Stoan

I have always said to my wife, I'd appreciate almost skipping a ride one year, and throwing all that money at park improvements. New paint, new paving, update the theme-ing on things, add some stuff to the railroad path. Just make the park more immersive in general. I don't mean trying to flip from amusement to theme park, but something to try to get the guests more into being there, and make the park less of a rides-in-a-field sort of feeling.

I'd love to see them build a bigger new resort with some indoor attractions similar to Great Wolf. Then build some kind of tram system that goes from the resort to Great Wolf, through the lot and to the front gate. Something that goes over the road to not screw with traffic. This would allow them to expand parking a bit without having a huge walking distance. It would promote staying at their resort over another hotel that would require you to drive and park. You just wake up, stroll over to the tram and boom you are at the gate. Including some indoor stuff would allow the resort to operate on the off season. Small rides, small water park, a bar, a gym.

I assume its a right to refuse situation, they have never stopped me from bringing in small snacks. Security has opened my backpack, seen bottles of powerade, bags of chips and sammiches and they wave you through. As long as it isn't anything huge or suspicious looking I doubt you would be asked to put it back. To be fair I also get to argue diabetes and low blood sugar if they do call it out, but they never have.

Yes, just show them the processing papers and they should let you through. Worst case, if they charge you should be able to get refunded at the help desk after you get your pass. Though I assume most of the workers don't care for the hassle and will just let you through. When you get to the front entrance, off to the left will be ticketing and pass processing. You should be able to just go there, give them the paper and they can give you your pass, or at least directions on where to go since you already have your picture.

Limited option allows for them to keep their costs way down. The meals offered are probably some of the most profitable for them. By limiting the meal plans to those, instead of giving out 3 dollars in food, they are only giving out 2 dollars in food. That little bit will add up very very fast with volume. I agree though, I'd love to see a "$15 credit toward any food at any participating location, twice a day with a 4 hour break between". However this would cost them a bit more money. I really miss the buffets as well, Mother's Day and Father's Day. ALSO, I am in the process of renovating the first post with 2017's meals. I moved all the 2016 reviews off to a Google Doc and listed them for the history books. I will make mention of what has changed from last year's menus, and if the tastes have changed from my memory when I get around to eating them. I will also make an attempt to make it a bit easier to read, and actually start including pictures of the food as well.

If the Island BBQ chicken tenders are the same chicken tenders as the rest of the park I am going to be disappoint. Interesting few changes on the list though: Potato Works doing Boneless Chicken Wings could be really good, if they are treated like boneless wings, and not just chicken nuggets. Festhaus now lists "Fresh Grilled Burger", that could be huge if they are made to order, the burgers before were a big sad dry cold pile of... sadness. Coconut Cove isn't offering tenders anymore, so it may be that they just moved those to Island Smokehouse. Very few changes since last year, if the name changes are just name changes and not process changes.

I can't count, 15-5 = 16 apparently

Right? I like speculating what is and isn't going to be on the list, I know nothing is finalized, but man. Opening is just over 2 weeks away, you'd think it be out by now.

Yeah, I forgot they did it this year.

renewal and new passes cost the same. The Renewal just allows you to use the same exact card, no need to get your pictures retaken or anything.

Does indeed seem to be random. Reds Hall of Fame Grill is back, Potato Works in Rivertown still is missing, and they change Outhanks/Hank's Burrito to "Hank's Mexican Grill". Ooh, another thing I noticed. Skyline now only offers 2 cheese coneys and fries, and a 3-way with fries. They replaced the cheese coney from the 3-way meal with fries. Because who doesn't think of french fries when they picture Skyline? Tom+Chee IS listed under Dining Locations, but not under Meal Plan Locations: Tom+Chee World famous Grilled Cheese and Melts and home of the Grilled Cheese Donut. Seen on the Travel Channel, Shark Tank and more, stop by & taste what the excitement is all about! But then again Red's Hall of Fame is listed under Meal Plan Locations, but doesn't have the tag on Dining Plans. So continued speculation! FUN FUN!

The minimum time is usually a lot longer than I need the locker. Last time I brought a pen, and put all my locker info on my receipt, handed it to someone in line for a locker after I left, so they got one for free.

