Just a sad event. I hope he and the ride ops make a full recovery.

The timing is perfect because it’s the 40th anniversary of the first major enthusiast event in park history - AcCE Spring Conference. That year heralded the opening of King Cobra: 

 

Just now, BeeastFarmer said:

First Aid is open until the last guest leaves the park. 

Yes, but first aid has general medical supplies, not something disease or condition specific. 
I ran into the issue last year, and am curious if it was fixed.

6 minutes ago, disco2000 said:

For as long as I remember it was as you experienced.  If you entered the park any time prior to Haunt and left you had to return to the park before the no entry time.

If the language is confusing, well seems to be the norm with Cedar Fair lol.  They always figure out a way to make it confusing even though they think it is clear LOL.

The issue with the bag policy is that if people are forced to keep their medical supplies in their cars, having to leave the park ends their night.

Just now, IndyGuy4KI said:

10:52 and there is a major delay getting into the park. No ETA on letting us in. As of this post.  Has ANYONE come on the PA to tell us why? Any social media post? Absolutely NOT!

Where is the "communications" department?

 

Dude, it’s early on. 

It takes some time to process, analyze, and diagnose. I can tell you a few cases where companies have been too eager to provide communications and the provided information was incorrect.

22 minutes ago, BoddaH1994 said:

https://x.com/kingslslandpr/status/1705798389969875455?s=46&t=Zl4tfOSUx8ou9AWrqZJlzA

 

Park’s response:

Animated gif saying “we do not care”

Source (before it’s taken down): https://x.com/kingslslandpr/status/1705798389969875455?s=46&t=Zl4tfOSUx8ou9AWrqZJlzA

Looks like Mr Selfie is saying the quiet part out loud. 

 

Or it looks like someone else made an account trying to have an “ah-ha” moment.

The name of the account is KingsLslandPR. It’s a fake account.

Today, Mike Koontz held the Hall of Fame ceremony inside the Festhaus. He started the presentation by playing a rap piece that described the staff and their roles over the speakers. The rap and the following ceremony was quite nice.

Look what’s trending on the front page of the Travel section of USAToday. Kudos to the park for a fantastic announcement.

 .

5 hours ago, Orion-XL200 said:

Tony totally does answer questions on his account. 

Just because one person answers park related questions on their personal account doesn’t mean another person has to.

51 minutes ago, Orion-XL200 said:

Anyone else find this creepy and inappropriate? 

Anytime someone asks a question it's either "send me a DM" or "send me your number in a DM."

Why doesn't communications actually answer publicly? 

Nope, he’s the spokesperson. It’s within his right to communicate with guests in that manner.

Many communication directors conduct communications in a similar manner.

Could it be that the advert was paid and purchased for while the ride still existed, prior to the call to demolish it?  

Could they have outsourced the ad managing to a third party, and the third party hasn’t removed the ad yet?

In the past, CF has advertised with rides that don’t even exist at the park in the commercial. 
 

 

To be fair, even though it may be more expensive, you are getting more Prestige+ benefits at a rate that is cheaper per unit/park. Just a thought.

Also to note, it seems they’re standardizing passes throughout the chain. Should help with app updates.

Also seems like they’ve fixed all the problems with Prestige.

On 7/15/2023 at 7:37 AM, BeeastFarmer said:

If only we had a competent Communication Director who could have, well, communicated about Adventure Port. Yes, it might have been last minute.  Yes, it might have been delayed.  But overall it was a great overhaul. But, besides social media posts, it was not promoted well inside the greater Cincinnati area and not at all in other markets outside of the Cincy area. 

Instead of working with some of the parks biggest fans, Choad wants to scurry up and shew Brad away from an interview with the park GM .  But at least he didn't want to try and grab a selfie with the park GM!

The chaperone policy, even if directed by corporate, could have been spun in a way to drive attendance if we had a good wordsmith doing his job. Instead, it was silence.  Maybe Choad was too busy snapping selfies with security?

Because he is either not doing his job, or does not know how to do his job, he should be at the quarterly report for his role in the horrible attendance numbers that will be reported.  I don't think he will want to take selfies with the unit holders!

Dude, it was marketed well.

