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KI has been working on network software/hardware updates that affected the live stream to the internet. Luckily they were able to keep a local feed at the park to make the time laps video. The timing of these upgrades were unfortunate, but there was no hidden agenda behind them not being live on the internet. At this point, the cameras are back up and running and we can continue to discuss what we are seeing on the live feed in the Orion Thread. Consequently, there is nothing more to discuss. This thread will now be locked.

The Bat isn’t getting slower and slower because of age, The Bat has a VFD motor or variable frequency drive and can be sped up or slowed down in the programming of its PLC. I adjusted some of its ladders logic back in 2002 and I’m sure by now it’s been modified many times since. There is multiple position sensors along the entire lift and I programmed the PLC to start slow up the lift until hitting the first sensor to reduce wear on the lift chain from the start then it was programmed to speed up and would maintain its full lift speed as long as the other train wasn’t occupying the block brakes before the station, if it was then the PLC would slow the VFD to allow time for the block brakes to clear and if by the time it reached the last sensor at the crest and the block wasn’t clear it was programmed to stop, again that was done to reduce wear on the lift motor.

In Fury's construction time lapse, you can see that those supports weren't removed until after construction was finished. So I assume that will happen with this too.

Also, considering Kings Island was home to the first suspended coaster ever built, I think it would be fitting to also eventually be the last park with one. I could easily see The Bat out-living the other American suspended coasters

Just be HAPPY to much complaining on here. My goodness, park announces we are finally getting a GIGA, people complain about the height, i mean come on people. The webcams are down, who cares, just wait until they are brought back up. The park had a reason they were down. Maybe they had to "rewire" the tower but they had to put a different camera up there at the same angle?? Just leave the park alone about this. We are all in this for the love of coasters and we love Ki!!

Double post: It looks like we have some supports ready to be shipped out to I'm guessing the wave turn area to be assembled.

This. They can (they literally moved the camera from left to right from Banshee to the Orion construction area) but my guess is they won't. The park really doesn't care about anyone that wants to watch the construction.

Yup, We are going back up now!!!!

Yes, it is very hard to see and I can barely make it out, but I think its in place. I have circled where it is.

It looks like possibly the last piece of Artemis is gone now. Also, I just noticed that these supports are still here so they probably need to get those off before they can move the big cranes to the area over to right.

Cleo is on the move!!! Headed over to the other side of the ditch to work on the wave turn....

I actually think those arrived around noon. They are pretty massive

@IndyGuy4KI, can this topic get closed because the situation has resolved?

Looks like more track is being placed!

It appears there are 2 workers on the lift hill right now, possibly walking on the stairs, no basket. Man that's up there hahaha

There is a difference between can't and won't lol

When something gets moved from this discussion to another one can you PLEASE give a link to what that other one is??

Huh, that is really weird. I thought they were offline due to "technical upgrades". Sure seems like this is the same angle and same camera. Guess KI just didn't want the public to get a view before the put out a time lapse for those views. This honestly just makes how they handled it even worse from a PR perspective. Guess the upgrade was done in time for us to see, and they chose not to let us see so they could make this amazing time lapse that "obviously" makes up for the lack of hype. /s

The Bat provides a unique experience that is become rarer as time goes on. The entire east coast doesn't even have a suspended coaster anymore and it would really be a shame to lose such a unique attraction especially considering it was the last suspended coaster ever built. Part of the reason I always loved Kings Island was because of the diversity of rides it has had. Growing up with Great Adventure as a home park there hasn't been much variety in recent years. I'd hate to lose a ride that can appeal to the masses as both a fun ride for the younger rider as well as adults, while at the same time providing a unique and increasingly rare experience.

First glance from the webcam coming back online I thought someone had just mirrored Millennium Force and pasted it in. Looks pretty great! Can't wait to see the wave turn rise up. That looks like the highlight of the ride in my opinion.

That's gonna be a rare picture soon, Orion, Diamondback, and Vortex all together.

What will make the giga seem even taller is the train on it, look how small it is on fury. I already think ours looks bigger in person because they look a very similar height, but ours is buried in the side of the park Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Get rid of bat throw in the first S&S AXIS.

Cant they just tilt the camera a little bit to the right?

I think the reference that there is a time-lapse, makes it worse from a PR perspective. They said cameras were going down for a software upgrade. If that were true, there wouldn’t be any camera footage at all, especially not a time-lapse. Now you have to play damage control, because of the lie. Don’t lie to the media and the GP. It doesn’t end well.

I hope it sticks around for at least the better part of another decade, but it'd be interesting to see how they use that land once The Bat is removed. I feel like it's only ideal for a specific kind of coaster and a suspended rollercoaster fit that bill perfectly. In the meantime, I do wish there was something they could with the first half of that path. If they level it out, get rid of that are with the bridge and Wolf Pack, could they maybe fit in a flat or another attraction, a queue line for another coaster leading into that old SOB area perhaps?

Let's just say I won't truly worry until at least one of Iron Dragon, Ninja, Vampire, or Vortex (CW) is removed. But until then, I'm fairly confident in the ride's forseeable future.

