Kings Island General Discussion 2024

[Imperial79]

Here we are in 2024 already, so I made the thread for the new year. We have a lot to look forward to like Camp Snoopy opening up in late spring. Here is the link to the calendar and hours as of now for the 2024 season. 
https://www.visitkingsisland.com/calendar-and-hours

[Stoan]

I'm looking forward to the new Camp Snoopy and my lukewarm water in the VIP area that couldn't be supplied with ice due to budget cuts

[IBEW_Sparky]

Here's a good one.  With the new pass structure, I wonder when/if they will start having pass processing days prior to opening day?  I certainly hope that A)They do that as they did in the days of new passes/photos every year or B)Have gate central set up in a manner that will allow current passes to be used once before having to get the new card/photo to avoid Hella long waits at processing on preview day.

[kingsislandfan1972]

Any new shows this year?

[Orion-XL200]

1 minute ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:

Any new shows this year?

Nothing announced at this moment. I'd anticipate at least 1 new show, probably for the KI Theater. 

[DonHelbig]

I'm looking forward to experiencing the 2024 Kings Island season vicariously through this forum and the fantastic content KIC publishes on X. 

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

2 hours ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:

Any new shows this year?

Usually shows are announced like right before opening day. The one thing I'm wondering entertainment wise is will we get a new event or 2 this year? I would love a Brew/BBQ style event in May and June. 

[Orion-XL200]

10 minutes ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

Usually shows are announced like right before opening day. The one thing I'm wondering entertainment wise is will we get a new event or 2 this year? I would love a Brew/BBQ style event in May and June. 

I would love to see a Brew/BBQ type event back. It is sad that CP is no longer doing Frontier Festival, so I'm not positive KI would do the Brew/BBQ style event again based on this, but we could hope.

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

Cedar Point is doing their bands in residence program again this season: https://x.com/cedarpoint/status/1749147622923784657?s=20

Seriously why does KI not do this? There are tons of bands around the Greater Cincinnati/Tri State that would love the opportunity to play at KI. CP does the program along with their seasonal shows. There are multiple places they can put stages for such program (Action Zone, Coney Mall, the gazeebo by Diamondback all come to mind). Not to mention the 10,000 seat ampitheater that is hardly ever used these days. While KI does bring in live music for the early part of the season, it is the same band every time. Not knocking Hifi Honey they do a fantastic job, but I think giving more bands an opportunity to perform in the park would be better than having just the same band everytime. I just feel it is a big missed opportunity to not do the bands in residence program. I think if CP can do it with a slightly shorter operating calendar, so can KI. 

[disco2000]

35 minutes ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

Cedar Point is doing their bands in residence program again this season: https://x.com/cedarpoint/status/1749147622923784657?s=20

Seriously why does KI not do this? There are tons of bands around the Greater Cincinnati/Tri State that would love the opportunity to play at KI. CP does the program along with their seasonal shows. There are multiple places they can put stages for such program (Action Zone, Coney Mall, the gazeebo by Diamondback all come to mind). Not to mention the 10,000 seat ampitheater that is hardly ever used these days. While KI does bring in live music for the early part of the season, it is the same band every time. Not knocking Hifi Honey they do a fantastic job, but I think giving more bands an opportunity to perform in the park would be better than having just the same band everytime. I just feel it is a big missed opportunity to not do the bands in residence program. I think if CP can do it with a slightly shorter operating calendar, so can KI. 

I think a main reason is the difference in audience.

We get it you like brews and music, but the typical season passholder at KI just doesn't seem to be into that.

The sad thing is more times than not, when River City (great local band) played in Action Zone a few years back, they had more entertainment associates watching than guests.  Those playing on Coney Mall stage wasn't that much better.  Same with Hifi Honey - when they aren't on the Festhaus stage but instead on the makeshift stage outside, the guest numbers just aren't there.  If people can't sit, they don't seem to attract the numbers.

