BeeastFarmer

Ok, I'm still on team pedestal, but what can I say besides "wow." International Street is incredible. The fountain looks much better than I pictured. Thank you, Kings Island for listening. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

They weren't synched or anything. Just solid blue. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I left at 830 and the lights were on in the fountain. I'm not sure if I read your post incorrectly or not. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I'd give them 20 to 25 years before they'll be replaced with linden trees. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I'm not so sure that KI has to split profits with Skyline and LaRosa's. They are listed as sponsors, so do they pay to be in the park?

@Magenta Lizard...I still think the cactus and Mother in Law's Tounge that was planted in Tower Gardens, along with the barrel and chair could be a subtle hint, and maybe even perhaps the Wizard of Oz characters at Haunt was too. I enjoy the Bonifeld Barrel Co teasers across the chain.

The only time I have been to KK after dark was in 2016 during the state fair. If I remember correctly, they were open until 10. It was nice to see the lighting packages on the rides, but they did not have LED uplights back then.

In one of the YouTube videos I have watched about Copperhead Strike, there was a whole section about the theming in Byrds Orchard (I think thats the name?). This was specifically highlighted, along with cues from KD, CP, Knotts and CGA.

Kentucky Kingdom has been killing it on social media lately. I am going to post a YouTube link that was very well done, and it shows the LED uplighting I discussed earlier. Seems like alot of work and expense for a private event. But it looks beautiful!

How about a B&M GiGa twin racer coaster? One side is red, one side is blue. The red side has the trains going backward. There are two underground tunnels, two lift hills on each coaster, a 540-degree side banked tunnel near the end, and the final brake run is enclosed with statues moving their arms up and down?

I love it when I am climbing the hill on Mystic Timbers and I see a Diamondback train gracefully pass over the 2nd hill. FURY 325 has a magnificent sound. It's like a muffled roar over the front entrance, almost like a "swoosh." Sounds very futuristic to me. I wasn't really into roller coasters when Diamondback debuted, but I remember seeing a video of some test runs when KIC had an event before it opened. It definitely was much louder then--kind of wish it still was. I love a good roar on a coaster. Mystic Timbers has a great roar.

Or it could be as simple as Mr. Grubbs was there to get information to provide a bid on The Racer retrack work, which was ultimately done by GCI.

Looking at photos from the Eiffel Tower, there is open space on both ends of the Royal Fountain. Might the pedestals return there?

The ride has done this as long as I can remember. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

@Creed Bratton, you are welcome! It's good to have so many parks relatively close by.

Went to the media day for Kentucky Flyer yesterday. That is a very nice coaster. I wasn't expecting much because of the smaller size, but it is smoooooth with lots of airtime. Good layout, slightly themed, I guess to the airport. I have never been on a GG coaster, so it was a new experience for me. The trains are so comfortable. They look cool but weird. Very strange not having a seat belt. Overall, a great addition to the park. They are doing so many good things there. The park started the event with a meal in the picnic pavilion. The BBQ was very good, it had some chunky coleslaw and corn as sides. I didn't try the coleslaw, the corn was awesome. The had a mac and cheese bar, three different kinds of mac and different toppings. Fruit and shrimp bar, but I don't eat seafood. The employees were outstanding. The park, what we could see of it on the walk over, looked great. It was interesting to see some of the waterpark attractions getting filled with water. I saw lots of LED uplight fixtures on trees. The park is usually closed when it's dark, I wonder what that is for?

While I love the charm of Kings Dominion IS, I wasn't impressed with their Royal Fountain. Part of it, I think, is the berm that obscures a clear view of the Royal Fountain when you enter the park. When I went in 2017, the fountains sprayed like this. I can see a similarly in the fountain program from the KI of my youth (there was a sequence where the fountains would work up to a creshendo and then go back to a minimum flow, the sound of all the water at maximum volume and then almost silent except for the water spilling out of the pedestal bowls is etched in my mind). As I've said before, the Royal Fountain of the past might be a happy memory or it might be much better than I anticipate. My pedestal preference, though, I'd gladly give up for everything else the park has restored for this season. I'm surprised that no one (that I recall) has discussed the flagpoles. I don't mind them being front and center. Finally, does anyone reading this thread, think we will see a resurgence of the 70s and 80s KI logo? I was thinking we might see it in front of the Royal Fountain, replacing the current logo. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I am concerned about the Kings Island Complainers comment. I think, if that is true, it should be sourced or it should not have been said in a public forum in the first place. Why bring this point out, which could potentially put park employees in a negative light? I mean, I can see how that label would fit on several people here (some prominent and some not), but that just sounds like something that needs to be kept private.

Shhhh! It's a secret! Lol Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

If I am sitting anywhere near the middle of the train, I have to have assistance. Front or back, i get the lap bar down no problem.

Thanks for the pictures, @IndyGuy4KI! International Street looks awesome. I can't wait to see it in person. And even though I'm on team pedestal, I know that the people at the park now what they are doing. People may not like change. For all we know, the pedestals could return. Or they could be replicated by programming the jets. Or they could part of the park's history, with exciting things for the future. But with all they have done, I think it's too early to tell the final impact. To express opinions is to be expected in a park we are passionate about. I think the folks at the park expect that and I would hope that they know individuals do not tell the whole story of a collective. To the folks who think the removal of the pedestals is a horrible mistake: wait and see. To the ones who think the park can never do a wrong, they can. And to everybody, enjoy this season. I think it's going to be one for the record books. As I started saying around this time two years ago, I sense a very good change coming to KI, and I am more excited about the future of the park that I ever have been.

I think people just miss what was old. Like original old. Kings Island generally excels at what they do and I'm sure this will not be an exception. Maybe we are getting a GiGaFountain? Lol Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I'll reserve actual judgement until my first visit. But I will miss the pedestals. I was also hoping for a return of the ornate light fixtures. In any event, I applaud the park for reinvesting into nostalgia. Many of the things I've hoped for have come to pass. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

So they purposely built a fence that left the top of Firehawk's wings exposed...high point...wings...gigawing confirmed. Lol Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

But in the numerous updates this offseason, the park has shown photos of the concrete being poured before the landscaping was completed on KMAA. To access the dirt areas after the track was poured, they set up wooden supports over the concrete to protect it, looked similar to pallets to me.