brenthodge

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.

thats where that idea came from - its even done in the freaking chain, so why is it so hard for KI to implement?

In “fairness” I had conversation with Koontz last year during Carnivale expressing my appreciation, yet disappointment with the state of the event. He said it’s a conversation they’ve had many times with corporate live entertainment where they come out of the gate with all the bells and whistles, throw it all out there to see what sticks, and have way more than will be sustainable in the long run when it becomes the individual park’s responsibility to run the event with a positive ROI in the future years. KI being one of the first “test” parks you really feel the cuts more than those that come on line in later years with nothing to compare it to.

I don't feel like they EVER really get the fountain right - even all day long it just bobs and squirts. Nothing is slow and gradual like it used to be. AND they play all their tricks all day long, so there are no surprises at night. Ive always felt like the "squiggle" should not be used at all unless the whole thing is choreographed to music - like at nigh or 2-3 times a day (once an hour is a bit much). But never understood why we dont have Snoopy in a tux come out a few times a day and "direct" the fountains as a mini show for the kids. Even if they planned the set better for the bandstand show, he they could add a podium that extends out over the water a bit. The "fan jet" nozzles have seemed wrong from the beginning as they basically are just finger jets that look almost exactly like the jet beside it. The whole fountain redo was a disappointment if you ask me.

AND - while we are at it - retool showplace with a mix of seating - flat floor in front to double as a dance floor for audience to dance along, raked theatre style a bit in the center with less of an angle, and tiered flat areas on the side with cafe tables for seating/bring drinks/food in. While I complain about the food/show mix in FestHaus, I don't think in an outdoor venue with less of a "food hall" feel it would be as bad. As you said, have these shows in the evening for cooler temps and better lighting. It could stagger with the bandstand show. Retool the bandstand as well with a few rows of benches toward the back or maybe additional cafe tables. Maybe even push traffic to the sides with some planters and low walls and define the area with a change in paving - make it look like a park in front of the tower, then during shows add stantions to route traffic through and around the back of the tower so people don't cut through in front of the stage the entire time to have both of these venues feel a bit like "evening music clubs".

Yeah - this is actually a really good show... for the Showplace or KI theatre (almost feels like a Dollywood show) - shame it's in the food barn of the FestHaus where they have to scream-sing to be heard, and others have to scream talk louder to overpower. I think it's time to reevaluate the type of shows in FestHaus to be more visual like Ice Skating or move the "stunt" type of show there. You'd need to retool a bit, but the space is pretty massive and I think you could get the height and width needed to do the extreme sports type of show that wouldn't rely on hearing as much.

If ever there was an area that a splash pad would make sense in... They could've gone the Dollywood route and done the "stream" with the minimally recessed flow path that you can still walk on in the cold months. Put it in the area where "Tree Lot" goes and it would make sense flowing out of the log ride. Run a stream down the middle between the two FastLane entry paths to log ride and air rail.

After the second viewing it’s growing on me. Still like last years song and feel like this year doesn’t exactly know what its story is.

Looks great, but it’s more like a Wine and snack mini festival. I think calling it a “food festival “ is a bit of a stretch. The entertainment seems great and the decor looks very well done. It reducing the days results in a stronger event I’m all for it. I’d even be ok with Carnivale only on weekends if it wasn’t as thin and lane as last year.

Would love to. Last time I saw him was Camp opening day. He seemed a bit preoccupied Lol

I think they actually should keep this area “reserved” for this type of event. It lends itself really well to this and honestly gives the area more “ROI” potential that allows them to justify better landscaping and furnishing. I don’t think it ALWAYS needs to be festival central, but it will be interesting to see if they leave a lot of this as is and roll into CARNIVALE. They could just keep it on into fall with a “BBQ AND BLUES” or other fall type festival, then just add the hooks on toP of the red trusses and wrap them as candy canes.

Night lighting package looks nice for BSAcres. Subtle shifts that look like a sunset. Franklin is placed too close to the edge in his tower. There are three lights installed seemingly just to illuminate him and he’s so far in front of them they do nothing but create a strong backlight that makes him hard to see. How hard is this stuff? Entry along log ride really dark. Wish they hadn’t taken out the footers from the old signs, but used them to mount posts for string lights, and use added and existing lighting from Winterfest to project “light through the trees” to make that darker entry feel more immersive. Even if the overhead string lights twinkled like fireflies. Purple metal wall had nothing done to it. Would’ve been easy to repaint and add false “dorm doors” with lights above them with characters names on them as “campers” again… not a super expensive way to bring more to the area.

Is one week a good time frame for how long an animated statue of Snoopy waving a flag lasted. First time back since last Friday. Notice he’s not moving or flagging. When so much got cut from this build, it would be nice if the very few elements that did make it lasted a bit longer.

I mean “not dining seating” like benches and adairondak chairs scattered around.

Seems a bit all over the place. Is it about thrills? (coaster logos, but only a few). Anniversaries- those coasters have milestone years this year. Camping out under the stars? Making summer memories? It just didn’t seem to all come together. “Remember the Thrill” would’ve made sense for coaster anniversaries. Summer images of things under the stars - picnics, fireworks, campfires would’ve been good images for Under the Stars. And can we move on from drone blue ice cream? It just seemed a bit unsure of what story it was telling. Which is unfortunate after two pretty strong years.

Should been the name of the show. It barely referenced Adventure Avaiting. Great song. Hope they keep it “in storage” and cycle it back through in a year or two.

Agree 100%. Great theme, great tie into Rivertown, great paint job on Air Rail. So many missed opportunities. Took out footers from Planet Snoopy that could’ve been used to hold the Welcome Happy Campers wood sign posts that got cut. Did no replacement of modern concrete planters that could’ve had a “wood” overlay to look more like benches. Just left and Painted over unused lighting electrics in the old theater instead of designing a lighting package that enhanced the immersion (projecting light through trees and “day into night” lighting changes. Could’ve pretty easily pulled KiteEatingTree and a rethemed Space Buggies into off road vehicles, along with a redressed snack/beverage stand to make a more cohesive entrance. Was hoping for more seating added to the new areas outside of dining tables. Love the music though. Nice change from KidsBop. feels like it got to about 75% and the stuff that got cut would’ve really elevated the experience.

Slaw, veggie sticks, potato salad.

Cold sides are huge by comparison.

Odd that the Candy Canes have been reinstalled (minus the curved tops. Dont seem necessary just for lighting as each one is almost right besode an existing light rig that has room for additional fixtures.

Was it not served with the logo filler paper or did you remove it? Im liking the new plates. Makes it look a wee bit more upscale and the smaller portions stand out more not lost in a flapping sea of logos. Looks good.

That’s two different things. A styled shot of a Big Mac still has the core elements promised. Will your lettuce look that crisp- no, but they don’t budget cut the seeds off the bun, they just don’t hand place them with tweezers. For this- lots of themed elements were cut and they still use the images showing them. Are they deal breakers? No, but when this project was mostly redressing and decor with two capitol additions, it’s unfortunate when a lot of that decor and theming was cut. Maybe it will be amazing what’s been added since… yesterday by next Friday and I’ll be totally wrong.