2012Jarrett

Normally I'd want those responsible for smoking outside of designated smoking areas swiftly ejected from the park, but FoF is an exception. (Not joking, I saw a group of three people smoking in The Beast's cattlepen at night last week.) Glad to hear it's open, though. Hoping to be able to reunite with my first looper at Kings Island shortly.

Thanks so much! Just registered, can't wait to do this with all of you fabulous people! Debating on joining Coaster Crew next season, this seems like a good way to get a foot in the door and meet some people.

So if I'm a KIC forum member that isn't with Coaster Crew, I could register and go still? I just found this and it looks great, but I want to make sure I can go. I have a Gold Pass so I don't need park admission, just the fee, correct?

^I second that Oktoberfest should get a makeover. It's pretty much the only park area bar International Street that hasn't gotten a recent one and I think it feels dated. My thinking was to move Sling Shot to X-Base into the backstage area by The Racer and possibly rename it and repaint it red, black, yellow, or a combination (red crossbeams with black and yellow striped poles would look AWESOME). This way, they could use this space to re-route the path a bit and put in Flying Scooters, possibly also reviving the Flying Eagles name. This would give it the opportunity to swing out over the water like the ones at Knott's. Also, if possible, put a Himalaya in there called Autobahn that's themed accordingly. However, I feel like the real appeal here could be lighting. Having a sort of "nightlife" section of the park would be great. Adding Gemini Midway string lights and a lighting package on the new rides and it would complete the package. This would probably be an unrealistic thought as we JUST GOT a spectacular new coaster, but if they really want to go the KBF Boardwalk with this as I suggested, they could put a path wrapping around behind Flying Eagles (though the above suggestion of adding the bridge defeats the purpose of this) and connect it to a small park model Wild Mouse that could bring back the Bavarian Beetle name. This would not only put a new coaster right next to the other new coaster but the new new coaster be dwarfed by the old new coaster so it has it's issues but I've always felt the park should get a mouse and with Coney Mall nearly full (only place I could imagine for one there would block off potential expansion) Oktoberfest would, theme-wise, be the next best place to put it. Put the arched path behind Flying Eagles and add a mouse framed by two Bavarian-style buildings (possibly a bakery a la BGW and a souvenir shop) and some room to run a path under Banshee to the area behind it and they could have something going for them. And while we're there, I hate to disobey the 11th commandment, but maybe some love for Adventure. Express is in order. Turn some of the effects back on and plant around it a bit, maybe add some more tunnels to keep Banshee from showing you who's boss the whole time, little things. They've already repainted the sign, who knows what more they do? Hank's is a bit of a headscratcher, though. It really doesn't have to be there with the Festhaus and Biergarten so close. Maybe turn the building into a nameless facade used for Haunt and serve the food on International Street or a new Tex-Mex place in Rivertown? I was inspired by the Gemini Midway and Knott's Berry Farm boardwalk, with a bit of help from BGW's Oktoberfest. -x- As for my idea, I want them to do a little something-something with the old Crypt building. I feel like it would be the perfect setting for Wonder Mountain's Guardian to get a sister coaster. They should theme it to a mine with hidden treasure but with a Journey to the Center of the Earth-type feel with the underground world and you have to blast dangerous animals. It's big, empty, and abandoned, the perfect place to add one of these. The park has decent major coasters, but I feel that if they add one more, it should be one more launcher. Cedar Fair already got Mack to do Coast Rider, maybe they could do more custom projects in the future? Maybe one that starts in Action Zone, launches through a Gatekeeper-style renovated entrance, turns onto International Street, meanders up it over the path, and dives into the fountain at the end a la Diving Coaster Vanish before popping back up on the entrance side and turning to go back to Action Zone, possibly corkscrewing over the path? It'd be hard to fit but I feel it can be done.

I was there with an old school friend and we actually managed to ride Monster in the thunder and lightning and Flight of Fear before having to leave. I was soaked but we got in 3 on Banshee, one on Diamondback, one on Vortex, and one on The Bat as the rain started so overall a fun evening.

I always imagined it to look somewhat like a huge coyote with orange fur and red eyes. Ohio does have coyotes in the woods (I've seen a few in my suburban Dayton backyard) and they're a dangerous animal in the region that isn't spoken of or seen often, mostly hiding in the woods. The Beast is definitely the King Kong of Coyotes if you ask me.

