purdude86

Fridays are usually a little slower since it's night only so people tend to prefer to go for the full day saturday. But Saturdays often start off pretty slow and jsut get progressively busier as the day progresses. It does get pretty crowded but when the mazes first open the ride lines usually die down for a bit while people go to the mazes then slowly build as people go to get night rides in. I haven't done it yet either but have heard that Sundays are usually pretty calm as it's only open during the day and does none of the scary stuff or mazes, just has the family friendly events so the big thrill rides are usually not too busy as its a day focused more on family.

Think it could be fun and add something new to the area. KI really needs some more good flat rides, whether family of thrill. Think a Madhouse could be a decent fit for that location. Whatever goes in I would like to see have a mining theme to some type. Then they could keep the queue line pretty much as it, just re-theme the exterior of the opening. This would fit in well with the theming for the area too. Would still prefer a Screamin' Swing (which could get rid of the large unsightly building then too.) but could put that in a new X-Base as well. Could see a Madhouse themed to a lift to go down the shaft or something in a mine and fit in well there.

I'm very excited for this change. To me the RHoF Grill stuck out in a bad way where it was. And especially after the addition of Mystic Timbers it looked really bad to me. It was surrounded by nice Rivertown theming that it didn't belong to at all. This change will help improve that area greatly for me. RFYLCB even gives a nice transition from Planet Snoopy to Rivertown with it being a bit of a combination of the two.

This looks great so far. I'm sure we will get a lot more information towards the end of summer. Makes sense that they would give this announcement with just a few stats right now as I'm sure major construction is about to start and business will be picking up getting into spring break season then summer. So this will let people know what is going on there, but leaving a lot of it like name, full layout, etc. a mystery now gives them something to announce and continue hype later this year, as well as keep attention on this season and Tigris as it is the new ride. Don't want to completely ignore it.

This exactly is part of the reason why I could see it going pack to Planet Snoopy area. Up until Scooby Doo the ride building was classified as part of the kids area. The Scooby Doo licensing and theming necessitated the change to International Street. The boat rides prior to Phantom were part of Hanna Barbara Land and even on the maps it shows Phantom Theater as being part of it too. So the theming of the ride not fitting the theme of Nickelodeon/Peanuts seems to be the only real reason it's an International Street attraction. They could easily change it to Peanuts and make it a new addition to the land. To me it makes sense as the entrance is in the land itself pretty much. This would also help to solidify again the park's hold on best kid's area. It has a strong line up as is with many great rides for both kids and families, multiple coasters, shows, petting zoo, and a log flume. Add a dark ride into the mix and no other regional park comes close to beating it.

Mine so far that I can recall are T3 are Kentucky Kingdom and Mean Streak during it's last summer was really rough.

Agree with others that the key to revamping this area I feel really comes down to theming the building. Festhaus needs to be brought back to it's roots (at least on the outside at minimum) and make it like the pic in the OP. Then do some better theming around the Biergarten and QS restaurant. Give it a more Bavarian feel, maybe drape red, yellow, and black fabric for shade in the biergarten area. These small changes would go a long way. Outside of those other recommendations would be good too. Move Slingshot elsewhere and add a new flat there and tear down the air brush stand for a new pad as well. Could move the ladder game too and put in a small shop/stand there as well to either house the airbrush stand or preferably move the glass figurines back to that area and put the air brushing elsewhere. Definitely need a return of Der Spinning Keggers and then an additional flat. Musik Express would be fun but think one of the newer style ones that are open air with the rotating cars (forget what the actual ride type is) could be themed to fit in better. One other possible change would be a retheming of Adventure Express (I know breaking the 11th commandment). Love the ride but it needs some TLC like everything else in the area. Could keep the layout and feel as is but change up the theming to a crazy ride through the Black Forest, something similar in theme and tone to Verbolten at Busch Gardens. Just tear out/cover up the old theming wit something to fit bridge tunnels and woods and maybe plant some more trees. to give a more woodsy feel. Then do some retheming on the vehicles to make them more like cars or something to fit the theme better. Unfortunately as mentioned I don't see them spending the money to move buildings and attractions for additions as minor as these, just doesn't have the same ROI as a big coaster, but hopefully they at least do some revamping of the area to a certain degree. Wouldn't cost them too much money to update the buildings at least to look better for the German theme.

That’s probably a good thing. Not going to pull crowds like a new coaster will but it’s still a new ride and something that everyone can ride, and is something with lower capacity so lines will probably be long still.

Agreed. Maverick was a thought out and well made coaster but not gimmicky. Many of the other coasters at the park could be considered gimmicky at the time of their opening as many of them were touted as being tallest, fastest, longest, etc. Doesn't make them bad but their construction and stats were designed to have a selling point based on a gimmick of some type to use in marketing to get people in. Don't recall Maverick having anything special about it by any means for stats. Remember when they announced it my first thought was, "Good. they're finally making something with quality and not just trying to break a record." And that seems to have held as it is by far my favorite coaster at the park still and easily in my top 3 of all time. (Haven't gotten to rid Steel Vengeance yet though.)

Yea as many stated it would be nearly impossible for them to find an IP to use that would be as timeless that isn’t taken. Can’t use Mickey or other Disney characters, DC and Marvel are both taken, and most other big characters fade in popularity and recognition too quickly. If Nickelodeon was still the theme most kids probably would t recognize most of the theming that would be there now.

Agreed, honestly I'm surprised it isn't a chain wide rule for no phones/cameras. However, most of the videos I see from other parks like Knott's are ones that are from press at special events.

I agree and was thinking the same when I saw this. Would be great to get some minor theming even to tie it into the Mystic Timbers storyline more since they are so intertwined with their ride paths. Even just adding vines in the tunnels would be nice, but some sort of story element would be cool with a few thematic decorations around the route.

