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VortexBFForever

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Posts posted by VortexBFForever

  1. ^Same here! I loved watching them, but RIDING them was another story. I didn't ride a single coaster until I was 8. I started on Great Pumpkin Coaster and Woodstock Express in '07 and '08, then Flying ACE in '08 and early '09, and then on to Diamondback later in '09, and Vortex in 2010 (and BEYOND!!...). I did ride The Beast, Adventure Express, Drop Tower, Delirium, The Racer, and Flight Deck in 2008 (when I was 9), but it wasn't until 2010 after I started to ride Vortex that I returned to AE, Drop Tower, Delirium and FD and started regularly riding them as well, along with returning to The Beast in '09 when I started riding DB, and also (finally) returning to Racer in 2011 and this year, 2012, after I decided it was more than "just bumpy and mediocre." (In '08 I was still "scared silly" of riding all those bigger coasters--I was a bit "paranoid", I thought it wouldn't take much to get sick on even a small(er) coaster like AE. I eventually realized that I actually have a very strong stomach, and there is no need to worry about anything like that now.)

    ...Wow, I have a detailed history of my intro to roller coasters... :rolleyes:

    • Like 2
  2. Do NOT try to touch the tunnels. You can, and you can get badly hurt. Even if YOU don't. someone else may emulate your behavior and be badly hurt.

    As one of the park's biggest and best fans, you are in fact a park ambassador. And even your own safety is at stake.

    Now, how about a detailed ride comparison of those four Vortex seats you tried, from one of Vortex's biggest fans?

    I know. I found that out unintentionally that the tunnel was close enough to be touched. Little did I know, I actually had my hand out, as well as up, far enough to come into contact.

    Now the comparison of the seats of my "experiment," you ask? Here it is!

    row 1-1: This served as the "control" in the experiment. Loved feeling the wind in my face and hair, and especially loved seeing all that track in front of me. Very nice ride in general.

    row 3-1: This was your usual middle-of-train experience. I'd call it "slightly mediocre" if I could. To be honest, it wasn't as "fun" as 7-1, or even 1-1. I still enjoyed it anyway.

    row 5-1: Yes, 5-1 is the smoothest row. Definitely takes the cake when it comes to a nice, smooth flight on Vortex. Now I'll know which seat to ride if I ever get "tired" of being thrown around (like That'll ever happen!). :P

    row 7-1: This one is definitely the favorite out of these four rows. The airtime is just fantastic on the first drop! Not to mention literally being PULLED through those inversions! (sigh... :rolleyes: ) It also agreed with my hypothesis that 7-1 offers the wildest, if not, the most intense ride.

    EDIT: I got a perfect grade on the experiment! :)

    • Like 1
  3. After taking nearly an hour to upload all my September 3rd photos to Flickr, I am finally ready to write this TR. Or, should I say, a PTR! ha.

    So I arrived at the park at around 2:10 pm. I had known about these "Dollar Days" for quite a while. Upon entering the park, I immediately noticed how many more guests were purchasing food to eat. I mean, the LaRosa's on International Street had a good sized line!

    7932629256_6915f6a871_z.jpg

    IMG_2686 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    I was in the mood to listen to carousel music again, just like I was on August 4th. So I went to none other than the Grand Carousel! (woo hoo!) I took 2 rides on the very first KI ride I rode back on September 30, 2007. ;) My first GC ride of the day was on the jumping horse right next to the one pictured. (Original: if you are reading this, is this horse the one you were talking about in my 8/04 TR?)

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    IMG_2688 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    In fact, my other ride on GC was on that horse! :P

    7932629522_99b2041725_z.jpg

    IMG_2689 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    After that Grand ole' Carousel, I went to Coney Mall. It was by then that I realized that Diamondback was closed, which was strange. Earlier in the morning I had checked the webcam and it looked like it was open! But it was closed now, so I just went straight to Vortex. Now, part of why I wanted to go so bad was because in my Science class at school, I had a project where you have to do an experiment (it's about the Scientific Method) and it was due on 9/05, so I came up with this experiment to see which part of a Vortex train offers the wildest ride. I would ride in rows 1-1, 3-1, 5-1 and 7-1. My hypothesis was that 7-1 was sure going to be the wildest. When I arrived at Vortex, my first four rides on that thing were, in order, 1-1, 3-1, 5-1, and 7-1. Better yet, they were all on the same train, Train #1. The wait for each ride was about 10-15 minutes at the most. Oh and another thing: This time Vortex had 2 trains running instead of all 3. It was the first time I had ever seen it that way. Plus, I don't know why, but there wasn't an op saying the usual "Enjoy your ride on Vortex" and "How was your ride?". It didn't seem to affect the actual ride experience for me, it just actually made it feel kind of "miserable" in the station. (like eating fries without salt. It just has no "flavor" to it.)

