disco2000

I know that they have the 4-hour window for a reason to cut down on abuse, and I was always curious if they are able to keep track of how many meals are "wasted" due to someone getting a meal before the 4 hour window was up and having the food consequently tossed due to customer not wanting to pay. I see that they found a solution - they just put the food back in line to be served/purchased. I witnessed 3 times at LaRosa's and once at Skyline where the food simply was returned to the area to pick food up. One went back with less pepperoni as the customer had picked some off waiting to get to cashier. I am sure that is against health code and I mentioned to the cashier that they cannot have the customer return the food to the serving area and response was "we were barely trained on how to use this machine so I don't know what to do in that situation". Also, I noticed that many food places do not have the ability to get water (and thus no small Kinzel cups lol) - probably to entice people with a meal plan to purchase a drink lol. It was noted earlier, but yes a lot of food portions are a lot smaller this year.

That problem has existed many years. I know people that used the gold pass discount at a store for merchandise and then couldn't get food because it was used at said time of merchandise purchase. Or someone bought a drink and they scanned that first and then invalidated the meal.

Tower drinks has an iced tea machine - first one right after getting cup - most will miss it.

Plus, the first human riders would technically be the folks that designed the ride and park employees as part of testing and what not. Anyone who gets a first rider t-shirt and thinks they were truly the first riders are kidding themselves lol. And it's a brilliant move on the park having coaster clubs be the "extra riders" as part of media day. They will tend to be the most enthusiastic riders that will be seen on the news. While most doing the first rider auction may be coaster fans, just as many or more could be doing it as a fundraising event for a loved one and they don't really like coasters but are taking part in the charity event to support the cause. Paying money to participate in something doesn't make that person an enthusiastic rider or person for a media event. Don't believe me, go to any professional sports team that is successful and has all the boxes and seats purchased by those with money - in many instances the crowd noise is non-existent. I went to many a bearcat bball game during the Huggins era where the crowd noise was dead cause it was all corporate money in the seats and not true or real fans.

^That is correct - the "keep your existing pass as it is now your current pass" is boilerplate language. They said they cannot change that based on someone's purchase. I know it seems "obvious" about getting a physical card going from platinum to gold and vice versa, but we are in a digital age - it is the barcode that is important, not the color of the plastic - even more so for those that use the app. You could print your barcode on your hand and if it scans you get in. And why accept the pass number for renewal purposes if the pass then isn't valid? I know its details. But yea, if the old pass is no longer valid, provide a temporary barcode as Friday will be a mess trying to process since processing and the park open at the same time.

Since they dismantle the coaster trains and completely rebuild, it is highly unlikely coasters will be running. Plus the materials coasters are made of get "brittle" in lower temperature, thus severely reducing the longevity of the ride. Manufacturers have minimum operating temperatures for the safety of the ride not because a rider may think it is too cold.

So my friend called and they said she needs a new pass - the email that says use the existing card is boilerplate. Really unfortunate as the email didn't provide a barcode or anything that would let her print something out and scan to get in temporarily until the processing line goes down. I know there are worse things, but what's the point in renewing online and paying that access fee if you have to still go to processing?

OK, so I know best advice is to call the park and past actions don't necessarily reflect current policy, but just wanted to see others experiences. I have a friend who had a platinum pass from Carowinds and moved here and decided to just Gold Pass at KI this year. She input in her Platinum Pass number on the renewal and everything went through fine and got an email that says her existing pass is now active for the current season, etc. She is trying to add the pass to the KI App and it isn't accepting it. So now she is concerned that despite getting an email saying it is valid, will they make her get a new pass and will she be denied entry until she goes to processing? She is really hoping to avoid the crazy line that will be processing early in the season. So, has anyone else on here gone from Platinum to Gold for a renewal and had any issues with the pass? Has anyone had any issues trying to add a 2017 pass to the App?

Origins start date is May 27th...with the off day on Wednesdays this year...

Please update us after you ride MT! I didn't think I would like any wooden better than Beast, but Thunderhead changed my mind. Not that I don't ride The Beast any less or anything and it still is my go to coaster unless I have the choice of one versus the other.

Yep, which is why I said "if you are lucky" lol. From my limited investigation, anything running 4.0 and below will not support the new app.

If you are lucky, you can delete the app on your mobile device and reinstall and add your passes and it should show if you have a picture associated with your pass - in years past I would do that when the photo mysteriously disappeared from the app!

Huge Beast fan but if I could only ride The Beast or Thunderhead, I would choose Thunderhead - I think for many Timbers will be the same way. Of course all the "complainers" on FaceBook will never admit how much fun this ride will be. This company has proven that you don't need crazy speed or height to make a fun coaster.

