markr

I can tell you in two words what first drew myself and many of my other fellow baby-boomers to Kings Island: Coney Island, what else? Coney Island was the place to go for many generations. My parents went to Coney during the great depression just as my grandparents and great-grandparents had gone to Coney. My parents continued that tradition by taking my sister and me to Coney at least once every summer. How sad we were when we heard Coney was to close down because of repeated flooding and that a new park called Kings Island was to open in its place. However, my dad decided that we needed to give the new park a chance so he and myself checked out KI on Memorial Day weekend of 1972 on Sunday. ( The grand opening weekend. ) Well, I have been hooked since then.

Come on, people, let's have some more votes. ( I feel like a politician-LOL. )

Keep those votes coming, people. Don't know if its going to make a difference with our relatively small group here at KI Central but it certainly can't hurt, right?

The Millenium Force techno music ( which I love-please don't touch it.) is just as loud if not louder than the original volume of the Maverick music and apparently no one has complained about it. My opinion-if I am waiting in a long line I want some nice music as it makes the line go faster. And for all purposes they might as well have turned off the Maverick music as you can barely hear it now.

You may have noticed that the Maverick queue music at Cedar Point has been drastically turned down. I checked with Park Operations and they advised me that there were complaints about the music being too loud. I for one love the music-for goodness sakes, it is a Western theme and is supposed to be loud and rowdy. I would like to hear the rest of your opinions on this subject. I hope to get enough feedback to convince CP management to turn the music back up so we can enjoy it again.

If your medication needs to be refrigerated then I recommend that you stop by Guest Relations. They are really nice over there and I am sure they would be able to assist you.

Just wanted to let you all know that I got a very nice note from one of our moderators. I feel that I myself have learned a very important lesson-I myself have been guilty in the past of laughing at another person's name because it sounds "funny" -I am determined now never to do it again as no one should have to suffer having their name silenced because it is funny especially if that person has made the world a better place.

I think it is ironic that Face Off was changed to Invertigo-Vertigo was an old Alfred Hitchc0ck movie made at you guessed it, Paramount.

I have one KI Platinum Pass-have been KI passholder since 1994 and starting in 2006 started to get CP pass-have gotten platinum pass since CP and KI merged together.

Perfect choice. Congrats Jesse.

Very nice trip report. Agree with you about track work on Beast-had super ride during ERT-normally the ride doesn't seem to go that fast in the morning but we were really flying. Was so nice to see many of my friends whom I don't get to see during the winter.

While I am very pleased with how Cedar Fair has improved KI, I don't like their commercials for either KI or CP. Missing from the commercials is the uniqueness of both parks. And the CP commercials before Cedar Fair bought the Paramount parks used to be first class all the way, especially during the 90's. Now we get this silly Ride Warriers schtick.

Good choice, Paul, for your number 1 photo. Oh, how I miss the Sky Ride.

That was the slogan for Kings Island's commercials in 1972-Fun is just a smile away so take a happy break today at Kings Island, come on get happy, Kings Island, come on get happy.....( Not sure if those are the exact words.)

Can hardly wait to see your number 1 pic, Paul. Any guesses as to what that will be?

Notice that if you buy the 2 day ticket, you can go to the park 2 non-consecutive days.

Another good example of how CP tries to preserve beloved flat rides rather than removing them after building a new attraction.

I agree. My mom always wanted to ride the monorail when we'd visit the park and my memories of it are how cramp and humid it was inside. We have several pics in our family photo album of the animals and plants...very few of the rest of the park, however I think there is a charm to vintage/defunct rides that kinda makes those who had never ridden them believe them to have been much more wonderful than they actually were...that is not to say that monorail was not a great ride - it was, just that it wasn't as wonderful as one might believe. Just to prove my point, I never rode Scoobys Ghoster Coaster, but thought it was a great little ride and very fitting for the environment. Unique, novel and a very cool look overall is my perception! However, you ask anyone who rode it and they would likely report that the line was slow, the seats were very uncomfortable and wasn't friendly to the man package. Overall perception - not a great ride! just a thought Actually I remember the monorail as being air conditioned inside.

I upgraded my pass from gold to platinum back in 09. It is best to call the park to find out.

Coney Mall is packed because The Racer was the main anchor ride at this time. I remember that was the summer between my junior and senior years of high school. Oh, to be 17 again.

Does anyone remember the "gorgeous babes" that greeted you after you won the race in Days of Thunder?

I am reasonably sure that is a photo of KI and not KD. The European theming to me looks like signature KI.

Never mind-found Anaconda among your photos. Too bad Vortex doesn't go underwater-I always thought that was so cool.

Very nice trip report, Chris. Rode Hurler last time I was at KD almost 17 years ago and it was one of my fav woodies-I remember the section in which it was located was themed at the time after Wayne's World. ( Would have been nice if KI had a Wayne's World section in the Paramount years-I think that could have worked as I loved the Wayne's World theming at KD.) I noticed you never mentioned Anaconda. Is it still at KD? ( The arrow looper that goes underwater on the first drop.)

On opening day you usually see all the enthusiasts at the park from all over.