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On Tuesday morning I had woke up after having several dreams about going to KI including Don driving several KIC'ers around the park. I was in a need of a day to myself so I decided I was going to take a vacation day and spend it at KI! I left the house at 7AM and got to KI about 9AM. It was quite chilly in the morning, but was to warm up during the day so I decided to leave my jacket in the car.I was hoping for an empty park for lots of rides. When it was about time for the park to open the scanners came and talked ot everyone and greeted everyone to get everyone pumped up which is always a nice way to start the day! The first destination was DB where I got in 8 rides in during ERT, and rode 2 more times before moving on to another ride. Then I went and rode The Beast 2 times. BLSC was not running that day for some reason so I went on to Vortex! I then headed to Firehawk and rode it 2 time in a matter of minutes. Here is a look at the CM midway around 11 AM. I then went on a ride on Dodgem and Racer! I started heading back towards PS and got some pics of the fountains! I then went and rode FAAC and SD. I still enjoy riding SD even by myself. (Coaster or not) It sounded like a good time to go ride Beast again times two! I then went and rode Zephyr and Dodgem again. I realized I had not rode AE yet so I went and rode it! Still very hard to get used to an empty field next to it. I then decided to hit up Delirium and then FD two times. When I got to the park I saw a lift being brought in on a flatbed park. I think I saw the same lift over by FD. Could it be we will start seeing steel being erected soon in the Project 2014 area?? I then went and rode DT and Invertigo! After that I was getting hungry and wanted to check out Reds Hall of Fame Grille. The really went over the top with this restaurant. Wait staff were great! Here is the view on the patio! I then went and rode DB 3 more times and that third time was my 300th ride! I got some pics of DB through the day. I then rode Beast, Vortex, FOF, and FD. I took a few more pics of Project 2014. I see this as a great queue entrance! I then enjoyed the Backyard BBQ. This was my first time trying it and it was very good. I had the fried chicken! I then got 8 rides in on DB before heading out of the park at 7:40ish. I had a great day! Got a few more pics before leaving! A great relaxing day a the park! Ride Totals: DB: - 22 Beast - 5 FD - 3 Vortex - 2 FH - 2 Dodgem - 2 Racer - 2 Invertigo - 1 Delirium - 1 AE - 1 Zephyr - 1 FAAC - 1 SD - 1 CF - 1 Total: 45

Dippin' dots man told me they were finally installing the stair scene effect thru the tunnel.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I got a tip from one of the ride operators on Dodgem today. He told me that the cars are not all the same speed. The two fastest cars are the bright yellow ones, number 35 and number 9. I drove car number 35 today, and the difference in speed compared to other cars was definitely noticeable, at least to me. Try one of them out!

I was 17, a Junior in HS, living in Virginia. I distinctly recall my Mother telling me first thing in the morning. It was all over the news and was devistating to the nation. The images that came from it are something I'll never forget. It opened the eyes of a lot of people to the horror of drunk driving. It was, and is, a unforgettable tradgedy in every sense. I still say a little prayer everytime I pass the sign in Carrollton. God bless the families, victims and friends that are still grieving.

I hope that's the park's way of informing us the Flying Eagles are making their return.

I have seen a Mack coaster in the United States.

It's a coaster. They go up and down and sometimes stop.

BLSC opened in the afternoon today.

Sorry to bring this topic up again, but yesterday (Tuesday) was 25 years since the accident. RIP to all of those who lost their lives.

Surf Dog is an awesome change of pace ride from roller coasters. I suggest it to anyone who hasn't ridden it. It would be nice to see more attractions in the Surf Dog demographic be added to the park in the next few years.

I actually rode Surf Dog for the first time today. Gotta admit, for being in the kids area, that was a really really good ride. Pretty fast in the motion along the track and the spinning. I will gladly add that to my list of underrated rides.

Here are the construction pics I took today. All pictures were taken legally from Eiffel Tower Construction #1 by oldiesmann, on Flickr Construction #2 by oldiesmann, on Flickr Construction #3 by oldiesmann, on Flickr Construction #4 by oldiesmann, on Flickr (Sorry for the last one being blurry - it was very windy on top of the tower at the time).

This is one of my favorites.

Definitely Viking Fury. It's one of my favorites. I have to ride it every time I'm there. Top row, lake side

The ride's ugliness finally caught up with it. No, just kidding, it's really sinking. Alright, enough foolin', it's [giant animated foot stomps Tb] ...it's my wife's favorite ride; I hope it's back up and running soon.

YEAH!! Thank you!! I'm in the same school and do the same thing. It's pretty awesome having the park to yourself. Haha

Getting out for the summer... Ah, youth. And teaching. Then again, I guess one could do so for retirement...endless summer?

