Leaderboard

You are all wrong. It is 3:05 in the morning. There are no operating rides.

Here we go with the Young Stud drooling again....give it a rest.

Things I have learned Fast Lane: Addictive Reds Hall of fame grill: Addictive Delerium: Fast Lane always gets you seats 1-2 unless fastlane has ppl in it. Skyflyer & Slingshot: Buy your tickets early and ride later Drop Tower: Thats its always scary Backlot Stunt Coaster: More fun than it looks Diamondback: Never gets old, hands and feet up is the best way to ride up. Pouring Rain = Pain Vortex..5th car 1st row = Less rough Racer & The Beast. Middle seat of any car.(not a wheel seat) Smoothest The Beast: I always feel like my head is going to get cut off, and at night is a whole other Beast Firehawk. Doesnt have bins and Last car (back of train) is awesome Flight of Fear: Hold your head back Flight Deck, Backlot, AE: Great coasters for beginners Also that basketballs are annoying, if you fast pass you will get dirty looks, scare actors target women and teens, and "that all clear means your guys are up and outta here" :-)

Firehawk, Flight of Fear, and Backlot Stunt Coaster sometimes assign seats, but when they do, they assign seats for everyone. There are no rides that assign seats only for Fast Lane users. (There are also no coasters on which Fast Lane users enter through the exit.) This Saturday will be extremely packed because of the weather and because it is Columbus Day weekend. I would not be surprised if the park hits capacity. Because of that, if you want to go out to your car mid-day, check with admissions associates or Guest Services first before you attempt to exit and re-enter; if the park is at capacity, you might not be allowed back in even with a handstamp. I'm not sure how KI operates admissions when at capacity, though, so you may want to ask at Guest Services when you arrive rather than trusting me. If you buy tickets and Fast Lane online, your printed admission e-ticket can be taken straight to the turnstiles. Your Fast Lane voucher should then be taken to the Fast Lane sales booth inside the park to the left of the entrance, where they will scan it and issue you your wristband. Be aware that as of last year, Fast Lane online purchases were blocked out the day before, so buy it tonight. Or you can buy it when you arrive, as there is no discount for buying Fast Lane online like there is for admission tickets. Best food IMO would be Hank's Burrito Shack (similar prices to Chipotle outside the park) and the Reds Hall of Fame Grille (KI's only table-service restaurant). Have fun!

We had one at Cedar Point last month. GatorGirl saw the sign and asked "What's an elephant ear?" I said "That's it, we're getting one!" It was purely for educational purposes, of course!

Bingo... it always amazes me when the news carries a story about a ride getting stuck. Getting "stuck" is a good thing when it comes to malfunctions IMO. I rode RRR this past January. I wasnt really impressed. I found it jerky, and rough, and ultimately not that thrilling. The choice of music was the best part of the ride. I will say that climbing the lift is a bit intimidating... just gives you an uneasy feeling.

The Phantom visited twice!

I used Opera briefly, but changed back shortly after. The Phantom has yet to get his revenge on me.

I am sorry, what is your specialty? I am an SLP, and I agree with your question of if we can teach children with ASD to wait or not. Also, your description of children with ASD not relating waiting with a reward is spot on. The severe ASD children I work with do not (and so far have not been able to) understand the concept of waiting. They do however understand working towards something. If I work on 3 projects then I get a reward, etc. Interesting question... I'm licensed K - 12 Intervention Specialist, focus on mild-moderate disabilities. It's a dicey topic no matter which angle you approach it from, but our occupations give us a unique perspective, and maybe a unique challenge.

Today's update. Link to gallery

I just don't understand why it had to be or. Why not both? And does the splashdown pool HAVE to be icky and gross?

Here are my pics from tonight Banshee looks awesome in the fog!

