dare-to-fly

I wish they would call it The Beastie again. Not that some of us ever stopped (yeah, that's me). Not to mention, it had the cutest little logos on the fronts of the trains

I never said it wasn't "my cup of tea," but rather I'm pointing out how much more spectacular it could be. From the sound of it, I would be less aggravated if the brakes hadn't been re-positioned. As for Red Racer, I'm very pleased with the trackwork. I'm very fond of Racer and glad to see it given some needed TLC. The problem I have with the maintenance dept. is certainly not the smoothness of the coasters at all. In fact, they are commended for the smoothness of the majority of the coasters. It is the tendancy to use trims as a substitute for good maintenance (or at least as a form of budget cut) with which I have a problem. Most parks have no where near the trims or trim strength as KI, with Cedar Point now a definite exception. I cannot understand it or justify it. Now that we seem to be done with our little disagreement, I have got to get to bed if I'm going to get up in time to visit said coaster for the walkback in the morning to max out at 40 because of trims...again. Though at least he warms up after a few trips around. I do have to admit, he's usually moving pretty well by mid afternoon. It just kills me to imagine what he could do without the brakes. Oh, well. Trims will be trims. And for future reference for those of you that argue as to how we know how fast The Beast or any coaster is moving without a radar gun, it's not that hard to guage speed on a coaster +/- 10 mph. In my mind all I have to do is compare the speeds of Raven and Voyage. Raven travels at nearly 60 by the sign, and Voyage 70. I can guage pretty well IMO based on the differences in coasters. Can I prove that, not really, but can you prove otherwise? I think not!

Then perhaps I am remembering incorrect information or loosing my mind. Either way, if wrong, my appologies. The Judge Judy comment was more than I could resist, by the way.

I don't understand everyone's fascination with a ride that jerked you around, had you face the ceiling, then held you over forward, and then jerked some more. The new version with the double and triple flips is SO much better. Though I have to say, the beginning and the end of Tomb Raider I liked better. Beginning, the way it moved up forward and then unlocked so that you rocked back and forth. Ending...coming down in a more graceful way that wasn't as rough at the bottom. After all, what's up with the lock-unlock-lock-unlock-lock-unlock-lock-unlock-lock-unlock thing anyway? Overall, though, I'm more than pleased. As for more thrilling things, you're asking a lot from a giant top spin in a box! Though a quadrouple or quintroople, or on up, flip would work wonders too. I'm not sure if the giant ones can do it, but I've seen normal top spins that operate that way. flip over and over and over and over and over and over ... That would be amazing!

Then look it up yourself, Judge Judy! However on a side note, it might not be a bad idea to have my research in line before I let my fingers type away. Then I could just post a link and that would be the end of it.

# the quotes--I'm being lazy. 1. There are none in the testing video, though it's very possible that it was added before the coaster officially opened, I agree. 2. I dispute anyone saying that it runs at the same speeds it always has. I can't prove it, but you can't take my opinion. I'm not talking about within season changes either, but from year to year, meaning it's more than possible to add and/or remove (right?) a section of trims. 3. Why not lessen the expense altogether and build a shorter coaster and not have trims? Duh! 4. I DO ride toward the back, and after a few hours when it actually gets warmed up, there is a small pop of airtime if you're in the right train. BUT...this could be SUCH a GREAT airhill if they would let it live. A small pop of airtime would satisfy me if that's all it could do, but...it's not! As for whether or not there's airtime--that's an opinion. You have yours, I have mine, they are very different. My favorite in the park is Racer...why...it has the most air in the park. (Don't even bring up Vortex, there's only one hill that produces air. On a really good ride, Racer can produce airtime on every hill on the course.) 5. Didn't we already establish that The Beast was not running consistently? If trims are there to produce consistency, it seems odd that 40-70 is the range. That's some range! 6. Correction. The Beast is a legendary ride that could live up to its name if only... Don't get me wrong, I love The Beast. However I just can't help imagine what it could do if the park would let it. But we wouldn't want maintenance to have to maintain something, would we?

Question: How was ACE involved in restoring these? Here is a caption of one of the pictures of Lakemont's Leap the Dips as pictured on negative-g.com As for Blue Streak, it's going to take a little more digging than I thought. But I recall reading it somewhere.

