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Showing content with the highest reputation on 01/27/2020 in all areas

  1. 2 people just walked to the top of the lift hill...this perspective shows how massive this hill is going to be.
    9 points
  2. I can still see it; the roof just blends in with the concrete. I can see why it would look that way though!
    8 points
  3. According to Don Helbig, they're supposed to be done by Friday.
    6 points
  4. Sure makes it look like a coaster for ants. One of the coolest aspects to a Giga is there is no getting around you feeling really, really high up. Also, doesn't Ohio at least get the record of most Giga's in one state?
    6 points
  5. I hope they’re getting some pictures to post to Kings Islands social media.
    6 points
  6. I can see the building there.
    6 points
  7. The previous GM championed the idea of haunt attractions in which you can just turn the lights on and be ready to go. This was a time and cost cutting measure. The SOB station, being perceived as out of the way, was a good candidate to turn into a maze. I do not know how the new GM feels about this, but I can tell you that from a guest perspective you can tell that the look and feel of the park is more important to him. That’s why in the past few years you’ve seen things fixed, lightbulbs replaced, etc during the course of the season rather than just putting them off until the next year.** To me, a station like Vortex’s that’s out on the midway wouldn’t be conducive to what he’s trying to do. **All of this is speculation, however it should be noted that the GM is primarily responsible for the vision, funds, and resources available to the park.
    6 points
  8. I just received a copy of what will be the forward to Kings Island: A Ride Through Time. This is going to be one very special book.
    5 points
  9. Yeah I noticed them too! Also, T-Bone just placed another track piece and you can see it curving back up now.
    5 points
  10. Its complicated, because it is not a 5 year design period, its 5 years from the start of planning. For instance last I heard B&M has a 5 year waiting list for a custom coaster. Cedar Fair likely has a standing order of one ride a year, and corporate likely decides about 3 years out which park is getting that coaster, and what it will be, or possibly even just get skipped, and not order a B&M that year, since the waiting list is not a firm commitment. Its also possible the waiting list is a little shorter now its been a few years since I heard about the 5 year wait. At the same time corporate does have a 5 year plan for every park, which lists when they want to do major projects, the details are worked out closer to the date. But up until the order is placed, and maybe even after, plans can and do change. Its possible to start planning a few months out from attractions opening if there is the will and the resources. One of the main purposes of the 5 year plans is long term financial planning, and 5 years out it will be pretty vague. Has this coaster been in the works for 5 years? It likely depends on your perspective, since corporate likely had a coaster on the schedule for 2020 at Kings Island 5 years ago. But 3 years ago there was likely more then one option for what it would be, or where it would be located. Having said all of that, a lot of work is done by corporate, and frankly no one at the park even Mike Koontz is told when the process starts. Nothing is set in stone until the design is finished and the ride is ordered, and the dates given by Mike Koontz are likely accurate from the parks perspective. But I suspect if you were to speak with the right people at corporate and they are willing to talk, you would get different answers.
    5 points
  11. Well, if that were the case, Kentucky Kingdom would have been planning for Lightning Run in 2009 when it was still Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. I think the parks have to be nimble enough in the long term planning to get short term benefits. I'd bet there is a Kings Island 2025 plan out there in a folder somewhere, but things change.
    5 points
  12. Think of it as parents planning for their childrens' college education. Initial planning starts with starting a college savings account when the child is very young, but the details as to what college/ major come at a much later date.
    4 points
  13. The lift hill, bank into the loops and loops can still be seen from Kings Island Dr and I71. She has survived another day...
    4 points
  14. Looks like more track was installed! I think Orion's track work will definitely be done by the end of this week, or early next week.
    4 points
  15. Yes, that will be the last support they need to install.
    4 points
  16. Yeah, Millie and Orion. Ohio is pretty much the coaster capital of the US, you will find a lot of coasters that broke records. Unless you count California, which is full of fillers. Ohio have coasters that have purpose to bring tons of crowds in. California adds random coasters for bragging rights. Mostly for numbers.
    4 points
  17. I don’t think anyone’s ever said it takes 5 years to actually design a coaster, I think the five year process is just a general idea of what they’d like to do during those five years and I assume it frequently changes for the years further down the road.
