Ashers

LOL!! Yeah I love the new angles too. It'll be nice to be able to click on the webcam before you go to KI, just to maybe check out the weather or see how crowded it looks! I hope it stays on THE Diamondback, The RacerS, and The Vortex too. :D ~Ash

I know we probably don't need any help with getting excited for opening day, but I thought it would be fun to post our favorite pics of Kings Island just to get us all in the mood for April 18th. I would love if it were all pictures that you have taken personally. Maybe it will give us a way to make the next 2 weeks go by faster. Try and pick your top 3 favorites, and post them here! Here are mine: I just love the way the weather looked that day, so pretty. This one is just cool because of those scary clouds rolling in! SOB was pretty angry that day I think this is just a pretty cool pic of Invertigo! Can't wait to see your pics! ~Ash

I just had fun sitting back and reading everything that everyone had to say on here about it. It's funny to go back and read the originial rumour topics...people were always like "NO, there isn't enough space there, you're wrong..blahblahblah." So funny. I had fun when the teaser signs were posted on the fence and everyone was going crazy trying to decipher the clues. I don't know where time goes! But it definitely goes a LOT faster the older you get. Except, of course, when you are waiting for a certain date in April to get here. ~Ash

I've seen him! He's so cute! And I would HATE if the supports of Vortex were painted black. Needs to stay blue and orange, for sure. ~Ash

Thanks for posting that video, kjkjkj! It seems like just a couple of days ago that we were all watching that video, anticipating opening day of last year! I can't believe it was that long ago already! It's crazy to look at the construction zone....look how far everything has come in such a short time. And I still LOL when she says..."is it a theater, a new restaurant?" Hahaha! I just remember how crazy we were all going at this time last year trying to figure out what Diamondback was going to be like, or what it would be named. And here we are, just a few weeks away from getting to ride it! ~Ash

I agree! Last season it seemed like the line jumping was worse than any other time. I don't know if it was just a bad day, but the one day we were there we got blatantly line jumped on EVERY single ride we went on. My mom finally yelled at a few of the people....it was just so annoying. The worst time was when we were in line for FOF....we had to wait through the entire outside queue line, and this kid was standing right by the entrance where you go inside the building...just standing there outside of the railing. Then he stands on it, motions to a kid all the way at the back and he walks up there and they both just cut in line right in front of us after we had waited all that time. Seriously, where do people get off being so rude? I mean I have stood in line for hours and had to pee so bad that I thought I wouldn't make it and I *still* never got out of line. I don't understand some people. ~Ash

Haahhahahaha! That weave drives me NUTS every time I see it....and there are like scarves or something hanging from the trees too. So annyoing. The paing job looks amazing though! I guess you don't really notice how faded it is until they repaint it, because I never thought Vortex looked that bad. But it looks great now, can't wait to ride it! ~Ash

I hadn't heard about that yet! I need to go back there...I haven't been to Coney Island in years. Maybe this summer I will go back! ~Ash

The new pictures look great!! I love the picture of the splashdown...that area really looks so nice. Just look at it compared to one of the first construction pics when it's a giant mudhole! I can't wait to see all of the new changes to the park on opening day. I probably won't even recognize it! ~Ash

Wow, I guess I never realized how much unused space is there until you just outlined it all in red, TG! That would be awesome if they would bring in some old flat rides to put in those spots....start restoring Coney Mall so that it resembles its younger glory days! Now if only they could get the Flying Eagles back.... ~Ash

Thanks for posting those pictures for me, dare-to-fly! It is very sad to see the park in that condition....it's like it's just sitting there waiting for someone to come in and enjoy all of the rides and have fun! I really miss going to that place. ~Ash