So my 20th birthday is next week and for it I got a Kings Island Gold Pass. Today I decided to make my first ever venture down to the Thrill Capital of the Midwest (Not the world, that's either CP or SFMM) to claim it and get my paws on my first usable gold pass! I was nervous about the drive so my dad drove down for the highway bit and I just followed him. After we got to the home stretch in Middletown, we split, he went home, and I finished the last third of the drive unescorted. I had driven to Kings Island with just someone to follow! I was so proud of myself! And this highway driving thing opens up opportunities to do Cedar Point and Kentucky Kingdom next season! First thing I did was get my Gold Pass processed. Apparently in this day and age of all this technology people still need to print their confirmation numbers, I was the only one to have pulled theirs up on their smartphone for them to punch in...and that was it! But regardless, I have my pass! And I got it on this date! As if the thread title didn't suggest it! First up on the lineup was none other than my baby and the best ride at the park, Banshee! Got the purple train the first two times but the last time I got the blue train (though it was rattling some), so three rides on my favorite Kings Island ride wasn't bad at all! What a way to celebrate the new Gold Pass! After a few spins on Banshee, I decided to go to Skyline Chili. At Kings Island. Just need a Red's baseball cap and this is the most Cincinnati thing ever... Diamondback was next...and it rattled a bit. I, that coaster's five years of existence, have NEVER had a rattly ride on Diamondback! It was in the middle-ish of the brown train if that helps anybody, but it rattled and I've never had it do that on me before. I cut across this area behind Eiffel Tower when I realized, there's a LOT of room back here and it looks boring except for Starlight Spectacular. They would HAVE to be able to move enough Starlight Spectacular stuff around back here to fit in a small flat of sorts. Maybe a new Flying Scooters reviving the Flying Eagles name? I got my painful history lesson on The Racer but when I got off...would ya look at that! Diamondback was down! I used to call it Diamondback, but after my last visit when they were stacking three trains deep because of the seatbelts I called it DiamondSTACK, but with it broken down on the lift like that...it's DiamondSTUCK!!!!! Where can this go from here? This HAS to become a thing! Okay, I KNOW I'm about to get blasted for this, but here goes. I've been wanting them to do a few minor touch-ups on The Beast to make it seem less dated and more nostalgic (the mantra I've been using to describe Cedar Fair's renewed focus on paying homage to parks' pasts). They have the new logo that they use on the merchandise and while they could have a new fancy sign made, I'd like them to stick with this iconic one. However, I noticed it seemed pretty faded. They should really repaint this sign and maybe put it closer to the path, maybe out in the center of the ride plaza like other modern Cedar Fair coasters (Leviathan, Gatekeeper, Banshee). I've always had the biggest set of problems with this building. First off, you're about to face The Beast, the path to go do that should be ominous, not "BUY M&M'S AND Coke!!!! COLD DRINKS HERE!!!!" Either knock it down or make it seem relevant to the ride's theme other than "Beast Canyon." Put some boarded up windows, weathering, and a few warning signs on it Plus, these vending machines are well away from where the queue normally goes when it's full and I feel like they should be moved into the actual cattlepens. Additionally, The Beast is hard to see as it is and some unfamiliar guests coming to the park for their first time may not even know it exists and walk right past it. Decorating the queue as just another Rivertown building at the end of a path would probably make them just glance at it and walk away, especially with the "COLD DRINKS" sign. That ride plaza and entrance need to SCREAM that The Beast is back there. Plus, giving it some love would help make it feel more nostalgic. But it's a lovely station. Maybe hanging some lumber tools from the ceiling would help but it's fine as is. And all in all, a SICK, sick ride that I feel doesn't get the justice it deserves from its theming and plaza. I wouldn't change anything about the ride itself except maybe make it faster and smoother. I just feel like putting more on the plaza and queue line would be a good way to up this ride's publicity, both because it would be more noticeable from the Rivertown midway and because it would give the park a chance to advertise it. I LIKE The Beast Canyon thing they had going, though. Maybe turn Beast Canyon into a sort of subsection of Rivertown like X-Base is to Coney Mall? Finding space to put another attraction or two might be hard but I'm sure it can be done. I see you, Vortex! Seeing that Diamondback was still down, I went to go hit up Backlot Stunt Coaster. Fun little ride, good for families. I love the new Biergarten! Hello, Bat! I was getting into favorite seat on my favorite train on Banshee (blue train, front row, leftmost seat) when I feel my restraint pop up and they force us back into the gates. Banshee's down for weather! Great! I waited 90 minutes but they never opened it back up even after the rain so I left to get stuff out of my locker and continue my day at the park. Look at the line that formed outside! She REALLY doesn't like rain to stay down this long... I spent the rest of my day walking around and taking pictures. Got this nice Oktoberfest one, but I really feel like this area needs a facelift. Something to draw people in, like Cedar Point's Gemini Midway complete with string lights. Is this sign new? I can't recall having seen it looking like this before for some reason. Artsy overcast shot of Race for your Life Charlie Brown. I feel like they need to do something with this old queue... It wasn't today that I noticed how photogenic Vortex is. It's crazy to think that back in 1987 this ride was the new big thing at Kings Island and somebody else was probably photographing it from every angle like I'm doing with Banshee in 2014. I wonder if Banshee will ever be "that rough coaster nobody wants to ride anymore." And I can't wait to see what they DO want to ride! Sometime in the past The Bat was here, you can still see some of the old Bat footers! Old and new. She's still a-sleepin' back there... I felt dumb not having checked out Cirque Imagine, but hey, I'm a Gold Pass holder. I can see it any time I wish. And from there I left to brave Mason rush hour traffic. A good day to you!

