Magenta Lizard

Apologies if it's been mentioned already. The kids' event on Saturdays and Sundays in October this year is called The Great Pumpkin Fest in honor of the 50th anniversary (!!!) of the TV special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. https://www.visitkingsisland.com/things-to-do/the-great-pumpkin-fest Oh, and this page mentions it is presented by Hershey https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/things-to-do/events-and-promotions/Snoopys-Halloween-Party-Opening-Day Which makes some sense, they're presumably providing candy for the trick or treating in return for advertising but... I don't even know what to think about what else it might mean.

The only thing that ever pointed to removal of the flume was certain people's wild misinterpretations of Snapchats done by an intern with no special knowledge of Project 2017. Because it seems clear at this point that the flume is not in the way of Mystic Timbers, and there haven't even been rumors of problems with the ride, I think we can say that for the immediate future it is very safe.

What took me by surprise was that the only crowded part of the park was Planet Snoopy. I hadn't taken it into consideration, but I think Dollar Fridays are probably great for pass holders with small children, because you can get them treats, in smaller (perfect) portions, inexpensively. Plus 5 hours may be about as long as many smaller children (and parents) can comfortably take being at the park.

Something else I forgot to mention. It looked like something was going on in the old funnel cake area, from Diamondback. That is noteworthy, because there has been pretty much no alteration of the area that I've seen, ever since the park opened this season. From the train I could see they had moved a piece of heavy equipment over there and were using the area to store a few small trees or large branches. Because they've finished pouring the footings that approach the tracks from the opposite side (they're "birthday cakes" on top of the covered over concreted trenches now - sorry I didn't get pics of the specific area, but if you've followed my and others' construction pics, you should recognize what I mean) I suspect next week will continue with trenching and concrete pouring in the old funnel cake stand footprint. Unless they decide to leave off there and head around nearer the WWC area. There was also a new vertical concrete area in the middle of the main clearing behind the train station. It looks like walls and is located where a rectangular pad of concrete had been poured last week, within the path of the developing coaster. I couldn't get pics of the pad from the ground (could see it from DB) so I forgot to mention it. I have a crappy pic of the vertical area, I'll see if I can crop it to where it makes any sense, if not I'll try to get a better pic tomorrow from the train or train station. That's it in the center of the pic, with cakes leading all up to it on the right. Taken from the train just before going over the trestle.

That's the new access road that is basically in WWC's trench, again. But what I noticed today is that they've cleared stuff out enough that you can see the engine house for the trains on the other side of that hill, now. Something I noticed before but failed to mention: I originally assumed any trees with the green spray painted dots were slated to be cut down. It has become clear at this point, as they're the only ones still standing in the clearing, that the green dots meant those trees were meant to be saved.

More Haunt stuff

The house facade is taking shape

Last Friday was most decidedly not crowded, at all. I had Action Zone mostly to myself during ERT, and although it looked like a flood of people when they opened to everyone, I didn't encounter any real lines all night. Tonight will probably be a little more crowded due to dollar days and the gorgeous weather. As far as rides, I still think lines will be pretty short. Ice cream and pizza, maybe not. It may be that a lot of the "regulars" avoid the park because they're worried it will be busy, and non pass holders wait for another day this weekend when the park is open more than five hours. We shall see. My prediction is anywhere from lightly busy to completely dead.

Whoops, I think I forgot to post this pic I took Sunday. More signs of fall at the shop beside the front gates

I haven't seen the fudge push ups available as much this year as when they started them. If you do see them, chances are they will be at Coney Confections (next to the restrooms at the entrance to Coney Mall, near Racer). Help keep you away from Sweet Spot at least (and the $1 treats at Sweet Spot may make it a madhouse anyway). Have a great time!

It's more crowded on Saturdays because the park is open all day, from 10-1AM (Haunt running from 6 or 7 until close). Fridays, they only have the Haunt part, after 6 PM. If people don't have passes, they're most likely to want to go on Saturday to get the most for their money.

Looks like Nightmare Alley will have a skeleton key room. I would assume in the KI Theater. Very interesting.

