Tom76257

Great PTR, giga! I think I liked Intimidator more than Diamondback too. The airtime seemed to be more pronounced on Timmy and there was DEFINITELY more positive Gs than on Diamondback, which I appreciate. I also liked its slightly more twisty turny layout more than Diamondback's. Overall, it was a pleasant surprise. I'm disappointed we didn't get to ride Ricochet to compare it to KD's, but that's what Platinum Passes are for. I'm also glad I FINALLY got to ride KI's old flying scooters too! MAN, those things SNAP! The fact that Carowinds ride ops encourage both that and flying high made the experience even better.

Dave, I know what you mean. Part of me wants to rate I305 and Dominator as high as they are on my list JUST because they were new to me, but then again they were AMAZING rides. My top 5 steel (I can't do a top 10 anymore because it seems too hard to do one now.) might change a little on Saturday, but if it does then that means I'll have a ride I love in my top 5 steel again. Like you, I can't wait to ride Diamondback on Saturday. It'll be good to get ride #121 on something at the home park. Kawana, I believe they used the LED board on media day, but I don't recall them using it on Opening Day. Wait time would be a GREAT idea to use the board for. Intimidator at Carowinds also has an LED board and I have a pic of the sign with one word on the board. I'd share it on here, but I can't find the cable that goes to my computer from the camera and it won't read my memory card. Besides that, it's not too exciting.

Thank you, KIfan1980 and KI Kevin, for the congratulations on coaster #50 and it being I305. The first ride was good, but then the night ride was just AMAZING! How many people get to say that they got to ride a brand new gigacoaster as their 50th coaster? AND have it be a coaster from their favorite manufacturer of Intamin? Although, I still do like Maverick just BARELY more than I do I305. The sad part is that Maverick is no longer my favorite steel coaster. Dominator took me away and BLEW MY MIND on the only ride I got on it!

Personally, I'd like to see the ride operate just as it is now. I don't even see the need for the trim up one of the airtime hills honestly. I have to agree with Ki Man that if the ride is slowed down then it would be via the insanely fast lift hill instead of adding a trim to the first drop.

I can definitely attest with not eating enough food and graying out because of it. I hadn't eaten anything for about 8-10 hours one day and rode Millennium Force. I will NEVER do that again. I grayed out for about 7 or 8 seconds and BARELY saw anything around the edges of the gray that I did see. goodyellowkorn182 - After thinking about it, you're right. Cedar Fair isn't in the best financial situation and adding a trim brake JUST to make another coaster look better would most likely not be a good decision. The simple solution would be to advertise I305 like they already are on some shirts I've seen at "over 90 MPH."

Unfortunately, I think the folks at Cedar Fair take the intensity of the entire ride into consideration when deciding on this. Anyone who's ridden both coasters will tell you that I305 is DEFINITELY the more intense coaster. Millie has smooth transitions all throughout and seemingly glides effortlessly throughout its course. I305 has THE quickest transitions of any coaster I've ever ridden and has far more twists and turns than does Millennium Force. On a side note, I can see Cedar Fair adding a trim on the first drop simply because it's been clocked at 1 mph faster than Millennium Force. Heaven forbid that the other Cedar Fair gigacoaster go faster than the #2 steel coaster in the world. Hate to say it, but the higher-ups might declare a trim to be added just for that reason.

Personally, I only trust the forecast 2-3 days before the actual day I'm looking forward to. Rain or shine, though, I'll be at Kings Island on the 17th guaranteed.

Exactly Terpy, you and I are quite familiar with conflicting opinions on rides :-) Of course, I think we can both agree on the awesomeness that is Georgia Cyclone. I'll also never forget my first ride on the Cyclone at SFNE! Wow! - Todd, who knows that Terpy probably much prefers Rolling Dumpster, er I mean Rolling Thunder, to its much bigger and better brother El Toro :-) I'll admit that I was a bit apprehensive to ride Georgia Cyclone on this trip, but I'm glad I did. I've NEVER had a ride pull me over hills while still turning and at the same time giving me MASSIVE ejector airtime. It was an experience I'll never forget.

