Hoeter

Neat find on WCPO's Facebook page this morning. For some reason it will not let me embed in this post. https://www.facebook.com/wcpovault/

Picked up my cargo shorts this evening! Can't wait for Thursday and Friday!

BBQ Bacon Grilled Cheese at Tom + Chee. Sounds right up my alley I have never tried Tom + Chee and will finally have a reason to this season!

Thanks for sharing Brad! I've been to Carowinds twice, once in 2014 and in 2015 just to ride Fury 325. I only have one ride to my credit on Fury 325, and that is a night ride. The LED strip on the lift hill is one of the coolest lighting techniques on any coaster I've ever ridden. When I went down in 2015, I came back to get a ride on Fury 325 since I was unsuccessful during the day. Opening weekend, a Saturday, and nice weather equals a 4 hour line. Came back and walked right on! No joke, you could see the light on the lift hill 5+ miles from the park traveling down Interstate 77. Fury 325 is easily in my top 10. I'm wanting to get down there again this year, schedule permitting of course.

I heard somewhere (trying to remember where exactly at the moment) that Mystic Timbers will not have bins in the station. Let me see if I can locate the source of that information. EDIT: Information found on Kings Island's Twitter Page

Kingdom Productions does a lot of interactive theming work. I'm thinking this may be who has the shed. They're headquartered over in my area and I pass it everyday. Interesting place they have there.

New website will be coming soon, per KI's Twitter page.

Ryan, thank you for all that you have done to make KIC as successful as it is and there's no doubt in my mind that you'll be successful in whatever you do! Hope to see you on here from time to time and at the park as well! -Hoeter

Renewed my Platinum Pass late in the Summer when they went on sale. I added FunPix, All-Season Dining, and added Season-Long Drinks. With this going on sale March 1, I'm wondering if those who've already added to their passes will get a choice of going with the plan with or without the cup.

I'm highly considering coming down in March for the first time to Dollywood. Definitely wanting to get down there and visit at some point in the near future.

I went to Kentucky Kingdom and wanted to avoid T3 due to my experience on Vekoma SLC's in the past. It was actually enjoyable for me with the new Kumbak trains. Of course I rode it for the credit only!

2017 will be the third Coasterstock event that Kings Island has held. As for Coastermania, the first one was held in 1978. http://cpfansite.com/history/cedar-point-history/ Coastermania was a free event until 2016 where it required a $30 or so fee to attend. To answer your other question, I showed up in the evening on Friday last year and went to the dedicated window to check in.

Unfortunately I will not be participating this year. One of my good friends is getting married on May 20th so I will be celebrating this occasion with him. As for Friday, I may still be at the park.

The updates look good! Thank you Dane, Malem, and IndyGuy4KI!

You definitely need to do this. I went up to Cedar Point in 2014 for the first time and was not disappointed. I love it more than Kings Island, honestly. 2017 is my 4th season with a Platinum Pass. Kings Island and Cedar Point are both a given. Definitely wanting to try to get down to Dollywood for the first time, as well as Holiday World. Wouldn't mind making a return trip to Carowinds (last visit was when Fury 325 opened) and Kings Dominion (last visit 2014) For 2016, 26 visits to Kings Island and 5 to Cedar Point. 1 visit apiece to Indiana Beach and to Kentucky Kingdom.

Great PTR! Thanks for sharing! I'm hoping to get down to Dollywood for the first time in 2017.

I tried to ride the Shafer Queen and despite a valiant effort to take a trip, was unsuccessful. Thank you Mother Nature!

I'll ride row 1 on Diamondback if the line is short enough. There's nothing in front of you either so I sit in row 2 moreso than row 1. I'll do Banshee in the front if there's only a line big enough for a couple of trains. Beast, Racer I will do on occasion but middle row of last car is where you'll find me most of the time. Front row on Maverick at Cedar Point is my all-time favorite- it's my go-to.

I will agree that Hoosier Hurricane is in desperate need of retracking. Went in July and it was one of the roughest woodies I've ridden. If I remember correctly, HH does not have 3 row cars like The Beast and Racer. Every seat is a wheel seat ride. Did not get a chance to ride the other 2 CCI coasters at that park, Cornball Express and Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain. Hope to make it back at some point to get those credits and re-rides on Steel Hawg, Tig'rr, and Hoosier Hurricane.

Brad, Ask and you shall receive. From the October 26, 2016 conference call, SIX 3Q earnings. http://investors.sixflags.com/news-and-events/press-releases/2016/10-26-2016-120441187 A few of their milestones from the past few years... A 780 percent return on investment for our shareholders since May 2010 as compared to a 115 percent return for the S&P 500; A $4 billion increase in the company’s market capitalization from May 2010 to present, along with nearly $1 billion in dividends paid over the same time period; Record financial performance every year from 2010 to 2015; Increase in Adjusted EBITDA2 less capital expenditures from $99 million in 2009 to $369 million on a trailing twelve-month basis as of September 30, 2016—a gain of $270 million; and Industry-leading Modified EBITDA and Modified EBITDA less capital expenditures margins of 41 percent and 31 percent, respectively. The full report here...http://investors.sixflags.com/news-and-events/press-releases/2016/10-26-2016-115510649

Great report, thank you for sharing! Perfect weather to get some final rides in for the season!

Cedar Fair reported record net revenues of $1.1 billion through the third quarter, a 3% increase over last year’s record results for the same nine-month period. Net revenues through October 30, 2016, were up 4%, driven by a 2% increase in attendance, a 1% increase in in-park guest per capita spending and a 6% increase in out-of-park revenues, including resort accommodations. Cedar Fair’s Board of Directors declared a 4% increase in the Company’s quarterly cash distribution to $0.855 per limited partner (LP) unit, payable December 15, 2016. This distribution represents an annualized rate of $3.42 per LP unit and an attractive 6% yield at current market prices. Cedar Fair remains confident in its FUNforward 2.0 business strategy and its ability to reach its Adjusted EBITDA goal of $500 million earlier than its original target of 2018. Full report here...http://s1.q4cdn.com/010679293/files/doc_financials/quarterly/2016/Q3/161102-Q3-2016-Earnings-Release.pdf

It's separate for each of the parks. The KI app will only show visits to KI- the same applies for the other parks in the chain. For example, in August when I was at Cedar Point with the NoChickens and chugh43 on the final day, It showed 5 visits which is correct. 2 visits in May, 3 in August. I was already at close to 20 Kings Island visits at that time.

26 visits to Kings Island in 2016!

Planning for next year. The offseason for me hopefully ends in March with a trip to Texas. Maybe sooner. I may do Dollywood before the end of the season. 33 total theme park visits for all parks in 2016. 26 visits to Kings Island, 5 visits to Cedar Point, 1 visit apiece to Kentucky Kingdom and Indiana Beach. 8 new credits this year. Valravn, Steel Hawg, Hoosier Hurricane, Tig'rr, T3, Storm Chaser, Lightning Run, and Thunder Run. I'm at 92 coasters now. New Texas Giant tentatively will be #100 in March. Can't wait for 2017!