So my home state of Ohio has been receiving a lot of love from Cedar Faire in the recent years. Kings Island got a new waterpark in 2012 and a kick :xcensoredx: B&M invert for this year, and Cedar Point just last year got an almost equally kick :xcensoredx: B&M wing coaster and this year got two new flats as well as an area facelift. One of my friends from another site was going to be going and invited locals to come along. I was the only one who took him up on it, but we went and had quite a blast! Day 1: Kings Island Coaster nerd outfit theme? Crappy B&M inverts! We got to KI around 1-2-ish and headed left. First ride WAS supposed to be Invertigo, but we decided to make our first ride a decent one, so hit up my baby, Banshee! All I can say is WOW!!! It's definitely gotten faster since media day, and the amount of snap in the zero-g has gone way up. Still as intense as ever, though the carousel turn has sped up significantly and has gotten really intense as a result. The inline provided just as much terrifying "dump" as it did on media day, and the helix felt a tad bit more intense. Not to mention it looks fabulous, too... Afterwards we made like the Cincinnati Reds and went up to The Bat. Again, great Arrow suspended (though I like SFMM Ninja better) and it wasn't dripping oil on everybody like it was on media day. Because it was a walk-on, we decided to do Banshee again. But when I saw the purple train roll into the station, I knew we were in for an experience far from your typical Banshee ride. And boy was I right! The rattling had only gotten worse since media day and it kind of made what should have been an amazing ride just meh. It rattled like an Arrow! For some reason the blue train is completely rattle-free, the green train has just a bit of it, and the purple train rattles like crazy. Not sure why, but I hope KI fixes it like they did Gatekeeper stapling. And then we hit this oh-so-much-fun ride to clean out the last of the park section full of inverted coasters. Invertigo; I REALLY hate that ride! It was better than KBF's boomerang but that really doesn't say too much! It was a walk-on (which isn't that common, I've seen it get two-hour waits) but it was still painful. And I hate the shoulder cup things on the OTSRs, not sure if they've always been there but I just now noticed them. Flying Ace was next on our way to Diamondback. Meh, it's Flying Ace. Somewhat rough, but a nice little family coaster. Maybethey could add the new Vekoma trains with the overhead lap bars? Up next was Diamondback... ...or as it should be called, DiamondSTACK. I have NEVER in my life seen a B&M stack that badly! Both trains on both brake blocks and one in the station nowhere close to dispatching, it was unbelievable! Those seatbelts really are a pain and I saw a few that worked a bit differently than others. Kings Island needs to send those seatbelts to the same place wherever Son of Beast is to burn for eternity! That being said, it was still a fab ride, as always. :wink: And what good is a trip to KI without LaRosa's or Skyline Chili? I did this after we did The Beast and while my friend did BSC. After getting beaten on Vortex, my friend hit Firehawk, a ride on which I sat out on account of it being vile on multiple levels. We then finished the loop with Racer and Adventure Express (see what I can do when I forget to take pictures? This, Diamondstack, I'm on fire tonight!) and yeah. Racer was running just one side but red was still somewhat smooth and airtime-y. Fun old ride, I have to admit. And Adventure Express got rougher I think. It might have been just my imagination, though. I wish they had changed the bulb in the lava at the end though, don't make an already anticlimactic ending even worse. While enthusiast #2 went to knock out Woodstock Express and Eiffel Tower, I went to spend some quality time with my baby... :wink: These people might get off feeling the impulse to ride a small children's tricycle along a gravel path. Look at the color of the train... Got a tad thirsty so I tried a Banshee brew. It was good, but full of sugar and the flavors never really mix. Here she goes! This is probably my most photographed coaster... If I was over just a bit more this would be a fabulous shot... Back to earth! Fun on Banshee! IT'SBEHINDTHETREESIT'SBEHINDTHETREESIT'SBEHINDTHETREES!!!!!!!! Man, this coaster knocks 'em dead... I tried SO hard to get that last shot from a lower angle with more of the train! I was that weirdo laying on his stomach in the park with his camera pointing through the fence bars trying to get it! Chicken Shack is open for business! On this trip I picked up mostly things I had kicked myself for previously not buying, and one of the things I wanted was this orange Beast hat. Didn't have it anymore but seeing this really cool window display did give me a cool idea for an addition; if/when they RMC Beast, rebrand it a bit. Get rid of that midway? style building that serves as the entrance for a forest-themed ride and plant some pine trees with rockwork around it so it looks as if you're heading into deep woods, similar to Timber Mountain at KBF. Goodbye, Kings Island! Day 2: Cedar Point After fighting shift work disorder induced by day 1, I dragged myself out of bed to go drive to our meeting point to go to THE Point! I was with somebody and was trying to remain civilized, but I still gooned out a bit when I saw this, not gonna lie... Side keyholing! Action shot! These people are side keyholing! ERT on Raptor! I didn't even gable in Vegas and I picked up a gambling addiction! Lost ten dollars on this stupid thing! I won last year, didn't win this year. This drop is amazing... First ride of the day? My #2 and the best coaster in Ohio in my eyes, Millennium Force! We walked