2020 Cancelled WinterFest

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Zachary

Zachary

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Sep 23, 2009
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Starting this thread out with a bang!

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You can check out concept art from Carowinds' WinterFest parade that debuted last year, here:

Introducing the All-New WinterFest Wonderland Parade!

The WinterFest Wonderland Parade is a Christmas parade brimming with dazzling displays, exciting performances and extravagantly decorated holiday floats!
www.carowinds.com www.carowinds.com

PS: There's more where this came from. Massive props to @RollyCoaster for his recent contributions!
 
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Zachary said:
Starting this thread out with a bang!

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.


You can check out concept art from Carowinds' WinterFest parade that debuted last year, here:

Introducing the All-New WinterFest Wonderland Parade!

The WinterFest Wonderland Parade is a Christmas parade brimming with dazzling displays, exciting performances and extravagantly decorated holiday floats!
www.carowinds.com www.carowinds.com

PS: There's more where this came from. Massive props to @RollyCoaster for his recent contributions!
Click to expand...

I was very curious about the parade at Carowinds last year. I did see a few youtube videos of the 2019 parade. Here are a few things I took away after viewing 2-3 of them.

The parade consists of 6-7 floats. Slightly smaller than the Carnivale Parade.
The floats were outstanding. I thought a couple of them outshown some of the Carnivale floats.
Most of parade performers were cast members from the Winterfest shows. I assume that 1-2 show perfomance times were dropped so they could participate in the parade. They did have 1-2 parade groups that were not show casts. Also, the atmosphere characters were either on the floats or walking in the parade.
I assume that KD will use the same parade path as Carnivale. Not sure if some floats will hang around the Eiffel Tower or they all drive off into the back stage area.
 
horsesboy said:
I hope that means they are also looking at opening up more of the park other wise it's going to be more of crowd and traffic flow issue.
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I still don't think Safari Village will be used for the 2020 Winterfest. If the 2021 attraction(s) are going in that section, I am pretty sure most of that area would be an active construction zone by that time. Especially, if KD decides to give the whole area a makeover for 2021.

I could see a slim chance of using the SV entrance plaza area and the path going to Planet Snoopy. That way all of the kids area could be open and they could use the SV plaza for the Nativity show and petting zoo. I thought that area was a little too cramped in 2019. Maybe Hungry Hippo or Outer Hanks could then be used for WF dining (indoor dining that is). As far as rides are concerned, I still don't see Stunt Coaster, Anaconda, Avalanche, FOF, or I305 being open.
 
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I could see Avalanche open if that area was used - I could see some sort of larger outdoor stage show over there if it isn't a construction zone.

Curious, does anyone know what the minimum temperature for Avalanche would be? I'm thinking it could be lower than 40 unless there brake runs are affected. Also, it could be ran with a small crew and I'm guessing maintenance isn't as complicated as the other rides.
 
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Jonesta6 said:
I could see Avalanche open if that area was used - I could see some sort of larger outdoor stage show over there if it isn't a construction zone.

Curious, does anyone know what the minimum temperature for Avalanche would be? I'm thinking it could be lower than 40 unless there brake runs are affected. Also, it could be ran with a small crew and I'm guessing maintenance isn't as complicated as the other rides.
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I am having a hard time seeing Avalanche being open for this year's Winterfest. With the Crypt coming Down within the next month or so, you will have another blocked off area to pass on your way to the ride the Avalanche this spring/summer. If this area is to receive something for 2021 and the Crypt Queue/Ride Area is needed for the attraction(s) going in, it would make getting to the Avalanche quite difficult during Winterfest.

The only thing I could see that might give access to Avalanche, during that time, is the park creating a temporary path to the Entrance/Exit of the ride. KD might have to do this anyway if the Crypt ride site and the surrounding area has to be prepped for the new 2021 attraction(s) during the summer months.

When the Avalanche first opened, the ride was very sensitive to low temperatures and would not open if the temps were too low. I think, during the late 90's to the early 2000's, the park went to a new type of wheel assembly/wheels. At that point, the ride was able to operate in lower temperatures. I don't know how low the temps can be for the ride to operate
 
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So I'd guess in that situation that they'd round up to 40 and just run it like all others. Oh well...
 
Zachary said:
Starting this thread out with a bang!

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.


You can check out concept art from Carowinds' WinterFest parade that debuted last year, here:

Introducing the All-New WinterFest Wonderland Parade!

The WinterFest Wonderland Parade is a Christmas parade brimming with dazzling displays, exciting performances and extravagantly decorated holiday floats!
www.carowinds.com www.carowinds.com

PS: There's more where this came from. Massive props to @RollyCoaster for his recent contributions!
Click to expand...

I just finished reading the Cedar Fair 4th quarter/2019 year end investor meeting transcript. It was stated in the transcript that 2 additional parks will get the Christmas Parade for 2020. So KD is one of those parks. My guess is that either Kings Island or Canada's Wonderland will get the other parade for 2020.
 
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mwhinva said:
I just finished reading the Cedar Fair 4th quarter/2019 year end investor meeting transcript. It was stated in the transcript that 2 additional parks will get the Christmas Parade for 2020. So KD is one of those parks. My guess is that either Kings Island or Canada's Wonderland will get the other parade for 2020.
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Wouldn’t surprise me at all if it was Kings Island. I’ve noticed that Carowinds, Kings Island, and Kings Dominion have gotten a lot of attention lately in the special event department (Haunt upgrades, Grand Carnivale, etc.), and since Carowinds debuted it and Kings Dominion may be getting it in 2020, it only makes sense to complete the trifecta and give it to Kings Island.

Zachary said:
WinterFest sounds like it has been a huge success at Kings Dominion so I really can’t say I’m surprised that KD is one of the first in line for upgrades. Maybe special events really can become KD’s niche?
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YES x1000!!! Super excited for 2020 in terms of special events... Grand Carnivale‘s return, the new summer event (Summer Nights?), the 20th anniversary of Haunt, and the supposed debut of the WinterFest Wonderland Parade will make for an AMAZING 45th season that is hopefully the best one yet!
 
Crunchewy said:
Every time they remove a coaster, add another parade. Done.
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Well, CF did say that Cap Expense was going to be reduced to 9% of total revenue over the next 3-5 years. But, that seemed to be related more to non-park capital expenses like Hotel refurbs still going on at Cedar Point; refurb on the resort CF bought in 2019. The report stated 2-3 years worth of refurbs to the Schlitterbahn parks to get them where CF would like them to be. The report stated that major attractions would be spread out 1-2 years further apart. (Ex. large parks getting major attractions every 4-5 years instead of every 3-4 years). This would allow CF to let all parks in the chain get something every year. Yes, an event/parade or a minor ride attraction.
 
According to the WinterFest website, Kings Dominion’s 3rd annual WinterFest is scheduled to begin on November 21st, 2020.
 
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