brenthodge

And somewhat harder to sustain. Most non-coaster “hype” campaigns are like Tomb Raider in that it’s the story, the experience, or the unknown you “have to ride it to find out” and once they have, the public interest can wane.

Agree. Last thing we need by The Beast is more random, un themed crap like this, the guess your weight thing or the massive soccer game. That area really needs to be cleaned up, not cluttered more.

Especially since knotts still does it in Jan, so any decor or costuming could be shared.

I personally thought it was a bit pointless since it was barely audible and the warning was just slapped on top of it. Unlike mystic, it was just a loop that didn’t “build” to anything. I wish they would “score” the entire ride with off board (on board is tricky and adds lots of weight) audio if they are going to do anything, but the “roar” of the track would pretty much drown out anything.

So focused down lights at a low level, linked into the safety system that in the event of an Estop go to full bright, along with pole mounted floods that turn on in the event of an evac, combined with infrared or low light cameras that can pick up what’s happening in the dark are outside the realm of what’s possible in this day and age? Many things are possible with money and investment (but I do have to agree, the blinding light makes what comes after darker-just wish it had more “purpose” like have two that look like eyes staring you down?)

There are other ways to light light hills. See: pretty much every coaster that doesn’t have blinding flood lights on their lift hills.

If the park puts half the effort you have into all these concepts and squiggles, then we are in for a real treat LOL. I hope you are validated one of these days soon with an announcement, then you can say “see, I told you so in concept #37! Keep up the good work. I hope your check is in the mail.

Kind of wonders that. Or at least it gives poor maintenance a good excuse!

I don’t enjoy it. It looks trashy, and who get a thrill tossing trash? Weird folks!

And it looks like they gave up on the mist on the sign this year as well for Banshee. Lighting is either not working or needs to be reprogrammed to its fuschia, purple fade cycle as a lot is flashing red or green. The station flickering lights in the chandeliers have been replaced by plain white lights etc etc.

It was brilliant marketing and a true testament to the power of theming and theatricality to raise the overall experience. At its heart, it was a basic carnival ride that they figured out could be used to tell a narrative. It’s what Disney used to do best… start with a story and figure out what could be used to tell it. To say only a coaster can drive attendance is a lazy approach. The other way takes a lot more thought and design though.

True, remember Winterfest 2005 was as much about showing off the “year round ability” of the parks as it was about really bringing back an event. It was pretty much set dressing to make them look good to buyers.

Figured. Didn’t look far enough down. Cool!

https://www.micechat.com/313670-seaworld-to-buy-knotts-cedar-fair-parks/ anyone seen this?

Great idea. Maybe use the idea of using the crypt building for queue, then have it somehow cross over The Beast into the area where Vortex was for its splashdown, then cross back over to unload.

How much German food do we think people really eat??? Now there’s “revamp the bier garden” and “add a 2 story German restaurant”? I think we overestimate a love if weiner schnitzel LOL! I’d rather see Oktoberfest wrap on around and take over Action Zone with new landscaping and revamped building facades and make that at area the “rides of the festival”. Focus FestHaus on German food. Relocate Panda To a new Chinese “mini area” (maybe where chick fil a is since that’s where China goes for Carnivale. Chick fil A goes to the LaRosas in Rivertown (chicken is more “frontier” than pizza). Burrito shack, Adventure Express, restrooms, and a new flat (where air brush is) make a “Mexico and South American” mini land. Maybe an additional food offering that’s more Brazil over where done if those rope ladder games area. These new “mini lands” make sense coming off of international street as they are areas not represented by those buildings.

Maybe instead of a flat, it’s a hybrid wild mouse/arcade shooting game that ties into The Beast lore. A mining company shut down due to the miners disappearing, growling was heard in the mines. Legend had it that a demon beast roamed the woods and caves. It was angered when it’s lair was disturbed by those wanting to strip the riches out of it. The Beast coaster plays into the idea of being chased through the woods be the creature, and the SHAFT gives you a chance to seek your revenge (or The Beast to finally secure his-depending on how the game goes. Use the tunnel and first building for switchback queue, route the load into the pre-show building, then the cars enter the main chamber, are lifted straight up in the mineshaft to bring their journey down. Minor dips and twists stop at screens to do the “game”. At the end, cars exit the main building into a new indoor unload (to control light) then cycle around the building in an enclosed “hallway” back to the load building. The entrance and exit are shifted to the left side off of a new BEAST entrance plaza littered with abandoned mining equipment. SLAUGHTER HOUSE gets a new exterior and theme to tie into the overall area.

