markr

Looks just like Space Needle at CP. Not only no bathrooms but no a/c.

Rolling Thunder was just ok-liked the old fashioned buzz bars but just didn't have the air time I like. Listening to the Rawhide theme in the station over and over and over again got to be annoying.

Maybe I missed something-I remember Nitro being floorless because our legs were dangling.

Took a trip with PKI Boy and our friend Phil to Hershey Park, Dorney Park, and Six Flags Great America 6/14 to 6/20. It is going to be difficult but I will try to be as brief as possible. We went to Hershey Park on Sunday 6/15. The crowds were very light so we were able to get on the rides right away. We first went to Farenheit, the new Itamin which is very similar to Maverick at CP. The lift hill lifts the train 90 degrees so you are laying on your back, which was awesome. The ride itself had great inversions but didn't have the speed of Maverick. Still, a lot of fun. Next we went to Storm Runner, an intamin launch similar to Top Thrill Dragster at CP except about half the height. I liked it better than Farenheit-again, lots of great inversions and much more speed-about 75 mph. There was also a B and M inverted, Great Bear-had some great elements including a dive loop similar to Mantis at CP. Not quite as good as Raptor at CP but still a fun ride. I liked Hershey's wooden coasters, especially Comet ( which had the buzz bars instead of the lap bars.) and the Lightning Racer. Hershey is all and all a very nice, charming park-I got a big kick out of the dancing candy bars along the midway. Next was Dorney Park on Monday 6/16 and Tuesday, 6/17. Again the crowds were very light, almost all walk-ons. We loved Talon which is their B and M inverted. Unfortunately I lost my cel phone on this one. ( Miraculously we got a call a few days later that it was found. ) My fav there was Hydra, the B and M floorless. That ride was best on the front seat. Also, their woodie, Thunderhawk, was great. We also rode Voodoo which was moved from GL ( Cannot remember what it was called at GL-when it was Six Flags it was called Superman. ) This is the Itamin that is like Wicked Twister except there is no spiral when you go backwards. On the second launch backwards, you suddenly stop at the top before going back down-another great ride but we rode it in the back which limits your exposure to the front spiral- would suggest this ride at the front of the train. Steel Force which is Dorney's steel hyper was kind of dissappointing. While the trains were a lot more comfortable than Magnum ( didn't beat up your legs) and while there was great air time, it just didn't have the speed of Magnum. All and all another nice, old fashioned amusement park. And the food prices were a lot more reasonable than KI. Had a double burger and fries for $7.89 and the burger was just out of this world. It was grilled to order and was nice and juicy. We saved the best park for last, Six Flags Great Adventure on 6/18 and 6/19. We got there when the park opened at 10:30a and went straight to, you guessed it, Kingda Ka. Only about a 10-15 minute wait. While I had ridden Dragster before, was still very nervous about Ka. Was nervous for nothing- like Dragster, was a total adreneline rush. The verdict: while a slam bang ride, I thought Dragster was a little better because of the freedom of movement without the shoulder gear-however I liked the finish of Ka a little better than Dragster because unlike Dragster, you go over a smaller hill on Ka which provides great air time before the train stops. Next we went to El Toro, the Itamin Woodie- while I still love KI's Beast, El Toro totally blows Beast away with its great air time and continuous twists and turns. My personal fav at the park was Nitro, the B and M hyper floorless. What air time!!! Would have loved to ride that on the front seat but we didn't want to wait. We also rode Batman, the mother of the B and M inverted coaster. I loved the theming of the queue area which was made to look like The Bat Cave. While not quite as good as Raptor ( because no cobra roll.) nevertheless another fun ride with lots quick turns. Also rode the B and M Flyer, Superman the Ultimate Flight. Unlike Firehawk, instead of turning you on your back for the lift hill, you are laying on your stomach below the track pretty much the entire ride. While I love Firehawk, Superman seemed to have a lot more speed. Medusa was Six Flags' B and M Floorless looping coaster-huge loops. Our least favorite was Great American Scream Machine, the arrow looper similar to Vortex. That ride really hurt my neck and back around the sudden turns. I thought I was going to get whip lash. All and all, another great park, very clean. My only gripe is that they don't allow fanny packs on the rides unlike all the other parks I have been to. Basically, if you ask me, an excuse to get your money for the lockers. However, wore some good shorts with velcro ( sp?) pockets on the second day, so was able to secure my contents perfectly. I give you a more detailed trip report but I am still exhausted from the long ride back yesterday. I think PKI Boy is going to down load some photos for your viewing pleasure. All and all we all had a blast.

The high wire act brings back memories of the great arial acts that they used to have along the old coney midway. I would like to see these kind of acts regularly at KI.

Did he give you the exclusive Cedar Fair edition collector's nickel? Mr. Kinzel prefers that guests give him their nickels...though, to be fair, I hear that group that day got free Pepsi, a hoodie and other trinkets and tidbits! No, he didn't give me the collector's nickel (whatever that is. )I found him to be really a regular guy. For example, after I introduced myself, he didn't introduce himself as Dick Kinzel or Mr. Kinzel but he responded, "Hi, I'm Dick. "

Was also at Coastermania for first time and it was a blast. I would have ridden more but for the extreme heat. I also met Dick Kinzel and he was a super nice guy.

