CoastersRZ

Keep in mind though that September, had historically been a slower season for Disney. I know that recently Disney typically hasn`t had much of a slow season, given their dynamic pricing, etc.

Especially, given the history of the sky ride at KI. I think The Beach suffered from lack of investment some too. I went to Holidayfest a couple of times. While there was no Winterfest back then, there really wasn`t much to Holiday Fest. Riding around the lazy river in a pedal boat was interesting, although the pedal boats couldn`t quite maneuver the bends properly.

I wondered what they planed to do with the old Sandcastle Suite site. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the update. I can`t wait to purchase my copy and read it! For those of you interested, we did a podcast episode on this book.

To be clear, the park may still very well be open in September (although they always have limited operations on weekends in September due to company buy outs) and October. The park is just releasing the operating calendar in one month increments at the present time. As someone who works 7-5, I am glad they are staying open later. The 11-7 hours were kind of difficult for me to enjoy the park after work.

My favorite memory from Kings Island is the first time I rode The Beast. Up until that point, I had been on The Racer, and even Top Gun, but wasn`t completely thrilled about coasters. I rode the ride with a neighborhood friend, Chris (who has since moved away). His family was the reason we were there in October of 1995, as they had received some comp tickets and took my family and I. I remember riding it, and it was unlike anything I had ever been on. Hard to believe that it will be 25 years this October. Little did I know at the time, what was born that day. My love of amusement parks has continued all these years. I have spent 19 seasons working at Coney, countless trips to KI over the years, and even worked there for a couple of Haunt seasons. I also ended up meeting my wife through Kings Island (that is a story for another day). I have made some wonderful friends through both Coney and KI. While I do not get to the park as often as I used to (having two young kids makes visits more brief, and has all but eliminated coaster trips that I used to go on, until they get taller), I still enjoy visiting the park, and now get to experience it through my kids eyes. (I wish some of the attractions that were there when I was a kid were still there. Hand powered cars anyone? I loved those when I was a kid.

That is a good question. The immediate thing that comes to mind is the proximity of Geauga Lake to Cedar Point. We all know how that ended up. I think that Cedar Fair could benefit from owning the SEAS parks. They would get several more parks that are open year round. However, I do not see Cedar Fair looking to take on another chain right now. They might bite off another park, but I do not see them doing anything in the next year.

Well to be honest, Kings Dominion hasn`t exactly been flourishing under Cedar Fair. Yes, they have received Twisted Timbers, but look at how many rides have been removed from that park. Especially in comparison to what has been added at nearby Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

I think you hit the nail right on the head. I agree that the current way KI is running should be able to generate some profits. It will be interesting to see what happens to Haunt this year (if it even happens this year), and Winterfest, which is show intensive. Of course, Winterfest is farther off than Haunt. I would not be surprised to see KI forego the haunted houses, similar to what Kennywood is doing.

The theory goes though that they will be bringing in some money from the customers. The question will be does that money outpace the associated costs of staffing, etc.

Given the current economic climate, and the fact that several of Cedar Fair`s parks remain closed, I would not look for them to be expanding/building anything for right now. The chain is trying to conserve cash right now, not spending it. Especially since KI just opened Orion. There will likely not be any additions for next year, especially since we just got Orion this year. I would NOT check the Mason permit office. As others have said, they are likely just finishing up removing the last of Vortex`s footings and grading the site for eventual seeding for grass.

I am sure that people still would have come to see the balloons and fireworks. Coney just would not have made money on the rides that day (typically, that was one of the biggest days for rides all season). It felt really weird to not be at Coney on July 3rd this year. That is the first time I wasn`t there that day since maybe 2007 or 2006!

And what is wrong with Flight of Fear? Or the GCI that we have? I have nothing but good things to say about the B&M coasters that KI has installed. Remember, that before Cedar Fair took over KI, KI was one of the biggest parks in the country without a B&M coaster.

A pool, concert venue, and picnic grove that are only open during the warmer months, when flooding is not likely is likely the highest and best use. If flooding on the Ohio wasn`t an issue, then it would be more prime real estate. Flood insurance is not cheap.