Last season...I think it was actually on Mother's Day my brother, my mom and I went and it was pouring down rain most of the day. Most people ran for the exit, but we stayed and just walked around in the rain....people were staring at us like we were idiots! But we had a marathon on WWC, and it was so much fun. FOF was still open but the line was really long because that was one of the only rides open. I do remember getting caught in the rain on SOB last year, and that definitely hurt....lol. That same day on Mother's Day we rode Slingshot too, and it was kind of torturous to be laying on your back the entire time they are getting ready to launch you...but it was still fun. Like angrybeaver said, I love days when it rains for just a little bit...long enough to clear everyone out so you get the whole park to yourself! ~Ash

Did you post any of the pics you took of it? I read your trip report, but didn't see them in there! Yeah, I loved that ride so much. Thinking of it just brings back so many great memories of when I was little. And even though it's been so long since I've ridden it, I can still remember flying out of my seat and screaming at the top of my lungs...it was so much fun. Do you have your POV from that posted anywhere, or would you be willing to share it with me? ~Ash

Wow, what a beautiful video! What I wouldn't give to spend just one day in the Coney Island from that video. When I was little my dad's company picnic was held at CI every summer. I remember riding The Whip about a million times in a row every time we went. Sunlite pool was always great too. Everything just looked so clean and pretty in the video...and I loved the landscaping and theming. Thanks for sharing that with us! ~Ash

^That's what my brother and I were talking about today, BavarianBeetle. It sounds kind of weird to say...but maybe they are just focusing all of their attention back there, since so many people will be back there for DB. And then they're just leaving poor Flight Deck back in the corner to rust. It's like the neglected red headed stepchild...lol. ~Ash

I don't have any information to where I could speculate that Flight Deck is leaving any time soon, but I do agree with you....I definitely think Flight Deck needed some major TLC over Vortex. It is very sad to see it rusting away! I wonder why they did choose to repaint Vortex, and not FD. ~Ash

My first looping coaster was Vortex either in 95 or 96. It was the first 'big' coaster I ever rode at KI, too! Before that I had only been on The Screechin Eagle and The Serpent at Americana, and The Beastie when I was really young! I really wish I could take one more ride on The Screechin' Eagle...*sigh*. ~Ash

I'm just laughing because the Diamondback construction thread has turned into a discussion about Fabio and geese We only have a couple more weeks to go, we can do it!

I think Interpreter was referring to the amount of space that said goose needed to land on, not the actual location of the landing!

I think it's awesome that KI is doing that! I agree with Angie on this one....some of you guys are really spoiled if the first thing you blurt out is 'the shirt looks cheap'. Not, 'wow, can't wait to get my free Diamondback t-shirt, thanks KI for doing this for us when you could EASILY slap a pricetag on them and sell them in the gift shop...". If you guys think it looks so cheap, then I honestly hope you skip out and don't pick yours up if you ARE one of the first riders on Diamondback. Ugh, some people really amaze me. People get something for FREE and yet still feel the need to complain. Grrr. Anyway, I think that's great....thanks KI! ~Ash

You could be right but unfortunately we don't have the technology to prove your theory ahead of time. So we will just have to start a running tally of weekends while we wait for Diamond back to open. If its Saturday and Diamondback has not opened then add another hash mark to the running tally you have started. When Diamondback does in fact open you can then reference your tally and if it totals two weekends then we will know if in fact that at the time this thread was started that there was indeed only two weekends until Diamondback opens. For the record I hope its only one weekend but only time will tell... Ha! I don't think it's right for me to read this post at 1:00 in the morning....it's making my brain hurt. :| ~Ash

That's awesome, Angie...I didn't know you were going to be a 'first rider'! Congrats! I was so upset when I started working Saturdays, because at first I would have had to work opening day from 1-6pm, but my 'every other Saturday' schedule got reversed, so now I'm off that day, and I am SO excited. I was trying not to get my hopes up at first because before I thought I would only be able to go to KI for a couple of hours, but now I get to be there as soon as the park opens. To tell you the truth, I haven't ridden a brand new ride on its opening day since TR:TR came out. I'm pumped! Oh, and are you as excited as I am to finally get a Drop Tower fix?? ~Ash