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    IMG_2696 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    My first ride of the day, in 1-1:

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    IMG_1600 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    3-1 (I'm the person wearing the shirt that says ">>go" on it):

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    IMG_1604 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    Overall shot from my favorite viewing spot (hey, it rhymes!)

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    IMG_2699 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    7932629894_661d909b30_z.jpg

    IMG_2703 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    After riding Vortex four times, I headed to WindSeeker for a ride, since I just heard the first of the four How To Train Your Dragon soundtracks play on the cycle that just went (the song is called Romantic Flight) while I was getting off Vortex. The wait was about 7-10 minutes. I got Seat #47 on the third HTTYD soundtrack cycle (See You Tomorrow- that is what this song was called.) It was drizzling, and it was now starting to drizzle even harder, making for one heck of a mist up-top! It felt soooo good...

    After getting an epic 30 mph mist on WS, I decided to ride The Beast, not only cause it was raining, but I hadn't rode it even once this season (I was going to on August 4th, but the line was too long.).

    7932691916_dbd2e118bf_z.jpg

    IMG_2710 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    7932692280_0d55e2aa86_z.jpg

    IMG_2716 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    I really like the lights in the station. That got me wondering, what would they look like at night?

    (theBEASTunchained: if you're reading this, then this next photo will say it all. ;) )

    7932692596_e609ab1137_z.jpg

    IMG_2718 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    7932692706_3f618d684e_z.jpg

    IMG_2719 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    I don't have glasses, but I still like reading this sign.

    The ride was pretty beastly. (no pun intended) My favorite part? The double helix! Once you crest that second lift hill, you turn and go straight towards that tunnel, just going faster, and faster, and faster, and faster and fas-ANYWAY...it was epic, too! I was sitting on the left side of the train and I could actually TOUCH the wall of the tunnel!!!! I could tell, because after the ride I had dirt marks on my left fingers. :P

    7932692870_fd5c38a6ca_z.jpg

    IMG_2720 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    I looked at my photo (it looked AWESOME) and I noticed that the "o" in "photo" had disappeared. (Maybe The Beast himself stole it!)

    Now it was about 4:45 pm. I was getting REALLY hungry, and so was my mom, who always accompanies me on my KI trips since I'm not old enough to drive. yet. We each started off with one slice of pizza, along with the free 7 oz cups of water. Paid only $2.

    7932693244_6731ac1772_z.jpg

    IMG_2722 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    I LOVED the pizza! It was nice, hot and fresh, and it was so good that both of us got another slice each, for another $2. Another wonderful pizza slice for me.

    This was just fantastic. Four slices for $4. Go Dollar Days!!!

    7932744314_d4480582e9_z.jpg

    IMG_2728 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    This time, there was an op with the mic saying the usual stuff you'd hear on Vortex. A few minutes into the wait, the ride went down with a technical delay. Five minutes into the delay, the ops started asking trivia questions to keep the still waiting guests (and me) amused. I dominated about half of them...

    7932744544_7e0f5b33b5_z.jpg

    IMG_2729 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    7932744862_86a6814d39_z.jpg

    IMG_2730 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

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    IMG_2736 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    The questions I got were: What is Vortex's manufacturer (Arrow Dynamics), what other two coasters did Arrow make for KI (Flight Deck and Adventure Express), What deceased ride's queue is still existing (Flight Commander), What other three parks got a WindSeeker in 2011 (Knott's, Wonderland, and Cedar Point), What two parks just got WindSeeker this year (KD and Carowinds), what three giga coasters are in Cedar Fair parks (Millennium Force, I305, and Leviathan), and I'm sure there were a few others I got as well.

    At first, during the delay, the chain was running for 5 minutes after they started keeping Train #1 in the station and not going anywhere, then eventually the chain was turned off and the whole ride was just really quiet. You could clearly hear WindSeeker's soundtracks playing, no matter where you stood in the station.

