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I want to share my thoughts about past and present KI employees who read/post on this website's forums and hope you will do the same. With all the hoopla(5 forum pages in 24 hours) about the new ride coming, and the vitriol (flaming, shredding, generally pi$$y back and forths) flying around here, I'd like to send out a genuine "Thank You" to every KI employee past and present who post here. I'm leaning on my 3rd year as a member of KIC. My wife and I moved to Cincinnati after vacationing here in 2009. I wanted to find out everything I could about my new home park and found this site after an employee told me about KIC. I had hundreds of questions that were all answered, some with humor and sarcasm but all were answered completely. (To the newbies: Ask if "anyone" knows an answer to any question you might have... go ahead... I dare you!) I received the most thorough education about Ki thanks to the many members and employees who shared there knowledge on these forums. Then came the what "Was DA going to be?" thread and people began fighting so much they locked it and many members disappeared. Well, here we go again. I don't want this latest fiasco to turn present/past employees away from KIC. I don't think the newbies here realize what a treasure trove of knowledge can be learned on these forums. The new ride will be announced soon, and this will all die down, many newbs will disappear, and maybe things will get back to normal. Hopefully not too many of you are soured on all this. Please stick around, you all are muchly appreciated.

Honestly as long as we get a good ride i will be happy

^ That was probably the best post made on this site regarding 2014 ever.

7/22 pics

If anything we owe KIC mods an very big thank you for their work on the site and how they run the events. It may not appear much to some, but in all honesty, working on sites for hours on in, you get tired and want a break from it all, but they don't take a break from it. I am thankful that there are people like myself and mods who go on to sites and perfect great works about parks and coasters across the world. So thanks Dane, and all the moderators that keep this place running! The work pays off in the long run!

I, as a newbie, enjoy logging in to see what others' speculations are about the new attraction. And I hope that I can possibly make a few friends while I'm here

If you like countless posts of bickering and attacking eachother that are all unrelated to the topic at hand...

The trains.

I mean when Diamondback was still a secret we all had our hopes for what it might be, and when it came out we got a hypercoaster, yes some people were disapointed because it wasnt the type of coaster they wanted but after riding it alot of them were no longer disapointed because it was a good ride, so why does it matter what type it is? As long as its a good ride we should be happy. I mean we could get a giga or a invert or something comepletly different. but just because it would be a giga or invert does not mean it will be a good ride, it could be one of those and end up being the worst ride at Kings Island, so we should all be happy as long as we end up with a good ride.

* it is too early to say "we" lost a great relationship. * "After this, because of this" is often not true. Just because B follows A does not mean A caused B. Yes, the trespass apparently occurred. Yes, the event was postponed. That does not mean the event was postponed because the trespass apparently occurred. To hold every KIC member responsible for the irresponsible actions of one or two members is just as silly as holding every Methodist responsible because one member killed a puppy. It doesn't make sense. The Kings Island management team would not do that. There could be 101 reasons the event was postponed. The reaction here isn't helping matters.

Well said, Snowman! Speaking for myself (and like if anyone agrees): I think our love for what KIC has been for us is stronger than even this current, passing storm of controversy, and it would take a heck of a lot more than that to make at least this member want to abandon/walk away from it.

