Hoeter

Anyone on KIC that's also my Facebook friend, I uploaded 65 photos from yesterday if you'd like to see them.

Same here buddy, will have to plan another meetup before the end of the 2013 season!

This visit was long overdue, being that the last visit was the Banshee announcement-exactly one month ago today. With that in mind, I was looking forward to the events planned for KIC's 10th Anniversary ever since Don posted the itinerary several days back. Before I get to the details of this visit, I want to thank Ryan, Dane, Ronny, and the rest of the KIC team for allowing us a place to discuss Kings Island and the amusement park industry in general. Additionally, a BIG thank you goes to Don Helbig for allowing us the opportunity to participate in special events that the general public does not get to take part in. I know a lot of members will probably say the same as I have. Again, a big THANK YOU to both the KIC team and Don for all that you have done and allowed us to do today. Enough with the techno mumbo-jumbo horsenuggets and on to the details of the day! I arrived around 1pm, right as the Todd Frazier Q&A was concluding and was in contact with IndyGuy4KI about meeting up. I met up with him, Brian5475E, Dieseltech20, TheDevariousEffect and others at the Reds Hall of Fame Grille. I took this opportunity to sample some of the food that this establishment offered as well as catching the Bengals game. I ended up having the boneless wings in a spicy garlic sauce. 12 wings in total for $11.99, the wings were hot and delicious, and the price was comparable to that of a similar chain such as Quaker Steak or B-Dubs. I was satisfied! Kings Island got it right with the restaurant and I hope it's a staple for many seasons to come. After our meal, our group headed over to the train- a nice, relaxing way to allow our stomachs to settle after filling them up. Station wait for the green locomotive. It's been awhile since I've been on the train, but Pikachu has a friend out there with him now! Once the trip was over, we headed towards Coney Mall and our group got in a ride on The Racer, red side. 1 train wait towards the back of the train. Love the ride, it's a classic, but those seat dividers make it uncomfortable for me being a bigger guy and all. After this ride, we headed to Adventure Express, 5 minute wait and no noticeable sewage smell. We went through Wolf Pack next and it's amazing to see how different the whole area looks without Son of Beast there. The controls for Son of Beast are still intact in the drive box from what I saw in one of the zones. Waited 25 minutes for our tour. At this time, our group decided with time to kill before the Banshee construction tour, to hit up Congo Falls. First time I've been on that ride in years and I was probably one of the luckiest on the boat, I hardly got wet at all! After this, since there was still a little bit of time to kill, half of the group headed to Delirium while me, TheDevariousEffect, his girl, and Exscream Team headed to the Festhaus to take in some AC, refreshments, and "Rock and Roll Never Forgets". Kings Island has really improved the quality of their live shows in the past few years and it's great to see that! At this time, Don met up with us in Action Zone for the construction tour. I am amazed by the change in elevation and the sheer size of the project that is underway. I'm also amazed with the progress made thus far, just one month after being announced. It was after this that our group headed over towards The Beast for the backstage tour of Diamondback. On the way there, I decided to take advantage of the Dollar Days promotion by getting me a blue ice cream. I'm 26 years old, have been coming to the park for years, and I just now try it for the first time. Hard to believe. We met up with Don here at 5:30 and I ended up getting some pretty great shots of the ride from this angle. Once the tour concluded, the group split up. I went along with NoChickens, MrsNoChickens, and a few others with us heading to Diamondback. 20 minute wait for brown train, row 6 and 7. Amazing as always, did not notice any jackhammering or anything. We then met up with IndyGuy4KI and the others and then proceeded to the International Restaurant for the Don Helbig Q&A, lasted around 40 minutes. There were some very good questions asked. After the tour, the entire group headed back towards The Beast for the final rides of the summer. 2 train wait for the very last train of the summer, first row in the rear car. Amazing as always, the entire train was in an uproar coming into the station. A semi night ride I may add. All in all it was a great time! If you met me or if I talked to you at some point today, it was good doing so. I'm absolutely horrible with names in general. Cannot wait for Haunt to start here shortly. A midnight ride on The Beast is LONG overdue. I'm also long overdue on some Z's and 5:30am comes quick. With that in mind, until next time!

Yea I saw where Ryan stated that previously. I guess that person didn't get the memo...

28 times? The person probably submitted the first one and started sending the rest when Don would not respond. Then again said person possibly has Frontier's award winning internet! Times out 90% of the time. Glad I don't live in Brown County anymore. Now I have Time Warner and their award winning internet!

A big thank you to Don for planning these activities. See you all on Sunday!

67 years old and too much Plastic Surgery. Back in her younger days though Oh well, doesn't take away from the fact that she is a very nice and giving person. Plus she has been in some of my favorite movies. I had to double take when I read that she is 67 years old...surprisingly enough she is. I could have sworn that she was in her 70's to near 80. I must have her confused with Joan Rivers or something...

