TombRaiderFTW

Yep! The only place I have found them is at the food building (can't remember the name--something to do with funnel cakes) by White Water Canyon's entrance.

We could have been friends, CoasterDirected. And then you had to go and post that. I kid, of course. I get where the desire to RMC Boss comes from. I just happen to disagree. It seems to me like Boss is really temperamental--either it's really good and smooth(er), or it's all brain damage and no forces. (Coincidentally, it seems to me like Holiday World's woodies suffer from the same effect, but more predictably and less dramatically--I've had good rides one spring and very jarring rides in the heat of the following summer.) If there was a way to make it a more consistently good experience without resorting to RMC, I'd much rather see that happen. But, to each his own! TRFTW, resident Boss fanboy.

Oh, I have no doubt that that would be incredibly taxing just to do, let alone do well. I meant that more as a joke. Sorry, I should have clarified.

Then I'll be wheely excited to give it try, as I haven't watched All Wheels Extreme at any park. It's presumably not a musical revue, so I am more open to giving it a few tries. Then again, I would probably be really intrigued by a musical revue that has the singers doing stunts on wheels while singing...

^^ Oh, my heart. I will die of happiness if that's true. It's no Cirque, but Dimensions is still an awesome show in its own way. It very much has its own personality--not as much emphasis on storytelling, but still a quality experience nonetheless, featuring amazing acts and enjoyable humor.

Those would be the Topper Track rides in particular that I was thinking of. I know those have been marketed extensively as being wooden. My point is that the Ibox conversions, which this new track is arguably more comparable to, have not been marketed as wooden since NTG. And there have been notably more Ibox rides than Topper Track... EDIT: In retrospect, I apologize for being rude about this--jumping on anyone was not my intention at all. My goal was just to have a conversation about whether or not parks would market a coaster with this track as wooden. All I'm trying to say is that since parks really haven't been marketing Ibox tracks as wooden, I don't imagine this would be different.

I'm speculating, but it seems to me like this track could be useful for inversions or elements that aren't supported for some length. It could come in handy for rides that might cross over some stretch of land that can't be built upon (think Waldameer, Hersheypark, etc.) It's not the prettiest track I've ever seen, but I'm interested to see how it's used in future RMC projects. I feel like there's something up their sleeves with this. Also, apart from the Topper Track rides and New Texas Giant, am I missing something here when it comes to parks calling RMC rides wooden? I'm fairly confident that no marketing department has tried calling their Ibox conversions wooden after SFOT tried it with New Texas Giant. Y'all are acting like everyone's doing it.

^ Ah! I stand corrected. In case it wasn't obvious, I've never done a Fright Feast meal before. Learn something new everyday! Thanks! In that case, it definitely sounds like a call to the park is in order.

Hi! For what it's worth, I haven't seen anything anywhere that indicates that Fright Feast meal purchases include complimentary Fright Lane. Given the pricing of Fright Feast, I would be really, really surprised if it was included in the price. (Fright Lane runs at least $40. Fright Feast is around $13 for a non-passholder guest.) I would double-check Kings Island's website and/or contact the park to get that clarified--I'd hate for you to be let down when you visit. That being said: I've always gotten the impression that Skeleton Keys are always included with Fright Lane. At least at Kill Mart and Slaughterhouse last year, the Fright Laners had a dedicated queue and door to enter both houses, and that door went into their Skeleton Key rooms. There isn't any indication on Kings Island's website that Skeleton Key is ever offered separately from Fright Lane that I've seen. Then again, I've only ever used Fright Lane at Kings Island once. Again, it may be in your best interests to get this cleared up by the park. (Perhaps Don or Sara can comment on this?) I hope you have a great time!

