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Festhaus Updates


IndyGuy4KI
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8 hours ago, Eric FL said:

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It would be great if they also brought back the streamers on the ceiling again.

The streamers would be amazing to bring back Would do a lot to revitalize the place adding more theming and color/deco to the place. Really help it feel more of a German Festhaus too.

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Definitely would love to see a complete overhaul of Festhaus. The streamers were a nice touch back in the day. There was also the sense that the entertainment there was supposedly the best in the park; the ice show in particular was always a highlight. Now it feels like whatever show is in there is just something tossed off to play in the background while people eat. Would love a really good bit of entertainment in there. 

Also, I know this has been mentioned before, but I'd really like them to rethink the food options. The pizza is always among the worst in the park, and the selections aren't anything special (and Panda Express just seems odd in a German-themed building). Would love if it was rethought to an international-style restaurant, with offerings from around the world. Maybe a bit of BBQ, German food (obviously), Mexican...and you could keep Panda Express. 

When I was a kid, going to Festhaus was a highlight of the day; now it's just "that place we go when it's too hot or rainy." 

But please bring back the Blue Ice Cream beer. 

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Seems like the consensus is that Harmony Hall has a lot of features we would like to see brought to Festhaus, and Cedar Point for that matter.  Better entertainment, a wide menu of quality, in-house food stands, a more modern and inviting design, etc.  Sure would be nice if they could make it happen.

Agreed on the pizza in there being terrible.

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6 minutes ago, jsus said:

Seems like the consensus is that Harmony Hall has a lot of features we would like to see brought to Festhaus, and Cedar Point for that matter.  Better entertainment, a wide menu of quality, in-house food stands, a more modern and inviting design, etc.  Sure would be nice if they could make it happen.

Agreed on the pizza in there being terrible.

The Festhaus as it is does really well for the park based on how many people eat there. I really do like the concept of a Harmony Hall at Kings Island, but I think it is more realistic that Kings Island builds a separate dining hall similar to Harmony Hall than converting the Festhaus into one.

Appearance wise, the Festhaus has recently undergone many improvements with a patio added to the back, a new facade, and now some interior refurbishments. New shows and better food options would be nice, but based on how the building is set up, it may be hard to have as many food locations as Harmony Hall without major renovations and maybe a sacrifice of seating.

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  • 3 years later...

If the Festhaus gets any renovations I'd like to see some aspects of Sangerfest Halle (Fiesta Texas) also brought in alongside the Harmony Hall (Carowinds) elements. That building just got a nice post-merger renovation and looks really good. Two things I'd really like to see return are the streamers and the classic Kings Island sign with the ribbon behind it. I don't think the shows and the food offerings need to be German-themed, but the building being better themed would be very nice. This would also be a good opportunity for some "holiday hooks" to be installed where crews can just bring in pre-assembled decorations and hang them like they already do with wreaths and such.

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It would be nice to see all of the food stalls centralized in the building (like at Harmony Hall), but I recognize the logistical issues there might be with trying to fit that into the building as it currently exists. The international food hall concept could work well if they have a line for Chinese food (Panda Express), a line for "German" foods (hamburgers and such with German names), and a line for Italian food (LaRosa's). The current setup already has three big lines serviced by two kitchens, so I would think reducing it down to three lines serviced by one big central kitchen wouldn't be too bad.

 

Side note: If that upgrade happens I really hope they don't try to put "Festhaus | International Food Hall" on any signage. I really hate the new naming scheme where everything has an extended name like "Tormenta Rampaging Run", "The Inn at Kenton's Cove" (which also has the issue of being anachronistic), or "Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad | 12 Days of Christmas" (only called that on occasion, but I've heard it enough to be upset). The new Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare name is not included in this because its name extension is used as a way to distinguish it from the original — a small but important difference. I really hope any realized version of a Vortex replacement receives a simple 1-2 word name.

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I'd personally like to see Panda Express moved elsewhere. I agree that it doesn't necessarily need to have German food... though it IS in the last visages of Oktoberfest and IS in a German themed building.  the smell of Panda Express is nauseating and overwhelming when entering the main entrance. Keep LaRosas, but I'm not sure why a place that served: Bratwurst, currywurst, weisswurst, schnitzel, roasted meats, potato specialties, etc.... wouldn't go over well... AND be a MUCH more pleasant smell upon entering. Most of those things are relatively easy to cook.... less overhead. 

It would NEVER work, but I always thought that it would be interesting to see what could happen if Hofbrauhaus took it over for a season and had the lively atmosphere that they have along with German-themed entertainment instead of, what is usually, a "music review." I would thin year #1 would go over because it would be something new... and something most have never seen.

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6 minutes ago, Outdoor Man said:

Keep LaRosas, but I'm not sure why a place that served: Bratwurst, currywurst, weisswurst, schnitzel, roasted meats, potato specialties, etc.... wouldn't go over well. Most of those things are relatively easy to cook.... less overhead. 

They tried German fare in the Festhaus when it opened. It didn’t work. They also tried it in the building that’s now Enrique’s. It didn’t work. 


 

 

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Too bad it hasn't worked in there. On my last Disney trip, one of my favorite places was the Biergarten in Epcot. Met people from all over the world at our table, enjoyed some decent German food, had a couple of giant glasses of exceptional beer and thoroughly enjoyed the band playing and working the crowd. It was amazing! Such a festive atmosphere!

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Das Festhaus at Busch Gardens Williamsburg still serves German food along with more accessible options like pizza. It's interesting that Cincinnati's German heritage and the popularity of the various area Oktoberfest events doesn't translate to the tastes of Kings Island guests.

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2 hours ago, Timchat2 said:

Das Festhaus at Busch Gardens Williamsburg still serves German food along with more accessible options like pizza. It's interesting that Cincinnati's German heritage and the popularity of the various area Oktoberfest events doesn't translate to the tastes of Kings Island guests.

How many daycare centers serve German food :P

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On 1/2/2026 at 9:20 AM, DonHelbig said:

Panda Express does well in that building. 

It might do well but it's arguably the worst panda express I've ever been to. I sometimes go there and every time regret using my dining plan on it because KI has much better options 

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On 1/3/2026 at 12:26 PM, johnjniehaus said:

It might do well but it's arguably the worst panda express I've ever been to. I sometimes go there and every time regret using my dining plan on it because KI has much better options 

The Panda Express at Cedar Point is worse. Last time I ate there (2024), I got like one scoop of orange chicken and three scoops of rice. Like, I think I have enough rice to go with my chicken lol. As far as the Panda Express at Kings Island, its not terrible. The portion size and ratios are decent. But like you said, Kings Island has much better options.

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2 hours ago, Klabergian Empire said:

The Panda Express at Cedar Point is worse. Last time I ate there (2024), I got like one scoop of orange chicken and three scoops of rice. Like, I think I have enough rice to go with my chicken lol. As far as the Panda Express at Kings Island, its not terrible. The portion size and ratios are decent. But like you said, Kings Island has much better options.

Interesting because in my experience the CP one tasted better. But I think we can all agree panda express is better portions and flavors outside the park. KI just has so many better options these days. The food has come a very long way in the park even from when I started going regularly in 2011

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