See a crane in the back of the park.

Anyone know what this is about?

 

It's hard to tell exactly where it is located, but I think it is either for

A) taking down Christmas lights or

B: putting Backlot's trains back on

11 minutes ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

 

B: putting Backlot's trains back on

For getting trains of the tracks I think they typically use an articulating boom lift and not a crane, but I could be wrong. I know Banshee for sure gets the boom lift don't know about BLSC. Also for taking down decorations and putting them up they typically use a boom lift as well.

My guess is that they're doing work on BLSC. They wouldn't need a crane that high to take down decorations...they'd need a boom for the employees. A lot of the decorations in that area likely would have been moved by forklift. 

On 2/10/2025 at 10:35 AM, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

It's hard to tell exactly where it is located, but I think it is either for

A) taking down Christmas lights or

B: putting Backlot's trains back on

Backlots transfer track is on the opposite end of the plot. Id imagine its either work on backlot or taking down lights.

My guess is that they're doing work on BLSC. They wouldn't need a crane that high to take down decorations...they'd need a boom for the employees. A lot of the decorations in that area likely would have been moved by forklift. 

I think they took down the lights off the tower.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

26 minutes ago, PKIVortex said:

I think they took down the lights off the tower.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
 

Yup!

Haha the crane looked further back than that! Thanks! 

If my math is correct, this year will be the 25th Halloween Haunt/Fearfest event (2000-2025, skipping 2020). Maybe we'll see something fun for it, maybe not. Dorney Park did Halloween Haunt V for their fifth Haunt. 

On the topic of the seasonal events calendar, I looked and it appears that last year they were released on March 4th. I wonder if we'll see them sooner or later than that.

KI apparently is having a rave.

Check out the I street cam here: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/live-video

I tried to upload a video, but it wanted users to download it.

 

 

That's nice of them to light up the Eiffel Tower as early as February. Maybe security did that to have some fun. I hope they take down the winterfest sign in front of the fountains soon. I think that's the only thing they forgot. 

44 minutes ago, Shawn Meyer said:

That's nice of them to light up the Eiffel Tower as early as February. Maybe security did that to have some fun. I hope they take down the winterfest sign in front of the fountains soon. I think that's the only thing they forgot. 

They still have lights on trees by The Racer, half a tree near Mystic Timbers plaza, and it appears various bushes. The Coney Elf Village LED tree is still it, but that's usually one of the last visible items to go. 

I wonder if we'll see any of the licensed characters from the Six Flags parks like Bugs Bunny or DC superheroes, maybe not as walkaround characters but perhaps merchandise in the gift shops.

A plan has been submitted for a $300,000.00 remodel of the Planet Snoopy restroom. Actual construction documents have not been shared at this time.

20 minutes ago, Orion-XL200 said:

A plan has been submitted for a $300,000.00 remodel of the Planet Snoopy restroom. Actual construction documents have not been shared at this time.

I'm not an engineer or anything, but that isn't a regular price to remodel the bathroom is it? I could be totally wrong, because I have NO CLUE how much that stuff costs, so let me know if you know different. As for that specific bathroom, I think it's great that they're remodeling it. I always use that one whether I'm getting off  DBack or Mystic, and it serves as a double-entrance too because it connects Rivertown and Planet Snoopy

2025 Early Ride Times

April 19-May 31: Banshee, Woodstock Express, Woodstock Whirlybirds

June 1 - July 31: Orion, Snoopy's Soap Box Racers, Franklin's Flyers, Snoopy Space Buggies

August 1 - End of Halloween Haunt: Diamondback, Mystic Timbers, Boo Blasters, The Great Pumpkin Coaster

May 24 - Sept 1: Tidal Wave Bay, River Racers, Salamander Sliders, Bluegill Lagoon

Seems silly to have only 1 coaster open early for the first 2 sessions.   Why not open Mystic/Beast as well to offer a little more variety.

39 minutes ago, mikejenkins1 said:

Seems silly to have only 1 coaster open early for the first 2 sessions.   Why not open Mystic/Beast as well to offer a little more variety.

I mean, they do technically have two coasters in each session if you count woodstock express or soap box racers. I think they try and isolate guests in certain areas of the park for early entry, but even then, they could add The Bat or Delirium to Banshee, and Racer or Adventure Express to Orion.

Sometimes rides like Banshee aren't even open during early ride times. I feel like more variety is needed, but they don't have enough staff.

Also if you have done ERT for Banshee,  RARELY is it open on time or even near it.  By the time it opens they dont even check for pass holders.   

It will open 15+ min late most the time and drives my daughter crazy waiting in line for "Early" rides.

 

41 minutes ago, mikejenkins1 said:

Also if you have done ERT for Banshee,  RARELY is it open on time or even near it.  By the time it opens they dont even check for pass holders.   

It will open 15+ min late most the time and drives my daughter crazy waiting in line for "Early" rides.

 

Last year I just skipped it and went to Sol Spin after seeing it not open. Then, went back and waited 5 minutes on Banshee. Honestly, just open The Racer or something. An ERT ride is no good when it's not open for that time.

 

5 hours ago, mikejenkins1 said:

Why not open Mystic/Beast as well to offer a little more variety.

The problem with running The Beast is that employees would have to walk the track earlier and wake up SUPER EARLY!!!

Yeah I miss early rides on Beast but yes it would be an early day for maintenance, OPEN Racer!  It has been redone and running better than ever!

I remember back in the day when the early ride time was an hour!  Thirty minutes isn`t much time, especially if a ride is having trouble waking up in the morning.  But I am thankful that KI still offers that perk to passholders.

After branching out and visiting other parks over the past few years, I'm very grateful for even KI's normal operating hours. The amount of parks that don't even stay open far past dinner time, let alone dusk is often disappointing

Looks like the International Street webcam is down now, so I bet they’re starting work on the outdoor patio area for the Kings Island Trading Company soon.  

The cam usually “goes down” right after New Year’s so folks can’t watch the disassembly of the fountain, tower, and I-street (just as the cam “goes down” after Haunt so folks can’t watch the Winterfest transformation). Someone probably forgot (or that person was let go) who was in charge of turning off the cam right after Winterfest.

We have such a beautiful park and are so lucky to have people that are passionated about the park in high ranking positions.

47 minutes ago, SmartCat7162 said:

We have such a beautiful park and are so lucky to have people that are passionated about the park in high ranking positions.

Whenever I visit with friends from out of town, they almost always mention that KI has a sort of park pride not found in many other places. Whether it's management, employees or enthusiats, we all seem to have passion for what we do/enjoy and are proud of what Kings Island has to offer. While certain other Six Flags parks may have some cool flagship coasters, the experience from the employees as well as the park as a whole often feels lackluster in comparison

1 hour ago, CoasterJack said:

Whenever I visit with friends from out of town, they almost always mention that KI has a sort of park pride not found in many other places. Whether it's management, employees or enthusiats, we all seem to have passion for what we do/enjoy and are proud of what Kings Island has to offer. While certain other Six Flags parks may have some cool flagship coasters, the experience from the employees as well as the park as a whole often feels lackluster in comparison

Dollywood is a good contender for this as well

Swapping billboards out on Backlot Stunt Coaster (grainy, but a worker is carrying one back to trucks):