New this year in the Columbus market, Kroger stores have a combo ticket that includes 1 admission to Kings Island and 1 admission to Cedar Point for $54.99. This is a great deal if you're planning to visit each park once. Going north through Columbus on I-71, the easiest Kroger to access is probably the one on Polaris Pkwy (exit 121).

I've looked all over and havn't found any, so I'm curious. Does anyone have ANY pictures of the construction of Top Gun? I mean we have pcs of The Bat.. Beast, King CObra construction. Vortex.. but no one ever got any pics of Top Gun when it was being built?

Not much to report from today. The park wasn't that busy even with the school groups. Most rides were either walk-on or 15 minute wait tops. WindSeeker was down all day due to wind, and Drop Tower, Skyflyer and Slingshot all went down due to wind at one point as well. 5 rides on DB during ERT and 3 straight rides on Flight Deck without going back around (I could have gotten more had I wanted to, but 3 straight was enough for me). I rode everything I wanted to ride (at least everything that was open) by 3:30, so I went back around and rode most things again. Despite the heat, there was still quite a bit of interest in the family dryer. At one point I walked by and there was a group of about 9 school kids in there - during the hottest part of the day. No wonder Cedar Fair loves those things. New stuff I noticed: Card readers added to all the vending machines at the beginning of The Beast queue Quite a few new arcade games Jukebox Diner now has Coke Freestyle machines, which offer more choices than those in the burrito shack There's a "Rivertown 1979" sign above the kiddy corale at Beast Most of the rides that have "estimated wait time" signs got new ones customized to their particular ride New decorations in the queue at Flight of Fear: Biohazard by oldiesmann, on Flickr Translation Project by oldiesmann, on Flickr Urgent - Press Release by oldiesmann, on Flickr Finally, a few other photos I took: The great blue heron is back Great Blue Heron #2 by oldiesmann, on Flickr The new beer garden, with some nice landscaping: Christian Morlein Biergarten by oldiesmann, on Flickr The new dino: New Dino by oldiesmann, on Flickr The inside of the train: Train by oldiesmann, on Flickr I also took several construction photos, which I'll post in the topic on that

So I was looking for something else and it brought me all the way back here... the bold are the removed rides.... Gas was $2.57? Wow

and the time frame when it was being built. 1992? The internet was not anywhere close to what it is now. Cameras still had film. Not many people would waste film (and money to develop) on a picture of a footer, or some steel in the parking lot. Plus if it was developed there was not an easily accessible group/community that would be very interested in a picture of a footer, figuring out what the ride was going to be. same thing with video. Compare to today, digital camera and digital video. Easy to take 100 photos and upload online. Top gun was just a "ride" not like with The Beast that the park knew was going to be a unique new ride or The Racer (since it was part of the park opening).

What do Cedar Point overnight accommodations have to do with Kings Island's Dinosaurs Alive?

Glad to hear about the wristbands, that will help. We won't have one ride op let him on, and then come back to the same ride and be told he can't get on. I want him to be the proper height so he is safe. If he doesn't hit 48 inches, we will stick to Planet Snoopy.

I don't have kids, but some of the parents on here that have experienced that with their own kids can give you tips on getting him to maximum height (posture is important!). The one thing I will point out is that rather than being measured at every ride, when you arrive you should go to the height measurement station just inside and to the left of the front gate. They will measure him once and give him a color-coded wristband indicating his official height, and that can then be shown any time a ride op questions his height (or more likely, the ride ops will see the wristband and not even ask).

At the moment, my 6 year old is 47.5 inches, with shoes he is right at 48. He is very excited to try racer and blsc. He may grow a bit before we can get to the park later this summer, but if he doesn't, do you guys think he will be able to ride or will we have issues getting on some rides?

Thanks for the report! 45 rides is more than I got in a 15 hour day with Fast Lane!

Sounds like fun! Yesterday was a great day to go.

I would have to agree this will most likely be a Beemer. With most of the steel coaster installs being from B&M, and the few Intamins have had issues. Intamin's tend to be more wild and crazy, but B&M just seems safer and more reliable.

15 minutes. That must've been tough. Sorry, the jerk side of me is showing.

Wikipedia I don't ever trust anything I read on it, but I do enjoy reading it from time to time!

Kings Island now has a number you can text to get updates and news from the park! (and they are "Promo" texts according to the park) (Cedar Point did this for Gatekeeper to make announcements on the rides construction)

Endless summer... on ice?

Shake Rattle and Roll. I forgot KI even had a Troika until I walked past it today.

Can't help but be reminded of this: Gets me every time. So, yeah. I say fake.

