BeeastFarmer

It may be logistical or it may just be that with all the trouble they had getting the ride open, they don't want to risk messing up the status quo for this season.

The only bad food I got this and last year was at The Burrito Shack and it was unseasoned chicken. I'm generally satisfied with The Chicken Shack, Skyline, the burgers. And they serve enough food to feed two. For myself, it's the speed and the lack of care that can be seen by the back line folks. Face to face Frontline folks are great even if they are trying to upsell a souvenir cup while you are refilling your already purchased cup. Oh and for heavens sake. The trays. Can we please!get!trays! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

I don't know that they currently would be concerned with lighting accents because for most of the season, they are closed when it is dark. This is one of the things that I hope changes. It was a cool atmosphere last week when I was there after dark, and I am glad they had chaser lights on T3 and Thunder Run. I don't know why they don't light up the Big Wheel (is that was they call the Ferris Wheel?). I remember some photos that the park released during the summer/fall of 2013, when they were renovating, and they had a great lighting package on it.

Yes, The Interpreter, I will have to disagree with you on this aspect. I agree with bjcolglazier's logic: other aspects of park operations would have the same lack of urgency for season pass holders and even day tickets because just to get in, they have your money. Ride operations, the shows, the merchandise folks have not had these same issues. I know that food service is not the most glamorous job, but it is key. My first legal job was in food service as a teen and we had to bust tail or the door waited. They really need to work on this issue for next year. The guests I have taken this year love everything except the speed of service in food. bjcolglazier

I hope the people who are in positions to make change in the food service are aware that there are problems. My opinion is that the dining plans do not add significantly to the wait times. It does add volume, but they seem to have enough staff to handle the volume. The staff, while friendly (for the most part), seem to have a very low bar set for speed of service. Simple fixes: At places like the Chicken Shack and Hank's Burrito Shack: Open one side for drinks only. That would shorten the food lines. Replace Freestyle machines with standard fountain drinks at these places as well. They add to wait times. As mentioned earlier, re-align the drink refill prices to be an even dollar. Challenging fixes: Change the culture in food service. Instill into workers a sense of urgency. Give supervisors more authority to weed out problem employees. (Leaning over a prep table on elbows, not one employee but three! in the Skyline Chili location in the area formerly known as Coney Mall for instance). Install drink stations with a cashier like Kentucky Kingdom did, just for people who want drinks. (and this idea probably came from the Holiday World drink stations). It will be interesting to see how food service compares at other CF parks when I go next year. I hope this is not a corporate culture and is localized at KI.

Nice story about Chance Rides. Lightning Run is not named, but is featured in video footage. (Neither is Kentucky Kingdom mentioned) http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/check-roller-coasters-made-america-33218129

I plan on going on Labor Day as well. If need be, my friend and I will buy Fast Lane. It's a $19.99 BAF day as well as dollar days, so unless the weather is bad, I anticipate crowds.

As an apiarist, I must ask: Are these honeybees that you speak of? If so, that is fairly unusual behavior. I have not been to this zoo, but at several Kings Island trash cans, I do see a form of wasps flying around, looking to extract sugar from tossed sodas and the like.

I think it's relative. I live about 3 hours from KI and consider it my home park and think it's close. My other choices are much further away. But on the drive home I usually don't feel quite the same. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

They announced over the PA that they were closing at 9:30 last night. I left Lightning Run at about 9:40. I walked around the fairground midway and rides were still operating at Kentucky Kingdom at 10:15. When I KK the place was virtually deserted; maybe there was an employee ride night? (Edit: This was Wednesday night, not Tuesday night. I didn' t want to imply that I was disagreeing with Shaggy as I have no idea what happened on Tuesday as I was not there.) Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

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Perfect! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

I went to the State Fair and Kentucky Kingdom this evening. Here are my impressions: 1. Very light crowds at KK. Everything I wanted to do, I did and as a walk on, except my first ride on Lightning Run, which was about a 10 minute wait at 5:30pm. 2. Crowds in the park were much higher caliber than the ones on the fair midway. Polite, no cursing loudly, no smoking, etc. 3. The park was VERY clean and the landscape was impeccable. I learned about some new to me plants today with the plant ID tags the park has installed. Grounds were spotless. 4. Fair was VERY crowded. Food was very expensive (thing KI prices for food, plus add some!) Food was good however. 5. KK looks great at night. I had never been there after the sun set. 6. Thunder Run and T3 have some pretty nice LED chaser lights. If I can figure out how to upload from my phone, I will share a picture. 7. Perfect weather. 8. Night rides were fun. 9. Friendly staff. 10. Fair midway had some nice rides, but some were exactly the same you could ride inside KK. I think the fair was the clear attendance winner....VERY crowded. 11. KIngdom Radio had a nice selection of music from many different genres. This was my last visit of 2015 and was a great one to end on.

