Magenta Lizard

Kings Island, Cedar Point, Americana, Fantasy Farm (probably at least once although I was too young to remember), Coney Island Cincy, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Six Flags Great America (I guess, whichever is near Chicago), Disney World (Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios, Epcot), Disneyland, Dollywood. So twelve. And ones that probably don't count as parks precisely: Stratosphere in Las Vegas, and Forest Fair mall in its prime.

We were in the Festhaus for sound check for one of the live bands, River City. What I heard of them was very good. Probably should have stuck around. That Jump! sign is definitely for this year, because last year was a different dog show. I much preferred Jump! so I'm glad to see it's coming back. Don Helbig said info about the new cirque show will be added to the site in the next week or so, and I bet the signs for it will go up by early May at the latest.

Only two meals in a day, four hours or more apart, on the season-long dining plan.

It's really a relatively minor thing, but I liked it. They have a new hand stamp for re-entry

I definitely would not get the day plan this early in the season. Waiting in line an hour or more each time you get a meal may not be unusual. You aren't going to want to do that more than twice in a day, most likely. I ended up getting so many meals last year that my per-meal cost was around $1 so there is no doubt it was monetarily worth the purchase to me. However, if I keep gaining weight this summer even with as much exercise as I get, I think I may have to forego the plan next year. :-/

Yes. A couple months ago, it felt like it was taking forever, but now that it is almost opening day, it definitely feels shorter than previous years. As it should.

The Smokehouse last year was one side every time I went (and I went a lot). The pulled pork came with slaw if you wanted tho (and they'd either put it on the sandwich or the side if asked), so maybe that is where the confusion is coming from. I'm excited about the expanded offerings from Reds, as well as the new Coney BBQ. As for reducing Panda Express to the one entree bowl, I'm fairly certain they intended to do that at the beginning of last summer. There was an occasion early in the season where I was told at checkout that the dining plan was supposed to be only one entree but they let me go anyway because I had asked the person serving food, and they told me two. I really think that people made a stink about it and they decided to go back to the two entrees. I definitely would advise a visit to guest services to mention any complaints or compliments about the new offerings. It may not cause any changes, but it has a better chance than complaining elsewhere.

Sam's a maverick.

I have heard a rumor that the new cirque show will more closely resemble Imagine than Origins, which I know will make a lot of people happy. I loved both of them personally, and there were some things I liked better about each of them. I'm looking forward to seeing it no matter what.

I love sweet and salty. The Maple Bacon taffy at Sweet Spot is one of my favorite treats in the park. Just the thought of Ranch Cotton Candy makes me want to hurl. They may end up with some flavors I want to try tho. I do hope they allow for small samples, like with fudge, though, because I'd be unwilling to pay for a whole tub of something I'm uncertain about. I ended up getting three pounds of the Key Lime Pie fudge last summer after I had a chance to taste that.

New Head Chef James Major introduces some interesting new foods including churro bites with toppings, turkey meatballs on a stick, and new offerings at Reds:

The production company that created Cirque Imagine and Origins (Productions Haut-Vol) has confirmed that they are producing a new cirque show for KI. So have no fear!

Typically the restaurants on International Street are open until the park closes. Also, Chick-Fil-A. Some of the restaurants also won't open until an hour after the park, either. Basically, I would absolutely not count on getting more than one meal Friday evening. Lines will also be slower as the employees are mostly new.

Good catch https://www.visitkingsisland.com/play/shows/live-bands

Nope, I missed out on that one! That would be fun/funny. I have been in the shed long enough at the end of the night on one of the last three trains (because the ride ops had to secure all the seat belts on the now-empty train in the station before they could send it out) to find out what happens if you make it all the way through the song on the radio. It makes a winding down noise, then winds back up and starts again (once it's been the same song, another time it was different).

I'm not big on ranking coasters against each other, but I've said many times: "if you can't enjoy yourself on Mystic Timbers, I don't think you actually like roller coasters." It may not be the biggest adrenaline rush (although that first drop is pretty exhilarating) but it is Just. So. Fun! From the first drop right through to the last unexpected toss as you turn to enter the shed. I get why some people don't like the shed, because they overinflated their expectations. But, for me, it's fun, and it's by far the best brake run I've ever waited on.

Such a tease. Is the Mac and Cheese bar coming to Coney BBQ?! Or another location? Or do we have to wait until Winterfest (if then?)

^ my memory is admittedly faulty, but it seems to me that the Festhaus shows didn't start until approximately Coasterstock (late May)

If you think those are the worst hits from the eighties, I think you may have a bad memory. There are plenty of worse ones to choose from. There are plenty of better ones too. But I think these were mostly picked for how their lyrics go with the theme.

The podcast forum belongs in Kings Island discussion as much as trip reports do, in my opinion, if anyone wants to fix the problem highlighted by this April Fools joke...

Last trains of the night, as far as I'm concerned.

Shop and picture booth could go under the station like on Banshee. There already is a drink stand there at least part of the time (albeit bottled drinks rather than fountain, but that is easily remedied - point is, there's room), lockers are already there, and restrooms would fit in the field between Flight of Fear, Racer, and Adventure Express. I think it is more likely they'll use the WindSeeker end of Coney Mall (I mean, the former DA is such an obvious location) but X-Base isn't impossible or unworkable. I think there's also a big possibility that they will open up a path in both directions, so that X-Base is no longer a dead-end.

When the closest I get to an adrenaline rush is when I find another Loopster car in the racks of Hot Wheels. Found four today, three at Walmart and one at Target. Two are the hands down variant. I have six total cars now. A decent sized train.

The longer it has gone that no visible activity was happening on that land, the better it has made me feel. Actual hotels or other development that would contribute to Kings Island rather than detract from it (as I believe housing would) has seemed almost too good to hope for.

After reading the indictment I was a little surprised murder wasn't one of the charges, because it certainly appears there is enough evidence that things went far beyond mere negligence leading to the death. I noticed in that article about the arrest that Jeffrey Henry himself /is/ being charged with murder in addition to the other charges. The indictment posted here was against the other owner and the park, but it looks like the prosecutors must believe Jeffrey Henry's actions went far enough to warrant the added murder charge.