BoddaH1994

Yeah, that's what I'm kind of hoping too.

All of you guys are correct -- due to the overwhelming response, Kings Island has added a 4th and 5th train to the first riders lineup. You will notice that it's no longer a "minimum" of 96 riders but rather 5 trains. Remember that it's first come, first serve so cast your bids early!

The one I created was the http://www.KICentral.com.

Does anyone know who that guy is? That's $4,300 that he is bidding right now (and about half of those aren't above #96). I don't know but, I'm definitely curious about who he is... I bid! Two seats for $115/seat. Pricier than a regular admission but, I've never been to opening day at a park and I've been wanting to ride Diamondback since before it was officially announced. It is also a great cause. I don't know how much higher I would get but, it seems like something I'd be willing to spend some savings on. Welcome to KICentral and thanks for bidding! Remember that when it comes down to it, it's all about the kids.

Thanks -- the link above has been corrected. You can also follow the link below: http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/best-of...nnati-2009.html

Every year Cincinnati's unique publication CityBeat hosts their "Best of Cincinnati" poll. KICentral.com is currently in the running for best web site in Cincinnati! Please show your support by following this link and voting for KICentral.com as best web site in Cincinnati! Kings Island, in cooperation with A Kid Again, formerly known as Adventures for Wish Kids, is holding an auction for the first rides on the new Diamondback roller coaster that will appeal to philanthropists and coaster-enthusiasts alike. Beginning February 2, the park will auction off a minimum of 96 seats to the highest bidders, who will be the first official riders on Diamondback – the tallest, fastest and meanest roller coaster to ever strike Kings Island. Bids can be placed until April 15 by visiting www.kiDiamondback.com/public/auction/ or by calling Kings Island at (800) 288-0808. A winning bid will include the inaugural ride on Diamondback, a commemorative first rider ticket, a special gift from the park and an admission ticket. Following the inaugural ride, each event ticket holder will be invited to stay and play in the park until closing at 10:00pm. The official opening of Diamondback, including the top bidders supporting A Kid Again, will take place on Opening Day, April 18. The highest successful bidder will select their seat on the first train while all other successful bidders will be assigned their seats according to their bid amount. Minimum bids begin at $50.00. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the auction will go directly to A Kid Again. Founded July 6, 1995, A Kid Again is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing fun-filled outings and on-going support to children with life threatening illnesses and their families from the day of diagnosis until the children reach the age of 20. Because A Kid Again is a 501 © (3) not-for-profit, the donation from top bidders is tax-deductable to the fullest extent of the IRS tax code. A Kid Again currently has over 1,380 children with life threatening illness enrolled into its programs. The organization includes the entire family on its adventures, thus serving over 6,500 hurting people annually! Diamondback is the 15th roller coaster at Kings Island. The ride stands 230 feet at its highest point with a first drop of 215 feet at a 74-degree angle and will snake its way around 5,282 feet of track in excess of 80 miles per hour. Guests must be a minimum of 54 inches or taller to ride Diamondback. Diamondback first rider information: A minimum of 96 bidders will be seated. Bids must start at $50.00 and may be increased at any time until bidding is closed. Bids will not be posted until they have been secured by phone with a credit card to assure legitimacy. The bidding process will close the morning of April 15, at 8:30am. It is our intention to keep you informed through this website. To bid, simply go to www.kiDiamondback.com. Also, the top bidders will be listed so you can check the status of your bid. The official opening of Diamondback, including the top bidders supporting A Kid Again, will take place on Opening Day, April 18. The highest successful bidder will select their seat on the first train while all other successful bidders will be assigned their seats according to their bid amount. A diverse range of job opportunities are available at Kings Island, as the park announced today plans to hire more than 4,000 seasonal associates for the 2009 operating season, which begins April 18. Associates are needed in all areas of park operation, including admissions, call center, cash control, entertainment, food and beverage, games, guest relations, lifeguards, merchandise, rides, security, sweeps and warehouse. Anyone 15 years of age or older who wants an exciting and rewarding place to work this summer can learn more about the different departments and opportunities at visitkingsisland.com. Apply online, and then come out to the job fair for an interview. Kings Island is an Equal Opportunity employer. For more information or questions regarding employment, please call (513) 754-5748 or visitkingsisland.com. Do you want the latest information sent directly to your cell phone? Sign up for KICentral's official mobile club and receive text alerts with the latest news and information about Kings Island! Signing up is fast and free! Click here for more information about KICentral's official mobile club! Are you an avid Kings Island fan or do you casually visit once a year? It doesn't matter! KICentral.com is the site for you. Why not register on the forums of KICentral and tell us about your thoughts and experiences involving Kings Island! Registration is fast, FREE, and easy. Don't forget to keep checking KICentral.com for the latest news, rumors and information about Kings Island amusement park! Regards, Ryan

Cincinnati's free publication Citybeat is currently running their annual "Best of Cincinnati" poll. Many categories are available for your choosing and KICentral is an option for one of the best web sites in Cincinnati! Show your support by visiting the link below and choosing "KICentral.com" under the best web site drop box! http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/best-of...nnati-2009.html

I've always wanted to go to the Big Easy. I'm very envious!

As reported by Diamondback's Facebook Site, the lift hill structure is all lit up tonight!

I believe the wheels in the center also take the pressure off of the actual train wheels. It helps prevent getting a flat stop in the polyurethane wheel structure so the train will coast as smoothly as possible.

Typically it goes online a few weeks before the park opens to the public.

I haven't sent out a text in a few weeks. I try to make them relatively infrequent so it doesn't burn up the list. I only send them out when it's important news that I think the members of the Mobile Club would be interested in seeing instantly. By a very rough estimation, I'd say I sent out about one mobile alert per month during the offseason and anywhere from one per month to one per week during the season. It all depends on what's going on, really.

The best of luck to you!

Thanks for the heads up, Ryan. The Beach certainly offers opportunities that are very unique. Having spent some time around the employees of The Beach last season, I can say that it's certainly a fun and diverse group of people.

Just to clarify -- 96 seats are up for auction -- regardless of how many are listed. The reason why the list was extended is because now more than 96 have bid. You'll notice a yellow line below the 96 seat mark.

Bid what you can -- it's for a good cause, but I think that amounts with change added to them will be rounded down to the nearest dollar, so don't count on overbidding someone by $.01 or anything.

I'm hoping you guys now see what I mean about this being first come, first serve. I have a $100 bid in, but I'm still on the board because I put it in a week ago. Now you have to bid more than $100 just to get on the board.

After having planned three events at Kings Island, I can assure you that it's way more fun just to be surprised. I do not have an answer to that question at this time, but since registration is free, I'd register for both days and just show up whenever you can.

Details are still being finalized for Ride Warriors Coaster Weekend. This is a big feat to accomplish... and trust me -- it'll be worth it.

Excellent points, Beast1979. Also don't forget that if you have a Gold or Platinum pass, you get early rides on Diamondback every day. That should help quite a bit.

Plus nothing to slow down the process... like seat belts.

Diamondback will have a VERY high capacity. I doubt you'll see many, if any, days with a 5 hour wait.

Just for fun... What do Indiana Jones and Superman: The Ride have in common? They're both afraid of snakes. That Golden Ticket is going to look nice on KI's fireplace.

The KIC bid -- like all corporate bids -- will be donated back to A Kid Again so someone who is being assisted by the organization can ride.

This could potentially be a good sign - not just for the park but for the entire economy.