CoastersRZ

Here`s your answer with regards to whether or not Son of Beast was open today. http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10189

Just remember that The Beast temporarily ceases operation at 9:50 for the nightly fireworks display. The line remains open until ten. Once the crew has been given the all clear to resume operation, the ride reopens to finish out the line. The Racer also apparently does this as well, though I`ve never witnessed it at The Racer like I have at The Beast.

From my experience at The Racer this year, they will try and race, but if there is a delay on one of the sides, they will end up sending the side that is ready. Obviously, you could have just visited when that particular crew was having a bad day. As for as guest complaints go. While I don`t work at Kings Island, I know that at Coney, guest complaints are taken seriously. If someone files a complaint (or compliment) about a rides operator, the note is often posted in the rides office.

The one thing that CP has that KI doesn`t have is the neighboring resorts. Cedar Point has several resorts, which provide Cedar Fair with additional income outside of the park. Kings Island doesn`t have any outside sources of income from hotels or campgrounds.

There is a difference between being "stuck" on a ride due to the blocking system, and being stuck on a ride due to a malfunction/computer shut down of the ride. It is not uncommon to get stuck on Adventure Express`s final lift due to a block setup. Also, before The Beast got its new braking system, it was not uncommon to get stuck at the top of lift 2 as there was only room for two trains in the station and outside of the station. I have been stuck on The Beast once back in 2000 or 2001. We had just returned to the brakes oustide of the station, and the computer had shut the ride down. After about twenty they unlocked our bars one car at a time and walked us into the station.

It would not cost more to tear it down than it did to build it. And, obviousely since the ride has been shut down for more than a week after it briefly reopened, somthing wasn`t quite right with the ride. I took a spin on it several weeks ago, and that one trip aboard it was enough for me for the rest of the season. With the amount of downtime it has had, and the presumably high maintenance costs associated with the ride. You have to wonder how long Kings Island and its current owner Cedar Fair, will continue to try and fix Son of Beast. The park has done the most radical changes for this season with the hopes of fixing the ride. But is it just another band aid solution to a bigger problem? Personally, I`d be surprised if Son of Beast is still at Kings Island in 2012, five years from now.

Not to mention that the WLWT article only quotes a park guest. Not a park spokesperson. Not that the park spokesperson would have said anything beyond "Son of Beast is closed for repairs" anyway. And yes, for a ride that was closed for nearly a year, it does not bode well for it to be in another round of prolonged down time.

Check out the story over on WCPO`s website. Rudy Giuliani to Attend Freedom Concert It seems as if this concert will be well attended with celebrities.

Yes, the brake set up was different on The Bat than on Arrow suspended coasters that followed it. On The Bat, the brake fins (and braked) were located below the trains, and not by the wheel assemblies. That was just one of The Bats design flaws that would lead to its demise. The trains from The Bat were scrapped. However, there used to be an old chasis from one of The Bat cars sitting in a box outside of The Vortex station (and visible from the line). This only disappeared in the late `90s.

I could possibly see Cedar Fair selling off some parks. Like Canada`s Wonderland, and the Star Trek Experience. Possibly also Great America could be an option. I doubt that they will dump Kings Island, as they have apparently wanted to get KI for quite some time. It will be interesting to see if any private equity group is interested in the hefty price for Cedar Fair. Especially since they seem to want to keep their management in place.

Well, there is the former laser tag building next to the Eurobungee site in Coney Mall. Also, the old Coney Confection stand between the Skee ball building and the speed pitch also in Coney Mall, to my knowledge, is never open any more. That entire area would benefit from a new attraction back there, with the site of the Eurobungee being the prime real estate that has seemed wasted by that cheap upcharge attraction.

Actually, attendance at amusement parks across the country, based on the trade magazines, has risen over the last several years and decades. Kings Island`s best year as far as attendance, based on the industry publications, was 1996. But, keep in mind that these industry publications only publish approximate attendance. The actual attendance figures may vary widely from those published in the trade magazines.

^ Its right of way, not rideaway! Granted, some people don`t read signs. Heavens knows quite a few don`t read the signs at Coney that clearly state the height requirements. But then, you will find a handful of guests that do read the signs. Just this past weekend, there were numerous guests that read the sign at the Ferris Wheel and realized there kids were too short to ride it. And I`ll agree with you about people not heeding traffic signs. I see cars constantly run the stop sign (without even slowing down a bit) at the top of my street. And I live on a residential street with a lot of small kids around! It all has to do with the fast paced society we live in today, and people wanting to get places as soon as possible.

