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Here’s some good news, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine candidate has shown to be over 90% effective at preventing COVID-19 in trial participants so far in its Phase 3 trials. I agree it’s probably to take a while to distribute, and COVID restrictions will probably be in effect at the parks for much of next year, but we might finally have a light at the end of the tunnel. https://investors.pfizer.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2020/Pfizer-and-BioNTech-Announce-Vaccine-Candidate-Against-COVID-19-Achieved-Success-in-First-Interim-Analysis-from-Phase-3-Study/default.aspx

I enjoyed reading your review and I'm happy you were able to get in a ride! But the weather likely had some to do with that loss of momentum. That final day, the ride was moving a little slower, so it might not have done it justice.

Hopefully that "light" doesn't end up being a freight train lol

Still working on software upgrades?

Here it is, my full review of Orion... In what may be the most divisive roller coaster in the industry, since it's announcement Orion was split down the middle with the GP and enthusiasts that had excitement and dissatisfaction. Many aspects of the ride was critically dissected from it's theme, layout, height and overall experience. I made my own interpretations but knew when it came to my first ride I would clear those preconceived notions and go into the experience with an open mind. That being said on a cold windy day on its final operating day of its opening year of 2020 I finally was able to make that decision. I had the opportunity to ride twice, once in the front and the back. First off, big applause to the crew that did a fantastic job under the circumstances of the many operation changes in 2020. They still brought the great standards we have come to love with Cedar Fairs crew. Starting the ride and moving Into the lift I began my initial thoughts. The height while riding definitely feels like a giga coaster providing amazing views. Seeing us raise higher and above WindSeeker was a great opportunity to see new perspectives; However, I found myself turning back to gaze at the park as the direction of the lift facing the back of the park didn't provide the views I had hoped. Cresting the top and going into the drop was by far the best moment in the ride creating quite possibly the best airtime moment in any of the coasters in the park and left me in an audible GASP and expletive words leaving my mouth it true shock (especially moreso in the back). The front seat unfortunately does not whip you over. The length of the drop itself though was short left me wanting more on such a tall coaster. It reminded me of Millennium Force where the long crest gave a better sensation of a longer, more intimidating drop. While I do love the whip into the steep drop, I ultimately felt the drop on Millennium Force was the experience I prefer. The transition into the wave turn and turnaround were... well... tame. Once again B&M had such speed to take advantage of and forces that could have been utilized but they came limited. The airtime coming out of the wave turn was nice but after experienced the tremendous drop it didn't fill that gap of continuing the momentum, instead leading into a rather forceless two following elements. The speed, while fast just did not feel like 90mph. I was noticing a rather familiar sence of speed when riding Diamondback. Going into the low airtime hill was just as I would hope. Full of great air. After riding Leviathan and loving the low to ground transitions the low airtime hill did not disappoint, but after two lackluster previous elements and a trimmed larger airtime hill where air on Diamondback provide more positive Gs, so much of the excitement had been lost. At this point in the ride I knew the ride experience was already nearing it's end but still had the unique helix and final turn. The helix is where that momentum in speed is all but lost, while still providing neg Gs, it was low. I did have a slight gray out However, the element felt that it could have used better banking and tighter turns to break the it's element into more than just a slightly banked turn. Thankfully the following final turn provided that great over bank I so wanted in the helix. Underwhelmed by the helix the final turn was a nice pop of air but the ride leading to that point had left a sour taste. In conclusion, Orion is a great roller coaster full of some amazing elements and an amazingly smooth rollercoaster, quite possibly one of the smoothest I've ever experienced. I only wish the layout had more thought involved. It's location and height had such a tremendous opportunity to truly create a custom layout that differentiates itself from the pack of other B&M gigas. Though I will say I do appreciate that Kings Island has finally got its giga even if it isn't the one that I had hoped for. Conclusion Orion is a great roller coaster line up to Kings Island. Regardless of the overall experience it cannot be disputed that it is a good ride.

