medford

hope it works better than the last attempt at this.

^^^ to Thrill-Biscuit's comment I say, take note of who spends money inside of the kids area. 33 year old (and older/slightly younger) people with 3-6 year old kids/grandkids. That is why I've always felt that Peanuts is a perfect tie in for Cedar Fair.

Nice post. I think its all relative to your experience, we all long for things of the past, often overlooking the downsides while focusing in on the good things. As a kid, I adored The Smurfs Enchanted Voyage, I could have ridden that thing 5 times a trip, I often remember riding it at least twice. The little hill at the very end and the set of teeth ready to "chomp" down on you was always a highlight as a kid. I remember being scared of The Beastie, then loving the tunnel and hills. Aside from that I don't remember much. As a parent, I have many, many more memories of experiencing that part of the park with my kids. In my opinion, the kids are isn't really for the kids, its for the parents. Many young kids are going to be thrilled by even the tamest of rides in that area, so as a parent, quick lines, good variety and varying level of thrills are a huge bonus. The way it is set up today (and perhaps has always been setup this way) the area is very much tiered. My 6 year old son will likely hit 54" next season and its a shame much of this area will be closed off to him, but on the days my wife splits up and takes him over to Banshee, The Beast, The Bat, Racer, etc...I'm very much looking forward to progressing thru kiddie area with our now 2 year old daughter, much in the same way we progressed thru the area with our son when he was that age and beyond. First its the things she could ride before hitting 36", Tumble Bugs, Boo Blasters, small train, etc... next season we'll get to add in The Great Pumpkin Coaster, swings, Snoopy vs Baron (or whatever its called) while getting to look forward to the day she can get on Woodstock Express, then eventually FAAC and Surf Dog before graduating to the rest of the park (save Viking Fury, SRR and Scrambler, etc..) The anticipation of my son growing up into the next set of rides was as much fun for my wife and I as it was for him. The times where he was "on the cusp" and one week he'd hit 42" (yeah SRR) and the next week he'd be just shy (how the heck did that happen) were always interesting adventures at the measuring booth. The excitement of not knowing for sure if he'd hit that mark, or the hopes that he'd finally reach the next mark as he approached were sources of conversation on the walk to the front gate. The current kids area not only gives kids a great area to play, it gives parents a measuring stick of growth and achievement, something to mark the season with as new rides are added to the possibilities. In short, there is no wrong answer, every stage of the kids area has been great.

some people don't Facebook, and frankly its not all that obvious.

I've never been on one, but a water coaster seems like a pretty big hole in the lineup. Considering the cost of the 2 in Santa Claus, Indiana, I don't think it would have to be KI's big coaster installation every 5 years (or whatever timeline CF has in mind b/w major coaster installations). If what I've read is correct, the coast of HW's 2 water coasters were 8 mil & 10 mil. Factor in inflation and KI could get a good one for $12 mil I would think.

probably true, but I'm secretly hoping that its their way of shake, rattling and rolling back an improvement.

Well they've already got 2 of my annual list of "offseason improvements" on the drawing table. The return of the Flying Scooters is the obvious one, but getting ride of that God awful layout on Snoopy's Splashdance has been on my list for a long time. I didn't mind the thing, but having an attraction designed for small kids that would require the kid to entire one side of the attraction and exit on the opposite side, while also getting out of the attraction before a parent could possibly get around to the exist was a lawsuit just waiting to happen some day. I'm glad it never did, but I can't believe how incredibly poor the layout out was, how hard would it have been to have the exist loop back around near the entrance. Other items that will remain on the list: Tower Gardens. So much potential, gone to waste. If anyone has seen the Coney Island layout that they've done at Entetrainment Junction, I think something similar back in that area would be awesome. Have a mock up of the park in its original state, historical biography playing on TV in the backgrounds, perhaps a little gift shop that could sell nostalgic replicas of old ride shirts (The Bat, The Demon, etc...). Then perhaps thru the years you add more mockups, a mock up of The Beast for instance w/ a biography playing on TV behind it would be pretty cool. Move the KI Hall of Fame into that area, its so tucked away that few people probably even notice it when they're in the park. Repave/repair the parking lot. Obviously not an exciting idea, but I think its something that a lot of people would be thrilled to see happen. As many have mentioned, music on International Street. Fix the clock on the Fest Haus.

what you'll often find, is that American's sense of "Family Fun" is often different than other culture's sense of "family fun"

honestly, it all depends on what kind of person they are, what kind of forces they can handle. I can't handle anything that rotates a ton, so a simple flat like The Monster is out for me. Your friend may just want to jump into the biggest ride KI has, or the newest, or they may want to ease into things with a quick trip on Adventure Express or The Racer. there are a bunch of ways you can go about it, show some POVs to your friend, show them a park map, explain which rides have long lines, which ones have quick ones, etc.... and let them guide you to the answer.