Our family usually travels to Myrtle Beach for a week in the summer or Spring Break for vacation. This time we visited Family Kingdom Amusement Park for our first time. I, my mom, my dad, and my sister Lucy arrived at our hotel in Myrtle Beach at 6PM on Saturday, July 13th. After unpacking everything and setting up, we went down to the lobby, and discussed what to do. Dad, for some reason, doesn’t like to have a plan, so that made things a little more difficult. We eventually, after about 15 minutes of discussing and looking at brochures, decided to head to Family Kingdom. We arrived around 7:30. Parking was $6. Mom and dad decided they didn’t really want to ride all that much, so we just got wristbands for Lucy and I. It’s around $26 I believe, and gets you on all the rides except for the zip line, trampolines, and Go-Karts. For about $10, you can get a combo pass for the waterpark as well. What’s nice is there is free admission, so if you wanted, you could just stroll around the park for no charge. Here are a few pictures I took in the car. The park had some odd hours. I believe the waterpark is open from 11-4, and the amusement park is open 4-midnight. I guess the idea is to go to the waterpark in the morning, and the amusement park in the evening. As you can see, “Sling Shot” shoots you up from an elephant ear stand, and if you survive, you get free elephant ears! Just kidding but wouldn’t that be awesome? The map, which does not look like it includes the new Twist ‘n’ Shout coaster. First up, Lucy wanted to ride Twist ‘n’ Shout, there new wild mouse for this year. The wait was only one cycle, which is always good for a wild mouse. The ride started off with the most intense 4 foot drop ever. You then climbed up the hill and did the old wild mouse routine, straight aways followed by sharp turns. The drops were small but still fun. The turn over the station was very intense. I rated it an 8/10, and so did Lucy. Next up was the terribly named “Sling Shot”. We waited a cycle and then got on. The ride eventually launched you up, which was kind of fun. And then it slowly “dropped” you down. The launch was ok, the drop was boring. I gave this one a 6/10 and Lucy gave it a 7/10. Next up was… We waited about 5 minutes to ride Swamp Fox. As you can see, it had a really tight station. The coaster was a figure 8 style layout. It opened in 1966 and had to be rebuilt in the early 90’s after Hurricane Hugo. It started off with a right turn out of the station onto the lift hill. Once the top of the hill was reached, you took another right turn and dropped. It was followed by another drop and a left turnaround. Then there was some airtime hills, and soon a final turn next to the drop that I found rather intense. The ride’s second half was better than its first half. I gave it an 8/10 and Lucy gave it a 7/10. I loved the way this picture tuned out. When I went back and looked through a Family Kingdom brochure, it was actually pretty much the same picture that they had in there. Same angle, same time of day, everything it seemed. Next up Lucy wanted to do Hurricane. This was similar to a Matterhorn type ride, only the seats weren’t as suspended, or something. I don’t know. Anyways, it was a walk on. It was a nice ride, that went both forwards and then backwards. The cycle was pretty long as well. I gave it a 7/10, Lucy gave it an 8/10. Next we went to their Log Flume. There was only a cycle wait. The ride was continuously moving, so you had to get on and off while the boat was in motion. First, you took a right turn out of the station to the first drop. Once we reached the top and started going down, there was a loud THUMP and then we went down. That drop was pretty fun, and it went down on roller coasterish track and not water. You went back up and splashed into the water. Look it up on YouTube if you want to see what I’m talking about. You then passed literally right next to Friendly’s, and went up another hill. You heard the same THUMP, but this time, you went down on water. I rated it a 9/10, but I forgot to ask Lucy her rating, but she enjoyed it as well. Our parents wanted us to ride again, as they wanted to take our picture going down or something. This time it was