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I went to KI today with a group of friends. I didn't have my Nikon on me, but I had my phone so I of course took pictures. Nothing new than whats been posted, I just thought I'd share! Also, who's excited to see then start running test cars, I know its a decent amount of tine away, but i'm still pumped to see (and hear) that car go down that massive hill! BONUS: I threw in an awesome shot of Vortex!

More track going up this morning

Let's be honest, that queue house is probably going to be salvaged as a haunted house. It'll be the "new" haunted attraction one year, be staffed really well the first two weekends, and then will fall apart after all the temporary decorations and "theming" fail to hold up.

Jonah ,Yes they can. They are doing it on candymonium.

That bank is going to be ridiculous when it comes to forces, because it begins to straighten back up at the peak of the hill, which means those in left seats are going to feel like they're being thrown to the right as they descend that hill. It's going to be nuts.

Looks like Kings Island is going to make some awesome Coasterdynamix models for Vortex, Son of Beast and Orion! I am so excited to have 2 defunct coasters that I'd never thought I'd ever be able to have models of! This is straight off Coasterdynamix Instagram page.

The park added this photo on IG earlier.

I really want to make some music puns with all these treble clef references, but I feel they'd go over most members' heads... Though, a treble clef element would really put the 'G' in G-forces. Waiting for someone to potentially get it now.... silver2005, being cryptic.

I'm moving and have a ton of boxes for sale if anyone wants a model of Disaster Transport

Kings Island should invest in the property as an offsite resort. Hotel, motel, camping and resort water park. There’s lots of land over there.

The 3rd hill is supposed to be 202 ft. That is tall and I am not sure if any coaster has a bigger hill that isn't it's main hill. Orion's 3rd hill is bigger than any non lift hill on Fury or Leviathan and it's 2nd hill is bigger than the 3rd biggest hill on either coaster..I think. It should be wild for sure. I didn't know the 4 across trains held their momentum better...that's cool to read!

Took a few pics at Winterfest last night with night sight on the Pixel 4. Did not really see anything as far as demo yet.

I love Orion, when it was announced I didnt hate or talk bad about it. Like everyone I was a lil sad that it was exactly like the renderings so there wasnt much of a shock element. But im sooooo excited to see it in person, more excited to ride. ONE THING. I just wished they had that wave turn flipped out towards the park. So we can see the riders, kinda like furys wave turn over the bridge. They changed it from facing toward the park to facing the guest walking in when Rob Decker was talking with B&M he wanted that open front gate feel you get with GateKeeper. Anyone know why its facing that way or if there even is a reason it faces that way?

Welcome. I’m up in Columbus today and didnt have all day to sit and wait, so these two luckily fit in my schedule today. It really does have a serious bank, and even though we have talked about it to no end, seeing it really brings it home. I’m going to say that I would rather have it on more of an overbank like i305 or MF from experiences on those coasters, but this may blow them both away. I’m also wondering how much this will slow it down before going into the turn around as this hill is 187 and the next is 202.

So, while looking for a picture of an old Rivertown sign, I came across this article discussing how Rivertown (and its theming) has changed over the years: https://www.themerica.org/blog/2019/02/24/kings-island-03 EDIT: Also, on page 4, they reference KIC!

Most of the supports are in for the overbank. Should be done by Monday.

While looking at Orion, I noticed it combined elements of our previous B&M's: it's tall and fast like Diamondback, and that wave turn reminds me of Banshee's zero-g roll. Also, it's a cool feeling when you walk around the park and Orion has such a presence on the skyline. It's going to be seen from a lot of places in the park, which is really cool.

I just hope they are able to reuse the station. That station is one of my all time favorites! Anymore now that are just a rectangle with a roof over the top of it.

