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CoasterKrazy

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Everything posted by CoasterKrazy

  1. This is so cool! If the coaster is half as good as the marketing campaign has been, we're going have one awesome ride on our hands!
  2. Also known as a sidewinder.
  3. Being that there are multiple people in the apartments paying $400 per person...... A little expensive is kinda an understatement. According to the report from Atlanta, rent is $1200 a month for a four-person apartment, which is $300 per person. If, as BoddaH1994 claims, that is all-inclusive, the price isn't bad. I'll be paying just over $350 a month for a four-person appartment in Clifton, and that doesn't include heat, electricity, or internet access. The living conditions are not what was advertised to the students, and that is certainly very wrong, but as far as pricing goes, I'd say it's comparable to that of a "normal" housing situation.
  4. Let's see if this works. Look at the bottom right-hand corner of the sign. Firehawk entrance sign
  5. An often-discussed "mystery" on Cedar Point forums is the meaning behind the 12E on the Disaster Transport building. A few weeks ago, I noticed what appear to be dates (2.02.88/7.01.92) on a sign at Firehawk's entrance. Does anyone know the significance (if any) behind these dates?
  6. Most likely due to the fact that a majority of our theming was actual props from the Tomb Raider movie and had to be removed when the liscene was lost. I believe that KD's theming was simply build for the ride and had nothing to do with the actual movie. I could be wrong, but that seems like the best reasoning. Interestingly enough, KD is still playing music from Tomb Raider (the movie) in their Congo area.
  7. A reputable source over at CoasterBuzz claimed when he heard of the coaster back in '06, he was told it would have the same trains as Behemoth, and sadly, the same name. He's right on the first count, but I can only hope the second has since been changed. The press invitations seem to indicate otherwise, though...
  8. The first time I rode The Crypt I thought the experience was too intense. However, the second time I rode was awesome! I don't think I was prepared for such a drastic change in the ride program from TR:TR, which may have been why I didn't enjoy the new program the first time. Aside from the lack of themeing in the ride chamber, I'm really happy with the new program. As a side note, the second time I rode The Crypt, they had a soundtrack during the ride consisting of wind and wolf howls. Nothing to write home about really, and you could only hear it at the very beginning and end, but it's there nonetheless.
  9. Interesting...where these things announced explicitly, or are they based on artists renderings and things of that nature?
  10. I must admit, the length of this coaster is a bit disappointing when compared to that of other B&M hypers. Here's hoping the reduced length is due to an extremely steep lift hill and first drop!
  11. Where exactly is the "Ye Olde Witch's Academy?" I know of where a house is on the property, it might be the same exact place just different name. The "fort" to the right of the train as you leave from the station in Boomerang Bay was, at one time, known as Ye Olde Witch's Academy, but that sign was not visible on my train ride this past Sunday. Come to think of it, "Academy" may have been spelled with an "ie," but I'm not entirely sure...
  12. Having visited both Kings Island and Kings Dominion, I noticed a few similarities between the placement of the two parks: -Both parks are located directly off an interstate -Both parks are located approximately 20 miles north of a medium-sized city -Both parks have a small cemetery in the parking lot -Both parks have a house located somewhere on park property (KI's in Ye Olde Witch's Acedemy, KD's in the parking lot) I find the last two to be quite interesting. In my opinion, it is improbable those two characteristics would be found on both sites without making an effort to do so (notice: improbable, but not impossible). Would anyone happen to have any insight into how Taft determined where to place their parks?
  13. Is there a KIC event in the works for this season? Thanks!
  14. I also just got back from a trip to Six Flags Great Adventure, and rode both. Rolling Thunder was not at all enjoyable, in my opinion. I found it to be quite rough. Runaway Mine Train was a typical Arrow mine train with a few hard transitions, but a relatively smooth ride. It was comparable to Adventure Express, but I think I prefer our coaster at Kings Island.
  15. When I was working in Norwood for my first co-op assignment, I was surprised at how empty the parking lot seemed almost every day. Granted, only very rarely did I pass by on a weekend, but even then it seemed like the cinema wasn't receiving much business.
