Here are some photos of the two new cars that were running today. Steering wheel is on the left but gas pedal is in the middle. The new cars look great!
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I hope we see more added to increase ridercount for HOS and WF. These are like the first new cars in forever that I know of so hopfully we get an even better attraction for the events this year.
Blue Ridge Tollway received some love in the station. It's looking great!
I noticed yesterday that they put up retro advertisement signs all along the route.
Not sure if they were there at some point in the past, but I don't recall having seen the ride in this state before.
Not sure if they were there at some point in the past, but I don't recall having seen the ride in this state before.
Just to let you know that Blue Ridge Tollway is getting more detailed theming. It looks like KD is focusing more on other areas of the park.
BRT - Theming
BRT - Theming
Coasterguy95
Intimidator 305 enjoyer, I make yt vids, watch em!
Seems like cedar fair is starting to focus on theming a lot more. Never really saw them as a detailed theme chain but I’m here for it. I like it.
I think it’s clear that KD’s and CF’s leadership are really all-in on theming at this point. In the past couple of years, CF’s CEO Richard Zimmerman (who, incidentally, used to be KD’s GM) has talked in investor earnings calls about how they think a well-rounded, high quality guest experience is the key strategy for CF’s long-term success, and he’s specifically said that more immersive themed experiences are part of that strategy. For a park like KD, which already has the underlying bones of a theme park and which competes with one of the best-themed (for now) theme parks in the country, leaning heavily into theming just makes sense.
And when KD’s current GM, Bridgette Bywater, first started in her role in January 2021, she said in her first interview as GM that she envisions KD as becoming a theme park:
Before coming to KD, Bridgette spent her entire career at Worlds of Fun, which is already one of CF’s best-themed parks (and she may also have been influenced by nearby Silver Dollar City). It’s clear that she really cares about making KD an experience, not just a place with coasters.
Add in the incredible work by Tony Turner, KD’s Creative Services lead who’s led everything from the Jungle X theming to the Grizzly Gulch and Country Kitchen redos to Winterfest’s decor to these new projects in Old Virginia, and there’s no doubt that all of KD’s leadership really does see theming as the path to KD’s future. And I’m thrilled to see it.
And when KD’s current GM, Bridgette Bywater, first started in her role in January 2021, she said in her first interview as GM that she envisions KD as becoming a theme park:
Before coming to KD, Bridgette spent her entire career at Worlds of Fun, which is already one of CF’s best-themed parks (and she may also have been influenced by nearby Silver Dollar City). It’s clear that she really cares about making KD an experience, not just a place with coasters.
Add in the incredible work by Tony Turner, KD’s Creative Services lead who’s led everything from the Jungle X theming to the Grizzly Gulch and Country Kitchen redos to Winterfest’s decor to these new projects in Old Virginia, and there’s no doubt that all of KD’s leadership really does see theming as the path to KD’s future. And I’m thrilled to see it.
I had no idea that Zimmerman had KD roots, that’s awesome and encouraging to learn - almost like we’ve got inside man at the corporate level to advocate for the park among the whole roster of parks.
/I know you can’t answer this with certainty, but do you think KD will see a Racer repaint for its 50th? I can’t wait for the TLC to spread all the way across the park, making things look as pristine as they did in the 70s.
Considering that KI did one for their’s, I wouldn’t be surprised if KD does as well.
Now if only they can get it to race consistently… the last few times I’ve gone and both sides have been open, they have just been dispatching when the side is clear and not dispatching both at the same time. Basically, you got a race by luck.
It works perfectly at producing a 2-row lead on North, producing a lead of over one train length. They don't have to dispatch both sides at the same time.
The lone exception of all my rides in the last 2 years was a ride last year with Coaster Studios on board, which for some reason was a good race -- ??
It it’s there, it wasn’t working. Most other dispatches the train was clearing the lift before the next was dispatched.