KIfan73

Mike, I really enjoy those kinds of stories you tell. It was great talking to you in person, too, at the Offseason Blues party in the IR.

This is a great day for watching the webcam, for sure.

Drop Tower (was still Drop Zone when I rode it). I rode it once in '05, and then tried it again in '06. I put it in the same category as Delerium and Invertigo. I wasn't terrified on them, just glad when the ride was over and I could get out of it. I really enjoy roller coasters, and find the fear/exhilaration trade-off to be worth it. Those three rides just aren't fun for me.

Walt Disney World.

I couldn't have said that any better.

If you renewed online, do you just need to go up to one of the Season Pass windows with your printout?

Awesome pics and video. Wow, I really want to ride it now. It's all becoming so real now. Seems like they just drained the lake!

I couldn't blame them a bit if they didn't want the public to see the initial run. One minor hiccup could mean many less riders on their newly installed apparatus.

Mr. Helbig seems to have been straight up (up and above anything expected, for sure) with this site. I can't see this being any different of a case.

"I wonder if they can see me from the web cam."

It does seem a real shame that they ripped out an area as nice as the Antique Cars was. I would think that people that can clearly remember how Kings Island looked decades ago would have a hard time walking around it now (because of all the changes, not their age ).

At least they still serve bier in their garten.

Thanks for those fast replies. Now, the term "valley" makes sense. I've read it before, and it sounded so much worse...

What does it mean when a coaster valleys?

Is it still going to be buffet style still? Yes -- plus a few new food choices and an all new look and feel. Wow, first Diamondback, and then, FINALLY, some changes to Wings? Yes!!

When you visit a park as big as KI, all the different attractions and food places kind of all blend into the scenery. It's easy to forget that some of them are big businesses all on their own. Another question kind of related to this: Anybody on the tour get any other details about Wings other than the name change? I'm glad to see they're doing something to it, as it has needed it for years, and it seems logical that there's going to be a lot more traffic in that area now.

I'm having a hard time thinking of any reason why they would want to change it back to BBSS, royalties or no. Did business drop off that much last year? Will it be remodeled?

Looking forward to reading it, Giga... I'm sure it will be as energetic and enthusiastic as you are in person!

I liked it way better as Days of Thunder than SpongeBob. The James Bond version was pretty cool too. But Days of Thunder was the best. The theming was so good for Days of Thunder when it was new. Race cars and sound effects through the queue, and one of the Pettys (forget which one) on the screen talking and pumping you up before you went through the doors. Evidently, people just kind of got tired of the concept.

This is a real shame, especially if you were lucky enough to check it out when it was new with Days of Thunder.

Great pics. Thanks for sharing. Lots of awesome views of DB. Just a little off-topic: The thing that I love about this photo is what I still love about The Beast...when viewing/entering the queue, you see nothing of the ride. I can just imagine the anticipation this created when it was new (it always reminds me a bit of the early Friday the 13th movies). Not that I think that Diamondback (or other ride at KI) is any less than spectacular, though!

I have to say that the surface formerly known as blacktop actually goes pretty well with DB's theming! Looks like something out of the wild west!

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing. I'm glad the tour finally went down .

It's almost like not really being there! J/K...I didn't make it, either...hoping for some good pics.

I think the best theming would be anything related to the Myrtle Beach area. People travel to MB for the ocean. Why wouldn't you want to play up to that?