silver2005

The thing that confuses me about Paramount was why they chose to go with traditional parks as their model to start their vision of what their theme parks would look like. I think that was red flag #1 as they were trying to cheap out and not go the Disney/Universal Studios route. I also wouldn't say they had 0 execution. Some of their ideas worked out, its just they quadrupled down and went only with prototype rides and never had more reliable rides like B&M's to fall back on, at least not to the extent that FUN and SIX did. They had decent theming on their rides, and I would say SOB and Hypersonic XLC were their only real disasters. I'm convinced we'd still have Crypt if CF would have just kept the original ride program and only re-themed it. Flight of Fear, Invertigo, Drop Tower, Backlot, Delirium, and their contributions to the water park and HBL/Nick Universe (sans Scooby Doo) weren't bad at all.

Here's my gut feeling on how likely each B&M type will be to show up for 2020, going by industry and in-chain trends with parks similar to KI along with KI's proximity to Cedar Point- 50%- Giga 40%- Floorless 7%- Flying 1.5%- Dive 1.5%- Wing

I consider 4D's to be one of the pinnacles of coaster technology already. That's one of those types that you can't really do much to top. Besides, what would you even add to make it '5D'? The original coining of the term 4D was Arrow's reference that 4 rails were in use- 2 for the running rails and 2 more to get the seats to spin. S&S did away with that, but they're still considered 4D for the sake of keeping it simple (since their version is derived from Arrow's since they absorbed them after all). S&S's version is pretty wild. Its comfortable, yet it throws you around in insane directions and with some decent force. It's a real sensory overload. Really fun ride.

4D spinning coasters are completely different from traditional spinning coasters such as Exterminator. I'd take a S&S Free Spin at KI in a heartbeat. Also, you'd be surprised how well they go through lines. Joker at SFGAdv handled lines pretty well. Seeing how CF parks run Wild Mice, I'd rather not see one. DP and MIA don't do continuous motion in the station, and they brake the crap out of them. I would take a Maurer Sohne spinner though.

Are there any changes to Flight of Fear inside the spaghetti bowl?

I hypothesize that the new trains might be an effort by GCI to start making more elaborate and wilder rides that the Millennium Flyers may not be able to accomplish to try and even the field with RMC. I'm excited to see what things GCI comes up with.

That's been there since the ride opened.

^If anything about SOB pops up, we know who to blame. silver2005, who doesn't want to venture too far down the rabbit hole.

^The last thing we need here is KIC conspiracy theories.

^Nice use of concept art.

I imagine to keep Flight of Fear open, they'll wait until after Winterfest to take it down.

^Not to mention potentially having to go toe-to-toe with the Mouse and Universal Studios. Would Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa seem untouchable for chain parks because of that fact? Or does anyone think someone else can maintain the niche they have (for example, when SIX bought Geauga Lake, tried to take on CP, and failed miserably, I know its different, but there's some comparisons to garner a bit of discussion I think)?

Given how tame B&M dive coasters are, I doubt headbanging would be that big an issue.

The newer B&M restraints really hinder the newer dive coasters IMO. They staple you to the seat regardless of anything you try and Valravn has no airtime except for the 3rd row.

There's something awesome about seeing a bunch of B&M track shapes in the distance that make park skylines look awesome.

Vortex would look pretty awesome in the colors of Corkscrew at Michigan's Adventure....

^California. silver2005, avoiding 1 word posts.

Dolphins on the projectors (in rotation with snakes, bats and trees) would be kinda hilarious.

^Called what?

Most Cedar Fair parks, including Kings Island, will normally make this kind of a big announcement in August, aka, coaster enthusiast Christmas.

Fun fact- one of the elephant handlers at the Cincinnati Zoo is a UC Band alumni!

That newer GCI MF car looks sweet. Looks a bit more comfy and I love the low slung front for an open air feel.

Even without the disclaimer in the description about it being a concept, the dialogue in the video should have been a dead give away that it wasn't an actual announcement.

Maybe we'll get lucky and Herschend will swoop in at the last second and steal the Busch parks away from FUN and SIX. One can dream...