Kirk Sheppard

Thanks, Gordon! The park has also released the times at http://www.visitkingsisland.com, though we had them posted awhile ago . . . For Saturday, April 30th: National Anthem at 10AM AMERICAN COUNTRY (FESTHAUS) 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 5:00, 6:00 CHARLIE BROWN’S PIRATE ADVENTURE (PEANUT’S PLAYHOUSE) 12:30, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 PEANUT’S PARTY ON THE PLAZA 1:00 & 4:30 This is likely also the schedule for the private corporate event on Sunday, May 1st but that has not been confirmed by the park. Other notable dates: Way Too Much TV and Hot Summer Nights will both open on Friday, June 3rd Snoopy Rocks! on Ice opens Saturday, June 4th Signed, Sealed, Delivered opens on June 15th Hope that's helpful!

Are the lockers over by the picnic tables where they were doing photo ops with the Hardcore Midgets last year?

Not sure if this is a change or if I'm just that oblivious, but in the LOCKERS section of the pamphlet, it says: Lockers are available for rent and located at the Front Gate, near the entrance to the Viking Fury, near White Water Canyon and Firehawk, and in Boomerang Bay. Have there always been lockers there?

Schedule for 4/30 live entertainment: Our NATIONAL ANTHEM performed live at 10 AM. AMERICAN COUNTRY 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 5:00, 6:00 CHARLIE BROWN’S PIRATE ADVENTURE 12:30, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 PEANUT’S PARTY ON THE PLAZA 1:00 & 4:30

Being that I was at every show on Friday nights the entire Haunt run and every show on a couple Saturdays, I can tell you that there were multiple repeat customers of Hot Blooded. It is a very popular show and I think that is largely due to the special effects that are unique to it. It is a pretty big time production. I would also say that I don't think the majority of park guests come just to see it or even watch it more than once. However, there can be no denying that it is a vital part of the Haunt experience for lots of people. Why do you say that you are "guilty" of watching it? Your biggest peeve seems to be the lack of variety. There is one show of its kind during Haunt. (Ghouls Gone Wild, which is in the same vein as it is a singing/dancing musical revue with a Halloween theme only played during Howl-O-Fest except for the first Friday night.) You felt "guilty" because . . .? Nor have I ever indicated that the majority of the general public comes to Kings Island just for the shows, directly or indirectly. This is some wacky assertion that you have made on your own. Ummmm, no. Even I would probably not buy a season pass to Kings Island if it had nothing but live entertainment. I love the shows, obviously, and more than most people, but I also ride the rides and enjoy the atmosphere throughout the park. I would tell you (subjectively, I suppose) that there are more than a handful of people that do go out of their way to re-watch their favorite shows or performers on each of their trips to Kings Island. I know this because again, I see them on a regular basis and HAVE had conversations with many of them. But I - like them - also enjoy lots of other things Kings Island has to offer. The purpose of FansofKiEntertainment.com is to spotlight the entertainment division as it is often secondary to the roller coasters and thrill rides in the minds of many. I don't quite understand why you seem to have such a problem with me enjoying and going out of my way to let the performers and others responsible for what I consider to be above average shows know they are appreciated by focusing some attention their way. There are lots of web sites devoted to rides; my dinky little web site is just another one with a different bent. And that's your opinion, which are you completely entitled to. I don't even totally disagree. Luckily for me, I happen to enjoy the type of musical revue that the park produces and think the variety is found in the various themes and styles of music. However, given that this year's audition schedule included variety entertainers, I bet the park agrees with you also more than you might think. Unfortunately, we have what we have. If no one auditions to do those kinds of acts, then its not as if the park just grab the Dippin Dots guy and give him some balls to juggle or some stilts to walk on. My purpose more than any other is to support and encourage the performers and provide a place to share my photographs so that they can have them to use for their own purposes. Am I hurting anyone by doing so? For some reason, I get the impression that the site and my love for watching and supporting the shows gets under your crawl. It baffles me, frankly. You should be grateful that I'm one less guy waiting in line for your favorite ride or roller coaster. Thanks for your concern. As a reminder, here's what selective posted: I'm not going anywhere, and especially since he or she was the one to offer that any child could write these types of shows, it shouldn't be long now before we start to see these wonderfully written productions from him or her. But you're right, I bet I will be (quite snarkily, actually) waiting a very long time. Its too bad because I'd really love to see what selective comes up with. A musical tribute to vegetarianism perhaps?

