Hawaiian Coasters 325

I feel like KI usually waits until like a few weeks before opening day to release their event/live entertainment lineup for the year.

There's already a thread about this:

Over Georgia will be getting a water parade as part of their Summerbration event. Maybe KI could follow suit? Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't a water parade on a survey a couple years ago? https://www.coaster101.com/2025/01/29/six-flags-over-georgia-announces-2025-event-calendar/

There was a plan to hold a summer nights event in 2020. I believe it was going to be in Action Zone. Carowinds did a similar event in 2019 in their Thrill Zone area. However, Covid messed that up and it was originally planned to debut in 2021 instead, it seems as if the park/corporate decided to go in a different direction.

I think Carnivale should get axed mainly bc I don't think KD is doing it bc of their 50th and CGA cut Carnivale at Orleans Place. I think 2025 would be a good year to introduce a new peak summer event at KI (ie Summer Nights/Summerbration). Oktoberfest I would love to see come, but idk if it would work as well as we think bc it would basically be competing with the Cincinnati Oktoberfest. Grad Nites I could get beind (even though part of me would be a bit jealous of those attending bc I never got an event like that when I graduated High School, Dang Covid!)

Since no one has shared it yet, here's a video update from today. They have really been moving rapidly on vertical construction. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they I believe started vertical construction a day or 2 ago.

From Kings Island's Instagram story. Construction has gone vertical! https://www.instagram.com/stories/kingsislandpr/3552854966305872985?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=MTB4c3NxNzh5N2Jidw==

Season pass preview day is scheduled for the 18th of April. Also unlike last year, the hours have been extended to being a full day event instead of just a few hours in the evening thing. Just an annual reminder to bring your patience cap with you as it will be the first day of work ever for many employees so expect long lines and slower operations than normal. https://x.com/KingsIslandPR/status/1882429362760286288

The latest construction blog from the park: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2025/january/soak-city-expansion-construction-updates

The commencement doesn't say 2026 though. It just says 2024 and 2025. The Orion NOC said "2018, 2019, and 2020 additions and modifications." The one filed in 2022 that mentioned B&M/Skyhigh ended up having nothing to do with 2024 as 1) the 2024 investment wasn't a B&M and 2) the NOC didn't say 2024 on it.

Take with huge grain of salt, but a new rumor has emerged that the 2026 attraction may be coming from Vekoma! Will be an interesting development to watch over the next several months. https://www.instagram.com/p/DE_jTgTxsVg/?igsh=MXRwbWI5c3N6Mjk0aQ==

A dive coaster. 8th grade me was excited about the addition of Valravn bc I had never been on a dive coaster before. Now however, I just don't find them that exciting as a thrilling multi launch would be.

Kings Mills Landing would honestly be a good name.

I have the same thought. Covering the whole lot would cost a fortune If KI were to do it, it probably would mainly cover the preferred/handicap/employee parking areas. If we're lucky, maybe the spots down toward the sign as well.

This has sorta been on my mind for a while and I think this is a good discussion to have. In recent years, we have seen a few parks including a few legacy Six Flags parks convert their parking lots into giant solar farms. With the recent merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair and the priority to cut down on certain extra costs, is it possible we could see these solar parking lots make their way to legacy Cedar Fair parks including Kings Island? It wouldn't really be a foreign concept here in the Cincy area as the Cincinnati Zoo has had parking lot solar panels for well over a decade now and it seems to work out great there. Obviously the cost to construct something like this in the KI parking lot would be pretty high. However, long term if it can cut down on energy costs, I think it would be a win win. I want to hear your thoughts on this idea. source for photo: https://www.sixflags.com/six-flags-magic-mountain-breaks-ground-on-californias-largest-solar-energy-project

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.

I would be okay with DC making its way to KI if they were to transform the remainder of Planet Snoopy (area not currently Camp Snoopy) into DC Universe. Imo DC comics would be much more recognizing to kids today than Loony Toons.

I'm back with another google map paint concept. This time it is more of an area overlay idea. What if the new "family thrill attraction" for 2026 is a full renovation of Coney Mall with 3 new Zamperla rides, a new quick service restaurant (would serve classing fair/carnival fried food), and a KI/Coney Island History museum. The rides I have chosen would pay homage to past KI/Coney attractions. With this concept, Monster would be retired and be replaced with a NebulaZ named Haley's Comet to pay homage to that past attraction. The next ride would be an Air Race that pays homage to Flight Commander which would be located to the right of the Jukebox Diner in what is currently a decent sized empty field. Then finally, the centerpiece of this new area would be a Zamperla family thrill launch coaster named Shooting Star. I know, a family thrill coaster is not what I'd want as a Vortex replacement, but just like with Cedar Point and Wild Mouse replacing Wicked Twister technically, if it's part of a whole area refresh, I would gladly accept it.

I believe KD is getting Gazillion bubbles as it sorta was teased in their 50th anniversary video awhile back. It could also come to KI too as the show is put on by more than one person. If bubbles doesn't return, I'd like to see Brad Ross come. He just did 2 seasons at Carowinds and I believe he was very well received.

Hold up? Is is confirmed Bat is leaving in 2025 or is it just speculation by another thoosie?

It's like that this time every year. They always take the back curtain off in the fall and then replace it in the spring.

Honestly a family thrill coaster in the Crypt building plus an update to Boo Blasters in the same season would be a pretty good investment.

Remember that Notice of Commencement is for 2024 and 2025 additions and modifications. I think it's very likely that it doesn't include 2026 construction plans at all. For example, with Orion the NOC said 2018, 2019, and 2020 additions and modifications. Now I'm very interested that Ride Entertainment is listed. RE does a lot of work with Gerstlauer and KCL Engineering. An infinity coaster was listed in a recent survey. Obviously an infinity isn't really considered family thrill so the odds are really low for that being the 2026 project, but what if in the very unlikely chance they're just trying to throw us off here and we're getting the infinity coaster after all, but KI just didn't want it to get out? Also looking at Ride Entertainment's portfolio, it looks like they do work with upgrading dark rides. And one of the options in a recent survey was an update to Boo Blasters. However, I don't see how a shooting dark ride is considered family thrill. Unless, maybe the park pulls a 2003 and adds a dark ride update and a thrilling flat ride the same year (ie Scooby and Delirium in 03). https://rideentertainment.com/lagotronics/

I have a feeling the crypt building is where we should keep our eyes on. If the park goes with a family thrill coaster, I think the Crypt building is the best spot for it. Imagine a well themed indoor queue line and then a dark ride section pre launch and then launch out into the woods and hug the terrain.

Which tbh isn't necessarily a bad thing imo. I'm fine with going 7+ years in between major thrill coasters as long as the park is still adding something new almost every year. I would be upset if we went 7 years between major thrill coasters and only got one or two new rides in that time frame.