silver2005

Not everything is going to have B&M level capacities, but there are rides under those numbers that would still suit Kings Island. Capacity numbers aren't everything about a ride.

^Before they implemented the dining plan, I would have had that attitude about food service at the beginning of the year and expect it to improve by at least Memorial Day as that was kind of the norm (or even by mid-May). Since they added the plan, that hasn't been the case. Last year, I expected the bad service and was surprised when it was good (except for Reds HOFG, Chick-fil-A and Panda Express). The park gave me no reason to expect it to improve since they were still lackadaisical in June and July.

I don't get that argument. Those things wouldn't be difficult at all to train employees on prior to opening day. I can't think of anything on the menu at Kings Island that would require that extensive of training.

Which is odd since you'd think that a 200+ ft coaster that was also the 2nd longest wooden coaster in the world (only a few hundred feet short of his father) would burn off momentum properly. I remember it flying into the final brakes despite said brakes being on top of a 55+ ft hill. I think the Premier designed trains had something to do with it since after they switched to the Gerstlauer trains, the pacing seemed more adequate (though it also felt like it would stall on the 2nd hill).

I would have both loved and hated to go to Kings HS.

Well, one thing I have going against me is the fact I only own an alto sax. The guy playing sax for the group the last few years played alto and tenor. I wonder if they want to stick to that in order to have fewer musicians (thus, pay fewer people), though, it would add a bit more tone color to have both saxes (that is IMO, whatever the park chooses the park chooses). They did field two trumpets the last few years though, so anything can happen. EDIT: Also keep in mind that any instrumentation they choose will be in balance due to the fact everything is mic'd and they are using a soundboard. thus, the argument to add more saxes to balance out the brass that would otherwise overpower woodwinds isn't a valid excuse.

I know they initially told me that should I not get a call by March not to expect a part, but with the more recent auditions, I'm gonna hold out until opening day. So yeah...no call yet.

I just thought of something involving the synchronization, specifically with a longer train (like Ninja or the two Intamin Superman coasters they're using for this). Wouldn't the program have to be geared for the different variations of how a ride feels in the front vs in the back? I wonder if they're going to be that specific when designing the VR programs.... Just a thought. EDIT: Also, what happens if there is an E-stop (specifically on a MCBR)?

Now if only we could get drink wristbands back...

^Funny you should bring that up because I think either BGW or BGT had a contest of making a pretzel replica of their dive coasters when they built them.

Its kind of amazing to see almost all of Valravn's elements except the final hill looking to be taller than or on par with Raptor's first few elements. Holy guacamole- this thing is huge. EDIT: Went and looked at the stats on the Valravn webpage, and the MCBR is nearly as high as Raptor's first hill.

Before this off season, I probably would have said the parking lot, but alas, that's being addressed. Now I would have to say Oktoberfest and X-Base. The area that lies between Backlot, Diamondback, Grand Carousel, and the Eiffel Tower has a lot of potential as well.

Also, the park would likely turn to GCI for the project, who has excellent credentials to back up their stellar rides.

^Not to mention riders are going 80 mph...

Here's my list in no particular order. This is kind of a mix of what I think will actually come and what I want to come but in a realistic sense- 1. B&M Giga 2. GCI woodie 3. Mack Wild Mouse 4. Mack Spinning Coaster 5. Mack Water Coaster 6. the mix of coaster/dark ride that Canada's Wonderland received 7. a custom RMC hybrid coaster I'm really hoping for a Mack product that isn't their launch/looping coaster since KI's last 3 coaster installations were all high thrill coasters. I think they could use a bump in the family coaster department (not kids coasters, KI has plenty of those).

When it's pothole season.

Finally got a reply, and I don't have to do another audition. The ones this month are just another session they're having. I'm guessing they didn't get their quota from the initial set in November. Still crossing my fingers. EDIT: I guess I can tack on a few weeks to expect the phone call since they're having auditions on the 27th.

I also read that TTD is getting some new paint as well. I'd love to see how that gets done considering the logistics. I hope CP shows how that works.

This makes me both confident that they're still considering auditions, and suspicious that my November audition is still valid. Sending the park an email....now.

Just a side note- as of this post, Cedar Point does still list Shoot the Rapids under their water rides section of their website. https://www.cedarpoint.com/things-to-do/water-rides For now.

If anyone didn't ride STR, here's a POV of it. Take note of how long the video is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shCyUzTqdto

Flight of Fear's first 3 elements after the launch and the final element before the brakes are the 4 inversions.

With most of the looping inversions, the positive g's are plastering you to your seat, which also affects your head and sight (aka gray/black outs) so unless your exerting your body to keep more conscious during the loops, you'll won't notice you're upside down for very long, along with how those moments happen so quick. Roll based inversions like corkscrews, 0g rolls, and dive loops tend to be more dynamic in feeling upside down since you are rolling to the side to get there vs doing a vertical maneuver like a loop. There's a bit of weightlessness thrown in depending on how fast you take said inversions. 0g rolls in particular because they're on top of a hill. A lot of the sensations will depend on the designer as well. Arrow and Vekoma loopers can have some vibrations and shuffling going on during inversions. B&M, Intamin, Schwarzkopf, Gerstlauer, and some of the other European based designers will have smoother tracks. B&M's bigger loops and Arrow corkscrews that are taken slower (like on Vortex or CP's Corkscrew) can also have hang time.

Seriously Intamin, how do you screw up a log flume?

I was fortunate to have ridden Tomb Raider in its glory days and it was a spectacular ride. I had no idea what it was, and before then, I wasn't much of a flat rides person, though, Delirium was starting me down the path. I didn't care for Top Spins mainly as they made me sick just watching them (I got to see NJFTP's version in person prior). Tomb Raider kind of got me into riding high thrill flats. The theming was superb for a seasonal park's ride. I wish CF would have kept a similar program to TR:TR and went with a mine or cave theme to compliment Rivertown. I hope KI does get another Top Spin at some point.