Cormaster

It was a good trip to Kings Island. We left early so we could get there in time for ERT. We parked at 9:15. AFter getting through the lines to get through security, and into the park, it was about 9:40 when we got to Diamondback. Since it was ERT, there was no wait, and there was a 3 train wait seat 1-1 so we waited for it, and it was awesome in the front! After that we went straight to The Beast which was straight walk-on. After The Beast, ERT was over and the park was open (it was 10:08 To be exact), so we didn't waste time and booked it over to X-base. When we got to X-base, the entrance was closed and both Firehawk and Flight of Fear had a long line outside of their entrances. Jackie got a spot in line for Firehawk while I went and got a locker. While I was heading over to it, I overheard the park attendant at the entrance telling everyone the ride was closed and they called maitenance and they didn't know how long it would be. I kinda rolled my eyes and I asked the attendant if Flight of Fear was broke yet. "Nope they just haven't opened it". So we got in the line for Flight of Fear, which looked long but wasn't really long because it was outside of the queue. After they opened the ride, we walked through the whole queue and had just a 3 train wait to get on it. After Flight of Fear, Firehawk was open, and had about 3 queues filled. We got in, line, and it only took about 20 minutes to board the yellow train. When we were done with Firehawk we decided to go hit up delerium, but the line was ridiculously long, seeing as how the queues weren't all open, and the GP was starting to fill the park. It was about 11 at this time. We decided to go back to Coney Mall and let the crowds thin out a bit before we'd go back to Action Zone. So next was Vortex, which was quick and easy to get on, and I enjoyed it more this time. I think last time the problem was I was with my brother and he's a big guy and takes up quite a bit more space than my wife. I was in seat 7-1, and I actually felt semi-comfortable. Next we hit up BLSC, which had the longest wait of the day, but since I was in the mood to conquor all coasters, I went ahead and waited for it. It was about noon after we were done riding BLSC and we started heading towards Action Zone, but not before hitting Racer up. Racer was a walk-on, and I decided to ride the Red Train since I always ride the blue train. Since Adventure Express was right next to it we went ahead and hit it up next. Then we hit up Delerium, which was nearly a full queue, took about 4-5 ride cycles, but I didn't mind. Then we hit up Flight Deck, which suprisingly had a wait...this is the first time I've EVER seen a wait on it. It wasn't long, probably about 10-15 minutes but I was suprised. After Flight Deck it was time for a break and some food, so we stopped int at Festhaus for some La Rosa's Pizza. BY the time we finished up it was 2:30 and time to hit up the last coaster, Invertigo. IT said 45 minute wait, but realistically we were off of it before 3. With all coaster's conquered early, and getting tired it was time to end it where we started, so we hit up Diamondback, which took about a 1/2 hour to get on, then got some Blueberry Ice Cream, and headed home at 4. IT ended up being a pretty busy day. Not packed, but about as busy as the last time I went with My Brother, but thanks to good planning on me and my wife's part, we were able to get 11 rides in the 7 hours we were there. To summarize: Diamondback Beast Flight of Fear Firehawk Vortex Back Lot Stunt Coaster Racer Adventure Express Delerium Flight Deck Invertigo Diamondback If this is my last trip till 2012, I feel better about it than I did the last time I went. It's the first time I've conquered all coaster's in one day since 2005! Also felt very accomplished I got X-base taken care of before 11, since its the "area of long waits".

Chang has an uncomfortable harness, but other than that, I can easily say its the best standup I've been on, and its lots of fun! Will they continue to call it Chang or will it get a new name?

Why is it alot of these coaster's are reminding me more of Congo falls or snake river falls than what I consider a "water coaster"?

quite simply, its my understanding its not a roller coaster becasue it doesn't "coast" on wheels. Water coaster's coast on Water, roller coaster's coast on wheels.

I go for quick trips all the time. Its hard to stay there a whole day since I"ve been so much. Its not uncommon to stay the night in a hotel, then go to the park for 4 hours and come home for me.

http://www.rcdb.com/4554.htm Not seeing Widebeest on there. You got a link? I searched "Splashin' Safari" and "Wildebeest" and came up dry on both.

What I really don't get about Wildebeest is its a water coaster not a roller coaster. if the article were "top 5 coasters" in the US it would have a place on there (based on ones opinion, not mine, since I haven't rode). But since its top 5 "roller" coasters, where does it fit on a top 5 list? It qualifies about as much as Delerium or Drop Tower would!

It is a terrible article. They must had nothing to write about at all! 5 best coasters based on what? One's opinion? Stat's? I think Diamondback is great, no doubt, but one of the 5 best coaster's in the US? Easily one of the best at Kings Island, but I think its a stretch to put it anywhere near a top 5, especially since it's a "B&M hypercoaster" and there are many more out there. And yeah I don't get the "inverting elements" thing either. Diamondback has no inversions. Its like having someone who knows nothing about computers making a top 5 video cards list!

'nuff said

Thats a nice quick trip report. Me and my wife are going tommorrow, hoping to get there right at 9:30 for a little ERT on DB and The Beast. We also don't plan on staying too long, but it should be fun. I'll have to check out that clearing behind that wooden SOB!

Great Adventure sucks! (not really, in fact I don't even know, never been. Cormaster, who's trying to stir the pot...)