  16. The B&M/Arrow Drachen Fire conspiracy is a great story, but I can't imagine it being any more that that. It's a great piece of enthusiast lore that seems plausible (especially given the incredibly unique design compared to other Arrow coasters, along with the rumors that a similar situation occurred between Schwarzkopf and Arrow for Big Bad Wolf), and I really want to believe it, but so many people who seem to be in the know have discounted this theory. I'd like it to be true just as much as the next guy, but there are a few holes in the story that seem to hint at a cunning fabrication. (B&M couldn't figure out how to put a loop around the lift hill, they had designed the ride but had other work to finish so gave the design to Arrow, Busch was okay with a breach of contract, etc.) If it had been originally designed by B&M, where are the wraparound corkscrews and cutbacks on their coasters now? Also, a media pack sent to me by Arrow a number of years ago has blueprints for Drachen Fire on the front cover, with no mention of B&M whatsoever. I imagine Busch made very specific requests for their new ride, resulting in the very unique Arrow design that just didn't work out very well.
  17. No, the only way to discover a good design is not building and failing, especially with respect to a structure on which human lives depend. Certainly, much knowledge can be had from the analysis of failed designs, even moreso than the analysis of successful designs according to some, but that knowledge should be obtained from models and prototypes, not the full-scale product. For whatever reason, there were several issues that Arrow engineers did not consider significant, or did not consider at all, and these issues proved to be too great for the ride to be an economically viable attraction at the park.
  18. Arrow pioneered the first modern inverting roller coaster, which was Corkscrew at Knott's Berry Farm. Revolution at SFMM was the first modern looping coaster, and was designed by Anton Schwarzkopf. Also, Wild Thornberry's River Adventure is part O.D. Hopkins, part Arrow, since the 2001 refurbishment. I know that the trough was replaced, but other than that, I don't know how much O.D. Hopkins did.
  19. Rumor has it that a lawsuit from Six Flags regarding the problems with X caused Arrow to go under. That, however, seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back. Along with the lawsuit, a long-diminishing demand for their coasters, and the research and development that went into X and the proposed Fishhook coaster at the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas, ultimately drove Arrow into bankruptcy. I suppose bad management could be attributed to Arrow's demise, but that definition may differ from one perspective to another. Certainly, it would seem their main problem was not evolving with the market, thereby failing to remain competitive with Intamin and B&M. Arrow showed much improvement with the advent of Tennessee Tornado and their expanded product line (ArrowBATic, Virginia Reel, 4D), but it simply came too late in the game. The reason for that is probably known to only a select few, and I doubt any of them frequent these boards.
  20. Yes, it's gone. Last year the sign was there though. Actually Vortex got the new sign last year. Cant wait to see the pics! Too bad about the X-Base sign. From a purely logistical standpoint, I really like the FOF/Firehawk signs, but something a bit more appealing right at the apex of the arch would be nice. I have to admit, I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't notice my favorite ride had a new sign last year. I guess I'm just going to have to take more pictures! I have just a few pictures, nothing too exciting. My camera isn't the best, but it gets the job done. You'll notice that White Water Canyon has new (or at least new to me!) geysers as well. I'm fairly certain this this the second (if not third) different set of geysers Cedar Fair has installed since they bought the park. KI Pictures from May 9, 2008
  21. I headed home from UC Friday night and decided to stop by the park, since the parking lot was practically deserted. A just made a giant loop around the park, starting with Action Zone. The new Invertigo sign has a lighting package, but only the "tigo" was lit. I took a quick ride on Drop Tower (1 cycle wait), and headed over to Adventure Express. While a few of the drummers on the final lift don't seem to be able to lift their arms, the lights in all of their eyes are the brightest I have even seen. The same goes for the head-honcho at the top of the lift; incredibly bright eyes, and his mouth moved with the audio as well. I was very happy to see that, and hope this is an indication of future TLC to come. I took a stroll down Coney Mall and noticed a few "higher end" snacks being sold at the venues (french bread pizza, paninis, wraps, etc.) I didn't take a look at the prices (astronomical, I assume) but I like the idea! Once in X-Base, I took a quick ride on FOF. (Speaking of X-Base, was there a sign other than the FOF and Firehawk signs on the old OL:FOF arch just before you go under Racer? There's nothing there now, but I thought there was another X-Base sign...) Most of the lights in the hanger were on, but the ambiance wasn't too bad. There are still a few things to be fixed/cleaned/painted, but other than that, not bad. The queue video wasn't playing; anyone seen it this season? The audio in the station was playing though, which made me extremely happy. MCBR was on hard, but I don't mind much. Finishing up Coney Mall, I noticed that Vortex has a new sign. Not much different from the old one, but the lights around the lettering are gone. The construction zone is looking good. The splash down is very apparent, so I'd be willing to be we're getting a dive machine. Clearing behind The Crypt is coming along. I got to ride The Crypt, and the new queue themeing is growing on me. The lighting has been tweaked, and a few other minor changes have been made, but it looks good. The queue has been vastly improved from my last visit (see my last TR) and is much easier to navigate. The crew seemed more professional too (although it was a different one). The ride itself is incredibly intense. The other riders certainly noticed the missing themeing, but they seemed to really like the new program. It was too intense for me, but I understand why people like it. I'll post a few pics on my Picasa in a few hours.
