KIfan73

^ I second that!!

At least we have a rumor going!! Its about time. Let the offseason begin!!

I've waited 45 minutes for TG twice this season: Once on July 2, and once last Saturday night. However, I was a little concerned last Saturday night about TG's future when I saw that much of its queue was taken by Club Blood.

Below is a Trip Report from my trip to KI this past Saturday, October 20th. I went with a lady I work with, her daughters, and their friends. We're teachers, so this group almost felt like a field trip...lol. Most of my friends have quit going to KI, unless they take their kids (I'm 34). This group is always up for a trip at least once a year. We decided to go early and enjoy the day, plus stay through Halloween Haunt. Ahhh...what a great sight! Exiting off of I-71, and the Tower and Drop Zone are in view! What a beautiful day. Is this really October 20th?? The lines weren't bad at all. We're walking in at about 2:30. We also got a great parking spot in the Gold Lot. We got lucky, as two people were leaving their parking spot. Already lots of decorations can be seen. I loved the old Trams with the skeletons in them. What a cruel joke it would be when we would be heading to our car later at 12:45 am!! What great theming as you come into the park. It really sets the mood. We were all deciding what to do at this point. I suggested Firehawk, but when we arrived everyone thought the line was too long, and didn't want to stay. I would have estimated it at an hour. However, a few hours later, the gentleman working the entry gate said 2.5-3 hours, as they were only running one train. Unfortunately, my friends didn't get to experience Firehawk this trip. Too bad! At this point, I suggested the Zephyr. We actually all got on it, and it was actually pretty fun. After that, we hit recaR, Top Gun (45 minute wait), and Shake, Rattle 'n Roll (always a blast). At this point, we split up a bit, and some of us went to The Beast. After countless rides, The Beast never disappoints. There is nothing like it. These are just some random pics I took. The park was really nice to look at today, especially with the fall foliage. We enjoyed a beautful afternoon, but before you knew it, the fog machines were doing their thing! Got lunch at Festhaus, and got the big bonus of getting to see the last 10 minutes of the Buckeyes beating Michigan State. What a great day! You gotta love the feeling when the fog is flowing, and the music starts playing. By this time, it is dark, and I'm amazed at how warm it still is. The "big tall monster" is pretty cool to see in person. I imagine that if I was a kid, I would have been scared to death. However, I caught "it" posing for pics with kids all evening. Cool. I had decided before I went into the park that I wanted a new sweatshirt, so as the evening cooled off, I made my way into a few shops until I found a black "Halloween Haunt" hoodie in the store that is directly to your right as you enter the park. We started off HH with CornStalkers. I've never been really big on the haunted attractions, so I thought this was the line to it!! LOL. It was fun, and I always jump when somebody surprises me. We followed this up with Tombstone Terror-Tory. At this point the crowds are becoming massive, and the line for this was back to LaRosa's in RT. Strange as it sounds, I enjoy the crowds. I just think it adds to the atmosphere. Lots of action going on. I wouldn't think this during it, but I ended up really enjoying Tombstone Terror-Tory. I was just giggling about how the train stops, and how you have to walk through the woods. Great visuals. It was like being IN a horror movie. The fog so thick that you can't see where you're going, and the little girl: "Thats my daddy hanging over there". LOL...gotta love it. Once again, they made me jump a lot! We followed this with "The WorkSite". I thought this was clever, too, and the "cop" at the beginning cracked me up. The girl at the end (with the big sledehammer thing) followed one of our party clear until the Tower: "you think its over? Its not over!!". I told her "great job!!"...LOL We were all thirsty and found a cart with Lemonade on it. We all donated $3.75 apiece, and headed to the Paramount Theatre. We watched all but about 5 minutes of the "Great Baldini". I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The guy cracked me up, but, in a way, I almost felt sorry for him. Great Theming!! We all attempted to get into the line for Club Blood, but we decided not to wait, as the line seemed to go on forever. The rest of my group headed for "Death Row", but I decided to go ahead and wait inline for SOB. After about 50 minutes of waiting (at 11:40) I got into my seat. It was neat heading out in the pitch dark. The climb at night was awesome, and I love the drop. This is where things got BAD. I rode this ride several times with the loop, and pretty much swore it off. I rode it once this summer (post-loop), and the "jack-hammering" effect only got me in a couple sections. However, I don't know if it was because of the cold, or what, but halfway through the ride, I wanted off. I took a beating that was way past enjoyable. The Beast's beating is still "fun" for me. This was absolutely miserable. I was transferring as much weight to my feet as possible, but I still took a pounding. I may try it again this spring, but at this point I'm not sure. By 12:45 we headed out the gates to begin our 75 minute drive home. Overall, I had a blast. There really wasn't much to complain about for me. I can't wait to go back in the spring, and I'll just have to see what the charge for HH is next year. I decided against buying a 2008 pass (I've had one the last two seasons). I have found that having a pass is almost like "pressure" of having to go. Its not that I haven't enjoyed my visits. I'd just prefer to buy tickets for the times when some friends are already going, or something like that. I wish I lived closer; I would go all the time. Anyway, the rest of my group had fun, as well. My friend that I worked with said something interesting to me. I read these forums a lot, but its interesting to hear sometimes what the "general public" thinks. She said that this wasn't nearly as good as FearFest used to be. Now, I don't believe for a second that this year's HH could have been "worse" than FearFests of past years. The only thing I thought of is that I hope people aren't tiring of it. From the crowds I saw, I don't think its the case, and I hope its not. I do think it will be interesting next year to see what they charge for it.