Have no idea what the point you're making here is at all . . . but to clarify, the wi fi where I live is free and you certainly get what you pay for as it is slower than molasses. You're old enough to remember molasses, right Terpy?

This was so good that I read through it even at 4:30 am instead of going back to sleep like I should have! Thanks so much for writing it! Really good stuff . . .

Sorry, double post. . . stupid free Internet . . .

No need to defend anything, though I will tell you that "Hot Blooded" played to sold out crowds a lot during Haunt last year and there are definitely times where Way Too Much TV was VERY crowded and it was hard to get a seat last summer. I will also tell you that there are far more people that go to see the shows and have the same park habits as I do (ride in the AM before it gets crowded, ride between show times, walk around the park and eat good fattening park foods, etc. but making shows a priority) than you think. So, you guys can debate. I'll just be here awaiting Selective's first submission of a music revue show complete with choreography, completed musical score, and the casting of the talent to pull it off well. Go ahead. . . I'm waiting. . . .

I will DEFINITELY be checking this out and taking tons of pictures . . . I spend $10 several times a season on a locker and don't think twice about doing so . . . I spend $12 on lunch every time I go and think its a bit much but I still do it. . . I'll go through this at least once to see it and probably more if the theming is as detailed and vast as I expect it will be. If $5 is too much for you, don't do it . . .but this is almost like an additional mini-park, given the size and scope. . . I would also imagine that the park kind of "fell into" the ability to bring this here and therefore its not causing us to "not get" something else . . . I just wish people could be more positive in general, but that's not why the Internet was created, I guess....

Why does everyone feel the need to be a moderator on this site? Aw, I think we're all just bored waiting for April 30th to get here . . . and I see where they're coming from if I were posting "spam" or non-KI related stuff or trying to make money from the KIC followers . . . however, KIC and FansofKiE are friends . . . so I think we're all good. . . but the moderators can correct me if I'm wrong and I'll stop posting these sorts of things . . .

New interview posted with Kevin Brunck, Area Manager of Entertainment at Kings Island about his role at the park and news about the upcoming season . . .Check it out! Read it Here and post your feedback below . . .

Join us at FansofKiEntertainment.com's FaceBook page (here) as we countdown to April 30th with a 20 Question Kings Island Challenge. Also, listen to our podcast here. Looking forward to a great season at the parks and partnering with our friends at KICentral.com as well! The first question on the 20 Question challenge is... "What is your favorite current Kings Island coaster." Feel free to post your comments here or add them to our FB page OR even add it to your own FB or other social media site... Let the discussion begin...

First, there is a 3 camera angle version of "Hot Blooded" now available at FansofKiEntertainment.com. Also, we've have the full listing of shows that will be presented in 2011 available there as well, including several new ones like "American Country" and "Hot Summer Nights" and even a new Peanuts show for the kids! Go to FansofKiEntertainment.com and check it out!

I've read this thread all day and while I might have spoken with stronger wording than was appropriate earlier about some of the details, the truth is IN MY EXPERIENCE FastPass is not always a good thing. I've waited in line for Splash Mountain for almost an hour for instance while the ride operators continually allowed too many people into from the FP line instead of using the correct ratio of standby riders to FP riders. There are other times when I've used FP and enjoyed the convenience it offers. I'm not opposed to FP at WDW. I am opposed to it at KI because we simply do not need it. It will only make standby lines longer.

