silver2005

Guys, WindSeeker is down.

I normally don't when I go to Kings Island. However, during the brisker portions of the calendar like early Spring or during the Haunt, I'm game. Though for Haunt, I go to the Kings Mills location outside the park. Kind of a annual tradition for me to go there before my first Haunt visit each season. Also helps that they're one of the better Skyline restaurants in the area.

On a cold day like this, I would actually be contemplating Skyline Time for lunch. Someone also check the RT Freestyle station for @King Ding Dong

I wonder how long Orion's wait would have been today.... EDIT: You can do Street View on Google Maps BTW, though, its fairly old. As in, Son of Beast still standing old.

Congo Falls at 49 degrees anyone?

@pianoman will be excited to learn there are videos of Kings Island Fountain ERT.

Would anyone be contemplating bringing semi-heavy clothes (besides malem, obviously) to the park if Orion opened today to combat the 93 mph windchills?

I figured this existed.

Wolverine Wildcat just needs a bit of TLC. Its got the layout to be good, it just needs some re-tracking to rid itself of the jack hammering in spots.

Having ridden El Toro and a few GCI's, I give the forces nod to GCI's. El Toro does have some good airtime, but GCI's have much more of an out of control feeling due to the fact the track keeps changing and they do the whole elements within elements designs. I like all the GCI's I've ridden over El Toro. Also, IMO, El Toro isn't aging particularly well, especially in the s-curve section.

Well, the obvious bad news is I'm cancelling this trip this summer. Depending on how soon I get back to work, I may either keep this trip and actually add SFGAm and a Chicago venture to it, or I may go back to the southeast trip I was planning to KD, BGW, Carowinds and Dollywood with a good helping of Gatlinburg in there.

I heard a really great argument on how things like sports and amusement parks should open back up and the pressure they're under. Not only do they have the pressure of re-opening, but they're essentially hoping for a silver bullet of a situation. They have to do it the right way, a way where they won't get scrutiny for a bad decision which leads to more people getting sick. The consequences of getting their re-opens wrong is actually being without them until next year/whenever the virus subsides. I for one hope all these entities take their time re-opening, do it right, and make sure the decision to open back up is the right one. Whatever form that takes, I'm game.

Ski ride? What?

Sorry, but this comment calls for this. You may continue with your regularly scheduled discussion.

The CCI fan in me wishes the woodie alleged to go where DB is now came to fruition.

How about Six Flags Great America's? Iron Wolf- B&M's first coaster Shockwave- once one of the tallest coasters in the world and tied for most inversions at 7 for a bit Deja Vu- One of a handful of Vekoma Giant Inverted Boomerangs ever built Rolling Thunder, Tidal Wave and Z-Force- part of SIX's infamous ride rotation Or Six Flags Great Adventure- Great American Scream Machine- one of the tallest coasters in the world and first to 7 inversions Viper- First heartline coaster Ultra Twister- the only one of its kind in the US Batman and Robin: The Chiller- first racing/dueling LIM coasters Rolling Thunder- one of the racing coasters built in the 70s along side the likes of Racer, Racer 75, etc. Lightning Loops- only pair of interlocking Arrow shuttle looping coasters

Racer has been getting subsequently better over the last few seasons with each bit of re-tracking. I expect the same this season (or whenever we get to ride it again). I know they probably won't repaint it to its original patriotic colors, but at least put some new chaser lights all the way down, too.

In terms of defunct rides I didn't get to ride when I visited and they were operating (and I was able to ride through being tall enough)- Ghoster Coaster, the helicopter tour, the tallest of the FastTrak slides (the slides at the tower before the mat racers) and Flight Commander. In terms of currently operating rides- Sling Shot.

All the S&S towers and Skyhawk would like to disagree with the notion of CF not working with S&S.

On the whole launch coaster discussion, I hope KI's next launch coaster is more of a flashy coaster with something like a 75-90 mph launch and elements above 200 ft.

^Maverick had an inline roll removed, Wicked Twister needed new supports, I-305 needed its 2nd hill re-profiled, Xcelerator had its launch cable snap with park guests on the ride, I believe Millennium Force also had its lift cable snap.

IIRC, Vortex even reused steel supports of the original Bat as well. The first lifts of both are in the same place.

^That made more sense back then because 1) Bat only was around a few years and 2) OG Bat and Vortex were by the same designer. Doesn't make any sense to re-use 30+ year old footers.

I have used to have a medical condition where I had to battle my own immune system as what I had was considered an auto-immune disorder. While I had surgery to remove said condition, building back your immune system takes tons of time, even if you're active in doing it plus your body doesn't store Vitamin C. While mine is more functional than what it used to be, I still don't trust my immune system even well after what they say is a good time to relieve social distancing practices. I'm going to continue to be strict in my own way until the 18 month time frame when there will allegedly be a vaccine. I have to actively take steps past what people consider to be healthy practices, even when there wasn't a virus spreading. If it means not going to parks, sporting events and the like, so be it. I also spent more time in a hospital than anyone should- I get how to handle social isolation and the level of patience and persistence needed to power through it. I anticipate several more spikes when between social distancing being relaxed and when the vaccine arrives.

I'm honestly thinking of just sitting out 2020 for park visits and just wait until 2021 even if parks open up, or at the very least wait until Haunt season to see if things aren't as hard pressed in terms of social distancing. Already cancelled my CP/MIA trip. Just thinking of all the hassles just to go isn't worth it to me. And yes, I'm okay with biting the $200 bullet of purchasing a Platinum Pass for this year and not using it.