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As promised here is the video. Sorry for the end our mics battery ran out. I hope you all enjoy!

At least it wasn't twisty. Terp, who finds Bob Avery extremely annoying.

You literally go through a cow? And I thought Ed Alonzo was astounding!

This is a must watch story for anyone thinking about or planning to participate in the Scream for A Kid Again event: http://www.10tv.com/content/sections/video/index.html?video=/videos/2013/12/21/gabriel-statue.xml

From KDs Facebook: On the 11th day of Christmas, ‪#‎KD40‬ gave to me: A fresh paint job for the Anaconda! During the off-season, we’ll be sprucing up the look of the Anaconda roller coaster by repainting the entire ride. The lake below the ride is already drained and work is underway to have the ride ready for the 2014 operating season. And the colors? Well, the ride columns will be green, the supports for the track red and the train’s running rails yellow. (Photo From KDs Facebook)

Courtesy of Kings Dominion's Facebook page: "On the 10th day of Christmas, ‪#‎KD40‬ gave to me: Improvements to Volcano - The Blast Coaster. In 2014, guests will experience improved and enhanced entrance and exit lines resulting in more riders per hour who will be able to experience this signature park attraction. We will also begin a multi-year project to restore the look of Kings Dominion’s iconic mountain, which will include concrete replacement and fresh paint." (Photo Courtesy of Kings Dominion)

In its current state? Is it no longer in Ohio? Terp, who likes to ask questions.

Great video thanks for sharing, had some good info, and was nice to see the shots again Awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome Had to tease ya haha

Hey everyone! It's that time of the year again: the Mitch Hawker wood coaster poll is open. Here's a link! (I highly recommend Jordan Hatch's drag-and-drop ballot generator; it's way easier than editing the ballot text directly.) If you're not familiar, Mitch Hawker's poll is a yearly poll of the coaster enthusiast community to see how rides around the world rank. It's fairly popular and usually has well over 500 entries (last year's had 635 ballots for the wood poll.) When the results are tallied, you can see overall results as well as specific categories for the results (how well each ride ranked vs. another, etc.) There are folks that dislike the way users of a certain other site tend to skew the results in favor of certain international coasters. Whether that's an issue that concerns you or not, the nice thing about Mitch's poll is that you can see how many people who voted rode each ride. So if you don't like how high T Express at Lotte World, for instance, ranked, you can see that a whole 6 people rode it and disregard it. Or maybe you like those six people and value their opinion! Whatever floats your goat. Mitch's poll makes that kind of information easy to read and judge for yourself. It's a great poll if you're a numbers person. For the heck of it, here's how my rankings ended up this year. Son of Beast, having been torn down, is no longer eligible for ranking in the polls. It's really weird not having a shoe-in for last place: 1. Boss, Six Flags St. Louis 2. Voyage, Holiday World 3. El Toro, Six Flags Great Adventure 4. Favorite Steel (It's Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion.) 5. Georgia Cyclone, Six Flags over Georgia 6. Ravine Flyer II, Waldameer 7. Cyclone, Luna Park (i.e. Coney Island New York) 8. Thunderbolt, Kennywood 9. Legend, Holiday World 10. Raven, Holiday World 11. American Thunder, Six Flags St. Louis 12. Racer, Kennywood 13. Blue Streak, Cedar Point 14. Thunderhead, Dollywood 15. Comet, Hersheypark 16. Hurler, Kings Dominion 17. Grizzly, Kings Dominion 18. American Eagle, Six Flags Great America 19. Beast, Kings Island 20. Viper, Six Flags Great America 21. Lightning Racer - Lightning, Hersheypark 22. Lightning Racer - Thunder, Hersheypark 23. Rebel Yell, Kings Dominion 24. Big Dipper, Camden Park 25. Racer, Kings Island 26. Mean Streak, Cedar Point 27. Screamin' Eagle, Six Flags St. Louis 28. Great American Scream Machine, Six Flags over Georgia 29. Jack Rabbit, Kennywood 30. Tornado, Stricker's Grove 31. Blue Streak, Conneaut Lake Park 32. Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain, Indiana Beach 33. Wolverine Wildcat, Michigan's Adventure 34. Cornball Express, Indiana Beach 35. Sea Dragon, Jungle Jack's Landing 36. Comet, Waldameer 37. Teddy Bear, Stricker's Grove 38. Woodstock Express, Kings Island 39. Ghoster Coaster, Kings Dominion 40. Lil' Dipper, Camden Park 41. Shivering Timbers, Michigan's Adventure 42. Hoosier Hurricane, Indiana Beach 43. Zach's Zoomer, Michigan's Adventure 44. Rolling Thunder, Six Flags Great Adventure 45. Wildcat, Hersheypark

I would like for my tuition to be paid in full for the rest of my collegiate career, but that probably isn't going to happen.

