AintNutinElse2Do

Okay I like Vortex and all but it is not by any means the best Arrow Looper coaster ever built. It's pretty much the same as most of Arrow's coaster same size loops and corkscrews as all but 1 other Arrow. Any guesses on what the best Arrow is........ IMO it would be their last Tennessee Tornado... this is the only one where they decided to think outside of the box. I mean a tunnel drop, very large first loop, then a butterfly loop. I really think that Arrow would still be here if they had thought like that before the end.

Okay, hmm i don't want to step on anyone's toes but come on. Son of Beast is one of my favorite wood coasters ever and i've been on plenty. In the daytime I prefer it to Beast at night well we all know there's no better roller coaster than The Beast. Ya, so most of the people on here don't like Son of Beast. Let's not forget that most of us on here are also "enthusiasts" we are a completely different breed of people. Also, no we probably don't want the parks to really listen to just us. Thats the problem six flags has previously faced. Yeah if they listened to us we would absolutely love it. I'm sure the roller coasters would get ridiculously high and loopy. Yes I am picturing the 800 footer as I type (or the proposed coaster that goes over the golden gate bridge). Let's face it though "enthusiasts" are not the people that bring in the money to the park. We are the one's that generally know how to get the most fun on the least amount of money. While most all parks have respect for us we need to show respect to them as well and either start spending more money in the park or wait for them to build the next big thrill on their rotation not ours. But back to topic of this post simply just use the initials S.O.B. we all know what else that can stand for just let the guests fill in the blanks. not really though I guess that could cause conflicts

Okay I've been meaning to get on here to talk about my most recent trip to Carowinds. I'll give the first clue of my experience by saying I hope it's not a sign of things to come around the Cedar Fair chain. A friend and I arrived at the park around 2pm. First off we headed over to Vortex great news there was a very very small line approximately 2-3 cycles. Vortex seemed to be running alright a lot louder than I had remembered but it wasn't nearly as loud as the ride op's laughing a cutting up and taking about 10-15 minutes to send 3 trains out. Okay next off we headed over to Hurler, okay I love my woody's but this one needs to be torn down that was the spawn of SOB and Meanstreak kind of rough oh and once again horrible experience with the ride op's. Then to drop zone, ok ride but again ride op issues. Carolina Cyclone ugh why is it still there and again horrible ride op's. Then to goldrusher, ok ride but one of the ride op's was actually sitting on the back train during loading playing the name game with the guests. Ok that would be fine if everyone wasn't already loaded on the train and a train waiting to come in. Okay so through this point it seems like Cedar Fair should of not re-hired any of these crews if that is indeed the case. OK so now we went to ride Borg this was the most proffessional ride op's but maybe it's just me but this ride seems to be getting rougher all the time. So off we go to Thunder Road only the frontward train was running (real bummer) this woody too is getting seriously related to mean streak and former SOB. Now my most pleasurable experience of the day was Top Gun I really wish that KI could of gotten this Top Gun coaster instead it's simply one of the best inverts out there and the fact at the end of the day i got to ride it 3 times in a row helps. I did fail to mention the kiddy rides.... Fairly odd coaster was the best woody we rode all day... Wild thornberry's is looking a little run down (as is most of carowinds) and I know i'll hit a nerve but Danny Phantom flyers were fun but yeah they really do work as a kid ride better IMHO. Something that really disturbed me however is this. Carowinds essentially received the shaft as far as capital spending this year. Yeah there's a lot of new trash cans everywhere which are just cheap tacky trash cans with a new logo on them. I know this year a year of transition for the former paramount parks but I just don't see the excuse with Carowinds. I completely understand why they haven't got rid of all the Paramount stuff over at Kings Island with all that was invested there. But come on really the only thing Carowinds got was new trash cans, some new shows, and a new coat of paint on a ride taken out a year before. There is so much about Carowinds that seems to have been neglected. I know it didn't just happen when Cedar Fair took over but there's a lot more they could of fixed at Carowinds for this year given how little they did for the park. This last trip really dissapointed me I used to put Carowinds way up on the list for the variety of rides they have but the condition of those rides and overall atmosphere of the park has knocked this park way down in my view. I'm sure next year with Hard Rock Park opening up Carowinds will be sure to add something big to help compete. I personally think instead they should take the rest of this year and all of the off season to get this park into much better shape. Paint some of the older coasters and older rides. Fire all the bad ride op's and get some new ones. After all if next year they put something big in it will just be like putting a pearl on top of a big turd. They really need to create a better atmosphere there. Unless this is a park that Cedar Fair is considering dropping altogether IMHO that's a big possibility. Especially with a very huge competitor moving in their back yard. I hope I havent offended any Carowinds fans in here. I myself was once a big fan myself but unless something major happens there I don't see any need to go back.

