purdude86

Saw the Partridge Family episode for the first time last year and it was so disappointing. Only a few minutes of the episode actually take place in the park. It opens with them performing a song in front of the fountain and then a couple very quick montages that last at most 20-30 seconds each. Most of the episode takes place at the hotel. You hardy see the park in it. The Brady Bunch one was a much more successful park episode i felt.

I don’t think they’d be the same level as Intamin honestly. They had some issues with SV but seems to have gotten ironed out a bit and a small delay with Railblazer but they have been consistent once ironing out stuff. Plus the company has a good track record overall. Intamin had a lot of issues that were also ongoing across the board with the chain and with other companies too.

One homage I’d love to see for a replacement coaster there is a station reminiscent of Vortex. Loved its look and felt it was an iconic part of the ride.

I could see Busch Gardens Tampa get one for the Sea World chain. Since they just got Iron Gwazi I wouldn't expect it for awhile but since they lack a traditional hyper in the park, or anything with good floater air. I think it would round out there line up well too.

I can see many water parks not opening this year since they usually have shorter seasons anyway. Plus not opening water park areas of other parks, like KI is that many fewer staffing and employees to hire, train, and pay and less areas to worry about restrictions and cleaning protocols for.

I agree a bit. Enjoyed the ride but always felt the layout was weak. Liked the premier and first drop and loop. Outside of that it was just a few helixes back to back

I can't wait to get out more and get back to normal but we will probably ease into it more. The big thing for me is I ant to try to build up a little extra for an emergency fund just in case we get a second wave in winter like is speculated. Want to be ready financially so don't want to go crazy spending money right away. I am greatly looking forward to IB reopening though. I really hope this new company can get the park more reliable on operations though. I haven't been to the park in a very long time and one of the big reasons was the spotty operations Id always read about on trip reports. Was afraid to make the long drive up there and spend the money to go then have half the rides I want to go on be closed. Always just talked myself into KI saying it was closer and had a lot more for the same cost, but really wanting to go back and experience the park and atmosphere again.

Would love to see more trees planted in general. I think that is one of the things I love best about the idea of a dark forest theme. It would necessitate planting a lot of trees to give it a forest vibe. I like he spooky theme in general but trees is definitely a big perk. Weeping Willow trees like those scattered around would be great for the vibe too.

Would love to see Adventure Express get a Black Forest re-theme to fit in better with Oktoberfest. Like the name Dark Forest Express but would recommend just changing it to Black Forest. Prefer the name Expedition but Express could pay homage to AE Mostly I'd keep it as is just plant more trees and theme the tunnels a bit with German related stuff and expedition supplies. Can add some sort of legend that could be told through signs in the queue to theme the final lift hill tunnel to. I'd build out the theming of Oktoberfest more too. Change Hanks Burrito Shack back into a more Bavarian look, )same with any other building around the pond there). Even if they kept the food the same have it's aesthetic fit the area. I'd also remove/relocate Slingshot and put a new flat ride in it's spot. And probably not feasible but ideally remove the ladder game and Coke stand int hat spot and add a second flat to the area. The two I would add would be a tilt-a-whirl or tea cups ride themed to wooden kegs and bring back the Der Spinning Keggers name. The second would be a musik express type ride like Hurricanw Cove at Marineland themed to the Flying Dutchman. I would kind of connect the area into Action Zone as well and give it a dark forest theme as people have suggested. but keep them separated to a degree. I would take the pathway running alongside Delirium's queue and put an arbor tunnel there like used to be over on the Rivertown Hanna Barbara border. It would fit both areas but keep them separated a bit too. Maybe add one along the path behind Festhaus leading from the Kings Island Theatre to the main entry area too so to get into the forest area you have to o through a wooded tunnel. Just have to rename and do some new paint for some areas and ideally plant more trees. If they kept Invertigo it could be renamed Spectre but I would remove it and Congo Falls to add in a new coaster. and ideally remover Timberwolf too for expansion. If Timberwolf left especially I would add a custom RMC there. It would have the intensity to match the thrill level of the area and keep inversion with the removal of Invertigo, plus the wood structure would help maintain the theme of the area. This would also allow room likely for another flat ride too. The rest of the areas I think have decent theming, just feel the park as a whole could use some more flat rides. Some other small changes would be to gut Boo Blasters and theme it to Peanuts to fit in with Planet Snoopy and give it something fresh. It could be themed to holidays and take scenes from the specials (or pick on like Great Pumpkin. With it being in the kids area I'd keep it as an interactive ride too. Then I would put a return of the Phantom Theater where the old Action Theater is now. Make it look like a big rundown concert hall with the grass area in front looking rundown and unkempt too to build the atmosphere. Think this could fit Coney Mall area while keeping it hidden a bit to not look bad for the rest of the area with it being hidden within Racer's turnaround. This would be more of a traditional dark ride where you just go past scenes like the original PT.

I agree the launch isn’t everything but if it’s a weaker launch would be lower speeds and not as intense of a ride overall. I much prefer the quick transition or Maverick and many RMCs to the hang time of stuff like Copperhead Strike. They all have fun aspects to them but I prefer the more intense fast moves.

Feel like flats are what the park needs the most.

I do think that a haunt themed around could make an amazing haunt. Walking through the abandoned theatre with all the spirits. It would be tons of fun.

I'm just guessing the CHAOS will likely be retired this year. With the new ride and new construction with what looks like maybe a food stand where teh berm was I think that spot will be too busy for a haunt entrance there. Only way I see something staying there would be if they alter the route and have you go in where you usually exit and leave out through the old entrance, then can move the queue off to the side.