With guest numbers like that, it is hard to justify continuing.  But at the same time, the shows were not really advertised either and were on temporary stages, so it was a hit or miss thing.

Maybe an event like you are suggesting would work well in the early and late part of the season in Festhaus, but having a temporary stage in one of the areas for a new local band every week to play just seems like we would see more of what we have seen with the established local bands that are kinda known by some KI guests due to their many years performing here.

Just based on numbers, I could see outside bands be an easy target for cutting from the entertainment scene.

 

[Tr0y]

1 hour ago, disco2000 said:

I think a main reason is the difference in audience.

We get it you like brews and music, but the typical season passholder at KI just doesn't seem to be into that.

The sad thing is more times than not, when River City (great local band) played in Action Zone a few years back, they had more entertainment associates watching than guests.  Those playing on Coney Mall stage wasn't that much better.  Same with Hifi Honey - when they aren't on the Festhaus stage but instead on the makeshift stage outside, the guest numbers just aren't there.  If people can't sit, they don't seem to attract the numbers.

With guest numbers like that, it is hard to justify continuing.  But at the same time, the shows were not really advertised either and were on temporary stages, so it was a hit or miss thing.

Maybe an event like you are suggesting would work well in the early and late part of the season in Festhaus, but having a temporary stage in one of the areas for a new local band every week to play just seems like we would see more of what we have seen with the established local bands that are kinda known by some KI guests due to their many years performing here.

Just based on numbers, I could see outside bands be an easy target for cutting from the entertainment scene.

 

Yeah, having access to seating for any show is key. I've noticed during the Sounds of The Nativity Show people would stop, listen for a bit then leave. KI should repurpose some straw bales from haunt for guest seating. 

[Orion-XL200]

I agree with @Hawaiian Coasters 325 but I also agree with you @disco2000 and @Tr0y. 

I love the bands in residence at CP...even if I didn't sit long, I still enjoyed the ambiance. I mean, it would be a better thing to listen to than the bluegrass version of pop hits, Kidz Bop or other music played in the park lol. 

Seating really would be key. I think of three stages at the back of the park at CP.....BackBeatQue, Frontier Town (in front of the Maverick queue) and at Farmhouse. They each have ample seating which is comfortable and food can be enjoyed outside. I'm not all for shows inside where food is being served like Festhaus and Harmony Hall at Carowinds, but that's a whole different ball game. While it can suck due to rain/extreme sun/heat/cold, etc. it just is a better atmosphere for all. 

KI has had the little stages in the past, but the locations imo have not been the best planned out. One comes to mind specifically at the bottleneck of Rivertown near Mystic Timbers exit/KIMVRR Entrance. While there are several people there, the flow of traffic there is to much to throw a stage in and then expect people to stop and listen. 

[disco2000]

24 minutes ago, Orion-XL200 said:

I agree with @Hawaiian Coasters 325 but I also agree with you @disco2000 and @Tr0y. 

I love the bands in residence at CP...even if I didn't sit long, I still enjoyed the ambiance. I mean, it would be a better thing to listen to than the bluegrass version of pop hits, Kidz Bop or other music played in the park lol. 

Seating really would be key. I think of three stages at the back of the park at CP.....BackBeatQue, Frontier Town (in front of the Maverick queue) and at Farmhouse. They each have ample seating which is comfortable and food can be enjoyed outside. I'm not all for shows inside where food is being served like Festhaus and Harmony Hall at Carowinds, but that's a whole different ball game. While it can suck due to rain/extreme sun/heat/cold, etc. it just is a better atmosphere for all. 

KI has had the little stages in the past, but the locations imo have not been the best planned out. One comes to mind specifically at the bottleneck of Rivertown near Mystic Timbers exit/KIMVRR Entrance. While there are several people there, the flow of traffic there is to much to throw a stage in and then expect people to stop and listen. 

Sadly, I think ambience will continue to be the low hanging fruit they cut in budget mode.

