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For my 1,000th post, I've decided to post my video I took of a behind the scenes tour of The Beast that Don Helbig surprised KICers with. Thanks Don! <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GjAbTZIflTk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Hopefully this works. It should also be 1080p instead of 360p, but thats what it wanted to upload as. Hopefully, I can get some other videos on the day and a trip report in this thread at somepoint as well. Thanks for watching! Edit: Darn, it didn't work! Here's the link to the actuall video: Edit #2: Oh wait, that's all I had to do .

It has been reported that Jeffrey Siebert, former Kings Island Marketing Communications (PublicRelations) Manager of (Paramount's) Kings Island, is leaving his role as Schlitterbahn's Corportate Communications Manager and will take on the role of Marketing Manager at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. We, here at KICentral, wish Jeffrey the best in his new role!

Nice video Ohiocolts! It was really nice of Mr. Helbig to take us on the tour of The Beast. The funniest part was watching TheCrypt duck away from the cameras! We all had a good time.

If you're going to make a path that long, at least put a few restrooms on it. And please, no shows next to Adventure Express ... I'd hate to be riding it and hearing another musical-decade-review show.

From knotts.com: "a harrowing journey down the 1,339 feet of track" and says 52 feet high. rcdb.com lists KD Ricochet, Fly, and all the Legoland versions with a length of 1312' 4", and considers it the "Wild Mouse (large park)" version, and these all have a height listed at 51' 10". It looks to me like it will be very similar, but with perhaps a longer station unloading area, or 27 feet longer due to a slightly different dimension on a different shaped footprint?

And for that I am very thankful. Dick Kinzel was great for Cedar Fair for a very long time. But, he stayed long past when he should have retired. Thank goodness for Q and Mr. Raynor.

I have a feeling that he won't be in this position long... he'll probably be fast-tracked to a corporate position.

Doubtful. Disney probably paid a pretty penny for the exclusive rights to use Avatar, and the Pandora land is meant to fill a huge, mostly-empty expansion pad at Disney's Animal Kingdom that has been waiting for its expansion since 1999. Star Wars wouldn't fit there, and that area (and park) desperately needs something. A popular thought that fans are salivating over: that all of Disney's "non-legacy" properties would create six themed lands in a third park at the Disneyland Resort: one land each for Star Wars, Avatar, Pixar, Muppets, Indiana Jones, and Marvel. It's the stuff of dreams, and certainly does fulfill the often-asked question of what a third park in California could be? With the San Diego zoo so near, an "Animal Kingdom" is out; with the real Hollywood an hour north, a "Studios" park is out; with plans for WestCOT already bashed against the rocks, an "Epcot" is out. Perhaps an Intellectual Property park (a la Islands of Adventure, for example, where each land is themed to a certain film) would be a great choice.

That audio track makes me ponder something...if the track the ride itself "goes" on is the one that's supposed to be closed (Track 2), and Track 1 goes to Outpost 5...then if there were a track 1...(imagines Adventure Express Track 1)... Ride-Op: OK! Enjoy your ride on Adventure Express Track 1... (Train departs and goes straight for about 30 seconds, climbs a chain lift, and then stops in a familiar station...) Other Ride-Op: Welcome to Outpost 5! Enjoy your ride on Son of Beast! Or...during Haunt since SOB has been SBNO... Same thing...but when you reach station... Some Dude: Welcome to Outpost 5! Prepare to be mauled by werewolves! McSalsa: AAAAAHHHH!!! Oh, my crazy imagination...

Don was on Fox 19 last Friday morning, talking about the last weekend of Haunt, Ed Alonzo returning next year, and a new show. Since the Thunder Alley cars are now back by Firehawk, I'm thinking TA will be on its way outta hear next year. So, I thought it would make perfect sense to see a Luminosity type show (As mentioned before) in Thunder Alleys spot next year.

No explosives have been used to bring down any parts of the ride. Thanks! Terp, who appreciates Don and always has.

woah! what about beastie!?!? can you forget about that one? Oh yeah, I did almost forget the oldest of The Beast's, Didn't I.....

Welcome to kic! I too, am a fan of snow. I try to give a welcome photo to most new memebers. Here it is- Pictures2 700 by KIC-Original, on Flickr You can see WindSeeker lit up at the bottom.

I'd be surprised if animation was released for a set of scooters, a scrambler, and a wild mouse.

Great footage - thanks for sharing! ^^ At first, I didn't even realize you were trying to duck from cameras on the tour - I thought you were just making silly faces.

Nope. I was ducking from the cameras just about the entire time I was with them. I really hate pictures. The photos malem got of me were lucky. The only ones I allowed others to take were the ones taken by Charlie Gold and the group photo.

This is random, but pkimike's display picture made me laugh pretty hard.

Sounds like a great addition to me. Looks like the Ouimet era is finally upon us. I'm crossing my fingers that a set of flying scooters could come our way, too. I've mentioned before how I'd love to see even the Larson model at KI. They aren't the same as our old Flying Eagles, but they're still very fun in their own respect. They could place them somewhere along the path between BLSC and the Eiffel Tower (though obviously not in a way that would require the floral clock to be removed.) Has anyone heard if the coaster is the standard Mack wild mouse layout?

