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Wow... I had to restrain myself from replying to one woman. First she said, "I have it on a very reliable source that it is complete. Not sure if this is an older in process pic, or if maybe they had to remove some parts just to get through this Arctic blast but it is completed! Woo Hoo!" Someone replied to her that it's not done yet and to check out the live webcam, to which she responded, "Those cams aren't reliable, and I know the one who told me is, but I will also ask a worker who has been onsite on this since day one to confirm." I almost replied with "So a LIVE webcam isn't reliable? A camera that shows you pictures of the coaster as it looks right at this moment? Wow... And why would they need to 'remove some parts just to get through this Arctic blast?'," but I didn't want to start an argument with someone who is completely ignorant of coaster constuction. Not that I'm all that knowledgeable on the subject myself, but at least I have some knowledge, plus enough sense to know that a live camera is more than likely showing me the truth. Seeing is believing, as they say.

Oh, I'm sure that park put the same thought into planning its construction projects as it has as to marketing.

Photo #7 - wild animal safari 1977

Although I enjoy watching Banshee rise, I am concerned for any workers in these temps. Frankly, I wish they would take the time off until temps rise. It's simply too cold to be assembling today. Surely they have buffer time for completion.

For one the workers are used to working in all weather conditions and I know from past project management experience they have exposure guidelines and requirements that are followed. So while they are working in these conditions I would say they are doing it wisely and are completing other jobs rather than raising steel. The bigger concern I would have is how this weather is effecting a soon to reopen park a little ways south of KI that still needs to pour footings for its new coaster?

Beast hasn't operated for months. Someone should tell them.

I don't need no stinking live web cam to know the ride is not complete; I can use my own stinkin' eyes as I drive past KI twice each day. My lyin' eyes may decieve me from time to time, but they can't trick me believing a coaster with gaps is complete.

You mad bro?

She probably also thinks the moon landing was faked.

I think this is going to balance out the crowds a bit as the new season pans out, but initially the "scale" will tip in the direction of Banshee. I feel a good sense of balance now that there's an "anchor" coaster back in Action Zone.

I think you give the public far too much credit for sophisticated coaster knowledge. Most wouldn't know a B&M from a BMW. Many wouldn't know a wood coaster from a turnpike ride. Myrtle, Kings Island has a new ride! Let's go.

She liked their comment.haha

CJ took a bow yesterday afternoon, so i wouldn't be shocked to see him come back to life today. Also, taking a look at the staging area, it looks like there is some track back there and there are supports currently being delivered. Maybe we'll see some more track being delivered today too.

. You will find very few rides that you don't have to wear shoes on. Banshee will have a shoe policy I can guarantee that. As for a situation when you would have to evacuate down the lift hill- ouch. ..which is why for years Great Bear required you to sit on loose shoes.

The problem with cards, wrist bands, and even, to some extent, the souvenir cups, is sharing guests. Once a guest leaves a stand with a drink, there is nothing to prevent him or her from giving it to another person, sharing it with two or more others, etc. More and more, I think the Holiday World system of building the price into admission makes the most sense. Tell the guests it's free with admission. I just hate to think of all the paper waste.

I have always tried to travel as light as possible in the park. I've even got MrsNC to finally travel much lighter. But the real problem I see here is the loss of revenue for the park on "item" sales. They really need to find a better balance on locker pricing. The current rate of $2/hour, if I remember correctly, is nothing short of outrageous. I can tell you for certain, these rates have caused me to not buy said items during the day. I know the response many will have is to get it later. This does not work on items such as on ride photos. I understand CF needs revenue to continue to offer "the best day ever", but customer satisfaction is a large part of that. The current locker pricing is seen by most I've heard from as, unreasonable. Revenue could quite possibly increase if lockers where more reasonably priced. I know as well that many use the carry out to the car and return system, and that is great, but for the casual park goers, this is seen as lost time. As far as the refillable drinks, I could see a card being sold in lieu of an actual cup.

