Magenta Lizard

Check your SPAM folders if you have any. I'm assuming you registered using the web form (where you pick the time of The Beast tour, etc), after the process of buying your ticket?

I'm definitely going (for the first time!) this summer. My 40th birthday is a day Stricker's is open and there is some late night ERT at KI. I'm going to make a day of things, starting early at KI, going to Stricker's in the afternoon, then back to KI. I originally was going to make it a "me day" as my present to myself, but my husband has shown some interest, as well, so I think he'll be doing the middle portion of the day with me (which is nice because I will be able to keep my excellent parking spot at KI). Having lunch and my first trip to Stricker's with my husband will make it even better than my original idea. Edit: what is the parking situation at Stricker's Grove? Is it a normal paved asphalt lot, or gravel, or what?

I can't help but think how badly this could turn, but I like the idea, and so far it is going well. They put a chalkboard near the front gates, with a basket of chalk, so people can write what they love about KI. After I took the pic, I added my own.

More education days, but much lighter crowd than Friday was

I saw a less-negative forecast today through a different app (Dark Sky), which focuses specifically on rain predictions, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is more correct. I haven't watched its predictions from a week out, but I know it is really good at telling me when rain is about to start. They are only calling for 16% chance Friday and 35% Saturday. At least I own a raincoat now. Anyone get the email Don mentioned, yet? I'm getting antsy with only four days left.

At the very least, confirmation that the work next to DB was the new WWC entrance: https://twitter.com/kingsislandpr/status/731894235646021632

Is it the salad a build-your-own, or pre-made? I had assumed build-your-own in the same way the wraps were. I only made it inside Chicken Shack once so far this season (although I've stood in, then abandoned, the line a handful of times) and I didn't notice the salads at all.

Definitely visit customer service to let them know what happened, next time you visit the park. Often the line employees (or managers in the case of the new funnel cake stand, according to her, anyway) "can't do anything" at the time, but there is always /someone/ who can do /something/, especially if you are patient and respectful. I have not yet failed to be satisfied with my treatment on the occasions I have had to visit customer service. If you truly think you wish you hadn't bought the dining plan, it won't hurt to request a full or partial refund because the offerings have been changed from what you liked/expected. The burritos at Hank's are quite filling, if you manage to hit a day they are actually open. I'd advise avoiding the chicken from what others have said, but I enjoy the pork, and haven't heard anything bad about the beef. I would have suggested the wraps at Reds Hall of Fame Grille, but I believe those have been removed from the dining plans as well.

Two (wild) deer ran across the field in front of the lift hill when I rode earlier this week.

You're so smart Jonathan I'll be finding out soon if you're right. Edit: may have been their original plan, but that sign is still there even tho they're using the line for Blackout. Bat is queuing through the exit

I did forget about the Field of Dreams reference. You're right. I'm back on board #teamcowboycoaster

I saw from the top of Drop Tower there are over 100 buses in the lot. They shouldn't be here too late but the after work/ late night ERT crowd will show up when they go.

Either I never noticed how chintzy The Bat's sign is or the real one is out for repairs or refurb. This is printed corrugated plastic, zip-tied on

The new markers appear orange to me. This isn't going to be a very popular notion, but I'm becoming less and less convinced this is the beginnings of a new coaster. The work next to Diamondback appears to be almost certainly the new entrance and exit for WWC. They've ripped out more trees paralleling the train station/next to the old WWC path, but that could be for an extended WWC queue, because it needs a long one on hot days. The only thing still making me think this is possibly anything more than the obvious WWC work is the "teaser" signs.

The silliest was last season when I went to buy a ticket for the KI Kicks Cancer comedy show. I decided to buy at the park during one of my weekly visits because I didn't want to pay the $6 Accesso fee for the "convenience" of doing it online. When I tried to buy one at the ticket window, they had no way for me to buy it other than through the website. So, they had me buy it through the website on one of their computers, then refunded me six Beagle Bucks at Customer Service. I don't see how Accesso is any better for the park than it is for us as customers. I know there are online payment processors with fees way less than what can often become a 15-20% surcharge (our business uses one). Yes, the park has us pay the processing fee directly rather than eating it as a cost of business or building it into prices like most places, but it must have a cooling effect on sales. I'd like the money I spend for things at the park (especially a charity event like the comedy show!) to actually benefit the park rather than some shady third party charging way more than their "service" is worth.

It does no good to tell someone they are wrong about what a clue means, or whether something is a clue or not. Frankly, none of us knows for sure. It is best to present the reasons why you think something does or doesn't mean something, and/or draw your own conclusions, without attempting to control the flow. If your reasons are good, people may believe you. If they don't, oh well. The fun of things now is the wild unfettered speculation anyway. Eventually we'll know more, but not until we're told. I personally never thought the Snapchats meant anything. To me, it was clearly not Don (I was a little surprised when I discovered that wasn't obvious to everyone) and seemed to be coming from someone who knew nothing more about what is going on than the rest of us. But, if others either believe or want to believe they have meaning, by all means, decipher away! I'm really looking forward to getting my eyes on the situation at the park again tomorrow. So far, the best clues we have are what we can see from the train.

If you had rode the train in those back cars opening weekend, you'd understand about the chipping paint. It was really bad, if you barely touched anything, you had little bits of paint stick to you. I believe they have been painting those cars, too, because I was told at one point the reason we couldn't sit on certain cars was "wet paint." (Why they wouldn't leave cars with wet paint in the shed, I'm not sure - maybe to help dry them?)

^ they've been playing the anthem before opening the gates for ERT since last season. I love it too. Two years ago, when the anthem was played at regular park opening, I didn't like it. I often couldn't hear it until I came off of a ride, and there wasn't a flag very visible from Action Zone. Now, people can pay attention because there are no distractions, see the flag, and hear it well.

I think he was specifically referring to the people who use their ecigs outside of smoking areas, not the ones like you who are respectful about it. I think he has a point about them trying to draw attention to themselves, because it does tend to be done blatantly with a big cloud shooting out like a dragon, not sneakily.

Funny enough, it would I couldn't remember what year you were born so I have both.

$10.99 is only when you buy three or more at one time. I think you can get them for less than $16 online, but after the Accesso fee, it is probably around the same price.

At your link: "• The wristband is good for any 20 oz. fountain drink at drink stands. This excludes franchise restaurants (Subway, TGIFridays, etc.)." KI is getting a TGIFriday's?

Outside of Haunt (when many inconsiderate people seem to think darkness and fog machines make smoking everywhere ok), the most I've seen is an occasional cloud from someone puffing an e-cig outside of smoking areas. And, just last weekend, I even saw an employee point out to one such person that they were only allowed to be used in smoking areas, and where the closest one was. It sounds like you've just had a bit of bad luck. I hope your experience improves as the season progresses.

The floral clock is looking beautiful this year. I know many of us were worried last year it was going to quietly disappear, after the hands were missing most of the season. The center part is concrete with deep crevices spelling out "Kings Island" where they have planted greenery inside. It's not very "floral" yet, but it's early in the season. The greenery they've planted is quite lovely.

A short article with some nice pictures in Dayton Local: http://www.daytonlocal.com/blog/community/memories-of-fantasy-farm.asp