clbehymer

I don't know if I just didn't notice it before, but the lighting on the Eiffel Tower was really cool. I like how they changed the colors throughout the night. And especially how it changed during the fireworks. It seemed to go with the music. Great Job if this is new, if it's not... sorry for not noticing before. Edit: Fixed spelling errors

I actually had to pay the $10 and then get reimbursed at the sales window once I had my pass processed. Maybe I just got an employee that didn't know to scan the paper.

I'm pretty sure I only rode FOF twice with the OTSR. After the first time, I said not again... but then went with a friend that hadn't ridden it before and she talked me into it. I had never been so beaten up on a ride. I didn't ride it again until after the OTSR were replaced by the lapbars. I find it to be quite enjoyable now.

For those that are going with us to Holiday World... I sell the discount tickets through my work and they are $32.25. What is the discount with a Pepsi can? If you guys want I can bring enough with me and then you can just pay me back when we meet up. Sound like a good idea???

I just ordered a blue tank with ichase's design and a white tank with LMHConcepts design. Good job to both of you (and anyone else who submitted designs). I can't do things like that and am glad that there are people on here who can.

I could be in for the 5/2 trip to Holiday World. Are you guys carpooling or meeting somewhere? Let me know! I've never been to Holiday World before.

I would like to publicly say that I meant no offense to Gabe and the other DB ride ops. I thought that they did a fantastic job. I was more or less giving him a hard time. Again, my apologies to Gabe.

Thanks guys. Beatle- I was wearing a bright green shirt and my son was wearing a red Ohio state shirt. He is about 6" taller than me, too.

Since I wasn't able to go to the park last weekend for opening day, my son and I decided to head east on Friday. We had yet to get our passes processed, so we left with enough time to get them processed and take advantage of the ERT at 4:30. We made it to the park around 3 greeted by closed gates. We waited an hour at the gate, and this would prove to be our longest wait of the night. Just an FYI for thoses that haven't processed their passes... you will have to pay the $10 and then get a refund from the sales window after processing your pass. Fortunately, we made it to the season pass line before there was one. By the time that we got to the metal detector lines, the season pass line was way out. I then told my son that is why we got here so early. Finally we were through the gates and on our way to experience Diamondback for the first time. I think that we waited 5-10 minutes once in line because they were finishing the testing. We were assigned row 4 and waited 1 cycle before boarding our train. I love the seating and the restraints. We made our acent up the lift hill and I was wowed with the angle and speed. All I can say about this coaster is AIRTIME!!! I have read the numerous reports on this ride and I was still surprised. I don't remember feeling any trims, and were barely slowed down on the MCBR. Unfortunately, our on-ride photo did not show up on the screen. I did see Don on the way to the gift shop and told him how pleased I was with the ride. We decided to get another ride on DB while there wasn't a line. This time we were assigned row 15. I did ask for 16, but didn't get it. The only thing that I didn't like about this was that Gabe (I believe from here at KIC) was the seat assigner. I know that seat requests are not guaranteed, but he let the 2 guys behind me and my son go to 16 (I think that there were from here too). That wasn't very nice. I have to say that I think there was more airtime this turn than the first. We did turn around to watch the spashdown and that was amazing. The wall of water that just encloses you. Very cool element. After this, we decided to go to The Beast to celebrate its 30th. No one was in the station. We went to the backseat (my favorite) and we were not dissapointed. You can definately tell where the retracking was completed. Once we returned to the station, there was still no one in the line for the back seat so we went for another trip. Fantastic as usual. We then headed over to Vortex, another walk on... new orange paint, same rough transitions. At one point, my neck slammed into the OTSR. Not comfortable. We went on to FOF, walk on... seemed to be faster than last time I rode it, but it could just be my rust from the offseason. Firehawk was not running, I think for most of the day. Headed over to Racer, waited 1 cycle for the front seat on Red side. The blue side wasn't open. My son made a good point... "How can the call it Racer and it only has one side open and doesn't race?" I understand the reasoning from a business standpoint, but still a good argument. It was then time for another DB fix. This time, I requested row 16 and got it. YEAH!! Great ride, again. I was able to see my ORP and we looked mighty silly. I didn't get it. I did see Cory Butcher working, but he was very busy and I didn't know if he would recognize me, so I didn't say anything. We headed over to Nick U and rode Avatar and SBATHC. I must say that my son beats my score everytime but this time, I schooled him. 1320 to 510. He, of course, said it was due to a malfunctioning flashlight, but I told him it was operator error and he just got beat by his mom. HA HA! We were both hungry by this point and went to Skyline in Coney Mall. Too much money, but the food was good. There isn't a Skyline where we live and he loves the 3 way, so its worth the money to make him happy. After this we went back to... guess... I bet you can't... Diamondback. We went for another ride on The Beast and then decided to visit his son. Kyle wasn't too excited to ride, but I told him it was a little smoother in the front, so we went to the front and it was more enjoyable. The best part of the front seat is the view down when hanging over the first drop. The worst part... bugs smashing into our arms and face. Yuck. We hit up the rest of Action Zone except Invertigo. I can't ride it, it gives me a huge headache. After this it was pretty dark and we decided to take two last rides for the night. The Beast and Diamondback. We decided to get front row seats for the best night ride in the park and it was great. Never a dissapointment. I thought that DB would rival the legendary Beast ride at night, so we decided to get a front row seat for that too. While we were waiting, a train got stuck on the lift and we had to wait around 15 minutes for our ride. No big deal to me... I couldn't believe the lines were so short. Finally we made our way up the lift... this was pretty cool. Then we were dangled over the top of the hill looking straight down, basically. Once we started over the hill we never stopped. Airtime, airtime, and more airtime. I have been a Beast fan since '88 and have loved the night rides. I have to say that front row at night on DB is at least equal if not slightly better. You are flying over hills and can't see a d*mn thing. Now, Kyle, literally couldn't see a d*amn thing... his contacts blew right out of his eyes after the second hill! He still loved every second of it. After this we decided to head out. We went to the front entrance to watch the fireworks and then found the car. We have friends that live in Clifton and we were staying with them... so I had an overnight bag packed for us and luckily, I had more contacts for Kyle in the bag. This was a perfect day... short waits, perfect weather, an amazing new coaster, and all of our favorites ready for all to enjoy. We were going to come back to the park today but when we woke up we were both pretty beat and spent some time with our friends at Eastgate Adventures. We played some mini golf and raced go karts. We had lunch at the Skyline in Clifton and then said goodbye to our friends and headed home to Indiana. Sorry there aren't any pictures or videos like other TR, but I'm not a big picture taker. I did get a couple of videos on my phone of the fireworks, but don't know how to get them on here. Thanks for reading... I look forward to many more trips to KI this year and to reading all of your TR. Corey