Not on topic of Thunder Road, but on the subject of paint/stain on roller coasters: On The Beasts' lift hills, it seems that there is no protection of the railings/steps. They are warped, cracked and mildewed. Should I be concerned?

This will be my first time getting a Platinum Pass but if you are going from (current) Gold to Platinum ('16) will this be a renewal or a new pass?

Who are not members of the Order.Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Or me...

I met him at the Reds Hall of Fame Grill, but I am not sure if that is "home base" for him.

There's a video on Youtube of closing day 2014. Looked pretty cold...and not very busy at all. My best guess is if you are die-hard enough to stay late closing day, nobody's really going to care.Yes it was cold last year but soooo worth it. I was on one of the last The Beast trains before the ACE ERT to close down the park and I promised myself I will be among the last 2015 riders which I hope happens. You definitely did have to show you qualified for the ERT as I remember. I do know how sad I felt near the photo booth as I listened to him ascend the lift hill. I also know how shocked I was to see the photos of the deboarded trains the next day on social media! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

I'm pretty sure I will go Platinum for 2016. I see Cedar Point, Kings Dominion and Carowinds on my horizon. Pretty exicted I will be able to attend closing day. First time ever attending opening day AND closing day! Last year, they had a last ride event for some clubs, I wonder if that will be the case again this year (after the 9pm ERT ends of course.)

I've never composed a trip report before, and I have to work early in the morning, but I wanted to post a few thoughts on my visit this week. I arrived with three folks are not enthusiasts. A good friend from church who is "high maintenance" and a friend from work and her son. All three admitted they were anxious about riding coasters, but wanted to conquer the fear. We arrived around 10:30, after a late start. Great parking spot. After buying the $15 tickets and being reminded of the no rain check policy, the ladies stopped by the c-store at the entrance; much coin was spend on fanny packs and ponchos in spite of my advice to come prepared and the fact that rain was not supposed to start in earnest until late in the day. (There was a very light rain at this time.) We went and rented a locker near White Water Canyon. They did not want to start on a small coaster, or kid sized coaster...they wanted Diamondback. Of course, I obliged. Two wanted no details of the ride, one wanted to know what it was like. They chose the back seats and with no waiting, we rode twice. Everyone LOVED it! Next we went to The Beast...again a walk on and two rides. Then we rode Vortex and my friend and her son rode again. In between these rides, we asked several associates about the location of the announcement and were finally told it was going to be in Soak City. I decided not to go, since I am not a water park patron. We went to Reds Hall of Fame Grill and had a great lunch. Next we went to Banshee and The Bat after doing KI Kicks Cancer. Had a couple of rides on each. We rode the Red Racer and Adventure Express next. A brief rain shower happened and my friend's son could not ride Invertigo, Delerium or Slingshot. We ate at the Chicken Shack and is was the best I have ever seen it. Service was great and quick, cashier was friendly and food was awesome. We hit Banshee again, my friend and her son did Flight of Fear and Firehawk, and then we did The Vortex-The Beast-Diamondback circuit again, with a stop by Shake Rattle N Roll. (I don't ride that however!) It was now about 6:45 and so we decided to go back to the Action Zone so my friends son could get a chance to ride Invertigo and Delerium. (They did not want to clear out the locker at this point however!) We got there and the storm came, so those attractions were closed. He and his mom rode Monster. Then we went to Flight of Fear and just after the gates opened for them to board, the ride closed. We waited out the weather and walked back to Rivertown, virtually by ourselves. Cleared out the locker, got some Blue Ice cream and enjoyed the fountains. The rain had mostly stopped but the park had not reopened the rides as it was about 7:40. We stopped by Guest Relations to compliment some employees and walked to the car...which was almost alone in the parking lot. In summary...not one issue to complain about. Stellar service, great food, and overall FUN day. My friends now love coasters and appreciate my obsession with all things KI and roller coasters. The only thing that makes me sad is that only have a couple more opportunities to visit this year.

Perhaps more.

Just for the record, it was NOT ME! I am the underdog in this thread, but I kind of enjoy that. I am usually on the opposite end of the opinions here, but I don't feel like I have ever been downgraded because of my opinion. I enjoy the friendships I have been virtually building on this site. JCGoble3, your point #2 could be said about most things. I hope the folks who doubt that KK will return next year are wrong because I want to ride Storm Chaser!

The Interpreter, I think you misinterpreted my post. I stated "that's NEW news?" The article you referenced was repeating the same information that was available elsewhere and before. That's not to mean that I condone having "open" closing times. I think it stinks. However, having a season pass will likely entice me to make a visit and experience the state fair since I have to pay. Before I had no interest. Now I do since I have pay. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Sorry, The Interpreter. Gee thanks. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk