KI Peanuts Ride Names Announced

http://www.visitkingsisland.com/attractions/category.cfm?ac_id=39

Summary:

Fairly Odd Coaster (Beastie) = Woodstock Express

Runaway Reptar = Flying Ace

Avatar = Snoopy's Surf Dog

I really thought it would be worse. No word yet on Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle.

No word yet on Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle.

I'm putting in my vote for something Great Pumpkin themed.

Race For Your Life Charlie Brown? sheesh. The changes to the log flume and the inverted coaster are what's concerned me the most. The rides themselves will be the same, true, but both of those rides were so well themed and looked so cute under Nick's regime.

On the other hand, Snoopy's Surf Dog sounds like it has potential. I picture the Avatar guy replaced by a giant Snoopy in his boardies and shades standin straight up on a board and lookin' very cool!

RCMC: You dont remember that Peanuts film of the same name? Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown makes *perfect* sense for a flume ride.

But what I want to know is, with the re-dubbing of the kiddie coaster "Woodstock Express", will they ditch that awful purple and go back to the classy yellow of 80's era Beastie fame?

I think the changes sound pretty awesome, myself.

OMG, 2Hostyl, I had forgotten all about that. I wonder if everyone else has, too? Anyway, I guess it's a little less of a stretch...and maybe the ride will be filled with family friendly, hair raising close calls before Charlie Brown finally goes over the edge in his hollowed out log!

I saw pics of Woodstock Express' paint job. It was in shades of blue. No purple.

edit: second story down on Amusement Today.

2Hostyl said:
RCMC: You dont remember that Peanuts film of the same name? Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown makes *perfect* sense for a flume ride.

Not sure if you were around for the discussion, J, but that is exactly the theme I recommended for the new ride at CP. I still think it was a better idea than what CP ended up with....but they did....OK. LOL! ;)

Here's another photo of what will be Woodstock Express. You would think that it would be brown, but alas no.

http://www.kiextreme.com/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=932

Edit: On the other hand, I'll be much more interested to see what they change Reptar's green and yellow to.

So could Beastie be called Blue Streak - South with that new paint job?? :)

Id have to say, unless the Nick theme was compeletely Spongebob Squarepants, the Peanuts theme is where it's at! Nickelodeon is great, but theme parks cannot keep up with the everchanging network. For example, several themes haven't been seen on Nickelodeon for quite some time. The list includes but is not limited to, Rugrats, Wild Thornberries, Avatar, Jimmy Newtron, and Danny Phantom. All of these examples are cancelled themes of Nickelodeon's past. Many 5 year olds of today could never relate to these. Peanuts, while mostly created in the past, have remained a mainstay in family culture. Also, the well established theme is timeless. In my opinion, an area well themed to Peanuts or Looney Tunes looks neater and better organized compared to the array cancelled shows of Nickelodeon's past.

AJFelice said:
For example, several themes haven't been seen on Nickelodeon for quite some time. The list includes but is not limited to, Rugrats, Wild Thornberries, Avatar, Jimmy Newtron, and Danny Phantom. All of these examples are cancelled themes of Nickelodeon's past. Many 5 year olds of today could never relate to these.

All of those shows still run regularly on Nicktoons.

^^^ only if it has blue and orange trains...watch for it!

Reptar is now orange and yellow, IIRC.

AJFelice said: Peanuts, while mostly created in the past, have remained a mainstay in family culture. Also, the well established theme is timeless. In my opinion, an area well themed to Peanuts or Looney Tunes looks neater and better organized compared to the array cancelled shows of Nickelodeon's past.

But Peanuts is only shown, what, around Halloween and Christmas? Sure they still have the comic strips in the newspapers, but who reads newspapers anymore? ;) Seriously though, I think the Peanuts theme has a far greater impact on the parents than any current day children.

rollergatorwoode said:
Not sure if you were around for the discussion, J, but that is exactly the theme I recommended for the new ride at CP.

Nah, I missed that convo, but it doesnt surprise me that you would suggest that; RollerGatorWoodie: Freelance Theming Consultant. Seriously though, my parents still have drinking glasses from McDonald's with vignettes from "Race of Your Life". My favorite onehas Charlie paddling with the speech bubble stating "Why is having fun always so much work?", as apt a question as there ever was.

BTW: A bit of irony, "Race" was a Paramount picture...

The park has said that Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle will not be re-themed to Peanuts. They did say that Sally was coming in to do the work. It will still have guns though. Boo Blasters on Boo Hill has been one rumor that I have heard.

Let me clarify my point about outdated Nicktoons. Yes reruns are still running of those I mentioned, but access to them is really my focus. Rugrats is on at 6am and Thornberries are wiped out of existence. The others are cancelled in which no new espisodes have been made in quite some time. Most importantly, the basic cable package in many regions has one Nickelodeon channel which shows only their newest, most popular shows most often. To see these "reruns" digital package is needed. From personal observations, the basic package with the basic Nickelodeon is most commoly had in the majority of American households.

Yes, Peanuts are commonly "holiday themed" but their popularity has kept them on every holiday for years and made them very identifiable with families across America.

I look at it another way - only people with 'basic' cable service would not have access to those shows. I think that instantly makes them more accessible to the average kid than either Peanuts or Looney Tunes.

And the 'rerun' nature of the programming doesn't matter one bit - especially to the young kids we're targeting here.

Peanuts have been on (in every-once-in-a-while holiday specials) for decades, but so have shows like Rugrats and Blue's Clues. (well, Blue is closing in on two)

Even Spongebob is over a decade old and as popular as ever. And all of those shows still play on television more regularly than the one-off Peanuts holiday specials.

Peanuts may be in the newspaper comics (yeah, kids are looking at that), but the most viewed TV Show website (you know, where the kids actually look) is Spongebob. In fact, Nick shows capture three of the top ten spots in those rankings. I think the online presence is being sorely overlooked - kids have plenty of exposure to all of these Nick properties online.

Also just saw today that they're spinning off the Sheen character (from Jimmy Neutron) for his own new show later this year - making that franchise at least somewhat relevant again.

Nick is an ever evolving license - always with ebb and flow. Things will come and go, some will stick, they'll always be hitting on the 'next big thing' - I'd rather have my hand in that than a 50+ year old property for which new material is no longer created.

There is nothing more relatable to kids today that the various Nick properties. (I'd let one argue the current crop of Disney stuff like Phineas and Ferb is equal, but still think Nick has more overall that kids dig most)

Now whether or not any of that matters in terms of the park experience or drawing business or making money is a-whole-nother discussion. But to suggest that Peanuts or Looney Tunes is more accessible than Nickelodeon (even these 'rerun' shows) is to kids in that age group is laughable.

Wow.. I really need your job Gonch..

Sounds like a lot of TV watching going on.

I still think they're going to get killed in merch sales. Diego and Dora vs. Snoopy?

Besides, Thornberries and Rugrats are (comparatively) old. Diego, Dora, and Spongebob are the money. I like Peanuts, but I don't see how it can compete with toons that produce new content.