Non-Attractions Post-Merger Results

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Disclaimer: If this would fit better in an already existing thread, then please direct me there! I couldn't find somewhere else to fit it and would be happy to move the conversation if need be.

Now that we're nearly SIX months (pun intended) after the official merger between Cedar Fair and Six Flags, what noticeable changes do you think will come to the park(s)? We have seen some definite changes and sharing of ideas popping up since the Legacy Six Flags parks released their new 2025 pass/membership options that mirror the Legacy Cedar Fair model. Now we are in the holiday season with Winterfest and Holiday in the Park in full swing. Some LSF parks are using shows from LCF Winterfest, the Cedar Fair All-Season Drink Bottle plan appears to be coming to LSF parks next year, and now all post-merger Six Flags websites include a park selection among their menu bars. I posted in another thread about this and thought it would be nice to have a separate discussion for the little things that might change.

What changes do you think/would you want to see brought over from either chain that aren't related to roller coasters, rides, or IPs (characters)? Think about things guests can pick up or directly interact with every day in the park. Things like what the maps, paper cups, plate covers, advertisements, menus, websites, etc. could each look like. Which of the map art styles is your favorite and which do you hope will be used going forward? Are there any events or celebrations that you would like to see brought over from LSF parks? What might not change within the next 5 years?

 

I think things will be consolidated and standardized across the company more and more as time goes on. My short term predictions/hopes are for new physical map art, some new-to-KI events, and more refreshed restaurants. My long term predictions/hopes/dreads are new park logos (could be good or bad), changes to company investment in the parks, and more expensive ticket/season pass prices.

Some proof for the rumor of things changing given below (for topic placement purposes).

Magic Mountain 2025 Season Pass Options (https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/store/tickets)

Kings Island's Modified Website Menu (https://www.visitkingsisland.com/)

Statement from SFEC about an "Enhanced Guest Experience" (https://investors.sixflags.com/overview/default.aspx)

[IndyGuy4KI]

It will be interesting to see how they update the legacy SIX parks websites with a new theme and colors. Does not look like any of that has changed yet.

 

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

New Year Update!

 

It looks like we have our first look at the 2025 souvenir bottles. The bottle may be different than previous years (I have the drink plan, so idk). This particular makes it look like the Legacy Cedar Fair parks are the only ones listed on the bottle (SFEC might wait to add Legacy Six Flags parks until the drink plan is available at all current SFEC parks). It's low-resolution but I think the bottle shown specifically says "FREE REFILLS 2025 Season".

Image from https://www.visitkingsisland.com/dining/drinks-dining-deals 

 

We may also soon see a slight redesign of the Legacy Cedar Fair park logos (either only online or elsewhere). Cedar Point adjusted their logo in 2018 and recently updated their main park sign in 2024. The change is slight, but noticeable when you've been staring at it as long as I have. Note the "da" and "P", "i", and "t" on the signs in the image below. I doubt any large physical signage will be changed, but we might see something happen. 

The Cedar Fair wordmarks (like currently exists at Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Carowinds, etc.) are each a specialized version of the font that CF/SFEC use. The new logo is a simple wordmark written in Gibson Bold, with the classic wavy flag dotting the "i".

Image from https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fcurrent-sign-at-cedar-point-v0-p3kbpgc11mbd1.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1014%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3D8480effc0d84fabbb302cb59953a7f8fce762667

 

I find this kind of stuff to be interesting, so if anyone finds other new stuff like this feel free to put it here!

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

Tbh I miss the customized logos for each park on the souvenir bottle showcasing the new attraction for that season. I think 2022 was the last time they did that with the 50th logo on the bottle that year. Also, ngl I miss the large souvenir cups they used to place to the right of the front gate plaza in the spring. I thought they were cool looking and idk why the park got rid of them. 

[beastfan11]

+ 1 for individualized park logos. The chain as a whole could use a big brand refresh. The current fonts, colors, etc. are tired. A new look would be good post merger. Something less corporate-y and plastic-y. 

[KIghostguy]

27 minutes ago, beastfan11 said:

A new look would be good post merger. Something less corporate-y and plastic-y. 

I agree with you on this 100%. Everything is just Gibson Bold on a white or plain background, with a picture of a Gold/Prestige/whatever pass. 

This recent example from Kings Dominion has to be one of the worst ads that I have ever seen from a park. What about this ad tells the audience anything about the 50th Anniversary? What in this image compels the audience to purchase a pass? Make a visit in 2025?

https://x.com/KingsDominionVA/status/1875270505097523311

Nothing about this ad connects to the audience on an emotional level. For a theme park company, it's such a shame that the branding/messaging is so consistently bland and boring.

[DonHelbig]

11 minutes ago, KIghostguy said:

For a theme park company, it's such a shame that the branding/messaging is so consistently bland and boring.

There aren't as many true theme park people involved in this theme park company as there used to be. 

[beastfan11]

21 minutes ago, KIghostguy said:

This recent example from Kings Dominion has to be one of the worst ads that I have ever seen from a park. What about this ad tells the audience anything about the 50th Anniversary? What in this image compels the audience to purchase a pass? Make a visit in 2025?

It tells the auidence the somebody within the company knows how to use MS Paint. That’s about it. 

[disco2000]

This is why they went with the Six Flags name instead of Cedar Fair - to take advantage of the name recognition, but with that comes an eroding of the individual/uniqueness of the parks as they try to capitalize on the Six Flags branding.  

They want someone to go to a park and know it is a Six Flags park.

As a result, we will see more and more corporate look/feel than individual look/feel.  We ain't seen nothing yet....

Except for the enthusiasts, the casual observer or just reader of park news wouldn't necessarily know the names of the Cedar Fair parks.

[IndyGuy4KI]

On 1/14/2025 at 7:20 PM, disco2000 said:

Except for the enthusiasts, the casual observer or just reader of park news wouldn't necessarily know the names of the Cedar Fair parks.

Conversation with non enthusiasts.

Me - I went down to Kings Dominion.

Them - What is a Kings Dominion is that like Kings Island?

[disco2000]

1 hour ago, IndyGuy4KI said:

Conversation with non enthusiasts.

Me - I went down to Kings Dominion.

Them - What is a Kings Dominion is that like Kings Island?

Isn't that the truth LOL. 

The number of people I have interacted with at KI that have no idea that 1. Cedar Point exists LOL and 2. that it is owned by the same company as KI. 

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

On 1/14/2025 at 4:11 PM, beastfan11 said:

+ 1 for individualized park logos. The chain as a whole could use a big brand refresh. The current fonts, colors, etc. are tired. A new look would be good post merger. Something less corporate-y and plastic-y. 

unfortunately, plastic-y corporate-y logos are cheap and easy and are just what a corporation overseeing 42 decently sized parks would need if they were to rebrand. We could assume there are some parks that are already unique enough and knock, let's say, 5 new logos off of that list. That leaves 37 parks that would need new logos. That's a lot of moolah to spend between logo design, manufacturing of signs and materials, and other accoutrement. Good corporate branding practices dictate that there should be some similarity between logos.

I'd personally like to see some retro logos come back, even if they a small bit of Brand Identity attached. Maybe I'll try my hand at a little logo design

[beastfan11]

53 minutes ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

I'd personally like to see some retro logos come back, even if they a small bit of Brand Identity attached. Maybe I'll try my hand at a little logo design

I’d love to see it!