Kings Island has officially become a trashy Six Flags park!

[super7]

Everything they say.  It didn’t take very long.   
 

The park has been dirty on my visits this year  Although I will say the restrooms have always been filthy. They are even worse this year.

Carowinds has started installing Six Flags sponsor billboards around the park   

Look forward to reduced hours in the future.  Probably the elimination of fireworks, cut live entertainment etc.

[disco2000]

Buy your silver pass

Caveat Emptor 

[CoasterJack]

Watched this episode as well, I agree with somethings...

Do I agree with Don that there have definitely been some staffing cuts: yes, I've had the same issue sitting on The Racer brake run for a prolonged period of time. We were delayed as the operator was held up on a call with what I can assume was the rides department. But I do agree it's been rough on some rides only staffing one person for each side of the train. However, I've also had countless visits with better staffing, two on both sides of The Beast, with both The Beast and Diamondback dispatching approx. every 55 seconds.

Restrooms: I've been in quite a few that have someone actively cleaning, to which I've always thanked them. However. I will agree I've been in a rough one by the Rivertown Larosas that was quite rough with no paper towels, soap and trash cans. But for the most part they haven't been bad, just not sparkling

Path & Park Cleanliness: Have I run into the occasional beyond full trash can, yes. Have I sat in ketchup on a bench in the Festhaus?: also yes . I would say the amount of staff cleaning has been reduced, but I still see many employees wiping down tables, sweeping trash, cleaning spills, far more than I've encountered at most SF parks or Cedar Point. It's not like we've never seen a dirty table before, and might I add, THE AMOUNT OF TRASH SOME PEOPLE LEAVE AT THEIR TABLE IS OBSURD. But I do agree, there has been a time or two I've had to walk to a different trash can. However, I can attest that I've also seen gold tags helping out when things get dire. Even had one ask I they could wipe off my table as there was BBQ sauce on the other side. So, the upper management at least seems aware and is trying their best. I agree with Ryan that the fact they're willing to be in the park helping clean tables does show that they care and are trying with the given resources.

Drinking Fountains: Now I can 100% agree I've run into many issues this season. Has ice been an issue in past seasons... yes. Do I think it's devolved as more people get drink plans, also yes. I think a little bit might have to do with staffing. The freestyle location was closed because they literally didn't have any freestyle cartridges stocks on property, which was definitely an oversight on someone's part, but apparently, they're new after a full-time staffer was let go. The ice doesn't bother me, but I agree if I was paying full price for a soda that would be frustrating. I also tried at least 8 different drink locations before I found one with root beer still in stock. That one my friend went to a different location because they were out of Diet Coke.

 

So, I don't think I'd say the park is at the level of a "trashy" Six Flags legacy park, but that they do need to be careful on how corporate decisions affect the guest experience. I've had many great visits this season, and I can tell the staff that is at the park does care and tries their best to make up lighter crew, but not to say I don't notice some differences, granted I do also look for these staffing shortages more than the average guest. It's not like F&B has never had issues with Ice or soda syrup, I've been in that battle for years , I think sometimes their ICEE machines just simply can't freeze enough to keep up with crowds. 

I personally think sometimes, people are looking for something wrong or unkept to immediately highlight the issue and make it seem it's a terrible miserable experience. That's only true 2% of the time (when getting a drink) 

 

[Tr0y]

2 hours ago, super7 said:

Everything they say.  It didn’t take very long.   
 

The park has been dirty on my visits this year  Although I will say the restrooms have always been filthy. They are even worse this year.

Carowinds has started installing Six Flags sponsor billboards around the park   

Look forward to reduced hours in the future.  Probably the elimination of fireworks, cut live entertainment etc.

Walt Disney World uses sponsors with signage for some of their rides. I think it’s OK as along as it is done in good taste. Such as:

-Test Track presented by General Motors 

-Kings Mills Antique Autos with Progressive signage.

