BeeastFarmer

You sound bitter;)

Or just not buy a pass. This is the first time since I've been an "enthusiast" that regret buying a season pass. The passport was definitely a waste of money, I had only planned on using it at CP and maybe WOF, but if I've only been to ki less than a handful of times, I certainly didn't feel like those trips. Maybe I'm aging out of this hobby or maybe I need an extended break lol.

Please, for the love of Scooby Doo, put a new Six Flags policy in place than bans adult onesies

Only if they could replicate the iconic Arrow lift hill sound.

Did Carowinds even have carnivale this year?

The logistical decisions surrounding the transfer of floats between Kings Island, Carowinds, and Kings Dominion raise several questions regarding cost-effectiveness and resource allocation. Specifically, if Kings Island received floats from Carowinds and subsequently Kings Dominion acquired floats from Kings Island, the rationale behind such asset transfers warrants scrutiny. Given the geographic proximity, a direct transfer from Carowinds to Kings Island—spanning an extra distance of approximately 140 miles—versus Carowinds to Kings Dominion, would ostensibly be more economical. Transporting these sizable floats likely necessitates multiple trucks, each incurring significant fuel and/or subcontracting costs. Hypothetically, if five trucks are required, with an incremental cost escalation of $2,500 per truck to transport to Island vs Dominion, the total expenditure for the move would amount to $10,000. This figure excludes the additional costs associated with relocating floats to parks not hosting the event, which appears financially imprudent. From an outsider’s perspective, this $10,000 could be reallocated more effectively, such as funding tasting cards, which have the potential to generate higher per caps revenue compared to individual sales. Alternatively, these funds could cover the cost of approximately 50 medium-sized box trees, assuming a unit price of $200 each, or address smaller but essential operational expenses like lids and straws for Icees, that some guests at Kings Island mourn the lack of. Such expenditures highlight a potential misalignment in cost-cutting strategies versus unnecessary spending. Corporate boggles the mind.

Do we have a different Spain float this year, or are there two with the Spanish woman moving her head from side to side. I saw this one in a kd video. I thought that was the best float last year.

Haunt? Absolutely not. The event is watered down as is. And you'd have those old farts, the pesky neighbors, complaining even more. Winterfest? Maaaaybe. But the park is only open for a few hours and it's cold(ish). I'd like to see drones on New Year's Eve, but I just don't think it's feasible the other nights.

Canyon was my home base. It was an indescribable summer there. Imagine waking up and walking ten minutes to see the sun illuminate the canyon walls...to to take a strenuous hike up Mt Washburn in the early morning. Or waking up on July 3rd with ten inches of snow. Gosh I miss that place. Later, when I moved to Idaho, I'd stay at the Madison Hotel in West. My first time at a hostel. I could spend hours at the Virginia Cascades pullout.

Thar she blows! Even after having lived inside YNP for 5 months and then moving to Idaho to be within day trip driving distance from it, I'd love to see it. If you ever go, and stay at the old faithful inn, do anything you can to get up to the roof when they lower the flag at night. I got to do it three times when Iived in Idaho. Climbing the stairs, pausing in The Crow's Nest to see everyone below, then going to the roof and watching old faithful at sunset was a spiritual experience.

https://fox4kc.com/news/worlds-of-fun-workers-say-staffing-maintenance-budget-leading-to-ride-shutdowns/

@brenthodge, Brent I completely understand and appreciate your sentiment. It was evident that their gratitude was genuine, and their commitment to creating memorable, multi-generational experiences was deeply rooted in their strategy. It was a deliberate effort to foster a sense of tradition and shared memories. This authenticity made the experience believable and impactful. However, as you said, we fast forward to 2024, it is clear that attempts to replicate this sentiment in "Under the Stars" fall flat. While "Fun, Fireworks and Fifty" did pull at the heart strings...I still get a lump in my throat and a tight chest when I watch it on YouTube, the short version of the current show is logistically better to keep the drones active. But it doesn't elicit the same emotions. Granted, I've only seen it online and not in person, but this is my feeling. In short, I have not visited much this semester except for the spring conference and a very short visit in June...and I live two hours away. The FUN has been gone.

@brenthodge, Brent, the promotional show, 'Fun, Fireworks and Fifty,' represented a strategic and deliberate effort to position the park's fiftieth anniversary as a mere prelude to an even more grandiose future. The nostalgic undertones and emotionally charged rhetoric employed in the campaign were designed to cultivate a sense of anticipation and excitement, implicitly promising that the park's best days were yet to come. And then 2023 happened. Hilda Bovine sang, the streak was over after this. That's the scariest thing.