Let's hope they prove us wrong, but the direction has been towards cutting anything that they cannot measure a return on, and even then they probably will still cut LOL.

[BeeastFarmer]

1 hour ago, disco2000 said:

Sadly, I think ambience will continue to be the low hanging fruit they cut in budget mode.

Let's hope they prove us wrong, but the direction has been towards cutting anything that they cannot measure a return on, and even then they probably will still cut LOL.

They didn't cut the cranes at CP!

[disco2000]

7 minutes ago, BeeastFarmer said:

They didn't cut the cranes at CP!

Cause they didn't pay for those for the ceremony 

[Stoan]

I mean, I don't go to Kings Island for the music, but I enjoy hearing it while I am there. I got stuff to do, but I might walk a bit more slowly through the area or pause for a minute to enjoy hearing the sounds before needing to move on.

[jimlaheyscar]

On 1/15/2024 at 8:10 PM, IBEW_Sparky said:

Here's a good one.  With the new pass structure, I wonder when/if they will start having pass processing days prior to opening day?  I certainly hope that A)They do that as they did in the days of new passes/photos every year or B)Have gate central set up in a manner that will allow current passes to be used once before having to get the new card/photo to avoid Hella long waits at processing on preview day.

There is no processing center.  It's all done at the turnstile.  Takes a few second to snap a pic, scan a card and hand it to the guest.

[Taylor.B03]

The bathroom after I take a warm shower:

[matt112986]

They brought in Foghorn Leghorn already?

[robintodd]

Looks like WindSeeker is testing this morning.  Another sign that opening day 2024 is getting close  

[WoodVengeance]

I got this email this morning. Seems like Kings Island is getting ready to roll out their new app. It should be the same style of app that Cedar Point just got and will likely be rolled out throughout the entire Cedar Fair chain.

[3dgyrat]

2 minutes ago, WoodVengeance said:

I got this email this morning. Seems like Kings Island is getting ready to roll out their new app. It should be the same style of app that Cedar Point just got and will likely be rolled out throughout the entire Cedar Fair chain.

I'm actually looking forward to the new app. If it means I can quite literally go to the park without having to bring my wallet in for anything, that's great. Makes it a lot less stressful for me. 

[Orion742]

39 minutes ago, WoodVengeance said:

I got this email this morning. Seems like Kings Island is getting ready to roll out their new app. It should be the same style of app that Cedar Point just got and will likely be rolled out throughout the entire Cedar Fair chain.

I got the same message as well. Cedar Point released theirs the Friday after I got the message about a new app so we might see it release tomorrow.

[DJSkyFoxx]

19 hours ago, 3dgyrat said:

I'm actually looking forward to the new app. If it means I can quite literally go to the park without having to bring my wallet in for anything, that's great. Makes it a lot less stressful for me. 

One less thing to have to worry about potentially losing and one less thing to carry haha

[brenthodge]

On 1/21/2024 at 10:45 PM, Tr0y said:

Yeah, having access to seating for any show is key. I've noticed during the Sounds of The Nativity Show people would stop, listen for a bit then leave. KI should repurpose some straw bales from haunt for guest seating. 

while it would look cool, they'd get too soggy with rain to really be comfortable for seating - plus by Winterfest, half of them have either rotted, sprouted, or fallen apart into piles of straw.

[robintodd]

Another sign of opening day getting closer....Woodstock Whirlybirds are on the track!

[BeeastFarmer]

What a great surprise!  Came home after work and gym, and my Tablo DVR had recorded the Brady Bunch Cincinnati Kids !

 

[LuvingKI]

20 hours ago, BeeastFarmer said:

What a great surprise!  Came home after work and gym, and my Tablo DVR had recorded the Brady Bunch Cincinnati Kids !

 

That episode never gets old. Brady Bunch was my favorite show in my pre-teens.

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

It's offically March which means KI will open in just over one month! Here's to the last full month of no KI!

[Taylor.B03]

Guess who's back...