Coasterfanatic... I would not want to see this happen and can't foresee it. Racer is a landmark coaster and a great family coaster. On a personal note, it was the coaster that I took my son on the year that he was still too short for the "big" rides. Edit: Edited to show quote

I will be there Friday and Saturday if anyone would like to meet up since I didn't get to go to the park this last weekend and missed out on all the fun.

I love this idea. I did get to meet a lot of you at the off season parties, but was unable to go this past weekend. I am, however, going this Friday and Saturday (24th and 25th). If anyone is there, I would love to say hi!

Mine was Vortex opening year, I was 7. My dad put me in the front seat and I remember being a little nervous, but as soon as we went down the first hill, I loved every minute of it. I was still short enough not to have the head banging against the OTSR problem.

I was just downtown today at the convention center. We were there for the food buyers show. Since they provided us free parking at the zoo, we took advantage of the nice weather and walked back. We ended up taking a detour through the NCAA Hall of Champions on campus. If you're in Indy and enjoy college sports, its worth the $5 to get in. Not huge or a day long trip, but interesting nonetheless.

I bought my platinum pass again this year and I added a gold KI pass for my son... so hopefully there will be a lot more trips to KI this year. You guys can see my little coaster enthusiast in the making right next to me. Well I guess he's not that little since he's about 5 inches taller than me!

Thanks for the fast reply... I am not afraid of heights, so I should have a good time on these. Even though I will be doing it solo, my bf probably won't even go to the top with me! I agree with you about Big Shot, thinking it wouldn't be as thrilling if it were on the ground.

Avatar, I just meant that I am obviously not you since he was directing the question toward you. Notice the differences in name, location, gender, etc... I think you're just giving me a hard time since I didn't get to hang out with you guys at GWL and Krazy City (I think thats what it is called)!

I have had opportunities to go to Holiday World through work, but I haven't been able to make it. They send me an invitation to go on a tour and enjoy the park for the rest of the day. The drive is just so boring for me and I don't want to do it by myself. That is a big reason for me not going. I am going to just have to suck it up and make the trip over there. Really off topic, but... I am going to Vegas at the end of this month. I have ridden the the Big Shot on top of Stratosphere, but not the other rides up there. Has anyone rode them before and can give me a take on them?

When I went to Knotts last February, I rode Ghostrider and wasn't expecting too much because it wasn't that tall and it wasn't The Beast. It turned out to be my number 2 woodie. So I, personally, wouldn't count out a ride just because it doesn't tower over everything else. I also learned that just because a coaster is tall, doesn't make it a good ride, from riding Mean Streak. No offense to those that like it, but I can't handle the brain rattling effect that it has on me, and I like SOB. Unfortunately, I haven't been to Dollywood or Holiday World to experience these other coasters that a lot of people really like. I hope to change that within the next couple of years!

I am obviously not Avatar, and he probably drives 74 more often than I do, but I get onto 74 at Greensburg. The past couple of times that I have been to KI (1/31 & 2/28, thanks to you, I believe) there hasn't been any construction going on. I do remember 275W having construction and it being a bit congested on the way home, but maybe that will be better in a month or two.

I just can't see how falling off of a bench can cause so much damage that you would need to sue. How high was that bench! I can see getting a bruise on your bum or ego, but mental anguish. I think someone may be over reacting. But, I don't know the full story, so who knows.

I believe that Don said, at the tour, that the restaurant will be the same buffet style, but I could remember incorrectly. Anyone else remember hearing this?

Thanks for the invite after the tour... sorry I couldn't stay for the buffet and Krazy City. It looks like I missed a lot of fun. Maybe next time. It was nice meeting everybody. I did wonder why we turned into the dealership, I thought that I was following the wrong car for a minute! What was up with washing my windshield at the gas station while it was raining??? Anyway, I had fun at Jungle Jims and I now know where to get all of my adult oriented hot sauces! Thanks Cory! Nice pics Ronny and Avatar. I always enjoy viewing your PTR. Until next time, Corey

Its going to be very exciting to see the trains and coaster up close and personal on Saturday!!!

Don't forget about Boomerang Bay if you are going after Memorial Day. This water park has a lot of different slides and play areas, and its not a seperate admission price. If you want a locker to keep your things dry, you will have to pay for that. I personally found Tuesdays to be the best day to go, but thats my opinion. Of course, weekdays are better than weekends, but if you must go on a weekend... make it a Sunday. There are also special events that happen on certain days that may affect attendance. You can go to their website, www.visitkingsisland.com and check out the calendar under the "Plan a Visit" heading.