Gordon Bombay

Honestly surprised that this has never been implemented given all the other customer-service focused improvements in a post-Kinzel era. When Fast Lane was implemented, it was very clearly a quick way to make profit. The overhead was low (wristbands) and the revenue had to be off the charts, but then the park continued to vastly "oversell." You'd see rides like Flight of Fear with a regular, slow-moving line and a slightly less long, but still slow moving "Fast Lane" line. Given the experience at other parks and the name having the word fast in it, I couldn't believe that they were letting that happen. Hell, even on Firehawk back in the day (RIP), they'd do one station for Fast Lane one for regular guests with both lines being awful. "Fast Lane" was like 45 minutes for that ride. And the park just kept selling passes all day. The debut of Fast Lane was typical of that immediate post-Kinzel era: profit placed way over guest experience (or, rather, certain park VPs of "Kingzee's Ayyland" trying to make themselves look good). Given the strides CF has made in recent years, I'm surprised to see the "system" still exists and hasn't been upgraded to something more modern/guest friendly/advantageous (with the other benefit being that guests with a virtual queue are out of line spending money). Could even make it app based... but then they'd have to figure out an app.

If you want to win the golden ticket you need not spend your budget on family coasters, you need to spend it on Amusement Today advertising.

Willing to bet they just call it “Dragster” still while talking about the accident as they wait in line.

How does Cedar Point consistently come up with the dumbest names?

I was. But I'm not joking about Orion being a Toyota when Fury and Leviathan are Lexus'.

This one's true, tho.

Misread. Plz Delete.

I think such a conversion only happens if each ride gets a major overhaul/rebrand as a “new” attraction, but at that point with the cost of installing LSM’s (not that I have any idea what such a cost is), are you better off just buying a new coaster from the ground-up? It’s a great question, though, @SonofBaconator.

Looks like Leviathan is closed too pending Fury’s investigation. Orion didn’t get closed down cause it’s not a giga. * rimshot *

Should print this out and post it in the guest services office.

Or Firehawk back in the day when the “Fast Lane” line became the “slightly less long wait line compared to that other long wait line.” ”Premium Experiences” certainly aren’t anything new, but what’s your bottom line worth once you start to reliably inconvenience the “regular” guest?

It also used to ruin that lift motor which is why the ride switched to two trains.

Hi, @jzarley, thanks for taking the time to write this up and share. I’ve been very curious about the reintroduction of the “stand-up” experience and reading your review gave some great insight in ways clickbait YouTube videos just don’t. Really appreciate it and glad to hear that this coaster is a good experience.

Was walking through the parking lot tonight and saw a few kids in leather jackets sitting around a hot rod listening to that new fangled “rock and roll” music. Hoping KI gets their house in order soon!

I mean, for all we know, this may have been a “theoretical” capacity. Keep in mind, they were trying to market and sell these things that were brand new. In theory, maybe they “thought” it could’ve had 2k per hour if you’re running four trains under perfect conditions. As another example, I recently saw the now defunct Wicked Twister listed as a 1K/hr capacity and there’s no way that was right even under the best of conditions.

I don't remember the exact placements, but I believe it's at least five* (six if there's two sets of brakes before the unload station and also I believe the track between unload and load is a block). The ride was designed to theoretically operate with four trains and I believe had four delivered, but only ever ran three. There are actually three trains today (or were as of a few years ago). However, while two run throughout a season, the third is rehabbed during the operating year. Conversely, (also at least as of a few years ago), Kings Dominion ran all three of their trains while KI only ran two.

Love how Seal had a few notes on the right channel.

What's the issue? You've simply posted a photograph of how Tomb Raider: The Ride actually looked.

Thanks, @Shaggy! Always love your insights into KI history. So interesting to hear about aspects like this.

I’ve always heard about this, @Shaggy, but didn’t know it was a real thing. How was CP able to lord this over KI, but not Six Flags Ohio/Geauga Lake?

KI got lucky as it seems their version of the ride aged the best out of all three. Also, @CoastersRZ, where you at! What’s up with that weird structure on the roof???

A few other Italian Job/Backlot things came to mind that I need to put out into the world. 1) The weird “fence thing” atop the station roof. (@CoastersRZ, looking at you here for your architectural expertise) (P)KI and (P)CW’s versions of the “Italian Job: Stunt Track” debuted in the same year, 2005. They were so similar that even their budget cuts were identical. Both feature this weird, steel structure that looks similar to a fence atop their stations. (P)KI: (P)CW: I’m not sure what purpose this part of the station serves or if it was meant for something else. If anyone does know, though, I’d love to find out. Interestingly enough, when (P)KD got their version of the ride the next year…the weird, fence thing wasn’t built: WHAT IS IT!!!! And hey, while we’re talking about the Kings Dominion version… 2) Remember when Paramount announced it as “Italian Job: Turbo Coaster” but later changed the name to “Italian Job: Stunt Track?” Event after they changed the name on the billboard, turbo coaster was still mentioned… And ultimately it was just the same ride anyways.

Given the reviews of Camp Cedar and the state of The Beach the last few years, they seem like they would’ve been a match made in bankruptcy heaven.

A relocated TOGO from Vegas.