BavarianBeatle

So many great thoughts in this thread..... I hope my children still want to go with me when they are gigacoaster's age, I feel the same way every time I go to a park and ride a roller coaster, especially when we get to go to KI on a weeknight after a tough day at work. The first drop on The Beast feels so good at that point The boys and I will be at CP the first weekend in October, celebrating my 40th birthday. They said their gift to me was that I get to take them to CP. I think they meant it selfishly, but they are right!!! Then again, they didn't care for it the first time I took them, so maybe this really is a gift, who knows with kids.......

My kids are under 54 inches and absolutely loved riding it with their hands high in the air!!!! Especially the part where they told their father (who they know is afraid of heights) to look down

As long as its the edited version that cuts out the part about his mother, I completely agree!! I've met David Draman. Nice guy!!

Are you kidding? My kids have had a ball urging each other to dance when "Cotton Eye Joe" has come on.... and then, of course, fighting... and then laughing about it later...... All to my chagrin.....

Yes, but once school starts, the "carefree" attitude changes (at least for me). The fall weekends just don't feel the same as the summer days, if you know what I mean. Yes they start to feel a little Haunted There is definitely a change in feeling late in the season from that of the summer season. There is also a change in feeling at the very beginning of the season into the summer season. It's really a strange thing that is hard to pinpoint, but the whole feeling is very different, yet somehow every part of the season is special in its own way. I tend to prefer the summer, just because of what it is. However, spring is special because it's the opening of the season, and everything is waking up. Late in the season, there is a more "haunted" tone to the park. Regardless, KI remains one of the best places on Earth in every moment of every season. Daily operation of 2008 may now be a memory, but don't forget that it's only August. The park is still open all the way up until November 2nd. There are still many more days to experience the best place on Earth. Kings Island, Where else? (Sorry, I had to do that.) I like to use the terms (like in sports) "preseason", "regular season", and "post season".... But like in sports, you are happy when the preseason starts, you kind of start to take it for granted during the regular season, and then you truely appreciate it during the postseason.

Just out of curiosity, why DWTS, as the album cover says? Mine are "Rise Above This" by Seether. "I Dare You" by Shinedown, and "Welcome to the Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance.....

I just used that quote because I feel the same way! After 36 years, so do I...

If you see the skinny guy with the goatee and his two boys and one or more of them is wearing a Voyage T-shirt (the rest of my tees are in the washer or dryer right now )... say hello!!!

Yes, but once school starts, the "carefree" attitude changes (at least for me). The fall weekends just don't feel the same as the summer days, if you know what I mean.

Another season will wind down tomorrow.... It's been wonderful and I will leave KI tomorrow night thinking about my children and how I will miss them when they go back to school, grow up, and the inevitable day when they will want to go to KI without their Dad... We went to 4 parks this summer, we caught a foul ball at a Red's game and had wonderful times that I will never forget. I will stop and "smell the roses" tomorrow, and just appreciate the fact that I'm at KI.... Lots of memories this year: Robbie's jump, Wallenda on the tightrope in the rain on the 4th, taking a vacation day to attend the Diamondback announcement..... And reading and posting on this site... You are all wonderful and I thank you all for adding to a great season... See you on Diamondback next year. Peace.....

I've ridden Iron Dragon, and, as a result, I will NEVER complain about Flight Deck again......

He lives around Aventure Express. I knew John's name long before I joined this site from riding through his yard on AE.....

Actually, if the asker is of a certain age, that one isn't quite as dumb as it at first sounds. You see, the first place I ever saw seat belts on a coaster was at Cedar Point. And they were optional. Yes, optional. They were there for guest safety and comfort, if the guest was so nervous that they wanted additional security. That lasted about a season or two. And then they were no longer optional. Absolutely!! Many of us "old timers" rode coasters without seat belts for years.... And loved it.... The belts are a redundant restraint system that are there to protect passengers if the primary restraint fails...... So to answer that question.... You can't ride without the seat belts due to park rules, but if the belts weren't there, it wouldn't make a difference unless there was a major incident.

Yep!! Absolutely, positively the worst ride in the history of bad rides!!!!

I couldn't agree more....

The transition from the brake run is awful and always has been... At the bottom of the dip before the corkscrew..... SLAM!!!! (Sorry, don't know how else to describe it)

My advice is take someone smaller than him, tell him its ok to wait in the cage while the smaller child rides with you (be very reassuring)... Then let him listen to the smaller child tell him how much fun it was....... Jealousy trumps fear!!!! --Beatle, who knows from the experience of having an apprehensive older son with a fearless younger brother.......

I will put in my two cents worth now. The Gold Pass lot situation has been ridiculous all year. I did get checked on Sunday at around 3:00, for the sixth time in 27 park visits..... After we were checked on Opening Day and then not checked over and over again, my kids started counting. The manager could have dismissed your complaint and said, "You have no beef with us"........... But I'm on your side on this one. With the prices they charge, an error that basic is unacceptable.

That Swan Lake area will go up quick... After all, they want to sell season passes for next year.......

I don't know about Flight Deck.... CF keeps Iron Dragon at CP which is much worse, IMO.... But if they were to remove Flight Deck and replace it with something bigger and better, I certainly wouldn't lose sleep over that....

At the risk of being sacreligious............ Amen.

I will be there!!!!

I was hoping Marcia woud show up and make out with me...LOL!!!

I would love to see Gravity Group build a true monster at KI without touching The Beast....

Apparently the word "drivel" entered our minds at about the same time.... Wonder if the "big announcement" has to do with Gravity Group or cute girls... LOL!!!