Being on the vertical lift is what makes this newsworthy. On a block brake or a lift hill, at least there are opportunities for a smooth evac. The position of the vertical lift is incredibly awkward just for the few seconds you're traveling up it, so being stuck for hours would be a really awful situation. And the evac did require the Orlando Fire Department, so the question of "what's the big deal?" is sort of silly... This was a pretty big deal. Especially on a ride that's consistently called mediocre and has had quite a few issues before this. The rumor is that a whole new fleet of trains is on the way due to constant complaints and technical problems anyway.

The safety systems did what they were supposed to do and everyone is OK. Not really sure why this is a story. I really believe that Universal Orlando should have been a junior B&M hyper along the lines of Hollywood Dream instead of Rip Ride Rockit. It would have interacted much better with the park and had a much higher capacity. Does the state of Florida have a moratorium against speed coasters?

Here's a Bing overview, from here

What's up, Doc? Terp, carrot lover.

Woah, really? That is strange, it's been there since the first days of the ride. Actually, it hadn't been. Some coworkers and I found it in an abandoned office and gave it to our boss who painted it and stuck it there in 2011.

I'm not sure if it's still there or not, but there was a footer... or footing... or however you say it... for the Skyride near Bubba Gumps. It was covered by a rowboat as part of the themeing. Also, if you look at the storage shelters for The Vortex, you can see how there are half-crescents cut into the tops of the openings. These were to accommodate The Bat's suspended track. Not really a remnant, but more of a fun fact -- I guess if you go to the park all the time you don't realize how oversized the entrance plaze inside the front gate is. This was designed to be so large to accommodate the skydivers' landing, which was done daily at Kings Island in the 70's. There are tons and tons of old buildings and sheds from the old Wild Animal Habitat as well as the monorail housing. Some have been repurposed, some have been left to be reclaimed by nature. Last time I was back there, and this is going back a few years, you could see very evident clearings where track would have gone, but there wasn't any track left.

There is a curved in portion of the splash down that was built for a splash zone, but it was fenced in. It's not a big area but you can see that it is the only area that water splashes from the pool. There were never plans to extend the pathway down by the Diamondback splash pool in order to create a "splash zone." If you look at the ride's original blueprints, renderings and promo photos - what you mention wasn't in the cards. Before the ride opened, each train had different "fins" on it, each one creating a different effect for the splash down. None of them shot outwards. There were a couple different things. Essentially you would queue through there and see various displays that depicted how an aircraft carrier operated. There were mock "Am-Ram" and "Phoenix" missiles on display (common armaments on the F-14 Tomcat), a model aircraft carrier that lit up, a missile that would rumble and bellow steam as if it were firing, a radar panel and an area for an employee to sit and perform height checks.

^ Other Cedar Fair parks have introduced a "Skeleton Key" add-on this year. Pay more, and you get admitted to extra rooms inside the standard haunts.

With THAT foul smelling brack? YUCK-A-DOO!!!

They could paint it black to look like a dark pond and finally add the boulders that were promised in the video and It would look great. I'd even go as far as opening the splash down splash zone as an attraction for visitors.

Hmm I personally like the more natural feeling of Diamondback compared to the pool blue effect of Griffon Splashing down. Also the natural look fits Rivertown much nicer...

I'll be there Saturday to. Due to great weather we decided to go ahead and buy Fast Lane and Fright Lane Passes last night! Told the wife this morning, I have to take some good pictures, so I can write a great trip report for everyone! LOL. So ready for 4pm to start head that way. We are staying in Blue Ash tonight, expecially to stop by Blue Ash Chili! One of our favorite resturants! Hit the park tom!

Flight Deck is a very underrated night ride, as well as Adventure Express. Diamondback is also a very good night ride, and Vortex is good too. Everything is better at night, but in my opinion the best ones at night are The Beast, Flight Deck, Adventure Express, Backlot, and Diamondback.

