brenthodge

Good, just as long as you know what to expect so you aren’t disappointed.

I fail to see how a 1x use ride pass diluted a season-long, all ride fast pass. It will most likely be targeted at single day visitors who don’t see a value in getting a Fast Lane for all rides, but have 1-2 must do that they want to ride. You still got what you paid for!

Observations -boat has already been changed -my thought on day one “they are going to have to push that further out in the pond and anchor that to get it away from the rail or people will get on it” now, they d pushed it out in the pond and anchored it. they really should’ve built an “office” around the desk props to just look through a window at the stuff. It’s literally inches from the queue line and the desk lamp is already broken. tunnel one may not be complete, but we made this big deal about snakes and… no snakes-no lights. tunnel 3- gem mine? Something? Again we made a big deal about hitting the “mother lode” and pikes of lit up fake gems would sell that story. flags have started appearing in front of Enrique’s. They seem like a hard material zip tied onto the lighting wires. I’m hoping -but not expecting additional poles and wires. I’m afraid this detail has been “minimized’. Would look good if they aged the poles on the back patio as the shiny black looks too new. They are doing LOTS of aging and detail paint, so hopefully! the ride op building for SolSpin looks really nice. I had doubts about how this building would age down and blend in, but looks good. odd design choice to put a shade structure over the entrance to Cargo-where you just pass through and no shade structure over the queue where you wait.

I think that’s one aspect (mix of rides throughout) that CedarFair, and KI specifically are trying to address and do better at. It’s great to have an “award winning” kids area, but parks like Dollywood really excel at having rides of similar theme but different intensity and height requirements all coexisting in the same areas through the park. For Thunderhead, there’s whistle punk. For Dropline, there lumberjack lifts -all within eyeshot of each other with food (pizza) in the middle. Family units can all hang in an area and have things for all ages to do instead of one adult being sentenced to kiddie land. Now, I’d venture that our kiddie land has more “adult rides” than most, but it’s nice to see a better mix throughout. Now there needs to be a few lower height requirement flats in the area formerly know as action sone when that gets its retheme.

Here are my thoughts - LOVE that they kept the production level up. LOVE that they saw a way to use all the investment from last year in infrastructure and apply it to a more "budget friendly" show that can run every night without breaking the bank (I was honestly surprised there wasn't a "B mode" version of FFF that they ran on weeknights last year as that show was crazy expensive to run) LOVE that they created ANOTHER original song instead of cut and pasting pop songs BUT... Wish the whole thing was a bit more "ADVENTURE" oriented. I got the hints of Adventure Awaits, but it seemed more about going home, going to bed and good night dreams than starting an adventure. The whole thing tries to be a bit too sentimental after last year’s tear jerker. And one of the opening lines makes no sense when they say “KI is here for you now.. or at the end of the day” dude! Now IS the end of the day they were just trying to hard to be all schmaltzy. Wish there would be better programming of the fountains. I don't love them during the day just bopping and hopping around as they seem way to "busy". Wish the day mode was more slow transitions to a few different "grand" patterns like the before - don't even use the "show squiggle". Then at night during the show, they basically do the same hopping and bopping - fairly random - mostly all of them all of the time. Seems like there could be 1-2 "fountain only" moments (see next thought) that really take advantage of the show squiggle and the other spray heads to create more "pictures" with the water. Wish there was about 3-5 more minutes. There was SO MUCH crammed into 5:55 that it was almost wasted at times. I feel like there are things that could be done to extend the run time a bit without upping the run cost. With Adventure Port opening (and giving them a "tie in" name for the show and park promo) wish there was a mini "park tour". FunFireworksFitty was about the seasons at the park and the park history moments - this show could be all about how "Adventure Awaits" at every bend and in every area of KI. Just a few seconds of area appropriate music with the fountains and laser images only - maybe 1-2 pyro adds for those not on I-STREEET would break up the same song used through the whole show LASTLY - JUST BRING BACK PHANTOM THEATRE ALREADY! Theres yet another nod to the attraction in the show and its the ONLY "ride from the past" mentioned, so there is clearly an acknowledgement that this ride has a huge fan base and merchandising potential. Just announce the return LOL

THIS!!!! This how you do a ride. Just these queue pics make me so happy. Is it a HUGE expense? no, not really, but does it make a huge impact? TOTALLY. It is so on theme, on narrative and well done on a pretty basic budget, that I expect this all the time now guys. YOU CAN DO IT!!! (well, hiring JRA didnt hurt LOL). Mystic, Orion and now this have proven there is a new focus in this company of doing things that engage on all levels. I don't see "just" a record breaker coaster coming in a long time - if ever to this park. I see a combining of stats with story (Orion) or filling a demographic niche (family coaster) with a story-rich experience (Adventure Express). I also think the approach of taking essentially "off the shelf" flats and integrating them into existing, or developing new "park lore" with supporting themed infrastructure is working very well these days.

the elevation... the "rose bowl" ...the wood. Brilliant, subtly-obviously subtle (is that a thing?) easter eggs.

that's great to hear - my own kids get annoyed with my "on the path, please" to them all the time. It's really a parent issue at this point - kids will be kids. It's OUR JOB as parents and supervisors to teach them to respect the investments that the park makes. Sadly most adults with kids either just don't care, or worse, actively encourage it to get the 'great picture'. HINT - Timmy isn't THAT cute, and he really isn't cute "drankin' out of that giant beer mug in that ther planter" so get you darn kid out of the plants! LOL

