TheKlockster

Just didn't feel like taking photos. I think my grandma took a few, but I haven't looked at them yet. I was at the Creation Museum for the better part of the day Saturday, so I was already tired when I got to the park. Anyways here's my two cents if anyone is interested. I got there around 11:00. The line for season pass processing was huge - out into the handicapped parking area. But I figured it was going to be bad, so I just got in line and enjoyed the nice weather and thought about whether or not I would be able to fit on any rides (having not visited the park since Cedar Fair took over) and whether or not I had lost my nerve and would even be able to handle the rides. I think I got into the park at around noon. Headed to Express first and got in line. I had mental pictures of me having to do the walk of shame, but the restraints hadn't changed at all, and the belt was not an issue. I actually ended up in line behind Dane, Robbie and Bill. It was a lot of fun, and the ride ran quite nicely. Next I headed to TOP GUN, because I figured I'd rather find out I couldn't fit on the OTSR Arrows there, than wait in line for my favorite coaster in the park and get denied. Also I think that TOP GUN is an amazing ride. I actually fit with a little slack in the belt - if the belt is taut I actually have enough room between myself and the restraint to get a little air. Ran into the PKIC staff again here, and said hi. TOP GUN was running very fast and very smooth, just as it always had. Seriously love that ride. With that concern behind me, I headed down to the tail end of Coney Mall, to ride the best flat ride in the park - Troika (known to most as Shake, Rattle and Roll). I noticed that strange smell still by Happy Days Diner or whatever they call it these days. My old supervisor Tim was running Troika, and I talked to him a little, and rode. Very fun ride as always. From Troika I got in line for Vortex. It was running two trains, and had its station queue open. The line ran to The Vortex sign, which is about 25 minutes or so. Vortex is definitely the best ride in the park - even if it is 21 years old. With 2008 being its 21st birthday, and with me not sure I had the nerve to ride in seat 71, I rode in seat 21. Vortex ran very fast and smooth, and after 18 months without going to Kings Island, it was very good to be back. About this time it started raining lightly. I headed to Son of Beast to see what it was like since they neutered it. This line was the longest - about 40 minutes. I was very sad about what they did to my ride. The new trains are awful. True they have more leg room, but the restraints are extremely uncomfortable. There is no padding on them, and as you shuffle around they beat up your legs. But this wasn't the worst part of it. As soon as the train pulled out of the station, I could tell it was going to be a rough ride. I held my hands up on the amazing first drop, but I found it physically impossible to hold them up through the entire ride. Both passes through the bottom of the rosebowl I couldn't even hold my head up. The entire ride was so rough, it was like riding on those rumble strips you see on the side of the road, but with flat tires, and at eighty miles per hour. I used to be a real big Son of Beast fan. Back in the fall of 2004, I rode it eighteen times in a row (getting off and walking around each time). And that was with the old trains! It was smooth as glass, and really really fun. Now I feel like I'm being strapped into a chair and beat to a pulp by some huge guy named Hoss or something. I think I will wait a while before riding this ride again. Even if it does break in and get smoother, I think they killed it when they removed the loop and put these ridiculous trains on it. By now it was raining, and my head hurt so bad from that SOB of a SOB ride that I could barely walk. So I headed home. It must have been around 3:00 or so. Not a big deal; I have a season pass and will return to the park many times over the course of this season. I didn't think it was too bad of a visit. I was glad to find out that I can still ride some of the rides with the new seatbelts. And I'm sure by the height of the summer I'll be able to ride Beast and Racer again. Maybe even Flight of Fear. I still haven't been on Firehawk - but I'll go on a day it isn't so crowded. Only thing worse than being told you don't fit on a ride is being told you don't fit on a ride after you wait 2 hours in line to find out. So that's my opening day trip report. After 18 months, it was nice to get my roller coaster fix. I can't wait to go back and ride some more stuff - hopefully on a nicer day.

I liked Raven but it isn't as good as Legend or the amazing Voyage. Worst coaster I ever rode was Chang at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.

I think something by IMMEDIATE MUSIC goes with every ride. Grand Inquisition goes with FOF for sure. Maybe Arcana with Son of Beast. Fahrenheit with Vortex? So many choices...

I'm old school. Also, I joined on my birthday.

Star Trek is infinitely better than Star Wars. The original Star Wars movies were cool - but they aren't realistic. Star Trek is something you could see happening in the future or something. Plus its so much more complex, and more fun to watch. And I still say in a battle between all the Star Wars ships and all the Star Trek ships, the Star Wars ships would get owned.

