CPMac

The Witch's Wheel at C.P. is a standard Huss Enterprise. The Skylab was a Huss Giant, or maybe Double Enterprise. The Skylab was a much larger size than the standard, each car capable of holding 4 adults. It was installed when the Coney Mall had it's major overhaul, taking the place of the Flying Dutchman. The ride itself was ok, the larger size made for longer, slower "loops" through the air than the standard. It was also slower going up and coming back down than the smaller version. If PCW still has their Sol Loco, that's the place to find one to ride. Don't know of any others in North America.

I agree about the Eagles. darn shame. I remember that Drop Zone was originally planned for the Flight Commander spot, at least that's where the original teaser sign was located. I still wish they would do something more with that little corner of the park. The Laser Tag and the Euro Bungee, whatever style, look rundown, homemade, and tacky. I've always wished PKI would install a really huge ferris wheel in that location, one that would provide some height to the rear of the park, and a spectacular view.

Bavarian Beetle opened with Kings Island in 72. It was originally the Galaxy from Coney Island. It was in Oktoberfest about where the Festhaus sits now. In that row were the coaster, the Rotor, Bayern Kurve, and around the corner was the Skylift, all moved from Coney, too. I would imagine it was removed because it was old. The Galaxy probably wasn't cutting it with the theme park crowd, and new attractions like the Screamin Demon, Festhaus, etc. came along to take it's place. It's hard to find a Galaxy anymore, if your aching to ride one. More common on the fair/portable ride circuit these days is the Zyklon. Indiana Beach still runs a Galaxy.

You've got me thinking, Ryan. By generic I guess I mean theme-free. In terms of Mice I think about rides like the Fly, or Ricochet and concoct a fantasy about a super version of such running amok in and around the trees of that once beautiful area of PKI. Maybe a double version. Maybe racing. Hell, an even longer more involved version of this Premier launched coaster would be fine with me. Okay. I try not to lose sight of the fact that Paramount's Kings Island is a theme park (hello....) tied into a major motion picture company. They strive to provide their guests with experiences directly related to those found in action films. All one needs to do is take one Future Attraction survey to know that this trend will not be reversed any time soon. And perhaps I should take my thrills at Cedar Point, Kennywood, Hersheypark and quit complaining. But I can't help noticing the tremendous amount of money spent on the Theme and the surrounding Hype for a product that will have a relatively short shelf life. There's discussion in this very thread that involves the re-naming, the re-themeing, and what-the-hell-ever-happened-to the Outer Limits Flight of Fear. And some of you already are guessing how the Italian Job will evolve into just Stunt Track. And get this- I actually overheard a guest in line for Tomb Raider on Friday night complain that she has to stand through all this b.s. each time she wants to ride. I thought well, so much for total immersion experience, huh? My point is this- to amusement park goers it has always been and will always be, in the end, about the ride. I would be so much happier with IJST if they had given us a few hundred more feet of ride and less menacing helicopters. And if the GP isn't saying so this year, you can bet they will in a year or two. It'll be "been there- done that". Paramount may be ushering in a new age in themed coasters where the effects extend beyond the station. Time will tell if it's a Golden Age or not. I think back to the riders nearly a century ago who thrilled to the special effects of the Scenic Railway. The concept itself turned out to be short lived, and the strong survivor through all of it was the roller coaster itself. That, as it turned out, was what the audience really wanted after all. Thanks.

I guess I'll weigh in. I too have always held tight to the opinion that bigger/faster/taller doesn't always make the best coaster. My enthusiast friends have always laughingly accused me of loving the runt in the park, preferring to spend my re-ride time on that Bobsled, Mouse, or smaller Woodie as opposed to the MegaLooper, MonsterWoodCoaster, or what have you. So I'm ok with the fact that PKI has given us a diminuitive steel ride with the kind of elements and forces that provide fun rather than extreme thrills. Now, having said THAT... Even if you are a Disney, Universal, or a Busch, it's a tough task to make a modern theme park audience begin to believe that they have been transported in some way to another world/space/time, and especially tough to re-create a thrilling scene from a well known movie. Audiences these days are sophisticated, educated, and have a rather short attention span where entertainment and technology are concerned. Have you noticed that movies no longer run for months, but have very short first-runs then are retired to a shelf in a video store? Time will tell, but I believe the same audience mentality will apply to theme parks and their themed rides. (Even Disney has had to re-work popular rides to keep them fresh and re-rideable - i.e. Tower of Terror) So in my opinion, PKI has not hit the nail on the head. I would much rather have seen them spend their money on more of the snappy ride itself than on lame, eventually-to-be-forgotten special movie effects. When I see what little of the area that once held three classic rides is actually being used, my heart aches. And please don't get me wrong- from my rides last night and listening to the reactions of other riders I believe that they have a hit on their hands. But I also have to believe that something like a generic (but fabulous) one-of-a-kind extended wild mouse there in the Coney Mall would be just as big a hit. And one that would perhaps last through the generations, rather than become instantly old to today's throw-away society.

Was at PKI on Saturday and Sunday. Thought the IJST looked like a blast from the ground. Now that I see the vid I am also disappointed that it seems slow. Maybe launch speed can and will be inceased, but I noticed that in the park guide the IJST is listed as an "intermediate thrill" ride, right up there with the Scrambler! Lets not get our hopes up and just enjoy the ride for what it is.