Perhaps the brakes are pre-Cedar Fair. I'm in doubt as to whether the strength is as well. Example: I do not remember the mid-course brake on Flight of Fear ever stopping you before Cedar Fair took over, but rather more like a typical mid-course brake. There is no way you can doubt that the strength of the Son of Beast brake was turned up after loop removal, which is again post-Cedar Fair. This completely screws up the second half of the ride...but at least there's the first half. The Beast has seemed more sluggish for the past couple of seasons also. I've heard the spiel so many times...they didn't add any more...blah, blah, blah. (BTW, the video of The Beast testing back in 1979 that is now readily accessible on You Tube shows NO brakes on the helix, so there went that arguement.) Either way, this isn't the point. The point is the strength to which the brakes have been dialed up. Most times than not, if you find a Beast enthusiast, the first thing they complain about is how much they brake it these days. On any coaster, I will never understand the point of building a big tall hill and then slowing it down on the way to the bottom...duh...does that make a shred of sense? That one must leave. The Beast has no airhills (or even potential ones) except for the second hill, which is trimmed as well. This sends the ranking to the toilet for me, and it could be such a world-class coaster. (And is, really anyway.) I could live with the mid-course (at its current strength at max) if they would get rid of the others. I cannot see why in the world it would make that much difference maintenance-wise to a park of KI's caliber just to ditch those trims. If they leave the one in the brake shed, that will slow it enough to not get your back broken on the back curves. And pointedly, if you want to ride a slow-moving smooth coaster, ride The Beastie (which also has a completely pointless non-original trim). If you want to run with the big boys, expect big boy forces. Not true. Maverick did not have a magnetic brake just out of the tunnel during last season. Also, this is the first season I have ever seen Gemini reduced to a crawl before its spectacular final helix. Mantis' trim brake on the first drop has not been there for long. I think that appeared last season. Mean Streak's trims were cranked up more last season as well. The others...you're probably right. Meaning, does the snapping of a vertical timber have anything to do with CF's nerve in letting coasters live to the fullest. Similarly how Magnum's accident from last year influenced the policy to close for the slightest sprinkle. (Or I'm told that's the reason.) Either way, it's a little on the dumb side, though I wouldn't be as upset if they didn't wait until the pavement was dry before re-opening. Yes I quite agree with you as long as they are kept in the off position unless needed, which is NOT the way any coaster I've ridden belonging to Cedar Fair operates. That IS however the way Voyage is running this year. (And just look at its intensity factor! You note it's #1 on the planet! Apparently not everyone is turned on by a slow running ride that plods and crawls around the track!) Also, the mid-course brake defense only works if they run enough trains to use it. I know of no coaster at KI besides Vortex that meets that requirement (unless you coun't Backlot, but it's designed differently). (Don't even try to use SOB and Beast as back up. Neither is equipped at this point to serve such a purpose. Beast does not crest the 1st lift until there are no trains on the first part of track or lift hill #2, and SOB only runs two trains. Note the kicker tires have also been removed from both.) As a final thought, I would like to respectfully disagree with any statement that trim brakes make the ride better. I quite agree with what was said by someone at the Coastermania question and answer session. "Can we get the brakes off The Beast and return it to its former glory?"

If you would like good examples, see the following: 1. Leap the Dips, Lakemont Park, world's oldest roller coaster, re-opened in 1999 after nearly two decades SBNO. 2. Blue Streak, Conneaut Lake Park, re-opened in early 2000s sometime with one of the original trains restored after at least a few years SBNO. That's two examples that I can think of without doing any research. Sorry if I have any facts slightly off, but it's been a while since I've looked them up. AND... Weren't they offered a date for Beast Bash for this year and turned it down? Or am I completely off my rocker, or thinking backward...or possibly both?

My particular pattern is as follows. 1. Beast walkback. If there are people flooding in, I move on, and if not, I'll spend about an hour there. 2. If line is short, Backlot Stunt Coaster. 3. Check X-Base for lines. If present, head to The Racer for a while. 4. Son of Beast and then Flight Deck. 5. Stunt Crew Grill. 6. Adventure Express and Racer. 7. Again, check X-Base for lines. 8. Check Vortex for a line. 9. Beast again. 10. Down through Rivertown to Nickelodeon Universe and ride Beastie and Scoob. 11. Double back to Beast. 12. Wander around aimlessly deciding which rides to ride by the line length and personal mood. 13. At an hour to half an hour before closing (depending on crowd size), ride SOB, then Racer, and then head to The Beast with the ultimate goal being to get the last train of the night. Incedently, the lines close early on 10:00 closes these days courtesy of Cedar Fair. The Beast calls earlier now. It isn't like it used to be where you just needed to be in line by close and they would start up after the fireworks for the last rides. They make sure to cycle out by 9:55. This creates a timing issue for me that I still haven't quite worked out. But I WILL NOT be embarassed by ending the night on Flight Deck again. That was worse than the night I ended on Zephyr. Whether Beast or not, the last ride of the night MUST be wooden for me.

I see you're from Richmond. I'm not far from there!

They seem to be trying to race both sides, which is great. I still have a preference for the Blue side because I got rather attached to it. So far I've logged about 20 on Blue and 10 on Red. It seems to me like the trackwork added a little extra umph to the airtime on the big hill in the middle and coming off the turnaround. Hopefully that will stay. Personally I've felt that The Racer has been running amazingly well this season and has regained the title of my favorite ride in the park.

There needs to be webcams on the top of The Beast's lift hills. That way even when KI isn't open, we can watch it testing.

Do you check in at guest relations first? What is the procedure for getting to the Kings Island Theater?

I, for one, am really happy about the ERT.

You know as well as I do that Saturday will DRAG!

And you won't be alone on that walkback either! - the other showoff.

If you color Easter eggs with the names of all the coasters written on them. (Yes, that was me!)

According to what we were told at ACE Winter SOAR, you get all gold pass perks at all CF parks. I thought it was only the free parking that applied for all parks. Thanks for correcting me on that. According to Tony Clark from Cedar Point, all gold pass perks apply at all parks. He promised a PDF was in the works to tell you all of the perks at all parks so that you can look and see what you get. I have yet to see it so far, but it should be coming.

Unfortunately this was my first trip, so I can't say. However since the Fightertown USA sign was still up, I assume so.

Looks like we have two things in common in the same post! My first wooden coaster then was the good ole Screechin' Eagle a few years later.

Yeah, and when I read the first post in this topic where it said that the path would be longer, I thought to myself "Well, those of us who went to HH last year have already had a taste of what that is like. And it really really sucks." I was actually looking forward to getting back to normal. It looks like the long way around is here to stay for a while. Either way, it matters not to me. I'm just ready to be BACK! And, is it me, or is this post long since down the drain with the lake water?

According to what we were told at ACE Winter SOAR, you get all gold pass perks at all CF parks.

The Afterburn sign wasn't up yet, or I would have snagged a picture.

I'd venture to say the construction will have the area between the Back Street Stunt Coaster <G> closed. Back Street Stunt Coaster????? Try Backlot. I love all the riddles. It's really entertaining trying to sort them all out.