I know I'm going back to an older point of discussion, but I have a double approach to securing loose articles. I have cargo shorts with a flap over the pocket. I typically wear these, and reinforce the velcro with a Safety Pin. like Cedar Fair, I like redundancy in my fastening systems. If it is too cold for my cargo shorts, or they are in the laundry, etc, I have a small waterproof tackle box. It will hold my wallet and cell phone and fit nice and snug in my jeans pockets (snug to the point where INTENTIONALLY removing it is very, very difficult). Keys are ALWAYS attached to a carabiner clip on my belt loop (though people behind me on Diamondback are CONSTANTLY trying to inform me that my keys are falling out of my pockets). As an added bonus, the tackle box works well for the water park. Fits nicely in the pockets in my swim trunks, and has never allowed even a drop of water to touch the things inside it. Swim trunks with large pockets, the single biggest perk to having been born with a Y Chromosome!

my reaction to those facebook comments

Speaking of singing along, me and my friend Logan got some people really annoyed in line for Diamondback becuase Lady GaGa's Applause came on and we did this really crappy dance and sang along really badly, it was really fun!!!!!!

Some years I seen it packed, other years I seen it quiet. If the weather is nice, I'd say it'll be packed.

By that argument, hypers are steel coasters that emulate wood. We're back to 2oo9 again. And the loop was NOT removed in 2oo6, nor prior to it.

2000, if you include wood. 2009, if you don't.

So it sounds like Tatsu is a better overall ride, but Manta has incredible theming. I now want to try out Manta at SeaWorld too. So many parks, so little time. #coasterenthusiastproblems

If it has to be disassembled during Arctic blasts, would it withstand summer heat? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Right because weather is not a concern with construction projects. I would be shocked if it is open by mid summer. Maybe that is why the press release was late on a Saturday night. If people don't know about it they wont be upset when its not open.

I think it will be, if this gets the attention that they really are putting into 2014 as an overall project I could see it. The only thing I will say about opening day is watch the weather...Like CP opening day was...decent, media day was excellent. Hopefully the same fortune extends next year to KI. Minus the rain and wind the evening of CP 2013 opening day.

(In reply to Tuskin) I think so, only because we've never had an full circuit inverted at KI before (and no, Flying Ace doesn't count as it's a family coaster). Some could say the same for Diamondback (the park's first "true" hypercoaster), but we did have a wooden hypercoaster back in the day

You were right. I see a semi in the staging area loaded with supports right now. Sweet!! Terp I really hope to get to meet you this season. I really enjoy reading your posts!!

Perhaps because he's been a poster here for nearly a decade ....

I see this as a good thing. As I saw in the other thread, people are upset because they won't have a place to put their souvenir cups without having to pay for storage, etc. Here's the thing, soda on a hot day really isn't good for you, yeah it may taste amazing but it's not good for you. I don't think this is a money grabbing opportunity for the park. It's for the park to make a profit....if they didn't make a profit, you wouldn't have a park to visit. Save yourself money, by not buying the souvenir cups and drink water as well as not buying a locker! I've been agreeing with most posts about only bringing whats necessary to the park. Having been a part of operations, it is a PAIN for the employees to deal with the bins and the souvenir cups. People take forever to place items in the bins, trying to "hide" whatever they have with them in a corner of the bin so no one steals their items. On top of that people take forever to retrieve their items, the train is ready to go but cannot be dispatched because people are in the station trying to gather all of their belongings, then if their souvenir cup isn't there they have to find it and insist on filling out a lost and found form, so that if we would find it they could get it at the close of the day. I get the frustration of the GP/Enthusiasts who want to have a place to store their items without being charged but is it something so upsetting even if you have a way to control how you manage your items and use?

I HIGHLY recommend Croakies brand glasses retaining straps. Glasses provide eye protection that contacts cannot. Also, I am told the wind quickly dries out contacts, making them very uncomfortable.