Viking Fury. I'm excited this year, we used to ride it every trip 2 years ago when my son was 2/3 and his choice of "big" rides was limited to Viking Fury and Woodstock Express. Last season, when he turned 4, boo blasters became a must ride, plus he had a few more options w/ surf dog and FA,AC we only hit Viking Fury once. Now with Auntie Ann's over there, and our tradition of grabbing a pretzel when we first get to the park, I think Viking fury is going to become a regular again.

I got out April 26th! O-H!

I wonder how many handicap people are thrown off by the signs at Flight Decks entrance? Anybody else notice? I remember riding Top Gun and waiting 4 hours the year it opened but never seen any construction photos. It seemed so much cooler back then but I'm not sure if its because I was young and it was new or that I'm old now?

But not too much! The "big boy" seats are not consistent though. My first time riding Gatekeeper (row 4, right side, on the end), the ride op got me on with just a little bit of effort. After a quick bite to eat, I went to row 4 on the left side, on the end, and the girl wouldn't even attempt to get me in. I tried again a few hours later, left side row 4 on the end again. DaveStroem tried to get me in, and there was still about an inch left before the belt would meet the latch. A few hours after that, I once again went to row 4, right side, on the end, and it took quite a bit of effort from Beast Man and sheikra_rocks, but they got me in. If I had know from the start that the trains were different colors, or where the train numbers could be found, I would have noted what train I got the first time. From what I could tell, GK's big boy seats were really no different than Wild Eagle's regular seats (which don't have designated big boy seats). Sometimes I fit them, sometimes I didn't. But when I WAS able to ride, it's a very good ride. The keyholes are great, as is the roll past the towers on the way back.

Hard to believe it has been 25 years since this accident devastated our Community. Countless lives were and are still affected. Will be attending the first public screening of the documentary that Mr. Harold Dennis has been working so diligently on. On a positive note, the NTSB made it a point to announce a new push for lower drinking limits for drivers on the 25th anniversary. I think it should be zero myself, though I am a little biased.

But it seems like Blue Fire has no big characteristics like a leviathan-type coaster. As we've already heard: "One does not simply replace a towering 200+ foot tall wooden coaster that is still fresh in everyone's mind, with another something like BLSC in the same park." - DontWantTo Cedar Fair is really going to have to outdo the Gargantuan Glob of Wood that once stood where supposed "new ride" is going, just because of how big of a loss that ride was to the park. And besides, when was the last time KI added something really big? 4 years ago. Seems like we're really due up for something huge. Also Mack is a company that is not as well known by Cedar Fair as B&M is. Soo... yeah, it's probably not going to be a Mack. sorry. I am not saying its a Mack just putting options out there for one..another it doesn't have to be a towering coaster to be a great fun filled ride! As it stands right now know one knows what we are getting at the island, So until we see track it could be anything. Someone knows. Tusk - being eerily similar to Terpy

I don't know about what you are asking, but it says 'is a steel launched roller coaster'... should it instead be 'launched steel roller coaster'? (The way it is now reads to me like steel is the type of launch)

Last year when it was about 90 degrees, I was stupid and didn't drink any water for the whole day. I got very dehydrated and when I got off The Racer I took two steps and had a little protein spill. Another one was when I had worn a tank top to the park and got a really bad tan line. When I went to the water park and I took my shirt off someone yelled, "Hey look this kid was wearing a bra." That was the last time I wore a tank top to the park.....

I stopped up tonight for a little while. Took some quick pics with my phone.

Or loses, depending on your point of view.

I would love to agree, but unless i missed some info, in reality we don't even know if it's a B&M. All we know is there is a fence with a sign and footings being set behind that fence.

For shame. An onride photo is strictly prohibited on all rides at Kings Island...sans of course the Eiffel Tower and KI and MV Railroad. Especially since this was on Drop Tower, it's a big no no. How many people at the bottom - including ride ops - could have been injured from falling camera/cell phone parts? Now that I got that out of my system...that does show a lot!

I feel bad even sharing this one. It didn't happen to me but to a friend of mine and I was very embarassed for him. I don't think he's been to an amusement park again ever since. This was several years ago. Late 90s I would guess. He was a big guy who was going through some hard times. Unemployed. Living with his parents. Deep in student debt. Just a long line of bad luck (which has since turned around). I came in town to cheer him up and we decided to go to Kings Island for the day. Neither of us had been in a long time. We had a great time up until we tried to ride The Beast. Like I said, my friend was a big guy. The Beast wasn't really build with guys his size in mind. The ride operator couldn't lower the restraint over his stomach. So he called for help. Another ride operator came to help and they both tried to push the restraint down. When they couldn't get it to click, they both started hopping up and down on the restraint until it clicked into place. In the end, we were able to ride. We acted like nothing happened and kept on having fun. But for the rest of the day we avoided anything that might have a restraint. Pretty sure that was the last time he ever rode a roller coaster.

If he had, the meaning might change: Why, thank you! Why thank you? Why thank YOU?