BeeastFarmer

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

Gee, thanks Don. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

At the park today and no employees know where this announcement will be Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

I did something at the park last week I have never done before: saw a show twice in one visit. It was Cirque Imagine. I went at 3pm and it was the best performance I have seen in '14 or '15! The crowd was enthusiastic and the performers were at the top of the game. The 7pm show did not let me down. The crowd was smaller, but the performers were just as intense. I am not an emotional guy, but I have to admit that the combination of the excellence of the performers, the loud music, the crowd reaction and the thought that this was probably the last time I would see this show at the Kings Island Theater made me a little sad. I hope whatever replaces this builds on this foundation.

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Aaron88stang. I never rode it as T2, so when I rode it as T3, I had no basis of comparison. As I stated earlier, I really enjoyed it. The only rough spot for me was the turn back into the station. I'm so glad that Thunderbird was available to break me of my fear of going upside down. With the help of antiemetics, I have been able to ride it, T3, Banshee, Vortex and Firehawk. I don't think I'll do Firehawk again though--hate backwards.

My apologies. I was calling Hank's Burrito Shack the Taco Shack by mistake. I guess I was transposing Kentucky Kingdom's Taco Tequila with Hank's Burrito Shack. I hope you love burritos, too!

I'd conjecture that the standard food offerings have nothing to do with Chef Nate. He's probably more of a "face" for events that the park can sell to the GP. This was my first year eating at the Reds Hall of Fame and the selection was good as was the quality. I even met Chef Nate once there and he asked what I thought about my meal. The Taco Shack was really good (in spite of the terrible waits) until last week when the chicken was not seasoned at all. It was almost like they boiled the chicken in water and shredded it. I hope that in 2016 Kings Island will work on the speed of service and address the root issues--what I see is the back line employees being unmotivated--and getting trays! The Taco Shack also has those airway blowers and that is not conducive to exiting the building without loosing chips or getting food blown away. The friendliness of the food staff has been good and the quality has been generally good, but the speed is terrible.

I remember a few years ago, I made just a few trips yearly to KI after living "out west" and a long absence from the park. The Racer seats are painful, but I still ride. Vortex was actually LESS painful than I remember. I love the coasters, but I also enjoy crowd watching. On a side note, my parents and sister went to the park three years ago. My dad, who was 77 at the time, rode The Racer. He enjoyed it. I was happy for him. Fast forward to now and they can't go unless I rent a wheelchair and push both of them around (after about 2 hours walking around the park). They are still doing good, but age is taking its' toll and extended walking is a challenge. This teaches me to take every opportunity to enjoy such things as a park while I can.

I tend to stop by Guest Services to compliment ride ops and sweeps rather than chastise the subpar food department. People can be idiots with complaints. Last week a man was whining and when the supervisor came out he literally pounded the counter demanding "a real supervisor not a teenage idiot." The last thing I want to do is point out a problem even if it's done in a positive manner. And they have asked for my contact information so they can follow up but they never do. That leads me to think that management is either too busy or is non chalant. Kentucky Kingdom followed up three times with me on the same compliment. I Street Larosas smells like emesis. Friendly front line folks but unmotivated back line folks. Most food is good quality but when it is consistently taking longer to get food at off times than it is to ride a marquee coaster . Something ain't right Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

I think we, as enthusiasts, are quick to judge. Sure, he should have known better. But if I died on the way to the park going over the speed limit, did I not do the same thing? Or the folks who eat 3 way Skyline combos at the park and have a myriad of health issues that lead to death, they are out of bounds too. This death was sudden and tragic. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

I'd wager that there are footings holding up the station.

And this is new news?

I've ridden Diamondstack twice today each with about a 10 minute wait. I've waited longer for my food at Taco Shack than any ride here today. ..but that's nothing unusual. Food is bland and the guy tried to sell me a souvenir cup....as I'm filling mine up! And when I asked the cashier if they had any trays: "I don't think we do those anymore or they all dirty." Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

