brenthodge

Combine the two “as soon as possible with the facts known at this time, shared in a way that won’t opinionize or anticipate an eventual outcome.” In this case, “a person, after entering a restricted area, was struck by a roller coaster car in motion. The person was taken via life flight to etc etc. at this time we have no additional information as to their status or the status of anyone else directly involved. We take the safety of our guests and employees seriously, and are closely monitoring this situation. We will share additional information as soon as it is made available to us.”

It’s a play on words. The big “star” coasters are celebrating big anniversaries this year. YOU our guests are our stars. Making memories… under the stars.

So by that logic, if I’m looking for something to do… wonder to myself, “Hey I wonder if Kings Island has something around food… and wine? I’ll type those words into google and see what comes up” I’ll get hundreds of articles? That’s putting a lot on the average bored Cincinnati region resident to randomly search those words isn’t it?

WOW If only Kings Island put this much thought into promoting their product and special limited-time events like this and the Food and Wine Festival that got next to no mention outside of their own social channels

But will they offer an EXPERIENCE????

Agree. It’s everything I feared “Off the Rails” would be when that was announced as a 50th offering. These things are cute but need to be in a site- built venue or moved into Festhaus.

Sounds like they've eliminated them and are instead giving you a "merchandise card" to use toward food - which seems like more trouble than a card with a scannable QR code. I dont understand why they are moving away from the tasting card idea - would've made the Wine festival much better. As it was I didnt even take advantage of it since you had to do flights of a single variety of wine and couldn't "build a flight" or spread your ours out over the several weeks of the festival.

I believe there were fire bowls on those with the fabric flames

Touché

We had a subtly animated prop for a few days! RIP flagging snoopy. It was a good 5 days while it lasted.

That’s been the copy since year 1 (except they’ve added “lasers and drones”.) I wish it was actually the case where the parade “became” the party using the floats as rolling stages that circled the tower at the end instead of the clunky “rolling empty walk of shame” back to their home. They did that a bit year 1 keeping a couple of floats out by the stage for lights and color. Imagine ranging under the tower - using it as a massive lighting grid- surrounded by the floats with dancers on them and a live band and singers on stage. Basically “ClubCARNIVALE”. Parade runs from 8:30- 9 and then just flows right into dance party at 9-9:50 with live band/soundtrack for closing show (not Under the Stars, but a custom CARNIVALE program)

That would work as well. Never will though. I think they see too much money on the table.

I think 1) all self serve drink stations should move back behind counter for quickservice. With consistent limited options for efficient operation-see PigPens “beer style” dispenser. 2) always have water cups at all locations 3) all pop stations in quick service become water only 4) all drink stations are open for drink plan/ individual drink purchase with monitored entry point and are all self serve with multiple options. You could still get drink plan/refill at all food locations- just have to have them fill/give you the cup maybe BrewHouse and any future “table service” restaurant is different in that you get unlimited drinks, but drinks there cost a bit more. you don’t ever have “free reign” in an area away from the pay station with anything but water. What you would make up in list revenue would cover additional payroll needed.

Unfortunate timing that TrailBlazers has a whole segment with a guy with a cell phone “sneaking on stage” going where he’s not supposed to go, being chased by “camp counselor “ security, falling from high places he’s not supposed to be. Wonder if there was any discussion around cutting or redoing that part. The whole idea seems a wee bit “too close” to the root of what happened.

Guess flagging Snoopy is dead. No movement, no flag, no surprise.

Wouldn’t plan on it. Hasn’t happened since year one (if then) the “fan jet” nozzles make no sense at all. They either need to be set to arch NOTICEABLY to the center, or be replaced with a trumpet jet like was there before. There’s no real difference between the two when they both just shoot “slightly off center” straight up. The whole thing needs work.

Just a reminder. THIS is what was replaced by a little squiggly line of thin streams of water squirting up incessantly all day long.

