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I was assigned a trip to southern California for 1/28-1/29. Having nothing better to do (other than to get our passengers out there) I packed my platinum pass and made my way up the 710 to the 91 and was at the front gate within an hour of landing. I figured that on a Monday during the school year the crowds would be minimal and I was right. Most rides were either walk right on or a very short wait. Most roller coasters were running with only one train and the other train was being be maintained on the maintenance siding. The only hiccup was with the parking lot attendant who after scanning my pass he said it wasn't valid. I told him I had paid for it a few weeks ago and he let me in to park and told me to go to information booth. I didn't see the information booth so I just went up to the gate where my pass was scanned in and welcomed into the park. As anticipated the WindSeeker was closed but unfortunately so was the Ghostrider, their wooden coaster. The first coaster I had to ride was the Silver Bullet, a suspended roller coaster. It has six (and some say 6.5) inversions. The closest thing KI had to it is the Flying Ace (minus the invertions). A great ride that would fill a gap in the current KI lineup. I then moved on to the Xcelerator. I think the Xcelerator was the inspiration for Kinga Ka and the Top Thrill Dragster. The ride is not nearly as tall but still an intense experience. 0-80 mph then straight up 200 feet, then down, around and back to the station. An added bonus was the view to the north of downtown LA and the Hollywood sign. (20 miles or so in the distance) In my mind the theming wasn't that great but it didn't detract from the ride. A space/aviation theme would work much better. The Boomerang was next. The layout is exactly the same as Invertigo with a Vortex type train. The ride is quick and intense. It didn't bang my head around like The Vortex. But I only rode it once! The next coaster was the Jaguar. The Jaguar is a small steel coaster with great theming. Unfortunately the ride is pretty tame. The best part of the ride is the view of the park it provides. Interestingly enough you could look under the station platform where numerous workers were rebuilding electric motors for the lift hill. On the lift hill I noticed at least three wheels not turning. I then took a break from the coasters and did the Supreme Scream (up, then down, ok) and the La Revolucion (I thought it would be Delirium like but its much smaller and in my mind its better to look out rather than in). The Riptide was an outside version of the Crypt. (The inside setting of the Crypt gave it an big edge over the outside setting but it was probably the best non-coaster ride) I went back to the coasters and tried Montezooma's Revenge. It was the closest thing I had been on previously was the old Screamin' Demon.(Minus the steps!) A very quick out and back looper with a power launch. The lights dimming in the station at launch was an ominious touch (or power surge, who can say) Neat older ride. The Sierra Sidewinder was in kiddie land (Peanuts theme) and was a pretty intense little coaster. It is a small steel coaster with rotating cars. As my car crested the hill it spun and I ended up going down the hill backwards. Pretty cool! The ride ends with a small helix and with your car pointed down it seems as if the gravel is but a few inches away! On the way across the park to re-ride a few of the previously mentioned coasters I stopped and did the Western Stunt Show. About 100 people watched the show which was heavy on slapstick type humor and a few jokes about other parks in southern California. The last coaster was the Pony Express. Another power launch with horse themed cars. You actually sit on a horse like seat to ride. It goes up, around and through a tunnel. The cars were unique but the ride was disappointing. I did the Ghost Town diner for lunch. $17 for a burger, fries and a drink. There were cheaper options out there but I was looking for table service. At that point it was time to head on out. All in all it was a great quick day at Knott's Berry Farm. Having a platinum pass made the trip a no brainer cost wise. Their rides were pretty good and different enough from KI to make things interesting. Being able to walk on to rollercoasters in 60 degree temperatures (cool for SOCAL) in January was a great way to pass the time. Still waiting for the April KI opening!