Station looks almost identical to The Beast's station

I will trek over from my house for smoked meats! Even if the general population doesn't go over there for meats, during the time it is open Soak City has plenty of customers. On a side-note, during the times Soak City isn't open, it be nice if you could just park over there to get entrance to the park and avoid some of the horribly designed parking lot.

I have shared with my wife previous to this year. It is doable, but you rarely get enough food for both of you to feel like you had a "meal". It worked well for me because my wife only likes specific things and I will eat pretty much anything. 90 minutes between meals is only on the All Day Meal Plan, not the All Season which is twice a day with a 4 hour break between. At 6-7 visits you are looking at a max of 14 meals, 12 bucks a meal you may "save" 50 bucks over the season assuming the deals cost of $111.

Continuing with changes to the listings, I just noticed Planet Snoopy Grill now offers a corn dog meal. Coconut Cove is also no longer offering Chicken Tenders. Soak City Grill is no longer offering Bratwurst, salad or pasta. OuterHanks is only offering the burrito or bowl, no chips and salsa (I don't remember getting this anyways). Also it appears they have redesigned the Souvenir Cups. They are a shorter more solid looking lid, instead of the tall dome.

Do we have a No Spoilers clause for #WhatsInTheShed?

Possibly, but unlikely, they may just be trying to limit the "free" meals till after opening day. Keep one place as their premium location to keep the lines a bit lower enticing people with actual money to go to one of the better places. Once the crowds lower, add it back to the plan.

There are occasionally long lines if you go on a busy day that is to be expected. The food isn't superb at any stretch, but frequency is key really. If you lock yourself into only one place you are willing to eat at you are going to get burned. There is a meal deal at almost every food location, walk around, if you see a short line grab it. I have gotten the plan the last three seasons with this being my fourth and first time with two plans instead of splitting one. I average going to the park about 50 times a year, assuming the cost of the plan + the pass, I'm only shelling out 4 bucks a meal, which is pretty good considering I get free rides with it! As for the drinks, just tell them the combo you want, and the drink you want. Hand them the pass and the cup they are usually able to figure it out after that. I only use one cup so I just carry it about with me. On rides you have to set it aside, they are unwieldy to carry on pretty much any ride. I will however let you in on a SUPER secret idea I am surprised not more people have mentioned. Fr realzies though the more people that do this the less effective it is, so keep that in mind. When you pick up your cup, ask for one of the other cup's lids. On rides EVERYONE will have one of two colors. Remembering which is yours is sometimes hard. How do I know which Orange cup of mine in a literal sea of orange cups? Mine is the one with the orange cup with the green lid from the one-day cups. I only mention this to you know because I actually use them as souvenir cups, I have kept every cup they have made since implementing the refills. So I have every color lid there has been, so I can use one of the last few years instead of being confused which dual color cup is mine if lots of people start doing it.

I would assume you may not be "top pick", maybe second round if they still have spots open.

The biggest issue with slow food is just how inefficient they are at moving the food from point A to point B. 4 registers that take orders, then turn around and walk off to get the food and drinks is MUCH slower than doing 2 registers and 2 runners for food and drinks. The food is premade so that isn't the slow down in most cases, it is almost always the 5 feet between the window and the customer. Watching a busy Chick-Fil-A is even worse, they have no pick up window and have to try to yell out a name into a lively, active line of people at an amusement park. It is nearly impossible to hear your name, there is nowhere to stand for pickup, it is a horrible setup. If there are more than 4 people per line there I won't wait it is a mess. BUT they are one of the few places with packaged hot sauce.

In terms of differences, they also dropped Rivertown Potato Works from the list. Only the Coney Mall Potato Works is listed. Obvious Snake Pit as well.

I think last year they waited until mid-March before the food options were updated.

Single Meal Deal and All Day Dining Plan valid through 10/29. Not valid for WinterFest. All Season Dining Plan valid through WinterFest. Need more information? See our Dining Plan FAQs https://www.visitkingsisland.com/things-to-do/dining-plans

its still months from opening, but KI's meal plan page doesn't list any changes to the restaurants or their offerings. I'd love to see a BBQ place, or Tom+Chee. I actually got two meal plans this year, so I have a better chance of eating everything in the park this time =)