a 5 minute wait, and still a very fun ride. But our dad made us ride AGAIN cause he missed the photo again. Not that I really minded. This time it was a 10 minute wait, and still another fun ride. Next we decided to do Twist ‘n’ Shout again. It was a cycle wait, and another good ride. We decided to ride again, with a 5 minute wait, and it was another exciting ride. Then we decided to try out there Merry-Go-Round. It was a walk on. The Merry-Go-Round required you to wear seatbelts, so that was different. I decided not to rate this because I didn’t see the point. Then again, of course you couldn’t See-der Point in South Carolina! Next we decided to ride their Antique Cars, which were about a 5 minute wait. Their Antique Cars included going into lit tunnels, and going next to Swamp Fox. The ride was in no way actually controlled. I gave it a 7/10, Lucy gave it an 8/10. Next Lucy wanted to do Berry-Go-Round. It was a walk on. It’s like a Tilt-A-Hurl but all you do is spin. And your in a strawberry. I got dragged onto it. Ugh. Get me off this thing. The ride soon ended and I didn’t like it. I gave it a 3/10, Lucy gave it a 9/10. Next we went onto Kite Flyer, which was a walk on. It’s pretty much a copy of Linus Launcher. It was ok, though this combined with Berry-Go-Round didn’t make me feel so well. My chest also hurt after the ride. I gave it a 6/10, Lucy gave it a 9/10. Then I walked onto Thunder Bolt, which was a Matterhorn type ride. Another spinny ride. Great. All the cars “swayed”, and it was a fun ride. It had a slightly shorter cycle than Hurricane, but still did the forwards than backwards thing. I didn’t feel so well after the ride. We both gave it a 7/10. We then split up and I went for another ride on Swamp Fox. The wait was 5 minutes, but only cause I found a no line for a row. The line was longer than last time. This time I rode on s front wheel seat, which I enjoyed more. Although it was rougher, there was more airtime and the ride seemed better. I then decided to ride Yoyo (Swings). Yoyo was a walk on, and 2 seatbelts. The ride was a nice swing, that gets a 7/10. My dad and I then met up with my mom and Lucy at the log flume. We then went for one last ride, on the Ferris Wheel. An odd thing was that when Lucy and I were about to go on, they said that you need somebody who is at least 18 to go on you. Luckily, they offered a free ride for ONE person over 18, and mom wanted to go over dad, so we were still able to ride. It was a walk on. They said it was state law to have someone over 18, so yeah. After about a cycle around, it started raining. So we spent a few cycles in the rain until we got off. Then we headed out for a late dinner. And that, is Family Kingdom in Myrtle Beach. A couple Notes: *It pretty much had fair style rides, plus “Sling Shot”, a wooden coaster, a wild mouse, a log flume, and go karts. *There was another coaster, Speedy Gonzalez, that was a kitty coaster. Unfortunately, I was too tall to ride. *It’s worth stopping by if you ever go to Myrtle Beach. It’s a nice park. Now, I have some bonus, miscellaneous photos from the trip I took. This is the outside of Wonderworks, a building with all kinds of stuff inside. This is the 360 bike inside of Wonder Works. You pedal to go, and if you pedal enough you will invert. It does hurt your shoulders a bit, but when you get to the top it’s fun to just hang there. Found this inside of Mammy’s Kitchen. Some Knott’s jelly holder thing. A far away view of the Sky Wheel and another ride called “Sling Shot”. A zip line that lights up at night. A small amusement park known as The Pavilion at Broadway at The Beach. The Pirate Ship was down. It was made my HUSS. That’s why I guess. Wonder Works on a much busier day. Notice the long line at the bottom of the picture. Driving around the Boardwalk’s thrill rides. The Sky Wheel from below. And the Sky Wheel again. The Sky Scraper. Swamp Fox again. Mr. Ferris Wheel. The Log Flumes two hills. Splash. A view of a coaster known as Time Machine from the highway. It hasn’t operated since 2009. So Freestyle Music Park, once known as Hard Rock Park, is just rotting. And me ziplining. Thanks to my family for this wonderful vacation, and Thanks for Reading!