I believe that the smoothness can also be attributed to the types of wheels. I believe that there are two different kinds of polyurethane wheels that can be used on B&Ms. I forget where I read this, maybe something that Shaggy had posted. One type can produce more vibration, but lasts longer. Another type that absorbs some of the vibration, but needs to be replaced more often.

I believe that you will need to call the park to cancel a reservation. I do not believe that there is an option in the app to cancel.

I would not want Six owning it. Competition probably a little too close for comfort. I have long thought that Herschend Family Entertainment would be a good fit. Or a local Cincinnatian that wants to see the park flourish and is not afraid to invest some money to bring it back. It will never be a mega park like Kings Island. But given the right owner and resources, it could be a small family park. Heck, given the resources, you could make an indoor FEC on top of a parking garage in the west lot (to elevate it out of the flood plain), and add some restaurants, etc for year round operation. Imagine having a Scene 75 type place adjacent to an actual amusement park. Combine it with a hotel, and you could have people staying on property. Wishful dreams on my part. But they could at the very least add in a campground and add back in some kiddy rides. The sister company to Coney is Leisure Systems, which licenses the Jellystone Campgrounds across the country. I would not be surprised to see a campground built in the coming years.

Yes, they lost a lot of company picnics when they decided to remove the rides. I still work down there doing some scheduling and assisting with things here and there. The rides side is currently very sad. All the ride pads are still there, just without any fencing in place. Storybook Pedal boats are still there, and open Friday, Saturday and Sundays. At the time the rides were removed, I heard a number that they had projected Group Sales to decrease by. I thought at the time, and still think that the number was overly optimistic. As Ryan said, most companies don`t want to book a company outing to just a pool. Obviously we will never get a true comparison because of COVID. The decision to remove the rides apparently came from ownership. I was certainly blind sided by the news when it was announced. In fact, the main reason they started adding rides back in the early 1990s was to increase the group sales business. That portion had tailed off in recent years compared to when I started at Coney in 2002. They have done some very silly things over the years, that if I owned/was in charge of the place I would not have done. For example, they came close to installing a Gravity Group wooden coaster way back in 2012. They decided the price was too high. You have to spend money to make money. It would have been a great ride. The ride would not have taken up parking spots under most circumstances. The station would have been where Eurobungy was located, with the lift heading out towards Gate 2, right along Lake Como. The ride would have turned, running parallel to Kellogg, right along the shore of Lake Como. The only time the park uses the grass between Kellogg and Lake Como is for sold out shows, or if they want to park people there instead of parking them in the West lot. Yes, they may have lost some spots for the coaster and its turn around for peak capacity events (and they would have had to find a new location to launch the July 3 fireworks), but it would have been a great ride. Some of the later ride installs were questionable. Como Cruisers, battery powered boats that cannot run if they get wet! Wipeout was an intense ride, but it didn`t really fit the target demographic of Coney of kids and families. Same goes for Topspin (which was a great ride, and I actually preferred it to Delirium), but it was did not appeal to families. I think had Coney received the coaster, and added things like a Flying Scooter ride, and a Zephyr type ride, things would be drastically different. My hope, and it is just that, that Coney can hold on a couple more years, and that the ownership decides to add rides back again. Or current ownership sells to someone that will be a good steward to the park and start to add rides back in.

I am kind of surprised that they have never added some magnetic brakes to the end of the ride on Flight of Fear. Seems like those would have less wear and tear than the pneumatic brakes.

I am fairly certain that the lights on Banshee in the queue and the uplights in the station were still working last season.

Are the lights in there even blue and white to match Orion`s colors, or are my eyes playing tricks on me?

I usually end up taking my glasses off if they start fogging up. I have heard if you wash your glasses with soap and water, that it might help with them fogging up. I haven`t tried that personally yet t see if that works.

Unless I am missing something, it looks like the Area 72 stuff is no longer on that site. Cool images of the Dodgems sign under construction though.

Please note that it did not say that a POV was coming today, just that they were filming it and it would be published "soon" on the park`s blog.

Realistically, it does not make much sense to open the water park for just one month. By the time they get all the slides filled, inspected and ready to go, there simply will not be much time left in summer before school`s start ramping back up.