Snowman Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 I woke up to a cruel email from KI. It was titled "Imagine Winterfest" Having just moved to Cincy in April, and reading what you long timers have written about the now defunct Winterfest that was put on at the park, I got really excited. I opened the email and it was just a link to make an ecard and trying to sell me stuff. Seemed kinda cruel choice of words for them to use. I've read a few references here but what exactly killed winterfest? From what I've read it sounded AMAZING! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vortex Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 I got the e-mail also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Winterfest was the park all deck out in lights, you could ice skate, shop in the stores, and watch some shows they had. From my 2005 experince it wasn't very fun. After soaking you $15 I think to get in you had to pay to ice skate the best attratction they had IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 ^Sorry that you didn't enjoy it. My family had a great time in 2005...we all liked the train ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share Posted December 9, 2010 Winterfest was the park all deck out in lights, you could ice skate, shop in the stores, and watch some shows they had. From my 2005 experince it wasn't very fun. After soaking you $15 I think to get in you had to pay to ice skate the best attratction they had IMO. I'm guessing your talking about ice skating on the fountain. That had to be amazing getting to skate on ice that big. Was the whole park decorated/opened or just the front part? "Standbyme" mentioned getting to ride the train, where did you board? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Winterfest was the park all deck out in lights, you could ice skate, shop in the stores, and watch some shows they had. From my 2005 experince it wasn't very fun. After soaking you $15 I think to get in you had to pay to ice skate the best attratction they had IMO. I'm guessing your talking about ice skating on the fountain. That had to be amazing getting to skate on ice that big. Was the whole park decorated/opened or just the front part? "Standbyme" mentioned getting to ride the train, where did you board? This gives you a pretty good idea how the 2005 version went. As you can see, you boarded the train at its usual depot in Rivertown (labeled "9" on the map). From what I've heard and been told and learned here, different roller coasters have different operable temperature limits. Probably, some of them could theoretically have operated in a typical Ohio winter (like at Busch Garden's Christmastown, where Griffon is scheduled to operate provided that weather conditions agree). As it was, that particular winter was bitterly cold (which is one factor that played into Winterfest's low attendance), so I doubt any of them would have anyway. From www.themeparkbrochures.net 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XGatorHead 8904 Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Huh, I didn't get that email. I always enjoyed Winterfest. It was fun to skate in the fountain, and the Santa's Workshop show ranks as one of my all-time favorite shows from any park (to this day every time I hear "I'll Be Home for Christmas" I think of a little alien, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" I think of penguins, "Up on the Roof" I think of reindeer lit by a blacklight, "Racing With the Clock" I think of elves, etc.). The train ride/show they had in 2005 was good, I always liked riding the Grand Carousel in the cold, and stansing there watching Scrooge, hoping that he wouldn't single me out and pick on me (which he never did). And I can't think of Winterfest without thinking of the one season I worked it in 1991, in the Bakery, where most of my shifts I was decorating gingerbread men in the big window on the side of the building, with people standing outside watching me. As Spongebob would say, "Good times!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarketingExpress Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 From what I've heard and been told and learned here, different roller coasters have different operable temperature limits. Probably, some of them could theoretically have operated in a typical Ohio winter (like at Busch Garden's Christmastown, where Griffon is scheduled to operate provided that weather conditions agree). Considering most of the coasters will not operate in temperatures below 50 (the average temperature for the month of December is 31.6) and the fact that all of the coasters are undergoing winter rehab work at that time I highly doubt they would consider starting them up. As it was, that particular winter was bitterly cold (which is one factor that played into Winterfest's low attendance), so I doubt any of them would have anyway. I do remember one or two days in which the temperature got up into the 50's and a few weeks later a snow storm hit closing Winterfest for a night or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share Posted December 9, 2010 goodyellowkorn182, Thank you for the map! That looked like a well put together event. I would have enjoyed just walking around checking out all of the sights. I don't know about riding coasters in the winter, the last day this year on Diamondback I about froze my snowballs off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 "Standbyme" mentioned getting to ride the train, where did you board? I looked for my trip report for that years Winterfest but it has disappeared into the mists of time. (Too bad, I would have liked to relive it now.) As for the train ride: You boarded it in the station. The station was decked out to look like it was back in the late 30's/early 40's during wartime. There was a cool looking baggage cart with old bags (obviously) stacked on it. The train personel were also dressed nostalgically. There were christmas decorations set up along side the tracks to look at. The "main event" though was that as you road the train you listened as a soldier named "Johnny" told you how he was on his way home for Christmas. The actor on our train was very good. (He even led everyone on the train in a couple of sing-alongs!) Eventually the trained stopped in front of a mock house that the park had set up and "Johnny" got off the train and waved goodbye to us all as the train departed. I only went once (unfortunately) but I was lucky enough to have gone when not only was there already snow on the ground, but it started to snow while we were there. As Gator said, good times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 I just dug up the photos that I took that year...they have been posted here in the past...but hopefully the "newbies" will find them interesting. This is before I went digital...so I didn't take a lot of shots when I went. