First Time on The Beast!

[tlvtr]

I don't know if this is the right sub-forum for this, but last night I had my very first ride on The Beast, ever! My wife had unpleasant memories of it being uncomfortable from pre-teen years, and I think I've been a little biased against wooden coasters. My only prior experience with a wooden coaster is The Racer and while I love that ride, it can be rough and I've assumed that a ride as tall and fast as The Beast would be too rough for my liking. However, after reading these forums for a few weeks, I decided I needed to experience The Beast, and last night I convinced my wife to give it another try with me.

After a short wait we get a seat on the middle of the train and begin the ascent up the hill. The first thing I start to realize is that this is a lot taller than I was expecting! As we neared the top I was anticipating what was ahead when I realized that i had NO idea what was about to happen! Most coasters you can see much if not all of the ride from some accessible part of the park. The only glimpses I've had of The Beast have been on the lift of The Vortex. When we crest the hill and start flying towards this tiny little tunnel, I got EXCITED! The first tunnel entrance looks so small and I brought my arms down a little out of fear of hitting my hands on the top (I know, not going to happen, but I wasn't in the mood for taking chances!). I can't remember every turn, but I was impressed with how fast and twisting the ride was. It felt so secluded from the rest of the park, and I couldn't stop thinking about what it must have been like to be on this ride back when it first opened, when KI and roller-coasters in general were so different.

When we reached the second lift hill I was a little confused. The ride had already been a good length so I wondered if this was like Adventure Express where we were just getting to the right height to get back into the station. I was very excited to find out I was wrong and the following drop/helix was great! I definitely wasn't expecting the upcoming tunnels and I could not believe how fast we flew threw them! I had to lean over and cover my head because it felt like I was so close to the edge I was going to scrape my face on the walls!! That was an awesome sensation! There was a time that would have made me want to cry, but it was exhilarating now!

My first ride was a really fun experience (my wife enjoyed it too!). I wasn't expecting it to scare me at all, so the moments in the tunnels that made me go "yikes!" were a real treat. It was a rough ride at times, and I don't know if it is one I want to keep my hands up at all times on, but I will definitely be making this ride part of my regular rotation when visiting the park.

Any other newcomers to The Beast around here?

[bkroz]

Very awesome story! Thanks so much! You can't possibly know how much many of us would love to get the chance to ride The Beast (and other rides) "for the first time" again, completely clueless as you were. Your unfamiliarity with the ride is a really great thing, so please take advantage of it the next few times you ride! When your 20th, 100th, even 1000th ride comes along, you'll still enjoy yourself, but you'll have lost that sense of confusion and genuine fear. So appreciate it now! Thanks for sharing!

[Dieseltech20]

Cool story, thanks for sharing. This summer was my first time on The Beast since 87. I only rode it once back then so it was like riding it for the first time. I loved it and my second time on it was the first for my son and he LOVED it. He was just like you on the second lift hill, he looked around like "what in the world?"

Being "lost in the woods" is one of the best parts of the ride. It's like you are no where near an amusement park

[The Interpreter]

Do be aware you do NOT want your hands up as you enter the helix tunnel, especially if you are sitting on the left side of the train. Your hands, if you are at all tall, CAN hit the tunnel and it will sting at best. There is a good reason for the CAUTION, KEEP YOUR HANDS DOWN AND INSIDE THE CAR warning on that lifthill.

Also, if you want a smooth ride, sit in the middle of a CAR...each car has three benches, you want the middle bench, NOT the back. You can sit in the middle of the train but in the back of a car and get a rougher ride than you need to, if smoothness be your desire.

Thanks for posting your report. I'd love to ride The Beast again as if I never had...

[DaveStroem]

My wife got her very first ride on The Beast a couple of weeks go. Last year she wouldn't even ride racer and now she has even taken multiple laps on Voyage (her 50th different coaster). Our up coming trip has over 80 coasters that she has not been on.

[muppetfan1999]

Nice job. I would ride that coaster but that first hill scares the heck out of me! But I really want to try it!

Though maybe I should ride The Racer first..........

[BavarianBeatle]

I cherish my memory of riding The Beast for the first time in 1979 when I was 10 years old! I rode Kingda Ka for the first time this weekend with my children who are 10 and 11. Sadly, my experience in 1979 was much better than my kids' experience this year....