I went to Kings Dominion on Opening Day and agree with the above posts that it is a beautiful park. I also agree with Dave in that the park was not ready to open. Grizzly, Avalanche, and Volcano were all running one train ops ON THEIR OPENING DAY when it was reported to be about as busy as a Fourth of July weekend. Even I305 was running just one train when I got in line for it on two occasions. Now for the good news - The park looked like a cross between Kings Island and Cedar Point (Two of my favorite parks.) to me. The midways look STRIKINGLY familiar when compared to Kings Island's (Especially in The Grove and I-Street.). The reason I say that the park reminds me of Cedar Point is because a lot of things like buildings and rides around you are tall just like at Cedar Point. Hope his helps and enjoy your trip to Kings Dominion.

Is it just me, or does the type of camera that was used make it seem like the ride is EXTREMELY shaky? If you look at the povs on CedarPointVideos' channel on Youtube, you can tell that it's the same type of camera. Dragster looks less shaky than I305 with the type of camera they used.

Giga and I almost got hit by a sea gull while riding in the front row on Maverick one morning. I believe it was right before the first overbanked turn. It more than slightly alarmed both of us to say the least!

If I remember correctly, I think I've only gotten bugs in my mouth one time and that was during CoasterMania! last year on my first ever ride on Mantis. I learned that if you ride it at all (I personally like the ride.) in the insect breeding season on a ride that goes over water then it probably shouldn't be in the front row. Dvo's story reminds me of four Millie rides that I had with gigacoaster2k, DaveStroem, and his daughters last September. I was in the second row for the first ride and had my hands up throughout the entire dusk ride. I felt some stings on my arms since I had them up on one of my favorite steel coasters. For some reason, I thought the gnats would simply bounce off my arms while going 93 MPH. WRONG! When we got to the final brake run, I looked at my arms that had AT LEAST 20, maybe 25 gnats total on both arms and got a little grossed out. Dave was behind me, looked at his, my, and giga's arms, and just laughed. We then rode Millie three more times until CP closed within the hour (It was DEAD at the park that day.). I remember seeing Single Rider Bob in the station with his arms covered and having probably at least 10 to 15 gnats on his face too. After those rides, I washed my arms and face off and eventually just laughed the whole thing off. I remember MeanStreakLady even taking pictures of our faces and arms before we washed them off, though. It was good times at Cedar Point that night! 500TH POST!

Yes. I think Angie and I will hit The Racer and some rides in Action Zone (Drop Tower DEFINITELY comes to mind.) and maybe some other stuff after riding The Beast, but I plan on staying in Planet Snoopy for at least half an hour to an hour to take some pictures and some video for my PTR/VTR.

No Millie? I am shocked. I'm not. She absolutely fell in love with Maverick and ESPECIALLY Magnum last year. That probably had something to do with having 4 crew members as friends.

A few rides come to mind: My first night ride on The Beast for obvious reasons. WOW! My first night ride on Diamondback. I'd read a post on here that said you couldn't see the track ahead of you at the top of the second hill. I didn't believe that post. BOY, was I wrong! My first ride on Maverick. WOW! JUST WOW! It's still my favorite steel coaster simply because it's it's out of freaking control! My first few rides on The Voyage. I LOVE the feeling of a roller coaster being out of control and this is WAY more out of control than Maverick in my opinion. I had a better adrenaline rush going after my first two rides on it than I did when I went skydiving. It was THAT good! My last ride on Raptor on Closing Day last year. For some reason I felt like I was FLYING off the rails and got the best speed rush on any coaster I've ever experienced riding. I was sitting in 6-1 of train 1 and think I found my new permanent seat on it. THAT was THE best steel coaster ride I've EVER had!

I like your optimism, Robbie. Keep up the good work and good things will come to you!

I'm pretty sure Terpy will back me up when I say that The Raven at Holiday World seems like it's going MUCH faster than 48 miles per hour due to its layout. Even in the POV it looks like it's all out booking it. One ride in particular I had that has compared to NOTHING I've ridden before was my last ride on Raptor on Closing Day last year. WOW!!! It LITERALLY felt like it was going to FLY off the rails and the positive Gs were AMAZING! It was better than any of the summer rides I had on it at high noon. I was sitting in 6-1 of train 1. I'll test this seat out on May 15th for sure because it was the best speed rush on any coaster I've EVER had!

