BeeastFarmer

1. How the Junkyard coaster ruined a beautiful area of the park. It's slowly recovering but unfortunately what was there is now gone. 2. The entry plaza. The ticket sales window and pass processing center replaced a berm that had shrubbery spelling out Kings Island and the other berm (to the right) would have a floral display of the new attraction for that season. The most recent victims were the crabapple trees in the trolley circle, but that's OK with me since we got WinterFest.

I haven't been to any of the other CF WinterFests or any of the original KI WinterFests of yorn. Since the event began at KI, would it be considered the flagship for WinterFest?

WinterFest was a return to the "old" KI for me last year, with a current day twist. I think the park is adding in nostalgic treats for us old school folks and look forward to seeing what they have planned down the road. International Street was absolutely the most incredible thing I have seen at Kings Island. When the lighting ceremony counts down, it actually feels like the buildings are beaming with pride and dancing. It really is electric.

Millennium Force (6) vs. Adventure Express (3)Top Thrill Dragster (6) vs. Blue Streak (3)Steel Vengeance (8) vs. Flight of Fear (1)Diamondback (6) vs. The Racer (3)The Beast (5) vs. Mystic Timbers (4)Magnum XL-200 (6) vs. Rougarou (3)Banshee (8) vs. Raptor (1)Vortex (3) vs. Maverick (6)

I just noticed something looking at the above photo. With the original berms outside the gate, the fountain, and the entry gate, it almost looks like an Eiffel Tower...or if you incude the pavement around the Tower and the lake and Enchanted Voyage building, I can see a gingerbread man with very short legs.

I didn't have to remove my shirt, I just had to lift it up. It wasn't a huge deal but it is just part of the world we live in for better or worse. I'm dreading the conversation with ride ops at CP about having my phone in line at SV. The app on the phone is what displays the blood sugar levels and trends. I've spoken to Guest Services and was told to stop by and they would get a solution. I don't want to use a green sheet as I don't think that is needed, but I also don't want to cause a ruckus if I alarm while in the queue and riders see me take a phone out of my pocket.

I was told at security to hold my arm up when going through the metal detector as my zipper and Fitbit in combination were too much for it. It was interesting when my transmitter for my Dexcom (my CGM) set off the detector last year at CP. I had to take off my belt, everything else I had was in the bucket. I had to raise my shirt up and they had to look at the transmitter. Little too much of my belly exposed LOL.

Thanks for the responses. I am glad they toned down WinterFest Way. Regarding the stars on top of the Tower--I saw some video from Kings Dominion. Their stars appeared to be brighter and were also synched to the programming on the light strands.

It will be a few more weeks before I can make it to Winterfest. For those who have been, has WinterFest Way been toned down this year? It doesn't look flashy from the webcam.

If I could get over my fear of falling, I'd love to have a job like this. But I'll leave this to the pros, haha. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I wasn't considering the alcohol aspect of it, I was thinking about the maintaining of the integrity of the parks.

^Nope. No way, no how. Even if I remembered all my knots from Scouting, I would not do this.

If SEAS were to be absorbed, I'd like to see it broken up into smaller pieces. It would be awesome to see FUN get some parks in year-round markets. Maybe BGW could go to Hershchend. The parks could maintain their respective market shares in each market.

I might be in the minority here, but I would love to see a return of The Beastie. I'm a nostalgia nut, but I have to admit the HB characters are obscure enough to not bring in the money that Peanuts do. Plus, I think HB is now a part of the Warner universe. If FUN could get license rights, I'd hate to think of FUN indirectly benefitting SIX. lol

In those days, helmets for bicycles were unheard of. Kids had gun racks with rifles in the trucks they drove to school. Jr and Sr high schools had smoking areas. The Racer had buzzbars. Times change and so do procedures.

But it could be argued that many of the rides are tied together. All with mysterious happenings...AE, FOF, Firehawk, Vortex, The Beast, Mystic Timbers. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

The Beast is my all time favorite, but I love Mystic Timbers. It's all so subjective. So many people rave about the Cowboy Coaster at CP, but I find it ok. But not all that. Others rave about Banshee, but I like AE (and WinterFest) much better than Banshee.

I like how some of these renderings use crowd sounds that mimic the first POV that was released of Valravn, with what I assume are park employees.

I've been to Over Georgia. They had good hot chocolate, poor operations, the majority of the rides and attractions were open. They had lights, but they looked like an afterthought. They had cut trees that were dried out and some were even completely defoliated. It was basically the same park you see in the summer, but with some Christmas lights added in and some hot chocolate stands. WinterFest, on the other hand, is like an experience with a few rides open. In my opinion, it's like comparing a Big Mac Value Meal to a full steak and lobster dinner at Ruths Chris. Both are good, but Ruths Chris is much better and experiential. (But the cost of WinterFest is not Ruths Chris level, it's more on the Applebees level.)

This was the tree lighting ceremony last year. Definitely a great way to start the evening off.

Why would The Beast need to be unleashed? I'd rather she stay somewhat leashed in Rivertown. It would be great to have another coaster themed to the story line, but don't degrade the original. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Millennium Force (3) vs. Great Pumpkin Coaster (1)Top Thrill Dragster (3) vs. Wilderness Run (1)Steel Vengeance (4) vs. Flying Ace Aerial Chase (0)Diamondback (4) vs. Woodstock Express CP (0)The Beast (3) vs. Woodstock Express KI (1)Magnum XL-200 (3) vs. Backlot Stunt Coaster (1)Banshee (3) vs. Cedar Creek Mine Ride (1)Valravn (2) vs. Adventure Express (2)GateKeeper (2) vs. Blue Streak (2)Vortex (4) vs. Iron Dragon (0)Maverick (3) vs. The Bat (1)Raptor (2) vs. Invertigo (2)Rougarou (2) vs. Corkscrew (2)Gemini (2) vs. Flight of Fear (2)Wicked Twister (1) vs. The Racer (3)Firehawk (1) vs. Mystic Timbers (3)

I think WinterFest is better than Banshee.(lol) I too went 5 times last year and didn't get to do all I wanted to do. The only thing that would bring it to Dollywood level would be to have more rides and coasters open, but I don't think that is worth the trade off of getting everything ready for Spring opening. I'm very happy and would still go multiple times if no rides we're open. In spite of a rough year at Cedar Fair, I am more excited for the future of Kings Island than I ever have been. They are doing so many things that people want and doing a great job...even if they still have some food issues and didn't give a rendering for KMAA. Lol Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

@sixohdieselrage, the story of The Beast is awesome. Mr. Gramke gave a talk at Coasterstock and I was starstruck. If I could have only heard Al Collins give a talk. Plus, hearing Dennis Speigel's thoughts on The Beast...it is so awesome to hear these folks who were so key to the birth of my favorite roller coaster. With the Great Coaster we got with Mystic Timbers, Diamondback and Banshee, I think what we get is gonna be pretty awesome. I'm pretty excited!

I'm going to sound like I contradict myself, but... I wish they would have similiar policies at the parks. One park you must have a hand stamp. Another, you don't. One park, a platinum pass gets you a FLP+ for the price of a FL but at another you don't. That being said, and I think they are getting better at this, I think each park should have its own personality. I'd like to see the chain wide uniforms go to the wayside and the standardized garbage cans etc.