I am sorry, what is your specialty? I am an SLP, and I agree with your question of if we can teach children with ASD to wait or not. Also, your description of children with ASD not relating waiting with a reward is spot on. The severe ASD children I work with do not (and so far have not been able to) understand the concept of waiting. They do however understand working towards something. If I work on 3 projects then I get a reward, etc. Interesting question... I'm licensed K - 12 Intervention Specialist, focus on mild-moderate disabilities. It's a dicey topic no matter which angle you approach it from, but our occupations give us a unique perspective, and maybe a unique challenge. Just to be clear the I am sorry what is your specialty comment was suppose to read I am sorry I forgot or dont know what you do, what is your specialty. It is a unique challenge but I work with about 8 severe non-verbal students with ASD and they are my favorites. Our school tried to not invite the Autism unit to the class field trip to Kings Island. Lets say that there were a few people very very very upset about that...

My bad- doesn't help that I was previously looking at Knott's to see what they had for a friend in CA. Howlapalooza it is.

I was at Kings Island some year after Son of Beast had its loop removed but before it was torn down. I actually liked the ride even though it was very rough. The size was just incredible. Riding The Beast at night locked it into my top 3 wooden coasters for sure.

An entire amusement park is going to KI? I've read everything... Diamondback96, not really being helpful. Anyway, I'd just remember to have fun. That's the most important thing to do at any amusement park.

He probably doesn't care a great deal one way or the other because Rip Ride Rockit is not an Intamin.

Grand Carousel? EDIT: Beat by nanoseconds...

Thank you so much! Very detailed information. I am so happy to hear that they don't do the exit entry thing (SFOG does that on rides that existed before Flash Pass and do not have a special entrance designed for it). I plan on buying my tickets and Fast Lane Plus tonight since the website says they are limited. I can only imagine how busy it might be. I was shocked to see a high of 78 in October in Ohio! Thanks for the food suggestions as well, I will probably do Hank's for lunch and Red's for dinner. I'll hopefully take some pictures and post a trip report here next week. It seems crazy to drive to Cincinnati from Atlanta but I loved KI and thought this was a great chance to check out Stricker's Grove. I'd like to see a bit of the city on Sunday too. Thanks again, if you have any other advice feel free to share.

"I'm rolling thunder, pouring rain I'm coming on like a hurricane My lightning's flashing across the sky You're only young but you're gonna die"

I really hope it has that classic B & M roar like Raptor. That would just fit the name of the ride that much more! I personally hope it roars like Mantis! But apparently most people find Mantis's sound annoying, so I'm probably a minority... I want the kumba roar. At least it ain't the katy perry roar Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk now Free

There is a river nearby, you just can't see it. Also, that area used to have canoe rides.

2001 and 2002 saw the dismantling of Rivertown. This is when the Wildthornberries (dang that Jaguar and Elephant) took over the Kings Mill Log Flume along with other expansion from Nick Central in to Rivertown and The Box (TR:TR) was put in place of Kentons Cove Keelboat Canal. That is when Rivertown lost its charm and become a forgotten area of the park. That part of the park didn't receive any love until Diamondback was built with the new entry plaza, repurposing of the surrounding buildings (when was the last time the gem mining was open?) The dreadful Wings restaurant became the Reds Hall of Fame grill, why because of all the new traffic in Rivertown. Fencing, landscaping, pavers, and Vortex received a paint job because of Diamondback. Honestly you may think the area lost charm because of Diamondback, but it was dead before that because of Paramount.

Remember how Rivertown lost everything Rivertown about it with Diamondback?

Delirium as I've seen posted before, could easily be Pit and Pendulum. Flight deck, as we've all seen, The Bat ( reborn, rises,etc...) Invertigo, Hangman? The Noose? Open to suggestion. Drop Tower, I see little hope here, without a large investment to theme it. In my opinion, you'd have to enclose the entire queue. Concept: Entrance is a castle like spire The inside of the queue, with animatronics of a mad scientist every few switchbacks, encouraging you that you must climb the tower to enact the lightning rod. Enter the ride, which now enclosed at the base, appears as the lab. ( I know, it will have to be vented for the massive amount of air that the drop moves. Also that air could be used as storm gusts in queue. ) The ride lifts, when you reach the top, a bright light flashes, and down you go. As if you got struck by the lightning. Quite obviously it would be a better ride at night, but all I could think of.