I have heard some say Banshee will be a gas!

No, I think upstop believes Banshee is no longer in its solid state. I'll bet he thinks it's a liquid.

No pig has ever slapped me upside the head severely, and then, for good measure, done it several more times!

Volcano's queue and loading area setup always screamed "this ride is in a building that wasn't designed for it" to me. IIRC, the ramp down to the load area was really sketchy and would get backed up since the separator in the big queue area had no way of knowing how many people were on it already. It was just an odd setup.

Awesome, loopity loop, wee wee wee....

I wonder if they'll be building the second half of Volcano that they forgot originally...

If it were my amusement park, I would do a variety of Fast Lane passes. I would even consider a pay per ride option for one ride instead of a day pass. $10 for one ride on Banshee could be a sweet option for those with tighter budgets. I find it funny how many people complain in line about Fast Lane passes. If I did not go as frequently as I do, I would fork out the money to get the most out of my day. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think they're waiting to still make announcements and work out details. I'm almost 100% positive it'll be Fast Lane plus, they'd be fools to not make money off if it. Think, lets take GK up @ CP for instance...They put together FL+, GK Plinko, ect. ect.ect. The first year a new major ride comes out, you sell alot of stuff for it, esp merch. You saw how quick announcement night that merch got dropped haha

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet....but..... Banshee has now been added to the "Thrill Rides" section of VisitKingsIsland.com https://www.visitkin...do/thrill-rides

Have you rode Volcano? I've only been on it once a few years ago and from what I remember, the queue is very dodgey, often backed up, how people deal with loose articles, the gates (entrance and exit) are not easily dealt with. I want to say I remember where you got on, wasn't where you got off (that was about 20 feet back) thus making the train have to move forward before anyone could board. I'm not real sure. Hah.

The documentary's main point waffles. I don't think it intends its core message to be that SeaWorld is evil because, in fact, SeaWorld's habitats and care for its menagerie of creatures certainly meets and often exceeds standards set by the AZA. That's why they didn't touch on the rest of the animals, really. What they're attempting to convey, it seems, is that killer whales in particular should not be held captive because they're too intelligent and too emotionally self-and-group aware to lead fulfilling lives in a false environment the way a seal or an otter can. Here and there they touch on forcing animals to perform, but again only really in the context of killer whales. It seems that their intent is not to poopoo on SeaWorld, but to poopoo on any place that holds these intelligent whales captive... SeaWorld just so happens to be the face of it. So it's a muddled message that screams "anti-SeaWorld" when I don't think that's constructive or even what they really intended.

I watched the first few minutes of the documentary. These former trainers are essentially saying that they were asked to get in the water with the wales on their first day. I've met some of the trainers... all of which said that they trained for months or years and had to get acclimated with the wales long before they were allowed to get in the water.

Putting lipstick on a pig.

As far as I am aware Tillikum did not perform (I am assuming you are talking about Believe right?) in the show until well after the summer season had already ended following his attack on Dawn (actually it was more closer to a year later, around the time of the announcement that Believe was gonna be replaced). If you indeed saw him it wasn't intentional on SeaWorld's part because they did everything they could to shelter him in the back pools since the attack was still fresh in people's minds, Tillikum would have had to sneak to the show on his own. Sure you didn't mistaken one of the adult females for him? That time Katina was heavily pregnant so she was huuuge and her dorsal is flopped, Kalina was still alive, she was a large, chunky female with a flopped dorsal as well. I just remember being at the park during the time they were conditioning him for his return to the show when he be performing alongside his grandson. But you would be right...he has not missed a feeding...he defiantly always looked that way from about 2001 until summer 2010, now he looks pretty good (though he managed to put some pounds back on...). After working with bobcats and servals... (same can be said about domestics too though I am not convinced cats are truly domesticated at all) I have long since known anything that has teeth, sharp teeth at that, can and do bite. It is their nature. Even with horses you can not let your guard down, especially when you are transporting one and if it gets spooked....yeah pain can follow when they kick you. They also bite, often on accident if you are giving them a treat (though stallions tend to have bad manners so they'll bite anyway). And interesting thing, a girl I know that currently works with sea lions had her finger pretty much bitten off (they got it reattached successfully) and she still works with sea lions, I'm sure if Dawn survived she'd still love her whales. Just like I still love my large cats

Great video and interview Ohiocoasterman, it was awesome. On another note......at 34 degrees......The Banshee construction crew is arriving early.....

