Parade at KD is 8 as well, if I am not mistaken.  However, the sunset is about 40 min earlier than Cincinnati there.

1 hour ago, guy1115 said:

Parade at KD is 8 as well, if I am not mistaken.  However, the sunset is about 40 min earlier than Cincinnati there.

Ahhh that explains. Thanks. 

23 hours ago, brent said:

Ahhh that explains. Thanks. 

Yeah, on the rain days we kind of lucked out in a way with it being darker. The lights on the floats are really something to see! Fortunately they normally stay out until close so you can still see them at night.

6 hours ago, BoddaH1994 said:

Yeah, on the rain days we kind of lucked out in a way with it being darker. The lights on the floats are really something to see! Fortunately they normally stay out until close so you can still see them at night.

That’s what everyone said, but there were only two out by the bandstand. Is that typical? Great first year, hope it returns and grows like winter fest, but really? You make cannolis one at a time? When that’s the main thing people are ordering. Other than food service I think the event was great. One thing I noticed (unfortunately) we’ve gone so long without this type of entertainment all around the park that people seem conditioned to run from ride to ride. I saw too few people stopping to take in the mini shows. 

Maybe this will be the start of other parades, and festivals! Maybe a Haunt Parade and Winterfest parade! I’m loving it myself. This was the perfect addition to KI. All you have to do is watch a video and see all the happy, dancing children and their parents! It was spectacular!

11 hours ago, upstop said:

Maybe this will be the start of other parades, and festivals! Maybe a Haunt Parade and Winterfest parade! I’m loving it myself. This was the perfect addition to KI. All you have to do is watch a video and see all the happy, dancing children and their parents! It was spectacular!

Definitely winter fest. Would love to see that. There’s a certain energy that comes from these “moving spectacles”. I think if you had some floats it might better “explain” some of the characters-like Christmas Carol ghosts. They already have a couple if units with the trolley and the elf car. Maybe if it happened right at opening or after the tree lighting. The characters could “parade in” then escort their floats to respective areas and  park there like an additional set piece for the themed area. Also surprised they didn’t tie in peanuts to carnivale. Like “explore the world with flying ace snoopy.” Maybe better that they didn’t- kept it IP free, but it seems like it would tie the whole park together thematically. Maybe a way to extend carnivale into PS next year. 

Last evening as I was walking between the Festhaus and Eiffel Tower, one of the stiltwalkers was also heading that way, somewhat behind me. I will tell you, I don’t spook easily, but there was something very ominous-feeling about being “chased” by one.

I think adding some stilt-walkers to Haunt could be an awesome addition. I also agree that Haunt and Winterfest processions or parades, even if it’s just the characters and no floats, would be really fun. 

13 hours ago, brent said:

That’s what everyone said, but there were only two out by the bandstand. Is that typical? Great first year, hope it returns and grows like winter fest, but really? You make cannolis one at a time? When that’s the main thing people are ordering. Other than food service I think the event was great. One thing I noticed (unfortunately) we’ve gone so long without this type of entertainment all around the park that people seem conditioned to run from ride to ride. I saw too few people stopping to take in the mini shows. 

If you’re talking about last night than your guess is as good as mine. I was them loading the floats into storage shortly after the parade from AE and just kind of assumed that rain was predicted, but it wasn’t. Normally the floats for each country split off and go to their respective areas. Not sure why it didn’t happen last night.

Reading all these and seeing those photos makes me a bit disappointed we've planned our trip for July 28-29, when this will all be long gone. :-( But hopefully it becomes an annual thing! Really impressive. 

39 minutes ago, BoddaH1994 said:

If you’re talking about last night than your guess is as good as mine. I was them loading the floats into storage shortly after the parade from AE and just kind of assumed that rain was predicted, but it wasn’t. Normally the floats for each country split off and go to their respective areas. Not sure why it didn’t happen last night.

Oh well. Still awesome seeing this level of theming and detail again. You and I’ve gone to the mat on my holding the park to a pretty high standard. They’ve shown with winter fest and now this that they can do it. SEE, I DO actually like the park and CAN be made happy. Heck, I don’t even have passes and paid to go last night! Are there details that I think should be addressed (like tons of burnt out lights on the buildings) sure, but overall I’m more impressed with the direction of the park than ever before. That’s why I keep “pushing”. If people say “eh, it’s good enough” then that’s where they will stop. They’ve proven they can do more. Landscaping looked better than I can remember, entertainment was solid, and the experience felt “not like KI” in a good way. Now, about those pedestals....LOL. 

So I've been to the park twice since Grand Carnivale started and the crowds are NUTS! Last Tuesday really felt like a weekend almost. I don't remember it being this crowded this time last year, is Carnivale really bringing in this many people? Or is it just more that we're getting towards the middle of the summer. Just curious what everyone thinks.

