Skyrider

I read in this article http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/12/05/developers-planning-35m-apartment-project-at.html?page=all luxury apartments called Towne of Deerfield so I guess that how I thought high end. I am sure they will not be cheap since it sits on prime real estate across from Kings Island.

I thought I heard that they were putting in some kind of high end apartment complex but needed to get the zoning changed. Did it not get approval or is it still in the process of getting approval? Does anyone have an update on this? Unrelated but somewhat related BD Mongolian Grill closed on Mason-Montgomery this past week. I know some on this site liked to eat there on there trips to the Kings Island area so I thought I would share.

I agree 2016 will most likely be some type of ride(s) for Soak City. They need to add another toilet ride (sorry that is what my family calls it--don't know the real name) since it is so popular and has an incredible long line all the time. A well themed dark ride like DarkCastle at Bush Gardens Williamsburg would be nice or like the Spiderman ride at Universal Florida.

I remember when Weird Al use to perform at Kings Island's Timberwolf back when I was a kid back in the 80s. If my memory serves me right concerts were like $6 a seat if you were a season pass holder. You had to stand in line at Kings Island at the season pass windows outside the park to get tickets (no Ticketmaster)---the lines use to go out into the parking lot but it was worth it. Besides Werid Al that came to TimberwoIf on more than one occasion I also saw Men at Work, Huey Lewis and the News, Thompson Twins, etc. all at Timberwolf. Ahh the memories and the awesome concert ticket prices much different from the prices of today and Ticketmaster service fees. A Weird Al Haunt special event concert would be cool and very nostalgic for some of us born in the 70s.

The reason for the post is not to make very broad or obvious points but to stress that there are many successful winter events in this area that make a profit even in the cold and unpredictable Cincinnati weather. The Haunt does contend with weather related issues too as some nights it was extremely cold this past Sept/October. My original post was to get ideas on "Ways to Bring it Back-- Winterfest" meaning ideas on how it COULD BE SUCCESSFUL (make a profit). Instead their were some that posted instead "Ways or Reasons Why It Can't Come Back" instead of offering ideas on how it could work to bring it back. I have offered my ideas on ways to sucessfully bring it back with many unique entertainment and food options for the event and wanted others to give their ideas too for the Winterfest reboot.

I thought my above poll question it was more or less a poll asking if Kings Island should research interest of bringing back Winterfest and my Winterfest Wishes and Ideas post more of a place for people to post how and what would make a successful and profitable reboot for Winterfest. Those were my thoughts on having two different posts because in my mind I saw them as two different things.

The key to having a successful winter event in Ohio and most every other place in the country that can get cold is a good mix of both indoor(for those that want to get out of the cold) and outdoor activities where people are willing to spend money if the event and its activities are priced right and pose a value to them personally. If you don't believe in the product and its not worth it to you than you won't go. The last time Winterfest came back it wasn't priced right and too much of the park was open making it a recipe for disaster to make a profit in my opinion. Those are the two biggest mistakes that I saw in it not making a profit the last go around. My original post was to offer ideas and suggestions on how it could be a success--believe it or not there are many successful winter events in Ohio--but if you need to research it go ahead. It is obvious that there are strong opinions on this topic and it will be interesting to see whether or not in the end Kings Island will give the green light on a Winterfest type event again. I know that there are many that would support it if the conditions were right (not talking weather) but price of admission and whether there is a good mix of activities both indoor and outdoor. I think weather comes into play but not as much of a factor unless there is extreme cold temps. and snow and ice EVERY WEEKEND of the event. Much like if The Haunt had cold rainy weather the entire run of The Haunt I bet profits would be down too. Attendance was noticeably down at The Haunt when it was rainy and cold but because it offered things indoor too that offered a value to your entertainment dollar people still came. Kings Island adjusted on those nights with staffing and other nights that were warm really made up for the cold rainy nights. I also am venturing that some of you that keep saying the reasons Winterfest cannot happen again would still come to a rebooted Winterfest event if it was priced right and you felt the event offered activities that offered value to you.

