standbyme

I once read this on another site...and couldn't have agreed more...the reason they take your picture so early is because most people aren't smiling by the end of the ride...myself included.

Maps are always the best...but I would say my favorite item is one of those old-style black Son of Beast 32 oz. plastic cups...they have to be one of the oddest items I have ever seen. They were so "suggestive" looking if you know what I mean...I just know that the person who designed them HAD to be doing it as a joke, and then was amazed when the head office gave the go ahead to have them made. For a couple of years my friends & I would always point at them and laugh...but none of us ever bought one...then last year I noticed that there was a new SOB cup, so I figured I had better get one of the "suggestive" ones while I could...now keep in mind I saw about 4-5 people carrying them around that day...I kept going from vender to vender to vender trying to find somewhere to buy one...each vendor would send me somewhere else that they "thought" still had some. I went into Larosa's Pizza...I got excited when I saw one on display behind the cashier...I ordered a drink & watched as they grabbed one of the new SOB cups...I stopped them and told them I wanted one of the older ones...like that one over there! She said that that "one" was not "sellable" . I got SO desperate I stopped 2 people who had them, to see where they got theirs...they BOTH had brought their's into the park! I kid you not...I went everywhere, FINALLY I went into the shop near SOB AGAIN, and looked around again...but there were none to be found. A clerk asked what I was looking for, I told him that I was looking for the old style SOB cups... TWO if he had them...he went into the backroom for a few minutes and came out with one complete one & one without the long plastic straw. He said that these were the only 2 left. I still believe I was the very last "regular" customer to buy one of these. So, maybe it's because I had to "work" to get one...but this would be my favorite PKI item!

There are 6 cabins at the campground. 3 older, 3 newer. The 3 older ones are right next to the main building which has the store, laundromat, bathroom/showers & a small arcade. This is also where the tram picks you up to take you to PKI. The cabins themselves ARE sparse. The older ones look like log cabins. They are only one room. (Guessing, I would say about 12' by 14'...but judging size is not my strongsuit.) They have 2 windows (which are openable.) They have air conditioning & heating...and of course electricity. There is one full size bed, and 2 bunk beds...with mattresses that are plastic covered. There is nothing else in the cabin. No chairs, running water...nothing. You have to bring your own linens. Outside, there is a small front porch, picnic table, grill. You also have your own private driveway. Like I said, they are rustic...but definately clean. I think it is more of an "adventure" to stay in them. My younger Nephews were NOT so thrilled with them. They missed having television, a swimming pool...but they survived. I can NOT say that I would enjoy the cabins for MORe than a 2 day stay though...having to use the public showers is not that much fun. (But you do have privacy when your using them.) Any other questions just ask...

Obviously hotels would be superior in quality...but I enjoy the cabins at the campground. I don't know how old they actually are, but it seems like you're stepping back in time to the park's 1970's years when you stay in them...plus if you can't sleep you can always read all of the carved graffitti in the bunks!

Late last year (December) I joined CoasterBuzz for the first time. On their itinerary they mention Beastbuzz 2003 for June. They make it seem like there was also a 2002 version. Did anyone do it? What was it? Was it any good?If I am already a PKI season pass holder is it a big deal? Thanks for any input.

Hello again, I was gone for the weekend, and just got back. I would like to say thanks for all of the answers. The water ride questions I have wondered about for quite awhile now! I once rode Congo Falls in late October a few years back. It was pretty cold out, no sunshine, and we were amazed it was even running. Me and my friends were LITERALLY the only ones that rode the ride that day before they shut it down around noon. We rode it once and didn't get squirted...so we rode it again and got drenched...until now, we were always wondering if it was the operators way of saying "leave us alone here so we can just talk!". I now know the answer.

I have never actually started a topic here, but I have been visiting this board a few times a day for a few months now. Since there seems to be quite a few employees on here, there are trivial (and I do mean trivial) things that I am curious about. If anyone is bored, and cares to share some info... #1. The Racer is 10 times better WHEN it is racing...is it up to the people operating the ride that day whether they race them or not? Are they SUPPOSED to race them...or does Kings Island even care about this feature anymore? #2. How many different Hanna Barbera characters were there? Were they all available at the park, or were different outfits rotated from park to park year to year? #3. On Congo Falls, as the boat is about to make the final turn back to the starting point, the burst of water which sometimes "gets you" and sometimes doesn't, is that just luck, or is it controled by the operator? #4. Similar question, near the end of Whitewater Canyon are any of the blasts contolled by the operator in the hut on the hill?

For me, the park is at it's best during the summer...but, KI is about a 3 1/2 hour drive for me, so I want to ride as much as I can. So, with that in mind I really like going in the Fall. (The Beast also looks cool with fall colors.)

It's going to be weird riding Delirium this summer thinking about these snow covered pictures! I wish more people had taken the time to record Kings Islands history. (And make the photos available.) I would love to see constuction photos of The Beast. Thanks again.

I just wanted to say thanks to Beastfreak for taking the time to take the pictures and post them...it is most appreciated.

I didn't LITERALLY mean a "Hard Rock Cafe"...I just meant a resteraunt with memorabilia hanging above the booths/walls. It would not be any different from the current Wings style resteraunt...it would just be Kings Island themed.

I personally think they should make their own version of a "Hard Rock Cafe". They should re-do Wings with old photos & maps from Kings Island's past. (I don't think 99% of the visitors have a clue that Wings is even a real movie.)

The best employee Kings Island employee I have EVER seen was 2 years ago at The Beast. It was a summer evening. This "kid" (about 17 I think) was one of the 2 checking lap bars. He was not even close to the "it's just a job" attitude. He looked like he had the greatest job in the world. He had a big smile on his face constantly...he was "warming up" the people waiting to ride The Beast by yelling over to them "Is everybody ready to ride The Beast?" (Which the crowd got into, yelling back at him.) He would get the people in the cars screaming as loud as they could before the cars left...then he would be applauding them as they came back asking them if they enjoyed their ride. The smile never left his face. It made the usual good time riding The Beast into kind of a community event. Like I mentioned, this happened 2 years ago and it still is a vivid memory. I am not sure if I lucked out and caught him during his first day or what...but he was fun. I wish more people had his spirit. I never went back again that summer, and haven't seen him since...

Here is a nice winter shot. http://www.geocities.com/southbeach/terrac...833/racerr.html

I hope this comes back up, for the last 2 days it's "stuck" on a night time shot.

In my opinion Spongebob sounds like a great idea. I am (unfortunatly) alot older than 23...but I still find the cartoon entertaining...which is more than I can say for The 7th Portal. I like comics, but I hated having to sit through that Stan Lee intro.

I think that's the unwritten law of message boards. If you REALLY wanted to talk about The Phantom Theater you should have started a thread about something completely different and people would end up talking about the Theater about half way in!

Change is good though...and you should agree...because if things didn't change there would have never even been a Phantom Theater. It would still be the Hanna Barbera Enchanted Voyage. (Which I miss) But I also enjoyed the Phantom Theater...just like I am looking forward to the new Scooby Doo ride. 10 years was a good run.

Ooooh, my first post...and not a good first post...but I also got rejected. It sounded like alot of fun.