Sadly it looks like we won't be getting the two wooden floral carts back this year either. They looked very nice on either side of International Street and I haven't seen them anywhere else in the park since they were removed.

(Photo: Brad Perdue on KICentral)

I know its early, but it appears opening day may be a bit rainy. 

Again it's early but the forecast for Saturday looks hit or miss with a 20% rain chance. Early forecast also is calling for 13-15 mph wind high which is fairly moderate especially high up so that may affect the 3 tower rides. Remember to take forecasts a week out with a grain of salt. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/visitkingsisland/videos/1496369315185897/

Is this just KI using typical amusement park speak or is there a possibility the trims before the helix are gone?

26 minutes ago, silver2005 said:

https://www.facebook.com/visitkingsisland/videos/1496369315185897/

Is this just KI using typical amusement park speak or is there a possibility the trims before the helix are gone?

I was curious about that as well. The constant movement of the drone camera didn't help me to see anything clearly, but I didn't immediately see any trim brakes when I paused the video. Also, they had the clearance envelope device propped up against the railing at the top of the second lift hill! I do hope that they will replant some of the trees and foliage that were taken out for the rebuild. 

 

For my fellow webcam watchers: most of the major coaster lifthill lights that we can see (on Orion, The Racer, and Diamondback) have been turned on! The park also appears to be testing some fountain shows as well. I'd love to see the fountain show concept we saw during Haunt come back for the regular season and expanded to include something for a set of hourly daytime shows. No lasers (for now), but the lights in the fountain and on the Eiffel Tower are clearly dancing for a show. I think I can even see someone working on programming the show from a laptop in front of the park sign at the bottom of the screen. Have the Swiss flags above the Starbucks dining room entrance always been lit up?

Something else I noticed on the I-Street camera is that the medallions weren't installed with the colorful banners on the light towers. I wonder if they just weren't put up or if there will be some new ones coming this year. There are some special ones for the Food & Wine Festival and others for Haunt, but maybe we could see something around the 4th of July even though the park isn't having a multi-day event? The medallions on each light tower during the 50th anniversary were my favorite — especially since they had the ribbon shapes — and I'd love to see something similar come back.

I'm a little hesitant to say they removed them.  I feel that the helix would pull some serious positive G's, in kind of a bad way, with no trims.  

Also, there are hotter days in the summer where it runs kind of gnarly (even as a self proclaimed Beast fanatic, I admit it can have its bad days), even in the better seats, and in those scenarios, I'd rather the trims stay. 

Could be gone today, here tomorrow as they run more cycles.

On 4/11/2026 at 3:26 AM, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

Sadly it looks like we won't be getting the two wooden floral carts back this year either. They looked very nice on either side of International Street and I haven't seen them anywhere else in the park since they were removed.

(Photo: Brad Perdue on KICentral)

Don't put the cart in front of the carousel horse yet... 🤣 There are still a few days to get them out there. 

Thankfully the park added ERT....

Are fireworks confirmed yet for 10pm closes?

They haven't posted any more shows to the entertainment page yet, but I really hope we're still going to have nightly fireworks. Some of the choices we've seen from the park and corporate this year are really odd to me — especially when it comes to information release dates compared to other parks like Carowinds or Cedar Point.

21 minutes ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

They haven't posted any more shows to the entertainment page yet, but I really hope we're still going to have nightly fireworks. Some of the choices we've seen from the park and corporate this year are really odd to me — especially when it comes to information release dates compared to other parks like Carowinds or Cedar Point.

Illusionist Brad Ross confirmed he will be in the KI Theater at the beginning of the season! Here’s to hoping it doesn’t stay dark the rest of the season 🤞

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXE4I0nDXNz/?img_index=2&igsh=YTFwd252MHJjbWo4

Carnivale still mentions fireworks as part of the night finale. 

I say if they aren't going to do much park ran shows outside of Carnivale, then this would be a good time to do a Bands in Residence program to try and at least fill some of the empty spots for entertainment. 

Are we to expect some of the fountain lights out all season? These two set have been out every time the lights have been on. Do we also think the one set of led color lights on Grain and Grill swiss building got fixed from last season, or will just be turned off this season?

I think the park is still working on getting the lights around the fountain in working order. There's been one light tower and a tree uplight consistently lit up while the rest sit dark since the beginning of April. When they were testing the fountain show the front left jet wasn't cooperating either. The lights on the Eiffel Tower also looked like they were having some troubles a couple of nights ago, but they seem to be fine now.

Having so many programmable LED show lights can be a challenge to keep functioning, especially ones that are kept outside and are in hard to reach or annoying places. In personal experience, it only takes one signal pin to get corroded or lose connection for a light to completely change color or get out of sync with show programming.

So we are only a day and a half away from passholder preview how have they not released the meal plan items and menu for all locations 

I find that kind of ridiculous. With very little too no new food items announced for this year the dining experience is starting too worry me if it’s gonna take a hit this year. We shall see 

13 hours ago, KICP16 said:

So we are only a day and a half away from passholder preview how have they not released the meal plan items and menu for all locations 

I find that kind of ridiculous. With very little too no new food items announced for this year the dining experience is starting too worry me if it’s gonna take a hit this year. We shall see 

Typical every year and will probably post in blog a while from now.   Just look on social media for your answers.   KI medica does a poor job on this every year and for all the upcoming events and not sure why......

The monster has cars installed!

 

Just in case anyone here has forgotten the Passholder Preview Day times tomorrow, here you go . . I forgot and went looking for it.

Kings Island's 2026 Season Passholder Preview Day is Friday, April 17, from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., offering 2026 Silver, Gold, and Prestige passholders exclusive early access before the public opening on April 18. The event features previews of the new "Phantom Theater Opening Nightmare" attraction, early access to rides, and operating dining/merch.  From PR Newswire

New video from WLWT, showing new food at Grain & Grill, with Roasted Pork yum, and Alfredo Pasta yum again! New stuff at the French Corner too, here's the video. 

 

Breakfast Items at French Corner. Please make sure to check it out if you want it to stay around remember the only way that the food stays around is if it sells well. The breakfast waffle looked really good though.

I'm just curious if they actually open it at the start of early rides like Cedar Point does/did for the breakfast at Grand Pavilion. It'd be nice, considering French Corner is the only place that consistently has fresh drink plan coffee. Hopefully it's also open more consistently... felt like it was barely open last year.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18dFyiR32X/

Anyone else see this?

Happy to report that the music on I Street has been changed. 

3 minutes ago, beastfan11 said:

Happy to report that the music on I Street has been changed. 

Hot take: I will actually really miss the 50th music loop. I’m kind of sad they changed it, I hadn’t noticed when walking in.

19 minutes ago, beastfan11 said:

Happy to report that the music on I Street has been changed. 

What type of playlist is it now?

22 minutes ago, beastfan11 said:

Happy to report that the music on I Street has been changed. 

Really?! About time! What is it now?

24 minutes ago, BryanJay said:

Hot take: I will actually really miss the 50th music loop. I’m kind of sad they changed it, I hadn’t noticed when walking in.

I didn't mind the jazz, but I found it to be very repetitive due to the lack of variety of songs. That one jingle is still stuck in my head, if you know you know.

I really wish Kings Island would bring back the orchestral music one day.

Just now, WoodVengeance said:

I didn't mind the jazz, but I found it to be very repetitive due to the lack of variety of songs. That one jingle is still stuck in my head, if you know you know.

I really wish Kings Island would bring back the orchestral music one day.

So if no jazz and no classical what are they pumping on I-Street?