Just like when the park had that temporary Titanic exhibit several years ago. They built a temporary tent in the admin lot to house the attraction for its brief stint at the park. They`ve had other special events back there. I seem to recall they had some sort of video game exhibit back in the admin lot as well.

If you already have a ticket to the park, I would venture to say, that you could buy the ticket option that is available for season pass holders. Since, you obviousely do not need to purchase another ticket to get into the park.

Yes, I whole heartedly agree. At Coney, I am asked numerous times why the cars on the Ferris Wheel don`t go in order, and have to respond that it is because of balancing issues. Even harder to explain is why no one can sit in the back seat of the Pepsi Python. In any given shift on a busy day, you will be asked that a dozen or more times!

jcold1, you have Son of Beast in your top ten? And as the best coaster at Kings Island? I think a lot of people would disagree with you. Granted we all have a right to our own opinions. But, my favorite coaster at Kings Island is The Beast, followed closely by Flight of Fear. I`d much rather ride any coaster at Kings Island before I rode Son of Beast (including the kiddy coasters). Heck, I`d even rather ride the Pepsi Python at Coney before I rode Son of Beast. I rode that ride once this year and that was enough for me for the rest of the year. I do agree with you that Millenium Force is one splendid coaster, and among my top ten. I don`t really know how my top ten sorts out, nor do I have time right now to sort them out.

Back when King Cobra was still around, I heard numerous guests by Adventure Express`s entrance asking if the entrance to Adventure Express was for King Cobra.

I know for a fact that your hand can touch the tunnel that covers the helix. Lets just say that I no longer hold my hands up on The Beast anymore. Keep in mind, that it is against Ohio law to disobey any written, or verbalized warning with regards to a ride. If charged, you could face a misdemeanor, per the Ohio Revised Code.

Well, there will be a scavenger hunt. I wish I could be there the entire day. Sadly, I must leave the park at around 3 or 4 to tend to family matters that day. (My cousin is leaving for Iraq the next day, and the family is having a 'going away/good luck party' that evening for him.) But I`m much looking forward to the morning hours at the park!

I find that the current Fear Fest log is already a very nice logo. It should be worth noting, that when the original Fear Fest logo came out in 2000, it sported only the Kings Island name. There was no Paramount attached to it. So, Cedar Fair will not have to modify it at all, if they choose to do so. For logos that did have the Paramount name on them (Boomerang Bay, Nickelodeon Universe to name two), the park simply removed the Paramount name from the logo, and kept everything else the same.

I highly doubt that Kings Island will get a major new roller coaster next year, on the heels of Firehawk. If we`re lucky, there will be a new flat ride or water park expansion, but I wouldn`t look for both. More than likely, there might be some general park improvements (like a new restroom back at X-Base). As an aside, it seems that Canada`s Wonderland might be getting a fairly large attraction next year as they have already started ground work and pouring some footings. Of course the winters up there are much harsher then winters around here. (I still wouldn`t look for a major new coaster at KI next season).

Not all rides from Americana/Lesourdsville Lake have been lost. Keep in mind that the Electric Rainbow is now operating at Stricker`s Grove. And the Rock-O-Plane has received a fresh coat of paint, and new lights and is thrilling dozens of rider at Coney Island. I even have ridden the Rock O Plane, and it is one intense ride! Sadly, I doubt that the Screechin Eagle will operate again. Unless someone or some small park wanted to relocate it. I don`t think Coney would be interested, as it would likely be out of their price range to buy and move it (although it would be a great ride for Coney to have).

If true, this is certainly some very interesting news. Cedar Fair has been a public company for twenty years (they went public back in 1987). As a unit holder and park guest, it will be interesting to see if anything more develops out of this. It will also be interesting to hear their end of quarter conference call in August, to see if they mention anything about this latest development. At this point, I`d have to say that it is a wait and see what happens type of deal. If they get offers that are the right price, they may act on it. Also, as others have said, the management issue may be a big hurdle to overcome in any proposed deal. On a side note, Cedar Fair`s units are up to $29.64, up 80 cents today, likely due to the article in the NY Post.

I rode the ride yesterday evening. I normally love coasters, even if they are a touch on the rough side. But I was NOT impressed with the "new" Son of Beast. It still rattles you around, even if some of the jackhammering of the trains is gone. I walked off the ride with a slight headache, and no big urge to ride the ride the rest of the season! This is about the only ride I can say I got off and had no desire to ride it again the rest of the year.