"All" of those pictures? There are three. The bobblehead is still in its box and in my car ready to go to work tomorrow. If I think about it when it arrives there safely, I'll take a shot just for you. :-)

I doubt these machines - if they're still on site - are configured to just be plopped down and ready to go. I've been to Disney over 25 times since 2004. I frequent Disney message boards daily. There is MUCH talk of unfairness and negativity towards Fast Pass... go to WDWMagic.com and search for FastPass and be ready to wade through the barrage of negative comments about the process. Also, there have been serious issues with counterfeit FPs and people were selling them on Ebay at one point. But see, the lines are not long enough for it to be an issue. July 4th weekend, the day of the Freedom Concert, and yesterday were probably the most crowded days at the park and while I don't have first hand knowledge, I don't think the lines were moving all that slow. At least not slow enough to justify this huge addition to the park, which as Terpy pointed out would likely not be free at Cedar Fair properties like it is at Disney. Universal offers a paid system and it made the lines ridiculously slow - even more so than Disney.

Kudos to the park on the the Bobbleheads. They seemed to be a big hit as the crowd to get in was huge! Once the gates opened, though, things moved swiftly and the wait was not bad at all. I was also pleased to see that park officials were out managing the distribution. The park did not feel very crowded out in the non-Howl-O-Fest areas while I was there... especially compared to Saturday!

Waiting an hour and a half is not acceptable to me. Isn't the goal of a park to make it enjoyable for guests? Is there a negative to doing this? RD In theory, FastPass is brilliant. Unfortunately at Disney the ride operators and/or management do not understand that for it to work properly, it must be used properly. Let me explain. They have calculated the number of FastPasses that can be distributed at what time frame as to disrupt the standby line flow of traffic as little as possible. This works great if the deadline to use the FastPass is enforced. It never is. So what happens is that people get a FP, don't use it during the hour long window they are supposed to, and then return whenever they want. This nullifies the formula that FP uses and then creates terribly long waits for the standby line. My fear is that Kings Island has not quite got the handle on using the Single Rider line yet, which is a far more simple concept. FastPass could become a huge disaster.

Viking Fury is closed, I think, because they use the que line for Cutthroat Cove. At least it wasn't operating last Sunday when I walked by.

No, the 275 (I think?) foot platform that they only seem to use when its rainy. The elevator on the left side goes up there.

You know what would be amazing - and I get that it would never work or ever happen, but I wish they could enclose the lower level of the Eiffell Tower, with floor to ceiling windows, and make it into an upscale dining experience. That would be a dream come true. And while I'm dreaming, make it into a revolving platform so it circles around the park throughout dinner. Again, this would never ever happen but wouldn't that be cool??

Then they should open the restaurant above the entrance back up. I totally agree that more options are good. I just don't think German is a good option anymore. My personal opinion and preference. I also am glad that they have two shows in there and think its a good venue for them. Again, just my opinion. Agreed completely. I went to Disney World 4 times in 2009 and on one of those trips rode a total of probably less than 10 rides in the three days I was there. I LOVE theming. I love details. I didn't realize the park had addressed this issue so I don't think I'm parroting their opinion. Agreeing without my knowledge, maybe. But I - unlike you, from what I've gathered from your other posts - am not privy to these kinds of things from park management. And I was completely kidding with my friend Gordon Bombay, poking fun at the reputation (deserved, I guess) I'm getting for being a gigantic mark for the shows at Kings Island. Sorry I couldn't make that humor more clear. And before anyone freaks out that Terpy and I are flaming one another or other such nonsense, it should be noted that he sent a friend request today and I gladly accepted. People can disagree - passionately - without taking it personally. It's just a message board, folks.

Given how I think most of the food looks from Panda Express, I think low lighting would be appreciated. But then again, I hate Chinese food. :-)

Well the good news for you is that you can find LaRosa's at two other locations in the park in relatively quieter places. And the volume of the shows is not that loud unless you're sitting in the front right by the speaker. Its a big room, sit towards the back or on the front sides up towards the stage where the speaker doesn't directly hit your ears.