On July 3rd the park was dead. Today the webcams are showing very little people on I-street and small wait for Diamondback.

Wonder why the park is dead this weekend?

Something tells the park will be packed tonight for the 4th of July fireworks. The park was mild yesterday, but once again, the fireworks aren't until tonight.

I was one of many employees sent home early because of attendance. Mild is an overstatement IMO

I had wondered the same thing, I was looking on there yesterday and today and expecting to see a full queue for Diamondback and all I see is a very minimal wait time, 5 minutes at the most it appears. The only thing I can think of is that with the 4th being on a Sunday this year everyone has to work the next day and is celebrating amongst themselves.

Actually, many businesses are counting Monday as a holiday due to the 4th being on Sunday this year.

And last year the park promoted the heck out of July 4th....What'd they do to promote attendance this year?

And last year the park promoted the heck out of July 4th....What'd they do to promote attendance this year?

1) They were going nuts with the "our fireworks show is twice as big as last year!" ads and tweets and signs.

2) Most people have Monday off. Teenagers surely do, and are not flocking to the park as expected.

3) And the park's $19.99 ticket after 5:00 is absolutely a STEAL, especially tonight when the park is open til 12:00!

4) And, today and tomorrow are the days that military personnel get in free, with tremendous discounts for family!

So they did do a lot of marketing in different areas. The question is, did they do all that marketing in hopes of packing the park more than ever before? Or did they do it because they were anticipating the declining attendance, and sought to keep numbers at least similar to last year's?

I'm very surprised the park isn't more crowded. Maybe it will be later on tonight... I always avoid parks on this particular weekend. Apparently, there's no need to this year. Too bad I couldn't have foreseen that, or I might be at the park waiting in 5 minute lines this evening!

a. I bet it gets very crowded soon.

b. If it does not, perhaps the park and Cedar Fair might consider whether the in park pricing is finally driving away attendance...higher per caps but lower attendance eventually will add up to trouble with a capital Q.

It could get interesting as there are reports (facebook) about a "widespread power outage" at KI right now - 8pm.

Oh, thats not good...

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100704/NEWS01/307040036/Coasters-shut-down-at-Kings-Island-

Ohh nooooo! This is pretty awful timing when you think about it... Part of me wants only the low capacity coasters to be left operating so we can see how Kings Island deals with the worst case scenario!

Someone better not of went into the pond.

It could get interesting as there are reports (facebook) about a "widespread power outage" at KI right now - 8pm.

I had read by a KIC'er festhaus is without power and I-street is as well. HUMM!

There must be powe on the tower. The DB cam is working.

Maybe since people do not buy enough Cokes and or low attendance they had to find a way to save money...lol

We went to KI for many years on the 4th as there was outside entertaiment brought in so we eenjoyed coming. They say it's the same but not to us. I can not speak for others but we stopped coming on the 4th because we miss the way it used to be and it is not the same we have moved on and enjoying it, This is not a knock on KI but rather the reason why at least 3 do not come on the 4th weekend anymore.

Here what I learned today. When I started this thread, I had NO IDEA what the crowd was like at the Bay. I learned quickly at 7-7:30 PM what the crowd at the Bay was.

Throw in a power outrage and it becomes a fun night

The low attendance at KI was probably due to the fact that everyone was at Cedar Point yesterday.

Tom and I went, and I got a message from one of the ride ops saying it was so insane there that they had to use employee buses to bus people back to Soak City.

He wasn't kidding.

We got there, and the main lot was completely full and coned off. They were directing people to the marina lot to the left. We drove around Perimeter Road to try to find a spot in Soak City, and on the way I noticed that the reserved parking by the marina was also full. We were very lucky and found a spot, but also saw that the resort lot was full as well. It was outrageous how busy it was.

..yet the lines for the coasters remained around an hour or less (maybe due to the fact that the temp there was 90+ and everyone was in Soak City). Park operations were fantastic yesterday, every ride running at full capacity. I looked at the main lot yesterday from Blue Streak, and my jaw dropped when I wasn't able to see one single parking space open in the main lot anywhere. I also looked at the main lot from Raptor at night and cursed out loud when I saw every drive in the parking lot lit up with brake lights and the causeway backed up as far as the eye could see, and the lot was STILL full.

It was absolute chaos. I would have gotten photos, but Space Spiral was closed all day.

It is widely reported that Shoot the Rapids was closed yesterday far more frequently than it was open. What'd you see in that regard?

I remember years at KI where they had sell out crowds at the park quite a few times a year where cars would be trying to park on Kings Island Drive. Have not seen it like that in a long long time..

It is widely reported that Shoot the Rapids was closed yesterday far more frequently than it was open. What'd you see in that regard?

Tom saw an empty boat stuck on the lift hill. I don't recall seeing it run yesterday.

I remember years at KI where they had sell out crowds at the park quite a few times a year where cars would be trying to park on Kings Island Drive. Have not seen it like that in a long long time..

The last time I saw such an incidence at Kings Island was during one of Paramount's unwise Bring A Friend free days...aka BOGO...

There were several PKI times this happened. More so 1980's.

Yes, I said the last time I remember the gates being shut...not the only!

All the boat docks were even full yesterday. I really wish I'd gotten photos, but without Space Spiral open, there was no way for me to take photos of the insanity.

Yes, but we know you...you STILL had a great time, right?

Here what I learned today. When I started this thread, I had NO IDEA what the crowd was like at the Bay. I learned quickly at 7-7:30 PM what the crowd at the Bay was.

Throw in a power outrage and it becomes a fun night

I hope between this time period there was no crowd; the waterpark closes at 7pm. But as an employee you would have known that.

^i believe he was referring to the wave of people that migrated from boomerang bay over to the dry park, since, after all, it does close at seven.

The park has had low attendance all season so far................