Being present with a sign, ANY sign, is NOT doing anything BUT aiding and abetting the protesters: * Many cannot or will not read the signs. * Rules and laws typically prohibit the act of carrying signs, chanting, congregating for disruptive purposes, etc. The content of the signs is typically of little or no relevancy in determining whether the rule, regulation or law has been violated. Carrying and displaying an irrelevant sign at a protest is typically deemed as participating in that protest--by the owner, by visitors, by law enforcement, by prosecutors, judges and juries. * Many will assume, incorrectly, that they know what they say. * Many will not want to go anywhere near where there is a crowd with signs. Some will leave before entering the park, depriving it of income. Some will NEVER return. * You are contributing toward potential disorder and violence...on or near park property. You could even be risking your liberty, your arrest record, your health or your life. What other protesters may do is unpredictable, and they certainly are not going to be happy you are belittling them and what they see as a worthy cause worth fighting for. * Ironically and sadly, your presence legitimizes their protest, giving it credibility and perhaps the small edge that the fight is worth going on. These people want attention. Your presence helps to cause publicity, concern, disorder and confusion, all contributing to their goals: make SeaWorld an unpredictable, uncomfortable place and make people not want to be or go there. * Typically, you are breaking park rules. * If protesters are arrested, injured, or, heaven forfend, killed, you likely will be as well. Law enforcement and even park fans engaging in self help typically have little to no inclination or time to make fine distinctions as to intent when engaging in remedial, law enforcement or palliative measures. Joining protesters, but with irrelevant signs, is typically a very bad idea. Very bad, indeed. Not to mention that were a bird or a flock of birds flying overhead determined to dive bomb the protesters on a disposal run, you'd be also within their sights!

I was there about a month after the incident with Dawn. Tilikum was in the show, and there is NO WAY that whale has missed a feeding. I used to work with animals at a zoo in Florida. I handled reptiles such as alligators, crocodiles, pythons, etc. I also handled birds of prey (BOP) and exotic birds. Reptiles are different. They can lean to associate certain sounds with food, but you can NOT train an alligator, crocodile, or a snake. BOP and exotics on the other hand, can be trained. During a show, if the bird did not complete the requested task, they were not instantly rewarded. However, once they are back in their mews, (barn that houses BOP) or the exotic bird house, (each bird had it's own individual cage) they get a full meal. Wasn't I quite handsome 10 years ago? LOL A comment the irks me is when the trainers said, "I never thought anything like this would happen." "I didn't think anything bad would happen." SERIOUSLY??? If you work with a particular animal long enough, you will be bitten. The bites always happen when you let your guard down, or become too comfortable with the animal. In captivity, when bites happen, it is NEVER the animal's fault. It is the person who is injured that is at fault. I have been bitten by snakes, alligators, birds, dogs, cats, etc. What I don't understand is in the footage that one would assume is when the whale grabbed Dawn, where was her hand? You can not see her arm because Tilikum is in the line of site from the camera. Did she have her hand in his mouth petting his tongue? Exactly like this person: There's nothing stopping this Beluga from biting this woman. This makes a lot more sense that him grabbing her ponytail. They tell you not to lift the paper high enough for the dolphin to see it. There are even signs all over the place. This little girl learned the hard way: Who's fault is that? It's not Sea World's fault, it CERTAINLY is not the dolphin's fault. I am going to join the protesters in front of Sea World, but my sign will say, "I'm with Stupid." or "Legalize Same Sex Marriage." or something completely not related. Like these people: Or better yet, a sign stating, "Honk if Disney should release the animatronic hippos!"

Haha my on camera skills suck I know.... I plan to work on them promise! It was only 11' out so when its warmer I will try and do better!