I have followed the legacy of "The Bat" ever since I saw it operate on my first trip to KI as a kid. I seemingly learn more about it every few months. Here's what I've been able to put together re: the original topic of this thread... As far as any information I've ever seen, the operational design for "The Bat" at Kings Island was never seriously intended to have inversions. The design in question could likely be an early layout concept presented to the park in when they first held serious meetings with Arrow about the idea. Arrow had been developing the concept of the suspended coaster as early as 1977 - 4 years prior to "The Bat" opening. That same year, the "Screamin Demon" premiered at KI - giving KI their first "large" steel coaster (albeit a shuttle.) Its highly likely that, at the time the park was investing in "Screamin Demon", they saw Arrow's initial designs for the suspended. By 1978, the documentary "America Screams" showed the public the very first concepts of the suspended prototypes. There was a working model, with an inversion... and a full scale, ridable coaster without an inversion. Its no secret that KI began eying another coaster install in 1978 - before they even finished building "The Beast." By then, quite a few advancements had been made in steel coaster technology. Arrow had grand success - loopers and shuttles were popping up all over the country. KI already had an Arrow looper (albeit a shuttle) and knowing the impending success they'd have with "The Beast" they obviously wanted (and felt pressure to) follow it with something groundbreaking. Knowing the manufacturer was the leader in new coaster technology (at the time), they likely had kept tabs on the suspended coaster that Arrow had yet to sell. Walt Davis, Kings Island's Director of Park Operation at the time went to Arrow's plant in 1978 where he rode the first prototype and initiated design meetings with Arrow about bringing the concept to KI. I was actually able to check with a source I have that was affiliated with Arrow at the time of "The Bat" and they clarified a few things for me. Out of respect, I am keeping the source confidential. I asked about the 2nd prototype that included an inversion. I was told that Arrow did test the possibility of incorporating inversions on their suspended coaster design, but that never made it past that stage. They said the test track that was built - with the inversion - never ran with more than a string of train chassis. (To their knowledge.) They did not know the specifics of the plans seen in Orion's queue specifically, but said they were likely a part of the initial "idea" designs Arrow presented KI in the earliest stages of development. Basically a "here's our options for that area." It took over 18 months for the design and engineering to be finalized... before construction began.. so that likely dates those plans to early 1979 at the latest. The person I spoke with elaborated a bit about the issues Arrow faced with the ride. Much has been made of the issues "The Bat" had with the unbanked track, the braking system, the overswing etc. But apparently MAJOR concerns involved the strain on the chassis themselves. We all know that on May 21st in 1982, "The Bat" abruptly shut down mid-operation due to what the park would only explain as a "mechanical malfunction." But I now know that the chassis on car #2 and #3 cracked while riders were on board halting the train at the bottom of lift #2. This became a HUGE safety concern for the park, especially because it endangered riders, and apparently they were incensed with Arrow. It was during the 1982 shutdown that Arrow reworked the design of some of the supports, supplied new train chassis, and added multiple shocks to absorb the stress etc etc etc - all at their cost. Of course "The Bat" was reopened in 1983, but continued to literally tear itself apart. I was told that after the final closure, Kings Island forced Arrow to foot the bill and remove it. Its been rumored that there was some sort of an "agreement" meant as good will between Arrow and KI that ultimately resulted in Vortex being built... but I've never personally heard/seen proof of that. This ultimately put Arrow into a state of financial ruin and the company fired half the staff. Walt Davis, who had overseen the project for KI - left after the debacle. He went on to plan and oversee "The Beach" and the US division of Togo. I'm not sure the date in which the 2nd prototype was built at the plant - its likely it was being done at the same time they were developing/building "The Bat" as it was a constantly evolving process. I know the original source of the picture in question - but not its date. Its is obvious that it was prior to their obvious need to bank the track. I hope to reach out to them soon to date the picture. Arrow survived, of course, but the concept of the inversions didn't. Its fun to see a video of what the ride would have looked/felt like with inversions - I enjoyed watching it. But it was never meant to operate that way.

As folks know, Kings Island has officially stated there will be no Winterfest 2020. There are rumors circling that there may be a limited KD event and we know that Carowinds has officially posted theirs. Today, whether for doing it for the community or for a possible future limited event; Kings Island has started to pull the lights for Christmas tree on the Eiffel Tower. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHQLnfVB2N0/?igshid=yt4kar7o1uqb

Just my 2 cents here, but I feel that if we were going to get a special event, then we wouldn't have gotten the video message at the end of the season. I would have been much more likely to hope for something like what Carowinds is doing had that message not been distributed.

Lol. Nothing is a certainty in today’s day and age and while I would strongly agree we won’t get Winterfest, a one off event or two DOES make sense. I say that knowing full well I could and probably am wrong... and if so, it is what it is. More strands are going up on the tower and it looks like 3 or 4 people manning the upper portion on the observation deck. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHYDcTFhtIm/?igshid=1jo16ocw3rx1r

So the owner of Darien Lake has confirmed that Predator is going to get the Titan retrack but didn’t specify whether it’s a full on revamp or just a retracking. He also didn’t specify the year. This is from Screamscape, and I know they aren’t reliable, but they got it from the owner of Darien Lake himself. Any thoughts?

I doubt they do anything, but decorating the Eiffel Tower. It would be cool though if they just opened the restraunts and shops on International Street. I would go walk around, and buy some items.

Correct, however there is no mention of “Taste of the Season,” which would not be Winterfest. Remember that they announced that Carowinds wouldn’t open for the year, but here we are. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very skeptical of anyone that would tell me that they aren’t just decorating the tower and it’s a little late in the game to announce another event, but hey - we can dream!

https://www.fox19.com/2020/08/04/kings-island-cancels-halloween-haunt-winterfest/ “We have had to make the difficult decision to cancel both Halloween Haunt and WinterFest this year due to operating constraints in our region,” Kings Island Vice President and General Manager Mike Koontz said in the release.

Can I quote you with a real name as a source?

Man, Kings Island's IT department sure has a lot of issues with software upgrades.