Photo #33 - Paramount Story (Tower Gardens) - Waynes World Prop - 1990's

I think more than anything else at an amusement park, Halloween events are truly a case where "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Everybody has different expectations, as well as different preferences for intensity, gore, and the like. In 2011, my group of five were discussing favorites at the end of the night; everybody had a different favorite, and some people's favorite mazes were another person's worst maze. Even the exact night you go can greatly color your view as crowd sizes can vary wildly depending on weather and are far heavier on Saturdays then Fridays. In 2012, we had off and on rain all night on a Friday, and the park was dead to the point that most mazes were walk-ons, leaving us happy that could do them all with plenty of extra time. Somehow, I doubt the people that visited eight days later on the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend had the same experience.

According to Coasterbuzz, BeastBuzz is making its return on August 10, 2013! Link. No details have been released yet besides the date, but the fact that it's happening is exciting enough!

From the KI website under Group Sales menu, category called Group Performances: Parade Through the Park Marching bands can now parade through the park, with an optional stand-in-place performance in front of the Eiffel Tower!

You fanboys complain about the supposed long walk to Flightdeck yet you walk around a big ass amusement park all day?

I didn't mind the eyeballs in the trees, I guess because I looked at the decorator's point of view, "We need something cheap and expansive to cover this area. Look! Inflatable eyeballs!" What would you prefer? Aqua and purple lights in the trees? Gauze doctored to look like moss? What would make you walk down that way? I liked last year's Haunt a lot, my own problem was my guests getting scared and running out of line for the mazes. Mysteria is a flopparoonie, but at least they are trying different concepts besides buckets of blood. For me, Club Blood is feeling old, and I miss the Work Crew.

No other Cedar Fair park does this. No other California park does this. With all due respect, this no-glasses policy is beyond stupid.

Correct. If you renewed online using the instant renewal, or if you renewed at the park during the fall sale and were not given a voucher that you were told had to be taken to the processing office, then the same pass you used in 2012 is ready for the turnstiles in 2013. You do not need to go through Season Pass Processing again (though it probably wouldn't hurt to stop in and have the picture retaken every few years, but that can be done whenever you want).

I won't make any half-a@@-ed comment, then.

well , im partial to the Haunt so does this topic include that? or is that too soon? . if not nevermind ill come back to it. but I am very excited for this coming year to see the new show\shows coming and hope to see if the "empty field" will have any activity at all, I can dream i guess. anyway thats my input. by the way hello everyone

"Pets Ahoy" Coming to SeaWorld San Antonio in June http://behindthethrills.com/2013/01/pets-ahoy-coming-to-seaworld-san-antonio-in-june-2013/ Good on them rescuing kitties and doggies from shelters. Better at SW than being without a home or worse...euthanized. I enjoyed Pets Ahoy at SWF which is what this show will probably be very similar to being indoors, the one in San Diego does is outdoors and is called Pets Rule instead.

Also known as Spiral lot and Employee parking before last season.

This is the first impression of Cedar Fair's flagship park, Ouimet's not going to let anything go sub par.

I think we need some more Planet Snoopy rides as well and also possibly a "snoopyfied" wild mouse coaster

One word: WindSeeker?

Here's my humble opinion about the great Cedar Fair vs. Paramount debate. Paramount hit the jackpot with Flight of Fear (after the OTS restraints were replaced). The ride was thrilling, and had good theming. I feel like all of Paramount's failures were from trying to go too extreme in one direction or the other. Some rides were too themed (TR:TR and Italian Job). The theming was great, but Paramount wasn't commited to keeping it up, and it was just too much for a seasonal park. Then some rides were too extreme (Son of Beast, and even Delirium). Trying to break records or make a "giant" version of a ride doesn't make it better. Why Paramount didn't add rides similar to Flight of Fear, I don't know, but I think that the extreme ones killed Paramount. The hard thing however, is that we like extreme rides. Even if they failed, we liked them when they worked, which is why some of us have a hard time with Cedar Fair. Cedar Fair usually will picked tried and true over uncertainty. And at this point, while the park is still recovering from a dark spot in history, I think tried and true is best for us now.