@brenthodge Brent, your assessment is accurate, but I would argue that the period from 2017 to 2020 warrants inclusion in this discussion of peak performance. The introduction of Mystic Timbers in 2017 marked a significant departure for Cedar Fair at Kings Island, demonstrating a commitment to immersive theming and a high level of execution. While Firehawk, Diamondback, and Banshee were undoubtedly thrilling additions, their thematic elements were relatively superficial. However, the return of WinterFest in 2017 showcased the park's potential to create truly magical experiences through comprehensive theming and atmosphere. The following years saw continued progress, albeit at a slower pace. 2019, in particular, was a standout year with the revitalization of International Street, the reintroduction of the Glockenspiel and restoration of the beerstein and the successful execution of Grand Carnivale. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted operations in 2020, but the park's response and subsequent performance in 2021 and 2022 were commendable. It is, therefore, disheartening to witness the current trajectory. A return to the levels of innovation and guest experience demonstrated in these previous years would be a welcome development.

@brenthodge You're absolutely right, Brent. It’s disheartening to witness the park's downturn after the phenomenal 2022 season. That year was truly exceptional, a high point I haven't seen matched since my first visits in the 70s. I'm hopeful for a turnaround in the future. Perhaps when you next connect with Mike Kootnz, you could suggest that Mr. Zimmerman would benefit from gaining insights directly from a guest's point of view. Their firsthand experiences could offer valuable perspectives on what's working and what's not, helping to inform decisions that could revitalize the park.

Cedar Fair's once-lauded portfolio has suffered a catastrophic decline, with Kings Island bearing the brunt of this mismanagement. The park's inexorable degradation since 2023 is a testament to corporate negligence and a profound disregard for its legacy. It is disheartening to observe the creeping apathy among patrons who seem to have resigned themselves to this decline.

^ @brenthodge...you expect them to IMPROVE year over year? They follow the opposite model where they devolve year over year. The event is a whisp of what it was; from my perspective, corporate is just thinking about today instead of five years from now. So much hard work by the implementation team and performers with what they were given to work with. But as long as people buy cheap season tickets and meal plans, this is what we get. Corporate thinks they are killing it. Until people vote with their finances, they will continue to chop the meat awat and leave just a little tiny bit of fat for flavoring the gristle they are going for.

My initial impression of your idea is that it's good. However, I worry that that would be overwhelming. The midway lights, the International Street lights, the float lights... would all that be too much?

I think we could combine our thoughts for a logical solution. I propose to keep the show near Starbux and conclude with a final performance at the Eiffel Tower. This presents an intriguing opportunity to optimize guest flow and extend dwell time on International Street. By strategically placing these show stops, the park can effectively funnel visitors towards key retail areas, stimulating impulse purchases and increasing overall revenue. The potential to integrate the parade floats into the Eiffel Tower show is particularly noteworthy. This not only enhances the visual spectacle but also offers practical advantages in terms of post-park closure logistics. However, careful consideration must be given to the potential challenges that may arise from this revised layout. A surge of visitors towards the Eiffel Tower at the conclusion of the second show could create congestion and negatively impact the overall guest experience. Implementing effective crowd management strategies, such as additional entertainment options in the area, will be crucial to mitigating these risks. Furthermore, it's essential to evaluate the impact of this change on the overall park narrative and guest experience. Consistency and cohesion between the show stops and the overall theme of International Street are paramount to maintaining visitor engagement. To fully assess the feasibility and potential benefits of this proposal, a comprehensive analysis of guest behavior, traffic patterns, and operational implications is necessary. Gathering data on guest spending habits, show attendance, and crowd density in the target areas will provide valuable insights to inform decision-making.

It seems the placement of show stops is strategically designed to maximize foot traffic and consumer spending within the retail and dining areas. However, the configuration of the 'front' and 'back' International Street appears counterproductive to this objective. Such an arrangement is likely to concentrate visitor flow at the beginning of the "front", leading to a potential mass exodus once the show stop concludes.

As predicted,

You must not have paid attention to the uproar when the legacy Six Flags chain bounced SP prices all over the place. When someone bought a pass for XXX and a month later it was X, that was VERY relevant to them and the others. Yes, I know that this post will be met with your typical pompous pseudo-educated diatribe, but that's to be expected with about any post you make.

No International Chicken Tenders?

Well how am I supposed to know THAT when I'm not in that MSA? Weird to me that other markets would just fill time with something that's totally out of their market.

I rescanned my TV antenna this week and now have WAVE TV from Louisville. Guess who now is doing the Don't Waste Your Money in Louisville? That's right, John Mattress! It was the same segment that aired in the Cincinnati market! It's like Dolly said in Steel Magnolias "He's a chain!" Except she was speaking in first person. I know @Hawaiian Coasters 325would want to know! I apologize about the unintentional italicized text after the segment title. My mobile version would not allow me to change back the font.