KI Guy

1) You're on a Kings Island forum so you're going to see more talk about Kings Island -- both praise and criticism. 2) I think Kings Island's gap gets mentioned more because it is considered the better park by most, but also because Orion in the eyes of many was a disappointment unlike Copperhead Strike. In addition, Fury 325 made people happy for some time since it is the golden boy of B&M gigas and what Orion could have been with a bigger budget. 3) I've said similar things in the past, but I think the whining is pretty justified at this point. If we hold Kings Island to the standard of excellence it has always had, it is underperforming in many ways. Include in that standard is the frequency of major ride expenditures. We are customers after all, not a support group. 🙂

2019 was the year of Carowinds' last major install* before this. Following that same timing that could mean 2028 is Kings Island's year for a major installation... which is an unprecedented wait, but hopefully it's over after next season. I wouldn't mind seeing one of these at Kings Island. I'd prefer it over anything from B&M. * major install meaning costly attraction. Everything post-2019 has been a cheaper install.

I would have planted about 3 or 4 times as many trees and kept more existing ones when laying out the park. By now they'd be nice, mature shade trees.

Thanks for posting. They are very talented. With all that talent why don't they let them make true 3D raised lettering for The Racer's trains?

It's my #1 wooden coaster as well. It wasn't until I rode a night ride on Dollywood's Lightning Rod 10 years later, that anything wood or steel compared even closely in excitement and intensity. I love Mystic Timbers, but I think there is a market at Kings Island for a wooden coaster that is taller and faster (maybe even longer!) than The Beast (as long as it's properly executed this time). It's just rather unfortunate because wooden coasters are cheaper. For the money they spent on the ho-hum Orion they could have built the best wooden coaster in the world.

Add me to the list for restoring the Royal Fountain. It's just not the same; not even close.

Which is also about last time Action Zone got significant attention outside of Banshee. 🤷🏼‍♂️

I see it more like Action Zone is the untouched wing of the house with peeling wallpaper and beat up furniture. Adding something to The Vortex plot would be like putting in a pool into the landscaped backyard.

How many more years will it be around? That area is so ripe for redevelopment. Xtreme Skyflyer* Plot Congo Falls I like it but it's probably on borrowed time. Invertigo Timberwolf Action Zone is hurting so much more than the area by the old Vortex plot. * It's interesting that they got rid of Xtreme Skyflyer with no intention of replacing it with something in the short term. It must have been netting them zero money.

It's hard to distinguish the sarcastic from those who believe the park can do no wrong. Have you seen the Season Passholders Facebook group? It's unreal. Here, it's been kind of nice to see some people start to call out some things. We are in a low point in Kings Island history. Only the period from 2004-2006 rivals what we're seeing now.

It's not just that. I think the dining plans increase the number of problematic guests in the park. For years the last barrier to keeping Kings Island from being used as a daycare in the summer was the expensive food prices each visit. Now that those prices are included in passes with the meal plan the parents are further incentivized to drop the kids off even more during the summers where they can runaround and cause problems at the park instead of at home. And yes, I realize most kids don't do this, and that the chaperone policy exists. However, nothing prevents a parent from entering with the kids through the gate and then taking off.

I'm curious how Herschend would handle Haunt, but I'm more than willing to give up what we know as the Haunt for Herchend to do things their way the rest of the year. If Haunt is going to be a pay experience for the mazes it might be best to just get rid of it and have a fall themed event. I'm starting to think Haunt might be passé anyway. Even if they were to put the full effort in the idea is not new anymore and I don't know if it would be seen as special as it once was.

You know deep down that's not how it works. If they get rid of them they'll be gone forever. Here's to hoping common sense prevails and they keep them for all 10 pm closes.

1) We saw how crazy cheaply they sold off what is now Enchanted Parks. 2) We can't assume the way things are going that there will even be a company called Six Flags in ten years. In the long term anything could happen.

Until Herschend buys the park you mean?

I think it's better than what we were expecting which is nothing, but it would have been nice to have seen a full year. They're saving money by splitting him between two parks. It makes sense to have him at the hotter park deep in the summer.

Come on Herschend...

This is for all you who say that anything that can't easily be tied back to the bottom line is wasted effort and money. Mr. Ouimet, former CEO of Cedar Fair, explains that shade and beauty add to bottom line: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/matt-ouimet-42387521b_when-i-was-on-the-cedar-fair-team-we-routinely-share-7446895894349836288-gdUZ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABMEnvEBukWk_4JZ4j5b8tmanp0ZAE6r0KA

Keep in mind that Congo Falls is almost 40 years old and the other two water rides are over 40 and over 50 years old. That is quite old for any kind of ride let alone a water ride. I think a water ride makes sense if the plan is to put a large coaster where Congo Falls is now. In my opinion, Action Zone should be addressed before the the old Vortex plot.

Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of Six Flags as we know it. I'd rather take a little gamble on who owns Kings Island than see it continue to stagnate.

I would rather have this pond than a small flat ride. People don't remember (or aren't old enough to remember) what it was like before Diamondback.

I am out of the loop on Haunt. Is the old Massacre Manor space inside of the Phantom Theatre building still being used? Could they utilize that instead? Also maybe they could bring back an outdoor Haunt somewhere?

I think the big, ugly, tan box should be removed. It was a mistake from the get go.

Yes "add value" was my attempt at selling it in their terms. It's about giving something away that costs them almost nothing in order to increase the price of the pass.

I'm skeptical about this really being primarily about driving per capita spending in parks. I still think very few people go to more than one park. I'd say it's primarily a new strategy to add value (read: charge more for) the gold pass while minimizing blowback. People are used to $125 gold passes, and I don't know if those will exist when people buy the enhanced gold passes for 2027. I can see it now, "Get access to Kings Island and 10 other parks for just $12.50 per month ($159.99 total)!