Is anything else going to be where Backwoods Bayou was in previous years? Because if not, I'm happy to get that shortcut back.

There is a big new asphalted pad in the field where they shoot the fireworks, that can be seen from Blue Racer. Any new road I would assume is related to that, to make it easier to get the fireworks back there to shoot off. As much as I'd prefer it meant a new Haunt in DA.

Here's another shot of that new (presumably temporary) access road crossing WWC's trough. I got a good look at the one footing poured that we were discussing earlier. It is very near the train tracks, and it is fairly clear from the trenches behind it that the tracks of Mystic Timbers are turning here to ultimately cross over the train. So I would say it is pretty certain at this point that the queue and station will be occupying the area behind the fence, previously occupied by the old Funnel Cake stand.

Unsurprisingly, Kill Mart is coming back.

I decided to put my own time where my mouth was as far as the coaster schedule I listed. Granted everything was a walk on except Beast and Woodstock Express. I walked at a somewhat fast pace for most people, but it was my "OMG it's 90 degrees out" pace rather than my Beast to Banshee in 5 minutes pace (which I can do). The times are from when I stepped into the queue to when I left the exit. Invertigo 10:00-10:05 FoF 10:12-10:17 Firehawk 10:17-10:25 Backlot 10:30-10:36 Beast 10:38-10:53 Diamondback 10:57-11:05 Lunch Bat 12:15-12:28 Banshee 12:30-12:39 Adventure Express 12:44-12:51 Racer 12:52-12:59 Vortex 1:04-1:12 Flying Ace 1:22-1:28 Surf Dog 1:30-1:43 Woodstock Express 1:45-1:57 So I did all the coasters but Great Pumpkin in under 3 hours, plus took an hour for lunch.

Yeah, it is on the right of the train, after the turn after the reservoir, but before the station. Approximately across from where the funnel cake stand used to be. I forgot to mention it, and didn't get a pic of it myself. It had been recently poured when I went by Friday afternoon.

It sounds like today hasn't been very busy so I would be surprised if tomorrow is too much. If you want to ride all the coasters, it's very possible without Fastlane even on a moderately busy day, especially if you are at the park right at open. If you don't want to skip Invertigo (I would), do it right away, otherwise hit FoF and Firehawk right after open. Swing around to Backlot. That takes care of all the lower capacity ones that tend to get longer lines later in the day. Then do Beast (or wait for a night ride if you only want to ride it once) and Diamondback. It may be around time to take a lunch break. Then start back at the front of the park, do The Bat and Banshee, Adventure Express, The Racer, and Vortex. Finally head over to Planet Snoopy for Woodstock Express, Surf Dog, Flying Ace Aerial Chase, and The Great Pumpkin coaster (if you have short ones to ride it with). You will probably still have enough time to do all of the Big Three (Banshee, Beast, and Diamondback) again if you wish.

I don't remember for sure, but I was expecting it to be more crowded being free Fire and Safety days. Plus, when I arrived ten minutes before the parking gate open, there were like 20 cars already there. It was like everybody who was going to be there all night got there by 5. Which I guess makes sense when they're only open 5 hours. Whatever the reason, it made for a really nice night. The longest two lines I saw all evening were an early-ish one for Backlot (across the bridge) and Beast after dark (to the back of where the line divides for front of train or back of train). So, even those were practically nothing. I didn't check FoF or Firehawk later in the night at all, tho. Everything else was a complete walk on all night.

Where am I? Looks like slaughterhouse to me.

Also of interest*, they've added a gravel access "road" across from the disused train station. It crosses WWC, and the canyon is gravel filled there to make that possible. Presumably they will remove it all by next season. It looks like they've done some more tree removal near the turntable. The new access road beside the reservoir, and the area between it and the turntable have all been asphalted. *I'll get pics Sunday if no one else has by then.

Best I can do.

Park is surprisingly bare tonight. Haven't waited more than a train for anything all night so far.

They've put up the scaffolding for the haunted house facade on the front gates