KIfan73

Great TR, thanks for sharing. Glad to hear you went for it, and rode WindSeeker...I wonder if anyone else on here is having second thoughts about riding it?

I enjoyed DA, but I think they missed the boat by not having the dino path connect two areas of the park. It is kind of off by itself, not really on the way to anything. If it took you from say, Action Zone to Coney Mall, instead of going the normal way, you might pay to go through the dino path instead. Of course you would also bypass a lot of revenue generators, and, if that's the case, there's no doubt as to why it's set up as it is.

I have been wanting to do an evening/overnight/morning trip to KI & BB, so last week I took the opportunity to do just that. I never have been able to get a good view of the fireworks because I'm usually trying to beat the traffic jam out of the lot, but I had a hotel room, so I got a good spot behind the ET, and took them in. In this TR, I'm just going to list some things that stood out to me during my trip: 1. Diamondback is not the fastest ride in the park. It is Bondi Pipeline. You will hit terminal velocity before you hit the final chute. It is so fast that, despite the running water in the tube, my back nearly burst into flames from the friction. 2. A planter that used to be in front of Festhaus is gone. 3. Crocodile run is possibly the most fun ride in the park. I have always passed it up in years past, but I rode it twice. I could have ridden it all day. I wish they would build another one of these that ran out to the parking lot...what a way to end the day! 4. Hanks Back Porch Bar is the most relaxing getaway in the park. The $1.29 peanuts is also the best food deal in the park. 5. The musical shows at KI are really good. Even for someone like me that doesn't like to sit still, it is a great addition to a visit. I watched American Country and Signed, Sealed, Delivered. I want to catch the other ones sometime soon. 6. The pretzels from KI Pretzel Co. on IS are really good. I got a cinnamon sugar one, and it was delicious. 7. There are tons of people every day at KI who have never been to KI before. 8. Kings Island is a great park that has rides (think about it!). 9. I think Kings Island is at its best right now, from top to bottom, than it has been in the last 20 years (that's how long I have been regularly visiting the park). 10. The park - including BB is amazingly clean. 11. The lifeguards at BB are incredible. Just spend some time watching them. The amount of them on duty is kind of amazing, too. 12. I really like the area behind the ET, especially at dusk/dark. I really liked Snoopy's SS. Also, I was so glad to see the floral clock and date looking so good! Thanks for reading!!

Stop leading us down the primrose path....

How is ole Otis these days?

Bring back the trams!!

This is a fantastic idea! I would actually probably use this myself! You need to write to the park and give them this idea.

Just off IS to the right (after entering through the main entrance)...

Well, for those of us that have never visited a Disney property yet, Disney has (kind of) come to us!!

When The Beast was designed and built, I wondered if they ever thought people could be so ignorant...

The clock is back...I don't think it was done a few weeks ago...wonder about the date "clock"...two of my favorite things at KI... Thanks for sharing your TR!

I think that if it didn't allow for any sway, we would have another Bat on our hands.

Well, it does cost less to not run a ride than it does to run it (I'd assume), but you can still advertise that you have it...

I can't help but think that this is almost like another company taking over the CF chain...I would think this guy would bring a much different philosophy to the table (not necessarily better or worse)...

I'm no amusement industry expert, but my mind is racing thinking about someone that worked for Disney so long being in charge of Kings Island (as well as the other CF parks)...

Is the small tree lined road near the entrance the old (I believe it's called) Columbia Road? Also, is that I71 further out, or is that Kings Island Drive? It's kind of hard to tell without the parking lot there for comparison. I'm glad KI hasn't released more of these pics because I wouldn't get anything done!

Awesome pics and TR! Thanks for posting... by the way, I took a close up of WS's shock absorbers, too...lol.

Diagonally, possibly; in terms of surface area, not even close...

Wow, I really love seeing that picture...I can't get enough construction pics!

From Kings Island PR's Twitter...

I wonder how much of the original Racer still makes up the present day Racer...

So, that owner owned just Kings Island?

Nice pics. If I had the means, I'd get 50 "enthusiasts" to go buy WindSeeker shirts and all line up in the WS queue asking "will this open soon? I am so pumped! This is going to be awesome!!!"....

Was here on the computer looking over my picture files this morning... 1972 1973 1992 2005 2008 2010 2011

And here is a pic of what is there now, in place of the Euro Bubbles...