KIfan73

As much as I like Kings Island, if my frequent visits hinged upon following the rules of the dining plan, I'm afraid it might be enough for me to stay away. I visit at most 3 or 4 times a year, and waiting in line and purchasing food at the park can enough in itself for me not to want to come back for awhile. Having said that, if this works for people, and they're able to save some money, that is fantastic.

What amazes me about this whole thread is the (seemingly large) amount of people who feel that the financial sense of this program outweighs the hassle.

I registered for the 5k that will be on Saturday morning. I'm wondering how this is going to align with the Coasterstock activities (thinking about doing both).

Has there been any information released about the Season Pass Preview Day yet?

On a possibly unrelated note: for awhile, much was being heard from Cedar Fair's CEO. Is it just me, or has he gone strangely silent? Or were we just hearing a lot before because he was new?

plans to add an Intamin giga coaster in the foreseeable future? That's a little (actually a lot) over my head. I'd say the park is more busy keeping the gated community away down the street right now.

While the landscaping did look more detailed in the '70s, the park is much bigger than it was then and the landscaping budget, I would imagine, is much more stretched than it was then. I like Kings Island's landscaping, and I think it can be easy to take it for granted. Can you say parking lot coaster? I haven't been to a park that has one of those, and I'm so glad Kings Island hasn't went that route. While the landscaping might lack some of the "show-stopping" aspects from the past, it's consistency throughout so many acres is what impresses me.

Is the right side of the pic the side that is closest to the fountains?

That would make for the most perfect commercial for Kings Island...the music and everything. It would just fade into the Kings Island logo at the end with something like "entertaining you since 1972".

I'd like to see them go back to that original logo.

I ran the 5k at the park in May, and had planned to spend the day there. Thought I was going to freeze to death. Left before 11 just because I couldn't stand it anymore.

There's some interesting comments on there!

Since a place like Kings Island tears out things they've built (usually) more often than the average construction project, I wonder if they use any special techniques when they build something that will make it easier to tear out at the end of its life cycle.

While this is a little off topic, it's not by much...think about how unique a place like Kings Island is. In what other business can you visit where past decisions by past management is on such display? How about being able to go see and ride things from 5 different decades? It would be like going into a Ford dealership that still had 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s on the showroom. Or a McDonald's that still had it's 70s decor. I'm sure that what can be incredibly nostalgic for customers can be incredibly headache-inducing for the new management.

I'm not even thinking of the normal things..not rides...or even something like DA, or a special event. It may even be an announcement that might not sound so great initially, but I think it will be totally unexpected. Just thought I'd post because I've been thinking it since I visited in October. You know how you just get a feeling?

I have a strange, odd, gut feeling that Kings Island is going to make a surprising, out-of-left field announcement sometime this season. Something we didn't see coming (unless there of some of we on here that are well-connected). I have no ties to Kings Island or the amusement industry, but just a feeling I have. We shall see!

I would like to see Kings Island the themepark return.

They also did a piece on Banshee on GMA soon after it opened.

Banshee, by a mile. While it's well-documented on here that I'm a huge Kings Island enthusiast, I think I've been coming to KI the last few years mostly for sightseeing and sentimental reasons. I wasn't even all that interested in Banshee, to be honest. I came to Kings Island to run the 5k in May and decided to give Banshee a try. Completely blown away. Haven't been that pumped for roller coasters since I rode Vortex for the first time in 1992 (when I was 19). Banshee seemed to almost literally turn the clock back for me. Love the location, the theme, the trains, the lift hill, all the elements, the sound, and the gift shop. They truly hit it out of the park, in my opinion.

IMHO, the fountains would probably come in dead last (or at least close) on the list for things that need changed/upgraded at Kings Island.

My uncle purchased a VCR at around that same time, and we used to go visit him. It seemed like it was probably about 2 feet wide, 2 feet deep and probably a foot tall. Playing a movie you want to see - anytime you want to see it!? He may as well have had a space shuttle in his front room. He also had one of the 9 foot diameter satellite dishes in his backyard at around the same time.

That's the most vivid image I've seen yet of what it was like to be in the park way back when. I've always wanted to see what the shops looked like during the early years. Amazing! Thanks! Edit: I also want to say your father must have had an extremely advanced video camera (for that time period). The picture quality and the sound are incredible. I've got a pretty good set of speakers set up on my computer and it sounds like I'm right there. For the young ones...In 1980, it would have been extremely rare and expensive to have even owned a VCR in 1980!

What is it about July 24!!?? http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php/topic/24760-standing-within-3-feet-of-1974/?p=446132

If the timeline is similar to last year, we should be within a few weeks of finding out when Kings Island opens for the season! I am seriously looking forward to Kings Island opening back up, maybe more than ever.

Without hesitation, I have to say Top Gun. For the initial ride/theming, as well as just the many years of providing an awesome experience due to its longevity. I also have to say something about its placement in the park. A lot of people complain about the queue, but that's something I really like about it. Something about walking the far distance into that area of the park is something I always find special about the ride. I think its one reason I like Banshee so well. For some reason, I've just always really liked that area of the park.