DonHelbig

Corporate isn't making the decision to run one side of The Racer for a third of the day, run only one train on the K.I & Miami Valley Railroad most of the week, have drink stands closed, have the theaters dark for much of the summer. Those decisions get made at the park level. The park is told by corporate what the operating budget is, and they make cuts based on what they're allowed to spend. The reason why Matt Ouimet left Cedar Fair when he did was because the merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair was not going to play into his strengths. He said a major component of value creation from any merger is the achievement of cost efficiencies. For him, this objective ran counter to his bias towards improving the guest experience. In the near term, with pressure from investors, the cost synergies usually take precedent. and he wasn't in favor of that. Over the past two years, the guest experience at Kings Island has not been as good as it used to be -- what guests had been accustomed to. The product now being offered has been watered down. As long as guests find it acceptable, the cost-cutting trend we've witnessed the past couple of years will continue. They can offer a watered-down experience because people will still come.

There was a time a campaign like that would have had TV news outlets in Cincinnati and Dayton coming out for morning live hits to talk about Push for Pencils at the beginning as it kicked off and then again near the end. @BoddaH1994 and I would have talked about Push for Pencils on a Tower Topics episode had someone from the park been willing (and allowed) to come on the show to promote it.

It's at Dollywood for a couple more weeks.

The festival feel won't be the same without tasting cards. Guests aren't going to go country to country to try things.

For the third time this week, all five of the machines to get a drink refill by the Eiffel Tower out of ice. Lots of bees. No ice.

Guests enjoyed the PEANUTS Celebration.

Thank you!

Thanks for sharing this information!

There wasn't anything that changed for Haunt during my time there that I didn't agree with outside of replacing Hot Blooded. The show fit Haunt. It was popular, had a cult-like following. While it doesn't fall under change, I was never a fan of allowing No-Boo necklaces in the mazes. I thought that ruined the experience for those attending the event for the scares and they'd get grouped with others with the No-Boo.

Fright Fest and Howl-O-Scream have been the better events in recent years. More scare-actors in the mazes and scare zones. Not as many kids at these events from my experience.

Building credibility with your audience matters more than an invite to media day. Authenticity beats being a shill every time.

I like that all the Six Flags parks are in the same app. Just a better app overall than what the former Cedar Fair parks have. More engaging, better content, easier to navigate.

They have the available staffing so it's not the issue for the Eiffel Tower closing at 9:30 p.m., one side of The Racer closed 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., or drink refill locations not open.

Once upon a time they had someone that did.

If the product allows you to do the same thing, what difference does it make if it's called Fast Lane, The Flash Pass, or Daffy Duck's Quick Access Pass?

2025 was committed for this year. With the merger expected to close on July 1, don't be surprised if there is not a major new attraction for 2026.

Leaked layout? It's a public record. A leak would be getting it before the plans were filed.

So was the pulled pork at Coney Bar B Que.

Had Kings Island and the other Paramount Parks not been purchased by Cedar Fair, there are rides in operation today that likely would have been retired. Addition by subtraction is what we would have seen more of, similar to what we saw when they took out Flying Eagles and Les Taxis to make way for The Italian Job: Stunt Track.

For 33% of the day, The Racer is only one-track operation with the name not matching the experience that's being delivered. On paper it's an easy budget cut not thinking it impacts the guest experience, but it does. Many of the rides I've taken on The Racer this year during those hours there's been grumbling by guests about only one side running and disappointment over not being able to race against their friends or family members. And things like this factor in when it comes time to renew passes or visit again next year. Before looking at what might go in The Vortex spot, let's see The Racer running at full capacity, longer show runs, all of the soft drink stands open, the park operating hours back to what they used to be. When those things are happening, then it's time to look at adding a major new coaster.

Here's a piece I wrote for Theme Parks By Don comparing Snoopy's Soap Box Racers and Good Gravy! It won't win a Pulitzer but I think it captures the spirit of the thing. https://themeparksbydon.com/comparing-snoopys-soap-box-racers-and-good-gravy/

I mentioned on the Tower Topics episode that dropped on Friday (June 7) that I wish the show was in the Showplace, where country shows with a live band used to be in the 1970's and 1980's in the evening hours. It would really elevate the show if it were in that venue versus the Festhaus. Great show, wrong venue.

And?

By teasing it in this fashion on social media, the event has to be good.

I was able to get my first taste of the new Good Gravy! coaster at Holiday World. Very detailed. Very well done! https://themeparksbydon.com/my-first-taste-of-good-gravy-at-holiday-world/