Hoeter

As I discovered last season, there's actually a seat even better than the Toomer seat. - homestar92, recent 7-1 convert (seriously, on the first drop, you get a pop of airtime that may just be the best in Ohio!) 7-1 is actually my favorite seat on both Vortex and The Bat, and I agree with you about that first drop. Wow, what a rush. Didn't want to scare the pants off of my girlfriend as it was her first ride. Hell, that first drop in 7-1 takes me by surprise most of the time. Most of my rides this year actually have been in 7-1 but I wanted to take it easy on my girlfriend. She actually complained about head banging in 5-1. Row 7 on Diamondback, Row 11 on The Beast, 5-1 on Vortex, Row 5 on Flight of Fear and yes, she sat in 8-4 on Banshee and absolutely LOVED IT!

I rode Vortex a little bit after 11pm on Friday. No issues from what I saw at that time. Empty station for the most part which meant my girlfriend's first ride was in the Ron Toomer seat!

I did not know that Cedar Fair was self insured, so that's news to me. I figured since Haunt is an event that goes past the Midnight hour that would have been the reason it's not permitted, then again we have Midnight closes in July. Andrew, learnin' stuff...

So it would reopen as Kings Island's Soak City and then be renamed simply Soak City and then possibly close after that? What is it you say, running for the door?No, completely different situation. If Kings Island were to experience a colossal failure, the land would be way too valuable to keep as a water park. It would be a multi million dollar Mason housing development. Tom Grossman wouldn't know what to do with himself! Andrew, running for the door!

I didn't count Flight Deck and The Bat as two separate credits. It's the same ride experience, just a different color and a new name. My personal opinion...if it drastically changes the ride experience as the Mantis to Rougarou conversion will, I count each as a different credit. If the ride is retracked like The Beast and The Racer I don't think it should count as a new credit, same as when Son of Beast switched from the Premier Trains to the Gerstlauer ones. I would like to see Don chime in on this with his thoughts...

Last night when I was there, security was running the wand over people coming in and asking people to empty their pockets. Still someone could have brought a weapon into the park and wrapped it in aluminum foil causing the wand to not detect it (Ryan I'm sure you saw this happen a time or two with merchandise at the Big Blue Box- I sure did) or they could have concealed something around their ankle or low enough that the wand wouldn't have detected it. Generally, I felt pretty safe last night and I saw a good amount of security personnel as we made our way around the park. I have never felt unsafe at Kings Island, but for what it's worth Cedar Point, Kings Island, and I believe Dorney Park are the only parks in the Cedar Fair chain that I did not encounter a metal detector on my last visit, save for the wand last night. I'm not sure exactly what happened but I did see Security hauling along at a pretty good pace toward Coney Maul last evening about that time. To answer your question on incidents Italian Job 2005, my girlfriend asked me also why re-entry was not allowed last night. From what I've heard, it's a liability issue as someone could go out into the parking lot, consume alcohol, and re-enter the park which could potentially cause issues. It's something I don't believe Cedar Fair's legal team and the insurance underwriters would want to chance. She also asked me why they would not disclose why Diamondback was down for a little bit while we were next in line to board- I had to try my best to explain that one to her as she isn't used to dating a coaster enthusiast just yet. Just my two cents...

Has it been confirmed that B&M will be using the old restraint system used on other Floorless models or are they going to be using the vest system similar to Banshee?

I would call it a separate credit due to the fact that it currently sits as a stand-up coaster but come Spring it will be a floorless model. Completely different experience. I would also say that Son of Beast would not have counted as two separate credits. The 2000-2006 version and the loop and the 2007-2009 version without. EDIT: Upon further thought, the change to Son of Beast only affected several hundred or thousand feet so I don't think it should count as two separate ones.

^ Yes! I highly recommend Banshee after dark. The Beast still is my favorite night ride, and Banshee is not far behind that and I-305

Additionally, I called the park last night for my girlfriend as she wasn't sure the person paying for the passes kept up on the payments. They will be able to look it up by your last name, phone number, and I believe pass number to see if it's active or not.

I have a membership to Six Flags so I pay month-to-month until the year is up. Pretty sure that's what me, Lora, Dee, Rick and them did. Parking at NJFTP was greater than $20 which I think is absolutely outrageous. I'd like that discount when my year is up!

We discussed that last night while in line for The Beast. She has a Gold Pass this year, and I think I have her sold on going Platinum in 2015. Brian is wanting to go also as he's never been so it will be a great time for sure. I will be requesting that day when bidding for 2015 PTO begins for sure. Hopefully, another trip to Kings Dominion to ride Intimidator 305 and a trip to NJFTP to get her on El Toro is in the works for 2015 also.