Well perhaps all this lack of info on SOB is possibly because of the embarassment it brought. I would like to keep a more optimistic approach and say that the lack of info on it means SOB version 1.5 will be at least 50% better than the previous, and the lack of info to me (at least hoping) means something we're not expecting.

All this HUSH-HUSH on SOB really has to make you think. I mean it's not a new coaster I don't get why we know so much about Firehawk and next to nothing on SOB. Unless.... unless they are making a radical change to the ride and not just the neutering. Think about it Dollywood has released a lot of details about Mystery Mine but even Dolly has said there's suprises they are keeping hush. So it just makes me think we all know what SOB was like and what it would be like if they just took out the loop and put a straight peice of track there. So it really makes me think that there is a BIG change being made. I for one am a little bothered I don't know what Sonny boy is up to

Okay I myself regardless of how rough it may be am an avid fan of Son of Beast. I've seen on here where the park had contacted Gerstauler about making the trains for SOB. I know judging by most Gerstauler trains this could likely be a bad idea. But I was looking at the Gerstauler website and found these. So if Gerstlauer ends up being the new train manufacturer I hope it's those instead of other G trains I've seen. Yeah I'm really hoping it's not the ones from MB Pavillion

I get the whole SOB situation. But I'd like to say this and I think I'm completely right on this. The whole SOB situation I think is a bigger issue to us "enthusiasts" and is not as big of a situation to most park guests. Just like a used ride to us often seems like a travisty but to most park goers it's a new ride. As sad as it may be people get hurt on rides and at theme parks all of the time and likely even more so in water parks. I know some people got hurt on SOB and I know that may create a stigma for some people but chances are those people that won't ride it now after the accident are likely the same people that you would of had to drag on there before the accident. SOB was and hopefully still is an intimidating coaster for most park goers. I don't think that SOB has ruined the reputation of The Beast. Believe me I'm pretty much obsessed with theme parks and especially roller coasters and time after time I have to drag friends out to the parks. Even after the accident those who wouldn't of rode it before still wouldnt and those who would (my little nephew in example) wished he could be a test rider bump or no bump. Anyways my whole point on this is I think the SOB situation is a bigger deal for "enthusiasts" and not as big of deal for the general public and I don't think it hurts The Beast name for the general public. Which I feel for most will still think of Beast before they think of SOB and think of how great of a coaster The Beast has been throughout the years (especially at night)

Okay first I would like to say sand almost seems like an excellent deal. But let's think about it walking on sand on a sunny day is just about as hot as walking on concrete. Granted however the sand doesn't scratch up your feet though. Another thing on the sand idea is that it would also create a big insurance issue. Loose sand can often equal twisted ankles, knees, etc. I could just see the lawsuits pouring in now. Whether legitimate or not. Now to the topic at hand, should Kings Island get a record breaking coaster? ABSOLUTELY but perhaps maybe not the typical highest or fastest record. I've had a couple coasters racing around in my mind for a while now. I think it would be great if they made a steel or hybrid coaster with just a couple of HUGE (possibly tallest) loops in it. It could be a low to the ground terrain-hugging experience with many tunnels (possibly a record amount of tunnels or tunnel length). Maybe they could make it decently high but taking advantage of the terrain they could make it the longest drop of any coaster especially if you put a tunnel at the bottom. Now the name of this coaster of which is much better invisioned in my head than I can describe in words could be. METAL BEAST or with loops EYES OF BEAST Now for the other coaster invisioned in my head would be a much needed Inverterd (full circuit) coaster this could be called FLIGHT OF BEAST One record I would personally love to see broken on any coaster at Kings Island would be ride duration and/or length. As long as it doesnt take any records away from Beast or SOB. That's my thoughts on all this. OH YEAH..... can't wait to see "what happens if there is no light at the end of the tunnel" FRIDAY 13th

Okay, maybe I didn't look around enough but I didn't really see this being discussed on it's own yet. I would like to know what everyone is really looking forward to for 2007. As in what do you think the best of the best is. Any predictions on what the number one wooden coaster will be and the best steel. Who's going to have the best new flat ride. I'm sure most of us here have checked out numerous websites to have some clue on this. So i'll start it off with what I think. Best New Steel Coaster Mystery Mine - Dollywood Best New Wood Coaster Renegade - ValleyFair Best New Flat Ride Cosmic Chaos - Kennywood Best Improved Atmosphere Geuaga Lake (i'm really going out on a limb there but it may be suprising) I'm sure there are many other bests but I'll let you all finish....