Just remember two I use! Sorry if I offend anyone, but I'm not trying to mean it on a rude way. I call Avatar "Avatard" and Runaway Reptar "Runaway Reptard." And there is one other but I know I'll offend people and get int trouble so I'll just keep it to myself... Oh and also Tom, Reptard makes me feel sick too, who would think a kiddie coaster would do that! And yes, Dramamine works good. If only I had it for ERT on Diamondback during RWCW! You and me both in respect to Dramamine on Diamondback ERT on RWCW. THAT would have been nice. It wasn't that Reptar was shaky so much as it was my 10th roller coaster ride within about 3 hours when I was used to riding AT MOST 6 or 7 coasters in a day up to that point. RWCW was my first enthusiast event and my family always seemed to take me to KI on busy Saturdays, so my stomach wasn't agreeing with me before I got on Reptar. That was the last time I rode it and I think I can go without riding it again unless it's absolutely necessary due to the rattly ride it gives.

They're not really inside jokes, but I came up with nicknames for some coasters: Millennium Force (at night): Gnat Killer The Racer (because it ALWAYS staples me on the bunny hills): The Stapler Invertigo: The Blackout Machine One that combines an inside joke with a nickname is what I call Rugrats Runaway Reptar: That Yellow and Green Puke Machine. Ask anyone who was with me the first day of RWW about this and they'll crack up! Needless to say, I discovered what Dramamine could do for a weak-stomached coaster enthusiast after that.

This is truly sad. I'm glad I got to visit the park the three times I did last season. I'm really gonna miss being just two hours away from Greezed Lightnin', Thunder Run, Road Runner Express, friendly employees, and one of the cleanest parks I've ever visited. EDIT: Make that 3.

The front seat on Diamondback is pretty cool and I prefer the front seat on Firehawk, Mantis, and never rode anything but the front row on King Cobra. My favorite seat on Magnum is 1-2. I also try to sit towards the front on Flight of Fear.

I am DEFINITELY a coaster enthusiast. I love to use RCDB and Wikipedia to study them and I love to ride them. I also put that I'm a KI enthusiast. It's the park I've been to the most and the park I know the most about. Amusement park - Yes, because I'm ALWAYS interested in going to a new park or a park that I know I like and look forward to going to that park. Train - Funny you mentioned this one. I rode KI & MVRR nine times last season and found that each ride relaxed me. If I go to a new park I simply MUST ride their railroad if they have one (Even if it's just a kids' railroad.). I still have to complete the circuit for CP's railroad and I still have to ride SFKK's and Holiday World's railroads. I didn't get to ride the one at Jungle Jack's Landing because it wasn't running. Other - The thing my friends and I talk about the most is professional wrestling. I've been to one WWE pay-per-view, try to watch Raw every Monday night, and have been to COUNTLESS shows on the independent circuit. I've calmed down with wrestling ever since I became interested in coasters, but I still know more than the average person does about it.

First, I plan on sprinting to one of my favorite steel coasters and my favorite thrilling ride at KI, Diamondback. Then, I'll see what SOB's status is if no announcement is made since that's one of my favorite wooden coasters. I'll probably do everything else on the list at some point in time during the day except stand around not knowing what to do, but I'm not sure what order it'll be in.

Agreed, Terpy. Whatever goes in AT this season (If anything does.), I can't see it being Peanuts related honestly. The only two things I can see motion related that could fit in AT are Snoopy skipping and Charlie Brown missing the football. HOPEFULLY, I'm wrong as I don't mind Peanuts. As I said to another forum member off this site, I'd like to see a Peanuts-based show in Planet Snoopy where Charlie Brown misses the football EVERY time.

Nice trip report, Dvo! I'm saddened that you didn't get to ride Xcelerator (I REALLY wanna ride that!), but I think multiple laps on X2 and Tatsu certainly make up for that. One thing - Goliath was manufactured by Giovanola, not B & M. The one thing their hypers have in common, though, is their hard-hitting MCBR. I've seen multiple POVs of both Goliath and Titan at SFOT and in ALL the videos the mid-course brings them to an almost complete stop. Did you ride both sides on Colossus and Superman: The Escape?