Was at the park last night...didn't do any Haunts but I did take my girlfriend who is deathly terrified of roller coasters. She agreed to try them for me since she knows I love them so much. What did she want to ride first? Diamondback. I wanted to start her out small. I had The Bat, Adventure Express, or Backlot Stunt Coaster in mind but she wanted to do the tallest and fastest one first. She absolutely loved it, and then we rode The Beast, Vortex, Flight of Fear, and Banshee after that- she loved those ones too and was so glad she overcame her biggest fear. She just texted me and is trying to get me and her to go back out there today and possibly Cedar Point before the end of the season. For me and for her, it truly is #KIBestDay

Hopefully there's not another water main break next year. Seriously, I was on my way back to Cincinnati that Saturday morning and my phone was blowing up. People thought I was on my way up there and hadn't been there the day before!

I'll be joining you then!Sent from a signal coming out of the Vega system. I've got an empty seat! You'll enjoy Cedar Point! I know we've talked and you have never been. I can't wait for you to experience it. My late Uncle was a member of ACE, and Cedar Point was pretty much a second home to him. Wish he was there with me to experience it all, especially Millennium Force as that was his favorite coaster up there and was the last coaster opened before he passed from Leukemia.

I will be there again next year without a doubt. This year was a blast!

It's already been announced From @TonyClarkCP: Mark your calendars! Next year's #CoasterMania will be held on Friday, June 5, 2015.

Anyone who knows me knows I love the color orange! I'm a fan of Rougarou's paint scheme! You've never ridden an SLC? You're in for a few months of anticipointment. Jonathan is EXACTLY RIGHT. I rode my first Vekoma SLC, Mind Eraser at Six Flags America just a couple months ago. UnrealNightmare told me I wouldn't like it and he hit the nail right on the head. Never before have I gotten off of a roller coaster cussing like a sailor. Most uncomfortable and unenjoyable 5 minutes of my life that I wouldn't mind having back. I'd rather listen to nails on a chalkboard rather than experience that thing again. Honest when I say that. It may look fun but prepare for disappointment. I'm not a fan of Vekoma in general. I can't wait to get up to Cedar Point next year to ride it. I'm still on the fence about making a return trip this year (and riding Mantis before it closes). I've been on several B&M floorless coasters and they've all been enjoyable (Bizarro, Hydra: The Revenge, Dominator). Stand-Ups in general aren't enjoyable but B&M makes it at least semi-tolerable for me (Apocalypse and Green Lantern) unlike some other manufacturers (cough, TOGO). If you want your legs to feel like Jell-O after your ride, I highly recommend Green Lantern at NJFTP!

Johnny Football! Wait, wrong team!

I did front row on both Mean Streak and Blue Streak when I was at Cedar Point a few months back. Both were actually quite enjoyable...no complaints here

Also worth noting is that Fast Lane, Fast Lane Plus, and Haunt offering Fright Lane is now sponsored as well, by McCluskey Automotive. "Lower Prices, Lower Rates!" I could imagine a spiel if SafeAuto were to sponsor a ride at Kings Island. "Welcome back riders, how was your ride?!?!" "As soon as the train comes to a complete stop. Push down, pull up on your lapbar, exit to your left, grab your Declarations Page, and enjoy the rest of your day at Kings Island!" If you want Fast Lane, be prepared to pay the Deductible, and I wonder what the Replacement Cost will be? Andrew, he who works in Insurance...

I rode Maverick in the front row when I was up there during CoasterMania! Thinking about heading back up with the girlfriend here in a few weeks, and planning on finally riding Dragster...

See, I was thinking the same thing earlier when I saw the video. Steel Force at Dorney, ironically the logo for what Mantis was supposed to be, had the Grim Reaper also. I haven't ridden Mantis at Cedar Point and I may make another trip up before the end of the season. If Mantis causes your legs to feel like Jell-O like Green Lantern at NJFTP, pass. Seriously, I got off of Green Lantern and was like "Why in the Hell didn't I go ride Kingda Ka with the rest of the group instead of this thing?"

Thanks Don! I will definitely be there for what will be an amazing end to a record year for Kings Island!

Keep in mind too that Invertigo and Firehawk have the two worst capacities of any coasters in the park. Flight of Fear usually has a long line anytime I've gone back there this season- reduced capacities certainly don't help matters there. Also if you haven't been yet this year, seat belts have been added to Diamondback, which has affected wait times somewhat. Let us know how your wait times stack up by posting a Trip Report after your visit!