Jump to content

Drummermattk

Members
  • Posts

    157
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    2

Posts posted by Drummermattk

  1. My second submission as well. Someone gave me inspiration for this shot (and probably the person that will win this contest) and it seemed to be a popular spot for photographers on the last operating day for the ride. Sometimes iPhones do take good photos (sometimes ;)

    2.JPG

    • Like 11
  2. 20 hours ago, refrigerator said:

    If and when they start pouring footers, look for the one in the following picture.

    This is from Fury 325. Leviathan also had a footer exactly like this.  It is the start of the lift hill.  Dead giveaway for a B&M Giga or not.

    CB8CBE93-C47E-4EB7-9BDA-B45C9AFA7FF7.jpeg

    BC6927D5-E0F5-42BD-BEBB-8BE7F735AF2D.jpeg

    Valravn also features it as well..............................

    • Like 2
  3. Just wanted to post a review of sort haha. 

     

    On Thursday, I was invited to attend Kentucky Flyer Media Day at Kentucky Kingdom. This was my first media day I have been invited to since i started my media channel back in 2017 and I could not thank Kentucky Kingdom enough.

     

    To start the event off, all attendees gathered at the park's picnic pavilion to enjoy some delicious food made by the park's executive chef. As pictured here, i had some of the pulled pork on a slider bun, corn, shrimp cocktail and some melon. Behind the picture was my adult beverage (remember kids, 21 and over and yes they where checking ID's). Against The Grain brewery was at the event and I cannot remember what I had. None the less it was quite good!

    IMG_8714.jpg

     

    Onto the ride!

    Kentucky Flyer was not my first coaster by Gravity Group. However, it was the first Gravity Group coaster that I have rode with Timberliner trains and let me tell you what, these trains are comfy! The entrance for the ride is located over near Skycatcher and you can find the beginning of the line to the right of the test seat (shown below). The ride is themed to a WWII aircraft (or so I would assume) and in the queue line are some coll little posters of aircraft's with flight terms and their definitions.  The queue line goes under neath the rides transfer track, with stairs that lead up to the ride after passing under the transfer. 

    As you can see, Kentucky Flyer can run with two trains, a blue train and a silver train. Both trains are 6 car long and can hold 12 passengers per train. The ride itself is really fun. With a max height of 47 feet, a top speed of 35 mph and 12 airtime moments, I can honestly say this ride really caught me by surprise. The airtime hills give riders a good mixture of both floater and ejector airtime.. My favorite part of the ride however is the quad down and the 2nd to last airtime hill.

     

    If you have ever though about heading to Kentucky Kingdom for a day of fun if you've already visited before, or going for the first time, I highly recommend visiting. While the park has a good mixture of roller coasters, flat rides, family rides and thrill rides. Kentucky Flyer mixes in well with the park's lineup. The ride itself is a great introductory coaster and it is an amazing coaster that everyone, no matter what age can enjoy. Please enjoy this video I put together from Media Day that includes off-ride footage, ride POV and rider cam POV here:

    As well as some pictures from the event:

    IMG_8716.JPG

    The ride's test seat, with the line starting to the right of it.

    IMG_8718.JPG

    While there isn't much theming to the ride, there certainly is some cool theming in the queue

    IMG_8725.JPG

    Kentucky Flyer's silver train coming in for a "landing"

    IMG_8732.JPGIMG_8744.JPGIMG_8746.JPG

    views from the Deep Water Dive slide tower showing the ride heading to the turnaround and on it's return course to the station.

    IMG_8759.JPG

    What a view!

    IMG_8771.JPG

    Kentucky Flyer's Blue Train heading up the ride's Lift Hill

     

    I did see above this post about someone mentioning ride lighting around a lot of rides. The park is bought out the Saturday before Opening Day by Vex Robotics where the park is open for those guests in the evening and the park lights up all their rides.

