BB1

Christmas decor has been up for awhile now. It wasn't until mid January that the wreath was taken down and the Christmas Tree was still up last weekend in the front with the WF sign on the entry way. (This was from me driving on the road next to KI, not going on property because that is trespassing which is wrong)

The Island Smokehouse took over the location of the original Dive Snack Shack (Boomerang Bay era) which was a Graeter's before demolition. Again, I still believe that this is just a restaurant to be announced with their food offerings during the off season like they have before.

The front seat is the best seat for any kind of jerkiness or roughness. More explicitly front left for the intensity of the helix is my go to seat on Beast anyways not to mention the several turns are great in that seat.

Now to be honest that would be better because Panda would actually be an international food in the area themed to different cultures in one street. The mac n cheese bar was amazing and a better addition than Hanks is in my opinion. Smoke house, eh, I am actually leaning towards the hope of a build your own coney line in Coney Mall. You already have one Taco Bell outside the park, you don't need another inside the park! (Unless if it were to be KFC, which I would actually approve of)

One thing I will have to admit is the severe lack of German food in the Oktoberfest section of the park. I would be happy if Hanks or some line in the Festhaus turned into a german food line. Some old world classics like sauerbraten, bratwurst, sauerkraut, and some new world classics like Goetta. I will admit I would go to that more than I would for Hanks. Now I know what you are thinking, where could a Hanks shop go? Send it to I-Street, a part of the park that is supposed to be about cultures from around the world. The same could be said about Panda Express if done right could become a park staple in entry to the park.

In all honesty even though an indoor attraction would be amusing, I just do not see the building as a good for the park. It is a big box in the middle of two world class coasters and to be honest if opened up could make way for a beautiful flat ride location like a sky swing. In the long run the Haunt use is good use during the fall, however it just feels like a blank spot of the park during the spring/summer months that should just be taken out and revitalized.

Ahh Kings Island, home of the classic Blue Ice Cream and Larosa's Pizza, what more could you ask for, right? Kings Island always has room to grow especially in the food department as they have over the past few years. We got some great new products at the Island Smokehouse like the shrimp and bbq, and some great mac n cheese at the foodbar over the Winterfest season. However, if you look at Kings Island proper, the food selection needs improvement for an ever growing hungry crowd of guests. So the basis of the latest and last 2018 Off Season Poll Series discussion is what food item do you want Kings Island to bring next to the park's food venue?

They never got rid of Boomerang Bay. Just changed the name due to licensing reasons. It was part of Paramount's branding for the movie Crocodile Dundee. Trying to find old content of mine, eh? Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay was the licensed name by Paramount Parks that branded the waterpark in an Australian overlay of the names and scenery. Boomerang Bay itself was a good name (from my recollection of the branding) by dropping the Paramount property of Crocodile Dundee for the Cedar Fair park as I do not believe that Boomerang Bay was a copyrighted property that was a mandated change. (I could be wrong I am going off of information I had from years ago the topic really hasn't came up that often) The point of the post is that Boomerang Bay was removed, not in terms of the waterpark slides and attractions, with exception to one, but the name branding and scenery theming. It was the intricate and immersive theming of the gift shop, and the various small nods to Australian wildlife on small cut outs or fence paintings that were cast aside for the now Soak City decor. One attraction by technicality did bite the dust, the original Crocodile Run aka Splash River. Splash River runs virtually the same course with diversions in the enterance and exits being on opposite sides of the river and the new zero depth entry that demolished one of the most secluded parts of the river. The point of the post was that I think that the Boomerang Bay waterpark branding being removed was a mistake as it had character that was beyond the generic tropical theming found at most waterparks.

While a Giga coaster would be a KI die-hard enthusiast's dream, I do not believe that the park needs it quite yet. Kings Island still has open vacant lots to add in flat rides to add to their attraction line up and has a big box o'FUN (Is that slogan still being used?) to deal with in RiverTown. Kings Island, in my opinion, needs to diversify in their portfolio of attractions before getting a record breaking Giga. Now, if a Giga were to come to Kings Island here is my main speculative prediction. Station would be either in the fields near Action Zone or back near X-base with the main course running past the river and the fields in the back of the property. 310-350 ft would probably be the range with a length similar to that of Fury 325 if not the slightest bit longer. Theme would probably be a main key to the station/queue area but no further than that.

A. Understaffing B. Low crowds Usually either one, or it could be both from what I could gather. It is an easy area to block off and is usually less frequented than other attractions in the park.

For the past season and last season there has been a block of the parking lot, next to the KI sign, separated off with barriers and barrels. I personally do not know what it could be, (probably that rumored parking lot Giga people have been talking about ) but I know there are others who don't know and would like to know. Anyone have any ideas or has the purpose been stated elsewhere?

-end hiatus-The front of the coaster car itself feels like you are in an old Chevy going through the first couple of dips and up the lift hill. This plays out through the rest of the coaster, however, this is the least forceful seat on the whole attraction. The back, row 12 left seat is by far the sweet spot of the attraction as you feel the most g's and intensity on the first drop and throughout the attraction. You feel as if you are in the truck bed going over hills and embankments through the woods with stellar airtime. Overall 10/10 would ride again, as I have over and over again, and it is the best wooden coaster at the park.-continue hiatus-

The interesting thing about this new restaurant is the bottle neck. That area next to the Breaker's sign is congested, so much as for the fact that it is a main thoroughfare for waterpark guests. It will be interesting to see how far it pertrudes out into the walkway, but I am sure they already have that covered. Overall, is this a great addition? Yes, this is one of those seldom additions that I think the park actually needed above and beyond all else. It looks as if it might have a patio from what I have seen, so if I have a patio, waterslides, and a nice lineup of food, I am set. On terms of theming, I am actually quite surprised. Ouimet is putting touches into Cedar Fair theming and this looks like something straight out of Bris.....erm... I mean Carribean region that is definitely not Australian. (No but seriously this looks as if you had an extended Outback a la Mason.) Ontop of that, seasonal operation would be brilliant. Nice summer flare during the waterpark season, some autumnal food during the kid's Halloween event, and some southern Christmas food during the WinterFest would be incredible. Time will tell on the load out of the restaurant, but either way I am happy.