Switchback has begun testing! Video, including POV, has been posted to ZDT's Facebook page. (Not thinking there's a way to embed it--someone feel free to teach me otherwise if I'm wrong!) For those of us who can't get to Facebook, ZDT's posted this link on their Twitter. I think it's just the Facebook video file, but not embedded in a Facebook page. Not sure how/if that helps anyone here, but I'll post it anyway just in case. I have to say: I love the look of this ride. It's so unusual and interesting! Not sure when I'll end up in San Antonio again, but if it comes up, this will definitely be one of the reasons I'll want to go. I also really like the music they chose for the video--very 1920's-y and theme-appropriate.

Now, now. Amusement Today says it was a vote. No money changed hands here, Silly! Word has obviously just gotten out about Disney's subpar food and underwhelming landscaping. On an entirely unrelated note, I'm on year 2 of my subscription to Amusement Today, and I've yet to even see a mention of ballots being handed out (let alone be provided one...)

^^ I honestly can't imagine SFOG minus Mindbender and Monster Mansion. The three reasons I liked SFOG, in order from most to least, are: 1. Mindbender, 2. Monster Mansion, and 3. Georgia Cyclone. Removing those first two would suck the life out of the park for me. Thank goodness they were saved. Speaking of which, I miss all three of those terribly. I need to get back. Anyway, on the subject of Halloweekends: I like the sounds of the new house and scare zone. I am unspeakably jealous, may I add, that Cedar Point continues to feature Skeleton Crew. Unfortunately, I don't know if I will make it back this year. It's entirely due to my schedule--Halloweekends is really a neat Halloween event. It really has its own personality compared to our Haunt. I recommend it if that's your kind of thing!

Huh. I've been around for now three "lifetimes" of this thread and never responded. Might as well jump in this time around. It seems a little cliched to say, but I'm fairly certain it's Adventure Express for me. I have no idea how many times I've ridden it, but I do know I've had multiple visits since 2008 where I rode it 5 to 10 times in a visit. Outside of Planet Snoopy, it's also the ride I have the most history with. (The farthest back I can reasonably guess having ridden it was 1996. To this day, my family will talk about how much the second lift hill scared me. We also talk about how our train stopped on that lift once--in retrospect, I'm guessing that the ride was running three trains and we just happened to stack on that lift.) I really hope Adventure Express lasts another 24 years. I do love that ride. (Before someone says it: Runaway Mine Train at SFOT turns 50 next year. I'd argue that its intensity is comparable to AE's. Let a guy dream! )

I have this pipe dream where Kings Island (in an apparent attempt to abandon the ride's target audience) adds a Verbolten-style drop track after the second lift hill. Picture a left turn into a pitch-black room, where the train comes to a quiet stop. You hear the booming voice of the main "tiki man" announce, "You will never leave this place!" In a flash, fire licks around the train, illuminating the crumbling pillars barely supporting the roof. Thunder starts to boom. You hear chanting and drum beats. The intensity of the thunder and fire increase. The pillars and roof start to fracture (using some effect like this), ominous red light shining through the holes in the ceiling. A huge boom, and you fall. You roll backwards in darkness onto a turntable. While you're reoriented in the right direction, you hear the voice of the old station announcer call, "There they are! We've found them! Pull them up!" You roll forward onto an enclosed lift (in place of the current brake run--don't ask me where they store trains now) and hear, "We thought you had been lost to the jungle. Thank goodness you are safe." You roll out of the tunnel and into the station. I dunno. I just think something like that would be fun. The budget and required amount of upkeep required are unrealistic, but it's fun to imagine.

The last time I went to a Frich's, there was an insect (something along the lines of a small caterpillar or worm) in my salad. I haven't been back. Apart from that, I also echo the statements here about there not being much that I really crave there.

Don posted here about Kings Island needing volunteers for photoshoots. Tony Clark posted something similar on Cedar Point's blog. The first photoshoot opportunity: "Sunday, August 30 (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.) Wildwater Kingdom in Aurora, OH - looking for all ages and heights" Sounds like the future is, if only for one more season, bright for Ohio's Wildwater Kingdom. Unless they're for generic use across all of Cedar Fair's parks...?

