When they ran Racer for WF it went down to 32 degrees or so. On the plus side, we can ride Great Pumpkin now when it's too cold for the kiddies.
Winterfest 2024
- Thread starter horsesboy
- Start date
I’ve said this before multiple times, but my observation is that Winterfest, like other park holiday events, is focused on lights, music, food, shows, and holiday-themed experiences. In my opinion, anyone judging it based on how many coasters are open is essentially missing the point. Moreover, for me, it is simply too cold to ride anything that fast, regardless. I doubt I am alone in this view.
I don't need more coasters—particularly at KD where the hours are so short and they run so infrequently anyway.
I would like to see them at least shake up the lineup a bit though. I get that doing so isn't the easiest given KD's current lineup, but hopefully Rapterra will change that and Timbers and/or Dominator can get 2025 off for Christmas.
I would like to see them at least shake up the lineup a bit though. I get that doing so isn't the easiest given KD's current lineup, but hopefully Rapterra will change that and Timbers and/or Dominator can get 2025 off for Christmas.
I will say that I'm bummed Drop Tower has been taken back off the lineup. I assume its inclusion last year was just temporary to fill in for Delirium's absence, but I wish they kept it. I completely agree with @Nicole that rides aren't and shouldn't be the focus of Winterfest, but Drop Tower was the only way to see the whole park lit up from the sky.
That’s a bummer. You could see the light show up the road too.
Considering there are still surely people showing up expecting every single ride to be open -- definitely were the event's first years -- having some reasonable ride lineup should be expected. People are still surprised how little time they have to ride them. Yes it would be to their benefit if tons of people show up for very little but it doesn't work that way. As well as groups of one such as myself primarily there to ride rides, often the selling point to at least some members of a family or other spending groups is the rides. Incidentally I'm planning to finally spend some money while there.
Right now we're looking at a major issue in their lineup as, in view of the weather forecast and schedule, the major coasters will probably only run a couple hours in the entire next 2 weeks. I would prefer to only come the warm nights or early but in this case that's a miss. They need to figure it out better. The year they got a freezing Thanksgiving week they shortened hours as soon as the forecast improved. This last week has been nice this year oh well.
I personally go to Winterfest for the lights and atmosphere. The shows are low quality (not the performers but the level of production)
However I believe this event relies on the rides to attract people.
Most Cedar Fair parks including Kings Dominion and Carowinds only market to thrill riders and little kids in the regular season. They have scrapped most live entertainment and do not install rides (such as dark rides, and transportation rides) to attract other people. Their limited customer base expects thrill rides and kid rides every time they attend the park.
Winterfest has things to attract other people and they do attend, but rides are necessary to make their regular customers attend
However I believe this event relies on the rides to attract people.
Most Cedar Fair parks including Kings Dominion and Carowinds only market to thrill riders and little kids in the regular season. They have scrapped most live entertainment and do not install rides (such as dark rides, and transportation rides) to attract other people. Their limited customer base expects thrill rides and kid rides every time they attend the park.
Winterfest has things to attract other people and they do attend, but rides are necessary to make their regular customers attend
Somebody let me know how Tinkers is this year. I LOVED the show until they moved it to the theatre (which I thought was a good move). But they altered the show, and added some of the most cheesy crowd interactions ever.
Just put 2018 Tinkers on the big stage. That’s all you have to do KD. Or atleast get rid of the audience interaction - the show is really solid otherwise but the forced audience participation is a tough watch.
Just put 2018 Tinkers on the big stage. That’s all you have to do KD. Or atleast get rid of the audience interaction - the show is really solid otherwise but the forced audience participation is a tough watch.
Unfortunately without the rides, the shows really aren't enough to carry the event on its own. The lights and atmosphere are great, but it's comparable to other Xmas non theme park destinations once you take the rides out
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My initial impressions of Winterfest 2024: it’s good but stagnant. Just like Haunt this year, it’s fine. There are a few dead spots and basically nothing has changed from last year, but the park still looks just about as beautiful as ever. It’s just hard to justify staying more than a few hours when it’s practically the exact same event as the year before.
That said, the food locations were desperately understaffed tonight. Lines were spilling way out into the paths all over the park. Most of the smaller locations were closed and the major locations only had one serving line open. I know KD already pays their employees a lot (relatively speaking) and the park faces some unique staffing issues given its location, but as someone who loves the park, I just know that these issues are going to give first time visitors a bad impression. I hope they can figure it out.
That said, the food locations were desperately understaffed tonight. Lines were spilling way out into the paths all over the park. Most of the smaller locations were closed and the major locations only had one serving line open. I know KD already pays their employees a lot (relatively speaking) and the park faces some unique staffing issues given its location, but as someone who loves the park, I just know that these issues are going to give first time visitors a bad impression. I hope they can figure it out.
Sometimes it's good to have to eat your words. I think what we may have here is ... a Six Flags! Dominator, best as I could tell from the funnel cake line, sent its last train around 8:20 in 36 degrees! My last ones were at 39, 38, and 37, according to weather.com. Maybe won't get as much if the park is empty, but it was quite the crowd.
It had significant audio issues that made it hard to hear during the 630 show. Appeared to be several returning cast members and not really changed at all. I also miss the original.
TT was going even after Dominator was shut down. I was very surprised to see that.
The event feels ok but stale at the same time with only a handful of light and decore changes. There were several noticeable examples of lights either out of not functioning as they should with some segments of lights clearly not even showning the programmed colors in places.
It's not horrible but given the almost full shutdown monty things shouldn't look like thus.
Culinary appeared to be significantly under staffed and unprepared for tonight. With long lines food shortages at times and drink machines not working or out of product including at the very start of the event. The quality of food has held up nicely so far though.
Over all I give the event about 7.5 out 10.
Xmas lights and hot chocolate and Dominator and TT is all I need to justify my hour and half drive lol
I decided to brave the cold and the crowds and hit up the park on Black Friday. In the past, the park wasn't too crowded, but it looks like people have caught onto Winterfest as a less crowded alternative to Christmas Town and the park was actually busy tonight. I arrived shortly after 6 and left at 930.
The lights are great as always, but like Christmas Town, the park did feel darker this year than in the past. I know many of the light displays were out, but I'm hoping the event isn't being downsized.
The petting zoo area is better lit now so I can see the animals. In the past, it was just atmospheric lighting.
I did catch the Peanuts show and the nativity show. Both were pretty good.
The event really does need new stuff. Add some rides, expand the light pathways, new shows, etc. Right now the event is still the exact same event as it was in the past, without the parade. With the event finally finding its footing and attracting crowds, KD really needs to consider expanding the event. Maybe with Rapterra opening next year, they could consider adding Jungle X to Winterfest in the future. I would love to see Kingswood being used for some sort of outdoor stage show.
The lights are great as always, but like Christmas Town, the park did feel darker this year than in the past. I know many of the light displays were out, but I'm hoping the event isn't being downsized.
The petting zoo area is better lit now so I can see the animals. In the past, it was just atmospheric lighting.
I did catch the Peanuts show and the nativity show. Both were pretty good.
The event really does need new stuff. Add some rides, expand the light pathways, new shows, etc. Right now the event is still the exact same event as it was in the past, without the parade. With the event finally finding its footing and attracting crowds, KD really needs to consider expanding the event. Maybe with Rapterra opening next year, they could consider adding Jungle X to Winterfest in the future. I would love to see Kingswood being used for some sort of outdoor stage show.
The dancing Santa in the Tinker show is one of the cringiest things I’ve ever seen at KD. Sorry but that show is just not good.
Had an amazing time at winterfest sunday. Park is about the same as it has been but thats not really a bad thing. The event as a whole feels like im going to a big gathering for lets say a feast vs Busch gardens where im going to a warm home to eat a meal. Both are really good. Haven't had a bad cup of cocoa yet. I will say the tinker shows audio is terrible, the mics cut in and out and they're way to quiet. The show is starting to get very cringy but maybe im getting older. I love how KD decorates the trees, it seems like a absolute nightmare to put up and take down so props to them. You really feel something is missing with winterfest. Busch has the skyride, train and just more indoor shows to see and expierence for families vs KD little pop up shows and no way to view the park besides walking. Uhhhhh best show there is by far the drummers and it's not even close. Extremely interactive and they just seem to have a blast doing it. All in all it's always more than worth the hour and half drive for me and the Eiffel Tower lights are just incredible. Everytime I look at it it seems to do something I didn't know it could even do.
Went tonight for a little bit. Wasn’t too terribly crowded but there was a noticeable sense of livelihood amidst the crowds that were there. I did notice some places where lights were missing(entrance plaza trees stick out like a sore thumb), but other than that the park is well-dressed. Hoping to return to the park at least one more time before the event ends.
it appears that Kings Island is the only park that actually improved or expanded their Winterfest this year. They added 2 coasters and a whole new section of lights themed to a 50s drive in complete with some old cars and working movie screen. They also changed out Cool Yule with a new retro-ish show.
Carowinds still does the lighting the best in the trees (denser lights) but there are several areas that had large trees decorated last year that have nothing this year. And the peanuts area practically has no lighting at all. Plus, they closed aeronautica landing. They did add Carolina Cyclone but overall it’s a reduced event.
It sounds like KD stayed the same from last year and is the smallest of the 3 events.
IMO These events need to be dynamic with changes or new additions get people back each year. Especially the VERY stale live entertainment. Lightning additions, adding a new attraction etc. Budget cutting reduced events will lead to reduced crowds.
Carowinds still does the lighting the best in the trees (denser lights) but there are several areas that had large trees decorated last year that have nothing this year. And the peanuts area practically has no lighting at all. Plus, they closed aeronautica landing. They did add Carolina Cyclone but overall it’s a reduced event.
It sounds like KD stayed the same from last year and is the smallest of the 3 events.
IMO These events need to be dynamic with changes or new additions get people back each year. Especially the VERY stale live entertainment. Lightning additions, adding a new attraction etc. Budget cutting reduced events will lead to reduced crowds.
I wonder if rapterra and pantherian will run next winterfest. I know Rapterra probably could but whats Pantherians operating temp?
I don’t know for sure, most larger modern roller coasters tend to cut off around the 42 mark. I would also be surprised if they run Pantherian during Winterfest anytime soon but could see the front half of Jungle X added at some point possibly next year just to add Rapterra but we won’t know that until later in 2025.