    4 points
  18. I believe this to be highly unlikely, given previous comments on coaster building cycles.
    4 points
  19. The one thing Orion wont have that I wish it would have is some kind of interactivy with the midway.
    3 points
  20. Photo from the webcam looks like they are finally taking down the extra supports on the drop hill.
    3 points
  21. By very, very initial, then yes. But initial discussions for a GCI wooden coaster began in 2015. Initial discussions for a B&M invert began in 2012, etc. There is a difference between the five year plan and "actual" planning for a project.
    3 points
  22. I don't remember if this was enthusiast speculation or actually based on things park officials have said, but I vaguely recall it being said here a while back that the park has a 5-year plan that might include, say, "add a coaster in 4 years," but maybe the finer details of that coaster aren't decided until this two-ish year period mentioned here. Like, maybe the park decided in 2015 or something that they'd add a coaster in 2020, but they didn't start soliciting ideas from manufacturers until 2017 or 2018.
    3 points
  23. Carl Lindner never owned KECO, as the video claims. He owned Kings Island and retained Kings Entertainment Company on a management contract for just that park.
    3 points
  24. Nice video on the history of Paramount Parks on how they came into being and became part of Cedar Fair. Makes me wonder what KI would be like today if some other chain would have beat out CF in acquiring the Paramount parks.
    3 points
  25. Yes, it is a two-year process, at least for Kings Island. Planning for Diamondback began in 2007, Banshee in 2012, Mystic Timbers in 2015, Orion in 2018. It’s been that way for a while. True development on The Beast didn’t begin until 1977. Sometimes it does take longer (Son of Beast was green lit in 1997), sometimes the process is shorter (planning for Firehawk began October 2006).
    3 points
  26. This is absolutely true. The date was confirmed to me by Mike Koontz during my second interview with him 10/13/2019. Planning at Kings Island typically begins two years before the attraction opens.
    3 points
  27. https://kicentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Episode-6-2019-Year-in-Review-Part-1.mp3 Don`t forget that you can get this podcast on iTunes, and on Spotify! Show notes: Join Robbie (CoastersRZ) and Brad (IndyGuy4KI) as they are joined by Evan Duffy (DeltaFlyer) to discuss the 2019 season. On this first part of two parts, they discuss: -Kings Mill Antique Autos -International Street Renovation -Octoberfest Glockenspiel -The Beast`s 40th anniversary is celebrated -Grand Carnivale -The Vortex served its last riders at the end of the season. Stay tuned for Part 2 of the 2019 Year in Review coming soon! We hope you enjoy this episode! Sorry for the long delay since the last episode. We have Part 2 already recorded, and plan to record another episode in less than two weeks!
    2 points
  28. You might find out that and more on an upcoming episode of the KIC Podcast...
    2 points
  29. There is no policy in place by Cedar Fair. ACE wasn't given an invitation to Steel Vengeance, Copperhead Strike or Twisted Timbers. This is just the club the park decided to invite for Orion. No more, no less.
    2 points
  30. Essentially when they say a five year plan, what they are meaning is that they would like to install a coaster in year four as their new product. They start investigating the products, etc., just to see whats out there. They may even shift it a year based on other trends/needs of the park. It does not mean that they have selected a firm to design the coaster, or even locked in on a coaster at that point but they start generating ideas. Remember that some of the ideas for Kings Island originate at Planning and Design at corporate. The actual design time, once contracts are signed is closer to the two year timeline.
    2 points
  31. ^Interesting how Shake, Rattle & Roll colors hasn’t been changed to red on that map.
    2 points
  32. 5 year plans are very vague and allow a lot of flexibility. Actual planning for major coasters, etc. does not typically begin at Kings Island until 2 years before its intended opening season.
    2 points
  33. Well, first time I saw Diamondback I thought for sure the splashdown was water jets because the track was not underwater. Many years ago when a ride host asked me to buckle the seat belt I replied politely, "No thank you, I'm fine." You can imagine how well that went over. It would be cool if the top lift could be the last piece, like the STL Arch, but that's not how this machine goes together.