    The park does offer an out of state ticket for out of state residents for $39.95 (before tax). The out of state deal once purchased includes tickets for 2 days, free soft drinks for both days as well as free inner-tubes and sunscreen for every guest who visits. You can purchase out of state tickets in person at the park ticket booths or online here: https://shop.kentuckykingdom.com/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=outofstate&c=consecday

    • Like 2
  4. I said it in my recent video of whats new at Carowinds for 2019 but One thing that really surprised me was the amount of theming that the ride has. As soon as
    you enter the ride's entrance plaza near the first vertical loop, you are greeted with signs telling you to get out, copperheads are on the loose and cool illustrations along the walls. Once you get past the entrance plaza and enter the
    actual queue, you are greeted with more sign's telling you to get out, you walk in between a couple old rundown shacks, old cars that are themed to the ride and other miscellaneous props. I think one thing that surprised me was the amount
    of hangtime and airtime you get on this ride. From the top's of the loops, to being tossed up out of your seat over the hills, i was honestly really surprised. If you've watched the POV's that are out on the internet you may be thinking....
    ...... it looks slow. I'd say that POV's and off ride footage do not do this ride justice. In person it is crazy fun. You get whipped over a lot of the airtime hills not to intensely like maverick but enough to give you ejector and the hangtime on the inversions.............................oh the hangtime.............. i love it. Not to mention that if your a non rider and you love taking pictures, it is a VERY photogenic coaster. 

    IMG_0684.JPG

    • Like 4
  5. 14 hours ago, DeltaFlyer said:

    Just got this sponsored ad on Facebook. They are offering a “discount” on camera sunglasses to get people to send them videos from the park. I can only assume the aim would be illegal on-ride videos. Thoughts?

    6973E8FA-8291-47F1-BFDF-95C8F40105E7.jpeg

    I've had this guy follow me on Twitter and others have had problems with him. I've talked to him before and he stated that "pro photos and videos for parks for the last 15 years, mainly for KI when it was ran by Paramount (http://cincyphotography.com )"

    I honestly told him myself (as a former ride Op) that they aren't allowed, i've told someone that was in line at Mystic in the station about to board that he couldn't use them and its really how amazing people cant just enjoy rides and NOT record on them.

    Referring back to "DaVideo Glasses" I've marked all his stuff as spam and blocked him on everything and i suggest others do the same. that's just my thoughts and opinion though. IMO its people like this that'll make it so one day we cant even wear sunglasses on rides :angry:

    • Like 4
  6. On 3/12/2019 at 1:30 PM, scoriell said:

    Every area has a designated shelter in case of emergencies, when I worked at Racer we were told to shelter under the station as close to the center as possible.

    to second this, when i worked at Mystic Timbers and Race fro your life charlie brown as well as other rides in Rivertown, our emergency weather location was either White Water Canyon's turntable and/or former Crypt building

    • Like 1
  7. King Louie's Winter Walk-through 2019 Report!

    1.JPG

    Hi guys! On February 16th, 2019 I was able to attend Kentucky Kingdom's off season event, King Louie's Winter Walk-through. For those who don't know the park started this tour in 2017 under the event name "Keys to the Kingdom" and i was fortunate to attend the first event. I was not able to attend the event last year as it was held the same day as Winter Chill Out at Cedar Point. However this year I made sure to attend no matter what.

    Since the park reopened under Ed Harts management in 2014, the park has installed 2 brand new roller coasters, refurbished two existing coasters at the park and is adding their 6th coaster in 2019, The Kentucky Flyer. Kentucky Flyer is being constructed by Gravity Group and will be located on the waterpark side of the park, with the entrance being located near the parks craft beer garden and Skycatcher. It is also amazing to say that the park is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2019

    Here are some interesting notes about the presentation we received at the start of the event and during our walk-through:

    • As noted the park is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2019
    • Along with the 30th anniversary, merchandise of former rides will be available. The items shown during our presentation included t-shirts of Chang and Vampire
    • Rock N' Roller is being relocated to King Louie's Playground this season and will take the place of the parks former Somba Baloon Ride
    • Kingdom Fries will be returning this season
    • Thunder Run's 180 degree turn near Storm Chaser and Eye of the Storm is receiving a complete re-track.
    • Everything mechanical on the parks Raging River Rapids Ride came from Opryland.
    • Frightfully Funny Fire Engine will not be returning this season.

