BB1

Haunt as is has been effectively neutered. The mazes we have today are a far cry to what we had even a decade before. That being in amount of attractions and the intricacies of the attractions. Kill Mart has a lot of the scares most mazes don't as they designed the whole layout pretty well. The maze still has a pretty decently sized line even on slower nights and for a lack of better words still is relevant to the park. I'd much rather see a space like the old time pictures or an arcade be removed before another Haunt maze gets axed. I agree that we need a better venue, but I'd rather get a better venue without losing another great Haunt in the process.

Topic Bump I know in the past we had t shirts with the old design, are there any future plans to incorporate this design into a new shirt or accessories (hats, etc) in the future? (Didn't want to make a new topic so I thought I'd ask in here!)

I have been very, very distant from looking into Carnivale as the event has been on average the same for years. I decided tonight I'd go and check it out, the change at 5 on the dot from the usual fanfare to the Carnivale music was a very distinct and welcomed change. The actual event itself was very bizarre this year. Firstly, the fact the parade starts at 9, when I'm typically back home or doing something downtown was a very big clash to the usual family friendly 7ish start. That on-top of the fact that there is no tasting cards for 2024 left an upsetting taste in my mouth. I decided to not get any food, as honestly the food tasting cards have been what drives me to food events in the past. Considering I'm a passholder for CF, Universal Studios Orlando Premier and a WDW Incredipass holder, I know how food events operate and every time I get a tasting card or some incentive, I am more inclined to actually eat what they have. This year just feels like they dropped the ball once again. I love the concept of Grand Carnivale, I love what it brings to the park, I want this to be an annual tradition for friends and family as I have fond memories of the event going back to when it began. This year, being a very short stint, at a different part of the year and without the food tasting cards just didn't work. The key point is that I'm a foodie, give me an excuse to spend more so I feel like I get more value out of my food experience. Tasting cards are KING when it comes to events like this and the fact that we didn't get any is upsetting. I saw the food offered, which looked pretty good to be honest. Chef Major definitely has a hand in this event as he did in the past, so nothing here is directed at him, it's the administration or park operations who dropped the ball this year.

I’d venture to argue space and resources. All of the props from what I understand is remain in Killmart all season. The shirts are the same (which one was my old SCLG shirt fun fact) and the props don’t move. Making such a move in a park that has finite space would be a sizeable undertaking that I feel would be more of a hassle than anything else. I would love to see an upgraded experience as I’m actually considering prestige for 2025. If we got a reasonable venue in the Intl Street building or even if we got a new building in a vacant lot a la picnic grove area I’d be more amicable to getting a Prestige Pass.

Current marketing in Soak City for the 2025 addition. I wish we got a fleshed out media campaign like we did for mystic. (Should anyone wish to use these photos please just reference me you have my permission!)

I've been seeing this on the horizon for awhile now. It is barely open, or at least rarely has a line when I go and is in prime real estate for the park. I'd love to see them go down the Aqua Trax route as they have been teasing it for years now. I would rather not see a boomerang style like at SFOG as the park needs a really good high capacity water ride to suck guests out of the lines of other attractions at the park. If not an Aqua Trax, is there a chance, while small, that CP could maybe go down the log flume route? It is something they lack and would be a great call back to the original flume they had with modern thrills which could take advantage of Millennium Island.

I'd also venture to mention that additions like this come in groups. I would not be surprised if parks like Carowinds and Cedar Point got some form of water coaster over the next few years. To say I'm excited is an understatement. I've been begging for a water coaster since I was a lifeguard at SC, I'll definitely be at the preview day (if they have one, come on I'm the one guy on here who probably goes more than 95% of the KIC population please give us a GP preview day!)

Nope, I got BOGO hot dog deal which I never get hot dogs. I could see this pass perk being useful for those who may not have a meal plan or goes as a family but I’m not going to be using this period as I have the drink plan. I wish you had the choice to put in your wants for the pass perk as I never buy food but I would be open to getting a discount on merch or fudge or the capacity to stock up on perks for an excellent perk for Haunt. (Like you don’t use perks for the entire year and get a free one time haunt fright lane or something)

