuts is remarkable for its deft social commentary, especially compared with other strips appearing in the 1950s and early 1960s. Schulz did not explicitly address racial and gender equality issues so much as he assumed them to be self-evident in the first place. Peppermint Patty's athletic skill and self-confidence is simply taken for granted, for example, as is Franklin's presence in a racially integrated school and neighborhood. The final daily original Peanuts comic strip was published on January 3, 2000. Original Sunday strips continued for a few weeks, with the last one published, coincidentally, the day after Schulz's death on February 12. The final Sunday strip included all of the text from the final Daily strip, and the only drawing: that of Snoopy typing in the lower right corner. It also added several classic scenes of the Peanuts characters surrounding the text. Over the course of their nearly fifty-year run, most of the characters' literal ages do not change more than two years. Charlie Brown was four when the strip began, and aged over the next two decades, until he settled in as an eight-year-old (after which he was consistently referred to as eight when any age was given). Exceptions to this phenomenon include the characters who were newly introduced as infants, or who begin at birth, then catch up to the rest of the cast and stop. Peanuts is often regarded as one of the most influential and well-written comic strips of all time. Schulz received the National Cartoonist Society Humor Comic Strip Award for Peanuts in 1962, the Elzie Segar Award in 1980, the Reuben Award in 1955 and 1964, and the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. In 1983, Knott's Berry Farm, in Southern California, was the first theme park to license the Peanuts characters, creating the first Camp Snoopy area and making Snoopy the park's mascot. Knott's expanded its operation in 1992 by building an indoor amusement park in the Mall of America, called Knott's Camp Snoopy. Source: wiki

The first few years were rocky but I've notced the people smoking out of the designated areas has been reduced greatly in the past year or so. I've seen associates inform guests of smoking areas more times than I can count this season.

In case you guys missed it on the calendar, Kings Island will be open tomorrow (Sept 4th) from 12pm to 10pm. It's an excellent opportunity to get some rides in!

It's now official! Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus will adorn Kings Island's Golden Ticket Award winning best kids' area in 2010 as it is re-branded as Planet Snoopy. “The Best Kids Area in the World is getting a fresh new look with a timeless classic." said park spokesman Don Helbig, "Planet Snoopy will feature PEANUTS-themed rides and attractions, which includes four roller coasters, and daily meet and greet and photo opportunities with Snoopy and his pals like Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus.” Peanuts, celebrating its 60th year of existence in 2010, was the product of Charles Schulz and has been featured in 2,200 newspapers, classic television specials and on re-mastered DVD’s, on stage, in hundreds of books and across the Internet. Further details on Planet Snoopy, including new ride names, will be released during the 2009/2010 offseason. Nearly a year in the making, "Riding History to the Limits," the brainchild project of CET Cincinnati's Nate Byrum is finally available for you to enjoy! Explore the history of Kings Island with facts, footage and photos that have rarely been seen by the public in this 90 minute feature length documentary! Synopsis: As early as 1964, the design and concept of a groundbreaking amusement park was growing in the mind of an ambitious young man by the name of Gary Wachs. Until this time modern amusement parks were leaving roller coasters and other thrill rides out of their parks. Gary Wachs knew that bringing back the thrill to amusement parks was a path that would be as profitable as it was popular in the future of entertainment. After a five year struggle, Gary finally got to see his dream materialize and eventually opened to the public in 1972, Kings Island. In this program, we sit down with Gary to learn first hand how Kings Island went from a glimmer in Gary’s eye, to the multi-million dollar park it is today. We will tell you how Gary brought back the rollercoaster to parks in the United States, and how Disney played a roll in the birth of this park. Kings Island has set a precedent in the American amusement park industry and has given millions of park goer’s memories that will last a lifetime. This program combines old film footage, photographs taken by Rick Norton and other patrons of the park, and new footage. Interviews include: Gary Wachs, Dennis Speigel, Charles Meechem, Jack Rouse, Don Helbig, Carmen Electra, Walter and Nancy Duff, Barry Williams, and Michael Lookingland. Hosted by Nate Byrum Click Here to See CET's "Riding History to the Limits!" Do you want the latest information sent directly to your cell phone? Sign up for KICentral's official mobile club and receive text alerts with the latest news and information about Kings Island! Signing up is fast and free! Click here for more information about KICentral's official mobile club! Are you an avid Kings Island fan or do you casually visit once a year? It doesn't matter! KICentral.com is the site for you. Why not register on the forums of KICentral and tell us about your thoughts and experiences involving Kings Island! Registration is fast, FREE, and easy. Don't forget to keep checking KICentral.com for the latest news, rumors and information about Kings Island amusement park!

I really wanted to visit Hard Rock Park and it definitely seems like Freestyle would be a great park to visit too.

Wonderful trip report!!! mod edit: cleaned up thread

From Haunt's Twitter:

I'm going to have to try to use Shazaam on my Blackberry to figure out what some of the really oddball songs are this year.

What do you click on to see the map?

Another plug from Kings Island's Twitter: If you guys really want to get the latest info, follow Kings Island on Twitter at twitter.com/kingsislandpr

Wouldn't doubt it. Rumors I've heard circulated about this show have been that a lot of the score involves classic rock.

Haunt 2009's Web Site Three new descriptions: Hot Blooded: NEW FOR 2009! Vampires, blood and rock n’ roll explode onto the stage in this all new seductive after-life revue. This clan is born to be wild and is looking for action. Break on through to the other side and get bitten! (Recommended for mature audiences) Slaughter House (Indoor Maze): Action Zone OPEN 7PM - CLOSE NEW FOR 2009! Looking for a good cut of fresh meat? You’ve come to the right place. The butcher shop is open and you never know who or what is on the chopping block. A real meat-lovers delight as the herd is skinned alive, gutted, beheaded and packed before your very eyes! Cut Throat Cove (Outdoor Maze): NEW FOR 2009! Come seeking adventure, and salty old pirates, have you? In this hideaway, thieving pirates and cutthroat buccaneers are ready to challenge even the bravest souls to a duel. Can you get past these swashbucklers and make it out alive? Know this as you try: Dead men tell no tales! OPEN 8:00PM - CLOSE

I think the translation is that if you're looking for similarities between Cut-Throat Cove and Red Beard's Revenge there aren't many.

Ask and you shall receive source: twitter.com/KI_Haunt

You can now follow all of the action of Kings Island's immensely popular Halloween Haunt on Titter at www.twitter.com/ki_haunt! You can also follow Haunt on its brand new blog by clicking here.

He was an outside contractor. Does that qualify?

I'm guessing he worked there at some point...

I had the opportunity to meet Gary Wachs a few days ago. Great guy.

It also includes parking at all other Cedar Fair properties as well as admission to the waterparks.

I have been given a clarification: Halloween Haunt will be included in the 2010 Gold and Platinum Pass, however it will not be included in the regular season pass.