dare-to-fly

I'm sensing a little bitterness there, Terp! Not that I blame you...AT ALL!! I must say though, that I haven't had any issues with getting Kings Island to work with me on things. Carowinds, Kings Dominion, and Cedar Point, not so much. I'm glad to have my KI pass back!

That explains a lot and me too, but jeez it was busy. I'm not used to waiting an hour for Tornado while across town The Beast is a walk-on.

They manage to do it at Knoebels and not even be rushed. 20 second dispatch anyone?

Since that makes it fair week...you should be fine. I've heard the crowds aren't bad during the fair. ...but one hears many things...

The crowds won't be bad IF you don't end up with a million buses in the parking lot. That's always a possibility.

This past season I went through the Bayou, Madame Fatale's, Slaughterhouse, Tombstone Terrortory, Cornstalkers, and Wolf Pack. I have extraordinarily high standards because I used to run a haunted trail, so I won't be too overly critical as I tend to think quantity over quality is the general rule for scares at KI. That said, when comparing to previous seasons or similar haunts, I thought Madame Fatale's was pretty good and the theming was excellent. I, of course, went to see Sam several times - Slaughterhouse in general was enjoyable. Tombstone was a flop for me, mainly because I'm still aggravated that the train is no longer a part of the attraction. Wolf Pack seems to be good theming with not much going on in the scares department, with a couple exceptions. I enjoyed it for the location and the atmosphere more than anything. Bayou...I have no idea. I was too busy laughing at...WITH...with...oops...definitely with a friend of mine who was scared so bad she flailed into all of us. Cornstalkers - I don't remember much...which should tell all. Sometimes the actors get into it and can make blending in work, so I like the theme for it...but...obviously not this year.

It's actually even a preview weekend, and yes it is.

I swear I have never seen it that busy. I only rode Tornado twice, and both times it was lined up back to the Teddy Bear (which was closed by the way). I also did the train, which was lined up all the way around to the Ferris Wheel exit. Other than that I just ate. The weather was beautiful and warm, so I'm sure that had something to do with it.

I love that they open at 5 on that day. I wrap up my day of teaching at 3:35...what a great way to spend an evening after school!

I would make it a point to eat at Stricker's Grove while you're there. The prices are inexpensive and the food is really good...freshly grilled right there at the pavilion where you order it! Hopefully it will be less crowded on your birthday than when I was there on their Customer Appreciation Day in October. I have never seen it so packed!!

Holiwood Nights is something I highly recommend. I have only missed one since either 07 or 08 (I think 08). The only reason I would miss is if I absolutely couldn't make it, such as two years ago when I had been to Holiday World and the spring conference the previous weekend and couldn't afford to go. Seriously - GO!

I hear they are changing the restraints. I will give it another go to see if that helps. Sometimes that makes all the difference in the world.

I'm glad that you enjoyed TT. As a former crew member at that ride, I'm kind of partial to it. It was the first Arrow designed using a computer, so that's why its transitions are so much better than most. (As far as I know it's the only "traditional" Arrow looper that was.) As a fan of Arrow coasters, I quite agree about the magical sound of the Arrow lift.

We'll have to compare notes sometime on SFOG. I have yet to have a good experience there after three trips. There are only a few things that ever keep me going back - Great American Scream Machine, Georgia Cyclone, Mindbender, and Goliath. I will also admit that Georgia Scorcher is my favorite stand-up. It's such a pretty park with some good rides, but the operations in general are about equivalent to Mt. Olympus...if they're that good.

It's a trade-off. If you want to go when they close at 10, expect higher crowd levels than when they close at 8. As long as you don't go on a Saturday or a holiday, you'll have a great time. Weather can often change things around, so if it's a beautiful day, I'd say put off the trip until the weather is cooler, more overcast, or best of all a bit rainy.

How could the first launched wooden coaster not be considered a prototype?

I was looking through the events page. It looks like there are a LOT more events for Gold/Platinum passholders than in previous years. I marked them on my calendar. Looks like a great year!

Granted I'm speaking as someone who rode SOB in the very back row at least once or twice on every trip to the park, but I'd rather see it gone than turned into an RMC frankencoaster. Ruining wooden coasters by turning them to steel is a disservice to the amusement industry for wooden coaster fanatics like me.

I personally would like to see a ride put back into The Crypt's building, and I really don't like that they took out the arcade for a Haunt. I liked being able to go into the arcade and play a few games, and without it, there's too much dead space in one of the most high -traveled midways. The rest of the buildings don't really bother me much. I do, however, agree that overall quality could be bumped up.

Quite a different person from the current PR person for Carowinds(Larissa Thompson), both my wife and I have met her.....I have personally met most of the Carowinds PR people since Scott Anderson took over, Larissa was very rude to both of us, in the park. Another reason why my fansite has shifted away from Carowinds. I'm wondering what the situation was in which you met Larissa. That's not at all what I would have expected. I'm just going to come out and ask it - was it media day for Fury? I have heard things about how the enthusiasts were acting...

You had me up to the name. Obviously it will be "The Ride...Hawk"

Actually they have filtered water stations now throughout the park. The first one was at the Invertigo bathrooms, if I remember correctly they finally added one at the bathrooms by BLSC late in the year. Sent from a signal coming out of the Vega system. Adding more of these is wonderful news! I wasn't aware of them, but Kat mentioned that she liked filling her water bottle at the one by Invertigo. This is a nice additional feature that will save lots of time and keep people hydrated! Kudos to them on that one!

There were three on the Rivertown midway that had a flower pot sitting on them. I have pictures of all three.

As long as they will also allow you to fill water bottles at these stations, this will be excellent for not having to wait in long lines at food service venues. This has been very inconsistent throughout the Cedar Fair chain in previous seasons.

Speaking of Diamondback construction photos, here is one of my more amusing ones. Who remembers the "garden" for the beginning of the 2008 season? https://www.facebook.com/DaretoFly121/photos/a.1577794702545325.1073741828.1566761846981944/1587831241541671/?type=3