I'm sure if Kings Island done some sweet talking with Dolly they could play some Dolly Parton music from rocks everywhere. Just kiddding What works at Dollywood doesn't neccesarily work anywhere else Speaking of does anyone know if Silver Dollar City plays Dolly music? BTW only 29 days til MYSTERY MINE opens up. Which IMHO I feel will be the best and most creative ride of 2007.

Okay as a current smoker (though i've quit many times) I have an idea that might just work. Everyone seems to think that there's not a real problem with designated smoking areas as long as people stayed in them to smoke. Well I know this may seem a little silly but I think it would totally work. What if you outright ban bringing cigarettes into the park. You can afterall generally see a pack of cigarettes in someones pockets, and women's pocket books well those really need to be checked better anyways. So if you prevent people from bringing in cigarettes they wouldnt have that cigarette to light up where they shouldn't. The solution to make smokers happy at least IMHO would be to then have maybe 2 or 3 outdoor smoking patios. Since no was able to enter the park with cigarettes the park could then sell single cigarettes for $2 easy. Then you would have complete control of the smoking situation. You could of limited entry and exit to the patio so you could easily keep someone from walking out of the patio with a cigarette. Maybe a park trying to promote a non-smoking enviroment could actually make things more comfortable for the guests by selling cigarettes. Sounds crazy I know but it might just work

True enough off topic but I thought the topic is COMING SOON so I just wanted to throw out there a COMING SOON ???

Okay I know this may be a little off topic. But I was checking out Screamscape and they have an article about how Steel Venom is also removed from Geauga Lake http://www.screamscape.com/html/geauga_lake.htm it shows it missing from the 2007 park map. Anyone think that Kings Island may be getting a 2 for 1 special. I think Steel Venom would be better at Carowinds as it fills a void there but come on wouldn't that be great two used rides maybe that might equal one new one.

I keep hearing all these problems with the Vekoma flyers. As to say B&M flyers are that much better. As a frequent visitor to SFOG and Carowinds I've always been able to ride Borg. I can't tell you how many times Superman was closed at SFOG. To further that I think I saw maybe one time that SFOG had both stations opened. Mind you the best thing about the two stations is that on the back station you didnt have to wait for all the Qbot people to go first. But that's my two cents in my opinion Vekoma vs a SF ran B&M. not that different other than loading. ----PLEASE Kings Island NEVER START A QBOT or FASTPASS program----- ---It just makes the day suck for the rest of us that don't want to shell out more $---

I've always been a believer that tennis shoes are always the best. But, when I make the trip to Kings Island I generally stay two days. On the day I hit Boomerang Bay I will wear flip flops. I made the mistake one time of going bare-footed at the Bay. All that concrete and all that sun shew did my feet hurt.

At Dollywood on your way up to THUNDERHEAD and soon MYSTERY MINE (which I think will be the best ride of 2007) On the right there is a huge section of a tree trunk with the history of Dolly and Dollywood represented by the rings of the tree. I've always thought that was a great thing. So the suggestion to turn the Paramount Story area into The Kings Island Story I'm all for it. Yeah I could think of some great rides that they could throw in there. Unfortuanately though there has to be stuff other than rides too I guess.

WOO HOO I too have ridden FlashBack but mind you it was at that time Z-Force at SFOG before they moved in the Ninja. Now can I recall the ride experience, nah I was very young at the time.

Hello, first time poster long time looker. I will have to say that I completely agree with you RailRider. Six Flags would do a better job creating OpryMills out of Opryland than they are at running theme parks. I had really hoped that Herschand Family Entertainment (owners of Dollywood and Silver Dollar City and others) had been able to purchase some of the parks. I think they could of done wonders with them. I know not everyone would be excited about a country atmosphere but if you compare a Herschand Park with a Six Flags park there's a world of difference. Of course anything compared to most six flags park would be an improvement.