I want a camera. I am almost certain it is not under the tree considering I know all gifts under the tree but one. The one I do not know is not the correct shape or weight. Beyond saying that, I am thankful for the many gifts I possess that cannot be wrapped or put under the tree. My children and I have good health. We have food to eat. I have had relationships restored over the past year. I inherited a beautiful niece this year. I have so much in my life that cannot be wrapped or put under the tree (at least not without great protest from a number of people at least.) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes it was awesome Very awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome haha

I like Don rocking the Bengals gloves! And did he say "mid-April" for opening day at the end there? Buuuuuuuuuttttt... 0:08: "King's Island"

Theres alot wrong with Volcano...It's a great ride but honestly it has been a capacity nightmare for awhile. At least they're loading full trains, opening year they didn't. I hope the small pond next to the station isn't removed with this Last time I was there they hold people outside of the first bit of queue until the station is clear...That's about the only thing I see changing The capacity will increase a bit, but you can't outrun the rides operations, and I don't think I see that changing

I despise LTO (limited time only) offerings. It's not the toppings that need improvement at Tower Pizza. It's the pizza. Tiny little slices of dry, dried out dough with very little sauce. It's almost as bad as the crap that Six Flags called pizza last year, and that's saying something. Cedar Point (when it's hot and fresh) and Dorney Park have excellent pizza. Cedar Fair CAN do it. Will it?

From KDS Facebook: On the 9th day of Christmas, ‪#‎KD40‬ gave to me: The Return of the original Coca-Cola Pizza Parlor. Tower Pizza will be renovated and return to its original "Coca-Cola Pizza Parlor" - circa 1976. The restaurant interior will feature a whole new look and feel with more room inside to cool off during the dog days of summer and new limited time only pizza toppings. (Photo From KDs Facebook)

And that they are apparently violating privacy laws in Kentucky and other states. This more and more looks like amateur hour as opposed to professional marketing.

I hate seeing my presents under the tree. I don't want to see any of my presents until Christmas morning. So my wife and I have agreed to keep each other's gifts hidden away until it's time to open them on Christmas morning. I don't like to see shapes or feel the weight of any gift with my name on it. I like to wonder what I might be getting and I like to be surprised. Knowing what's wrapped up underneath the Christmas tree already leaves absolutely no fun for Christmas morning, that is, except enjoying the new gift you opened. Just my opinion though That being said, any blu-ray, 3D blu-ray, video game, toy, or art book would be fine by me. I'm not too picky really.

These announcements have all been really great, looks to be an awesome year for Kings Dominion! Hope to see a year similar to this at Kings Island in 2015 or 2016, for what it's worth I think we will.

Now I'm excited for KD.....I'm willing to bet that tonight's announcement is a bigger announcement than all of the others so far, with Christmas Eve being the Pièce de résistance....maybe even a pre-announcement for a Christmas Day gift.

A new practice pad would be nice, but I don't really "want" anything fancy for Christmas.

That was awesome. thank you for sharing. I can't wait for mid April. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That would just be too much for me. I buy my day ticket, oh wait, I use my Gold Pass and I ride all of my favorite attractions at least twice, including the waterpark attractions.<which personally I am probably one of the few on KIC who really like the waterpark (Don't bend my words)> I hope that it won't have the FastLane("I bought my cut" lane), for that would make BB1 want to stay longer at his other 5 star attractions, or work in paradiso for that matter.

Also, The Bat is on there correctly right now. Dunno if anyone else noticed it before this post or not

How does changing a ride's queue result in better capacity? Wouldn't you need to change the trains or actual operation of the ride?

For KI: as many visits and rides as possible (I'll keep track, but don't have specific goals). In terms of others parks: hopefully CP and at least one Indiana park, plus a return to Camden if possible. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

That is certainly a very accurate statement about using a little artistic license with the layout. It is still a very impressive display, and well worth the visit. I certainly enjoyed it. But then again, I love model trains, and I love Coney Island. I have worked there for 12 seasons, with season number 13 on tap in 2014.

^ Where did the 13th day come from?

On the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Christmas Kings Island gave to me... a second wave pool for it's 40th.

At 65°F, it's warm enough for a regular, non-polar-bear plunge.

From KDs Facebook: On the 8th day of Christmas, ‪#‎KD40‬ gave to me: A 40th Celebration Merchandise Store! From retro items to t-shirts to coffee mugs, you’ll find all things KD40th in the Starlight Gift Shop, located on International Street near the main gate. (Photo From KDs Facebbok)

From KDs Facebook: Throwback Thursday & On the 7th day of Christmas, KD gave to me: A Walk of Memories from the 70’s to the 2000’s around the Eiffel Tower. Travel back in time and learn about the rich history of Kings Dominion with our Walk of Memories boards that will be located around the Eiffel Tower. (Photo From KDs Facebook)