I heard the elevators were last updated around 2005? Originally they were Montgomery elevators and I'm pretty sure they still are.

I'm on Verizon and I've mostly had no issues so far this season with getting a signal for mobile data. The only time I had a problem was last Thursday night for the ride announcement.

When did the color change from olive green to blue?

Terpy, real man of genius, I didn't know there was a difference between the two. I do mean silicone.

The restraints for this new attraction, well they're big, two per seat, and made of silicon. Andrew, keeping it G rated...

Diamondback's systems are powered by one of the most advanced PLC's on a rollercoaster today. The train will not dispatch until the restraints are secured. I have had no second thoughts about getting on Diamondback since the New Texas Giant incident and Banshee I'm guessing will use the same AB PanelView Touch system.

It's in the front. Same place it was Thursday when I drove past.

http://www.700wlw.com/media/podcast-scott-sloan-on-demand-scott_sloan/sterling-in-for-sloan-8913-hour-23563349/ Skip to around the 15:50 mark. Sterling, who filled in for Scott Sloan, calls Don "Den Hellig" by mistake! MODS: Please feel free to move this if it's not in the correct location.

Thank you for sharing your experience of last night...I was there as well but did not get in a ride on The Beast. Our group got on Diamondback right after it came back up.

Thanks bud. It'll be a good time. Minus the smack talk fest about the Bengals and Steelers. Happens every time we all get together!

Hey all, As I promised last night in the (now locked) Starting to Decode 2014 thread, my trip report to the most anticipated event of the 2013 season! My day off from work was Thursday so I took this chance to sleep in, a rare occasion. It was around 1pm that I left my apartment and headed out towards Brown County for a couple of hours to help Dad with a couple things around the house for the family cookout on Sunday. On my way out to Mount Orab, I decided to swing past CSF since it's right on the way out to Dad's house. Our magenta track and supports are on flatbeds ready to roll! Stayed out there for a couple of hours, had a nice home cooked meal (a rarity these days), and helped prepare for the nuts, oops family, coming over to grill out on Sunday. Around 5pm I left, and headed west on 32 towards my apartment in the Eastgate area. Relaxed for a little bit, and then headed out to the park for the 2014 announcement! Arrived to the park around 6:30pm and parked in an amazing spot in Row 51. Met up with some fellow KICers (Kittenpooh, XGatorHead 8904, and couple of others) outside the gate by the picnic tables. We then headed into the park and headed towards the announcement area in hopes of getting a decent vantage point for the new ride announcement. On the way to the announcement area, we were passed by Don, and I could tell that he was more than ready for this day to be over. I don't blame him! I'm sure he slept pretty good last night once the announcement was done and over with. Once in the announcement area, saw Ronny and Ryan, as well as Darlene and a bunch of others. It's good to see people from KIC I haven't seen in forever! Kittenpooh and a couple of people with her decided to do Skyflyer. While we were waiting on them, I talked with Avatar for a little while and caught up since it's been awhile since I talked to him last. After they were done, me and Avatar met up with jlopez with the intent of getting in some rides before the announcement. Me and jlopez did Viking Fury, less than 5 minute wait. It's been years since I've been on it. After this, jlopez went out on her own while me, Avatar, and Dave headed towards Diamondback. Got Row 4 and last night was the first time I've swallowed an insect on that ride. After this we all headed back to the announcement area to find it filling in pretty decent. Figured with a little bit of time to kill, I'll hit up Flight Deck. It's been awhile since I've been on it last. 3 straight rides without getting off! Soon after, it was announcement time where I sat back and waited to see what's coming next year. I'll sum it up in as little words as possible. I cannot wait. Next year will most likely be the year I finally go PLATINUM and head up to Cedar Point. I've been thinking about it for awhile, I've never been! Here are some pics from last night! Until next time...

Haven't heard a peep outta him! Andrew, pleading the 5th...

Just now leaving Kings Island. The announcement was amazing especially the first video that rolled. Good seeing Ryan, Ronny, and Avatar. Great job Don, Greg, and the rest of the Kings Island team! Trip report tomorrow. 5:30am comes quick!

Just a reminder for those attending the announcement but arriving after 9pm...the ramp from I-275 to I-71 north will be closing at 9pm.

I didn't get pictures. The way it's positioned its hard to from the road. Need to invest in a DSLR at some point...

Just rode past CSF...the trailers are still there but there's maroon/purple colored track on a trailer. Believe it has already been mentioned.

I will be heading out that way for a few hours and then plan on heading to Kings Island for the announcement. I'll swing by and see.

That video didn't have the interview with him afterwards. "We went down the first hill, anda bird hit me right inda face!"