I'm a Ride Operator at Kings Island and we definitely do have staffing issues we just do a good job at hiding it. We send people to work different rides on a daily basis to help with the staffing issues and make sure every ride has a pretty even amount of workers. We do each have our home rides but if we are trained at another ride and they need some help we will 100% be sent there for the day.

@nattyj4277

9 ай бұрын

I'm a ride operator too, I understand the staffing issues it's pretty bad,but we do hide it very well

@nickkober9590

9 ай бұрын

We’ll keep killing it!! We all appreciate the heck out of y’all!!

@joshgraves789

8 ай бұрын

Crazy how with staffing issues, ops are still elite.

@Charlesbjtown

8 ай бұрын

Any idea why drop tower is always down?

@eggplant_kj1993

8 ай бұрын

@@Charlesbjtown normally high winds the ride can become dangerous if the wind speeds cause the cables to cross eachother

Beast is one of my favorites! Dinn got the opportunity to start his own company after building Beast, leading to building Texas Giant. Which was the first ever coaster given the RMC treatment!

@lightningboat

9 ай бұрын

Oh my god, it's the third code guy! And I agree, Beast is amazing!

One other option that would be a "standout" for the Vortex spot is a Vekoma Flying. This would pay homage not to Vortex, but to the nearby Firehawk that was taken out for Orion. As far as I can think of, there are no other fliers in the entire CF chain and it seems like Vekoma fixed a lot of their (and B&M's) problems with the 2000's flying coasters. Vortex's sport of land also has some decent elevation that would make a flying coaster really fun.

This was my home park growing up. And cedar fair has helped a lot. But damn , tomb raider was amazing and I was so sad to seem them destroy it when it became crypt. Everyone , who I went to high school with , has loved this park so much. It’s Ohio we don’t have much but we have kings island and we’re proud of it.

@linkfiedproductions2246

Ай бұрын

Couldn’t put it better. I guess we’ll take OSU though

kings island is my home park and i totally agree with the park pride thing! i love kings island and i hate seeing people skipping over it on their trips or top 10 lists, it's a wonderful park that deserves more recognition. i've been anxiously awaiting what will fill the vortex spot and i really hope it's something that'll give the park the recognition it deserves.

@bloodluba7288

7 ай бұрын

Same here my fav rides are mystic timbers the beast and if I ride banshee it will probably be my third

TOTALLY AGREE! A Mach Extreme Spinner is absolutely perfect for this park relative to the other Cedar Fair parks.

Kings Island is in my top 5 favorite parks and is ranked above Cedar Point. I never had a bad time here and had some of my best ever rides and experiences at any park.

Kings Island is only my second favorite Cedar Fair park behind Cedar Point. I have relatives who live not too far from here, and they're lucky to have this as their home park.

Besides rides, I feel KI also needs to build a resort hotel on property. Parks like CP & Knotts have a resort complex built around their parks. If CP wants KI to become a destination park they need to develop that. Like, slap down a casino resort right where that massive grass section is in front of the water park parking lot. Then heavily remodel Timberwolf to a modern concert venue (or replace it with an indoor one attached to the previously noted hotel).

@jcspotter7322

9 ай бұрын

KI did have a resort, the campground and cabin area that they just built. The problem was that it wasn't ran well, they had to sell it this past year

@mrphoeinx1036

8 ай бұрын

I would say we have great wolf lodge and that is a very nice hotel

@TheNinjaDC

8 ай бұрын

@@mrphoeinx1036 But that hotel is not owned or affiliated with KI. There is no integration like you usually see at theme park on site hotels. And a great wolf lodge in the area doesn't mean you can't build Cedar Fair operated hotels. Sandusky has a great wolf lodge, and a Kalahari resort hotel, but that hasn't stopped Cedar Fair from further expanding their hotels around Cedar Point.

ki is 100% the happiest park i've been to and i have been to disney and universal and other parks like dollywood

@joshuathebuckeyeartistbarton

9 ай бұрын

Clown

@CoasterCarter09

9 ай бұрын

@@joshuathebuckeyeartistbarton what

@Johnfallout0

8 ай бұрын

I can agree with this

Yes please. Been going to Kings Island since 98. I’d give anything to have an extreme spinner in my state.