    2 points
  34. This is a more accurate representation of any “5 year plan” or expenditure cycle that KI or any park would use. So, for example, outward planning leads to more vagueness the further out it gets. So they have a relative grasp on what 2020 is going to look like but probably only have a vague formulation of what 2025 will look like. Especially since you don’t know the economic climate or the evolving wants and needs of the guests 5 years out. I remember asking when the park was going to get WiFi 12 or so years ago. The question was answered with a “yeah right.” Now the WiFi is a big deal, integrated into a lot of their marketing and social plans. Oh, and it costs millions to implement at a place like KI. So what I’m saying is that in 2015 they probably knew that 2020 was going to be a big expenditure year, but beyond that it was probably nothing more than loose drawing board stuff.
    2 points
  35. I was GP so bad! I thought Adventure Express went 85 miles per hour and I scared my sister to death when I told her
    2 points
  36. Carl Lindner purchased Taft, which had a 1/3 stake in KECO. Lindner wanted to buy/be a corporate partner in Kings Entertainment Company. Lindner and Nelson Schwab got into quite an argument, one that was settled by selling Kings Island to Lindner with the stipulation KECO would retain a management contract on the park.
    2 points
  37. Or don't :p -- I like BoddaH1994's postulation of our new GM wanting a better feel. I think that is probable. Vortex's station would definitely be noticed being next to antique cars, and WindSeeker. It makes sense to not want to have a vacant station in the midway, especially when it's an older building.
    2 points
  38. I think the "5 year plan" theory is based in some truth, from Cedar Point. I recall that when Maverick was being built the "5-year plan" may have been thrown around a bit. I specifically remember them talking about Maverick being planned when TTD opened, which is 4 years. So in some cases, parks do plan ahead that much. But nobody said they *had* to, as long as everybody involved can manage a shorter timescale.
    2 points
  39. They put the piece that is directly below the drop in earlier and now they are putting in the next piece.
    2 points
  40. That’s what I always thought the 5 year plan meant. I just don’t see how’d you spend 5 years designing a regional park coaster. If I recall a wing coaster for GateKeeper was decided upon at IAAPA 2011 which was just 2 years prior to its opening.
    2 points
  41. Lets face it guys, we have been lied to for years about the coaster planning process. This revelation is a devastating blow to the credibility of the enthusiast community.
    2 points
  42. Off topic, I know, but is it just me, or is the building (restrooms, I believe) that was next to WindSeeker gone?? When did that happen?? Edit: Maybe it's still there and I'm just not seeing it correctly??
    2 points
  43. Truth be told I’m not concerned with either being reported. I just though they may keep their foot on the pedal and give the masses what they are wanting. I fully intend to get the last piece myself and the hills of Vortex coming down from vantage points around KI .
    2 points
  44. I don’t think media was there. They probably reported with park supplied content. A piece scheduled to be installed could be installed on time at 9:00, be delayed until 2:00, or not happen until the next day. The media doesn’t have time to sit around and wait for this. Don’t hold your breath for Vortex coverage too. It’s possible that Chopper 9 will do a fly over or a news station may sent a drone up but the park isn’t going to facilitate anything involving The Vortex.
    2 points
  45. For those wondering about GOCC, I am a member of their board of directors. Directors only have been invited. This may be the case with some other clubs. This is one of the very few events wise. Especially when it comes to park sponsored events. And I do want to say for the record, if you had been a GOCC member around 2013, you would have been able to go to both Banshee and GateKeeper media day. Starting around 2015 with Fury 325 Cedar Fair stopped inviting so many clubs and club members, and the last few years at least (like Copperhead Strike at Carowinds) this has been their way of doing it: ACE members who have been in club for a while, and some other coaster clubs directors only.
    2 points
  46. Can we quit with the whole “Kings Island owes us an explanation” B.S.? It’s starting to get annoying and making the rest of the coaster enthusiast community look like spoiled brats. Sheesh! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    2 points
  47. It almost looks like the piece they’re putting in is attached to the headchopper piece. Makes sense in how they can get enough leverage to slide it under there.. edit: after looking at the size of the piece as it’s going up, I don’t think it’s long enough to make it to the headchopper piece.
    1 point
  48. Looks like some track is being shipped over.
    1 point
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