silver2005

While local selections are nice, I think having at least 1 or 2 national chains would still be best as some patrons just want things that are familiar to them.

I think most people are over-thinking this thing about KK adding a Drop Tower so shortly after the accident with their previous one. I'm pretty sure the local GP would be aware at the very least that the other 2 nearby parks, Holiday World and Kings Island, have safe, working Drop Towers. With that in mind, I don't see why a new Drop Tower wouldn't work at Kentucky Kingdom.

So here's my Belk Bowl PTR. The trip began on the 26th of December. It was a bit different than the year before, whereas last year we had to leave at about 2 am so we could do some performances straight off the bus. This year, we had an extra day (last year it was on the 27th, this year on the 28th), so we had that extra night to sleep before a rather busy day on the 27th. There was a minor short coming as the last 2 buses (one of which I was on) fell back too far from the first 3, and thus we took a wrong turn and spent an extra 40 minutes cruising through South Carolina before we turned around back towards Charlotte. We stayed at the Omni Hotel. We also had $50 in spending money provided by the bowl. We initially had more, but we used it to stay the extra night so we didn't have to go straight back to Cincy after the game, which was the original plan. On the 27th, we had an early morning rehearsal at 9 am. A local HS, which was also where the team practiced, was where we went, and they even had the right hash marks on (there are 3 different sets, HS, NCAA and pro, the HS had the NCAA marks while the stadium had NCAA and pro marks, they are vital to making the pictures you see bands make). In any case, the sun glare was so fierce that it was hard to see the marks at all. After a 3 hour break for lunch back at the hotel, we did a little battle of the band contest with the University of North Carolina Band. I have to say, I liked their style. A very southern-y style band, and though a little top heavy (more higher pitched instruments for sure), they sure had a lot of energy and they had a heck of a trumpet who was just wailing away. There wasn't a winner declared, but it was just nice to see another college band perform. We then had dinner and I was in a special 50 piece band that performed for the special pep rally they had that night at a plaza area called the EpiCenter. They even had a bar for UC fans selling Skyline coneys and 3-4 ways. It was a pretty intense rally too. We traded songs again with a small group from UNC's band. Unlike last year where we outnumbered Duke's fans, UNC definitely had more presence than the Cincy crowd. Probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. Found a great NY style pizza place for dinner that night as well. Now onto game day on the 28th. Got a noon start after a boxed lunch at 11 am. We hardly used the buses other than the rehersal as everything was within walking distance, so we mostly walked everywhere, including to battle of the bands which was by the NASCAR HoF and Bank of America Stadium, also the home of the Carolina Panthers. Got to the stadium at about 1 pm so we could get situated and prep for pre-game. Also got a few shots of the team. (might be a tad blurry, the net made focusing a bit tough). So...the game...where do I begin? Both the O-line and D-line let UNC run through them all night. 2 big plays let up by the special teams, a botched kick return and a UNC run back for a TD, really hampered us early. They had momentum from the get go and never let up. Final score Tar Heels 36, Bearcats 17. After the game, we walked back to the hotel and I went out for a few drinks with friends as well as a nice steak dinner. I usually try to have at least one nice dinner at each of the bowls, and I saved this nice meal for the end. We left at 10 the next morning and arrived back in Clifton a little after 7:45 pm. Overall a pretty decent trip. Also, I have news that the UC band will be at the Bengals play off game this Sunday vs the Chargers! I'll post that part in the marching band thread as its not much of a trip.

Just got back from the Belk Bowl trip. Sure, UC did get throttled by UNC, but I had a blast regardless. PTR to come tomorrow.

Have a bit of a running itinerary for my upcoming Belk Bowl trip with the UC band. Leaving at 10:30 on the 26th to get there at a decent time. Should be about a 10-11 hour bus ride not counting pit stops. A few battle of the bands with UNC's band are thrown in plus a big pep rally the night before. Should be a pretty short and sweet trip of sorts.

...when the majority of parks in the US are closed. Just statin' the obvious.

Opening day for sure. With the way I've been following this since we saw the footers on opening day 2013, I feel it would only do me justice to try it out when it opens. After that I plan to ride The Bat for the first time under its new moniker.

I know Kings Island won't get trains shaped like the original Bat's trains, but what about painting the current trains to something like Big Bad Wolf's trains used to look like where it had the eyes painted on?

