BeeastFarmer

Backlot cafe had good spaghetti and meatballs. But it took forever and had no drinks available.

Well, that's the reason I asked about The Chicken Shack specifically. I think they are modeled after Zaxby's who provides one house sauce and charges for additional.

There is a spot on The Beast I've heard ride ops reference as "Sycamore Holler." So I'd say it's referencing The Beast.

Chicken Shack...does house sauce come with the meal? I asked for a side of it, which I usually do. Charged $1.28.. Not a big deal because he handed me 3 cups full. But when my meal came out, it had two more cups of it. I got my 1.28 worth lol.

I mean, a bad day at a park better than a good day at work, so.... But it was very crowded. There was no ice. Some of the restaurants didn't even have soft drinks available so you had to get your drink. Then wait in line for your food. (Food waits were abysmal) so by the time you were able to eat, if you had any drink left it was hot and your food was cold. Right operations were really good but the amount of people in this park was insane. On a positive note, Park is absolutely beautiful. International Street is a dream.

With as busy as that place is, they don't need more people coming in. I doubt I'll go back!

With SV particularly, so much of the ride is inside the structure, which I would conjecture adds stress to the structure. Also, and is hearsay since I can't cite where I heard it, RMC recommended not reusing the lift hill on Mean Streak and building a new truss lift. But Cedar Fair/Point wanted to keep a wooden coaster look.

Yes, I was glad to hear those things as well. No much new information in the public comments that were made in the video that @RedSummit20self promoted his channel with, but good supplemental information. I do commend @IndyGuy4KI for getting a personal interview with the park president and insisting on nothing less.

As enthusiasts, we often remind ourselves that the parks are not there at the pleasure of ourselves. They are there for other demographics. However, My enthusiasm for the park has led to at least five people buying gold passes. They are not enthusiasts but they see my social media posts and they hear me talking incessantly. There are also people who have made day trips. I also find it very interesting that there is no mention of Kings Island in the traditional media in my market. I see Dollywood, Kentucky, Kingdom, Newport aquarium and even universal. They are all getting the word out. I don't know. Maybe Kings Island has decided to rest on its laurels with traditional media around here. I'm not sure. But no one around here has mentioned anything about the new rides or the new area at Kings Island like they have in the past with mystic, timbers and Banshee. I think that's directly related to a lack of exposure.

I don't understand what you are saying with it being a unique ride. It's literally a clone of a ride a couple of hours away at Kentucky Kingdom. It's also at at least one Six Flags park. Unless it did something crazy like bounced on a quick descent or ascent, its too conventional for Canada's Wonderland from my perspective.

Fortunately, they are heavily investing it seems in their communication department. I think you see that brand loyalty is increasing at KD and a lot of the negativity is decreasing. A simple thing such as ERT with Grizzly, promoted well, has laid the foundation. That's key in that market. I think the local media has been key too. Silence is not Golden.

Wow, thank you, @chuck norris! I was not impressed with food at Canada's Wonderland overall. Slow operations or no fountain drinks available (I'm looking at you Backlot Cafe) meant you had to wait in 2 lines for eating...one for food, another for drink, so your food was cold or your drink was hot! :/ Spaghetti and meatballs was very good...but cold. Brisket was good, Mac was not at Lazy Bear...and it was cold. My friend got the platter you pictured above and enjoyed it. I had chicken fingers next door...garlic BBQ...and was asked three times if I wanted them with the garlic BBQ sauce or plain...and they were cold. Lol.

I think my point is made with the Prestige level pass . Offer it and they will come. I personally don't buy prestige or Fast Lane at ki because it's not something that gives a big enough benefit. But throw some decent shirts, socks, posters and stickers at me and I'll buy. I also will budget for skip the line pass attractions at parks I travel to, like Canada's Wonderland. But with ki as my home park, I don't have to cram everything in every visit.

Well, you produce results, you get rewarded.

But if people want it, then why not? I mean, per caps mean higher revenue, future investment, debt reduction and unitholder satisfaction.

I've had great experiences both times I've had Grain and Grill. The meat entrees do not speak to me, but I can eat a decently healthy meal with three sides that is very filling. (I tried the potatoes this week and was not a fan). I think they need to have a rotation in the meat menu. I agree with the plating as @brenthodgesays above...the woodgrain plate would be a better presentation. Now for Enriques...I've often heard that the chicken was bland at Hanks. But it was always good until last week. It was bland! And can you get queso on the burrito or burrito bowl for free or is that considered a side? If it's on the food item? It's a little confusing, they call it aside so I would think they would charge you for a side cup of queso, but if it's on the burrito it seems to me that it would be free.

Thanks for this, Brad. Good to hear this information straight from the source.

^great idea, @Tr0y with the gravel fountain!

See the post that CoasterRZ quoted for the area . TroY is suggesting a water coaster in this area that has a steep terrain.

Kings Island is known for using the terrain for their coasters, would it be that much different for a water coaster? If I recall Jeff Gramke correctly, on The Beast, it actually saved money but having a taller coaster but with less structure. Banshee uses the terrain to achieve the fastest speed on the back portion of the ride and while I don't know if it added speed or thrill, The Bat is built in a tenuous area for terrain and is remote. My personal issue with this location is tree removal. If the park wanted to invest the money, terrain issues can be overcome by construction firms.

Anything to enhance The Beast yet keep it true to itself, I am in favor of.

Well it can't be related to staffing shortages since the park's Communication Director tweeted recently that the park has a wait-list for employees. I guess if anything is closed now we should assume it's for maintenance instead of staffing since Chad has tweeted that applying for jobs at KI is now a futile thing to do.

The Royal Fountain stops operating in made to late October and doesn't start running again until April.

Thank you, Kings Island, for saving and replanting the redbud trees! That made my day!

In other words, let's remove more trees! Seriously though, Soak City is in need of an overhaul, so this would be a time to address the bridge and station. Both do need work. In the past, we have seen major additions preceded by minor changes...2019 brought antique autos and 2020 brought Orion. 2016 brought funnel cake and 2017 brought mystic. Timbers. With the removal of the surfing attraction and renovation of the restaurant in Soak City this year, I wonder if 2024 brings in a renovation and rethemed Soak City?