I'm curious as to how you think this would develop into a system where you must buy a meal to get a drink. I can't envision any scenario at any establishment where they would say, "Oh, you just want to buy a drink? Buy some food first." Seems like it'd be illegal to me. So, how do you think that would happen? Ok, let me revise my statement. You must​ buy a dining plan to get the drink plan under this new stage. Now, that basically implies somewhat part of the hypothetical given. I only got a season long dining plan because of the few times I eat at a Cedar Fair park and to save money, but I might not want it anymore after this year if something bad happens. Effectively, in 2018, I would be left out of the drink plan given in the past few years if it were to be enacted, that is if I do not like the service given. I personally believe that the system they have now works, and saves a lot of time and not to mention money. In contrast to plastic to paper cups, I would see the constant use of a paper cups more costly than using just one plastic cup for every some odd family or individual. Now I gather that as the topic poster stated that you would have two beverages, with implications of both being paper. In response to legality, it is perfectly legal to state for a certain plan you must follow guidelines. It would be under contract as the outlines of your purchase, if you buy it, you adhere to the policy. If a system works, let it be, that's my motto and has been for years, I am happy with what I have and I don't want to see it changed.

No no no no. Simply put, this could develop into a system to which you must buy a meal and get the drink cups. I, along with many others, utilize thd drink cups often, I saved hundreds of dollars in drink refills this year, when I chose to. Not to mention the fact that this would effectively end my souvenir cups and I collect those.

(Sorry for the late post, have been very busy with getting work done before Christmas!) In the past few days Mr. Ouitmet has hinted at making bids at parks like Hershey Park and Dollywood. For some this comes with hope for new expansion, for others, disheartening. With the acquisition of new parks means that Cedar Fair would have a more diverse portfolio, but at the same time parks like Dorney have yet to experience serious growth. What are some of your thoughts, should Cedar Fair buy more parks? Or should they add on to what parks they have?

You see guys, I told you I wasn't the only one who thought this was true! Right: -Boomerang Bay (duh) -Flight of Fear -Top Gun -Gold Passes Wrong: -Lack of keeping up with their products. -Destruction of the Hanna Barberra section. (I mean come on, keep the Ghoster Coaster!) -Demolition of Phantom Theater -The ultimate demise and inadequate operation of Winterfest.

Some call the Kings Island-Cedar Point rivalry something that keeps the parks thriving. With a shared market, both parks have different coasters yet are under one Cedar Fair. Something that I think that gets overlooked is the B&M collection that we have in Ohio. From Diamondback to Valravn, it is diverse and spans from old to new B&M designs. So in light of this, this week's poll will be about which B&M coaster is the best in the state of Ohio. Feel free to post and put in your ballot in the poll!

The only way to improve queue line wait times is by increasing capacity. Which could therefore could cease preffered seating, which would not make me a happy camper. However, the lines really have been improved. FUN TV has been implemented to give guests a fun experience while waiting in the line. Yeah sure, it could get annoying but it is something. In queue lines like Beast and Vortex there isn't much that could be done, nor do I believe that there should be anything placed. A queue line is a queue line, it's a way to talk with friends, or in my case catch up on Netflix shows or binge watch some tele.

For the past few years COASTERSTOCK has become a "must do" for Kings Island enthusiasts. Hosting some great ERT sessions, some excellent tours, and food that could be hit or miss, it will be returning in 2017. However, 2017 at Kings Island will be special as we will now have a new wooden coaster added to the line up, Mystic Timbers. With the buzz surrounding COASTERSTOCK now with the announcement of the planning for 2017, what are some of your predictions for 2017? Anything that you would like to see fixed?

Oops, I thought you meant rash guard trousers. Then whatever the employees state is their policy on the slides, that's just it. Trust me, having a tube with a lot of individuals who seem to have not showered in a while gets very awkward very fast. Our Splash River really could use a natural overhaul, rocks do not look great next to water in my opinion and I believe the original look actually is superior to rocks with weeds inbetween.

Rash guards have been permitted under proper swim attire from what I understand. Zoom Flume as it stands has a policy that differentiates with guards. Some force groups to be together, others ask if they would want to ride with someone else. Because to be frank it gets awkward to be with complete strangers in a intimate tube. Splash River, same points that I made a few years back. Crocodile Run, the original lazy river prior to the renovation, was a lazy river with shade where the new entrance is. It was lazy and had barely any water being splashed on you. Half of the props have either been dialed back or turned off. I agree 100% about how it isn't a fun attraction.

Every year about this time I usually start to get the winter waterpark bug to get back to Soak City.....and I have. Vivid memories of being lazy in the Splash River, to dropping in on Tropical Plunge, this year was a great year to be at the waterpark. So, this week's topic we will be taking a look at Soak City in 2016, some of our favorite experiences in the waterpark, some of the things we liked, some of the things we feel like need to be changed in the future, and overall what is your 2016 review for Soak City?

Interesting review of this year's Halloween Haunt, coupled with some great photos!