on it twice and got the back once! Such a fun morning coaster, seeing everything but the surrounding land cloaked in fog is so cool! Next up was Maverick, which we were expecting to be on and off of... But nobody on the tracks... They had to move some trains around and get one off and two on, a process that took thirty minutes... But we got on in the front and HOLY CRAP!!!! My #3 still delivered, that drop is still insane! Up next: A ride on Cedar Creek Mine Ride, brought to you by this nerd shot of the Arrow track! I have a school friend named SJ that works there and had said on Facebook that they'd meet me. I'm waiting on our CCMR train and I get a "turn around" text. And BAM!!! SJ was waiting for us in the station! We did Gemini Red after this and then strolled down the Gemini midway. Pipe Scream was down but not Lake Erie Eagles (wanted to squeeze Gatekeeper in there before the forecasted rain started). That being said, they themed the area really nicely. The way I'm describing how they kept the 80's feel that I was so worried about it losing when the expansion was announced is that it now feels nostalgic instead of dated. You can tell it was the Gemini midway, it retains that charm, but it's no longer neglected. And I want to come here at night! The friend I went with stuck around to get Woodstock Express while SJ and I booked it to Gatekeeper...and it would be down for mechanical. Luckily, I heard them call the employees sweeping the steps back to their posts and before I knew it, the ride was open! SJ was putting their stuff in their locker when it opened so we got separated and didn't ride together, but I snagged a front seat on the right, the side I hadn't ridden! And as an added bonus, it had started to rain lightly but steadily. First Gatekeeper ride in the rain and it rocked! That drop is terrifying with the unlocked vest and while it did feel like getting pelted in the face with snow at the bottom of the elements, it was still fun! The Gatekeeper sign in the rain! What happens when it rains? The tracks get wet. What happens when the tracks get wet? The trains go faster... Our chariot awaits! Giant blue iron pretzel on Lake Erie! Just as our train pulled in, they shut the ride down due to weather and force everybody out of the station. By then it had started pouring, and I got this one of them evacuating the brake run train. I was being cheap since I had splurged for the past two weeks and decided a bag would do for leaving the Gatekeeper gift shop...huge mistake! We then went over to Famous Dave's after I soaked myself running over to SJ's locker to grab my hat...and like the day of the Live, were treated to a disa-Cedar Point-ing view of the park with nothing running. A rare look at the Jarrett without his signature button-up over his tee. It got too wet and I took it off to dry. https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1.0-9/10334471_840609699301392_8273610923390184720_n.jpg Jarrett vs. Famous Dave's Wilbur's Revenge sauce (their Devil's Spit sauce mixed with jalapenos)...and Wilbur got his revenge. https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10255559_840609722634723_4957934104436019200_n.jpg I want to have my 21st birthday party here next year. https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10256812_840609842634711_2760472939366631875_n.jpg Ah, my favorite lunch platter. Their chicken tenders are fabulous, their catfish sticks are fabulous, the ribs are fabulous, you get the idea. https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/1506799_840609882634707_5932257124531762904_n.jpg We went back to the park, the only thing running was Gatekeeper, the line had filled the cattlepen that we knew was practically a good way to get soaked at this point (their colored awnings are good for shade but do NOTHING for rain!), and initially wanted to stick around, but when we heard thunder and they killed Gatekeeper, we gave up all hope and decided to leave around 2, tired, cold, and soaked. https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/r90/10314472_840609902634705_6669258653106103781_n.jpg And TTD and Power Tower fade into the rainy Lake Erie skies... https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10262121_840609945968034_236169585939499043_n.jpg Both of us wanted our pictures with this Golden Ticket sign in guest services. I instantly told them we weren't there to rip their heads off as I walked in and they looked ready for a verbal beating over the rain. https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10308900_840609969301365_4007593931982394153_n.jpg Me with the Golden Ticket sign rocking the poncho swag! https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/10342472_840610065968022_8122901938483224373_n.jpg Saw a red-winged blackbird on the way out of the park and got a meh nature shot of it. https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/r90/10356722_840610082634687_3614044533180492669_n.jpg And finally, the "soaked at Cedar Point" selfie! https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1969375_840610389301323_5724770993259136452_n.jpg Driving across a rainy causeway. https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10308882_840610475967981_8588708683358644505_n.jpg Apparently all of Ohio got the memo that it was supposed to absolutely pour today and Sandusky just got it late. It rained all the way up, it rained all the way down, and here it poured! https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/10176120_840610022634693_8466711859127718070_n.jpg What a fun week doing both of my home parks! I learned a bit about the CP drive and the KI drive so I should be able to do both on my own really soon! Hoping to go back to one in the coming weeks!