Since you state that lots and lots has already been said about Winterfest then the topic must be relevant enough to let people comment on each year since it is the season for winter events. Isn't that the point of KICentral? So people never comment about things discussed before? Isn't this the reason for this site for people to comment on topics related to Kings Island but at the same time be open and coridial to people that might not share your same opinion?

Wish there was a ride like Dollywood's Sidewinder in Rivertown except Kings Island does not seem to have many tall hills that aren't human-made for roller coasters. Behind the scenes is a different story as I was surprised to see how hilly some of the back parts of KI are. I saw this when volunteering this year for Run and Ride and there were some steep hills runners had to navigate through.

Does anyone else remember the day when line jumping is not a sport (said so on the signs to the rides) and was a reason to eject you from the park without a refund? Now you can line jump if you are willing to pay extra for it. I know it is industry standard now but I still feel funny about it and does not sit well with me. I would like to know who started this idea in the first place? Did it stem from Disney's Fast Pass? If so at least everyone USE TO get equal access for the price of admission but now it is a perk if staying on property or buying a Magic band. The good old days.....good memories....

Looks like the new Starbucks will have free WiFi am I correct on this?

How many think Kings Island's Marketing Department should conduct an interest research poll this next season to see about the support for a Winterfest Reboot in 2015-2016?

I agree with you that KI is missing an opportunity here based on the successful winter attractions like Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo which would be more comparable than The Beach which looks like sledding is the main attraction. I think the previous owners of KI made some big mistakes when the tried to bring back Winterfest the way they did by having almost the majority of the park open, big admission price, having to reserve to attend, etc. Many have said in other posts that Winterfest was brought back to make the park more attractive to sell which mostly likely was the case, so admittedly their heart was not right place for it to be successful in the first place. This is the main reason why Cear Fair should look more closely at the mistakes of the past and find ways to make a Winterfest reboot a successful event. Last time it was a horse and pony show to sell a park this time it could be to bring back a wonderful holiday event, that brings back tradition in the park while also making a lot of money. I will not repeat a lot of my original post but I really think focusing on a much smaller area like International Street, Festhaus, and possibly the train (but I am not sure that would be a must have) could still allow maintenance to happen throughout the park to get ready for the next season and open on time in April all while making lots of money for the park. I know that the Haunt makes a lot of money due in part to admission but it also has a lot of Haunt attendance that is due to repeat season pass holders. These season pass holders spend money on food, treats, and Haunt items like the Skelton Key. Winerfest reboot could add value to buying maybe say a Platinum season pass or there could be a Winterfest add-on to a Gold Pass, or a lower price for season pass holders thus getting more money to KI from season pass holders. I would suggest not offering the dining plan so that money would be made on food and treats and possible a Peanuts Christmas dinner show. Provide ice skating as a separate charge (look at ice skating at Fountain Square on the weekends--it is PACKED) as well as unique and cool items to sell in the shops and KI is bound to make large sums of money. I would even venture to say more money per square foot (retail terms) would be made than The Haunt based on the limited areas of the park being open. Again Starbucks would be a real shining STAR and add a lot of BUCKS to Kings Islands profit margins during the off season. Come on Cedar Fair at the very least come up with some market research studies (could ask park attendees thiscoming year) and see what the public would support not only in attendance but also monetarily spending for a Winterfest 2015-2016 reboot.

Something similar to the Curse of Darkastle at Bush Gardens Williamsburg would be cool and could be used during The Haunt too.

That would fit a lot better than Panda Express...although I love me some Panda Express no matter where it is located:)

When I was younger I lived in an apartment in Sharonville which is close to all the major highways-- 275 and 71 and seemed to have reasonably priced apartments. It is about a 15 minutes drive to Kings Island. Deerfield Township has many newer apartments and is very close to Kings Island but you will save 1% earning tax which Mason has. Mainville or Lebanon is also close to Kings Island and might have some options for you but I am not for sure.