Beastie, a few years before Great Pumpkin showed up (or whatever it was called when it was introduced). I used to have a MAJOR phobia of coasters. My first ride on Beast almost scared me off them for good. However, a few runs on Racer started to warm me up, then finding Top Gun for the first time started my love affair. Must have rode it a dozen times in a row until the park closing when I first discovered it.

I think the width of the loop has to do more with how the layout goes and where supports are located than anything to do with train design (which are standard width 4 across B&M inverted trains) or anything else already mentioned. If the two tracks at the base of the loop were closer together, the 0g roll would be directly over the final turn and likely the final helix. That would make for a LOT of supports having to go in one spot. The descent off of the 0g roll also comes pretty close to the final turn as is with the loop widened at the bottom; imagine the the loop being narrower.

I can't really narrow down a single element, so I'll give a list... Backlot- the series of s-curves after the helix Beast- the helix for sure, but an element I like better is those series of drops after the 2nd tunnel before rising up to the 2nd lift Firehawk- the overbanked turn, the loop, the double roll, and the helix Bat - that 2nd hill over the station Flight of Fear- the launch and the final corkscrew, especially how the 2nd half builds up to it Son of Beast- first drop, the loop and the top of the 2nd hill (with the original trains) Vortex- each of the inversion has something special to me- the loops have nice positive g's and are simple, the corkscrews have nice hang time, and the batwing is just awesomely placed, that 2nd hill also has a nice jolt of air in the front seat, the first drop is great in the back King Cobra- the loop and the helix which felt nearly horizontal with the banking

If I'm seeing those Vekoma concept cars right, guests are kneeling in them. I wouldn't ride any coaster where you have to kneel down. Adding those to suspended coasters, especially the more forceful ones like Flight Deck and Ninja, would make chiropractors jump for joy with the added business.

I have a couple questions about Winterfest. -How successful was it when they first ran the event in the earlier part of Kings Island's history? -If Winterfest did continue post-Cedar Fair buyout, would it have lasted long? -What were the differences about the park and surrounding winter attractions that were different when it was first implemented then (in the 80's) than they are now?

I don't see a third crane. Clifford Jr is just bending down really far to get that penny.

This is a debate when counting inversions on 4D coasters as well (like X2). If we're going by how the track inverts, it only has 3, but add in the times the rider is physically upside down with the spinning and it adds up to the double digits. Eejanaika, a 4D in Japan, has 14 inversions if you count the seat flips.

Uh...why are they letting the crane build itself into a corner? How are they supposed to get it around to the back of the course to finish the 2nd half?

Last ride for me was Beast back on October 4th in the front seat.

They could be preparing to move Clifford as well. If it builds any more supports (judging by the renderings), it'll have no way out of where it is unless they dismantle it.

It looks like Clifford is going to build itself into a corner if it doesn't move around before finishing the 0g roll...

Now for a moment we've been waiting a long time for- Kings Island's first 0g roll going up!

Along with liking the new name, I really like the idea of painting the trains black. The black Arrow chassis on Ninja and BBW look great.

Sorry to go off topic, but just when I thought that Heide Park wing coaster couldn't get more awesome, they pull off stuff like THAT! Holy cow is that awesome lighting! Too bad Banshee won't have the path interaction that has to be able to pull off those lights to such an affect. Now if Banshee's queue area and the first 3 elements were lit up that way, I think we'll have a visual piece of awesome on our hands in 2014! I can already imagine the ride just rockin' at night.

I have to deal with the after affects of dealing with a major digestive medical disease which often leaves me lacking energy at times. While I do pride myself to still be able to go to and enjoy amusement parks including all the things like walking long distances, it would help a lot to have a mode of transportation from the gate to the car. Heck, I often take a break and ride the KI&MVRR just to take a load off my feet for a bit and relax. Having the tram back would be a tremendous help at the end of the day. I also like the idea of having a transport system in the park (like a monorail) that goes section to section. That's one big thing I like about Cedar Point is how their train and the sky lift accomplishes that.

The issue with the parking lot goes WAY beyond a few potholes. There are parts so worn away that it seems like you're driving on gravel. Not exactly a great walking surface either, at least compared to the midways.

I know SOB had a loop of 110 ft+, but with most of the other looping coasters at Kings Island having smaller inversions, it does feel kind of weird seeing such big inversions at the park. That dive loop looks to be enormous! I mean, Delirium itself is impressive to look at in how big it is, but to see something bigger where you're upside down, well, it's pretty exciting stuff. And to think there are 5 more of the HUGE inversions left. I hope the stats about the sizes of each element are released at some point.