Kings Island and the mods of KIC do not owe us anything. This is their site they do what is needed to keep it here and they are very good at what they do. I for one am thankful we have such a great mod team here. Having been a mod on a few other sites I can understand just how hard of a job it can be. Especially when you have real life issues that pull you away from it. That being said this is their baby and they can do what they please with it.

Love the user name!

I've only been a member on here for about a month, so I think I'd still fall under the "newbie" category. I joined not only to follow Project 2014 (which was how I first discovered this site), but also to carry on insightful, friendly conversations with people who share the same interests as me. Already I can tell there are some great people on here, and I've had several chats with members. Making new friends and contributing positively to things both related to and not related to KI is what this site is all about. Let's all just move on from what has recently happened and try to rebuild our community. As new and inexperienced as I am on these forums compared to some others, I hope to gain your respect and friendship. I will help as much as I can to move this site away from prior events, and help move it in a positive direction. It's time to refocus and bring KIC back to its glory.

Without crossing the line into politics, I'll say that there is a marked difference between government censorship and private censorship. Private citizens in America still have the right to protect their private and intellectual property from damage or harm. The government's purpose is to protect their right to do just that; not to step in and do it for them.

I myself would like a better explanation than getting "cleaned up". Cleaned up to me sounds like a PR friendly way of saying CENSORED! This is america right...? not china. Since when did our discussion not belong to us?

Diamondback for steel, The Beast for wood. I don't even attempt to compare steel coasters to wood ones because they're totally different animals.

Welcome to KIC!

Putting trims on the decoding thread ala b&m.

Nothing wrong with that; walking is great exercise! You should see the way I go around Cedar Point when I'm alone...

The problem with going alone, for me, is that I tend to have A.D.D. moments. You know, like when I'll get off Flight Deck, and think "hmm... I'd like to ride The Beast." Then I'll get off The Beast and decide I could really go for a ride on Delirium. You see the issue with this, I'm sure

That's the spirit! Welcome, dwitb!

KIC is a great place to meet friends. Most, if not all, of us are very friendly.

I don't think nobody would pay a dime to post on here. Just my 10 cents.

Well spoken, Snowman! I have learned so much from this site! I would hate to see the relationship between KI and KIC spoil!

Snowman, great way to put it! You have contributed a lot to this site, so for that, Thank You! TB, you continue to lighten the situation that previously happened in an effort to put it behind us. I think we all appreciate that! Along with all the other ways that you have contributed to the site over the years, Thanks! So lets all put this behind us!

To be honest, I just took a break from the site, and to come back sooner was from this "storm" TB has spoken of. I just don't feel right when I sit out on other sites and I couldn't help this one better. Like I said, I'm here and I am going to help to fix this site along with fellow members.

While my vote obviously goes for Beast, I really think Diamondback was a great addition to the park, and compliments The Beast well in being so different. For some examples... Easily Visible? Diamondback: Yes, looms over most of Rivertown and can be clearly seen from all over the park and from the parking lot, as if it is begging for attention The Beast: Not really, it "hides" in the woods, so you have to ride it to see most of it. Even riding Vortex or WindSeeker, two large rides nearby, only reveals a little bit. Airtime? Diamondback: Diamondback was literally born for it- heaps of floater air (sometimes even ejector) over every hill! The Beast: One pop on the second drop, if you're lucky. Style of Layout? Diamondback: Pretty par-for-the-course for a modern B&M Hypercoaster, the splashdown being the only element really never seen before. The Beast: Unlike any other wooden roller coaster ever built, mainly due to its long sections of straight track and huge turns. Smoothness? Diamondback: Some rattling, but meant to be smooth. The Beast: Not horribly rough for a wooden coaster...but it is still 100% a wooden coaster so there is plenty of shaking and rumbling! Tunnels? Diamondback: What are tunnels? The Beast: 4. Finale? Diamondback: Splashdown into water visible to everyone in the area. The Beast: Insane helix tunnel visible to only its riders, and maybe people on Vortex & WindSeeker. Interaction with woods? Diamondback: Not really, you're always so high above the treeline... The Beast: Plenty. Type of Coaster? Diamondback: Steel. The Beast: Wood. Type of Animal Logo is depicting? Diamondback: A Diamondback snake, a reptile. The Beast: Unknown, but it has fur, so it's likely a mammal. I see them as Ying-and-Yang for these and some other reasons. So different, yet generally both end up getting so much love from guests...

Now that I am 16 and can drive and go without parents I almost always go alone. I get realy fed up with groups that fall through, or have a ton of drama or have people who are too scared to ride ride roller coaster and spend half the day marathoning WWC. I live 15 minutes away so I usually start my day with a good breakfast at home and bring a plastic ziploc baggie and cargo shorts to put my loose articles in. I arrive for ERT with two each on Beast and DB. Then and head on over to FH then FOF. Usually a walk on for Vortex is next and a short wait for DT happens next to complete KI's big 6. If I have time I might get a ride in on Invertigo, Racer, AE, and/or FD and if I have even more time a look at 2014 on ET is next. By this time it's only 11 and I head on out to get Chipoltle or Jimmy John's on the way home. I only go with others if I'm invited or it's a KIC thing. A lot of this sounds mean but you do get a lot more done in a shorter time.