Heck, I think Norfolk Southern would be a great sponsor for KIMVRR..

Advertisements however, becomes tacky if you apply it all over ride vehicles and park.

Im spoiled with having the luxury on visiting the park on weekdays as well as ASFL. So even tho there is two associates checking restraints. It hasn’t really affected me getting through the line.

Park cleanliness is something I have noticed deteriorate this season. As mentioned the Bathroom by Rivertown Larosas smells like a walk in urinal. The park pathways look like the cicadas have stormed Normandy. Also some of the front row seats on rides are covered in cicada goo. Orion was gross.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

1 hour ago, CoasterJack said:

So, I don't think I'd say the park is at the level of a "trashy" Six Flags legacy park, but that they do need to be careful on how corporate decisions affect the guest experience. I've had many great visits this season, and I can tell the staff that is at the park does care and tries their best to make up lighter crew, but not to say I don't notice some differences, granted I do also look for these staffing shortages more than the average guest. It's not like F&B has never had issues with Ice or soda syrup, I've been in that battle for years , I think sometimes their ICEE machines just simply can't freeze enough to keep up with crowds. 

I personally think sometimes, people are looking for something wrong or unkept to immediately highlight the issue and make it seem it's a terrible miserable experience. That's only true 2% of the time (when getting a drink) 

I have to agree that Kings Island is not (yet) a trashy Six Flags park. There has been a noticeable decrease in quality, but I don't think it's hit former Six Flags levels yet. Corporate is likely still looking for any costs they can feasibly cut. 

As Ryan and Don said in a previous episode (I think earlier this week), times will be tough at the parks until Six Flags can stabilize. Tower Topics said that might be around 2028, but I hope they stabilize much sooner and let 2028 be the year when big additions start coming back. Personally, I don't think promising any record-breaking roller coasters for 2026 was a smart move — they should've simply struck the "record-breaking" part from the announcements until they knew what could actually be delivered. 

 

If Six Flags is looking for a way to improve all of their parks without spending nearly $1 billion on roller coasters across the whole chain, to me, the solution seems very simple. Take some of the money that would have been put towards giant additions and invest it into park quality improvements. Things like fresh grass seedings, a new greenhouse and more landscaping/foliage for every park, tree planting galore, tremendous food & beverage improvements, and adding even more trash cans to every park would almost certainly make guests much happier. The planting of new trees (of different species and varieties and planted over the course of a few years) throughout each park would certainly make a good number of guests much happier. Something not often discussed is that the merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair was also a merger between the most generic amusement park company and a slightly more elevated amusement/theme park company. It'll be curious to see which identity is the end goal here. I sure hope it is the latter. 

[BeeastFarmer]

I haven't been to Kings Island this year, and have no plans to go, so I freely admit my ignorance of this from an anecdotal first person experience.

However... 

Ride staffing has been cut in The Beast and The Racer since 2023 and I've posted about that in these forums.  It's not new.

Garbage cans have overflowed and tables have been dirty for years, especially on busy days. It's not new.

Ice has been out.  It's not new.

Flavors have been out.  It's not new.

Food has been out.  It's not new.

Handicapped parking has been out.  It's not new.

Again, the regular attenders would be able to speak to this season more than me. But to say that these things are all new is simply not true.  It probably is worse and probably will get worse before it gets better. Other parks like Holiday World and KK have figured ice and drink flavors out. KI has rich historical attendance records they can use to project, it's just a matter of it not being a priority for an expense. Because, let's face it ...it's a highly penetrated park. So, corporate can kind of treat KI like a "person of the evening" because they count on renewals. Until this changes, I doubt we will see much change. Also, at least for me, the 2022 season set the bar so high as a passholders that just about anything else will fall short.

It's difficult to be realistic about something you have an emotional attachment to, something that has been woven into the fabric of life as a small child, a pre teen, a teen, a young adult and a middle aged adult. But I think a balanced perspective helps.

