BeeastFarmer

I'm ok with being a model behind on phones. So, I have a Pixel XL. Maybe I'll get the XL2 down the road. I use Total Wireless as my carrier (runs on Verizon towers). Great phone on great service for $35/month and I can go to another carrier at will if and when I want to. Much better than when I was paying $80/month on a contract.

@SonofBaconator...of course it will hurt it in some way. If one KI passholder decides not to renew because s/he can just go to KK that is lost revenue.

"Watch out boy, she'll chew you up, she's a maneater."--Hall and Oates. Daughter of Beast confirmed. LOL

Wow, that is surprising. Not being in that line of work, my line of thought was this: The park and corporate decide what they want to install and an area. They have a firm or firms who they work with on projects and they submit proposals. As part of the process, feasibility studies are done and different concepts are designed and in the end, a final decision is made. From there, permits are applied for (which do not require renderings). I thought they would see the big picture and work backward with details for permits and the trades. I guess KI and Rob Decker can see the vision without a visual.

I'm no architect, but I'd imagine the firm they contract with would have some concept art as part of the project, included in the cost. And they did have a concept for Coney BBQ, it's basically Island Smokehouse with theming elements. (Just like the new eatery at WOF is a clone.) KMAA be much more intricate. I do have friends who have asked about it (not in the enthusiast realm) and when I tried to describe it without a visual they couldn't get it. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Sure it's a minor investment, but it is something that many have wanted. They did use video of other car rides, but at a very minimum I would have expected a rendering that showed concept art. They did that for Coney BBQ and this is more substantial than that. For something that many KI fans want (both GP and enthusiasts) it seemed a little lackluster to me. I couldn't be at the park for the announcement, but I do think it was a great thing for Mr. Kootnz drove the vehicle. But that doesn't translate well for people who can't be there.

I agree, thank you @IndyGuy4KI for the video. I am surprised they did not have at least some renderings or video renderings available at the announcement.

Maybe the park could consider changing some of the turf out to flowers like Kings Dominion does. But I will say, the park looks fantastic this year. The trimmed trees, the flower pots on the lighting footers, Tower Gardens...everything looks wonderful.

You get it all. Dennis Spiegel as your personal concierge and now your own TP.

Please no to Six Flags' Kings Island. I shutter to think if that were to happen. I could get into Kings Kentucky Kingdom, though but the abbreviated lingo would not work.

Interesting. I assumed that building would go. I can still hold out hope for indoor eatery put into that building with outdoor seating near The Racer. Far fetched, but would be nice.

Would love if these employee dorms help to keep the park open longer into August in future years.

Kentons Cove Keelboat Canal. Skyride. I really want the Coney Mall sign to return.

^This, exactly. I brought my parents a couple of weeks ago, 83 and 76. They enjoyed the train, Boo Blasters and the Eiffel Tower. They were glad when I told them the cars are coming back.

Watching the local AM news, in 15 minutes I have seen 4 KI commercials--all focused on different aspects. Kids, water park, stunt show and Mystic Timbers. They are throwing it all in to drive attendance I reckon.

I'm holding out hope for some rehab work on The Racer to be completed on the off season. If it goes "in front" of the ride, The Racer will be a backdrop to the Antique car ride. It would make the decrepit condition it is in stick out much more with the brand new Kings Mills Antique Autos right in front of it. And The Racer was mentioned a few times during the presentation. But, heck, I just want the Coney Mall sign back.

I don't think we will see a return of ginko trees. The last few remaining ones were removed earlier this year before the park opened and replaced with maple trees. I'd conjecture this was for the WinterFest expansion as it looks like another large Christmas tree will go there.

Kings Island also got Mystic Timbers, Banshee, Diamondback and Firehawk in the last 11 years. CP and KI appeal to differing audiences. I had a friend with me this week at KI who had not been since 2011 and she remarked that it felt like the "old" KI and she loved it. She even mentioned that she missed the antique car ride. It looks like we will get a new B&M in the next few years. I'm sure it will be great.

I'd think for visual impact, it would be important to have them on the Coney Mall side of The Racer. But they could easily have the loading station on that side and have them cross under The Racer where the DA entrance was and use the service road boundries.

Baynum got its' start by staining The Beast.

I've got it! Cars going back to the original location. Junkyard coaster moved into the spot between Banshee and The Bat, using SOB's station. It will be rethemed and named "Red Headed Step Child of Beast." Disclaimer: parody.

1. Racer going into rehab mode. Paint, retracking, lighting. Would be great to get a GCI retrack and GCI trains. 2. Flat rides in Coney and a general upgrade to Coney. Start with giving the area the sign back. I'd like to see a sit down dining establishment similar to RHOFG in the old arcade--another place to cool off inside since there is nothing like that on that side of the park. With a reinvigorated The Racer, they could put in patio seating out back. Unique experience. Would love to see the Junkyard coaster relocated to Action Zone and this area returned to the car rides and get our flyers back from Carowinds. Might see Zodiac return. 3. General return of things to the way they used to be. Refreshed Oktoberfest (the glockenspiel), flat rides etc. New pavers in I-street. Even if this is a mild announcement, I will say that I am very excited about the future of our park. I literally had the #kibestday yesterday there. My friend who came had not been since 2011 and said it felt more like the KI of our youth than she ever would have known.

But what kind of benefit is "get the rest of 2018 free" when the summer season is just about over--and the season pass does not include Halloween Haunt? I guess you could say it is fine, but I would feel gipped if I had to give up Friday and Saturday nights. I guess I am just more used the way KI does things.

The cactus and chair, barrel and shovel were in Tower Gardens at least a month ago.

Not to take sides here, but... It's said often times here that what has happened in the past is not what may happen in the future. What if this is a new normal for story/placemaking? What if there is nothing to this but some trolling by the park? What if this is pointing to some redo? Only time will tell. I'm enjoying the ride along the way.