Tower Topics

By Tower TopicsLeisure

Tower Topics episodes

September 09 Kings Island 2027: Nothing New — Are You Still Renewing?
Does Kings Island need a new ride to convince you to buy or renew a 2027 season pass? With no major new attraction announced for 2027, we debate what really drives season pass value at Kings Island. From The Beast, Diamondback, Orion, Mystic Timbers and Phantom Theater to food, cleanliness, entertainment, festivals and overall park improvements, is the current lineup enough?
Join Don Helbig and Ryan on Tower Topics as we discuss Kings Island 2027, season passes, new attractions, park investment and what guests really want to see next.
Subscribe for more Kings Island and amusement park news, opinions and discussions.
43 min
September 07 Kings Island Is Closed — So Where Are We Going?
Kings Island is closed for two weekends in September—but that doesn’t mean your amusement park season has to stop! Don Helbig and Ryan Suhr discuss the best regional parks to visit while Kings Island is closed, including Cedar Point and its 2026 HalloWeekends event.
From Steel Vengeance and world-class roller coasters to haunted mazes, scare zones, live entertainment, and the new Diablo: Inferno experience, find out why Cedar Point could be the perfect September road trip for Kings Island fans.
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Check out the podcast version: https://linktr.ee/towertopics
Leave a voicemail or text message: 513-399-7538
Listener Questions: Hosts[at]TowerTopics.com
Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@towertopics
Check out Don's blog: http://www.themeparksbydon.com
Follow our Field Reporter, Noah: https://www.youtube.com/@NoahTheFieldReporter
Want to make podcasts like ours? Check out our referral link through Streamyard to find out how! https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5805020313944064
34 min
September 04 What Do Guests Really Think of Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare?
Five months after its opening, what are guests REALLY saying about Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare at Kings Island? In this episode of Tower Topics, we dive into guest sentiment surrounding Kings Island’s newest dark ride, from nostalgia for the original Phantom Theater to the animatronics, physical sets, music, details, and overall ride experience. Is Opening Nightmare a worthy successor? We break down what guests love, what they don’t, and whether the attraction lives up to the hype.

