BeeastFarmer

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!

I rode Hurler at Carowinds one year ago yesterday. Worst coaster I have ever ridden, even worse than Firehawk. I had a headache from all the jackhammering. I don't wish for the demise of coaster, usually, but in the current form, I wouldn't be too unhappy if it were removed for future expansion. I'm also curious as to why folks would think the new Hurler at KD would be like Storm Chaser? Twisted Twins was nothing like Hurler, IIRC.

Not sure where to post this, but the renovated Cedar Point Express hotel has some pretty good rates with the coupon code "pass"--I'm going up after Coasterstock and for two nights, the rate was around $135 total. Not too shabby. Hopefully a better experience this year than last! Edit: This is for passholders only, you have to show your pass at check in.

In Coastermatt's video, I was impressed that Ed Hart recognized Logan from Koaster Kids by name and acknowledged his scream rating. It did seem genuine, as did he when I spoke with him last year. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

But that was the thing about Les Taxis and the Ohio Overland Livery. Wiith the setting-rare plants, manicured landscaping and the placement behind the Tower, it was a very unique to KI. In a like way, the Tin Lizzies at Kentucky Kingdom are just an antique car ride, but the setting makes it fun. (* I am in no way comparing the Tin Lizzies to KI's former attraction where the junkyard coaster resides now. )

I would think that a day at a park other than KI would be taking some of the market. I am a big fan of KK, but I spend more days at KI. For me, it is nice to have an option to drive slightly more than an hour and ride some coasters that drive three hours for a long day at KI. But KK can't fill the KI void. That's why it's nice to have options.

Thanks jcgoble3 and drummermattk, excellent writing and photos!

A couple of friends of mine were at the "Keys to the Kingdom" event today, really enjoyed seeing the updates. Highlight for me was seeing new pathways around Thunder Run that apparently go all around the "front" turnaround and lots of new track and ledgers. Also of interest was Enterprise. Apparently it is on "life support" and at one time was going to be removed at the end of last season and that is where EOTS was going to go? I wasn't there (darn work) so I can't say from first hand knowledge. But lots of interesting tidbits.

My personal thought is maybe they put Dominator at KD so this park can have a B&M. I've heard Busch has an agreement with B&M to limit the radius for new builds a certain distance from BGW. I also just had a thought:. Was the name Dominator chosen at GL because the move was predeterminded? Dominator at Dominion? Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

If "missing" a park indicates how much I like the park, I miss Kings Dominion! I spent 2.5 days there last summer and it was awesome. The level of customer care was outstanding. KI is my home park and I love going there, but I can say that KD is my favorite park even though I like KI better. Hard to put into words.

What a great sound to be added to Rivertown!

And especially now since we can buy the drink plan without the souvenir cup! KI keeps getting better!

Maybe you can look into a SF season pass? I'm not in the know with their trends, but I bought one on the labor day sale for around $60, which is the equivalent of the CF Platinum pass, so I have definately got my money's worth thus far. Maybe they have spring specials? I totally had fun there, just had to internalize my frustration. I would hope in June they would have all the coasters open, they were all fun (the ones I got to experience--except Goliath, but even a bad coaster can be better than no coaster at all!) Knott's, on the other hand--even with less coasters, was a first class experience.

I spent a day and a half in both parks last month. The coasters and other rides at Knott's are very easy to do multiple times. The longest line was for Goldstriker, about 45 minutes. They have so much to do there that the crowds are dispersed nicely. As mentioned above, Calico Mine Train was awesome was the Timber Mountain log flume. The train ride was not working while I was there, but the stagecoach ride was alot of fun. I didn't try Mrs. Knott's chicken, and the rest of the food was pretty much like other CF parks. Many of their food locations do not accept the meal plan. SFMM---I was really let down by this park. On Saturday, it was raining, but people didn't leave in droves as I expected. The coasters that were open had very slow operations and one train operations. On Sunday, it was a beautiful day and the park was packed. I did get the FlashPass so I could get in as many coasters as possible. You can only get TC and Superman once with this pass and it will only allow you to reserve one ride at a time. Ride operations were still very slow and had one train operations. Food was actually very good--the grilled chicken salad by the little store by the fountain was excellent. The park was clean and actually themed nicely. I am not sure if there is a sewer problem, but there was the Boy Scout latrine smell that wafted around was not pleasant. I'm not sure about summer crowds at SFMM, but I wouldn't have been able to do what I did without the FlashPass, and they had several of the coasters down. My thought is if they keep the same operation mode in the summer as they had in the winter, even with minimal crowds, line would be an issue. Tip: at opening, lines are horrendous for security. As you face the gate, they have an overflow at the exit and you can get through security quicker here. No real tips for getting into the gate from there. Tip: it is about 60 miles between the parks and on a Sunday evening it took me almost 2 hours to drive between the two parks. I'd plan for this or more, if you are driving on a weekday. Don't miss TC and Superman, as well as New Revolution (VR was not an option while I was there). Goliath was a terrible ride, Scream! is (I think) a clone of Dominator, the log flume was fun. Quality at Knott's was much better than quantity at SFMM. Hope my experience helps!