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ Kinda Guy Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 ...I do remember one or two days in which the temperature got up into the 50's and a few weeks later a snow storm hit closing Winterfest for a night or two. I also seem to remember the temperature reaching close to 60 for the media day as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 "Standbyme" mentioned getting to ride the train, where did you board? I looked for my trip report for that years Winterfest but it has disappeared into the mists of time. (Too bad, I would have liked to relive it now.) Is this it? (something's a little messed up with the formatting). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Is this it? (something's a little messed up with the formatting). Thanks SO much for finding it for me! I enjoyed re-reading it again. (I fixed the formatting issues...and I learned that the soldiers "name" was not Johnny but Bobby!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TombraiderTy Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Considering most of the coasters will not operate in temperatures below 50 (the average temperature for the month of December is 31.6) and the fact that all of the coasters are undergoing winter rehab work at that time I highly doubt they would consider starting them up. Oh really? From Theme Park Review... As far as I'm concerned, that looks like less than 50... Although some coasters may face difficulties in lower temperatures, it's more likely the park never bothered starting them up because it'd be unnecessary additional maintenance and the majority of guests wouldn't want to ride a 50mph ride in 30 degree weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 True! Busch Gardens Christmastown operates Griffon if it's above 40. However, there's also the caveat that they expect it to stay above 40... Starting it up for a half-dozen cycles isn't the best idea for the machine, the workers, or the crowds. And rides that are already "warmed up" are able to stay open when the temperature drops many times. I believe it's been discussed on here that many manufacturers hold different standards about the temperatures in which their rides can operate. Some can operate at 35, others at 40, while others may never see a day below 50 (at least, that's what was discussed here last winter). There were days at Halloween Haunt two years ago that I promise the temperature was at least in the low 40's - you could see your breath and everything - and I spent a bitterly cold night in line for Invertigo. Of course, that's also going off of that "it warmed up during the day" scenario where the ride had been operating. Opening a ride in 40 degree weather is a lot different than running it in 40 degree weather after it had been going all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted December 10, 2010 Author Share Posted December 10, 2010 Standbyme, Thank you so much for the pics! The park looked AMAZING. the fountain/skating rink looked magical. I am very envious of everyone who got to experience this. Thank you all for sharing your memories. Needless to say, Snowmen LOVE the holiday season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 I always enjoyed Winterfest, especially the year it came back in 2005. Unfortunately the snowmen mad a return the following year along with other decerations as part of Fearfest. Looking back this may have been the start of the decline of Fearfest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ Kinda Guy Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Considering most of the coasters will not operate in temperatures below 50 (the average temperature for the month of December is 31.6) and the fact that all of the coasters are undergoing winter rehab work at that time I highly doubt they would consider starting them up. Oh really? From Theme Park Review... As far as I'm concerned, that looks like less than 50... Although some coasters may face difficulties in lower temperatures, it's more likely the park never bothered starting them up because it'd be unnecessary additional maintenance and the majority of guests wouldn't want to ride a 50mph ride in 30 degree weather. Oh really? As far as I'm concerned, MarketingExpress said MOST coasters, not all. Secondly, not all manufacturers have the same minimum operating temperature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Which is what we've said all along. That there are different standards for different manufacturers. If you'd like, we can start keeping a tally of minimum temperature cut-offs. So far, we know that B&M and (apparently) Zamperla rides can operate below fifty degrees. Now let's add up how many roller coasters they have and divide it by the total number on Earth to arrive at a percentage... GYK, who can fuss over arbitrary word choice, too. The point is, what difference does it make anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ Kinda Guy Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Huh? Where did I say all have the same operating standards? EDIT: Disregard. Good job editing your post GYK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 I misread it and have just finished editing it. Haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Could ice form on the brakes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedarPointer Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 If it's been 5 years and some people haven't gotten over not having an apparently unprofitable event, it may be time to get help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Q is trying to get help.... Terp, who just HAD to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TombRaiderFTW Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I don't know if this has ever been posted before, but I just came across a video on Vimeo (with actual video--stick around after the slide shows) of KI's Winterfest. I was surprised to see how big a scale it was done on--in my head, I always thought Winterfest wasn't much more than gift shops, ice skating, and train rides. Enjoy! http://vimeo.com/10045469 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 So hard to realize that last iteration of Winterfest is now more than five years ago. I so miss the days when the magic of the movies met the thrills of a lifetime... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedarPointer Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 The first thing I noticed in that video is that all the edge lights on the International Street buildings were working... although KI seems to be doing better on those than Disney- I was amazed how many of the lights like that were out at the Grand Floridian. They must be really tough to take care of. Hopefully someday they'll have LED lights there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I so miss the days when the magic of the movies met the thrills of a lifetime... I always got a chuckle out of that line. To this day, I still believe this is the more appropriate line: " Where the magic of advertising our movies is close to the hype of a lifetime in announcing a new ride." But that is just me.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 By the time he left, Jeff Seibert had been reduced to promoting new Kings Island attractions at IAAPA as being "cheap and cheerful." I always liked that.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.