Do they have the individual combo passes there? I can't say I've ever seen one at a local Kroger.

^Thanks! One more, though. Do I need to buy it from the computer with printing capabilities or can I buy it from any computer and email a link/PDF/whatever I'm given to myself to print it out on one that has printing capabilities? My main computer can't connect to a printer.

I am going to be going to Kings Island with a member of another forum tomorrow, and we will be going to Cedar Point the day after. I've noticed that on the park's website there is a combo ticket that allows you access to both parks. My question is, how is this used? Do you have to print it or get a confirmation number or what? And does it need to be bought a certain time in advance (for instance, you needed to buy online tickets to KBF 3 days before you used them when I went last week).

The batwing for me. Dropping off of the zero-g and then being hurled upside down, slammed into the mud, lifted back out, and twisting back to the ground at such high speeds on such a gargantuan scale is flat out awesome. It was hard to choose between that and the inline, though. Those forces transferring around and making you fall into your unlocked vest that high off the ground is absolutely terrifying. Third would have to be the drop. That's a beautiful view and to put so much snap and force into a drop that size is sick.

Yes I do. Glad to reconnect! And you should go sometime!

In a fun but gruelling 27-hour day of bone-chilling cold, sleep deprivation, chemistry tests (this isn't a post about exams week in the winter, I promise!), 30 minute waits, boring walks out to The Bat, these really cool stackable disposable coffee cups with handles, coaster enthusiasts taking over an entire section of an amusement park, and most terrifying of all, free Banshee twists everywhere you look, one TPR member and two GOCC members drove to the city where pigs fly for the debut of a ride a year in the making. When we got there, I could hear her, but I couldn't see her. Seeing this at the end of the check-in line was like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...because left my jacket in the car and this meant I was about to get something cool to take back and would therefore have an excuse to go get said jacket. Light was starting to pour over the horizon by the time we were through. Jacket? Check! Lanyard? Check! Time to go ride Banshee! This path felt so long! And here we are... They themed the queue out the nose with this one. Gravestones in some of the off-to-the-side areas, it was incredibly foggy, and they shone these spotlights shaped like little Banshees around the floor erratically. And it was definitely worth the wait I spent in it, the drive down, the months upon months of waiting, all the speculation, all of the checking the webcam between classes, all of it. This has to be the best B&M ever manufactured. It's as smooth as the newer ones like Intimidator, SheiKra, and Wild Eagle, but just as intense as the older ones like Montu, Afterburn, and Alpengeist. It has a significant amount of B&M roar but it isn't as loud as other ones like Mantis and Kumba. The drop is a great way to start the ride and it really whips you around and into your seat. The dive loop is also great and you get some old B&M snap going into it before diving down over the new tent (which provides a fabulous view). The entry into the loop (where this was taken) is just as intense as the drop and it really caught me off guard, though most of the pained expression is due to wind chill and the unexpected force. The zero-g roll isn't as good as Raptor's or Montu's but it still snaps a bit and still acts as a nice transition into the lower half of the ride. And then the drop. That drop off of the zero-g is as good as a good B&M first drop and hurdling into that trench is incredible. There is a trim there but I didn't notice it at all. It makes no sound and I didn't feel the train slow down at all. I'm guessing that either A. it's there but somehow switched off and only comes on on really hot days or B. it's like the little fins on Skyrush where they're there just to make sure that the top speed it was designed with is the top speed it uses, keeps it from entering the intense element with a Vknot higher than it's supposed to be entered with. Whatever the situation with the trim, you hit the bottom and she lives up to her name, that roar is deafening from the train! And then you go into the batwing, not much snap there but it still provides a nice visual, and then WHOOSH!!! She slams into that batwing and you get plastered into your seat. I didn't grey out but I felt like I might, because that's by far the most intense point on the ride. I love the batwing, it's easily the best part of it. After that the loop is pretty standard, nothing incredibly intense but a loop-the-loop is a loop-the-loop. Then came the spiral element which provided some really nice visuals of The Bat and the valley behind the park. It was definitely more floaty B&M than forceful B&M but that isn't a bad thing at all. And then came the inline. If you watch the music video I made it looks like just a harmless cartwheel. WRONG!!!! Those forces transfer strangely and you really get shaken around in that open restraint, it's absolutely terrifying that high up. The following helix acts as the intense finale of a great ride, no matter which seat you're in it's incredibly forceful and also provides some nice visuals. And then you hit the brakes which is just that, hitting the brakes after a nice long ride and wishing it continued. But it's not a short ride by any means, you'll hit those brakes plenty satisfied! And after that we got donuts. FREE donuts. With a line longer than Banshee's. They served as many free breakfast pastries as you wanted with free hot chocolate. Honestly, it outdid the catering my school does for its classy events. The donuts were huge (and I love donuts, they're quick and tasty, perfect college breakfast) and they had plenty of kinds. They blew those accomodations out of the water. I WANTED to get back in line, but the line was long. That and Banshee at sunrise. The fog and the rising sun made for some beautiful visuals from The Chicken Shack. Round 2, here we go! *ding!