    Finally, about 17 minutes after Vortex went down, they started testing: first Train #1, and then #2. I could just tell when I heard that chain again. It was still drizzling out, so when #1 came back into the station, it had rain drops all over it. Luckily, I was wearing my raincoat around my waist so that wasn't a problem. I was originally in line for my favorite airtime row, row 6-2, but during the delay, quite a few people had left, leaving several rows empty. One of them was 5-1. I thought "Hey, I'll just go to 5-1 since there's no one there." I was actually deciding between 5-1 and 5-2. The op was saying things like "We are just about ready to roll," and "Are you guys ready to ride?" Of course I was ready, after standing in line and answering trivia questions for 15-20 minutes. What an interesting 95th ride. On the way up the lift, the rain stopped and the soon-to-be-setting sun was peeking through the layer of gray clouds that were covering the sky. Quite memorable, especially when I had the entire 5th car all to myself. Even better, when I got back to the station, no one was waiting for 7-1 so I took a re-ride in that row. Fine start for marathoning, now I'll be prepared for October! :D

    To "celebrate," I took another ride on WindSeeker. That was when another weird thing happened. Right before I was assigned to Seat #30 on WS, The Vortex train I was on just moments ago (yes, it's train #1) came to a stop on the lift. I had no idea what was up with that, but a few minutes later it was going again.

    7932745406_c03bd83898_z.jpg

    IMG_2742 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    Part 2 in next post!

    • Like 8
  4. Thank you KI for those wonderful bargains-stuffed myself on the $1 per slice pizza. ( I'm not sure I'm happy about what it did to my waist line-lol.) Also, the park was practically empty the whole weekend, so had nice short waits. ( Not sure it proves my point about holiday weekends not being crowded or because of the threat of bad weather.) At any rate, a nice, pleasant weekend. Next up Haunt.

    Markr nailed it. Not busy, most rides were a short wait or walk on. 6 coneys, and 4 slices. Now I am an extra large Snowman! I saw the Don getting 2 coneys himself. It was a deal too good to pass up. Great deals on tee and sweat shirts to. Great weekend, memorable time.

    Time for the Great Pumpkin!

    Yes I agree, it was great this weekend! This was the first Saturday that we've been all summer where the crowds weren't overtaking the park. Yes there was that threat of bad weather, but it never did get too bad Saturday. I think it rained for about 15 minutes around 8:30 Saturday night at the park. We were waiting in line for some $1 cotton candy and it started to drizzle a little bit. Nothing too bad. After we got our cotton candy we rode Boo Blasters and by the time we got off it had stopped raining.

    We very much enjoyed the deals too! I grabbed some LaRosa's pizza in the Festhaus and then a little bit later down by The Beast. We also couldn't help be treat ourselves to some blue ice cream before heading out. I also stocked up on some $1 bag of cotton candy to take home with me! All in all it was a great weekend and the deals were a big hit. I'm looking forward to heading back to the park in October to enjoy the park in the fall weather.

    All 3 of you nailed it! :D I was there on monday, and had a fantastic time. We abused the prices (XD), and we had a great time.

    We won a giant pillow pet penguin (thanks to the carnival topic), and his name is Pablo the Penguin :) . Im sitting on him now typing and he is HUMUNGUS!!!

    I was there on Monday too!! I wrote a PTR about it. My mom and I each got two slices of LaRosa's for only $4! What a deal! Plus I finally got past 100 overall rides on Vortex (rode it 12 times on 9/03) and am now at 102! ^_^

    • Like 1
  5. Sorry in advance for the double post.

    From Labor Day, September 3rd:

    (note: all of these were said by the same op)

    "Enjoy your ride on the best coaster in the world: The Vortex!!"

    Op: "Welcome back, Train 1! How was your ride?"

    Riders: "WOOOHOOOYEAH!!!"

    Op: "Wicked Twister! Push down and pull up on your restraint, exit to the left and enjoy the rest of your day at Kings Dominion.........Island.........Point...whatever."

    Op: "I win." (he and another op were checking the restraints on a Vortex train that was tested after a technical delay. He finished checking his side of the train first)

    Other op: "But it was never a race!"

    Op: "That's what the losers always say." :P

    That's only a few of them. :lol:

    • Like 3
  6. How in the world did a simple post of mine cause all this? :P I'm a she, and it's much more than "perhaps." ;)

    Now if we can eventually get back on the REAL topic here...

    BFF, still wondering.

    • Like 2
  7. Yes, you do get some air in the front. But 6-2 and 7-1 are my absolute favorites when it comes to airtime. :) (Those seats literally pull you over the top of the first hill and through the inversions)

    And yes, 5-1 is the smoothest row.

    Very glad that you're trying Vortex again! Like Original said, (and what is in fanofFirehawk's signature) the back is where it's at. :lol:

  8. There was nobody in our row, so we stayed on. Another great ride. I love putting my legs up (or down) on the first drop and corkscrews.