My first ride ever at Kings Island was the Smurfs Enchanted Voyage. My first 'big' coaster was Vortex when I was 10 or 11, and I was hooked on coasters ever since then! I remember when the theming for Adventure Express worked! When I was younger we went on a field trip to KI and I got to take a ride through the animal safari. My mom was a chaperone and I remember that being one of the most fun days of my childhood. I remember thinking it was so awesome to be able to drive the Antique Cars, thinking I had mad driving skills when I was 12 My dad thought it would be funny to warn me that when I actually became old enough to drive a REAL car that there are no 'bumpers' in the middle of the road to keep me going straight...lol;) I remember riding King Cobra and thinking the bunny hops were the coolest thing ever. Grad Night my senior year at KI was one of the most fun trips I've ever had. I rode Delerium for the first time that night too, Violakat! That was the same night that a huge fight broke out, right near Outer Hanks. I rememeber all of the "coming soon" signs were out for Bubba Gumps...but anyway about 100 guys were chasing down one guy and started beating the crap out of him about 5 feet in front of me and my friend. All of my other friends had run into the bathroom or out of the way. I was just standing there frozen in fear. That was craaazy! I remember the days when they used to play Beach Boys and Bob Marley back when it was called Waterworks! I remember the picnic area that was hidden in the woods at the front of the park-that used to be our favorite place to eat! But mostly I just remember KI being an integral part of every one of my summers as a child, and up until now. I hope it stays that way for a long time! ~Ash

There are only a couple of things that I would like to see change in the next 5 years. Of course, we all wish that the antique cars and flying eagles were back, instead of the concrete abomination they call BLSC. It actually wouldn't be a terrible ride if they just rethemed it somehow, or even if they just took out all of the huge ugly metal boxes and gravel and put in a few trees, it would be fine. I also hate to see the laser tag and euro-bungee taking up so much unused space. I would love to see a flat ride there, maybe like Chaos or Matterhorn. And as most others said, Flight Deck definitely needs some TLC. They don't need to necessarily bring the fog/mist/whatever back, but a coat of paint would be nice! The Crypt could use some music! And I really wish they would change the music on I-Street, to bring back some of the "nostalgia". I don't really know why everyone is saying that BB is being neglected. I mean yes, you can get through all of the slides pretty quickly, but I would never say that it gets boring. It's always nice to go back there and just relax in the sun and listen to music when it's hot outside. I mean I think it's a pretty decent waterpark considering it's included in the price of admission! And I think the back of the waterpark is the best part, with all of the trees and everything, I think it's the most relaxing place back there. I really don't know what they could do about the food. I can see how a sit down restaurant would be neat, but it would probably be expensive. I think the rest of the food at KI is fine. You can't even go to a fast food restaurant anymore and get a 'value meal' without paying close to $6.00. You could always pack a lunch if you don't like what's there, or eat outside of the park! I think that the whole cleanliness issue has gotten better over the years. I remember during a summer when Paramount owned KI and it seemed like every single trash can that you saw was just overflowing and disgusting. Like all of you said, the people that are out there that feel inclined to throw things on the ground are going to do it whether there is a trash can there or not. You see people every day, whether it's at KI or not, 2 feet from a traschan and throwing things on the ground. It's just like the people that throw trash out of their cars instead of waiting until they get home to throw it away. People do that all of the time at campgrounds too, right in the middle of a beautiful day of enjoying nature, let's throw all of our trash all over the ground when there is clearly a dumpster 10 feet down the road! And I know that people can dream about new rides that may or may not be built, but I mean, come on, we haven't even gotten to ride Diamondback yet and people are already gunning for a new coaster. I think we should just plan on being happy with the coasters that we have, and look for smaller(but not less important!) improvements over the next few years. ~Ash

Yeah that is pretty weird, I also have a feeling it will be pretty crowded and congested through there.