I feel like the crowds have been heavier all this season so far, except for a few particularly bad weather days. Even on days with moderately bad weather it has been heavier than typical for such days in the past.  

I wonder if there will be any special events from July 7th to Haunt? I hope so.. KI needs to keep up the momentum! So far this season has been really special for all ages.

With the success the park is seeing from Grand Carnivale, and all of the polishing/restoration efforts, I would love to see a store (just one, at least) on International Street that sold artisan goods from different countries. You could call it something like the "KI International Marketplace" and have different shelves/tables for a handful of countries stocked with items that could be sourced from the third party company they use for photography and other specialty items. This could easily be put in place of one of the 3 stores on the street which currently sell very much the same type of stuff. Even adding a chain restaurant like Piada would be really cool for continuing to improve the street.

I had a great time at the parade last night! I got to participate in the part where they get people to dance, and for that I want to thank the person (one of the people dressed as a chef towards the front of the floats) for letting me participate. Was I too old to participate in the dancing (at the age of a young adult)? Probably, but it was still a special moment!

1 hour ago, upstop said:

I wonder if there will be any special events from July 7th to Haunt? I hope so.. KI needs to keep up the momentum! So far this season has been really special for all ages.

I think following Grand Carnivals, that will be when they start dropping hints for 2020.

They want enthusiastic people to participate in the dancing. Usually that’s kids because they haven’t yet been made to feel self conscious about dancing. But I have no doubt the performers enjoy happy adults joining too!

34 minutes ago, Magenta Lizard said:

They want enthusiastic people to participate in the dancing. Usually that’s kids because they haven’t yet been made to feel self conscious about dancing. But I have no doubt the performers enjoy happy adults joining too!

I was invited to dance on the parade’s opening day and I’m an adult (basically saying all ages can get in on the fun!). Looking forward to seeing the parade later tonight.

Anyone who looks excited and eager to dance can be invited to dance
Less likely if you're an adult surrounded by 5+ outgoing kids, though.. no one's gonna tell you not to come out and join while the floats are parked and safe.

Carnivale was a blast yesterday! I got to see the Chinese acrobats and the Cyr wheel acts, both of which were really impressive. I also got to be on a float for the parade, which was really fun... people really do want those beads lol

EDIT: Also saw the 5 PM showing of Gravity as well as rode some rides during and after Carnivale.

KIBlog about Grand Carnivale! It sure seems to be a hit with everyone.

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2019/june/what-guests-are-saying-about-grand-carnivale

Did any one else have trouble getting food last night at the carnivale tents?

China was completely out of food at around 7, Italy was having bread issues for the meatballs, and France was out of cheese. All of this lead to me getting a refund for an unused food tasting card.

The rest of the event was extraordinary in every way, but was really looking forward to the food. Maybe I'll get to try it some other time.

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^were the crowds insane yesterday? 

^were the crowds insane yesterday? 

Absolutely, yes!!!

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I agree with the above statement, however, ride lines weren’t altogether terrible. I rode Beast around 5:45/6ish and the line was not nearly as bad as I imagined. Even the line for the night ride I took (got on just after midnight) wasn’t that terrible. The only line issue I really encountered was Racer, which wasn’t bad, but was moving slower than expected for some reason...

I agree with the above statement, however, ride lines weren’t altogether terrible. I rode Beast around 5:45/6ish and the line was not nearly as bad as I imagined. Even the line for the night ride I took (got on just after midnight) wasn’t that terrible. The only line issue I really encountered was Racer, which wasn’t bad, but was moving slower than expected for some reason...

That's what I expected. After the food problems we decided to go ride, Diamondback was 45-60 and mystic was down... [emoji21]

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On 6/28/2019 at 9:40 AM, Magenta Lizard said:

Last evening as I was walking between the Festhaus and Eiffel Tower, one of the stiltwalkers was also heading that way, somewhat behind me. I will tell you, I don’t spook easily, but there was something very ominous-feeling about being “chased” by one.

I think adding some stilt-walkers to Haunt could be an awesome addition. I also agree that Haunt and Winterfest processions or parades, even if it’s just the characters and no floats, would be really fun. 

they blend in well with crowds!

6 hours ago, upstop said:

I think adding some stilt-walkers to Haunt could be an awesome addition.

For sure! I hope they end up just keeping some of those around for Haunt because that really would be cool.

Does anyone know where they got the music for the parade?

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16 minutes ago, RadioRiders said:

Does anyone know where they got the music for the parade?

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I’m sure someone remembers his name but I recall at the start of this year a music artist (Who I thought did work with Disney?) tweeted out that he was working on a project with Kings Island and that project has turned out to be the parade music.