BeeastFarmer

Who's excited about Haunt tonight? I am! And my prayers were answered, cool with rain likely. And the cooler temps this weekend will likely mirror how it will feel at Winterfest, so it will be a good trial run for me!

Does anyone reading this know if ticket windows open before the park does? I'd like to renew today before the park opens.

I'd just like to chime in and say that you have good and bad in all coaster groups, just as in "real life." I'm in ACE and might eventually join the Coaster Crew, too. The reason I chose ACE was because I like history and ACE has a large focus on history. At my first and (THE First) Coasterstock, I met a couple of new friends who are in TPR. Nicest people ever and some of my closest coaster friends. And they are nothing at all like Bob Avery! While there are outliers, I've found that at events like Coasterstock, you can have diverse groups of people who would normally never agree on anything, but when at an enthusiast event, those things fall to the wayside.

I'm definitely down to meet up with some KICers. I'm hoping to meet up with [mention=9282]Magenta Lizard[/mention] and [mention=9652]jtro223[/mention] at some point. [emoji4] I'll be there too. Just booked my hotel last night. It'll be fun! @magentalizard@whengodsaysgo and @anyothers. (Not sure if I doing this tagging thing correctly!) Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

I may or may not have a friend with me on Friday night. She's GP, so who knows? I'll be there Saturday and Sunday. If your faith allows it, I'd encourage you to come to the park later in the day. The last rides of the season on The Beast are very memorable, and I have come to treasure them. Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

If you're going to be at the park this weekend, let's meet up and do some mazes and scare zones. Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

I like going into and coming out of the second tunnel on The Beast. You have kind of lost some speed going in, when you are in in the tunnel you pick up speed and coming out you are flying and the noise is spectacular. Add in a springtime ride when the bush honeysuckle is blooming and it's sickenly sweet. (but I'm not a fan of bush honeysuckle.)

Aramark has recently taken over UK's campus food operations. The contract was negotiated well. They have added more facilities and opened national outlets like Steak N Shake. They had to commit to buying xxx amount of "local" food per year, which they got raked over the coals about: They considered Coca-Cola products "local food" because there is a bottling plant in Lexington. That got fixed. I've never eaten on the campus side because Morrison's runs the hospital side. During the week, the food is great. But weekends (when I work), selection is limited and staffing is terrible. (Sound familiar? LOL) At both campus and hospital, there is no indication that food is outsourced. Employees have university badges, but are paid and get benefits from the vendor. They pay rent on the space, build new ones, sell the food and all the university does is collect the top 20%. I'd be ok with a reputable vendor who specializes in food service. But I think it would still be difficult to staff.

However, Kings Island's reputation has taken a beating for food service for years. We saw some positive changes this year, but this is typically something that the general public and enthusiasts agree on--food service is terrible at most times. If done correctly, a corporate specialist like Aramark or Sodexo could take over the operations but the public would never know because it would appear to be the same food service as always--hopefully better speed of service. But I would wonder if an outside vendor would have the same issue attracting talent. But they seem to do well in schools, universities, hospitals and prisons.

I plan on being at the park the entire "closing weekend" (October) and renewing my pass on Friday. I have a friend who wants to come on Friday night--is there any kind of discounted ticket available on Friday or should I advise her to buy at her local Kroger?

I was amazed when I watched the demolition of several dorms at the University of Kentucky over the last several years. After the semester ended, they spent about a month doing asbestos abatement. From then, it was "hit it with all we've got." Huge piles of rubble and they would just move them around. After the basements were filled in, they had huge magnets that picked up metal, which was piled and hauled off. The bricks, concrete blocks and chunks of concrete were eventually ground down into gravel. But what was the most shocking was that after cursory give away of furnishings to the Habitat for Humanity store, the buildings were not emptied. Bunk beds, mirrors, chairs, water fountains, commodes, appliances, all part of the demolition. It was a real shame.

Per Indyguy4ki's Facebook interview with Mike Koontz that was posted today, instrumental music WILL return to IS next year¡!!!!!! Best news I could hear! Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

My personal bias comes into play here as I don't care about water parks. But it is interesting to note that in 2015, KI added the Space Buggies and Gliders, after KK had the same rides added the year before, in 2016, there was a water park addition and KK had expanded with reopening, and in 2017, KI added a coaster after KK had added one in 2016. Probably a coincidence, but maybe not lol. Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

On a certain level yes. I'm sure KI has lost some guests to KK. But specifically to KK and HW, I don't think these parks are in the same level as KI. They will hopefully encourage competition, which would make a healthier KI. Now if we could only get good music back on International Street. (yes, it has angered me that much lol) Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

If links to coaster people's YouTube content is not allowed, please let me know. I was kind of awestruck at how beautiful the park looks in this video. To think it was closed and abandoned as recently as 4 years ago...

He confirmed that 2019 is the parks 30th season/anniversary (can't remember the exact wording he used). He also mentioned the 220 height limit. That's about it. When we did the tour, he was seen with notebook in hand talking to a couple of people. Evidently he does this a lot per our tour guide.

I went to the Last Rides event at KK yesterday. Looks like The Enterprise is definitely leaving this time. Ed Hart talked about Thunder Run quite a bit during his Q&A at lunch. (The rides I had on it yesterday were some of the roughest I have had on it.) Storm Chaser, however, was running better than I have ever experienced it. They have tweaked some things, so they are getting much better life on the wheels. Midways were crowded. Hurricane Bay was still open and had modest crowds. Attendance is up over last year, but specifics were not mentioned. Overall a great day. They really do good events there.

I've only eaten at the Midway Market once. Nice presentation but the food was cold. Had a similar experience at Island Smokehouse with the corn pudding. But that is why the meal plan is so great, you can experiment and not feel like you get ripped off. Even with the cold meats at MM, it was worth the up charge. Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

Pretty impressive lineup for the first year. Looking forward to the cinnamon twist bread.

Evidently there was a large fight in Candy Apple Grove earlier tonight. It shut down part of Halloween Haunt. For further detail, look at the KD Season Passholder group on Facebook. Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

Willl you be there "closing" weekend? That's my next trip up there.

I haven't been to the park since last month and this still stings.

I would do Blackout first. It opens earlier and lines get long quick.

My first childhood memory. The Beast. Cirque shows. The Chicken Shack.

Good piece by Queen City Discovery: http://queencitydiscovery.blogspot.com/2017/09/kentucky-kingdom-six-years-later-part-1.html