Snowman

Rode Beast yesterday. Stopped at the tombstone display by the line cue and noticed something. If you look closely at "My Unloved Son" tombstone the death date has been carefully written on and then scratched out. Seeing it through 45 year old eyes, I could swear it looks like 2013. I didn't have a camera, and don't know if it's easier to see at night or day, but has anyone else noticed this?

Howl-O-Fest starts next weekend.

Quite the splitting of hairs, huh? Well many of the kids I saw would have difficulty expressing the nuances of what exactly would cause them fear (and poop filled Pampers) regarding large animatronic dinosaurs, because many of them were too little to SPEAK! I don't think KI would care for me to try to get to know every small child in the picnic grove before I make a very general assessment of their fear threshold. How about this: I would guess a lot of those kids I saw in the picnic grove last year would be terrified of the Dinosaurs. (does that help?) Does someone know how far some people will go to nit pick a post?.........Yes someone does....... It's ME!!!

My point exactly. As BavarianBeatle mentioned, at $5 each the parents should get a bag-o-treats and a baby pumpkin to. I completely get that some kids will find this very cool, but alot of those kids I saw in the picnic grove last year would be terrified of the Dinosaurs, so they don't get to trick or treat or get a pumpkin. That's what sucks. How many years has KI offered a daytime halloween event where kids could trick or treat without an upcharge? I was curious how long this family tradition has been around.

For those thinking that Howl-o-Fest will be just like last year with trick or treating and the pumpkin patch, this is from KI's site: "Howl-O-Fest October 1 - October 30 The Ultimate Kids Halloween Party! Little ghouls and goblins absolutely love HOWL-O-FEST! There are all kinds of things that are fun-scary, not scary-scary. HOWL-O-FEST activities include a Costume Contest, Twisted Tales Maze, Gigantic Hay Bale Maze, Dance Party, Foam Pit, Tractor Town, Mask Painting, Games, Food and much more! HOWL-O-FEST hours are from noon until 5pm Saturdays and Sundays October 1 through October 30. This family-friendly event is included FREE with park admission tickets and 2011 season passes." Unless "and much more" means trick or treating and the pumpkin patch, Howl-o-Fest will be VERY different this year. I'm betting that to a 3 year old, massive moving Dinosaurs won't be "fun scary" but extremely "scary-scary".

I don't think so. Last year it seemed the 2 highlights for the kids (and most popular attractions) was the pumpkin patch and the trick or treating. Neither of these seem to be offered in the picnic grove this year. If they offer these in the Picnic Grove as well, I'll take back every complaint I'm making here. GYK, "if you pay the exact same amount of money you paid last year, you will get the exact same experience you got last year" Not true, last year I could get out of the heat, enjoy Spongebob for no additional charge. This year it costs extra for a lesser experience (moving seats gone). Last year the little ones could trick or treat from workers dressed in whimsical, fantasy themed, child friendly costumes and get a pumpkin for no additional charge. Now they're going to have to go to the other end of the park, shell out 5 bucks to try to muster the courage to get close enough to the largest moving dinosaur they've ever seen without peeing they're Pampers. You gotta admit, that's a big difference from last year. I don't see Disney or Universal making little kids walk through something that could literally scare the crap out of them for some candy and a pumpkin.

For everyone who was looking forward to the wonderful Trick or Treating tradition at KI , I clipped this from an email: "TRICK-OR-TREAT WITH THE DINOSAURS! - NEW FOR 2011! There’s only one place where your kids can trick-or-treat with life-sized dinosaurs: Dinosaurs Alive at King Island. Your kids will collect a t-rex sized bag of candy in the shadows of sixty moving dinosaurs, including the largest animatronic dinosaur in the world. Uncover a giant skeleton at our dig site or decorate and take home your very own mini pumpkin." They neglected to mention that tickets for this formally park admission included event is now 5 bucks for each kid! You'd think CF could afford to pony up the 50 cents worth of candy and a baby pumpkin for the kids. What about the little ones who are too young or are scared of Dinosaurs? Disappointing to say the least. Another thought, Some of those little tikes costumes aren't the most walking friendly. With this change of venue they are going to literally walk from one side of the park to the other.

