KIfan73

From this past October (2014):

As I've said before, I would think that the fountains and Eiffel Tower alone would qualify as a "world class" attraction!

Thanks for posting these. Can't believe I finally got to see a POV from the WAH/LCS. Got to ride it once. In 1975. When I was 2 (but have no memory, of course). Thanks again!

While it may be a dream for many of us on here, I can't imagine there would be that many people that would want to live so close to a major amusement park.

Should we have already figured out the reason for the revival of the Italian Job thread?

I've seen this sign for it for 20+ years on my way to KI. It's kind of fell into the category of some other things that I'd like to see in the area of Kings Island...do I really want to sacrifice time at the park, which is the reason I've driven 1.5 hours, to visit this? Off topic, but I was kind of shocked to see the big Bob Evans close to Kings Island was closed!

I thought my days of riding roller coasters over and over again were done years ago. I'm so thankful for the new rides like Banshee and Diamondback. I rode both of those all day long a couple weeks ago with no pain (I'm 41)...just got up the next morning and went to work without feeling a thing.

Except for one visit when I was too little to remember, I've only visited Kings Island as an adult. I really feel, though, for all those people who have memories of a certain era. I definitely would have been in the H-B era, and know how much the child version of myself would have liked to have seen it during the '70's and '80's. I think this thread brings up a good point. Look at Disney. I'm sure you can still see things there that you would have seen as a child 40 years ago. I think parks like Kings Island are missing the boat when they trash so much of their past, although I understand much of the trashing is due to legal reasons.

Better check the cams today. They move fast!

I believe the park said something to the tune that they were going to cater more to families. I'm afraid they are.

Banshee without a doubt. I'm so looking forward to riding it next year. I don't think I've ever felt that way about one certain ride.

Well, it looks like it's fate is sealed. This is really too bad. The Kings Island Inn/Kings Island may just as well been Disney World when I was growing up. In case you're wondering what kind of place it was in years past, here are some pics from a menu from the "Alpenhorn" restaurant inside the Kings Island Inn from 1980: Sorry about the sideways photos. I've tried several times to rotate them in Photobucket, but they just keep coming back like that.

I thought the blacktop around the Tower was looking pretty sad when I was there last weekend.

I'm glad for everyone on here that loved the Eagles that a form of them are coming back. For me, personally, though, I never caught the fever (along with Phantom Theater). However, if a new version of Skylab was coming back, look out! I'm also really looking forward to the Starbucks, the yogurt and candy shops, and for SR&R coming back.

Banshee, without a doubt. Completely renewed my interest in riding roller coasters. It took me back to when I rode Vortex for the first time 22 years ago.

I was there opening year. There was no Starbucks on International Street. No but plenty of outside vendors.

Starbucks nostalgic? Really?? On another note.....some of you are hard to please. Yes, I really think it is. Take a look at a brochure from Kings Island's opening year, and see what fills several of the shops on International Street.

I'm really excited about the new Starbucks. This is actually a very nostalgic addition to Kings Island.

They need pavers around the Eifel Tower area. Hope that's part of the announcement.

I really wish Kings Island would bring back really nice, suitable for framing, collector's maps.

I think much of what we're seeing in education is simply a result of supply and demand. You see stories of kids in other places walk for miles to learn in a hut, because there is nothing else. In America, you can barely show up for class, not turn in a thing, and there's office after office of professionals waiting in line to intervene to ensure you eventually receive a diploma. Money keeps being poured into it, but when is that ever the answer?

Had not planned at all to go to Kings Island today, but decided at about 11 am, that I would go for it! Arrived at the park at about 1. The weather forecast didn't lie, this was a spectacular day to visit the park. I renewed my pass for next year, and received my first-ever Fast Lane Pass! After using it for the day, I can't imagine going without one, which I will, because it would be pretty expensive to buy one every visit! I would like to take this opportunity to talk about Banshee. I can't believe how much I like this ride. If you've read my posts in the past years, you know how much I appreciate all of the historical aspects of the park. While I still definitely do, I think I could now spend every visit doing nothing but riding Banshee. I love the queue, the ride, and even the gift shop. I wasn't really all that enthused when this ride was announced and was being built, not sure why, just wasn't. I have to say now that riding Banshee turns me into a 10 year old kid. It has completely renewed my interest in riding roller coasters. Banshee's Fast Lane line was the place to be yesterday. Many of the other rides FL lines were getting fairly long, some of which I chose not to wait in. Banshee's FL line was a virtual walk-on all day long. I rode it 6 times in a row, and total of 8 times for the day. I actually tried Diamondback a couple times yesterday thanks to the FL pass, as I haven't rode it in a few years. I'm sorry, but it just doesn't hold a candle to Banshee, in my humble opinion. Another neat thing yesterday was checking out the doggie event. There was even someone with a dog in the Gold Pass purchasing line. As someone who loves dogs, I thought this looked like a really nice event. If my drive wasn't as long as it is, I would have loved to have taken my dogs. I'm glad I got to go this late in the season so it won't be quite so long until my first 2015 visit! I'll let the pics do the rest of the talking. Enjoy! Arrived!: Have they had this date on here all of this month?? Wish they could go into this much detail for a Christmas themed event: See you in the spring, Kings Island!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like Kings Island, at least, has kind of backed off on the "nothing is off limits" marketing the last couple of seasons.

Just found some photos from a trip in October 1994. A photo from the front: For those of you not familiar with the Resort, you can get an idea, from this angle, how many rooms are in just one of the front buildings (that I have circled in pink in the photo below): A shot of the old sign, along with the bus waiting to take guests CLOSE to the front gate, back in those days: A shot inside:

The last time I stayed there was last year. That's the first time that I felt like it was just a bit "rough around the edges". While I don't doubt that there have been some people have some bad experiences, it isn't a place you'd walk through and think that it is dilapidated. It is just so (sorry to use the word again) sprawling, that all the small maintenance things it needs kind of adds up. I hope someone on here may have some more in-depth pics of it in its prime.