FERRIS WHEEL I think we need a big wheel like Cedar Point has. Badly.

I usually just remember where I park. Not too complicated. I don't even need row names or numbers.

I have only been on Mantis and Chang. Chang was one of the worst rides I have been on. Mantis was fun but it was still extremely uncomfortable. I wouldn't ride either of them again.

Didn't dig deep enough. There are about sixty-two of these threads on these forums. But whatever. Vortex for favorite roller coaster, Delirium for favorite flat.

One of those things was still being used in 2006 to cool The Vortex driver box. Don't know if it is still there though. But those things pump out some serious cold.

MTV Shockwave. Best idea evar. I actually like FOF the way it is. I wouldn't add anything or take anything away. Granted, it could use some paint - but other than that the ride and theme are great.

I definitely recommend Kings Island as a summer job. It is the perfect job for anyone in school or wants something to do in the summer. I don't know about other areas, but I know that rides is really really fun to work in. You make a lot of money working there, and you get unlimited access to the park. It is a great way to spend your summer and have a blast while making good money. So if anyone is thinking about working there - definitely go up and "give it a shot, give it a try."

This argument reincarnates itself every off season. I don't understand what the argument is for because there is no gray area with basic physics. You either know what you're talking about or you don't.

It could be "Da train boss! Da train!" I don't mind that particular change. I do like the Oktoberfest area of the park but these days it is nothing like it used to be. I would actually like to see them bring back more of that German feel to the area - but that will never happen. I think it should become part of Coney Mall - my favorite area of the park. Maybe I am just biased, but I like the atmosphere there better than any of the other areas of the park.

I get sick just thinking about 3D Cinema 14.

The HUSS Enterprise and similar rides use a motor to keep the speed constant. Roller coasters gain all of their energy from the lift chain, and that energy has to get them through the whole ride. Because a train loses energy as it moves away from the earth, it slows down. That means its speed at the bottom of a loop is faster than it is at the top. In order to maintain a constant rate (or near constant rate) of acceleration (the rate of change of velocity), the radius of the loop becomes shorter at the top of the loop than is at the entrance and exit to the loop. Like Nick said it is basic physics. All of this stuff is covered in the first few chapters of an average high school physics textbook. So go do some research or something. DeLorean rider knows what he's talking about, and you aren't going to prove him wrong. Also - they don't do circular loops because the speed at which you would have to be moving to clear the track element would subject you to extreme changes in acceleration (jerks) at the entrance and exit to the loop. I think original circular-loop coasters pulled like 9G in force. The loops you see on modern rides - INCLUDING Schwarzkopf - use the CLOTHOID shape - not the circle. If you really look closely - Schwarzkopf coasters do indeed use clothoid loops, though they aren't as teardrop shaped as what you might see on a B&M model.

Drop Tower is one of the worst names out there. That would be like renaming The Beast to Wooden Roller Coaster.

This thread is less about Vortex and more about how many times a person can stack a quote.

"Kings Island stole my bike." Thrill Biscuit - your avatar is hilarious.

Ah yeah it did set the speed record. Still it is a record breaker. I know someone who races his souped up car at Edgewater and he found the launch on TTD to be boring. 135 mph in 2.5 would sure pack more of a punch than 120 mph in 4 seconds.

Well anything from Screamscape is automatically not confirmed. He cited Screamscape as the source.

Something like this would be 100% about the intensity of the launch. Would kind of let you experience the type of thing a drag racer experiences. Top Thrill Dragster sort of has the drag race theme to it - but the point of the ride was not to thrill you with the launch - but to break a height record.

Well said Nick. The only part of Vortex you need restraints on is the Corkscrews. Other than that they aren't there to keep you from flying out - but rather to keep you seated and prevent any sort of shenanigans on the ride. And your Avatar and member title are awesome.

Good point. John Doe might not even know that information - so what is protecting him from someone saying they heard classified information from them. Most likely John Doe would be fired for releasing information, and that would be that. I don't think the park cares enough about any particular seasonal associate to really look into whether or not the associate could know or would divulge the information.

What this also does is let them fire anyone who is dumb enough to say some secret info in front of someone who posts on here. But what about photoshop tom foolery? I guess no more photoshopping dragster in behind racer. What's the point in a photoshop prank if you have to admit its not real. And lastly - is the Dippin Dots guy considered a source? He is a reliable source of highly questionable content (except when he's not reliable, or the content in question lacks questionability). Well I think overall it is a good idea. You should have to be able to prove it if you're going to say "Confirmed". Cause otherwise it isn't confirmed. Just as long as you don't ban discussion of all rumors.