Hopefully not his Apollo's Chariot photo.

Because it makes for a great location for a Haunt attraction. Wolf Pack is one of our most popular mazes. The station is pretty well hidden from view during the non-haunt season.

No explosives have been used to bring down any parts of the ride.

I approve of that photo.

And if you are the FIRST person at the gate on a Sunday morning at Carowinds and your season pass claims you have already been in the park that day, you also are not getting in. Never mind what you paid for. Terp, who has NEVER had any similar issue with any other park chain.

http://www.disunplugged.com/2012/10/30/disney-agrees-to-purchase-lucasfilm-for-4-billion/?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=twitterfeed I am beyond excited about this news.

Considering that Knott's already has Sierra Sidewinder, it would be strange to get a Mauer Sohne spinner too.

Fast-laned?

What an enviable career!

I had the good fortune to work with him for several years, and he's is one of the nicest guys there is. I wish him luck in his new job!

Fiesta Texas is lucky to have him.

That's like saying putting makeup on a lion makes it less vicious. While shops, rides, etc. may bring more crowds to the area, it doesn't hide the fact that the path would still be extremely long and totally unfeasible for the park to consider.

Courtesy of Silver Dollar City

Now if only Kings Island can get a flying scooter ride back! I really miss the Flying Eagles ride that flew the coop and went down to Carowinds.

goodbye avatarland, hello star wars land????? I think that has the potential to trump Potter world.

Wow. I'd seen it on Google maps, but the scale of The Beast really shows in these videos. Nice surprise!

Gatorhead, the lines for the rides were amazing. The thinking of a pass holder is different, too. In my case, I only go a few hours at a time. If the line is too long, then it's "next time." I recall the long lines from the past, too. We have become spoiled by being pass holders. On the other hand, I don't have much opportunity to ride the smaller, shorter lined rides like The Monster until I bring a guest in. Strange how a person going only once or twice a year has patience for the long lines.

I apologize. I thought that rule was just in place for people saying they heard it from people who work in the park. This was just a random person in one of my college classes whose name I do not even know. I found it odd that some one else knew about the trademark. I hope you understand I'm not trying to start random rumors, I was just reporting something I heard.

CHAINSAW!!!!!!!

Oh I just wrote a paper on that for my Historical Literature class! My professor loved it! I got an A!

Anyone notice our newest member? CoasterBob62....... Very cool!! If its really him

Terpy got corrected by Don! I never thought I'd see the day that would happen!

The station of Son of Beast is meant to reflect Outpost 5, the same outpost that Adventure Express is meant to "depart" to. See below: This is the side of the SoB station. Now listen to track number 3 below: http://kiextreme.com/kitunes.php

Or, of course if you prefer, by UFO... Ok. I get it ... enough.

Do you realize how long this path would be?? Exactly! You'd be able to get to X-base in the same amount of time by going around through Coney Mall. Why anyone would think this is a good idea is beyond me. In my eyes it's not a "path", but a new area. New rides, shops, restrooms, etc.

Well that path would certainly open up a "new area" I don't think they'd just put a path in to put a path in, but rather put a path in to take you along a new set of rides, games, shops, eateries, restrooms, etc.... Sure the earthwork would be costly, but if they ever want to use that land in that area, earth work is going to be required anyways, might as well start it in 2013 in anticipation of a couple big additions in 2014, 15, 16, etc..

"What specifically about the inversion caused the problems?" A lawyer could argue that the loop is at fault here. 1. If not for the LOOP, perhaps a more reliable vendor could have designed and built KI's 2000 coaster 2. If not for the LOOP being 118 feet tall (and in the middle of the ride), the coaster could have been smaller, and therefore perhaps designed by a more reliable vendor 3. If not for the LOOP being 118 feet tall (and in the middle of the ride), the trains could have been lighter, and might not have beat up the track so badly 4. If not for the LOOP, the coaster could have possibly run standard, more comfortable trains 5. If not for the putting all of their eggs in the LOOP, the designers might have designed a more thrilling, well rounded coaster So you see your honor, even though the LOOP was the smoothest, most trouble free part of the coaster, the LOOP is actually behind all of the problems. -Buckeye Brad, who is not really being serious but showing how easy it is to invert the truth.

If they got rid of my Dodgems I would fight somebody.

I agree that something should be done to reduce crowds somewhat. We were there the second weekend in October. Decided to take our kids and do the whole day thing. It was so crowded, we got in 7 rides the entire day (we were there from opening until 10pm). Only 2 rides outside of Planet Snoopy. My middle daughter finally hit the right height for Diamondback, but the line was so long, she missed out on her very first ride. And yes, our 3 kids attended Haunt. 9, 10 and 12 years old. They're very well aware of scare actors just being people dressed up, and got quite a kick out of people watching (watching teen girls get scared) Some of the scare actors interacted with my kids and they LOVED it. We did not take them through any mazes, since I felt like that wouldn't be appropriate just yet. It's really just a matter of perspective. A parent should know what their kid can and can not handle.

I always thought a ferris wheel would look good where WindSeeker is. But, WindSeeker is there now... and WindSeeker is pretty close to a ferris wheel (ride wise) only a ferris wheel is slower, and more wheel-ish.

*It's only a joke.