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Become a Tower Topics Youtube member for great benefits and to support the show: https://www.youtube.com/@TowerTopics/join
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAs58dzCc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Check out the podcast version: https://linktr.ee/towertopics
Leave a voicemail or text message: 513-399-7538
Listener Questions: Hosts[at]TowerTopics.com
Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@towertopics
Check out Don's blog: http://www.themeparksbydon.com
Follow our Field Reporter, Noah: https://www.youtube.com/@NoahTheFieldReporter
Want to make podcasts like ours? Check out our referral link through Streamyard to find out how! https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5805020313944064
33 min
September 02 Labor Day Weekend: Summer’s Last Ride
How did Kings Island’s 2026 summer season really go? Don Helbig and Ryan Suhr break down the biggest wins, disappointments, surprises, food & beverage changes, dining plan controversy, entertainment, Grand Carnivale, and the massive success of Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare. Was 2026 a good season for Kings Island—or a mixed bag? Find out in this episode of Tower Topics!
Online Store: http://store.towertopics.com
Become a Tower Topics Youtube member for great benefits and to support the show: https://www.youtube.com/@TowerTopics/join
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAs58dzCc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Check out the podcast version: https://linktr.ee/towertopics
Leave a voicemail or text message: 513-399-7538
Listener Questions: Hosts[at]TowerTopics.com
Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@towertopics
Check out Don's blog: http://www.themeparksbydon.com
Follow our Field Reporter, Noah: https://www.youtube.com/@NoahTheFieldReporter
Want to make podcasts like ours? Check out our referral link through Streamyard to find out how! https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5805020313944064
1 hr
August 31 Season Passholder Appreciation Weekend: But Will They Have Ice?
Kings Island is celebrating Season Passholders and Members during Passholder Appreciation Weekend, September 4–7, 2026—but are the perks enough? We break down the $19.99 Bring-A-Friend ticket, $10 WinterFest loyalty reward, special offers, bonus ride time, and the big question every drink plan holder is asking: Will Kings Island finally have ICE? We also discuss guest experience, park cleanliness, customer loyalty, and what Kings Island needs to do to keep passholders coming back.
Online Store: http://store.towertopics.com
Become a Tower Topics Youtube member for great benefits and to support the show: https://www.youtube.com/@TowerTopics/join
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAs58dzCc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Check out the podcast version: https://linktr.ee/towertopics
Leave a voicemail or text message: 513-399-7538
Listener Questions: Hosts[at]TowerTopics.com
Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@towertopics
Check out Don's blog: http://www.themeparksbydon.com
Follow our Field Reporter, Noah: https://www.youtube.com/@NoahTheFieldReporter
Want to make podcasts like ours? Check out our referral link through Streamyard to find out how! https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5805020313944064
27 min
August 28 Kings Island Halloween Haunt: From Best in America to Left Off the List
Did Kings Island just get snubbed from the annual USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for Best Theme Park Halloween Event? Despite adding two brand-new mazes—Metal Massacre and Jason: Blood Rain—and bringing back fan-favorite shows like Ghouls Gone Wild and Nightwalkers, Kings Island was completely left off this year's top 20 ballot. On this episode of Tower Topics, Don Helbig and Ryan Suhr dive deep into the panel's nomination process, evaluate how paid maze upcharges might have impacted voter support, and debate whether the overall 2026 product quality is elevated despite local community backlash. They also look at whether winning these national awards actually impacts ticket sales. Finally, the hosts unpack major industry news as Six Flags prepares to move its corporate headquarters from Charlotte, NC back to Arlington, Texas in 2027, analyzing what this major relocation means for park operations and the company's future. Subscribe for new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and consider joining as a Prestige Member for exclusive perks!
Online Store: http://store.towertopics.com
Become a Tower Topics Youtube member for great benefits and to support the show: https://www.youtube.com/@TowerTopics/join
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAs58dzCc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Check out the podcast version: https://linktr.ee/towertopics
Leave a voicemail or text message: 513-399-7538
Listener Questions: Hosts[at]TowerTopics.com
Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@towertopics
Check out Don's blog: http://www.themeparksbydon.com
Follow our Field Reporter, Noah: https://www.youtube.com/@NoahTheFieldReporter
Want to make podcasts like ours? Check out our referral link through Streamyard to find out how! https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5805020313944064
37 min
August 26 Hersheypark Is Saving a Classic Coaster. Should Kings Island Have Saved Vortex?
What if Kings Island had saved Vortex instead of tearing it down? On this episode of Tower Topics, Ryan Suhr and Don Helbig look back at the legendary 1987 coaster, its six inversions, iconic presence in Coney Mall, and the legacy it left behind. With Hersheypark investing in SuperDooperLooper for its 50th anniversary, we ask whether Kings Island should have pursued a major Vortex refurbishment—and what saving this historic coaster could have meant for the park.
Online Store: http://store.towertopics.com
Become a Tower Topics Youtube member for great benefits and to support the show: https://www.youtube.com/@TowerTopics/join
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAs58dzCc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Check out the podcast version: https://linktr.ee/towertopics
Leave a voicemail or text message: 513-399-7538
Listener Questions: Hosts[at]TowerTopics.com
Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@towertopics
Check out Don's blog: http://www.themeparksbydon.com
Follow our Field Reporter, Noah: https://www.youtube.com/@NoahTheFieldReporter
Want to make podcasts like ours? Check out our referral link through Streamyard to find out how! https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5805020313944064
28 min
August 24 Planning a Six Flags Halloween Trip? Here’s What’s New for 2026
Six Flags is taking Halloween Haunt to the next level with 11 new IP-driven haunted mazes, including Friday the 13th, Final Destination, The Blair Witch Project, and Diablo. We break down the new attractions, returning mazes, and the ongoing debate over paid haunted attractions—including what it means for Kings Island Haunt.
Plus, we discuss Haunt night rides, scare zones, and whether charging for mazes is ultimately making the Halloween experience better.
Online Store: http://store.towertopics.com
Become a Tower Topics Youtube member for great benefits and to support the show: https://www.youtube.com/@TowerTopics/join
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAs58dzCc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Check out the podcast version: https://linktr.ee/towertopics
Leave a voicemail or text message: 513-399-7538
Listener Questions: Hosts[at]TowerTopics.com
Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@towertopics
Check out Don's blog: http://www.themeparksbydon.com
Follow our Field Reporter, Noah: https://www.youtube.com/@NoahTheFieldReporter
Want to make podcasts like ours? Check out our referral link through Streamyard to find out how! https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5805020313944064
29 min
August 21 We Rode Dollywood’s NightFlight Expedition — Here’s What We Thought
Dollywood’s NightFlight Expedition is unlike anything we’ve experienced before! Join us on Tower Topics as we break down this groundbreaking $60+ million attraction—a hybrid of a dark ride, roller coaster, and motion simulator featuring immersive storytelling, cutting-edge technology, and an unforgettable adventure. We discuss our first ride experience, the story of Cora and Jasper Oakley, the Secret Lake, the Bioluminator, and Dollywood’s controversial no-recording policy. Is NightFlight Expedition the best new attraction of 2026? Find out what we think!
Online Store: http://store.towertopics.com
Become a Tower Topics Youtube member for great benefits and to support the show: https://www.youtube.com/@TowerTopics/join
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAs58dzCc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Check out the podcast version: https://linktr.ee/towertopics
Leave a voicemail or text message: 513-399-7538
Listener Questions: Hosts[at]TowerTopics.com
Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@towertopics
Check out Don's blog: http://www.themeparksbydon.com
Follow our Field Reporter, Noah: https://www.youtube.com/@NoahTheFieldReporter
Want to make podcasts like ours? Check out our referral link through Streamyard to find out how! https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5805020313944064

40 min
August 19 Frustrated With Kings Island? Skip the 2027 Pass — For Now
Should you buy a 2027 Kings Island season pass now—or wait? In this episode of Tower Topics, Don Helbig and Ryan Suhr break down whether Kings Island has earned your renewal after a frustrating 2026 season. From staffing and limited events to declining food quality, park investment, and season pass pressure, we discuss why waiting could be the smarter move for some guests. Find out why giving Kings Island time to prove that 2027 will be better may be worth considering before you spend your money
Online Store: http://store.towertopics.com
Become a Tower Topics Youtube member for great benefits and to support the show: https://www.youtube.com/@TowerTopics/join
Join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAs58dzCc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Check out the podcast version: https://linktr.ee/towertopics
Leave a voicemail or text message: 513-399-7538
Listener Questions: Hosts[at]TowerTopics.com
Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@towertopics
Check out Don's blog: http://www.themeparksbydon.com
Follow our Field Reporter, Noah: https://www.youtube.com/@NoahTheFieldReporter
Want to make podcasts like ours? Check out our referral link through Streamyard to find out how! https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5805020313944064

35 min

About Tower Topics

From the publisher's feed

Tower Topics is a podcast where Kings Island passion meets insider perspective. Hosted by Kings Island experts Don Helbig and Ryan Suhr. Not affiliated with Kings Island.