* Me being artsy with my iPhone photos that I posted to Facebook to make all my friends jealous. View from the station stairs. The sunrise ride was amazing! I got the same row as I did the first time but it was still fun!That allowed you to see clearly that the ground below the batwing was really muddy and you were about to get thrown close to it. The bottom of the dive loop is a good photo op, I could see quite a lot of pictures taken here. Banshee compared to the rest of the park. Going down! Delirium swings somewhat close to the new dive loop...but I'm not a fan of the new paint job personally. It matches Action Zone, true, but something about it seems off to me. And I kept hearing people complaining about the noise it made for some reason. I've lived near this ride for eleven years and it never bothered me. On Location is now Coaster Connection and it's awesome. Love some of the new Banshee stuff. Wish they had Bat stuff, though. Some gravestones somewhat away from the ride. Not sure if these are there to bring the experience to the overflow queue space back there or just to provide some backdrop to the ride. :? No picture taken of this coaster that I've seen has done its size full justice. It's absolutely massive and pictures don't convey that well. The fog is always on on the sign even when the night fog is off. After that ride I settled down to go hear the speeches. While waiting around, I saw Robb Alvey from TPR walking around and talking to people. Somebody approached him and got one of the buttons he had promised the first 100 people, so I took that as a cue that he wasn't busy. I approached him, held up my lanyard with my TPR card on it, and greeted him. He asked me, "did you get your button?" I just shook my head, he gave it to me, I told him, "thank you, sir," and left him alone. I was pretty nervous to meet him not because I didn't think he'd like me, but because I was worried that my first impression would be me bothering him while he was busy with the media. Having done that right was a huge relief, I met him in person for the first time. And then Don told us a heartwarming story about how they had to decide between keeping two attractions or removing them to build something bigger, and the difficult decision that a landmark ride had to go to make way for Banshee...so they removed the go karts. Lots of people gathered around to hear the speakers. They all did a great job and I found it fascinating, but the best had to be the guy (I forget his name) who talked about the engineering behind Banshee that the park did with B&M. As somebody going to school to design roller coasters, if I had to watch just one speech it would have been that one. The way Banshee rides is like somebody took the first part of a coaster and cut it off at the top of an element, and then took another and cut it off at the top of the drop, and stuck them together. As said by one of the speakers, the elements at the bottom of that hill are massive, and they were absolutely right. This right here is why "there is only one Banshee." These guys probably just had a fun time. Through the batwing! Some of the cattlepen theming. I like Eiffel Tower in this one for some reason. Back to the station! Snap into the dive loop A not-so-zero-g-zero-g roll (Five hyphens? Dang!) that still provides some snap. This picture does an okay job of showing just how massive the lower elements are. As said by a speaker, they re-opened Banshee, and also opened Skyflyer, Delirium, and The Bat. Banshee looks absolutely massive from this spot. And it really looks nice with The Bat's colors. Yay, they kept the station! I slept in this station during a rainstorm! Banshee towers over a train full of Bat riders. Three different types of below-the-track coasters in this shot. Once the trees fill out, you won't be able to see Banshee from here. Don't you hate it when people hover over you while you're trying to eat? Chicken Shack time! What a phenomenal free meal! Their chicken tenders are now my favorite anywhere and I love the sauce they serve with it. Only thing I noticed was that it's very much like Chick-fil-A's chicken, and the park has a Chick-fil-A just on the other side of International Street. And the park's own take on Chick-fil-A was better than actual Chick-fil-A. Could this mean a decline in business for Planet Snoopy Chick-fil-A? I love the tent they built. They have the Celtic interlocked three ring symbol (don't know what it's called) in brick on the floor, and the ends of each one stick out of the tent and can be seen from Banshee's dive loop. THIS is a good Banshee twist! I tried a paid one back in August and it made me miserable to eat all that ice cream but this small one is great. Good ice cream, not enough to make you miserable. They cut back on the blue dye, too, I think. I said on Facebook that if my status got fifteen likes, I would consume an entire Banshee twist and then ride Banshee. It didn't get fifteen...but I did it anyway! And kept it down! Modeling my new Banshee hat! https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/1002534_824669624228733_3903184001647925613_n.jpg Through the loop... https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/r90/10268502_824669647562064_1305653254006178490_n.jpg ...AROUND THE LIFT!!!! https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1.0-9/10176208_824669660895396_2664562632594009351_n.jpg More gravestones in the path to the cattlepen. https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/r90/1511712_824669730895389_4183236408917233318_n.jpg In line for the front row! Front row, left seat, easily the best place to ride! Forces aren't as good as the back (but still way more aggressive than the middle), but the astounding visuals make up for it. https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/10270394_824669827562046_4003138592729912117_n.jpg They put up this really cool staggered LCD display behind the cash registers that has a little animated Banshee logo on a loop. https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/1011636_824669847562044_6667015398553831141_n.jpg Went to go put my jacket and tat in the car and snapped this picture outside the park. https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1623681_824669887562040_7029785325186140067_n.jpg Sooo, anything new for 2014? https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1982332_824669934228702_7728790400934371602_n.jpg I love