DonHelbig

There's a difference between having people in place that can make a pretty PowerPoint for internal use and people that can take what's going on in the park and generate high-level awareness, interest, and excitement outside of the park's backyard.

Another accolade for Good Gravy! at Holiday World with its first-place ranking.

AZ to DC in the foreseeable future.

It has everything to do with having people that don't understand their audience in key positions, don't understand what PR and social media in a guest-centric industry needs to be.

I think it's a ruined town at Ivinghoe Beacon, near the village of Ivinghoe in Buckinghamshire.

Don't kid about a thing like that.

It almost was.

Kings Island did well in polls through 2022.

I believe the mindset is they don't want any negative sentiment going into the Halloween season, so they choose to say nothing until they have to. However, it only makes it worse by not being transparent and it gets discovered by park fans digging around.

It would bother me the way they're doing some things now, like removing rides without notice so guests can get in their last rides and say goodbye.

I was one of the first riders on Anaconda in 1991. Like Vortex, it was a great visual. It's a real classy move by Six Flags to remove rides without giving advance notice so fans of the ride can get in their last rides and say goodbye. They're not giving it any thought or care about their guests doing it this way.

Tower Topics, a podcast by Kings Island fans for Kings Island fans, is currently running its inaugural Tower Topics Kings Island Awards for the 2024 season on its X. Through Dec. 23, Kings Island fans can vote for award-winners in the following categories: - Best WinterFest Menu Item - Best Kings Island Family Ride - Best Kings Island Department - Best Kings Island Event - Best Kings Island WinterFest Show - Best Kings Island Summer Show - Best Kings Island Roller Coaster - Best Kings Island Restaurant Visit Tower Topics on X to cast your votes! The winners in each category will be discussed on the Dec. 30 episode of Tower Topics.

Thanks for sharing these photos! The desserts do look really good.

The Bat will be there longer than a number of current full-time employees.

Everyone knows who the Schell Logan is. He knows what the Schell is going on at theme parks across the globe. And from what I hear, a Schell of a good storyteller.

The Bat isn't going to be retired in the foreseeable future. Congo Falls? Invertigo? Drop Tower? Monster? Place your bets!

"As of right now." Tomorrow, though, is a new day.

I thought the Turkey Ball was both interesting and really good!

I know someone with a Son of Beast track piece that might be willing to move it, if the price is right.

Snow Works is one of the few disappointments at WinterFest. It pales in comparison to the snow tube attraction for Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom.

Here's a piece I wrote for Theme Parks By Don on Carowinds retiring three rides. I note guests did not have a chance to say goodbye. https://themeparksbydon.com/carowinds-to-retire-three-rides-as-part-of-multi-year-expansion-plan/

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari has announced its 2025 Operating Calendar. https://themeparksbydon.com/holiday-world-unveils-2025-operating-calendar-with-longer-season-and-returning-events/

I'm hoping to visit this week to get in a couple rides on The Racer and Mystic Timbers.

I was, as Gary Wachs told me a few years ago, a "true carney." That's why I believe it's the wrong decision to not be transparent with park fans when a ride is going to be retired and let them know in advance so they can get in their last rides.

In previous years, NYE was promoted as an event by now on the park's website, mobile app, and Facebook. Information about the NYE event in the International Restaurant had been made available. So, don't be surprised if they cut the NYE event in the International Restaurant and change the hours to a 10 p.m. close on Dec. 31, or not open at all that day. All in the realm of possibility. Worth Noting: The event information for NYE on the website has not been updated for 2024: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/new-years-eve-celebration