There are a couple of interesting Kings Island connections. The Beach was the brainchild of Walt Davis, a top Kings Island executive from 1978-1984, who wanted to...well, that’s a story I’m saving for my book. Additionally, the general manager of The Beach for many years was the sister of Dean Nahrup, who was Kings Island’s general manager from 1988-1992. Many of the slides at The Beach were built by Nahrup’s father, Walter.

Yes just saw this on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/121898760525/posts/10162439996000526?d=n&sfns=mo Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't think it's going anywhere any time soon. It's the newest Arrow Suspended coaster built, has decent popularity, and seems reliable. The location is not ideal, but it works.

How is The Bat rough? I find it to be one of the smoothest coasters out there. I've said it before, as long as the older clone (Vortex CW) keeps going, I think The Bat will too.

Knew it.

This photo is taken from 48 south in Lebanon near the OSP post.

Since we now have a giga, someone should write RMC in the snow lol

Drop difference: 10 feet Fury drop: 310 feet Orion drop: 300 feet Height difference: 38 feet Angle difference: 4 degrees. Fury angle: 81 degrees Orion angle: 85 degrees.

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White Castle Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wish! i was referring to the track heading back up.

I love the fact we have to keep coming up with new "well it could of been". At this point all of the evidence leads to an intentional act that removed the webcams from public broadcast. We have evidence the cameras still operated, we have no evidence of any of the new conspiracy theories of website upgrades, or cut fibers or power outages or what ever. Speaking of power outages that is now officially debunked as the cameras were still on, so that is a confirmed lie. If we say okay a line was cut, that is a really silly idea. One you would want a DVR or other recording device kept in climate control and easy access for upgrades, which the top of the tower isn't really ideal for either. This would also allow Mystic Timbers to have been online still, but it wasn't. So I think we can say the Tower played no part in the webcams going down as a camera not on the tower was off as well. So what does that leave us with? A website upgrade (which we have no evidence of), a network upgrade (but then we wouldn't have the time lapse footage), or an intentional act to not broadcast (Occam's Razor is in play here, the simplest answer is probably the right answer). If they wanted to take down the webcams for any reason, okay its your camera you have every right too, just don't lie about it. Lies can only get worse, they are never the best option as the truth will always get out and now you have two crises not one.

The software update could have been on something other then the cameras them selfs, maybe it was a website software upgrade for the camera page, who knows.

Because whoever is in charge of choosing which rides KD has for WF is a Grinch?

@Maverick44, to clarify, it was at Kings Island in Oktoberfest from 1973-1990, in the spot depicted in the photo WindingSon shared. After 1990, it was relocated to Kentucky Kingdom and you can still ride it there.

You can see the camera from the 275’ observation deck. Unfortunately they’re not PTZs. Would be cool, though! It’s possible that the footage was there and it was recorded but the issue was actually connecting it to the web site.

It is near the entrance to Thunder Run, the Merry go Round and Roller Skater. I think the area was originally known as the Belgiian or Bavarian Village. Being that it is still there, nothing has replaced it.

I feel like I have to chime in as I'm one of The Bat's biggest fans... I've loved the coaster since it was Top Gun; it used to be one of my standbys as a kid. I've pretty much loved it throughout its lifetime (there was a brief period where I resented the repaint because change!) and I'd hate to see it go. I do not mind the walk back there and I think it's one of the most photogenic (and unique) coasters in the park. Although it may not be as intense as modern coasters are nowadays (while people now think of The Bat as stepping stone coaster, it apparently was billed as a thriller when it came out), it has its moments ( like swinging above the station as well as that intense turn on the far end of the course, near Banshee). It is also very cool to watch as the individual cars swing and articulate to the track. All things considered, I also realize it is getting older and maybe it will lose its luster with me (there are some rides on it that aren't quite as thrilling as expected; it seems to happen when it's the first ride of the day- but maybe that's because my anticipation is more than the thrill provided, if that makes sense); see below*. When its time does come, I think an Axis coaster that could emulate the original Bat's feel and layout OR a floorless would be great replacements. *However, I am very curious to see/experience how my relationship is with that coaster after riding Orion (which may or may not dethrone The Bat as my favorite coaster in the park).

The only thing I learned from that is they intentionally took the cameras offline. Glad they were willing to confirm that, which also makes the “software update” statement a lie.

Time laps of Orion being topped off. Although the webcam was offline to the internet, they were able to get the footage locally. From Chad Showalter: The park is thrilled that internet streaming has been restored to the Eiffel Tower and the Mystic Timbers cameras. While the construction video of Orion's lift hill wasn't live, we are glad to at least share it."

If you make your own pizza at home with fresh pizza dough, LaRosa's jarred pizza sauce (available at Cincy-area grocery stores) and provolone (not mozzarella) cheese, you'll be very close. The major difference between LaRosa's pizza at the park and at restaurants is the crust. The park uses frozen dough and massive-capacity ovens to produce huge quantities of pizza, whereas the restaurants use fresh dough and different ovens. I personally prefer the pizza from the restaurants.

I wish the cams were like Holiday World's where you can turn the camera.