Well, like others have said, a coaster is probably out of the question, however a flat ride could still be a possibility

To each his own. I'm sure I'll be going back at some point in the future, since we plan on having kids within the next year. Maybe I'll get a better impression of it. But I am a thrill seeker, and shows don't do it for me, and if they do have some awesome rides, we didn't hit them up much. I remember riding space mountain and I remember it sucked. Is there really a better indoor coaster than Flight of Fear?

I'd have to go again to really get an opinion, but when I went to SFGA in '93 I was amazed at how similar it is to Kings Island in overall layout, and ride comparability. But they've added many things and taken away Shockwave and Rolling Thunder since I've been, so I'd need to go back to get another opinion. And I'm sure Terpy will add more things they've taken away too I don't think they have the room for expansion that KI does.

personally I don't know why they just don't go ahead and outlaw smoking. Workplaces are starting to ban it completly, prices are reaching nearly $10/pack, you can't smoke in restaurants anymore, and some states you only can smoke in the privacy of your own home! I'm against prohibition but its getting ridiculous to the point where they might as well just outlaw it since they are making it nearly impossible for a smoker to continue on smoking. As a smoker (who doesn't smoke nearly as much as i used to... still in the process of "quitting") I really hate the way society looks at us. They act like its just a choice and we can stop whenever we choose. Its not that simple. Its very very addictive, and its easier to say your going to quit than to just do it. As for me I quit "cigarettes" for 3 months last year, yet still smoked a single cigar everyday to take the edge off. And nowadays I still smoke at work only while sticking to my one cigar at home. Quitting for good and putting it behind you is very hard. I for one don't think smokers should be punished for the curse they must endure.

Well my wife was granted her extension on unemployment so I will be going to Kings Island this Sunday.

And now... I may not even go. Life throws some strange things at you some times. My wife is starting her new job next week after being unemployed for 6 months...and her unemployment just ran out. She just applied for emergancy funds and she will find out in 48 hours if she has them or not. If not looks like it'll be penny pinching for the next couple weeks until she gets paid and we restore some balance to our finances. Also I just found out today that Lowes is getting rid of night stock and going to day stock, my shift is supposed to be working 4am to 1pm... how does that affect things? Well I have a part time job at Fed Ex that I plan on pursuing as a career. This new schedule now conflicts with those hours so I'm going to have to go part time at lowes... I planned on doing this eventually but now its coming sooner than planned. So a trip out to Mason, OH may just be out of the budget for Sunday.

I understand why people like it. Its the live entertainment, the food, the overall disney experience. But a Thrill park it is not, and that's what I am into. I don't go to theme park or amusment park's for "shows". I go for thrills, and thus I could not get into Disney world. And god is it overpriced!

Sundays always seeem to be weird and unpredictable. Sometimes they can be as bad as a Saturday. Other times they can easily be the deadest day of the week. Me, Quite frankly, I don't know what to expect. I'm kinda thinking if anyone was planning on taking a "family trip" out there, they would probably be coming back on Sunday so they can be home for work Monday morning. Anyway here's the weather: Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Thats all its showing right now. Too far off to get an accurate prediction. We shall see. Hopefully it'll be somewhat rainey.

Well me and my wife are talking about taking one more trip out there. I just don't want another busy day like Last Monday was. What should I expect for this Sunday?

I don't think its the first time dirt has been cleared by SOB. Didn't this happen while they were building Diamondback? Yeah this doesn't mean much to me. I like everyone else am anxious to hear something, but I'm not going to get excited over a pile of dirt!

probably disney stays away from B&M because when you think about it, all their coasters are thrill rides. Thrill ride + Disney doesn't mix, which is why I have no interest in the gigantic over-rated park. I went in 1999 to Disney world with my family...boooorrriiing! Universal was more entertaining. And the best park in Florida IMO is probably the one in Tamapa with an African theme. Personally I think Disney is for small, small, children. I was 18 years old when I went, way to old to really enjoy it. I was actually kind of irritated because we went on spring break, and my friends were at home partying it up while I was stuck in Florida with my family the whole time.

Taking out the rose bowl area might be the winning idea honestly. The ride isn't really rough until it reaches the rose bowl, and it seems the only purpose of the rose bowl is to beat the snot out of you. Theres not really anything entertaining about it. I think if they could find away to put some airtime hills in its place, the Son of Beast would go from a reviled hate object to an overall just good wooden coaster! It would be similar to the transformation of Steel Phantom to Phantom's Revenge. Take my idea with a grain of salt though. I don't know what Cedar Fair is going to do, I have no idea how much that would cost, and it might be just best if they tear it down at this point. But i do know I hate seeing it standing there, and Cedar Fair pretending it doesn't exist.

So I've been thinking about this topic more, and the more i think about it, a B&M dive machine makes sense. Why not? Yeah its a 200+ feet coaster, and Diamondback is too...so what? Busch Gardens in Virgina has Apollo's Chariot and Griffin... How would it be any different for us to have a B&M hyper and a Dive? Also Griffen And Sheikra are the only 2 dives in the United States and anyone in the Midwest can't get close to one without traveling so why not have Kings Island be the first park in the midwest to have such a coaster? Also with it being 200+ feet it would be a great SOB replacement!

Diamondback hands down. Easily the best coaster in the park and something KI has needed for a long time. I can see where people are coming from by voting for The Beast but hey what can I say? I've always been more of a steel coaster guy rather than a wooden coaster guy anyway.