A scary themed area around Banshee and a Mack extreme spinner are both great suggestions for the park. Would love to see that at KI!

I love Kings Island! I would love to see how it evolves in the future!

The rattle on diamondback is themeing

Banshee is the smoothest b&m invert I’ve ever ridden. And the vest restraints create a flawless, enjoyable ride.

I agree! I want Kings Island to have a spinner too!!!! They need that one unique coaster to add to their spectacular collection. A spinner would be so photogenic on Vortex’s plot.

I think it is funny how many enthusiasts universally come to two conclusions about KI future improvements: -Action zone should be rethemed to horror. -A Mack extreme spinner is the best Vortex replacement option.

@haileysimonds2532

2 ай бұрын

Now that I think about it, X-treme skyflyer could be vampire themed?

Kings Island is my local park (20min away). Amazing to hear that this park has been as amazing for me as it as been for you!!

I visited Kings Island in August. The park does have great operations overall. I got several rides on a bunch of the coasters. The one thing it's lacking is a true standout coaster. Maybe they could build an RMC version of Son of Beast.

@kylebrandon2009

9 ай бұрын

Man I wish

You absolutely hit everything I love about Kings Island. It has the best of everything to love about neighborhood parks and large chain parks. Definitely agree with an action zone revamp, I was just saying a spooky area would be cool to match bat/banshee. If they ever got an extreme spinner I’d be so happy, time traveler is one of my favorites. It would perfectly fill the gap KI has without taking anything away from Cedar Point.

YOU KNOW ITS THE BEST DAY WHEN PARKS PROS POSTS A VIDEOOOOOOOOO❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@3:46 I've always especially enjoyed night rides on Adventure Express. Such a fun mine train!

I live 15 minutes away from kings island and I have a gold pass and it’s awesome. They do a great job of making guests happy and keeping the lines moving and the rides are amazing my favorite is Orion personally but the beast is really good too.

Excellent video and I agree with everything you have said. And I never do that. Also, this is my favorite park in the United States. I like it much better than cedar point. Cedar point is just ride on top of ride which is a stellar choice but it has no theming. Kings Island have excellent coasters and they are pretty well-themed. I wish it were more trees at Kings Island but I'm sure that will come in time. Once they do all the other upkeep of the other areas and upgrade of the other areas, it is time for what he said needs to be done with a major coaster. I totally agree with this video.

Great video and all solid points. The only thing I'd question is if cedar fair really doesn't want to "one up" their other attractions. I totally get your point of view but on the flip side, other parks (BGTB Iron Gwazi for example) are going to continue to build coasters trying to be better. Kings Island is a big enough park to deserve a top tier RMC. It would also give people a reason to make a week in Ohio. Maybe do a few days at CP followed by a few days at KI. I would really like to see a "son of beast" RMC go in vortex's plot of land followed by a Pantheon esk ride go where invertigo/front entrance is.

After talking to many ride operators at Kings Island, I have come to single out what is going to happen in the next few years. One they take out timberwolf and put a launched inverting coaster there. Two they take out drop tower timberwolf and congo and put something there> But they cannot put anything in the Vortex plot because its too rough and bumpy, they need to smooth it out.

Love your intro, Park Pros

I think a Vekoma multi-launch or Mack Extreme spinner is the best fit for the Vortex plot. Nothing like them in the Cedar Fair chain. Nothing like it at Cedar Point to step on any toes

I love ki so much I went 2 times this year from northern Michigan. And going again in October for HalloWeekends. I’m obv closer to cedar point. But recently kings island has been alot more fun for me. Maybe cause the lines are shorter than cp and I just prefer ki rides more. Especially mystic Timbers. I also might just be burnt out of cedar point.

