TombRaiderFTW

^Do bear in mind that the video doesn't show that you're being held into an essentially sideless seat by a simple lapbar. I think that's where a lot of the thrill comes in--it's psychological. And as far as this gyro drop controversy goes... Who really cares? They're still both the scariest things I've ever done in an amusement park!

^ And yet no one was injured, and no one who's talking can say that guest safety was in question. I guess I don't really see your point. P.S. There are in fact coasters with inversions that have only lapbars. See also Greezed Lightnin' at the former Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, Dare Devil Dive at Six Flags Over Georgia, or even Son of Beast before its loop, due to unrelated circumstances, was removed.

^ If we're basing longevity on part availability, then KI's Arrows will be around for quite a while. S&S Power, who bought Arrow's assets* after they went bankrupt, continues to make parts for Arrow coasters. *I don't know if "assets" is technically the right word... I don't speak Corporate Takeover. Basically, most everything that used to be Arrow's became S&S's, as I understand it. EDIT: Delirium13 beat me to it! Meh, I tried.

Great pictures, guys! I gotta admit that, even though animatronic dinos really aren't my thing, this looks really well done. If only the trees around Diamondback could have been as sparingly removed! Now, for the million dollar Haunt question: does the DA path intersect the ToT path at any point?

I've only noticed the old Paramount signs on the inside of various telephones--namely, ET, WE, AE, SoB, and WWC, to name a few.

Haha, I like your enthusiasm, McSalsa! Great trip report. I also liked your pros/cons list there at the end--creative! So far, just about every day the park's been open has been jam-packed. I'm willing to guess it's because the park is having various events involving school choirs until this week--I know opening day was full of kids in shirts representing various choirs. In the past few years, Saturdays haven't seemed to be too bad until schools let out for summer/the park hosts events like this. But since the park opened unusually late, we haven't gotten the good old little-to-no wait weekends that the early part of the season usually provides. *insert wistful sigh*

The "other" would be Mike Graham of The Gravity Group. The Gravity Group designed The Voyage. As far as ownership making you above the law... I know no facts, but I'm doubtful that's the case.

Hark! The Voyage footage in question: From Holiday World's "Holiblogger" YouTube account.

Ha! That's nothing. At Kings Island last year, they had most of the park shut down for most of the day for the July 4th fireworks!

Two for me: KI PP and Holiday World. If I somehow make it up to Six Flags Great America this year, I'll probably snag a Six Flags pass, too.

I can't really choose just one. The highlights are wooden terrain, racing, LIM/LSM launch, and giga. I'd say floorless, impulse, and Arrow hypercoaster, but I've only been on one of each. It doesn't seem fair to say I like them--it's like saying one band is your favorite after hearing only one of their songs.

Do bear in mind that the "U" shape, as well as the lights, are nothing more than an added pair of eyes and the wires thereof, secured only with the finest... duct tape.

Same here, although I did see my Raven t-shirt getting a lot of pointed looks. I wasn't sure whether to say something or not, though, since I did see a Voyage t-shirt or two there as well... Or were there just a lot of enthusiasts at the park? Or is Holiday World actually popular around Cincinnati, and I've just never noticed it before?

^^ Thanks for the correction! I knew there was another company that regularly rented out the park, but I couldn't think of its name.

I agree wholeheartedly, though I didn't get a chance to ride Red Racer. The third row of either side at dusk will still always be one of my favorite experiences at Kings Island!

^ If I recall correctly, P&G usually rents out the park the second day it's open. I could be wrong.

^ To add to that, I saw all these rides experience multiple, prolonged bouts of downtown--err, downtime: Diamondback The Beast The Crypt Racer Adventure Express Flight Deck Vortex It was a pretty rough day at the park, especially when the place was already PACKED. We waited two hours to ride The Beast, which we only waited out because it's been 7 months since we last rode it. Also, I've got a sneaking suspicion Red Racer's trim brake wasn't on... Usually the first train to the lift will win, but Red Racer completely blew by us Blue Racer riders when I rode it in the evening, despite the fact that we had a whole car's length lead going to the lift. My friend and I called shenanigans on the other side--obviously, they took a shortcut!

In case anyone was wondering, here's what WindSeeker's sign looks like. (Haven't seen any pics in the other threads so far, so I thought I'd post it here.)

In case anyone was wondering, here's what WindSeeker's sign looks like. (Haven't seen any pics in the other threads so far, so I thought I'd post it here.)

As mentioned before, Crypt got new manually-powered doors between antechamber and preshow and between preshow and ride chamber. Aside from that, the only visual changes were that the two figures that were across the room now sit on either extreme of The Bat (with strobes turned on them), and their original locations now have-you guessed it-more skeletons. It does look nicer, but it's not so much of a radical change that I wanted to try to get a good picture of it... The lady behind me in line passionately and loudly disproved of most everything anyone around her did. Haha. The biggest improvement, in my opinion, is the soundtrack. The queue and ride both now use tracks from the Inception score, both of which complement the ride quite nicely. Give me a sec to check on my iPod, and I'll post the exact track names--they're both by Hans Zimmer. EDIT: Ride cycle: "Dream Is Collapsing" - Hans Zimmer Queue: I want to say either "We Built Our Own World" or "One Simple Idea" - Hans Zimmer. I'm leaning mostly towards the latter, but I'm not sure. TombRaiderFTW, now even more glad he decided to buy the Inception score to work by a few months ago!

^ HA! Good one! I considered referencing BavarianBeetle myself, but I couldn't think of anything. Nicely done!

^I'm fairly positive that's Bavarian Beetle.

^ HA! That goes down as my hands-down favorite post for this off-season!

^^ No. It's a launched "motorbike" type of coaster (like Pony Express at Knott's Berry Farm) made to look like rows of racing horses, as I understand it.

^I'd say so!