I'll post pictures later on this evening for the whole parade but just some thoughts from my trip over the weekend Cinesational is arguably one of the best shows I've seen period, I am not one to watch shows to begin with but the show was excellent. Seating is definitely something you want to get earlier than later, and the projections were brilliant. 10/10 would probably watch again. The only issue I have is that the park closes at 9, the show is at the end of the day, so you're missing out on night rides on Velocicoaster if you make the choice to watch the show. The parade was a mix of today, yesterday and years past. The floats were well designed and offered a different view for each side which gives the reason to watch it again from the opposite side of the street. The pacing felt off from the 2nd/3rd float on which did lead to a strange tempo after those floats went past. I feel like there was also a really strong opportunity to mix up the floats. Putting in a dragon costume team or maybe individuals in raptor costumes I feel would give more flair to the overall event. I still would say this parade was excellent, is it on par with the best parade ever being the Mulan parade from MGM Studios? Never, but it's better than most parades I've seen recently. The Tribute store did get an update in their merchandise lineup, which I appreciated. My VHS finally got added to the fan wall which came out really great in comparison to what I was expecting. I think my main point is that if you're considering coming to Universal, this is arguably the time to do it. The shows are excellent, the crowds aren't as terrible as they have been in the past and there's plenty to do even outside of the attractions.

I was holding back on a-lot of speculation/statements until the merger was completed (As I do not give out financial advice or want to comment on public securities transactions). What I will say is that based on the recent moves, it seems as if it's the SIX chain with CF administration. I love the Cedar Fair corporate feel, I loved the font, which we got with the merger. I love the chaperone policy, which came with the merger. I love the straightforward pricing, which SIX finally did away with recently. I feel as if this merger will probably have some serious rough patches however if the past few weeks have been any indication of what FUN will look like moving forward, I'm excited to see what the future looks like!

Arguably one of the more unique signs for the park's history IMO. I loved the motif on it and the overall design stood out for guests who were coming to the lazy river.

Be there be there be there! Buy a pint* to get access to the world thrilling Half Pint Brawlers in the Festhaus Thunder Dome! *availability and access subject to change I don’t really care for the live entertainment which in my opinion gets glorified way too much as Live E puts a lot of money into it. I’d be comfortable losing a show for more theming or a new house around the park as it would free up more spending for the attraction.

I honestly wish they went for a 6 pm start for events like this. I get off at 5 and have a 30 min commute if I work in the office so that would probably put me back to where I wouldn't be able to enjoy the dish. Also, isn't this the first Chef's Plate in forever now? I remember Major making this a big priority but unfortunately, we haven't seen it in a while.

-Topic Bump- Has anyone been able to check out Cinesational or the new Movie Parade? I'll be back down next week and was wondering if there were any 'best spots' to get for viewing. (Pics will be posted from the parade and the nighttime light show when I go down!)

With July coming in full swing, I can't help but look forward to the Haunt season (No kidding, I'm already booking trips to HHN in Orlando and CP Halloweekends ontop of a Knotts stint). This will effectively be the first post merger haunt, which Six Flags pre-merger acquired access to use several major franchises for their halloween event. I'm definitely interested in seeing if we get any major changes for this season, I don't believe we are going to get access to any of the major franchises however I wouldn't be opposed to the park somehow bringing a new house to the park with a throwback theme a la Carnevil or Urgent Scare. I think the key for this year is definitely finding a tempo that increases scares and gives more value for families for the day event. The dj on Coney Mall really took the ambiance away from what should be a solid midway for scares. I think the DJ would work well for a kids event dance party with the Peanuts characters but I was not a fan with what we got last year. That coupled with the lack of fog and lack of a scarezone in Adventure Port was a major let down that I think should definitely be monopolized this year. Make it a jungle expedition gone wrong, or maybe the curse we hear about on Adventure Express hitting the miners/explorers of the ruins. What are some of your thoughts about what we need for 2024/could see in the coming weeks leading up to Haunt season?

I'm happy with this addition. I honestly blanked out on the water infrastructure already being at the Pipeline Paradise section of the park. It's going to be a smaller water coaster however it is something that will pull some wait time away from the other attractions which I'm excited about. I wish it was going towards shallow (think everything left from Splash Landing) as the deep area is going to be swamped with slide attractions that need lifeguard spots. I'd venture to say just with the water coaster alone 3-4 spots which will need to be filled, not including the new kiddie land upgrade. I'm overall very optimistic, will this bring a new theme to the waterpark? Probably not but at this point on the waterpark timetable we're coming due.