After years of being stapled into rides at Kings Island, you will enjoy Timbers if it is anything like Thunderhead restraints. They have some movement and let you move with the ride.

Maybe I will come up with some Terpy-like statements to give some hints...some of you may remember my hints during last season...

Whether it is 65 or 70 degrees, it is still above the average 55 degrees for this time of the year, so I wouldn't say closing day will be colder - it is above average and will likely drive up attendance. Several years ago when the FL became a perk, I predicted on this site that we would see what we are now experiencing on a Sunday (one could search if so inclined lol). I expect Sunday to be crowded. And I believe KI will have experienced more FL perks used than in previous years because the weather has been so nice. I know many in years past that just didn't make it back to the park and never utilized the FL perk. Everyone I know has used it or plans to Sunday. Yes it has drawn in crowds and most also have the food plan - bigger question that will never publicly be answered is did it increase the per cap spending in October, and more specifically Sundays in October.

Hello, I tried to search and could only find about KI and Cedar Point. For a family with small children, I know KI is out because there are usually scare actors outside of intended scare zones/mazes. From what I have gathered here, Cedar Point has their scare actors mainly in the scare zones/mazes and if you see them outside the areas, they are probably heading to break and will not scare. What about Carowinds, Kings Dominion, and Dorney - are the scare actors in non scare-type places more like KI or CP?

Meanwhile many other Cedar Fair parks get a Skeleton Crew type show...and that show does well elsewhere...still convinced if we changed out one act ours would have been a hit...

Or they were told to say there were none so that people would not go in asking if they could take any extras home Said extra's probably making their way to some gold tags...they make great holiday gifts...

The orange cup is good at all the parks. Since you have a gold pass, you bought the dining plan for KI only. With a platinum pass you can purchase an all park dining plan.

^^I agree, but most amusement parks deal with this situation all the time and have settled on having one price for admittance (yes there are exceptions like pay to ride and others but then do those parks compete in the same league as a KI?). I am not directing this to you or anyone on this forum, but unfortunately there are always those that have to complain if they don't ride coasters - I mean go look at the Dollywood FaceBook page and read the number of people complaining that their parents don't ride anything why do they have to pay full price. In the summer Dollywood has at least 11 different entertainment options, along with great food, unique shops, rides, fireworks, trams in parking lot, etc. Many people go to Dollywood just for the entertainment, yet people still complain about why they have to pay full price. Many will argue that Dollywood offers more to non-riders than Kings Island does. KI believes they offer enough with "more than 100 rides, shows and attractions offering the perfect combination of world-class thrills and family attractions. Guests can experience the park’s 15 thrill-inducing roller coasters, including Diamondback, the tallest and fastest roller coaster at Kings Island, and the world’s longest wooden roller coaster, The Beast! Families can spend the perfect day together in the 13-time, award-winning Planet Snoopy kids’ area, or step back in time to periods between 245 million and 65 million years ago in Dinosaurs Alive!" - taken from their webpage. This is one of those discussions that people have their opinion and will not be swayed. On one side you have those that think a flat admittance fee (or season pass price in this case) ensures that the park is able to continue providing new attractions every year even if that means some will not enjoy everything the park offers. Others think that if you cannot partake in every attraction then you should not have to pay as much. And yet large families think KI should have a family pass that is one price and is good whether the family is 3 people or 7 people! Fact of the matter is very few pass holders actually partake in every single attraction. Some don't go to Soak City, some do not do the shows, most do not do every ride. Some go and just people watch.

You may need a refresher on what employees can post on social media

Well you did ask earlier in this thread does upgrading from a gold to platinum count as a renewal, so I was letting you know that with a platinum a junior pass option does exist. In the past, the gold pass for early renewal was the same price regardless of age/height, but after the season ended and the price went up, that is when the junior gold pass option became available. Since they still offer a junior platinum, a junior gold pass may be available after this current price sees an increase after the season ends. Of course said junior price will be more expensive than the pass offering now...

...And many grandparents make that same argument that they don't ride a thing but want to spend time with their family...well if one doesn't like it, one can choose not to purchase....or if you are so hung up on getting a lower priced pass for the young one, then purchase a platinum pass that offers such a junior pass...and be thankful that Kings Island hasn't followed the Cedar Point model and that you can still get a gold pass that gives free parking and admission to Soak City - you can only get that with a platinum at Cedar Point. Cedar Point does not offer such an equivalent bargain. With their park only pass, you can spend $30 more than the gold pass and get less. Gold pass is still an excellent value...

Or it could have been closed to allow the parking lot to be used for the tennis tournament. Lot was full today for the tourney...their normal parking (golf course) was a little wet lol Or it was a staffing issue... Or it was the crypto threat..... Or any combination of above or other.....