Dollywood is great for an independent park. The food is really good across the board. All the rides and areas are very well themed. Anything that's "can't miss"? All the smoking areas! Seriously, get a park map and look for the smoking area markers. I've never been to a park with so many smokers, geez... they're around every turn. Park behind the Old Mill Restaurant and take the trolley to Dollywood. It's much less of a headache than trying to park there, and last time we went it was around a buck.

Ki has recently let the Angry Bird phenomena into it's world, but nothing like this: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xkxai8_theme-park-creates-real-life-angry-birds-game_news#from=embediframe Kinda looks fun!

From KI's gold pass benefit page: "Every day during the 2012 season, the park opens early for Gold Passholders to enjoy some of their favorite rides. Early ride times begin one hour prior to park opening on Saturdays and 30 minutes Sundays through Fridays. (Note: Early ride times are not available on Fridays during Halloween Haunt)." The beef I had with KI last year about listing Beast/DB for 2011 ERT during Haunt last year and then changing it to WS/Vortex has been easily simplified with the paragraph above. We're getting our passes this fall with 0 complaints. We'll hope for a 2012 seaSon of Beast/DB ERT, but if they chose to open something else, oh well, no promises broken and we'll enjoy the park thoroughly next season.

I wonder if the Fast Lane pass will get me to the front of the more intense floaty river line or quicker access to a wave pool tube.

From the web page: "Soak City will have not one, but TWO massive wave pools! Why? Why not!" Dontchya wish they felt that way about massive wooden coasters?

Unless it's hidden under the trees, I don't see a new river..... Anybody wanna buy a used plastic kangaroo?

Wave pool..... de theming....... 40th anniversary disappointment......sad day.

Two teens walking towards each other both looking down texting. They got closer never looked up and BAM banged right into each other.... Good times.

AAWWWW..... don't hate on Flying Ace Aerial Chase and Invertigo.

I gotta say a major new attraction for me would be to remove all the searingly hot black asphalt and replace it with brick pavers. Coney was a MAJOR improvement on those 90+ days! CoasterFreak45, I love your statement about techies! On movie sets we often referred to actors as overpaid talking light stands with bad attitudes.

^ Agreed. Definitely worth reporting, but can we keep this to one topic?

But....But....What will the ERT's be? In case ya'll don't know, I hope it's Beast and DB!

I want to hear what Shaggy has to say. He nailed DA well before KI announced it: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=23493&st=0&p=418192entry418192 Be sure to read post #3 and then scan the speculation after that. Amazing!

FYI, they're never really fighting. Are your saying the show changes so drastically from night to night and time to time that maybe they should print a schedule of when dwarf anatomy is discussed? Maybe a list of what office or sanitation equipment will be featured for each show?..... Genius!

Okay, I'll take your challenge to argue the entertainment aspect. Last year, my wife and I went to the first HPB show. Puppet (the main guy) started with his long show introduction followed by this visual aid and description of Dwarfs vs Midgets: Puppet asked one of the ring girls to sit down in the ring with her legs in front of her. He sat down next to her and from the lower hips up they were the same height. He then explained that unlike midgets, dwarfs were the same size in EVERY way as a normal man from the lower hips up. This girl was stuck in the ring and sat there with a very embarrassed look on her face. He then proudly offered to prove it to any willing ladies in the audience. We personally did not find this at all entertaining, and had trouble finding the relationship between a wrestling show and learning about a dwarf's private parts. If others find the HPB show entertaining, by all means enjoy! Shorter ride lines for us.

DA! was announced in March, if that is what you are thinking. And I am not stopping you from getting excited, I just don't want to see everyone disappointed. I guarantee you regardless of what's announced, someone will get disappointed.

Is there no way to make a bridge to the island that the paddle wheel can go under?

I think the Monorail you were looking at is a prop one that never moves. The moving one lives inside the snake station around on the right side of the property.