On a side note...while we are speaking of the 'old and in the way'... When I was down at Dollywood in April [NO wait times for rides at all]. I was marathoning Thunderhead in the afternoon. My first ride Me and the GF chose the front and noticed this older gentleman already in the train by his lonesome ready for launch. Easily in his 70's. We were next, watching him from behind the bars and I was smiling and hoping I can do the same at that age. They were running a single train I assumed because of the month. I waited for the passthrough through the station to catch a glimpse of him as he passed in a blur in the front train as it passed, and he was hugging on to the bar with all of his 100 pound frame with the biggest smile I have seen aside from a childs smile. The train returned, he got out and we got in and that was that. So after the ride I exit the ramp and get right back in line. The GF has back issues and has trouble with woodens more than one ride, so I head back in alone to hit the rear train. As soon as I get behind the bars...I notice the same old man in the rear cart this time. I watch again as he passes through the flythrough of the station and he is doing the same bargrab with smile as the first time I saw him. I rode Thunderhead another time after and he was back again, ahead of me, already on the train...riding again. It just so happens that my GF was sitting by his wife on the benches outside, waiting for me to finish riding. She told my GF that he rides it 6 or 7 times a day during the few hours they visited everyday. His wife said he was 77. She said it was the only ride that he rode in the park...and that they were there everyday, being season pass holders. He rides it 6-7 times everyday or more...at 77.

How about they let the eagles soar once again at Kings Island! <a href="http://s362.photobucket.com/user/x241/media/image-12.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo63/x241/image-12.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo image-12.jpg"/></a> i was fortunate enough today to ride them once again at kings dominion.

A while back several sources reported about abuse of Disney's disabled-rider program, where wealthy patrons were paying big bucks to become guests of a disabled person, thereby allowing them to dishonestly skip the lines simply because of their wealth. Disney has now decided to change their policy relating to this, to try and curb abuse: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/disney-527365-program-brown.html This of course is not going over well for obvious reasons. I definitely understand why they did this, but I don't know if it's the best solution. It should help stop the abuse though, since they won't really get any more out of it than they would if they got FastPass.

That is my usual favorite seat on wooden coasters. I'll be sure to try it! I wasn't sure if Flight Deck was better in front row or in the back... so thanks for that suggestion too! Hopefully I can do both.

For many of us, that will show nothing but an error page. For me, it will show lots of theme park info, Haskell reference material, Doctor Who fansites, and my school's webpage.

^It's for the first 5,000 people in the park, doesn't matter if they're kids there for Halloweekends or adults there for ERT. EDIT: Oops, make that Howl-O-Palooza. Halloweekends would be Cedar Point.

KI went through this exact same situation at the beginning of this season and they survived.

Knott's won't allow them. I would never go to Knott's. I have safety glasses and I have to wear them at all times. I have vision in only one eye so I have to have that protection. If anything happened to the other eye I would be blind and I would never take that chance. I take my glasses off to sleep but not to ride a coaster.

I love how the Haunt greeter is running the competition. He's my favorite thing about Halloween Haunt.

Video: A look at some of the contestants from this past Friday night's "Scream Like a Banshee" competition for a chance to win a trip for two (2) to L.A.

It'll work. Finding a place to stay in the Smokys can be incredible. So can be the pricing. Craig Ross is a fantastic GM. He used to be the GM of a park in southern Ohio. You may have heard of it.

As stated, Rumor Smasher is correct - those seats are definitely from Volcano, however I do not believe that was in reaction to the accident at Paramount's Great America. That accident happened much earlier and the only thing changed about our Drop Tower following the incident was the addition of seat belts.