2016-2021 Five season plan. (Satire, nothing in this post is serious). In 2016, Kings Island will finally paint The Racer, the Eiffel Tower, and the entrance plaza buildings. Building on the momentum of the success of the tristate's largest Starbucks, Kings Island will introduce In-N-Out Burger to the tristate area and place it in the box formerly known as The Crypt. It will be the worlds' largest In-N-Out burger outlet, but will not accept the meal plan offerings. The newest ride offering will be a lazy river that connects Soak City with Planet Snoopy which includes a "worlds first lazy river loop that crosses a railroad track...twice!" Press kits tout a entirely new Planet Snoopy and Soak City and a revitalized train experience. In food service news, Chef Nate announces he has listened to the complaints of slow food service and introduces two options for guests: 1-Fast Eat pass-separate entrance for Meal Plan participants, but at a cost of $49.99/day. This option promises that the diner will be served in 20 minutes or less, but there is no recourse if this threshold is not met. The second option, at no extra charge, is the standard food service except the park guest will make his/her meal, salad bar style. Kings Island also announces it has solved the "Diamondstack" issue by going to one train operation. 2017 brings sweeping change to the park. Seeing the attendance figures decline from the Louisville market, the park co-markets with Kentucky Kingdom, in a like manner that Kings Dominion did with Busch Gardens. Combo daily tickets and gold passes are sold. Renovations this year include: The Liberty Bell i s relocated to the front of the Eiffel Tower and a LED flower clock is constructed on the other side. Back Lot Stunt Coaster is renovated and re-themed as The Bat's Son. Banshee is as popular as ever, so Kings Island decided to add a second female-inspired coaster by re-theming Adventure Express as Daughter of Beast. 2018 brings us another first. The area near the International Showplace/Diamondback sees overwinter construction. The area eventually expands to the front of Bat's Son and over to the Tower Garden. The new ride is called Launched Les Taxis. It is the world's first launched antique car ride, with the cars accelerating from 0-8 MPH in 16 seconds. The partnership with Kentucky Kingdom expands. Trains from the former Greezed Lightning are used on Vortex and the Thunder Road train is sent to Kentucky Kingdom, but sits unused since Thunder Run does not have a transfer track. 2019-In a settlement with NASCAR, the Intimadator coasters are removed from Kings Dominion and Carowinds. Intimadator 305 is relocated to Kings Island and The Intimadator is relocated to Kentucky Kingdom. The Kentucky Kingdom version requires excavation to accommodate airport height requirements. Both of these rides are tied into the Kentucky Speedway and Kentucky Kingdom shares tax incentives with Kings Island by picking up the marketing expense for the rides. Planet Snoopy is renamed King Louie's Playground as the rights to the Peanuts franchise expires. 2020-Kings Island introduces a 5D dark ride. Interestingly enough, the ride will be themed to clarity to tie in with the 2020 year and 20/20 vision. No glasses will be needed as cortical stimulators are used instead. The "shows" can be tailored to each rider. The most popular choice returns the Cirque d'Imagine concept and allows the rider to view and then become a character in the show. Other options include past roller coasters of Kings Island and Kentucky Kingdom roller coasters. An announcement is made that starting in 2021, "exciting changes are in store for Kings Island to celebrate the 50th anniversary in 2022." 2021-Not a big year for CAPEX at Kings Island. All theming is removed in Rivertown. Pavers replace blacktop. In June, it is announced that Kentucky Kingdom is being acquired by Cedar Fair, with Ed Hart gaining a seat on the board of directors. Six Flags announces plans to enter the market by building a park in northern Kentucky, partnering with the Bea Arthur Foundation. It is to be Western themed park. Only after the announcement is made does the company realize it has made a mistake by partnering with the wrong foundation. They got Bea Arthur confused with Fess Parker.

I'll give my opinion of #stackgate. Last year, there was a ride op named Eric at DB. Eric has been at The Beast instead of DB this year, at least on my visits. Does one person make a difference in the stacking? Debateable. But the way he entertained the crowd made the wait worth it. I haven't had to wait more than 30 minutes for DB this year, which is acceptable to me for a great ride. If tweaks can be made, great. But I don't think it is an issue with lazy employees. They seem to work hard.

When I was a teenager, showering was not important, especially because it was a bunch of my peers, so no one cared what the smell was. However, at summer camp, were required to shower at least every other day. Weekend campouts, not so much. As an adult, it is bad enough to smell body odor in the que lines. I don't want to contribute to that. I agree with most posted opinions...great idea, terrible execution.

Looks to be an amazing ride, I did find Dolly to be a little awkward and contrived, wish she had not of said it made her nauseous and she would not ride it, even if she redacted that statement.

I saw the same commercial in the Lexington market today. Although in the local vernacular, it would be expected to say: "I seen it today." Or even more authentic : "Yessir, I seed it." Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk