Leaderboard

I remember a time when CF first took over & many here were concerned that with the flagship park being so close, KI was not going to get big rides. 16 years later, 5 coaster additions and over $91 million spent on them has pretty much squashed that concern. And major upgrades to the park's most epic coasters including a paint job that just makes older KI enthusiasts just stop & grin. Not many parks have the same experience. I for one can live for 3 years with the absence of a new attraction- especially knowing the recent history. There is still that large plot of land available where Vortex was at. With today's announcements it appears CF is adding attractions that are nostalgic to some of the parks. Could a version of Vortex return??

No but food and entertainment is not significant either. Ride maintenance should be expected not praised. Even with the retracking The Beast still needs a lot of work. This is after they put aside general maintenance and let it get to the point where it was so rough. Did it cost a lot of money? Definitely. Was that also partially their fault? Very much so.

i did puchase my gold pass today. So basically a no to pestige and down grade platinum as I went to CP once this year. However to the point of the thread I feel CF is pushing KI as the family park in Ohio and most amusement park publications are indicating a push that way as families spend more $$$ than young people looking for the next 300 foot coasters. So yes the next improvements are probably Planet Snoopy and Soak City and another dining establishment with indoor seating. Would love a water coaster in oak city. Not really surprised with the lack of anything new next season. I know every one on this site is in the big coaster thrill group. just trying to be real about it.

Still scratching my head on why they would invest more money into CGA yet not add any flats to Kings Island which really needs them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Getting no new attractions for a few seasons is the reason why I don't understand in other posts people say "It's time to get rid of Congo Falls, Invertigo, The Bat, AE, etc.". We would just likely look at an empty spot for a few years like The Vortex area. I know The Vortex was removed for some unexpected EOL reasons. Since we are not getting new KI attractions, what are the 'improvements' you would like to see next season? Diamondback repaint would be my #1.

Just because it’s a new addition does not mean it’s an important one. Personally, I don’t watch the shows so no I didn’t enjoy it. Also, that show is replacing a show that already ran. So at best, it’s a small net positive if the show is better. As other posters have mentioned, most people go for the rides. For the things they cannot do anywhere else. I can go to plays in any town. I cannot ride rollercoasters or large flats in any town. Only 2 out of the last 6 years having additions is concerning any way you paint it. And with nothing being announced today my season pass is seriously up for question. That’s 2 platinum season passes might I add. They had a chance to win my $600+ on passes alone and they are losing that chance. There is definitely other things I can do with that money.

Would really love it if KI announced a Planet Snoopy makeover and did something with BB (I like the idea of retheming it to Phantom Theater). My kids have a few years left where they'll still able to have fun in PS, and it would be great to have something for them to be excited about next year. Also, my continued plea to change Woodstock Express back to The Beastie.

Here is a direct link to the Zambezi Zinger page on the Worlds of Fun website: https://www.worldsoffun.com/new-in-2023/zambezi-zinger

Check out the new coasters at Worlds of fun! Heres the POV

Per the Kings Island newsletter:

I’m not surprised KI isn’t getting a major ride or attraction next year. I don’t think a lot of people realize how much time, effort, and money went into this 50th season. I, for one, would like to see KI spend the remainder of this season and next upgrading and enhancing both Halloween Haunt and Winterfest. Enhancing both these events would be a win in my book. Haunt has slowly, in my opinion, been dwindled down since CF ownership. I would like to see that grow in size and “production” quality. I miss the scare zones that were effectively themed. I miss the trail haunts and how the train was incorporated into haunt as well. I think there are many things the park can do to enhance every guests overall experience and in my mind it doesn’t require a huge $20 million dollar attraction. The park could easily use $2-5 million and really upgrade all their events. Just my thoughts….

This is just personal conjecture, but a lack of a major addition in 2023 makes me feel like something significant could be on its way for 2024 or onward. No reason get upset. 2022 was the best season I’ve personally experienced and there we no massive capital investments. No need to be upset.

Pretty hilarious that even CGA is getting some additions even though it's time is nearing.

Diamondback and Banshee both need a repaint if we are being honest. If we are getting no new additions they better continue to retrack The Racer and The Beast. Bring back missing/ broken theming all across the park. Fix/ remove the funTVs cause right now they are mostly all broken. And actually fix boo blasters. The guns don’t work properly literally any time I go on it. I would also like to see them use queues more efficiently. The one that gets on my nerves is FOF. Put the people inside the AC instead of making them wait outside in the heat.

So nothing new got it.

Yup, perfectly said. I’m not going to spend $1500 on my pass if the park isn’t doing anything besides basic maintenance to “improve the guest experience”. There’s just no excitement for me about next season. Small flat rides go along way when it comes to improving the guest experience, just look at the reception to antique autos. Disappointing that’s all I have to say.

Three years between rides is far too long. There’s no reason as to why basic maintenance and new attractions have to be mutually exclusive. I’m not expecting a major new ride but new flats would be enough to keep guest interested in the park. If they don’t add a new ride then to be honest I don’t see any reason to renew my pass especially with the price increase that’s certainly coming.

You'll be happy to know the person who made the layout of this coaster is also a member of this site!

Wouldn’t have KI said something before the passes for 2023 went on sale? Cedar Fair released their attraction list for 2023 and didn’t say anything about new attraction for KI.

We’ve been taken care of ever since CF bought the park- we will be fine regardless of whether we get something new every other year or not

It appears from the news announcement (link above) by Cedar Fair they have completed the unveiling, i.e. nothing else to hold out for today. While I am excited for all the additions at other parks, the big goose egg for Kings Island makes me shake my head. One flat would have been enough to show ongoing improvements and a nod to those patronizing the park. Unfortunately capital investments in "food service and delivery systems" and "a full lineup of seasonal events" do not entice me for 2023. Food is not the driving force to get me into the park. Myself (and some friends) will be voting with our wallets--no KI next year. Though we will likely make the trip up to CP and checkout the Boardwalk! Here's looking forward to 2024!

Maybe Kings Island forgot the homework assignment was due today. But in all seriousness while no one will disagree Carnivale is always welcome, it's not technically NEW. Still hoping for further announcements as KIPR Twitter hasn't posted anything yet about a their New for 23 yet

Kings Island re-introduces Grand Carnivale. It is a great event, but it is nothing new. Kings Island really doesn’t seem to have much new to offer for guests next year. Maybe Diamondback will get a repaint. That should happen anyways, though.

What that WHAT!!!! so far Can W has peaked my interest over all the other announcements and it doesn't even have a video.

Moving Matterhorn & Scrambler is going to turn the volume up on the demise of Corkscrew- which I don't want to see happen. Ride is meh, but walking under the corkscrew is still really fun. And zero mention of TTD- (edit) other than WM being the 18th coaster.

Now that Zambezi Zinger has been announced at WoF as a GCI with Titan Track, I’d like to make somewhat of an out-there prediction for what I think could be replacing Vortex. I think we could see a massive GCI coaster (150+ feet) placed on that plot of land utilizing Titan Track to do some extreme maneuvers. I think it makes sense as Mystic Timbers was a fairly successful ride, Cedar Fair has a good working relationship with GCI, and it would be more cost effective than a brand new steel coaster. I also think we could see Titan Track used to do a vertical loop as a throwback to SoB as it would be the only element of its kind on either a hybrid or wooden coaster. I’m not up to date on park rumors so I could be entirely wrong, but that is my prediction.

The spiral lift is certainly interesting

Time is running out to experience Kings Island’s historic 50th Anniversary. The summer-long event kicked off Memorial Day weekend and ends Labor Day weekend. The celebration includes the 14-minute “Fun, Fireworks and Fifty” nightly finale* as well as tributes throughout the park highlighting special moments from Kings Island’s history. Guests can experience the anniversary festivities with a 2022 Season Pass, or a 2023 Season Pass which is on sale beginning today. After Labor Day weekend, the park will begin to transition to its fall events, Halloween Haunt and Tricks and Treats Fall Fest. Halloween Haunt, the 2021 USA Today 10Best.com award winner for Best Theme Park Halloween Event, will take place on Friday, Saturday and select Sunday nights beginning Friday, September 23 through October 29. Learn more about Halloween Haunt: https://kicentral.com/ki-haunt/ The daytime family event, Tricks and Treats Fall Fest, will take place select days beginning Sunday, September 25 through October 30. Learn more about Tricks & Treats: https://kicentral.com/tricks-treats/ WinterFest, Kings Island’s annual holiday tradition, will begin on Friday, November 25, and will take place select nights through December 31. Admission Included for the Rest of 2022 with Purchase of a 2023 Season Pass Guests can experience all the fun and thrills, with unlimited visits the rest of 2022 including Halloween Haunt and WinterFest, plus the entire 2023 season, with the purchase of a 2023 Season Pass. Guests who purchase a 2023 season pass, or renew this year’s pass, before August 14 also will receive a Fast Lane Plus ticket to use once on select days by October 30. For more details, and to purchase, go to visitkingsisland.com

I hear what you're saying but I really don't think CF is in a bad spot anymore with their record revenues. If they wait until 2025 for something big, I fully expect attendance to decrease substantially at the park. I think they HAVE to add something solid next year or people will just bail on their season passes. I am already not renewing ours next year. So, they will have to win us back.

Used the FL+ voucher 2 days ago to ride The Beast so I can confirm FL+ rides are included with the voucher.

Then they should have announced that today to be honest, because right now grand carnival ain’t going to be enough to convince some people to get season passes. But yes I agree there will likely be other small improvements.

Although I doubt we will see a new ride, I still believe that there is far, far more to KI’s 2023 story than Grand Carnivale, Haunt, and Winterfest.

So what I don't think people understand is that KI doesn't necessarily need a new attraction for 2023. Kings Island still is building up their merchandising game, they are still making improvements on food packages (Even though if Chef Major is reading this you are absolutely clobbering the competition right now) and there is still a lot of TLC they can offer for the park. Am I upset that we didn't get anything? Somewhat yeah, I would have loved to see a new addition for the park to move forward. However I can also rest on the fact that we did just get a major Giga (which many of my peers have been slobbering over for years mind you), that should satisfy your hunger for a new addition for quite sometime. Am I upset with how KI didn't get a "new addition for 2022"? Yeah, but at the same time we just got a REALLY nice entertainment package that for once I can say really stood out; coupled with the Timberwolf Theater finally getting some TLC and some amazing concerts. Oh and let's not forget a major retrack of The Beast and a major refresh of Racer. Those were our new attraction funds being put to work, hence why the sting isn't as bad. I am cautiously optimistic that this year was a test to see if the fans want Phantom Theater back, and they do. To have a ride already set up before gauging guest approval is daft, to have a ride set up maybe a season or two after having such a successful show on the ride would be a very wise decision on behalf of the park. I am also cautiously optimistic that we could see a new foodie option finally coming up.....Like ripping out Outer Hanks and putting in a sit down or patio covered German restaurant with authentic sausages, pork and steak. (Call it Herr Konig's or something, make it unique) We already know that part of the park has some future expansion plans, so to have a food option that is different, and that can handle such a surge of guests besides Festhaus would be a boon to the park. We have the main guy behind corporate food offerings at our park, Chef Major has done some amazing things for the park and I honestly hope that they capitalize on his experience with a new option like this. Or maybe the park goes a different direction and puts a new smokehouse style restaurant back where the Big Box o'FUN (R) is currently in Rivertown. We have options, the park needs new options, even if we don't get any of these I'm sure the park is going to do some TLC jobs on rides like Diamondback to finally give a consistent coat of paint to one of the icons of the park.

While Haunt is assumed and likely will happen, they did put OR in the statement....so they could go the way of other CF parks that eliminated Haunt in favor of Tricks and Treats only.... In the fall, 10 parks will offer Halloween-themed special events such as Tricks and Treats or Halloween Haunt that are sure to appeal to those looking for some frightful family fun or a good scare. And as temperatures drop, WinterFest will return to Carowinds, California’s Great America, Kings Dominion, Canada’s Wonderland and Kings Island. It seems across social media most feel like this on the announcement for KI

I doubt we'll see a coaster in 2024 knowing our last ride addition was a coaster. I'm honestly expecting a Soak City expansion and/or a flat ride in 2024. They could honestly do both in the same year since Wonderland is adding both a coaster and flat next year. Maybe a coaster in 2025 or 2026.

Possibly CF strategically did this with plans to move these brand new rides to other parks when the time comes.

This also makes a Kings Island annual pass more expensive than even Cedar Point, which is selling gold passes for $99. The only park in the chain more expensive is Knott’s Berry Farm who has not announced 2023 pricing yet.

Appears to be a Mondial Avalanche.

I really, really like all the new additions that were announced for Cedar Fair parks. All of the additions are REALLY solid. I am honestly a bit jealous of all the new areas Carowinds has been getting recently (Carolina Harbor, County Fair, Blue Ridge Junction, and Aeronautica Landing). Area 72’s theming does not look to come close to Aeronautica Landing’s theming. I just wish that Kings Island got at least something for 2023. Hopefully, the lack of an addition indicates something big in 2024, but I know Mike Koontz mentioned he wanted to add something to Planet Snoopy and Soak City before adding a new rollercoaster. An overhaul of Planet Snoopy or Soak City would be really nice, though.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220811005015/en/Cedar-Fair-Announces-Exciting-Capital-Plans-for-2023-Operating-Season Here is the release.

I kind of dig the “lift hill.”

As much as I enjoy park improvements like ride repaints, those are part of basic infrastructure upkeep. Park improvements are great, but they cannot replace a new attraction. Park improvements should be ongoing regardless of a new attraction opening. Also, I love that Kings Island introduced many great entertainment offerings for this year. This may be controversial, but in my opinion, new shows cannot replace new attractions. A new show just does not attract people like a new ride. Think about Kings Mills Antique Autos. The media ran multiple stories when Kings Island announced the new ride in 2019. I haven’t seen many new news stories about Phantom Theatre Encore, though. A new show simply cannot be marketed like a a new attraction.

yes gold pass is slightly more at KI than CP , but CP has no early entry for gold pass. However my visit this year to CP had Mellenium Force, Maverick and steel vengence all down to start the day. That kind of puts a damper on early access.

Yep, really excited for the capital investments in "food service and delivery systems" and "a full lineup of seasonal events" Um, yeah...

Interesting to note that Gold Season passes for KI are now on sale. No mention of a new ride or anything for 2023 at KI. Gold Pass prices are now $130 a person ($124 for renewing passholders). Canada`s Wonderland has announced their new additions: https://www.canadaswonderland.com/new-in-2023

I didn’t know it’s based off of a defunct ride!

Marketing will always pitch something new, after all that is a large part of their job. I think only a diehard/blindly loyal (depending on your view ), fan would call maintenance/general improvements an addition, and I doubt most would specifically notice such things at all. A new food item is just a new product for sale. A new show is nice, but shows are everchanging and new shows are expected on a regular basis. @BrowntggrrRegarding cost of the expenditures, I understand that in part. However, it doesn't hold up particularly well after a closer look. The closest parallel is probably after Diamondback in 2009 (most expensive investment in park history at time). Even in a terrible recession, Cedar Fair still invested in the park in two out of four years (2011 and 2012). After Banshee in 2014, (more expensive than Diamondback), there were additions in 2015, 2016, and a new coaster in Mystic Timbers in 2017. Only then was there a year off in 2018. Starting with 2018 there have been additions in 2 out of 6 years. Over park history this was not done either. Paramount built 4 adult coasters and a family coaster and never took a year off. Never before through any ownership were there consecutive years without additions and it appears we are about to hit three straight years. I know Kings Island gets more investment than most Cedar Fair parks, but there has been a good reason for that. This very well may be a one-off strictly because of financial factors from the pandemic. I'd think though that the park would grow stale to more casual park-goers after consecutive years without additions. I hope this is just a deviation and not the new norm.