http://www.KICentral.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=342

Things sure are coming along! I couldn't get any really great shots of the new Wave Pool, but it's certainly in the shape of a wave pool now... not just a hole in the ground.

Given Mr. Kinzel's Cedar Fair's penchant for generic names, it's a good thing it's a new Fun. I could just see it now: Wave Pool II: Not Just A Hole In The Ground (WPIINJAHITG for short).

I wonder if they will eventually repaint the watersides? That would be nice.

Given Mr. Kinzel's Cedar Fair's penchant for generic names, it's a good thing it's a new Fun. I could just see it now: Wave Pool II: Not Just A Hole In The Ground (WPIINJAHITG for short).

I like to think of units of time in terms of wave pools.

Person 1: "What year did The Beast open?"

Person 2: "1977, I think,"

Person 3: "Nah, man, It was 1979."

Person 2: "Whatever, it was like two wave pools ago."

Paint the water slides? I'd be VERY surprised if they aren't by Soak City's opening day.

The Soak City renovation is pretty extensive. I imagine painting will be in order. HUGE lounging area will be added too. There just wasn't much to see except for a clearing this time around.

Will the slides be painted the same colors as before?

Great Pics Ryan!

Seeing these pictures makes me wish that opening day for Kings Island was a week away, and not 85 days away! At least the Reds opening day is only 62 days away!

And of course the opening of Soak City is even farther away than 85 days!

Thanks for the update! Opening Day needs to get here fast. On the topic of painting the slides, I'd like to see the slides (the old ones at least) be painted something more colorful than simply repainted the same colors they are now.

Am I the only one who thinks wave pool 2 looks horribly out of place?

^ I was going to say the same thing. Then again, it's a pile of dirt. I guess we'll see.

Did they seriously get rid of one of the giant planters on I-Street?

Now that you mention it, it appears as if they did. I believe that was the one in which they cut down the trees within it at the beginning of last season. Although that one maybe farther down. Its hard to guage without seeing the relation to the buildings to the right.

Thanks for posting Ryan! I hope they are ahead of schedule with the relatively mild winter we have had.

Thanks for posting Ryan! I hope they are ahead of schedule with the relatively mild winter we have had.

You call this relatively mild? Last week we had a 62 degree day with all sun!

I would kill someone if they slowly removed all the trees on I-Street. Why did they even have to remove it.

*thud... thud... thud*

Oh, I'm sorry, that's my head hitting the wall.

Did they seriously get rid of one of the giant planters on I-Street?

Maybe they're going for the old I-Street look like this. Notice that there weren't planters there when it opened.

I mean I like the feel of how it actually looked like a street, with the lamps and the seperate "sidewalk" by the front of the shops, but to be honest it looks terrible without the large shade trees.

I wonder if the planters had anything to to with the overspray from the fountain.

The spot looks bare now but, I'm giving KI Management the benefit of the doubt because they're obviously focusing on beautifying the midways and they're turning out nice.

It's a shame that, for many visitors (it seems), International Street is just something they run through to get to the rides.

Maybe they're going for the old I-Street look like this. Notice that there weren't planters there when it opened.

I personally would welcome this back. I'm all for a more open feel. While I love trees and the shade, I-Street just seems stuffy to me.

If Mr. Ouimet wants to raise per caps, and he does, putting unique shops with alluring merchandise on I Street seems a no-brainer. Cedar Fair under Mr. Kinzel was far from a great merchandiser (or restauranteur or hotelier).

The impression about removing the planter is that the tree has been cut down, but it could also had been transplanted to another place. Kings Island has a top notch landscaping department and they have the expertise required to dig up the tree and plant it someplace else. But we won't know for sure until we see the entire picture of the area in question.

Honestly, I-street is tarnished by my first trip as an adult, in 2007. It stunk of dumpster horribly.

I love wooded areas but would be happy to see I-street opened up and shops utilized if it were done with class. It's an underutilized area with a tremendous amount of charm.

Honestly, I-street is tarnished by my first trip as an adult, in 2007. It stunk of dumpster horribly.

Anyone ever noticed the dumpster sticking up from the fence between Starbucks and Glass Shop? Bad show...

Honestly, I-street is tarnished by my first trip as an adult, in 2007. It stunk of dumpster horribly.

Anyone ever noticed the dumpster sticking up from the fence between Starbucks and Glass Shop? Bad show...

Nice Disney term

Maybe they're going for the old I-Street look like this. Notice that there weren't planters there when it opened.

Okay, hold up. Is that a symphony I see on the stage? Let's bring *that* back. I'd like some Bach with my soft pretzel. Or a swing band. Oh, mama.

^Just about every week end and some times during the week, they would have high school bands play there in the early years. Great times.

on a side note, where did you get your Tinkerbell in camo at? My daughter would love that.