alluna

Thanks for posting your experiences!

Don has always been courteous during the course of my press coverage of the park. He's quick to respond to questions and always a professional. I'm glad you asked this, because I was wondering, too! We saw the Fast Pass lines a couple of weeks ago during a *VERY* busy Saturday. If I had purchased a one-day ticket, I surely would have paid the extra for the Fast Pass! I can't imagine the disappointment of a ticket-buyer who has to battle 1 1/2 hour long lines all day. Definitely worth the cash for those folks.

I'm throwing in on Vortex, too. I lurrrv Vortex, but not the head bangin' good time it delivers. Yikes.

Top Gun song and... of course... anything by The Beach Boys! Nothing triggers memories of our Boomerang Bay days like The Beach Boys!!

Oh, King Cobra. I miss it so much. Really wish my kids had a chance to ride it. Ahhhh, well.

Wow, is this true?

I'm working on a story about the 40th anniversary of KI for About.com, and I figure KIC is a great place to source some of the best personal experiences in the park. I'd like some immersive anecdotes from park fans, spanning any time over the past 40 years. I'd love to hear from those who can remember attending the park when it first opened, the heyday of the Paramount years, tales from former employees (that don't violate any secret-keeping contracts) and maybe even someone who rode The Bat. I will be quoting excerpts from each story for a series of time-traveling vignettes that will put the reader right in the park. Funny stories, first visits and first impressions of the park, something amazing that happened, those magical days when everything just falls into place, parking lot picnics, the first time you took your kids... there are so many stories out there about Kings Island. If you have a photo to go along with your story, (I know I've got one somewhere of 4-year-old me hanging out in HB Land with Cindy Brady pigtails...) I'd be open to posting family photos or photos taken of the park from the Eiffel Tower. Anything that really brings the history to life. You can post stories/photos here, or, if you prefer, PM me. Thanks so much for any help you can provide! I really want to show off what the park means to fans.

Ugh, that is so sad. I can't believe that after all that time, they'd try to use that seat! I agree! No way would I get on that thing without the sound of that little seatbelt clicking together!

I grabbed tink out of a Google image search and modified it in Photoshop. She was already in camo when I found her, I just added the word graphics and made her my own.

Is it just me, or does anyone else LOVE to ride barefoot? Somethin about the wind between my toes...

Okay, hold up. Is that a symphony I see on the stage? Let's bring *that* back. I'd like some Bach with my soft pretzel. Or a swing band. Oh, mama.

This was my first thought, too! Yes, I think that the 'smoking' area that once housed the Mirthmobile would be perfect for displays like this. I think that even the most casual visitor to the park would get a kick out of it, not necissarily just the die hard fans. Love the idea of old park layouts, photos and maps that could be put up like the old Paramount posters, with little maintenance required. That waterfall area would be perfect for old ride pieces! I say a car from The Bat!

Haha. This was kind of my thought, too. We go to GWL and my kids are always trying to drag me under those darn beavers that conspire to get my hair wet. Then again, after I get soaked, then it's time to start shoving the kids toward the water buckets. I guess they know that once mom has been ruthlessly sprayed with water, she starts coming after them for revenge! I'll miss the lazy river, but will most likely embrace the water fight that I see in my future. Has anyone ever been on the not-so-lazy river in Aquaventure at Atlantis? Now THAT is an action river.

I've seen cellphones in there before. It is kind of fun to pause there under the net and point out the Catch of the Day!

Wow, really, 25 years? I had no idea. Kind of cool that it coincides with the 40th anniversary celebration, too. The Vortex is such a classic, the first coaster that scared the pants off of me, but I went on it and felt like a hero.

I'd nearly forgotten how much I enjoy these threads. Thanks for posting the old timey photos of KI. It's a great way to get pumped for the season! Now if only I could find that pic of me and my sister in Fred Flintstone's car...

I really like it! Hard to believe it's been 40 years.

Thanks guys! Phew, all that reading got me confused, we have a lot of pages, here. I'm sad, but... not really? I rode Tomb Raider exactly once. It was in the first couple of years and it was awesome. I tell tales 'round the fire of icicles and sparking walls. My kids have ridden The Crypt... and accuse me of exaggerations. I mourned this ride long long ago. ;p

Hmmm. So has this been confirmed or are we still speculating? I'm thumbing through all the pages of this post and I'm still not sure. The box is on the 2012 map (unlike the disappearing act that SoB has been doing the past few years...) Confirmed? No?

Okay, I learned the term 'switchbacks' in this thread. Not bad for 8:30 in the morning. I love seeing these old photos! Look at all those trees!

I would love to see the photographers integrated into the whole of the park. At Disney, we hardly ever notice a photographer.. until we are struggling to take a family photo of ourselves and one comes out of whatever secret tunnel entrance is nearby. They really do come out of the woodwork to offer a photo when you need it... and don't pester you otherwise. At least, that has been my experience. Why shove all these kids to the front of the park? They should be all spread out and trained to look for photo opportunities... not a captive audience. Families in Planet Snoopy, people meandering down Coney Mall... there are so many chances for photos that don't have to happen at the front of the park. I can't tell you how many times I've been at KI and offered or asked someone to take a picture of a group.

These photos of Six Flags New Orleans are just downright creepy. Doesn't help that they had already-creepy jesters and clowns in the park. http://www.lovethese...rleans-75-pics/ All of the graffiti tagging is annoying, but some of it is at least a little thought provoking and is, as the blog says, a sign of life after the devastation. The merry-go-round photo intrigues me. What happened to the horses? I wonder what Kings Island would look like as an abandoned relic? What would you take pictures of? (my apologies if this was already posted)

Code worked for my Droid, too. Did KI announce this at least on FB? Seems like they should have announced it! Kind of a waste of their money to produce something they don't promote. This is a cool app for this summer, when I'll prob only visit the park once and wish I was there every weekend. Edit: One word: REVIEWS. There should be comments with star ratings for each entry in here. Cedar Fair might not like that, but the user would benefit. I'd love to hear what someone thought of Potato Works five minutes ago.

I don't know a single kid that would want to sit and watch a documentary instead of investing that time in amusement rides. I don't know a single parent who would talk them into it just to pay the upcharge, either.

I feel like such a cheeseball... this totally brought a tear to my eye and brightened my day. Amid all of the barfing, aches and fatigue, it's nice to see expectant moms dancing around with joy and singing about their babies!