The only way I see a resort ever being at KI is for CF to buy GWL. It could be a pretty sweet set up, I'd say they would expand the waterpark and change the hotel to have a more broad reach. I don't see that happening, but I didn't see a new woody, a renovated IS, good music back, Winterfest, Grand Carnivale and the removal of Vortex. If they ever add lodging, I'd say it would be a Marriott style hotel near Soak City if zoning would allow it. There is a large grassy area, close to the waterpark and freeway. But with the hotel saturation point nearby, I don't see it happening either.

I don't think we said anything about Fury's lights. Just DMX lighting. If I were to take a guess would be at the bottom lighting up the supports. But I would also love to see an LED light system going up the catwalk railing on the lift with maybe a traveling like effect similar to Valravn. And then top it all off with light up wheels!

No just static non moving models. Coasterdynamix does not make the little moving models anymore.

I saw two of them Saturday, mostly in Planet Snoopy... I thought it was just part of their character to freeze when spoken to/interacted with lol (that's how it seemed last year and this year when I said hi). Someone else might have more information, though.

At first I really didn’t care for Orion’s colors either. It has, however, grown on me quite a lot. I personally would have chosen a darker color palette to go with the end-of-the-world theme, but that’s just my silly ol opinion. I am really excited to see the ride finished, and to see what it looks like at night. I think a lighting system like Fury would look awesome.

To me, it looks more like a dive loop than the treble clef, but without an inversion (non-inverted dive loop). I also feel that the “wave turn” is more of a Stengel Dive than a wave turn, since the airtime is more vertical than lateral.

Idk if anyone else sees this, but the Juke Box building in Coney Mall kinda looks like an ice skating rink from the webcam.

No, I would say the turn into the break run is more like a treble clef.

Yes, it's sold at Emporium.

True story... Years ago, when they put in the "Roller Soaker" - they held a contest to name it. They had to toss out one of the most popular name suggestions - Hershey Squirts.

It appears they are removing the temporary side supports on the main drop now. I dont see one of them unless it is just the sun.

I had the same thought, but I do think Orion's layout is one of utility. It would be *ameeeeeeeeeezing* if that first element was an outward bank, but I think B&M are not quite ready to bend it like RMC. Nonetheless, element one (it's not a wave turn) is unique!

Not sure if this will continue to be the case, but here is adding Sunday's info: Friday opened main gates 30 minutes early. (5pm posted time) Saturday they didn't open gates earlier than the 4pm posted time. Sunday opened main gates 30 minutes early (4:30pm instead of 5pm). (However, couldn't get to rides until 5pm.) My guess is that this has to do with ice skating, which has the first session starting at 5pm. It lets folks get started with the reservations so they can be on the ice at 5pm.

It appears every seat might well have a different experience on this ride.

One of many reasons it sat was maybe due to potential lawsuits. Or the park suing the manufacturer. Or maybe they didn't know what to do with it.

I’d guess it will get busier toward Christmas however weather also plays a huge factor in how busy it will be. Yesterday for example the park was a ghost town because of the rain.

Steel Dragon 2000's first airtime hill is a whopping 252', and its second is 210'! But Orion's turnaround is definitely B&M's tallest non-lift element.

It did. The first time we went was in 1973 and I was very young. Actually my first childhood clear memory. We waited a LONG time for the flume and I chickened out and had a tantrum. So my dad took me out of the line to the vine tunnel to sit on the benches. I remember the shade and the flowers. We then started talking about plants, which I was obsessed with and my first career was in the green industry! Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

The way I think I see it, it appears the 3rd hill may be taller than the 2nd. It also appears that 2nd hill is about the size of Millennium Force's first overbank, which means Orion could be a-flyin' through that turn. I think that element will have a good combination of weightlessness with some decent laterals as well. Remember- this thing will be going into that element at over 90 mph and the 4 across trains hold their momentum better than the V-trains of DB.

I would try to help if I could, but I won't be back to the park till next year. That is a long drive, 9 hours! I was looking around on Friday at some of the models, and was just thinking "I can't wait till they make an Orion model", and here we are a few days later! I will be buying that and the Son of Beast one as well on my next visit!