Completely disagree with you saying it outshines CP in other areas. I would argue coasters are something both parks are about even in. But live entertainment is so much better at CP. Also theres so much more to do at Cedar Point that KI will never have. I would also argue that while both parks have great atmosphere, but CP can't be beat because of the lake.

Home park is Dollywood and I always try to visit Kings Island twice a year. I love the park

A Mack Extreme Spinner would fill so many voids in the line-up: Spinning Multi-launch A modern sit down coaster that goes upside-down with lap bars Interesting/unique inversions Ejector Airtime on a steel coaster Not to mention Cedar Fair's great relationship with Mack and there only being one other of this ride type in the country hundreds of miles away Such a perfect fit for Kings Island

Pls pls do Hershey park Btw awesome intro love the music❤❤

Gosh I love time traveler. It would make me SOOOOOO happy if Kings Island did this

Love it, spot on because I too was thinking of a spinning Mack Rides Coaster. My question is this, could you see Cedar Fair create a banger for Kings Island in 2025 to go along with Top Thrill 2 and create an Ohio Coaster Enthusiast Deal where they work out both parks for a special price? This would be a banger deal that would establish Ohio as the best state for Coasters - not Florida (which will be great marketing to educate the GP). I'm sure I'm reaching at straws, but if I were Cedar Fair, this would be my strategy going in on getting returns on Top Thrill 2 and the Next King's Island banger in 2025 or 2026.

I was thinking we need a clone of X2 where vortex was. Definitely like your idea

@chekherjoy

9 ай бұрын

Yes! I want X2 to be closer to me in Ohio. But also an axis coaster would be cool.

Never click faster than when park pros uploads a new video

KI is definitely my favorite park in the country and maybe the world. Other parks have better lineups, especially top heavy parks, but I’m still taking KI for all the reasons explained in the video. Ride to Happiness is in my top 5 and if KI got anything on that level I don’t think there’s much room for debate that it’s the best regional park for sure

With ki as my home parking love it

While I'm not a fan of spinning, I think you're probably onto something with mack rides. I do however think it could also be a new Vekoma super boomerang. Personally, since arrow had record breaking coasters sitting on that plot of land for almost 40 years, I'd love to see a huge Axis coaster go in.

its weird, kings islands is by attendance pretty much close to cedar point , al while not having onside resorts and having less operating days (while being in a better situation to have more days open then cedar point considering location weather etc) i wouldn't be surprised if kings islands will become the next flagship park for the post merger CF/SF corp. Its an amazing park with still so much potential, i expect that they will heavily invest in Kings islands over the next ten years, adding a hotel/resort , expand the park by area , operating days , add a couple of new coasters and dark rides to make it a truly a multiple day resort. The future of this park is going to be bright

@jordydejong3376

4 ай бұрын

also a vekoma tilt or launched multi looper or/and a vekoma flying coaster would be an amazing fit for this park

I have to respectfully disagree with your theory that CF is unwilling to upstage one of its flagship attractions at other parks. They did this with the B&M Hyper, Invert and Dive in recent years. I feel Orion was an outlier because according to rumor, it originally was a planned hyper for CAGA, but was reconfigured for KI. My guess is it came up smaller than Fury because they wanted to stay close to the hyper budgeted amount.

@bigblueamusementproductions

9 ай бұрын

You are pretty much correct on that. However, according to the book "Kings Island: A Ride through Time" it was stated that the park thought going too big would be too intimidating for some guests and they wanted it to appeal to a broader audience. Also they wanted it to be unique to the park and take advantage of the land topography so that's why they went with a 300 foot drop with a 287 foot lift.