  22. I doubt that was a direct quote. It seems quite callous for a man who is trying to attract guests to his parks, rather than repel them. I wouldn't be surprised if the interviewer took a few "journalistic liberties" to paraphrase Mr. Kinzel's exact words.
  23. For pictures, see my Picasa album. Due to the breakdown, I didn't get to ride The Crypt, but from what I understand, it does flip more than the old TR:TR sequence.
  24. Given the beautiful weather we've been having in Cincinnati, I decided to take a break from studying (probably not a good idea, but I'll live) and head to the Island for a few hours. I got to the park around 4:00PM and used my Platinum Pass for parking; no problems at all. I wanted to see the new ride location signs, so I drove to the north end of the parking lot. Obviously, Face/Off is now Invertigo, and Drop Zone is now Drop Tower. I stepped through the metal detectors, and up to the turnstiles to have my pass scanned. I got to take a look at my picture as it popped up on the screen, and was verified by the ticket taker. Upon entering the park, I noticed the very attractive new Guest Relations booth. It is quite impressive, I must admit. The park itself looks great. It is very clean, and it seems to me that the number of employees roaming the park has been increased greatly, especially Area Supervisors and Ecology. The new signs aren't too bad either. It wasn't too crowded, but since I didn't ride any rides, I wasn't able to gauge lines. Based on comments I heard from other guests, there are still a number of bugs that need to be worked out from the rides and crews are a bit slow loading. I imagine this will improve with time. After walking around the park for a bit and taking a few pictures, I saw that The Crypt was open and I decided to take it for a spin. The new sign was very well done, and other than that, the outdoor queue is the same. It appeared to me that the speakers at the entrance of the tomb (beneath the skull fire cauldrons) have been removed, but I cant be certain. Based on the line movement, I think the ride now takes 35-40 guests per ride, a very dramatic drop from the original capacity. Almost all references to Tomb Raider have been removed; all "ruins" beneath the queue have been turned over, any and all "eyes" are gone, and every statue from previous seasons are nowhere in sight. The additional themeing is alright, and I'm impressed with the amount of time CF has taken to revamp the ride, but my personal feelings are that it will never be as good as before. The ride itself broke down, but based on other reports, I'm not going to be happy with that either. I completely understand the parks decision to remove all Paramount references, but its going to take a long time for me to get used to it. I guess I know how the older folks around the boards feel. Themeing aside, a few other interesting events took place within the old tomb. To be blunt, the ride crew did a horrible job handling the breakdown of the ride. It wasn't until 35 minutes after the breakdown that any kind of announcement was made regarding the ride's status, and that announcement was informal at best. Letting riders know that they could leave the queue simply involved yelling about and pointing to the chicken chute. The guests in line were very unruly, and no attempt was made to ensure that they remained within the designated queues. I understand the park can't control rude guests (and there were many of them; it was high school choir day or something like that) but the ride ops were very unprofessional, and I was quite disappointed with their performance. I hope the park will take the time to further train this particular Crypt crew in guest relations. I left The Crypt's queue and took another quick stroll around the park. I stopped by Festhaus, and the new show was in progress. I watched for a few minutes, and was glad to see that the other guests were doing the same. I'm not one for shows, but I was thrilled to see this addition and I hope Cedar Fair continue this practice. The construction zone has not changed much based on the last few photo updates. Seeing as how I'm only a structural-engineer-in-training, I can't make any claims regarding the status, but I find it interesting that the top of the footings appear to be below the surface level of Swan Lake. Based on the remaining grade, I think the lake will return, but smaller than before. While my experience in The Crypt was not a good one, I'm looking forward to a great season. Theming aside, I think Cedar Fair is going to take Kings Island in a very different, but very good direction.
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