So is Cincinnati! Is there a point to the crime and Heroin statements? First off, Cincinnati probably has a higher crime rate just based on population alone - especially taking into account the metro area. At the same time, Cincinnati doesn't seem to be having the same heroin issue that Louisville's media outlets continually report on in that fine city. And before you took a slight at the Queen City, there was a point to DieselTech's "crime and heroin" statements. Whether or not Cincinnati has a crime issue is irrelevant. Kings Island isn't in Cincinnati, it's about 20 miles north of the downtown core in an affluent suburb where the lawns are manicured, the sprawl and neighboring attractions are plentiful. Kentucky Kingdom is in downtown Louisville and perception is key. Personally, I love visiting Louisville just as much as I do visiting downtown Cincinnati. However, the area surrounding Kentucky Kingdom isn't known for the friendly neighbors. I remember picking my friend up who's repair business was within view of the Twisted Twins: "Hey Greg, ready for lunch?" - "Yeah, but first get your car off the street and park in our garage." Not to mention, Kentucky Kingdom wasn't really well known for its classy guests throughout the day and at the wrestling shows. Which begs another question as to why other parks would want midget wrestling? Cincinnati has the same if not worse heroin problems that Louisville is having. You don't know about it, because the local news doesn't care to report about it. It is a regional problem, not a local one. It used to be that heroin was the expensive drug. Now it is cheap. Whatever it is being laced with is killing people -- quickly. 3 years ago, we were lucky to see a drug overdose once every 3-6 months. Now we see at least 1 a week. Sometimes we see 2 or 3 a week, in a small suburb of Cincinnati. Multiply that across the area, and you will find out just how big the true problem is. It knocks people out then stops their ability to breathe. I have seen it enough in the past couple of years to know. That is an extremely short sighted view. OTR isn't nearly as bad as it used to be. The other neighborhoods are still having issues dealing with crime, and heroin use is everywhere. Not every bad thing that goes on is restricted to OTR anymore. Recent news indicates bigger issues in Westwood and Avondale related to crime and other issues as compared to OTR. YOu don't find it around Fountain Square, due to "Downtown Services" which is CPD police unit that patrols the city's center hub, helps people out with directions, and places to go, and makes sure the riff raff doesn't get to stay downtown. Hyde Park isn't going to have issues either, being one of the most desirable places in the nation to live. There are tons of other Cincinnati neighborhoods and suburbs that do have those problems. 10-15 years ago, OTR was a ghetto. Most of that is gone now, and those groups have been forced into Avondale, Westwood, and Fairmount, and other neighborhoods, still within the city limits.

That is absolutely the last thing I'd want you to take from this thread! Is DINOSAUR a worthwhile romp? Sure! But to think of what it could be...! Or better yet, what it is on the other side of the country. Talk about choosing what themeing to put around a given ride path...

I'd say make the last car a cop car and call it a day....

Fair Board Seeks Hotel: http://m.bgdailynews.com/mobile/news/state/fair-board-seeks-new-proposal-for-convention-hotel/article_6cede4bc-2688-5efc-b080-f75cd4ce2826.html As for mascots, pre-Six Flags, King Louie reigned: http://danalexanderdizmentia.blogspot.com/2011/11/king-louie-at-kentucky-kingdom.html?m=1 Some nice info in that article

This is one of the most ridiculous posts on this site I've ever seen.

Thank you. I can only answer to the day I was there.

Might I also add that they are actually putting GRASS under the ride. But then again, those were just renderings...

Huh? The original Amazon Falls didn't have any themeing. The way it is today is pretty much the way it was in 1988. The only thing that changed between Amazon Falls and Congo Falls was the name (and the sign). Believe me, I rode it on it's opening day, and have fond memories of that day when my friends and I picked up our friend Doug and forced him to stand on the bridge as a boat passed underneath. Doug didn't speak to me again until 4 months later, as I was the main instiGator.