Personally I wish at this point they’d invest in 3-4 semi permanent food kiosks in TowerGardens. Make them more like EPCOT food festival booths, that have more of a purpose built look. Redress them for each Festival ;CARNIVALE, Food and Wine, BBQ and BREWS, Winterfest) and then have better food options for each, since they could have a more permanent “kitchen” in each. If they could continue to monetize Tower gardens, they might continue to invest like they have for this. I’d be cool with it -along with the Oktoberfest bar- being more of a Festival Center. Move food and Wine weekends to the spring before daily ops, CARNIVALE early summer, BREWS &Qs late summer, then the fall/ winter fests. Really tie Coney BBQ, VIP, and Tower Gardens together into one “destination” Also, build more of a permanent stage by FestHaus with a wooden pergola cover that could double as raised extra seating when not in use. Give that whole area a more cohesive look and tear-round festival feel.

And just imagine how AWESOME they would’ve looked as massive flaming cauldrons of Fire and Water at haunt. Red/orange lighting on “eruptions” of water. The bases could’ve housed the air compressors for the new launched jets that shot 30’ in the air for shows. The bowls could’ve housed the mechanics of the 4 animated jets. Point is there so much they could’ve done, but for the $2.50 that was allotted to it, they chose not to. Even if the goal was to make it easier to have the skating prep area, they could’ve permanently removed 1 pedestal on each end and not lost that feel. Point is, they ripped out the park-like charm of IStreet to give us better viewing, then gave us nothing much to look at.

It needs a complete “take 2”. What they invested in isn’t great, but it seems like it’s salvageable. Replace the finger nozzles with trumpet jets like used to be there on the first, fourth and seventh outlet. Angle the remaining finger jets to really arch to the center on 2,3,5,6 outlets. That way you could have more “pictures” you could create. The whole thing needs to be MUCH simpler outside of shows so there’s actually a bit of WOW when the well timed squiggle of jets starts. Someone needs to actually draw out the various pattern options and program to those. I just sat here and with that arrangement drew out 6 different combinations.I don’t know how to actually program the valves, but if it’s “easier said than done” as some defend, then It was a bad investment and needs to be rethought.

I guess I just didn’t care any more. That’s the problem with uninspiring selections. Peopke don bite anymore.

And wasn’t the tasting card cut last year? Or was that for tricks and treats?

Oh. I’m not defending it (realize it came off that way a bit) there’s no real excuse other than money. You cut a bit… people come… you cut a bit more, sone complain but different people come, you cut even more, both groups start noticing and attendance drops. Park cancels event says “ it’s run its course and the public isn’t really interested” you launch new event with even less offerings to “make up” for the event…. Or, you are Dollywood. Just providing perspective as to why year one is amazing and it quickly drops off. As you said, they need to be careful since KI has WAY more repeat visitors. Year one of Carnivale I didn’t have a pass and paid full (after 5) price and felt like I got WAY more than my moneys worth. Last year even with a pass, I barely cared (as it was obvious they didn’t either)

I think the difference is we have individually WIFI controlled valves - the output is at 100% all the time from the pumps and the wifi valves open and close based on the program. Other applications like the ISLAND are set up with individual pumps assigned to each nozzle that has better control. I think with KI the valves basically OPEN and CLOSE and thats why you get the little "pop" as the water begins to flow. They went the cheaper way (when you really look at it - there were no new pipes/outlets run.. its just new wifi controlled valve boxes with nozzles attached to the existing outlets. The show squiggle is just a series of arcs that are attached to the old pedestal outlet port). Regardless, I dont think there is anyone actually "choreographing" the fountains to the show or the daily soundtrack. Through the day its just "test patterns": and at night it seems like its the equivilant of "audio sync" on your christmas lights.

even if they wanted rid of the pedestals for Winterfest - or whatever reason they felt they HAD to go, they couldve done the set up of KD with the cluster of jets with a circle facing out. It would give them the easier set up for WF, but a fuller look the rest of the year. Basically use the center clusters during the day, then use the show squiggle and perimeter ones during the show. The fountain doe NOT need to look like its having a fit all day long. Create 3-4 simple formations and subtlely cycle them through the day. THIS would've made it worth the re-do. I was a big cheerleader for a fountain re-do... until I saw what they did. Be careful what you ask for.