    You MARATHONED Vortex?!?!?! On a Friday night in August? I am SOOOOO envious. :lol: I LOOOOVE marathoning Vortex. If I do go to KI tomorrow (September 3rd), I hope I'll be able to do some. If I don't, at least October will have some great days. Glad you enjoyed Vortex, the other rides, and the Backyard BBQ thing. Sounds like you had a lot of fun!

    EDIT: I remember my very first marathon on Vortex. It was in the evening of Sunday, September 26, 2010. I was 11 years old at the time. There was literally NO ONE waiting in the station. The ops were actually inviting me to stay on if I wanted. Meanwhile, the other passengers were getting off. I was the only one who stayed on, so for the rest of the evening, I had AN ENTIRE TRAIN all to myself! :wub: I will forever treasure that memory as I continue my riding on Vortex to this day. (What are the odds that someone will see an 11 year old on an entire Vortex train she has all to herself?) Ahh, good times, good times indeed. :rolleyes:

    • Like 4
  9. And one thing they do need to fix is how rough The Vortex is, it may not be rough to you all adults out there, but danggg! it feels like its breaking us kids necks.

    Vortex is not necessarily rough to me, and I'm a young 5'5" tall teenager! :P Sure, some of that previous sentence was my opinion, but still...(i know how to ride it just right!)

  10. For me, I don't necessarily have limits, but the rides with the most consecutive rides I've managed to do (I can do a bigger number in the future) are as follows:

    Vortex: 13 18

    (and I STILL felt fine! Maybe its 'cause of younger age)

    Diamondback: 10

    Viper (DL): 10

    Loch Ness Monster: 6 (it was crowded at BGW the day I went there)

    Like I said before, it is pretty likely that I may surpass those records of mine in the future (or at least attempt to) :rolleyes:

    • Like 2
  11. I used to have nightmares about my restraint failing on The Vortex while upside-down. I always managed to stay in my seat though.

    Wow. :rolleyes: I once had a dream I was riding Vortex, except the restraint was a piece of string. :blink: And that dream occurred BEFORE I started riding it in real life! (had the dream in either '08 or '09, and I started riding in 2010). Weird huh?

  12. That may be my last ride on Vortex ever.

    I actually gasped when I read that. lol :o

    EDIT: double post. sorry. I was not thinking right about that, so I ended up with a second post instead of it all being in the first one. <_<

    • Like 2
  13. note: double post! sorry in advance. :)

    It's been a long, long time, but I finally got around to uploading some pictures from the trip, along with a video I took in AE's station when the fireworks started at 10pm.

    EDIT: The video won't post! :(

    7869029940_42b36da802_z.jpg

    7869029792_e890f06b7a_z.jpg

    7869029662_de7e483470_z.jpg

    This one was taken when my three friends and I were watching Thunder Alley. I'm on the far right. :D

    7882987392_0c91fb2278_z.jpg

    IMG_2560 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    7882987672_d70b324e07_z.jpg

    IMG_2566 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

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    IMG_2567 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

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    IMG_2575 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

    Enjoy!

    • Like 1
  14. Steel (Looping)

    1. Vortex @KI

    2. Alpengeist @BGW

    3. Volcano: The Blast Coaster @KD

    4. Griffon @BGW

    5. Loch Ness Monster @ BGW

    6. Firehawk @KI

    7. Shockwave @KD

    8. Invertigo @KI

    9. Anaconda @KD

    10. Viper @DL

    Steel (Non-Looping)

    1. Magnum XL-200 @CP

    2. Apollo's Chariot @BGW

    3. Intimidator 305 @KD

    3. Diamondback @KI

    4. Millennium Force @CP

    5. Top Thrill Dragster @CP

    6. Flight Deck @KI

    7. Adventure Express @KI

    8. Iron Dragon @CP

    9. Gemini @CP

    10. Python @CI

    Wood

    1. The Beast @KI

    2. Red Racer @KI

    3. Predator @DL

    4. Blue Racer @KI

    5.Woodstock Express @KI

    Overall

    1. Magnum XL-200 @CP

    2. Vortex @KI

    3. Apollo's Chariot @BGW

    4. Alpengeist @BGW

    5. Diamondback @KI

    6. Millennium Force @CP

    7. Volcano: The Blast Coaster @KD

    8. The Beast @KI

    9. Griffon @BGW

    10. Loch Ness Monster @BGW

    These lists might not be the most accurate of mine since I just thought them off the top of my head :P

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