For a very reasonably priced motel, try the Seacrest Motel which is about 5 miles from CP. It is an older motel but the rooms are very clean and it has a pool. The rooms even during the peak summer season average at just about 50 dollars a nite. The owner of the motel, Vicky, is a real sweetie. I also highly recommend a two day trip so you are not rushed. Since you have a platinum pass, definitately take advantage of the early ride time. If a one day trip is all you have, I would recommend you do the park as follows. Enter the park from the back near the Magnum and plot your attack from there. Start first at Maverick, then MF, then Raptor. From Raptor, I would hit Blue Streak, then Wicked Twister, then Power Tower. From Power Tower, simply go in a counter clockwise direction starting at the Top Thrill Dragster Midway and work your way around-ride Top Thrill Dragster, then Magnum, then maybe a little break at Paddle Wheel Excursions ( love the corny jokes.), then Gemini, then Cedar Creek Mine Ride ( I usually skip this as a lot like Adventure Express although I think Adventure Express better.), then Sky Hawk. If it is a really hot day, go to Snake River Falls next where you will get drenched. Then hit Mean Streak ( which I like. Wish they didn't have to have the trim breaks. ) Then take the train through Boneville ( a wild west ghost town- wish they would theme KI train more.) The train will take you to where MF and Mantis are located. Ride Mantis. ( which I love-recommend you lean your head forward so doesn't get banged and bend your knees a bit so they don't get sore. ) If you can manage two days, you obviously won't be stressed for time. Plus you can check out some of the great live shows- The Misadventures of Molly and Maverick at the Palace Theatre by Mean Streak (formerly called Lusty Lil's) is a must. Hope you have a great time.

I also have found KI to be very flexible when it comes to young children. A few years back on a very hot day my sister brought a bunch of bottled waters for her children. She never attempted to hide them and she was given no problem.

I like to to people watch also. I also like it when there is a good set of tunes to listen to. ( Love to listen to the techno music in MF queue. I get a big kick out of seeing grown men dance to it.) Also, I will often keep time as to exactly how long the wait is. I often find that what many people state to be the wait time is highly exaggerated.

I remember going to Cinema 180 in 1987,the day of my first ride on Vortex. It had movies in 3-D and you sat on the floor. One of the movies was of Vortex. I remember coming close to being very sick as I had just eaten and didn't realize there would be a lot of simulated motion. Luckily my friend with whom I went that day was a doctor.

That explains why you had such a rough ride. You were sitting on the wheel.

While Arrow did have its clinkers, it did create some masterpieces, like Gemini and Magnum.

Actually, the ride operators are trained how to deal with the situation and how to contact security when neccesary. Same goes for CP, even when Kings Island was Paramount, CP and KI had the "two party complaint" policy. I have never seen a security guard patrol a queue line at CP, however at both CP and KI I do see security routinely go up to the stations of rides to check on things and converse with the ride attendants. Maybe read over the whole topic, guests with a disability do not get to "cut," they wait just as long to ride as everyone else. Indeed I have read the entire topic of this discussion. While there may be valid points about abuse of the disability policy, the personal attacks against the disabled I have read about are still entirely inappropriate. For those of you who are being just tongue and cheek or sarcastic, I doubt you would find your jokes funny if you were the one in the wheel chair.

Dealing with line jumpers is the job of park security, not the ride attendants. There is a high potential for a violent situation to develop if confronting a line jumper. That is why there should be security in the busy line queues. By security I am talking police officers. At CP, you usually see big, burly police officers patrolling the busy queues like MF. This seems to cut down on line jumping significantly. And to those of you who are complaining about the handicapped being able to get to the front of the line: Shame on you!!! You should thank your lucky stars that you have two good legs that allow you to stand in line.

Wonder who gets to share seat with him on Dragster? I am assuming he gets the front seat. That would be amusing if he were to freak out right before the launch.

I think this is the first joint event with KI and CP

At CP once when going up the lift on Millenium Force, the train stopped because of a rider taking his seat belt off so he could get some extra air time. Needless to say, the CP police were waiting when the train got back to the station.

In July and August, CP gets packed even on weekdays.

My first visit to CP this year will be for Coastermania. This will be my first Coastermania and I'm really excited.

Never rode Skylab.(Still at CP as Witches Wheel. ) I think it would have made me sick.

At KI, I think you get the best value at Outer Hanks. (Formerly Bubba Gumps.) Yesterday, I got the Montgomery Inn Ribs and Fries for a little over $10. A little pricey but they really piled on the fries. The food was hot and delicious. You can get the chicken fingers and fries for $7.99 and they give you plenty.

It is the most popular KI rumor, i really dont know where they thought of it. And it's not true. They might have gotten that rumor from the rumor that CP'S Magnum was sinking into Lake Erie.

Won't go on SOB because it gives me chest pains. Nor will I ride Face Off because the high G's make me woozy.

I think it should be left up to the child as to whether or not he or she is ready to ride. If the child really wants to ride the ride, I don't see any reason for saying no. As long as the child fulfills the height safety requirements, riding a roller coaster is safer than crossing the street. On the other side of the coin, I feel it is cruel and abusive for parents to force a child to go on a ride of which they are terrified. If a child is really terrified of the ride, they are probably going to hate the ride and have a life-time fear of thrill rides.