Would hate to see Oktoberfest go as I htink it's a great area but there is so little of it left. That's why i'd love to see it connected with the current AZ for new theming. Think the Banshee and Bat names but seem to fit a dark forest theme Could make Inveritgo Sepctre, add some trees which are always nice for shade and appearance, and repaint Drop Tower (with a new name). Couldpossibly even remove Invertigo and WWC for an expansion pad for a new small coaster and/or flat. If you wanted to up it more could also give a facelift to Adventure Express and get effects working more and maybe change a few and give it a more German theme to fit into the area, like a trip through the Black Forest like Verbolten

I agree about Action Zone. I think a dark forest theme could be cool and could transition nicely from the more tree filled Oktoberfest. Banshee and Bat would fit in well and could easily retheme the remaining rides and building. Mostly some paint and plant some more trees around and it’s set. Could even connect it more to Oktoberfest and theme it around the Black Forest.

Havne't been to it myself but have looked it up before and seems like it is much more family oriented. From what I've seen it's a kid friends event with a corn maze and a kids haunted house. The park itself is fun though and the atmosphere will probably be great still. I'd make sure to hit up Thunderbird and Voyage while there. Both of those coasters are amazing.

Cost/location is the primary thing I could figure. Kings Island probably gets more people than some others and is much more affordable than others like Halloween Horror Nights as stated. So possibly the bang for your buck is viewed better. Plus Kings Island has pretty much all of their rides open and going so you get about a dozen coasters and a mix of other flat/family rides, on top of multiple shows and 9-10 mazes. The quality, while not bad, is definitely lacking compared to some others. Haven't been to HHN yet (plan to in a few years), but went to Howl-O-Scream in Tampa and it was fantastic. The mazes were very well designed and built with good costumes and scenery. The actors are also well hidden. Makes KI look much lower in quality. However there were only 6 mazes and 6-7 coaters plus bumper cars, so much less to do compared to KI's offering. So could also play a big part of quality versus quantity. Though I am shocked that Tampa's Howl-O-Scream wasn't on the list at all.

Rivertown for sure. Love the look with the building near Beast and around Diamondback with the corral front and gift shop and then log flume across the plaza with MT entry next to it. Plus great rides with Beast, DB, and MT along with WWC. Would like to see more thematic buildings added (change the appearance of Reds and the Crypt building mostly.) love Oktoberfest too for what’s there but needs to be bigger. But the trees and pond with the Festhaus is nice.

Phantom Theatre, KCKC, and recaR are my top three wants for a return in that order.

I don't think the rumored move to KK is going to be true, but would like for it to be just so that we would still have a chance to ride it. I didn't ride it every time since like mentioned the lines were very slow, and most of my friends it was a one and done. They either didn't like the feeling in the seats or of the ride, or it made them feel ill. Was there for Pride Night this year when most rides were walk-ons so wish I would have taken the opportunity to ride it once more then. Overall, while I will miss it, it isn't a huge loss to me either and think it was a smart move by the park to expand to something bigger and better in that area.

Agreed it needs to go to a smaller park I feel. That video shows only 10 seats for the train. Would be an awesome attraction but lines would be huge. Would be a great fit for X-Base but think a standard Sky Fly would be better.

Overall not sad to see it go to give a better expansion back there but I did enjoy the coaster. The loop had some weird g’s but not too bad and loved the first few hills/turns. Only part I hated was the brake run and waiting for the cars to lift. The way you are lying there has all the blood rushing to your head and ends it on a bad note to me. Just wish I knew last month it’d be leaving so I could have ridden one last time while I was there

But MS was very well liked and didn't disappear complete just reworked into something better. The only wooden coasters at KI are Beast (a legendary coaster that is the park's signature attraction), Racer (a historical coaster that could use some TLC but still well lover), Mystic Timbers (a new coaster), Woodstock express (kids/family coaster that wouldn't make much sense to really announce and doesn't open up land for a big addition). So if one of the wooden coasters was being teased here it would likely be either Racer or Beast, neither of which seem likely, and both of which would be major changes that would deserve to have plenty of announcement to get another ride in. If it was The Beast I could see them promote an entire season for it's final one (unless it was because of unforeseen reason they'd have to shut it down in which case I'd imagine they would inform people as soon as they could.)

given that it isn't a large area I'm hoping that there is a new flat or two going in it's place and not a food stand or arcade. Could be a nice extension of the Gemini Midway. Maybe a G2 Enterprise at least and maybe a second flat if they can.

I think I saw one and wondered if it was mostly a large group riding together or not. Had multiple times where my husband and i, or our son and his gf were the only ones in a train. The night was a blast and weather held out great for it. Was our first Pride Night and would definitely go to another.

Yea but Kings Island also has a lot in its kids area that others don’t. Woodstock Gliders and Surf Dog are usually in other areas at different parks, not many have a log flume, we’ve got 3 full circuit coasters, petting zoo, stage that has been used for shows over the years. And while not as wide as some other still a decent selection of other rides. Boo Blasters is technically listed as part of International Street but many consider it a part of PS given entrance location and the fact that building has usually been classified for PS. So that gives our kids area a dark ride too. So while the line up of flats might not be as good can’t think of other parks with a kids area that include 3-4(delendin Surf Dog classification) coasters, log flume, dark ride, stage shows, petting zoo, character meet and greets, true family level rides for all ages, and a usual assortment of kids rides. So honestly I feel like they could do nothing with the area for awhile and still continue to win the award. Though there is always room to improve. Would love to see Boo Blasters get a full Peanuts theme and became a new dark ride. Then put in a new family/adult level dark ride elsewhere. (Maestro’s Revenge?)