I think Disney's future will continue to grow and be even more successful in the future. It sounds like a total redo of the Disney Studios is happening and is rumored to have a Star Wars Land and also an expanded Toy Story area (I believe this even more since the Toy Story 4 was just announced). Epcot is getting the confirmed Frozen ride and possibly adding a screen to Soarin and that will attract not just adults but more kids to Epcot (adding additional days to your ticket and hotel stays). You have Animal Kingdom getting Avatar which if done right will be amazing and unlike anything seen before. They are also redoing Downtown Disney and will add more retail which will also help Disney's profits. This is just what is happening in Orlando not to mention what is happening at other Disney parks in the US and around the world. Disney does get flack for taking too long to build but they also are smart to spread things out so that more and more trips to Disney are planned to see what was newly added. Just we whats new is loosing stream something new is opening. They have a great product and they know that they can wait and space things out. Sometimes it reminds me of a new car and running it for all the maximum mileage you can get before getting something new. I has been working for Disney and I am sure they will continue to be really successful.

I think a holiday version of Charlie Brown's Christmas would be an excellent idea for the dinner theatre in the Festhaus. I still like the idea of inviting high school and church choirs to perform in the regular indoor theatre when you first enter the park. This could be offered earlier in the afternoon to attract large crowds to the park ($$$) wanting to see their choir group perform. Maybe local guy Nick Lachey could be the host like he has been on the television show, I think it was called Clash of the Choirs. Remember we were a host city recently for the Choir Games which was an international event for choirs and was so popular they want to bring it back to Cincinnati. Cirque Imagine then could have a few night shows in the same theatre possibly. It would be neat if the La Rosas on International Street could move above the main entrance to the restaurant that use to be open when I was a kid. They could offer some other dishes besides pizza like spaghetti dinners and it would offer a great view of the lights on International Street. Having Winterfest open in limited areas of the park with a good balance of indoor and outdoor activities, while attracting large groups to come to the park should make it a very profitable event for the park. Plus the new larger Starbucks is an added bonus that would make big amounts of $$$ on winter days and evenings. Now that you mention it, why not have a nightly sing along Holiday Cantata or a living Christmas Tree with projected lyrics on a screen. People really dig this stuff, I know... What about lighting up Tower Gardens (of course that would take cleanup prior to use. Tower Gardens would be a great place to decorate with lights and add talking reindeers and build a home to see Santa and Mrs. Claus to keep the Planet Snoopy closed. Limiting the area to focus around International Street would keep the cost of having the entire park open.

I have seen ED SHEERAN in concert three times and he is an awesome performer/artist. If you ever have a chance to see him in concert I wouldn't pass on it as you will love it. SING!

Bring back a version of Winterfest please!

I think a holiday version of Charlie Brown's Christmas would be an excellent idea for the dinner theatre in the Festhaus. I still like the idea of inviting high school and church choirs to perform in the regular indoor theatre when you first enter the park. This could be offered earlier in the afternoon to attract large crowds to the park ($$$) wanting to see their choir group perform. Maybe local guy Nick Lachey could be the host like he has been on the television show, I think it was called Clash of the Choirs. Remember we were a host city recently for the Choir Games which was an international event for choirs and was so popular they want to bring it back to Cincinnati. Cirque Imagine then could have a few night shows in the same theatre possibly. It would be neat if the La Rosas on International Street could move above the main entrance to the restaurant that use to be open when I was a kid. They could offer some other dishes besides pizza like spaghetti dinners and it would offer a great view of the lights on International Street. Having Winterfest open in limited areas of the park with a good balance of indoor and outdoor activities, while attracting large groups to come to the park should make it a very profitable event for the park. Plus the new larger Starbucks is an added bonus that would make big amounts of $$$ on winter days and evenings.