this banner, but that big blocky entrance building has GOT to go. Maybe in the next few years? I'd like to see this opened up. https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/1888441_824669994228696_2702788121804940133_n.jpg Coming back for more! https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/10170956_824670017562027_5010678620299831787_n.jpg The wait spiked to an hour so I went to go ride Bat again. https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/10246693_824670087562020_2569307838793142369_n.jpg Hello, Bat! https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1510711_824670044228691_6093763639448082886_n.jpg On the way back I noticed that they didn't paint over this. In a few years it'll be really faded and it'll have people asking questions about the little air force stars on this concrete tunnel. Like the original Bat footers under Vortex. https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10262222_824670177562011_2098327052903473253_n.jpg I can't get over how awesome this sign is... https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10177333_824670207562008_4431116251230266556_n.jpg Track behind gravestones https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/r90/10246537_824670217562007_1997457316382667382_n.jpg Here's that Son of Beast memorial they built. There's an eternal flame at the top that was hard to photograph but it's there. https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10277792_824670260895336_6532528182729016724_n.jpg More artsy... https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/10247442_824670284228667_9074776927473974876_n.jpg Three years ago I got a picture at Cedar Point of their Winseeker framed by one of Raptor's loops. Couldn't do exactly that, but I did this. It counts, right? https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1.0-9/1897838_824670350895327_1449694805317394286_n.jpg Waiting over there should be fun. https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1798003_824670664228629_4165190427188141277_n.jpg ZOOM!!!! https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10269571_824670717561957_260718193802724580_n.jpg I was about to be in their position! https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/1422598_824670750895287_296793468560570311_n.jpg I can't help but photograph it! https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1502511_824670764228619_2940079762794134198_n.jpg Up, up, and into the dive loop! https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1557479_824670780895284_4902356882178183368_n.jpg Taken from the station stairs. https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10151176_824670807561948_5362705781030992856_n.jpg One more ride! https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10153307_824670827561946_3431742025402533777_n.jpg I'd love to take a long exposure of this to get the train blowing the fog around... https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10264427_824670837561945_6154295355048070593_n.jpg Diamond ring loop. https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10289968_824670860895276_7895461375455733536_n.jpg Incoming! https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10250286_824670900895272_5056317949685996155_n.jpg The trims weren't noticeable at all... https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10247336_824670960895266_6079060230082606494_n.jpg Back up into the zero-g roll! https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10174811_824671074228588_2232220123611323622_n.jpg Banshee dominates the valley. https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10150642_824671124228583_2817664146094483223_n.jpg They're about to have fun... https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/t1.0-9/r270/1502511_824671154228580_6026063020101224986_n.jpg I don't even remember taking this but I love it! https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1482869_824671177561911_7624792687287488450_n.jpg Load 'em up! https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/10174910_824671237561905_2643406305601187593_n.jpg She looks so menacing here... https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/1939631_824671250895237_47082137754605272_n.jpg The closest I could get to the dive loop. https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/r90/10150729_824671320895230_6971590859090013912_n.jpg You'll see plenty of these awesome Banshee banners around the park this season. https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1551479_824671297561899_9180762880091422564_n.jpg What a fun day! Kings Island really outdid themselves, both on Banshee and the event! I look forward to coming back here to ride this one for years to come, it's easily their new best ride, both for Kings Island and B&M. The food was good, the operations were great, and the free stuff they gave us was enough to make Oprah want to step up her game. So glad Kings Island did this, it's a day I'll never forget. I wish there was a way to thank the people who put it together personally. https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/r90/10254003_824671340895228_4968308067997990103_n.jpg Taken after finishing my afternoon classes. This included two compositional drawings for my Themes in Visual Culture class and an exam (that could drop if it was low) for chemistry...and I think I aced it! https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/t1.0-9/10177279_824671360895226_982199657496927522_n.jpg Everything I got from left to right, top to bottom: *Banshee Media Day t-shirt- Free from check-in *Banshee park map: Free from gates *Banshee Lanyard and Tag: Free from gates *Banshee Hat: Bought for seventeen dollars at Banshee gift shop *Banshee On-Ride Photo of my first ride ever: Free from check-in, obtained from Banshee shop *Banshee Media Day Club TPR Button: Free, Robb from TPR gave them to us *Banshee Laser-Etched Paperweight: Free from check-in *Banshee Keyring: Bought for two dollars at Banshee gift shop RIDE TOTAL: Banshee x7 (once in front, once in back, once in row 4, twice in row 5, once in row 3, one in row 6) The Bat x2 (one in the middle, once in the back) Delirium x1 And the music video I made for this: Thanks for reading! Be sure to watch this forum for my Vegas trip reports in May!