Just rode the banshee, shit was smooth. Diamondback rattles

@cocojanette

9 күн бұрын

Rattle on diamondback is called THEMING

Well, I have an idea for a ride that won't copy anything else at a Cedar Fair park: How about an S&S Axis coaster!

Ki pays so much I’m not surprised then are never understaffed

Mystic Timbers is definitely my favorite at KI!!

I’ve said this park deserves a world class coaster, for the past two years now! And the coaster I think would do that was the Mack extreme spinner! I hope they do that park justice with their next coaster selection! It certainly deserves it! It deserves a huge investment like an intamin multi launch or a Mack extreme spinner! It does and I think their return on investment, would certainly show in spades!

I agree on everything except kings island having better food and beverage than cedar point. Cedar point was better last year with the addition of the farmhouse and the grand pavillion addition makes it not even close. You are completely right on park pride and that is why we’ve never had a bad visit to kings island. Kings island is also run a lot better. The staff and training of staff there blows away cedar point. Also your analysis of coasters is spot on too. They always play second fiddle to cedar point and if they get a record breaker it has to be a different model or something cedar point has had a long time. Really hoping kings island or cedar point get an extreme spinner. Not picky on which one. If cedar fair ever builds with intamin again, a blitz coaster could make sense because maverick is almost 20 years old. Kings island got banshee which blows away raptor in stats but at the time it was built raptor was almost 20 years old.

The 1st time I went to an amusement park in the modern age was when I visited Cedar Point May 21st through 26th 2018 when I was 48 years old. Since then I've visited many others but the only one as good was Kings Island in June 2023 due to better operations. Let's just agree that Cedar Fair is the best amusement park (not theme park) chain and that Cedar Fair works best in Ohio. I'm just glad you agree that Kings Island and Cedar Point are the best two amusement parks I ever visited, and also that Kings Island has beaten Cedar Point every year stating in 2020 when Cedar Point allowed Covid to make them worse than Kings Island. Since then Cedar Point has never recovered enough to be a better park than Kings Island. My favourite coasters at Kings Island are 1: Diamondback; 2: Orion; 3: Banshee; 4: Mystic Timbers; 5: The Beast in row 17; ALL coasters in the back car on the right side. This park could use a Mach extreme spinning coaster to beat Ride to Happiness. Your wishes aren't at all unrealistic, which I can't say for most coaster 'thusies. I greatly appreciate that. Thanks for posting!

Flying Ace Aerial Chase just got repainted at the end of 2021, so I'm surprised they are painting it again.

We were just there,night ride on banshee,day ride on diamond back,sunset ride on adventure express,day ride on mystic tembers,and day ride on backlot Stunt coster

I go to kings island regularly and I believe the reason they took down vortex and haven’t put anything there yet is because it was built on marsh land and vortex started sinking into the ground

KI gotta be the best homepark the waits arent crazy most of the time and all the major rides are extremely re-rideable

I agree with the Beast! They have slowed it down considerably. Back in the early 80s I personally rode it when they decided to not slow it down at certain parts of the ride. It was hitting 70mph. And also they slowed it down once and ran the train backwards. That was very unsafe. Racers was also 1 was backwards. They also slowed it down. It's my local park. I have been all over the world. It's KI is definitely top 5. Just my opinion!!

As someone who lives in Columbus (Ohio) I see this as a win

14:25 Don't you dare remove Invertigo. It's the last of its kind and it pulls the most G-force in the park Secondly, maybe to be more realistic for that Vortex plot, they can call Mack or Gerstlauer to build a large inverting coaster that intends to beat the world record for inversions at 15 inversions. Cedar Fair has floated that they want to try and beat that record at some point. Vortex's plot is big enough for them to accomplice this easily.

if i want to go to cp for the first time, what should i get?

I really hate that kings island is in ohio. It always seems like cedar fair shoots them down on almost any world class rollercoaster they want to build because of the fact that cedar point is in the same state and supposed to be the “roller coaster capital of the world”.