Does someone need to change their name to Scrooge?

I do hope that Winterfest does come in the next year or so. As many have said Festival of Lights attracts huge crowds and they do not have any coasters or huge rides to speak of---still lots and lots of people go. Many people I believe would come from Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Kentucky just to ice skate on the fountain, eat some treats, and see some entertainment at a fair admission price. It would also give an opportunity to sell season passes for the regular season. The idea of confining the event mainly to International Street would allow the transition from the Haunt to Winterfest go pretty quickly in my opinion--not taking weeks. Kings Island does have staff that works off season and more could be hired if necessary if they needed to. The Haunt teardown is not that extensive on International Street and lights could start to go up in the trees before the Haunt was even over during Monday through Thursday-just not turned them on of course. Once the set-up for Winterfest is done the focus on the rest of the park for taking down Haunt could happen. (if someone works for KI off season and could chime in on Haunt teardown and how long it takes on International Street please comment). Remember the indoor haunt attractions just stay up so it would be the mazes and colored light bulb changes which could happen closer to April when the regular season starts if they really needed to wait that long--but highly doubt. We have to realize too that not everyone is a roller coaster enthusiast and it would be an event for all ages. I do think it could be very profitable (look at other amusement parks that have Holiday events). Any amusement park that can stay open almost year round has a huge opportunity to make a lot of money and is great for the local economy. Great Wolf Lodge and other hotels in the area would also benefit from an attraction such as a smaller sized Winterfest.

Now that the regular season is over it gets me thinking about Winterfest. What are your ideas to help bring it back? My idea is to have a smaller event but still plenty to do while still making it very profitable for Cedar Fair. Here are my wishes and ideas: Have only smaller areas of the park open-- on and near International Street only--- decorated in lights including the Eiffel Tower, decorated of course as a gigantic tree again. Make the fountains open for ice skating again by offering a pass to buy for the Wintefest event or pay each time with the option for skate rental at a cost or use your own skates. The Festhaus could offer an optional dinner theatre Holiday show. It would be a paid offering that you could reserve ahead on visitkingsisland.com or at the park if seats are still available. The restaurant above the entrance could also be an offering for those that did not want to do the dinner show and only offered at night when the lights on International Street would be at there best. Local high school and elementary choirs could be invited to perform in the theatre that Cirque Imagine was in and would bring a lot of families out to see their local school perform (Q102 even has a competition each year and maybe they could be a sponsor and have the top groups perform or compete). Skyline could be open for a more casual less expensive option that is inside and the new Starbuck on International Street would be open as well, and also the new improved sweet shop. Maybe the new yogurt place would offer Funnel Cakes and Cinnabon instead or some other holiday type foods. La Rosa's could be open (possibly Greater's location as a sitting area) or if one of the nearby shops could be open for a sitting area or a heated tent maybe with tables and chairs. I was thinking the Winterfest event would only be open Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays (like in the fall season). Parking would be free and admission would be free for season pass holders and a low cost like maybe $5 for kids and up to $10 per adult for non-season pass holders since money would be made on skating, the shops, dinner show, and restaurants that were open. It would not require the regular amount of employees as a full blown Winterfest and would be very profitable in my opinion because it would be really popular and have the best of Winterfest past. I know that they need time to take down the Haunt and put up the lights and decorations but I would think it would be doable and could open starting mid November or Thanksgiving Weekend. It would be a lower cost alternative to former attempt to bring Winterfest back. I wish Winterfest would come back in some form and with the new love they are giving International Street it would be great to offer this next winter in 2015. What ideas do you have for a new brought back Winterfest? I would like to know your thought on my ideas too. Hoping someone at Kings Island will see this post and think about how Winterfest could come back in the winter of 2015. With all the new love happening for next year on International Street it would be a great way to make some money off season while bringing a really missed local Holiday attraction back to Kings Island.