I'm going today too! Planning on getting there at about 3. Haven't been to KI since July. I'm really looking forward to it!

Same here. Do these have to be purchased at the park?

I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I'd love to see them open earlier in the morning (24 hour days would take care of that!). Morning is my favorite @ KI. Get a Starbucks and ride The Beast by 8 am would be an incredible day!!

This brings up a point that I thought about during a visit to KI this summer. There's several reasons I thought of that would make it tough to run a corporation whose main "product" is amusement parks. First, how many other companies have to offer the same "products" (in an amusement park's case would be rides, attractions, etc.) that they've had 20, 30, or more years while trying to remain fresh and offer new experiences? There's new clothes, cars, etc. every year. They can't tear down an amusement park and start over every year. Cedar Fair (in the example of Kings Island) has to offer their customers stuff that was installed, what, 3-4 owners and 35 years ago? Second, there's not many alternative distribution channels if you own an amusement park. You have to continue to bring your entire market to you. Wal-Mart or McDonald's can just throw up a store wherever there's a market for it. Third, and this is related to the one above: You're such a large distance from a majority of your market. I would think you would have to rely so heavily on people just (hopefully) remembering the good times they had at your park, and want to come back. Your "storefront" isn't seen every few miles and in lots of towns.

^Thats been my experience exactly. "Hey, I heard Cedar Point bought Kings Island". "Well, its actually Cedar Fair and they own several parks". "Oh, OK" onto next subject...

^That makes me think of something... For the people that are well-versed on KI history, has the park done better being owned by media companies or entertainment (strictly amusement park) companies? I know it sounds dumb, but it just dawned on me that's a big difference about Cedar Fair owning it...not a media company.

I want to get there by next summer. My mom talks about going there before KI. I'd just like to go check it out. Looks like a neat place.

^ I wouldn't go that far. I don't think they're "pushing" people away, but I do think that most people are used to it being included in admission and with their season pass. I hope its hugely successful both this year and next year, and every year after that. I just know I probably won't pay extra next year to go to it. Hopefully I'm in a tiny minority.

it will go down the drain just like winterfest I'm afraid I agree with you.

I searched other threads, but hope this hasn't already been posted... I was reading the 2008 Season Pass FAQ section on PKI.com and it states very clearly that next year HH will definitely be a separate charge. I believe it even says that the free parking will not be available during it, as well. http://www1.cedarfair.com/kingsisland/spec...fo/pass_faq.cfm I know it has been said on here that it was expected to be an up-charge, but I hadn't read anything definitive. Again, I hope this isn't a re-post.

I researched the ride that this thread is about, and its actually called "half-pipe". Anybody that's rode a half pipe knows that this ride would be a real rush.

Maybe just have it themed to skating (skateboarding), and at opening have a big skate demo with some big pros. It would definitely be something different, and would be something that a lot of kids are really into.

I think it would be a great addition, especially if themed with X-Games or Tony Hawk or something like that.

I went 17 years between my first and second visits to KI ('75-'92). So, if I could I would love to be able to go back and ride Lion Country Safari and Enchanted Voyage. As far as rides I can actually remember, I would have to go with King Cobra, Antique Cars, Phantom Theatre, and Days of Thunder in the F/X Theater.

AWESOME pics. I was just showing them to my mom. We rode that in '75...but I've never seen pics of the actual station and monorail itself...we have pics of the animals, and the woods. Wow, just when you think you've seen everything!

As crappy as I think the food is (for the most part) at KI, I've never heard one person complain either at the park, or the numerous people I talk to that visit the park. I really don't believe its that much of a deal breaker. I think its an issue that IS noticed more by the enthusiasts than the GP. There's also never a shortage of people to line up and shell out the money for it when I'm at the park.

Thats funny, just yesterday I remembered something about the site being mentioned on here sometime over the summer. Great job!

Good pics. Was the 16th an education day? If it was, I had a chance to be there that day (I'm a teacher). I love the shot from the parking lot. I really don't know of any more of an exciting view than that one.

That does look like fun. It would definitely be something unique!

I kind of fell back in love with the older water rides at KI this summer. I think it would be neat to get a newer version of a water ride in the park. I would think it would be a lot cheaper than a roller coaster (maybe not). It would steal a little thunder, maybe, away from the Columbus Zoo's new park opening...

I'm undecided. I've had a pass the last two years, and it has been a FANTASTIC value. But, sometimes I've felt like I've almost "made" myself go because I have the pass. Before I had a pass, I just went if a group of friends was going or something. Either way, I need to decide before my trip to HH.