@legendwingz0161

9 ай бұрын

With you on that brother. Maybe we’ll get lucky in ‘25.

@bigblueamusementproductions

9 ай бұрын

Diamondback, Orion, Mystic Timbers, and Banshee are all world class coasters lol. Not every coaster has to be Steel Vengeance or Ride to Happiness.

@Nxkamxbxms

9 ай бұрын

@@bigblueamusementproductions while they are extremely great rides, they are not world class. Regular People do not come from around the world to experience Orion. The only rollercoaster I would consider to be world class at kings island is the beast, because it’s the second longest roller coaster in the world.

@legendwingz0161

9 ай бұрын

@@Nxkamxbxms you happen to be right. It’s not that any of them are bad, but show me the person that traveled internationally for ORION. Then go and do the same for Steel Vengeance, Maverick, and so on.

@Nxkamxbxms

9 ай бұрын

@@legendwingz0161 exactly

We need a hybrid or drop coaster. I kind of hate that kings island is the less liked of the parks by cedar fair

I definitely rank it higher than CP, though, I am fortunate to have both parks so close to my home.

❤ I love kings island

Kings island needs an intamin launch coaster but since CP is petty and holds grudges against companies who build them exactly what they ask for then get pissed when problems show up we are gunna be stuck with BM,Vekoma and Zampera

@legendwingz0161

9 ай бұрын

Preach.

There’s definitely a sense of pride in the park, and that’s why it really stands out.

Kings Island is the GOAT

KI needs a good multi launch coaster.

I think the park could use a grsat dark ride, and then for theit vortex replacement, so kind of launched coaster. I kind of lean towards something like a Copperhead Strike. It would be different enough from Maverick and the two launched coasters at KI. I definitely think KI is one of the better parks in the country.

I’m with you on KI. I prefer it to CP any day. The only thing CP has over KI imo is quantity of coasters and flat rides. KI does everything else better. Instead of a horror theme perse, how about go with a mythical flight/air theme: Banshee and bat already fit in. Could retheme delirium as the bell tower. Add a huss jump or zamperla air race to the area and theme it as a unicorn or griffin. Remove Congo falls and invertigo and add the front gate coaster and theme it as the manticore or gargoyle. Or use Icarus.

Kings island could have a big s&s launch coaster as well

I think a new gen vekoma should be a worthy replacement for vortex and get more land for a ground up rmc hybrid (there woodies are too iconic to be replaced)

Kings island is my home park

I love KI so much. I feel like not even cedar point will be better than it. Sure, they have Steve, Maverick, and Millie, but KI just seems to have the more complete coaster collection.

Picking up where theme park predictions left off💀💀

I kinda disagree with the Intamin blitz thing. Sure, there is maverick, but that park also has freaking steel vengeance and if people are gonna go to CP from around the world, there is a good chance they’d go to KI too since it’s not far away.

Imagine if they had a NASCAR race at Kings Island and/or Cedar Point

What ever Coaster t is i just want it to have a drop track!

Action zone should be renamed to a city area since theres a bunch of tall rides there.

If KI built a ground-up RMC on the level of Arie Force 1 in the old Vortex plot of land, it would get harder to say they’re not the best amusement park in the country.

God I love KI!

ki is my home park

I think KI would have a better chance at being one of the best in America if Orion was actually a noteworthy coaster or if they had a unique or standout coaster.

They should bring the Skyride back new pavers added under the Eiffel Tower and new restrooms\changing area near Tidal Wave Bay.

Been my home park my entire life. We were both born in 1972. Kings Island to me is only worth a visit once every few years at best, and this is coming from someone who had a pass every year for decades. It is so sterile and corporate, all the fun and randomness is gone. Boring. And even with all its new coasters, it is still 5+ years behind where it should be. I will drive for hours just to get DolllyWood, Ceder Point, KennyWood or even the 7 hours needed for Six Flags Great America outside Chicago before I would bother to drive the 15 minutes getting to Kings Island. Yes, CP and SFGA are also both very corporate feeling parks as well, but they both still have what King Island is missing. FUN, not once in all my visits to CP or SFGA have I ever left angry or disappointed. Can't say the same for Kings Island, especially in the last 10 years or so.