To be honest I really didn't get the whole event. The wine selection was subpar, almost akin to a very cheap wine tasting experience at a wine bar, which is saying something about the quality control. Give me a solid Riesling, Bordeaux etc from regions that produce amazing wines unlike the menagerie that we got. Leave the food and wine fest to the pros, give us a solid local ran Oktoberfest with regional craft breweries and then we could maybe entertain a food and whine about it later fest.

I haven't been able to go to the park that often due to traveling every weekend since effectively Memorial Day weekend. However, I was able to swing by a few times and using my experience I can probably make a decent guesstimate that this will be a family slide area a la Safari Sam's Splashland. Why? The waterpark has been expanding alot in line with the older audiences and for fair amount of time without adding something new for the kids. I would be upset, but not shocked if the pirate ship goes with it as the pump house for the kid's area is being used for practically 4 separate water districts in that section of the park. (Look Out Lagoon, Castaway Cove, Mondo and Aruba Tuba) Lookout being the pirate ship which has been dated even since the mid 2000's Boomerang Bay, so it's not too far out of the way to see a new family/childrens area to replace it. Seeing a Boomerango would be fun for what the park has been lacking, modern unique water slides that aren't just a slide complex. Packages like what has been mentioned are what CF loves when it comes to waterparks. However, I'm going to allude to my largest gripe with Orion: placement. Sure, it would be perfect next to mondo, but you effectively cordon off the kid's area which could become a new family hub where you could add in the Boomerango near old pipeline paradise (RIP). or perhaps in the field near Breakers which would more than likely call for the need to move Columbia/tunnel for park expansion once the back half has been filled. Mind you, the Tropical plunge addition was already in the books in 2014 (iirc) and the ride was announced for 2016, so whatever is coming was already set in stone years ago. I have been a strong advocate for a water coaster behind Pineapple Plunge, with the terrain having a pretty sizeable drop it's a no brainer to have effectively the water coaster equivalent of The Beast in the waterpark. Will we get it? Probably not, but IMO I think it's a no brainer that the park has been leaving off the board for quite sometime. The last parting gift for now is a simple issue the waterpark has yet to remedy: staffing. The attractions they would add would need staffing, Boomerango probably would be a 4-person team, something like a small white water west kids slide area probably close to 3. For a waterpark that has a chronic drain issue with their guards for reasons I won't get into, staffing is the biggest hurdle the park needs to accomplish.

Not Kings Island BUT we got a 21 and colder at CP, it looks like they have themed drinks so we may get a Banshee berry mixed drink?? (upset that it took away a stand to get cheese on a stick though)

Does anyone know when Progressive started advertising on the Antiques? I enjoyed all of the signs they used to have, I’m somewhat upset that the classic charm has been taken away by a few progressive signs.

You know, I went searching for a SC topic on KIC to post about the anniversary here, low and behold my cringey 2012 self made one for me. (Again I apologize for anyone who had to deal with me back then, I too lose brain cells every time I see my old posts) Something that Ryan & Don talked about on Tower Topics and something that I’m surprised the park hasn’t talked about is the waterpark’s 35th anniversary. Hopefully the park could bring some throwback merchandise/signs to the WW/BB eras or some form of recognition for the anniversary. IMO Soak City has been seriously lacking in merchandise variety for years now, so it would be refreshing to see something new come for the 35th. Just a brief on the slide anniversaries this year: Paradise Plunge, Tropical Twister, Pineapple Pipeline, Splash River & Thunder Falls 35 years (Water Works ‘89) Rendezvous Run, Mondo Monsoon, Coconut Cove, Splash Landing 20 years (Boomerang Bay ‘04)

So correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t believe I’ve ever seen fundraising shifts like this at KI. Could this be their response to the lack of workers in the spring/early summer?

The fact that they’ve been working on it for so long speaks to how impressive it should turn out. I’m optimistic that the park can pull it off with the nighttime lagoon show, I’m just hoping I’m able to see it as I’m typically in IOA riding Velocicoaster at night.

Looks like we may get an announcement on the next tribute store for the summer on the 29th. From what you could see in the preview it looks like Jurassic Park, Ghostbusters, Jaws and maybe Back to the Future? Definitely excited to check out the new tribute store, any guesses on when it will open up?

Did anyone else notice the issues with the loudspeakers in the park today? Banshee's Station Opp comm system wasn't working for the first part of the day, Adventure Port's mix had some audio squelching every few minutes on certain notes/keys. Definitely was more noticeable on the deck at Enrique's than the walking path.