BeeastFarmer

Louie's Fresh Market by Storm Chaser has great sandwiches. Taco Tequila by T3 has great food and a bar if you indulge. Try Kearns Derby pie, I think you can get that at Swamp Water Jack's My main advice is to not expect a KI or CP experience. Have fun and enjoy it for what it is. Also, if you don't like road construction, use 264 south and enter off Phillips Lane. I usually park near the cemetery. Take advantage of the out of state admission price. There is also a nice shop that is associated with ACE that has some cool stuff. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I just saw my first commercial for Mystic Timbers on my local station. Well done overall, but they did take quite a bit of artistic license. What I thought was very funny was that I used the DVR to rewatch and following the commercial for Kings Island was a commercial for Kings Gardens--a local plant nursery!

Financially, the All Season Dining is a great deal. As is the drink plan. I think, from reading the posts here and from my one visit this year, the park is trying to improve and has listened to guests. Having been to a few other parks now, I can say that KI has some goals to reach to improve the speed of service, and I am glad to see/hear they are doing that. Also, I am glad to hear that they are decreasing serving portion sizes. I am a big guy, but I couldn't eat what was presented to me most of the time and felt bad throwing it away. Almost like the scene from one of The Hunger Games movie.

So is Thunder Run at Kentucky Kingdom a new credit this year? New train some retracking done.

^ #WatchForFallingConcrete

^I agree that the park didn't hype the shed outright, but they did pull off a genius strategy in order to build up suspense, which hyped up the shed and therefore the ride. I do remember people complaining about the ride animation. I am not into the programs that do animations, but even though it was done professionally, I don't think it did the actual ride justice. But then again, how can a computer simulation deliver something exciting as the real thing? Banshee's animation, in my opinion, was closer to the actual ride experience. But even that is nothing like riding it or seeing it in front of your eyes. I was not let down with the shed, and as I said, I think it is a great solution to a normally bland brake run and transfer track. My point with my post was that with both rides, I think KI and KK did underpromise and overdeliver with the final products they built.

I'll get crucified for this opinion, I'm sure. Maybe KI pulled a modified Storm Chaser with the Mystic Timbers announcement. I remember many were let down by the animation (even though it was much better than Storm Chaser's announcement animation!). So maybe they presented an underwhelming version of the ride, but build up the shed component, when in reality the coaster was much better than the shed. Most people I have talked to said the same about Storm Chaser--underwhelm and overdeliver. But...I really like the shed as it's a creative solution for a brake run and transfer track.

Thank you CoasterOhio! More things to be happy about this season for--I can listen to KI's music when I am not at KI!

^I can so remember that! Besides Mystic Timbers, this is one of the best changes the park has made this year.

I drive my co-workers up the wall each weekend because I play the "International Street Soundtrack-Kings Dominion Music" by Busch Dominion on YouTube. I'm hoping an adept YouTuber can do something of a like manner with the IS Soundtrack for KI. Sounds like KI's version is much longer. I'm looking forward to my next visit already.

I've never heard of this option, but it would be a nice option to have. Preferred parking was much cheaper than a locker, but with the disposable cup plan, my need for storage has gone way down!

Magenta Lizard, no problem! Things happen and I'm bad with names too. I'm not one of the more well-known KICers, but I feel like I got to know people more on Thursday and for that I'm grateful. This was in spite of alll the hootin' and hollerin' that went on Wednesday night at the Super8!

I was only able to go on Friday. I had a meal at Street Pizza, waited about 20 minutes, but line was out to the fountain when I left. The cashier was the bottleneck--there was only one and she appeared new and nervous. The menu board advertised the drink plans, so assumed I could buy there (big mistake, huge!). I got my drink honestly drank half of it before I got to the cashier. She said that you could only buy the drink plan at Guest Services or online. But, she did have some autonomy to not charge for the drink. I noticed that for non meal plan options, they have lowered the price but excluded the drink. I hope service is better than in past years, it seems as if they are trying, which is what we can ask for.