    Enough babbling on here is pictures from the event as well as coverage over on Youtube

    2.JPG

    Happy Family and Journey To Atlantis will return this year.

    3.JPG

    The former ride location for Rock N' Roller

    4.jpg

    The new location for Rock N' Roller, replacing the parks Somba Balloon Ride

    5.JPG6.JPG

    Frightfully Funny Fire Engine will not be returning this season.

    7.jpg8.JPG9.JPG

    Thunder Run's 180 degree turn near Storm Chaser and Eye of the Storm is receiving a complete re-track.

    10.JPG

    The Waterpark skyline is changing this year and you dont see me complaining!

    11.JPG12.JPG

    The station area is in the process of being constructed

    13.JPG14.JPG

    A look at the start of the rides Quad down. The first of 4 airtime moments starts on the right as you travel downwards.

    15.JPG

    A look at the lift area of the ride as well as the final airtime hill into the brake run. The shaping on the last hill reminded a lot of us of Magnum's final bunnyhills.

    16.jpg17.JPG

    The transfer switch is in place as well as one of the lift chain gears.

    18.JPG

    This pathway will be the rides entrance/exit

    19.JPG

    The ride's transfer barn. One train will be stored here at night while the other train is in the station.

    20.JPG

    Steel rails for the track are awaiting their placement.

    21.JPG22.JPG

    I would like to send a special thank you to everyone at Kentucky Kingdom for allowing myself and others to attend the tour that was put together and for everything they did during the tour. If you haven't been to Kentucky Kingdom before or thought of going back, please consider it. Kentucky Flyer is looking amazing and it is looking to be a great year for the park!

    • Like 5
  8. While my list includes more than just coasters, I left this comment on an Amusement Indsider's video that was about future ride removals:

     

    Rides I think could leave parks based on the past "trends":
    • Crypt - Kings Dominion (only top spin left in chain)
    • Gran Prix Raceway - Kings Dominion (go karts)
    • Scream Weaver - Carowinds (Enterprise)
    • Sledge Hammer - Canada's Wonderland (HUSS Jumper)
    • Enterprise - Dorney (Enterprise)
     
    Still in Question:
    • Invertigo - Kings Island (Note both lifts received work around 2015 and the ride has become very reliable since that work was done)
    • Montezuma's Revenge - Knott's Berry Farm
    • Nighthawk - Carowinds
    • Boomerangs
     
    Honestly, it all depends on what parts are like price wise to obtain. Arrow still operates very little with S&S so I wouldn't see any Arrow's leaving unless they are just old (e.x. corkscrew models).
    Crypt could be gone as it is the last one in the chain, Go kart tracks could be removed for newer attractions, with the recent removal of 1 HUSS Enterprise and 1 HUSS Skylab i wouldn't be surprised if others where gone soon (looks like I need to ride Carowinds on opening weekend). As for the the rest that i mentioned it really still does come down to reliability, cost and ridership. It will be interesting in the next 1-3 years as to what is coming to parks and what is leaving.
    • Like 1
  9. While i never really experienced Phantom Theater, i really do hope that KI (well CF) possibly invests some money into Boo Blasters. Yes it could receive a new design and style (while using the same layout and everything from its predecessors) or it could receive a refurbishment so that props work right, lazer guns work right and targets work right.

    Don't quote me on this, but if i remember correctly I think Mike Koontz had mentioned something about boo blasters at last years Coasterstock during his Q&A? I cant remember off the top of my head on what was asked and everything though.

×
×
  • Create New...