Love it! It's a nice mix of old B&M forces and new B&M smoothness. Round 2 here I come!

We're on our way! Can't wait to ride it, 8? M months have lead up to today!

I'm being picked up and I'm trying not to sleep and miss my ride getting here. I'm a shift worker, though, so it's nothing new. Once went to Cedar Point after working an 8-hour shift on opening weekend. I was up for a total of 36 hours that day. Between sleeping in the car and caffeine I should be fine for both this and my class and exam (which isn't really a huge deal since one drops and I did pretty well on the others) after. I'll definitely be getting a cab home from school, though. 26 hours without sleep is no condition in which I should be driving.

^Thanks for directing me there! You rock! Back on topic, I have to say the gravestones in the grass in the tweeted picture look awesome! And are those more gravestones I see in the former Action Zone circle planters?

Not sure if this falls into the category of media day information since I've seen people talking about similar subjects here, but what about shoes? I get that it's easy to find jeans without logos on them, but most tennis shoes they make come with some sort of insignia on the side or the sole. Will they make an exception for it or will I need some without? Again, sorry if this crosses the line, if it does I'm cool if a mo removes it.

I was going to drive down with my parents in a few weeks to make sure I could make the drive in one piece. I had planned to pull over near the park (not on the property) and just get a few shots of Banshee, testing or not. Is it just testing photos that aren't allowed or any photos of it period now? I'm a tad confused. Though whatever you don't want me to post I'll respect and won't post. But I woke up at 2 today (I work third shift and had to work last night, it was only 6 hours, don't judge) to find that it's testing after having a dream that I was driving around Kings Island on maintenance roads (I have NO IDEA why I was on them or how I got on them, it was a dream, don't question it, it'll never make any sense. ) and came across Banshee as it was testing and flipped out with excitement and nearly wrecked my car. I then woke up...and it REALLY WAS testing! Best way I could have found this out! Really helped it sink in that this is actually happening! EDIT: Forgot to add, those trains look a tad wider than most invert trains I think. Personally I think it looks really awesome but that's just me.

I thought the exact same thing, but they aren't moving it from how it looked.This might be a crazy thought, but I noticed that the negative space in the AZ circle formed a crescent shape. Maybe they could paint a Banshee logo on the mini circle (or logo for the new spooky area) and put an LED grid below glass in the crescent. The LED grid could be programmed to look like a crescent moon with wispy clouds blowing across it at night. It would look sick from the dive loop. Just a crazy thought, though.

Isn't Kings Dominion getting a lighting package renovation for their Eiffel Tower fountain? I could see it being that.

I don't use this site that often so if people don't normally ask questions like this here, I apologize. Anyway, I am going to be driving to Kings Island for my first time on media day. I'm a new driver (just got my license in October) and I'm not sure I'm ready to make a highway drive through Dayton to KI. Does anybody have any tips in terms of shortcuts that don't use the highways? Also, which motels are an easy drive to the park? Sorry, this is my first time doing a media day like this. I'm really excited, though! I love Skyflyer's new paint job, wonder if they'll do any placemaking around the Skyflyer/Banshee/Bat area other than the retheme.

If they subsection that part of Action Zone, I could see a creepy castle wall with vines and the like and arches to walk through built to cut it off from Action Zone. Maybe call it "Fear Zone?" Sky flyer has that nice shack-y ticket building that could fit perfectly into the area. Frightfall would be a nice play on words for it. And painting those bathrooms should be nothing but a quick repaint.

Worked better than mine! I got all sorts of colors I didn't know existed popping up on the trains when I tried to replace color the track, so I just did it to the supports and painted the track. I'd like to see a nice big chrome Bat logo on the front car and the previously mentioned bell tower theming on the station. I never got why this ride wasn't a flagship for this park but Firehawk was. This thing KILLS Firehawk in every respect and I see no reason why the t-shirts that have the park's flagships sometimes have Diamondback, The Beast, sometimes Vortex, now Banshee, but Firehawk instead of Flight Deck. I think this could bring back some popularity for the ride next season. And I REALLY wish Kings Island would update their website. Even a bad Photoshop like the Gatekeeper/Bat one would be nice on the front page.