The following: You literally have to climb up into the "seats" once situated during the continuous load, the staff then brings the back down to lock you in. When they lock you in, your feet (from what I remember) are pretty much set on whatever bar you place them on. Now imagine flipping upside down even for a few short seconds to have your back thrust upon the back of the cars. Time Warp picture from Negative-g.com you pretty much have to keep your hands on the vertical bars for best "comfort" unless you've got space on either side of you. It's incredible uncomfortable to be in a car with all 4 seats filled to put your arms out and/or folded in front of you, or even on the vertical bars as the person next to you puts force on your arms through transitions. No imagine the slowing down abruptly at the midcourse and at the end of the circuit....where will your shoulders go? Forward into the semi-restraint like bars. OWW!!! From http://centralpark-fr.com/ As talked about a little before, imaging going through transitions in those cars....the transitions on these I feel are very uneven, not drawn out length wise and should be. The quick transitions thrusts riders into the restraints unlike any other coasters with quick transitions. Most roller coasters allow for free upper body movement (to a certain extent) whereas these flyers do not. The transitions are too quick and put awful forces on the body. Superflight from coastergallery.com

Mrs. Gator and I were discussing vacation plans this morning. She said that a co-worker mentioned that Niagara Falls is only two hours away from Erie, PA and Waldameer, and she knows I've been wanting to take GatorGirl there. So of course I said, "Toronto's only another two hours or so from there..." She knew what I was hinting at, and she's the one that brought up Canada's Wonderland and the fact that she's never been there (I have twice, in 1996 and 1997, so it's been a while). So tentative plans for Lakemont & DelGrosso's have more than likely been pushed back to 2015 where they originally were, and we may be making a trip to a beautiful Canadian park now, not to mention a mighty natural wonder!

I wonder if she will respond now that the King's Island FB responded that the ride is not complete? lol

Directly from their Facebook: "Wow! We've received over 7,000 applications so far! In response to the overwhelming number of applications being received it is necessary to temporarily suspend the online application process as management continues to evaluate those applications. PLEASE DO NOT CALL – this process will start January 13th and continue through mid-February. Thank you!"

A big pain are cameras. My family is a roller coaster family--that's the main reason we go to parks. But my family also loves to take pictures (mainly my mom and I) and we have a nice camera that we like to use rather than low quality cell phone images. The only problem is that if we want to take our nice camera to a park, we have to buy lockers. This is really the only instance when I'd actually depend on lockers, but with having to pay for them it can definitely be an inconvenience.

It is a little smaller.

Depends on the worker. A lot of times construction workers only get paid if they are working. If they have to choose between working in this weather and not getting paid, some would surely choose to work. Me? I'm sitting at home. lol

Do we, as a cumulative group, think the opening day line for Banshee will be longer than Diamondbacks was?

Yeah, wait times should be slightly worse than Diamondback 2009. Capacity is slightly better, but we have a slightly bigger audience that can ride, and this last one I'm not sure of the numbers, but I like to believe that Kings Island has become at least a little bit more crowded/ popular since adding Diamondback.

Unless you are buying Fast Lane, I suspect less than a half hour waits will be rare (don't forget ride time and getting to and from the locker. And rerides?)

Thanks for your post davidw I really enjoy seeing the added pieces daily I save everyone. Your work is appreciated!!

Clifford Jr. in half today so no steel work going to happen. Cant blame them, it is bitter cold out and that would be rough!

I like the dwarf named Grumpy. My mom is grumpy. Mom is 4 ft 9 so her being grumpy is comical. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The Brits call them that...

A green coaster wouldn't be bad but I like our color on it a bit better. A bit brighter red at least would be nice. It needs repainted soon too. If you wait long enough we might get that green color, you can already see it in many spots along the track with the current paint is fading away or worn off.

Those Facebook comments........ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

^ Seeing that makes me wish they would've kept its original colors. Kings Island really could use a green coaster.

When I went to Universal, this was one of the things I liked best about it. I realize the park it not making any money off the system, but this shows high customer service. Granted, I'll be wearing cargo shorts so won't have an issue with loose articles but it sure would be nice to have free lockers.

Photo #6 - I Street