Can everyone stop picking on Chad? Everyone is fixated on blaming him for stuff that he had nothing to do with.

Adventure Port was marketed well. Did anyone else get the flyers mailed to them describing the new rides.

On 7/13/2023 at 11:16 PM, Orion-XL200 said:

He literally sucks at communicating, which is bad for a communications director. So odd that until recently when he was called out for not being out in the park he all of the sudden is able to be seen in the park. 

Grain and Grill opening at 4 pm. He left the park at 130 pm. No coverage or even a post showing the excitement of a new restaurant opening. 

Cargo Loco opening, where was he?

Sol Spin opening, showed up after the ride opened. 

It is interesting that you say running into him is fun. I'm assuming he knows who you are. I have seen several tweets, comments online that people don't know who he is or what he does at the park. That's an issue for the "face" of the park as their top communications person. 

Those who attended coaster stock, when was he seen? Anywhere that he could be thanked. Meals and behind the scenes tours. Outside of those two things, was never seen at ERT, out in the park, etc. .

How can a communications director be good at their job if they aren't available or seen?

Chad has been a downgrade from what the park had before in Don. As posted in another thread, it looks like the tweets are now written by a 12 year old and/or are copying someone else's homework. Don wrote blogs that did amazing storytelling. When is the last time Chad wrote a blog? 

My point is not I don't like Chad, it's the quality, professionalism and talent we are used to is gone. It is the fact that the park doesn't have a competent spokesperson anymore. 

Spoken like a true lecturer of public communications I see.

You say he wasn’t at Sol Spin, he was. 
You say he wasn’t at CoasterStock, he was.

Everyone taking photos of the same structures doesn’t mean he’s copying someone else’s tweets. 
 

Also, he was at ERT:

What’s your definition of “sucks at communicating”. He has gotten the story across nearly every time there’s a press release and or news story.

2 minutes ago, BoddaH1994 said:

Besides taking a selfie with you, what has most impressed you about how PR has been operated over the past five years? 

First off he’s able to conduct media events, provide tours of new areas or events to media, and etc. Just a few weeks ago during the opening of Sol Spin, he was providing tours to local radio hosts.

Second he’s knowledgeable about the park, which is critical for success in a role. 

I have seen Chad frequently at the park.  I think he does an exceptional job at his role .

3 hours ago, Orion-XL200 said:

Will miss Don Helbig in his role....what a class act! Extremely talented in story telling, guest relations, and being a good human being. 

Can't say the same for Chad, who for some reason remains.

 

Why do you dislike Chad so much?

Chad’s a great guy, and awesome at KI! It’s always fun running into him and having discussions with him at the park.

10 minutes ago, MDMC01 said:

If you are at KI today, avoid Coney Mall (and reportedly Area 72); there is currently a bug infestation. It’s worse from WindSeeker to the basketball game. Coney BBQ patio is much less of a swarm, but there are a few.

Just now, IndyGuy4KI said:

It will be telling how many repeat passes they sell next year.

16 minutes ago, WoodVengeance said:

Smitty Werben Man Jensen?

Hey! It’s Werbenjägermanjensen.

5 hours ago, FUN&ONLY! said:

I saw a post on Facebook claiming there are pink markings on Vortex’s old plot of land. Can anyone confirm or debunk this claim?

There are about 200 markings on site……. for the [retracted] launching.
 

6 minutes ago, MDMC01 said:

The ride is apparently still on the website...

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/rides-experiences?location=soakcity

And also on another note, why doesn't the park map (er, I guess the map online now?) show Soak City anymore?

They do. I knew about it earlier due to the dining plan pamphlets they pass out at Guest Services.

1. Beast gets RMCed.

2. A Golden Horse Spinning Inverting Wild Mouse gets installed.

3. Drop Tower receives tilting cars.

4. Woodstock Express gets replaced with a GG wooden family coaster.

5. Kenton Cove returns as a launched log flume.

52 minutes ago, DonHelbig said:

Diamondback is a steel roller coaster. You can't paint a steel coaster when it's below a certain temperature which it is the majority of the winter and early spring months. 

Perfectly said. Rapid temperature changes and new paint don’t mix well.