[Delirium13]

Very very cool story, thanks for sharing! I too wish I could go back to that magical first time riding, but got to somewhat relive it as I was with my cousin on Monday who was riding for her first time. She also had an amazing time on what is truly a unique coaster in modern times, they just don't build them spread out and hidden from view any more, and that truly is part of what adds The Beasts greatness. And also why The Beast remains so popular after all these years.

Glad you enjoyed your ride and I wish you many more happy rides in the future.

[flightoffear1996]

Do be aware you do NOT want your hands up as you enter the helix tunnel, especially if you are sitting on the left side of the train. Your hands, if you are at all tall, CAN hit the tunnel and it will sting at best. There is a good reason for the CAUTION, KEEP YOUR HANDS DOWN AND INSIDE THE CAR warning on that lifthill.

Also, if you want a smooth ride, sit in the middle of a CAR...each car has three benches, you want the middle bench, NOT the back. You can sit in the middle of the train but in the back of a car and get a rougher ride than you need to, if smoothness be your desire.

Thanks for posting your report. I'd love to ride The Beast again as if I never had...

This happened to me a few years back. I thought it would be a good idea to trust teh desginers that the roof was far away that you wouldnt hit it but I was wrong. My finger slammed into some thing in there wheater it was a maintenacne light or the roof I do not know but it stung for a few minutes and was gone by the time I walked out of the exit.

[tlvtr]

Do be aware you do NOT want your hands up as you enter the helix tunnel, especially if you are sitting on the left side of the train. Your hands, if you are at all tall, CAN hit the tunnel and it will sting at best. There is a good reason for the CAUTION, KEEP YOUR HANDS DOWN AND INSIDE THE CAR warning on that lifthill.

Wow, that really surprises me. Unfortunately I totally ignored the sign on the second lift hill, assuming it just said not to stand up. Going up the first hill on this ride my wife actually said "why would they need to tell you not to stand up? is anyone really that dumb?" I said that there are probably plenty of people dumb enough to try something like that. Only to then ignore the warnings on the second hill. I'm glad I know better now.

[CincyMan98]

Edit: Nevermind I just saw flightoffear1996's post. Forget my question if you saw it

[HTCO]

Do be aware you do NOT want your hands up as you enter the helix tunnel, especially if you are sitting on the left side of the train. Your hands, if you are at all tall, CAN hit the tunnel and it will sting at best. There is a good reason for the CAUTION, KEEP YOUR HANDS DOWN AND INSIDE THE CAR warning on that lifthill.

Also, if you want a smooth ride, sit in the middle of a CAR...each car has three benches, you want the middle bench, NOT the back. You can sit in the middle of the train but in the back of a car and get a rougher ride than you need to, if smoothness be your desire.

Thanks for posting your report. I'd love to ride The Beast again as if I never had...

I'm a rebel and I keep my hands up . I must say I have been pretty lucky.

[Dieseltech20]

Going up the first hill on this ride my wife actually said "why would they need to tell you not to stand up? is anyone really that dumb?"

Actually if you do some research on Coaster accidents/deaths you will see a few them are in fact due to a person standing up and being thrown from the ride. The world is FILLED with dumb people. Why do you think we have so many warning labels in this country, lol.

Every time I ride with the wife I tell her "Don't stand up", lol.

[KIfan1980]

There is at least one KIC member who's taken a trip to first aid after hitting a hand on the helix tunnel walls (paging KIruler). Also, the don't stand up requirement is less necessary now due to seatbelts and individual ratcheting lap bars. Riders today would be surprised how common it was when all that existed was buzzbars.

[Purplehaze]

Going up the first hill on this ride my wife actually said "why would they need to tell you not to stand up? is anyone really that dumb?"

Actually if you do some research on Coaster accidents/deaths you will see a few them are in fact due to a person standing up and being thrown from the ride. The world is FILLED with dumb people. Why do you think we have so many warning labels in this country, lol.

Every time I ride with the wife I tell her "Don't stand up", lol.