Too simple of a solution LOL. While they are at it, they could theme it to a mine shaft and relocate the entrance queue to the other side coming off a new shared “Miami Valley Mining” entrance so it tied into The Beast idea. Even if somehow they came up with an idea for the pre show building that was “haunt like” with projection mapping on an old mine that looks like it’s coming to life, then you get into the “elevator” to descend into the “enchanted mine” for your chance at finding the elusive treasure, then “oh crap” the elevator goes crazy and the topspin flips the sh!# out of you.

Rivertown is not really tumbleweed western. It really should be more “Midwest frontier” it’s supposed to be the early EARLY days of Cincinnati area. They’ve prettty much abandoned that sadly to the point that it’s “vaguely western”. I long thought white water can you should be more themed to the Miami River. Even a recreated Peters Cartridge Factory that causes the explosions on the River. The shot tower would be perfect for the lookouts and a factory setting would make the wave maker and other equipment not seem so random as it could all be themed to the factory. I’d hate for all of rivertown to be “abandoned industry” but it honestly makes the most sense if they aren’t going to do “period”. Urban exploration and extreme nature sports (rock climbing, par core, off roading) are a big deal, so I wish they would lean into that.

It would be great if they could revisit some of those decisions. Keep the ride and revamp the queue. Even if they just build facades of themed buildings to hide the industrial queue. Or, Since DB really needs a repaint anyway, use character paint to look like timber logs in the lower portions of the supports that touch down in River town. But those cosmetic, theming driven changes don’t usually drive spending or attendance, do they don’t get budgeted.

So agree (grumbles included) that Diamondback was a good addition in a bad location. It’s almost like paramount planned it. The queue is terrible with those modern sun shades, the infrastructure looks bad right behind showplace, the helix into the splash ruined what wasnt already bad about The Beast Entrance.

The indoor portion of the Crypt is a wasted opportunity - its actually a well- done (or it was - not sure what is left of it) queue from its tomb raider days. The way the buildings are constructed (4 seemingly separate structures) should be easy to demo the largest and maybe even the pre-show building) and keep the tunnel and the first room as switchbacks.

Agreed BEAST plaza is horrible now with the soccer game, the closed Crypt, the dead end wall unless haunt is open. It’s just a non-impressive area fir such a marque attraction. Hope with all the track work there’s more to the overall project to give it a proper entrance again.

Thanks - was just going to highlight a few of those things - Would those keep an out of towner here to visit KI a few more days? Maybe not, but it 1) there was better PHYSICAL connectivity between Cincinnati and KI to get people into the city easier, and 2) better coordination around events in Cincinnati - such as an "All American Reds BaseBall" event in the Coney section w Reds players and memorabilia, a "Game Day Tailgate" (kinda did this one) around big football game weekends, Maybe try to coordinate something around Carnivale with the art museum to highlight International art from the countries represented by the festival... I don't know - there are lots of other events that they could even do ticket "bundles" with such as the Zoo - or now that the rides are gone and they compete in different segments, develop a relationship with Coney mgmt to highlight the "Birthplace of KI" and give a discount as an incentive t extend your stay in the "Beautiful new Kings Island Inn" for an extra day to visit old Coney. Again, it doesn't seem like an avenue they want to go down right now

I think that’s a fail on KIs part in that they ARENT marketing the whole region more. There’s the zoo, pro sports, great urban dining and exploration, great theatre and cultural experiences. I’d venture that If they WANTED to they could bring back that “destination” mentality with a “Disney Springs” style development, more partner lodging and dining as well as cross promotions with other area attractions. I thought it could’ve been heading that way years ago with the movie theatre, but that didn’t really last. Even if they developed the water park into a real, stand alone attraction worthy of a second gate admission I think they could really develop the whole property.