Don' follow anyone on twitter, but was wondering if there was any meaning behind his "please stay off of the grass today" picture with the comment wondering if it was safe to play there tomorrow (which would have been Monday based upon the posting on the 19th, a day the park is closed) Or perhaps he used the hashtag as just a point to make fun of the sign in something I'm unaware of. Don't follow twitter, so don't really know of the whole hashtag thing works.

perhaps it was designed for guys who couldn't "throw it in the ocean"

and his information may just "change" if not disappear all together if different information comes along down the road.

Congo Falls rarely has lines, and unless the canyons get you on the exit, you don't get too wet if you sit in the back (unless its a nearly empty boat as my son & I discovered). I'd guess amongst those listed, that is the choice, though overall, Slingshot is the likely winner, slow load times, only 2 at a time, upcharged, etc... With that said, Congo Falls offers one of the best, if not the best moment of air time in the park, the drop is outstanding. If you don't mind getting anywhere from a little to a lot wet, its short lines make it well worth your time.

to add to what shark stated above, this is about 5 years old, but I think the form still holds true (though I assume the dollar amounts have gone up) a 1 day pass was like $75 a 2 day pass was like $135 a 3 day pass was around $180 a 4 day pass was around $185 a 5 day pass was around $190 a 6 day pass was around $195 . . . so going for 1 day, yes its a large gate, much bigger than what we are used to at KI. If you are down there for a week, adding on days beyond 3 is super cheap. We did a 6 day ticket, even though we were thinking we'd only hit the parks for 4, maybe 5 at most. It was worth the extra $5 a person just in case we had the calling to go for a little bit.

^^^ Don't you get ERT when you stay at Breakers regardless if you have a Platinum Pass or not? I've never stayed there and haven't been to the Pointe in years, but I thought I've read that on here. If that is the case, then CF already practices a similar (though obviously not identical) scenario as Disney. The downside of all of this, as far as I can tell, is it limits the opportunities of the "spontaneous" guest. The person staying in Sarasota or Tampa for the week, knows they want to surprise their children at Disney for a day, but are not sure which day will work best until they get there, if any day works at all. Or the person staying 4 hours away who suddenly decides they want to make the drive. Eventually time will fix this as more people become aware, but imagine the mess they'll create next summer when little Johnny visits Grandma in Clearwater, they find a free day all of a sudden then they surprise him with a trip to Disney, only to find out that some rides are unavailable because they didn't plan a month in advance for a little spontaneous family fun. Really though, the bottom line is there is no "perfect" system. Inevitable someone gets left out, or is left running out ahead of the group to secure advanced tickets, or shells out a decent chunk of change to guarantee that they get to see everything they want to see... The nice thing about Kings Island, is that it doesn't take a ton of planning. I've never been on a day where for the price of admission you couldn't get on everything you wanted (I'm sure those days exist, but they're days I avoid). Now KI is certainly not Disney, and I doubt there are many people who plan a trip to KI for multiple years like some do with Disney, but it makes you appreciate what I have in my "backyard" a little more.

tanna as a point of reference, I'm one who can't do a teacup style ride, nor The Monster, nor Shake Rattle and Roll (well I guess no one can now) or anything of that ilk, but Surf Dog did not present me with too much trouble. Sure I was a "little" woozy after the spinning, but nothing so bad that I felt any need to stand by a trashcan (as I did at Disney World after getting off The Teacups with my wife and then 1 year old son). Its a fun ride, I'd tell your friend to give it a try (but sit on the end, just in case )

I'm assuming I'm not the only won that was expecting much much worse when opening this thread.

I used to do the "taste great, less filling" chant well before I arrived at the appropriate imbibing age. So personally, I don't find it to be much of an issue. I'm in the same boat regarding saying that every time, but figure it would be lost on most people, however if you ever shout it out from the other side while I'm on, you'll certainly get at least 1 response.

