IndyGuy4KI Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Kings Island's 45th anniversary season starts this coming weekend. The 2017 season begins with opening day on April 15th. We have a lot to celebrate this season. Let's recap what we can expect. Kings Island welcomes a new highly anticipated wooden roller coaster to its lineup, Mystic Timbers. Can you believe that Firehawk is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary? Vortex will be celebrating its 30th season. Riders will see the refurbished Vortex sign when entering the queue. There are exciting new food options this season. New this year we have the Season Pass drink refill program. Some KIC members have already used this at Kings Dominion and Carowinds. It seems to have started out great there, and we anticipate this to go over well at Kings Island. Tom & Chee joined Kings Island at the end of the 2016 season and have returned for the 2017 season. Additionally, the new Smokehouse will soon open in Soak City. This year's live entertainment is sure to please. Back to the 90's will debut in the Festhaus. KIC and guest favorite Origins: A Cirque Experience returns to the KI Theatre. Coming back after a long hiatus, we have the return of Winterfest. Kings Island has been working hard to make the 2017 season a great one for their guests and enthusiasts! We are excited to see you at the park. We talked with Don Helbig, Kings Island Public Relations Manager to get some more details about the 2017 season. Here is what Don had to share. 1. How can we expect the traffic flow to be different in Rivertown this season with the addition of MT? • Rivertown will be the area where a lot of our guests are going to want to start and end their day, and with good reason. There’s old favorites like The Beast, Diamondback and what’s sure to become a favorite of many of our guests, Mystic Timbers. 2. We've seen photos of Vortex's refurbished sign in preparation for the coaster's 30th anniversary. Can you share any hints about other updates we can look forward to this weekend? • It’s hard to believe The Vortex turns 30 this season. I rode it 33 times on Media Day in 1987. It was a great ride then and still is today. We’ll be doing some things to recognize the 30th anniversary. 3. Many of us are excited about the new paper cup drink plan. Are there any other drink & dining changes that guests should be aware of for Opening Day? • The new paper cup drink plan, that too was done as a service and convenience for our guests. We’ll be rolling out a new mobile app, and it will be easier for our guests to know what’s on the dining plan via the app. 4. Are there any celebrations in the works for the 45th anniversary season? • Most of what we’ll be doing to recognize the 45th anniversary season will be done through social media and on the Kings Island blog. KIC members are going to want to bookmark the blog. We’re going to be working towards posting new content every day. 5. We're excited for the return of Origins: A Cirque Experience and for the debut of Back to the 90's on Opening Day. What else can fans of Live Entertainment look forward to this season? • We will have a show in the Showplace Theater that starts in June. It will be similar to what we had last year with JUMP! The Ultimate Dog Show. 6. Can you give us an update on the constructions of Western Row Road and Kings Island Drive? • It will be a work in progress going into the season on Western Row. Kings Island Drive construction has been completed and looks great. 7. Anything else guests should know about the 2017 season? • Our 45th anniversary season is going to be fun, exciting and memorable. With the addition of Mystic Timbers and the return of WinterFest, there’s never been a better year to visit the park. 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow9542 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Oh, this just got me 10x more excited than I was a few minutes ago! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongLiveTheSmurfRide Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Is that 2nd picture THE shed? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VortexBFForever Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 I'm excited to see what else will be done to celebrate Vortex's 30th anniversary!!! I hope I can take part in the festivities!!! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 LED's on Vortex's lift and inversions please. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VortexBFForever Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 LED chasing lights would look cool. Or better yet, blue and orange colored lights! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonofBaconator Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 I really want chasing lights. That would be an awesome edition to any type of coaster, especially on Vortex. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDMC01 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Thanks for taking the time to do this interview (it's really cool that this is becoming a "thing" now that KIC does!); only 6 more days until we ride into the unknown to see what's in the shed on Mystic Timbers! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyGuy4KI Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 17 hours ago, LongLiveTheSmurfRide said: Is that 2nd picture THE shed? You will have to ride to find out! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YOULLBEBACK Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Great interviews, this really sets your site above the rest, very cool stuff. In relation to your first question, I do picture Rivertown being ridiculously crowded with this addition. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ride On_17 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 I'm so happy to see the park continue to progress and improve. Even the little thing like small initiatives to improve guest experience such as the paper cups, the app, and other miscellaneous enhancements all contribute to making Kings Island one of the best parks in the world. I can't wait to get there and ride Mystic Timbers in addition to everything else it has to offer! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skylab Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 I didn't make it KI last year, but I'll be there this Saturday. What, exactly, did they change about the parking gate last year? Anything I need to know so as not to cause a traffic fiasco? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterOhio Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Here is a basic rundown for the new entrance. There is now only ONE entrance into the parking lot. And it is on the north side of the lot. If you're coming from 71 north, and got onto Northbound KI Drive, then use the right most lane to get into the park. (This lane turns into a turn only lane into the park.) If you're coming from Southbound KI Drive, then turn left at the second light (The intersection of Riverview community Church.) If you are turning this way though. Be extra careful that you follow the yellow dotted line so you don't turn to far and end up in the exit only lanes, (Or that you don't hit the dividing curb.) Large overview of the entrance. Expanded view of the Intersection. (Images from google maps.) Once you're into the parking area before the tolls, PLEASE read the LED signs to make sure you're in the correct lane. If I remember correctly, Yellow is Pass holders, and green is the pay-for-parking sections, and red is a lane closed area. (IF I remember that correctly.) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skylab Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 That's a big help. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magenta Lizard Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Green lanes are for /any/ parking, too. If it's shorter on a green lane you can scan your gold or platinum pass there, you aren't required to wait for a yellow lane. It just doesn't work the other way: there isn't an employee to take cash or credit at a yellow lane. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgoble3 Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 6 hours ago, Magenta Lizard said: Green lanes are for /any/ parking, too. If it's shorter on a green lane you can scan your gold or platinum pass there, you aren't required to wait for a yellow lane. It just doesn't work the other way: there isn't an employee to take cash or credit at a yellow lane. So having had very little experience with the new toll booths last year (and all of that experience right after tolls opened for the day), what happens if a non-passholder accidentally ends up in a yellow lane? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malem Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 ^ An associate would need to walk over to that lane to process the transaction. Luckily, most drivers read the signs. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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