Wow! Just in time for Christmas. Definitely going to get the SoB model. Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

BUMP (as this is the only dedicated Boo Blasters thread I could find...) I rode last night and I was just blown away by how long Boo Blasters has lasted in that building. I would like to see something replace it when its time comes; it's a great building and I don't want to see it go empty. Also..

That track you’re referring to could be the track that leads out of the station and to the lift hill. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I talked to some sources familiar with the situation. This story isn’t over. Hopefully it ends up for the better. Expect an announcement in a couple of months.

So I tried the buffet tonight and now I’m just disappointed on your behalf. I had a fantastic experience! It truly was a step up from last year. If you have the dining plan it’s worth taking the risk again for $5. I did, however, only have cookies for the deserts. Actually they had macaroons too, which I do recommend. Where were those delicious pies that all the KICers were raving about??

Kings Island has been very well controlled in its time since Cedar Fair. Recently events such as Grand Carnivale, updated haunt, and the return of winter fest have been really nice additions. The 5 roller coasters they have added have all been really awesome additions that will last a long time and have monster capacity. (Obviously not Firehawk). Operations are great and areas like the front entrance and Action Zone look nicer. I also think Cedar Fair’s theming is getting better, hopefully we will see that with Orion. The two things I wish Cedar Fair would work on would be, 1 dark rides: yes we have Flight of Fear and boo blasters but I think more family additions added in non Planet Snoopy areas of the park would be beneficial. It’s nice to have a kids area but as a park wouldn’t you want more things the whole family can do and spend time together walking around the park. The second reason is that I think it’s always good to have more air conditioning or rides that shelter from the whether. This makes it so more people come to the park when the Forecast isn’t that good and people stay longer when it’s too hot or rains. 2 water park: Cedar Fair has done a nice job adding another wave pool and recently added a slide complex but honestly the water park is still way too small for how busy it gets. They need to add more high capacity slides and possibly another lazy river. Only two of the slides at the water park can families ride at the same time. Amousement parks and water parks should be about having fun with your family/friends so I think a lot of these single person tube slides should be replaced with multiple person round rafts or other options

Uh oh Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Not sure, someone else might know.

Let's see here: Mystic Timbers: 108 ft tall, 56 mph, just over 3,000 ft. Orion: 287 ft tall, 300 ft drop, 91 mph, over 5,000 feet long. GIGA COASTER. There is no way Mystic will top Orion. Not trying to be a stickler, but think it through... Plus, Orion is the only giga coaster that focuses on airtime. Rides like Fury and Leviathan are more about the low to the ground turns. Most people enjoy airtime, which is why I think Orion will be the best giga coaster, even if it is small in every giga way. EDIT: The whole stats side of the argument, not trying to sound GP. It is just kind of obvious that it will be better than Mystic.

Earlier in the thread @BoddaH1994 posted a photo that showed Vortex’s train cars, the lift hill motor & in the bottom of the photo there’s some Vortex track.

Boo! I was involved in the creation of Gate Central. I didn't do any of the coding or anything like that, but I was involved as far as making sure it was user friendly. My manager and I gave a lot of input to the creators of the program as far as what we needed it to do and how we wanted the displays. They would come out with a version, we would play around with it and we would suggest tweaks that we would like to see made. Of course, that was back when Gate Central was only at PKI as a test before it was to be rolled out to the other Paramount parks and visitors from other parks still had to take their season passes to GR to get in, so I wasn't involved in helping resolve the issue that Terpy had at Carowinds (which happened after my original 16 year stretch of tenure at the park). I always loved Gate Central and the possibilities it brought to the Admissions department, so many things that were not possible with the system we had before it, so I still feel a sense of ownership when it comes to that program and am glad to see it still used and rolled out to the Cedar Fair parks when they purchased the chain.