Photo #32 - Wild Animal Habit 1977- (Action Zone)

With a working or non-working yeti? Such as your avatar?

You may not see the hint, but Dolly would.

And coaster manufacturers, coaster designers and coaster marketers typically manufacture, design and market coasters They do not typically do theming. I had reasons for reviving this thread. Very good reasons. Then it went down a different path. Must have been a .... diversion.

I hear it's being renamed to "Backlot Stunt Coaster."That's just the word from under the black hat, so to speak.

Why is there no option for none of them opening?

October of 2005:

SoB gone...DoT gone...AZ water tower...gone. AZ rumors, Oktoberfest rumors, WindSeeker(s) speculation, diversions, planes...what a great off-season "season" this has developed into!

Those trains may make Voyage's flying turns even more thrilling.

That was my post she responded to!!! Hope they can set it up. Only time will tell if they ever make it on there...

Here are the 'tiques on September 5, 2004 (rode them that day too)

Please don't bump old topics like these for one sentence replies.

Oh how I miss the antique cars! It was a beautiful part of the park! It is a shame that this carefully tended garden of 20 years was replaced with a junkyard looking monstrosity of a ride

Yes. It's been explained here numerous times. After one of the ride's many revisions, a park marketing person at Kings Island, who often posts here, Mr. Don Helbig, posted in these forums that The Crypt had been very popular the year before, and that, contrary to perceptions, it was almost always open, as it had far less downtown. Several weeks later, a very similar post appeared, also by the park, also citing The Crypt's reduced downtown.

Personally, I like the haul back to Flight Deck. It creates a sort of ambiance and separation from the rest of the park. With SOB finally gone, I think it will be even more. It gives it character.

Speaking of 2013, Don posted on Facebook that The Beast and Diamondback will be the 2013 early ride time rides, along with select Planet Snoopy attractions.

I wish people would quit hating on screamscape. They are a rumor site. Nothing more.

Oh, I think many KI Fans consider that news a win, too!

Flight Deck isn't being removed. The ride celebrates its 20th annivesary season in 2013.

I would like a big, nice, sit-down restaurant with a nice view like the Crown Colony Restaurant in BGA http://seaworldparks.com/buschgardens-tampa/Dine-and-Shop/Dining/Crown-Colony-Restaurant

A big enthusiast event should definitely happen at KI again. It's great that the park (or at least Don) is apparently interested in it! Perhaps KICentral could even be involved - PointBuzz/CoasterBuzz shouldn't get all the fun! After all, we're perhaps the biggest group of fans of KI specifically. In any case, add me to the list of people who would be interested in attending. By the way, I didn't get a chance to ask Ryan this on closing day: why has KICentral never launched a "coaster club"?

The lift has been there since the ride opened. It's there so that a person utilizing a wheel chair could enjoy the ride's theming and "pre-show" and then have access into the flying saucer. Since 1996 though, I think the novelty of the queue has worn off. You have to remember though that when that ride opened - the theming was right on par with Disney and while an excellent effort has been made in past years to revive it somewhat - it's a shell of its former self. Still today you can find hints of how elaborate the theming was. The announcements out front in "the base," the outdoor queue line radio that references Richmond and Cincinnati UFO sightings (the two cities of the parks that opened the rides) and even if you watch the pre-show it tied in with the voices that give you instructions in the station. At one point the ride ops even wore military like berets and uniforms that had the "Bureau of Paranormal Activity" patch on them.

Photo #69

Photo #67 (One of my favorites) - Wild Thornberry's River Adventure

Its a Coaster event that takes place at parks around the US. Coaster buzz does this with pki. They do different events through out the day. For example FOF tour they take you inside the Flight of Fear. You get to see them launch trains. With all the lights on. Also you get a walkback into the woods thats right The Beast walkback. And they have savenger hunts and you can win prizes like season passes and other great stuff.