brenthodge

Cheap, pre printed bulk t shirts are WAY cheaper than labor regardless of what the initial outlay is. Plus it’s not like it’s volatile stock that can’t carry over year to year. Totally get your idea, and I think it’s cool, but I don’t think the metrics would make sense for them.

I love the contortions places will go through to try to work their name or what they are into things. ZOOLunimation is weird to say... but kinda fun!

while it would look cool, they'd get too soggy with rain to really be comfortable for seating - plus by Winterfest, half of them have either rotted, sprouted, or fallen apart into piles of straw.

I try to not be too harsh, but when they are on trees that got new lights, or buildings that had decor changes 2x (haunt and WintefFest) it might not be lazy, but it certainly wasn’t thorough. All in fun anyway.

Heck-there are so many streamers STILL left in the trees that the park was too lazy to remove, if they cancel the event, we can just look up and pretend it’s still happening.

WOW International street sure looked better like that before the clear cutting it went though a few years ago. If they could've kept the cozy street feel, yet done the repaint, and not filled a retail location with a giant Starbucks, I think it would've gone a long way to creating a perfect atmosphere.

I actually was upset as a long time Winterfest attendee. I don’t know if I ever stayed for entire show of any of the things that got cut, but it added to the overall atmosphere that a few years ago (even with sucky lights in the trees) was magical. It’s like they see fixed assets (like additional lights) as more important than entertainment, when that’s one of the main things that sets the event apart. The Zoo still kills it in the “lights on the trees” metric, so lean into what makes you different instead of advertising “we are catching up to the zoo with our light count. woo hoo” If this had been my first year and I was buying a pass based on my experience, I’m not so sure I would. Unfortunately I had already renewed.

I think its an odd cut seeing as with this year's and last's additions, they are clearly NOT only going for a thrill-seeker enthusiast demographic as much as a family, probably 1-2x pr season, spend more on food, bev and merch guest. Thats exactly the type of guest that would be served by this position and as someone else pointed out, might have the most amazing day thanks to them and BECOME the regular pass-holding customer down the road. Could the team be pared back? Maybe. But totally cut out? I think its very short sighted

Thanks for being a logical thinking person in a land of looney passion!

Do you really have nothing better to do than slam people who have an opinion different than yours, and support it with logical reasoning? It is unfortunate that it is closing, but the people that keep trying to “force” it to stay open through boycotts, petitions and squashing logic are just wasting the time they could spend celebrating happier memories.

I dont think there was ever bc a wheel. It’s a mining sluice, not a mill race.

Rivertown is already coasted heavy.

It actually ran all last season. The cattails have gotten very overgrown and makes it harder to see the smoke. Also those water misters need a super good cleaning every now and then as mineral deposits over time reduce the amount of mist they generate.

I think that might be it. It’s also not super descriptive of what the ride is in that it sounds more like something you are running on.

I just wish the new pavers made sense. They have the black “street” the narrowest part with trees in the middle?? Why they didn’t use the cobblestone on both sides with a “fake curb” of a lighter paver with black marking the street never made sense to me it would’ve even given them a great visual line for the parade instead of the stupid spray painted line. While they were at it they could’ve sunk sockets for removable stantion posts to go into to mark the route or the crossings it’s those kind of “missed opportunities” I’m talking about while it was already torn up. They could’ve created additional “patios” that extended over to the fountain with storage underneath for propane tanks for haunt to keep the area cleaner. And no idea WHY they couldn’t have brought back lampposts on the side closest to tgg he r buildings to make it look “street like” again. It’s not terrible, it just seems like they had the opportunity to really make sone infrastructure improvements and instead opted for mostly removal.

5 years later I'm still disappointed with the end results and all the missed opportunities to "fix" so many little things and make long-term infrastructure improvements as well as bringing back a logical "street" scape feel. It was... nice what they did, but Im still not sure its really better for all the work and the loss of the grandeur of the original fountain.

As long as they make a clear delineation between the new "refreshed" rides and the other ones. It could start getting a bit "Mish Mash" with gliders repainted like baskets right next to space buggies, then back to a big "kite eating" oak tree. Wish while they were at it they just rethemed Space Buggies into "Off Road Rally" with a light retheme and some better landscaping with big boulders and such that you are "bouncing over"

Wonder why - when they had the luxury of a totally new build and were clearly inspired by the Disneyland "hub and spoke" idea with the castle becoming the tower, they didn't copy Disney more and make the train more of a transportation device/feature. It's like they were just recreating a larger version of the Coney experience.

This is the type of stories the park should be telling especially in the off season. Disney jumps all I’ve stuff like this. Heck, they post when they install a weather vane on the new Tianna attraction because it’s made by a New Orleans blacksmith.

Thematically warm white lights in Tinsel town and Rivertown make sense. Oktoberfest has colored up lighting and colored lights this year. Bright white in more “wintery” areas. It actually all makes sense

I believe last year the queues stayed open on many till about 10:30 to accommodate the crowds. They have some wiggle room. They just have to be cycled down and fully shut off with keys out by 12:01 am 1/1/2024

If they are leaving Everest there, they need to bring over all the elf stuff that’s just lost in coney and along with the ( why are they there?) outhouses, Santa plane, elf house and some other giant toy type props make it like a North Pole elf village. There’s a food location that if lit well and given proper food-beverage options could be a fun addition. The base is there for another big tree-the footers for light trusses for lighting it up and even some overhead lighting. It’s not a hard “fix” as most of the infrastructure and props all exist, they just need to reallocate stuff to give this area a purpose.

so true - is it "top in the country?" no, but Im so happy to have and event like this right in my own backyard.

First off - you didn't miss Jingle Jazz - they were cut this year. Second, its what you make of it I guess. YES, the entertainment feels a bit less this year, but overall the park looks great - maybe in some ways the best it has. The lights are denser, and there are more areas covered. I've seen less Midway Merriment characters this year, but I still see plenty out roaming. Jack Frost and his crew are always out chatting up the crowd. I think with fewer of them, its easier to go a longer way without seeing any. I think its mostly felt in the themed areas where they used to "hang out" more. Now they are all just roaming park-wide to try to cover more area with less staff. I don't know - after all the talk of cuts and how "the park is falling apart" I tried to hate on it, but I still walk around all night with a goofy grin. It's still a dash of magic to me. I guess because for a few chilly nights, I see the park at the level of immersion, entertainment, theming and just all around pleasant experience that I wish it could be year-round. It's like for a few weeks the clock turns back to the 70's and a magical THEME park re-emerges.

too late - lame humor past already posted - gotta be quick around here