This is still one of my all time favorite rides from the park. Remember riding it multiple times whenever I went to the park. Curious to see if there is going to be more blog posts about old rides or if this could potentially be a tease for a return of some form (though I'm sure that's just wishful thinking). My dream update for the park for dark rides would be to keep the interactive style dark ride in Planet Snoopy an theme it to Peanuts to fit the area more. Then add a new Phantom Theatre that's more of a classic style like the original and put it where the old Action Theatre is. Could be themed as an abandoned theatre on Coney Mall that is rundown, and it's location within The Racer turnaround would allow for it to have a nice rundown appearance outside and in the field/queue leading up to it without impeding the overall aesthetic of Coney Mall at the same time.

I had a thought this weekend for this potential coaster type. Given the concept of surf I almost wonder if this could just be their own take on a half pipe or disco style coaster. They seem to be popping up a lot of places and would be something that even smaller parks could probably afford to get from them. And these have a surf type feel to them and many have a surf theme, like Surf Dog here at KI. It would be great if it was a whole new concept and design but I could see this just being something as simple as this too

An Intamin blitz would be similar idea to BLSC but it would be a much grander scale and more intense. BLSC is a family coaster, so if it was like Maverick I think it would be different enough. Something like Maverick would be my top choice as that is a top 3 coaster for me.

I havent been able to ride SV yet but so far my favorite would be Maverick easily.

The strobe lights could be a thematic element but I'm guessing it's likely referencing the flash for the onride camera for photos. With it going off for every car it would have a strobing effect.

Agree that the name is short and simple enough to not need a nickname (like Banshee), but Ori was the first thought I had as well. Thne when trees grow back in more night rides could be Ori and the Blind Forest

I'm assuming this will be a multi-year/multi-area investment. The statement specifically says their largest investment plan. The last time they used that phrasing was when they announced the investment of $300 million into the resort over the course of 10 years. There have been talks about a second resort being added so this will likely be an announcement talking about that along with new additions coming over they ears to both Dollywood and the neighboring water park. I just think this is about more than a single ride or new land but an overall resort expansion over a certain time period. Other announcements have stated biggest/most expensive ride, or Wildwood Grove was states as most expensive park expansion. So the use of the word plan to me seems to indicate more aspects to it.

I would love to see it make a return and the 50th would be a great celebration for it. It opened for the 20th anniversary and closed with the 30th anniversary, so the rides dates do focus on anniversary years as well. I think that the location of the old Action Theater would be a perfect spot for it. Be an old theater being haunted somewhat, but think it would be a nice fit for Coney Mall plus being stuck back in The Racer turnaround they could do up a more decrepit looking building and lawn area leading up to it without impacting the overall visual appeal of the rest of Coney Mall with its rundown appearance either, plus the slightly secluded nature would lend to the abandoned feel. This would still leave Boo Blasters open to be converted into a Peanuts themed interactive dark ride. This would be best as it would give a great new addition to Planet Snoopy and give KI a chance to take back it's title and would give the park two dark rides as well. We could maintain having an interactive ride in Planet Snoopy, but make Phantom Theatre a more classic style ride like the original was where you watch animatronics and show scenes. Unfortunately I'm not sure how likely this is. I would be ecstatic to see the announcement but honestly I'm not holding my breath.

I agree with Homestar92 that home park would likely be the one you visit the most. It tends to be one closer to you as it's easier to travel to then something a long distance away. However I'm curious what the supposed 3 parks you would pass on the way to KI from Indianapolis would be. I consider KI my home park and live in Indy and can't think of any parks I pass on the way there. I live on the southeast side of Indy, and for the parks I can think of (Holiday World, Indiana Beach :(, Kentucky Kingdom, and Kings Island) KI is actually the shortest drive of all of them. And Holiday World actually being the furthest away.

I think the biggest issue would be as you stated that the existing Mean Streak structure can't handle the new forces as well. Kings Island I don't see converting any existing wooden coasters they have so that wouldn't be an issue there. Beast and Racer are classics and MT is new. Woodstock is too small to worry about as well. So I'd say it's a possibility still even with the SV issues for them to build more if it was right, they jsut might be more hesitant to do a conversion, but considering how many of those have been ok even that might not deter them. Twisted Timbers seems to be great for them.

I would love something like this. I have always felt a steeplechase type themed blitz style coaster would be great there. A blitz coaster would be fun and having the hroses/steeplechase theme would be a good mix for it being nestled between Coney Mall and Rivertown. It kind of fits the theme for both.

Holiday World is a fairly successful park with at least national renown. It's coasters have won numerous awards and it has an award winning water park. It's operations, upkeep, and general well being have been maintained as well. It's not likely going anywhere anytime soon. Indiana Beach was probably not that well known outside of the general region and some of the enthusiast community and never had the big staple ride to draw people in from all over. I have a lot of fond memories of this park growing up. Went a lot as a kid as we lived in Lafayette for a time and had family in Delphi so we were frequently close to it to stop by for a day. I haven't been in many years though. Have wanted to go back and check out some of the newer rides I hadn't ridden and just enjoy the more unique boardwalk atmosphere. I was just always hesitant about making the long drive up and having much of what I wanted to see be closed as operations seemed very hit or miss from many trip reports I saw. Always just ended up going to a bigger park like KI instead since it was just as close, if not closer, and about the same cost with more to do. Really wish I had gone this past summer. It's a shame they didn't get a final season, or even partial season, to be able to go one last time.