Here are my thoughts - LOVE that they kept the production level up. LOVE that they saw a way to use all the investment from last year in infrastructure and apply it to a more "budget friendly" show that can run every night without breaking the bank (I was honestly surprised there wasn't a "B mode" version of FFF that they ran on weeknights last year as that show was crazy expensive to run) LOVE that they created ANOTHER original song instead of cut and pasting pop songs BUT... Wish the song was a bit more "ADVENTURE" oriented. I got the hints of Adventure Awaits, but it seemed more about going home and goodnight that starting an adventure. Wish there would be better programming of the fountains. I don't love them during the day just bopping and hopping around as they seem way to "busy". Wish the day mode was more slow transitions to a few different "grand" patterns like the before - don't even use the "show squiggle". Then at night during the show, they basically do the same hopping and bopping - fairly random - mostly all of them all of the time. Seems like there could be 1-2 "fountain only" moments (see next thought) that really take advantage of the show squiggle and the other spray heads to create more "pictures" with the water. Wish there was about 3-5 more minutes. There was SO MUCH crammed into 5:55 that it was almost wasted at times. I feel like there are things that could be done to extend the run time a bit without upping the run cost. With Adventure Port opening (and giving them a "tie in" name for the show and park promo) wish there was a mini "park tour". FunFireworksFitty was about the seasons at the park and the park history moments - this show could be all about how "Adventure Awaits" at every bend and in every area of KI. Just a few seconds of area appropriate music with the fountains and laser images only - maybe 1-2 pyro adds for those not on I-STREEET would break up the same song used through the whole show LASTLY - JUST BRING BACK PHANTOM THEATRE ALREADY! Theres yet another nod to the attraction in the show and its the ONLY "ride from the past" mentioned, so there is clearly an acknowledgement that this ride has a huge fan base and merchandising potential. Just announce the return LOL

But maybe a friendly “hey, can you guys please come out of the planter that you had to crawl over a curb and cross 8 feet of mulch to get into, please? Thanks!” From security, but unfortunately there seems to be a “don’t rock the boat” mentality when it comes to that stuff. I guess there are only so many hills you can die on.

Good, normal year follow up to FFF. Impressed how much of that shows DNA is in this new incarnation. Was honestly expecting a return to a 3-4 min pop song. Nicely surprised

Yep. Kids have turned them into play structures that you literally have to cross 6-8 feet of mulch to get to while the slob parents sit on their phones daring anyone to say anything. If you want to know why we can’t have an awesome park-here’s why. I give the planting around the stone head a few days till they are destroyed by kids climbing on it, and bets on how long until sone drunk idiot tries to jump the fence into the boat since it it “docked” right at the edge of the lake. People are idiots, but a lot of this was not thought out for the type of crowd this park gets (saw them there tonight.

I didn’t say cringe is bad!!! LOL. Actually the new version has a few good tweaks. Better aerial act. More energy.

Ummmm wow.

Nope-it’s still cringe in person. The ending was so odd. It felt like it was just “oh crap-this has gone on for 20 min. Let’s just end it quick and close with a big number.

I don’t know about cirque (I think that had run its course as well) but yes. It was cool last year as a nostalgia piece for the anniversary (but even that was odd since it was in no way an original attraction to reference) but it’s lost all uniqueness by running it again. People jump me and say “but the development costs for one year!!” Ummm can you say “Haunt show?” Or pull it out the year that the Phantom rises again. It’s not like development costs are lost if you give it a break or don’t have to develop a new haunt show.

Lol. That sky ride footer has like 9 lives. It’s like a monument to KI of yore!

You just hit on why I think they didn’t go to the extra expanse. If capacity could be higher by adding more single seats, then yes, I think they would’ve done it, but the way it’s structured I think they didn’t see it changing things too much throughput wise.

See I think that’s flawed thinking. Yes, customers should be grateful, but it’s not like the attendance and spending numbers don’t justify the investment. Statements like that make it sound like it’s a “gift” not a solid business decision. Investments are planned and budgeted corporately as well as locally, so the money spent reflects both corporate desire to increase attendance and spending as well as reinvestment of the financial contribution of the specific regional park.

They usually do a “day of” social shout out if they are.

Exactly! Plus over time I think it will even out.

Wonder if there will be a “preview night” of Phantom like last year. Would love to go Fri to park for first night fireworks AND a show.

They usually shift to allow performers to move over to parade roles.

Had a “back deck” early lunch there today. Agree the two sauces are nice. They’ve got to get Grain and Grille figured out. It’s all over the place quality and operational. On a slightly related note (as they were evicted for G&G, the Skyline pavilion is getting sone love and attention-now if they could somehow reconfigure the building to have a second small order window on the side facing the seating…

I love that certain places are doing special deserts, but they need to 1) get a separate line for these and highlight them and 2) figure out how to get them to you since I waited in the full prep line at Enrique’s then another 5-10 minutes to have them pull it out of the fridge and hand it to me. I think people would eat this up (no pun intended) if they made it way easier to get. But on a related note. This thang is GOOD!