A huge improvement over the ones previously offered by the fest house, not exactly (though an improvement for sure) A huge improvement over what they offered everywhere else in the park, absolutely huge. Getting a pretzel at KI used to be a science in 2010. Now its just a matter of routing yourself to Auntie Ann's to know you are going to get something fresh and delightful. Medford, certainly thankful for the 2nd Auntie Ann's location near the Diamondback splashdown.

I haven't read thru this thread, before my time, I just hope its not meant as an interpretation that Viking Fury is scheduled for removal. Easily my favorite flat in the park, amongst my favorite rides period. Hopefully the interpretation is that all the downtime this season is an indication of nothing more than downtime, which apparently was the case in 2008. Hopefully.

I'm 99% sure, I even mentioned that to my son that he needed to wait. it wasn't all of them mind you, but the last one in particular was stuck with the head up and only the ability to open/close its mouth. There were a few others that we couldn't get to work properly. But the maintenance went beyond that, dinos with missing claws, the dig station wasn't well attended to, etc.... its just gave me the impression of the early stages of the Starlight Spectacular decline, a road headed to an area of embarrassment. Granted, overall, its still in good shape, and perhaps what I saw/experienced was just the residual effects of a season long trail, and the needed improvements will be made come April. I doubt there is much shelf life for that area beyond their contract status; it just doesn't seem well attended at this point, but I not privy to any of the financials, so I could be way off base. If the intent is to remove the dinos when the contract is up, I hope that they don't let the area fall into as bad of shape as the Starlight Spectacular was at the end of last season.

I waited in line for Peanuts 500 w/ our 2 kids, while my wife and her mother went to Diamondback. The plan was to meet over by FAAC once we were done so the kids could get the Icee that they had been asking for. They were at the meeting spot well before we arrived. Diamondback was down to the bottom of the steps, Peanuts 500 took at least 30 minutes to get thru. Banshee was a station wait, Stunt Coaster was around 30 minutes. And so it goes on a Sunday in the fall. On a side note, I was disappointed to discover that they no longer do Trick or Treat with the Dino's. (the trick or treat has been moved over to the water park with the rest of the activities that they've had there the last several years; I've felt that was one of the best things the park did all season long). I also noticed that many of the buttons on the "control the dino" feature were not working or only partially working. It seems that maintenance of that attraction is heading towards the Snoopy Starlight Spectacular schedule were we will all be ready for them to be packed up and shipped off to the next place.

yes....beating Terp to the bunch on at least the 2nd part. Don't know about the 1st part, but not sure why they'd take it down unless they were going to do something with that area.

seriously.... KI's flying Eagles. Not a new set, but the set stolen relocated south. an updated Boo Blasters, most importantly guns that work every time, and give you a better idea of where the gun is aiming at. Firechaser Express, or at least something similar that would fill the gap b/w 40" and 48" (I believe that ride is 42") A water coaster. A new set of slides for the water park. A set of "drivable" cars similar to the old Taxis, again something for the gap b/w 40" and 48" where the kids can drive their parents around a guided track. A new woodie A giga Fill in the gaps, but those would be my focused additions over the next 15 seasons.

Its not just Cedar Fair that has turned away from Intamin rollercoasters, its seemingly everyone in North America. After a decade plus of installing at least 1, often 2 sometimes more than 2 rollercoasters (according to RCBD.com) a year in North American Parks, they built none in 2013, 2014 and have nothing on the books for 2015 yet. Sure they've got some towers going up in North America, but with the problems and delays (perhaps not all their fault) in the big droppy things at New Jersey and Tampa, it makes me wonder if they'll lose some luster there as well (at least from the park perspective, those who have ridden and enjoy big droppy rides have raved from what I've read, they are not my thing). Cedar Fair is no different from any other business, they want things that are reliable and constant. Missing nearly an entire summer at Busch had to be extremely fustrating. Not being able to operate both rides in New Jersey at the same time (while perhaps not their fault) has to be frustrating. While they've remained somewhat active in the rest of the world (though far less active than the 1st decade of this century), they appear to be very silent in North America. Obviously there is time to mend relationships, and rebuild their North American Brand, or perhaps other companies are filling that void. B&G appears to be filling that 300+ foot void, now they've added launched ride to enhance their winged coaster brand. There's a 4D being installed at Six Flags this offseason, lots of awesome looking hybrids the last couple of years, etc..... Perhaps their time has simply past, perhaps they'll make a comeback, they're not that far removed from creating top end coasters. In either case, Cedar Fair will mix in other coasters than B&G at some point.