I guess I'm a little late on this but....I couldn't have inversions in my 'back yard stunt track' because my backyard is too small, it barley fits before going into the neighbors backyard! Adding inversions would make it to big, and impossible to fit it in. If you're referring to Backlot Stunt Coaster I think silver2005 answered the question. Original- Not trying to be picky, just going with the flow :]

Nothing wrong with that; walking is great exercise! You should see the way I go around Cedar Point when I'm alone... Ha. I do that too. Glad I'm not the only one!

Well, it seems that it just went down after my leave. Let us hope that it could rebound with me returning! I really am sorry to KI for what happened, many of us have close ties to those who work there or are actual employees at the park. I hope the trust and partnership that we had in a way can be mended soon and we can all have a great legal time at the park. I am glad the topic is getting cleaned, it was just filthy when I was here in a way. Kudos to the admins for doing their jobs, and handling the situation professionally and efficiently when it arose.

You know, the more I think about it, the more I begin to get the sinking feeling that this Decoding 2014 "cleanup" may cause more harm than good. Either way, it's setting a precedent for these forums that I'm not entirely comfortable with.

The old one is coming back. The admins said it was being cleaned up and will be brought back when that is done.

Does anyone read?

Its getting a massive cleaning up by Mr. Ryan so its hidden ATM.

My first post...after lurking for years. I actually registered specifically to find out what happend to my daily soap opera decoding topic only to be beaten to the punch. Now my breaking my silence is extremely... disappointing. The Gnarly Gnome - Feeling confused, sad, and wishing he still didn't exist?

I told you an outside factor related to the guest - such as obsesity - would be one of the lead contributing factors. I'm going to ruffle some feathers here, but I'll come right out with it. Parks should, under the law, have the right to refuse anyone of exceptional size and/or physical handicap to ride. ADA regulations have reached a ridiculous fever pitch, and those that are obsese are developing a mentality that "what everyone else can do, I should be allowed to do." Sorry, but that's crap. They should NOT be allowed to do something that could compromise their safety. A park should be protected, just as any citizen is, should they refuse a person. If I have a backyard pool with a slide, I can - by law - refuse someone access to it for fear their physical limitation would endanger them should they go on the slide. However if a park does such, it's considered discrimination, and the ADA gives the guest the right to sue. It's a fact of life that those of larger proportions simply cannot do, or should not do, things that would be impeded by size. By living in a "PC" society, we are perpetuating myths. By "pretending" that a person of extreme size or limitation is completely able-bodied endangers them. It generates a mentality, in cases such as coaster riding, that they are superior to a mechanical device. It's lose-lose for the parks. If they refuse the rider - they get sued. If they allow the rider - they run the risk of getting sued should any accident (no matter how small) occurr. When I worked on Beast crew, there was a fellow who came with his Dad to KI every weekend and rode The Beast. He was middle-aged, wheelchair bound and LOVED KI. I really appreciated his love of the park. However, he was handicapped to the point that he could not lift or manuever himself out of his chair or into the train whatsoever. As a matter of fact, (as I recall) his arms had very limited mobility and he was not able to hold the lap bar properly. (I believe, he had Cerebral Palsy to the point that he was constricted to the chair) We'd have to hold the trains while three of us lifted him from his chair onto the ride. We then had to adhere him to the seat with a special torso strap and click his lapbar down on him. This was AFTER we had notified those that had waited in line (he didn't have to - came up the exit) that he would be riding in front of them for the next two circuits (he was permitted two consecutive rides.) We'd send him on his way, and every single time I'd pray to God that he came back in one piece. I stayed scared to death something would happen and I'd be responsible. However, by law, I was not allowed to refuse this. But also, had something happened, my neck was on the chopping block for blame. Now I was in my late 20's - and working at KI for kicks. Most employees at KI are teens - or young 20s. That's an immense responsibility to place on "a kid." Yet, had I refused to allow him - or even refused to assist him - I would have been fired and the park sued. Now I ask... is that fair to anyone? Him? Me? The park?