Thank you for listening to my TED Talk. 

[brenthodge]

4 hours ago, BeeastFarmer said:

I haven't been to Kings Island this year, and have no plans to go, so I freely admit my ignorance of this from an anecdotal first person experience.

However... 

Ride staffing has been cut in The Beast and The Racer since 2023 and I've posted about that in these forums.  It's not new.

Garbage cans have overflowed and tables have been dirty for years, especially on busy days. It's not new.

Ice has been out.  It's not new.

Flavors have been out.  It's not new.

Food has been out.  It's not new.

Handicapped parking has been out.  It's not new.

Again, the regular attenders would be able to speak to this season more than me. But to say that these things are all new is simply not true.  It probably is worse and probably will get worse before it gets better. Other parks like Holiday World and KK have figured ice and drink flavors out. KI has rich historical attendance records they can use to project, it's just a matter of it not being a priority for an expense. Because, let's face it ...it's a highly penetrated park. So, corporate can kind of treat KI like a "person of the evening" because they count on renewals. Until this changes, I doubt we will see much change. Also, at least for me, the 2022 season set the bar so high as a passholders that just about anything else will fall short.

It's difficult to be realistic about something you have an emotional attachment to, something that has been woven into the fabric of life as a small child, a pre teen, a teen, a young adult and a middle aged adult. But I think a balanced perspective helps.

Thank you for listening to my TED Talk. 

Agree with all of this. I truly feel like the 50th was the capstone on what KI was. It went through some dark days as Paramount and early CedarFair, but that experience was so close to a time capsule, that it felt like the true closing of a good book -not even a chapter. I think everything that has and will come after is KI only in name. Sadly, I think we are at a “new beginning “ of something less than it was and will be again. 

[brenthodge]

5 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

I have to agree that Kings Island is not (yet) a trashy Six Flags park. There has been a noticeable decrease in quality, but I don't think it's hit former Six Flags levels yet. Corporate is likely still looking for any costs they can feasibly cut. 

As Ryan and Don said in a previous episode (I think earlier this week), times will be tough at the parks until Six Flags can stabilize. Tower Topics said that might be around 2028, but I hope they stabilize much sooner and let 2028 be the year when big additions start coming back. Personally, I don't think promising any record-breaking roller coasters for 2026 was a smart move — they should've simply struck the "record-breaking" part from the announcements until they knew what could actually be delivered. 

 

If Six Flags is looking for a way to improve all of their parks without spending nearly $1 billion on roller coasters across the whole chain, to me, the solution seems very simple. Take some of the money that would have been put towards giant additions and invest it into park quality improvements. Things like fresh grass seedings, a new greenhouse and more landscaping/foliage for every park, tree planting galore, tremendous food & beverage improvements, and adding even more trash cans to every park would almost certainly make guests much happier. The planting of new trees (of different species and varieties and planted over the course of a few years) throughout each park would certainly make a good number of guests much happier. Something not often discussed is that the merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair was also a merger between the most generic amusement park company and a slightly more elevated amusement/theme park company. It'll be curious to see which identity is the end goal here. I sure hope it is the latter. 

I feel they have been strategic with the landscaping this year. Yes, there’s a lot more (if there’s time, weeded) mulch only beds, but there are some very nice, very visible plantings, like the new (I think) troughs by brew house. I feel like they know they don’t have the budget to try to hit everything, so instead of a lot of weak plantings all over, they are focusing on a few “hero” plantings for the most bang. 

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Now that you mention it, I really do like the "hero" plantings. I'd completely forgotten about some of the better ones after my Cicada Mania experience during my last visit. I can handle most bugs, but those flying fiends are my #1 persona non grata whenever they emerge. I still think it would be wise to invest in ground cover that doesn't require as much maintenance as grass for some areas. 