MagentaLizard, please pass along many thanks to the creators of the IS playlist! One of the highlights of my visit on Friday! Probably the whole season! Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

The shrubbery has been removed and some smaller trees planted. Out front, the pear trees near the ticket building were old and worn out and the crabapples in the tram circle were still nice but they got the ax too. I'd venture a guess that they'll plant evergreens so they can use them for Winterfear. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I left around 7 after having ridden Diamondback and The Beast. I did sit by the fountain and just take in the atmosphere with the music. It is something many have been wanting/suggesting/asking for, so it was a special moment in time. I did like how they have planted new trees around the junkyard coaster. When they fill in, it will make the area look better. I also saw a lot of new sod everywhere, along with concrete pads or footings near BLSC, the fountains and even in the front gate area. I'm assuming these are Winterfest preparations. I'm generally not a fan of tree removal, but the Eiffel Tower looks so much better as do the planting areas by season pass processing and the tram circle. It would have been easy to complain about things today, but I think the park did an impressive job given how crowded it was. I can't recall seeing it this busy.

International music returns to International Street! Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

How things change over the course of a year. Two days before Passholder Preview last year, we didn't know to "Watch for Falling Trees", many were concerned about the soccer balls hitting riders on Diamondback, we wondered why the park leveled an original Rivertown building and BeastGal and Gavin had not entered the scene (yet!). A year later, we have what promises to be a great woodie at the park and who knows what else the future holds. It's going to be a great season at KI!

On historical averages, Sevierville is about 8 degrees warmer in December for daytime temps and about 4 degrees warmer for nighttime temps. Having ridden coasters at Dollywood in December the past two years when the temps were in the low 30's, I can say it was invigorating. It was also nice to be able to get out of the cold and watch shows and eat. I can see a logistical nightmare if KI wanted to keep coasters and flats open--winter teardown and unpredictable weather--but I would love to be able to ride The Beast in December! Source: http://www.intellicast.com/Local/History.aspx?location=USTN0454

Me too! I'm excited for my first ever media day and first riders charity event! Also, MT will be my first new coaster from teaser to completion since I became a park/industry/coaster enthusiast. Pretty exciting!

I'm not sure how parks like Dollywood do it, (they have a much shorter off season), but it CAN be done. They could go to two train operation and rebuild in stages or they could opt to not include attractions and focus on content. Dollywood has an incredible event but they focus on every aspect, not just coasters. If Winterfest becomes an annual event, down the road they might consider opening more attractions. I guess it depends on how the event goes.

300. Giga confirmed. Love the teasers the park puts out!

Thanks for taking the time to post this. After visiting KD for the first time last year, I am obsessed. The more I learn, the more fascinated I become!

When my non-coaster enthusiast friend visited KI with me in October 2015, she was asking me about KI trivia. So when we were in the area formerly known as Coney Mall, I pointed out the circle of ginko trees (it's a smoking area). I explained that they had transplanted the pruned trees from Coney Island and these were the only surviving ginko trees. She picked up a fruit, smelled it and commented on the smell. I told her that the fruit tastes wonderful and is a Chinese delicacy. I stopped her just before she took a bite. Was quite funny. Of course, that was a phone ago, so I don't have her picture, but I searched her Facebook photos and found this one.

I rewatched the Mystic Timbers Introduction/teaser video several times and I think I have figured out #WhatsInTheShed! It will be a recreation of the Son of Beast. The track will move and will be surrounded by giant video screens that give a 5D presentation of the former coaster. The teaser video starts out in the area behind Banshee, where SOB was located. The truck winds its way through the park and ends up at the station location. I think there is much significance in where the video starts and ends. That's why I think they are paying tribute to SOB in this way. I think I watched the video one too many times. It is amazing how the imagination works. I don't really think this is #WhatsInTheShed, but it did enter my mind and my mind chased the rabbit trail!