Ki is not getting back to back coasters so put this out of your mind. The SF/CF merger will no doubt put all original cap ex plans on hold.

I only visited it once back in may. To call it the best seems a bit Generous! All parks within the country and the world each have potential to offer successful Innovation and Creativity!

Invertigo will do almost 6gs in the back row. 5.9x - this is the highest I know of in existence since 6g is the limit as per modern standards.

My concern is CF letting KI even GET a world class coaster. Even if Orion wasn’t supposed to be the king, a corner of me just doubts that CF would do anything that would let us surpass CP in ANY capacity. I hope we do, and as a local and enthusiast I’m especially invested in what they do next. All that said I’m excited. I honestly hope the go with an insane Intamin personally, a spinner would be my 2nd choice. But again, do we get the budget for ‘25 to make that dream come alive?

@bigblueamusementproductions

9 ай бұрын

2025 already has strong rumors for Kings Dominion and Canada's Wonderland. With KI getting a family coaster in 24, I think the next big coaster (likely Vortex replacement) is pushed to 2026/2027.

@legendwingz0161

9 ай бұрын

@@bigblueamusementproductions true, but they’ve also said a timeline of about 5 years between large investments, which make it 25.

@bigblueamusementproductions

9 ай бұрын

@@legendwingz0161 that's basically minimum though. Remember TT2 is the first big coaster for CP since Vengeance in 2018 which is a 6 year gap.

@legendwingz0161

9 ай бұрын

@@bigblueamusementproductions fair, but Cedar Point has some bigger problems with that than KI does. (Land *cough cough*)

KI needs RMC hybrid

I disagree with the entrance. It is so classic. Not many parks have that grand entrance like ki has. Walking through a slight tunnel to see international street is amazing. However, international street could use help and offer a taste of different countries. That is a change I could get behind

And they need a front gate refurb… badly!

They need an Intamin acceralator model

cedar point still is better. I think the only thing cedar point needs for coasters is another Woodie. also more trees and better animations.

Bro I love your vids I post the same content

I was a KI season pass holder and no it is not better than Universal Orlando lmao.

@ParkPros

9 ай бұрын

Universal is a theme park.

@cameronholland9498

9 ай бұрын

@@ParkPros that’s true but the USA Today list article title is “Which theme parks do our readers love the most? Here are the 10 best in the US”. They are click baiting. I love Kings Island and it is truly one of the best amusement parks but universal is a whole different league of technology

And even the new flat ride soul spinner

I’d love to see a trex in the empty plot

KI IS THE BEST

Well it's been considered so underrated it's becoming overrated (we're starting to see similar reactions to Hersheypark, Dollywood, and Knoebels). For a few years now, I think a lot of people have been using Cedar Point's high profile against them in a lot of ways (It's like teasing the hottest girl in the school for having a mole on her arm). Yes, while competition has obviously stepped up tremendously in the last 5-10 years, I still haven't personally seen enough from Kings Island (in any of my last 5-6 visits) for me to rank it higher than Cedar Point just yet. In the majority of the cases, whenever I've seen people rating KI over CP, it's been primarily based on extremely circumstantial, cherry-picked, and preferential-based experiences and not necessarily based on a steady and objective lens (e.g., value, quality, rides, entertainment, atmosphere, service, food, etc). Please don't get me wrong, Kings Island is great and everything, but I do feel like people have been slightly exaggerating its strengths to purposely knock down its sister park down a notch in a straight head-to-head.

Kings Island imo is already the best amusement in America for the same reasons mentioned in this video.

I enjoy my time at KI more then CP

Yes, all action zones across the chain have to go!