[CedarPointer]

The thing that gets me is the people who are cheering on being given less for their money. Or the ones that think "well, I never have an issue" invalidates everyone else's bad experiences. Like, that's great that "you didn't see any refill stands closed" when you went, but on the 2-3 times each week I go after work for dinner and a couple rides, I usually have to do a lap around 2/3 of the park before I can find anywhere that (1) is open and (2) has working Icee machines. I guess maybe weekday evenings aren't considered "all season" for the "All Season" drink plan. I feel like food has been a lot less hit-or-miss this year, but it also seems like some of the portion sizes returned to normal. Given how many Six Flags parks are reporting tiny portions this year, it makes me wonder how many "profitable" people chose not to renew their dining plan this year. The people who get lots of use and are going multiple times a week are always going to renew, but it seems like the families who only go 4-5 times a season and buy ice cream and souvenirs when they go are a lot less likely to... and that's who the park makes money on.

[BoddaH1994]

We make it clear that we aren't throwing stones saying that it's trashing, or even that it's already second-rate; however, the stuff that we've observed, and this is on a regular basis, is scary. Once the park starts getting noticeably dirty, "rougher," and/or gives the impression of being less safe, it'll take a long time for them to recover from this. 

We have a lot of people who have said that they disagree and they haven't had any problems. Trust me, I'm happy for them. I can't tell you how many times we've done episodes and discuss things we "fear" or things that would be disappointing for us, and we cheer when we are wrong. This isn't about being right, it's about observations. 

Quote

The thing that gets me is the people who are cheering on being given less for their money. Or the ones that think "well, I never have an issue" invalidates everyone else's bad experiences. Like, that's great that "you didn't see any refill stands closed" when you went, but on the 2-3 times each week I go after work for dinner and a couple rides, I usually have to do a lap around 2/3 of the park before I can find anywhere that (1) is open and (2) has working Icee machines. I guess maybe weekday evenings aren't considered "all season" for the "All Season" drink plan. I feel like food has been a lot less hit-or-miss this year, but it also seems like some of the portion sizes returned to normal. Given how many Six Flags parks are reporting tiny portions this year, it makes me wonder how many "profitable" people chose not to renew their dining plan this year. The people who get lots of use and are going multiple times a week are always going to renew, but it seems like the families who only go 4-5 times a season and buy ice cream and souvenirs when they go are a lot less likely to... and that's who the park makes money on.

What's worse is an employee on the SP group replied to my post promoting this video saying that the problems we listed were problems all along, so they weren't the current management's fault. They also added that we should have issued a complaint with the park instead of "dragging the park through the mud." They also added that they liked the merger because now they can get discounts for their family on Gold passes.

1. If it's been a problem all along, then what would complaining do? Clearly the leadership can't or won't fix the problem, so the only way we can affect change is to put a light on it.

2. It's great that the employees got a new perk but how is that helping the people that actually pay to be there?

3. They also mentioned that it's "still the best value for family entertainment" (paraphrased). Sure sounds like they're taking the guests for granted with that comment. Of course, Kings Island is the most "penetrated" park so I guess even this employee's attitude is "good enough is good enough."

4. Things like these pave the path to self-destruction. If you care about the park, you shouldn't defend it, you should be appalled by this. It's kid of like when your kid comes come with a report card full of F's. Do you high five them because you love them, or do you correct them because they were going down the wrong path?

[brenthodge]

1 hour ago, BoddaH1994 said:

4. Things like these pave the path to self-destruction. If you care about the park, you shouldn't defend it, you should be appalled by this. It's kid of like when your kid comes come with a report card full of F's. Do you high five them because you love them, or do you correct them because they were going down the wrong path?

This is why I get so tired of certain people who moderate other groups calling me out on being “weird” or negative because I often bring up things I observe, but almost always offer what could be a possible solution or lower cost way to achieve what I’m seeing as a shortcoming. I don’t ask for the moon without suggesting a way to build the ladder to get there.