At this point, I just kinda call them as I see them after experiencing them and deciding what fits best for me. It's entirely subjective, and I have no doubt that I'm probably inconsistent as all get out. Credits aren't really important to me; I basically only keep track of them out of curiosity and as a conversation piece (as some people I know ask for updates from time to time on how many coasters I've ridden.) I really don't feel like there's an objective means of setting criteria for when a ride is "new," except to set arbitrary guidelines. I don't really consider Rougarou a new ride, but RMC redos are definitely new rides. Fortunately, I never rode the original Hades, so I don't need to worry about whether or not it counts as a new ride now that it has its corkscrew. Same goes for Son of Beast; I only rode it without the loop. I have ridden Intimidator 305 both pre- and post-reprofiling, but that change seems minor enough to me that I don't consider it an issue. Then again, I'm also that guy that considers Racer at Kennywood to be two credits, so what do I know?

Plot twist: the Skeleton Key room in Blackout will be the only lit room in the house. Whatever they show you there will give you more reason to be afraid of what you can't see. (I'm making this up, of course.) In all seriousness, the idea of a house being pitch black screams low people throughput--pun fully intended. I won't be surprised if it's Fright Lane-only. Actually, I'm kinda expecting it. I could very well be wrong (I don't pay as much attention to Halloween events), but I believe that both Knott's and Dorney have both experimented with Fright Lane-only houses before. Honestly, the last Halloween event experience I had was Halloweekends last year, and the experience was enough that I'm a little intimidated by the idea of Haunt events (and especially Blackout) this year. On one house, I was the only one with Skeleton Key, and it included a pitch-black room with scareactors in it. I'm kind of a wuss about these things, and I don't think I've ever been so scared at any amusement park ever. Obviously, I wouldn't expect any different from the event, as that's kind of the point--it just made an impression on me. Whichever park it is (BGT?) that has a house you go through by yourself has officially presented the first haunted something at a park I would avoid purely out of fear. If I do Blackout this year, I will have a death grip on the shoulders of whichever unfortunate friend goes through it with me.

I could be wrong, but I think it's from Gerstlauer. There is one at Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America.

It does appear that Wildwater Kingdom will be receiving something next year... The cold shoulder. (I will be here all week.)

It didn't come from the park. It was a rumor posted on KIC's Twitter.

I keep trying to think of two somethings from 1972 related to the water park that might be leaving, and all I come up with is the two engines from the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad. I really, really hope I'm wrong. Unfortunately, they would seem to fit Boddah's clues...

The location for the announcement is in a place that can only be found by those who know where it's at. It's in the Room of Requirement?! I knew I should have stayed at Hogwarts over the summer.

Speaking of unusual member activity... Is that a troll I smell?

I'm a little emotional about it, but at this point, it feels like the end of one of the best books I've ever read. Cirque Imagine sits up there with experiences like Tomb Raider: The Ride for me, where you can feel the passion of everyone involved, savor it, and learn from it. It means so much more than that to me, too, but I truthfully don't know how to put it into words. It's something I'm going to hold onto for a very, very long time. I am so thankful for Kings Island for their decision to present this show, for Les Productions Haut-Vol for the amazing work they put into the show, and for the performers for their commitment to quality AND storytelling AND hard work AND fun. Truly, truly an amazing experience. Wow. I sincerely felt goosebumps every time I saw it, and, despite my typical interests, there is very, very little that manages to do that for me continually. I really cannot say enough good. If I were entirely honest, a very large influence on what parks I visit next year will be which parks have Haut-Vol productions (and especially other variations of Cirque Imagine/Cirque Ambiente.) If I could, I'd already have plans to be at Seabreeze and Canada's Wonderland later this year for their respective shows. Kings Island folks (including Don or Sara), if you are reading this: I am begging you to consider bringing a variation of Canada's Wonderland's Dimensions: A Cirque Experience (or another cirque-related experience) to the park in the near future.