Thats funny, My ex-wife I used to say " stand up honey it will enhance your ride experience "

[frisbeefan]

Do be aware you do NOT want your hands up as you enter the helix tunnel, especially if you are sitting on the left side of the train. Your hands, if you are at all tall, CAN hit the tunnel and it will sting at best. There is a good reason for the CAUTION, KEEP YOUR HANDS DOWN AND INSIDE THE CAR warning on that lifthill.

Also, if you want a smooth ride, sit in the middle of a CAR...each car has three benches, you want the middle bench, NOT the back. You can sit in the middle of the train but in the back of a car and get a rougher ride than you need to, if smoothness be your desire.

Thanks for posting your report. I'd love to ride The Beast again as if I never had...

This happened to me a few years back. I thought it would be a good idea to trust teh desginers that the roof was far away that you wouldnt hit it but I was wrong. My finger slammed into some thing in there wheater it was a maintenacne light or the roof I do not know but it stung for a few minutes and was gone by the time I walked out of the exit.

It's fortnuate that nothing more happened to your hand.

[Dieseltech20]

Going up the first hill on this ride my wife actually said "why would they need to tell you not to stand up? is anyone really that dumb?"

Actually if you do some research on Coaster accidents/deaths you will see a few them are in fact due to a person standing up and being thrown from the ride. The world is FILLED with dumb people. Why do you think we have so many warning labels in this country, lol.

Every time I ride with the wife I tell her "Don't stand up", lol.

Thats funny, My ex-wife I used to say " stand up honey it will enhance your ride experience "

Wow. Glad I am home alone cause the wife would want to know why I was laughing so hard

[The Interpreter]

Do be aware you do NOT want your hands up as you enter the helix tunnel, especially if you are sitting on the left side of the train. Your hands, if you are at all tall, CAN hit the tunnel and it will sting at best. There is a good reason for the CAUTION, KEEP YOUR HANDS DOWN AND INSIDE THE CAR warning on that lifthill.

Wow, that really surprises me. Unfortunately I totally ignored the sign on the second lift hill, assuming it just said not to stand up. Going up the first hill on this ride my wife actually said "why would they need to tell you not to stand up? is anyone really that dumb?" I said that there are probably plenty of people dumb enough to try something like that. Only to then ignore the warnings on the second hill. I'm glad I know better now.

A long, long time ago, Terpy and another poster here (who shall remain nameless) were riding the front seat of Beast, and that other poster had, as always, his hands high in the air. As we entered the tunnel, I heard a sound as if the wind was being sucked out of the other rider. When we got off the ride, he was bleeding quite profusely from the knuckles of his left hand. He learned a lesson that day.

[markr]

Wow. I've been putting my arms up in the helix for years both on the left and right side. I always did notice on the left side approaching the tunnel that it looked like you were going to hit the tunnel but I thought that was just an illusion. I'll keep in mind what you said, Terpy, the next time I ride.

[CedarPointer]

I put my hands up, but not higher than my head. It's the best of both worlds!

[Pillsberry123]

Wow Terpy, this gives me a whole new feeling about the helix! I've always wondered if anyone's gotten their hand hit on the roof or skid across the wall of the tunnel. Whenever I ride the left side I think that my head's going to hit the wall! That's what makes that part of the ride so fun, but I was never aware that there's any real danger. Thanks for the heads up.

[Beast79]

I remember my first ride back when I was 10, I was riding with my dad and my foot got stuck between the platform and car, my dad pulled my foot out of my shoe then pulled my shoe loose then sat on my shoe so we wouldn't slow down the operators. So yes the first time I rode The Beast I was only wearing one shoe. A few years ago I skimmed my middle finger on the helix, I still keep my hands up but just not all the way up while sitting on the left side.

[trevor75]

This is why I always ride on the right side, being 6'4" tall with almost a 7' wingspan will cause one to think carefully how a ride is laid out. My first ride on The Beast was on the Left side and I rode the last half of the ride with hands down!

[beastrider97]

I completly forget my first ride on Beast except that I was so excited!

I'm 13 years old and 5 foot and I always have my arms up on the helix. But I can see that if your taller you could definatly hit your hand.

Oh and talking about this jogged a memory of my first ride! On the second lift hill when I saw "Keep hands down and inside car" I immediatly yanked my hands down and when we started going down my dad had his hands up. I said, "Dad the sign said to put your hands down." He said to me, "It's ok." I then put my hands up.