gad198

My friend Dave and I got in line about 9:30, waited in nearly a full queue and were off by 10:30. They only stacked trains for maybe 15-30 seconds a couple of times while we were in line so the crew was really busting tail. The line moved along very well and even more so after 10 when Fast Lane was cut off for the evening. I was a tad bit skeptical about the theoretical capacity numbers but it's possible that Banshee will move even more people than Diamondback consistently. Kings Island desperately needed another people-eater and they got it. As for the ride, I think it's simply superb. The elements flow gracefully and seamlessly one to the other and the progression feels very natural. The first drop was outstanding. The zero-g roll was good but I agree with others in wishing it was either built slightly smaller or had a tad bit more pace to give it a little snap. I really like the second half of the ride as it seems to actually get more interesting the later you get. The in-line roll is a cool ending. It's one of the few rides that keeps you engaged from beginning to end. The only real drawback I experienced was feeling a slight vibration on the train while riding along the course. It seems like some newer B&Ms are experiencing this for some reason. Goliath at SFOG, Behemoth, Diamondback, Gatekeeper and Wild Eagle can all deliver rides that are really smooth on one lap and then vibrate noticeably (for a B&M anyway) on another lap. It seems like this may be a train-to-train thing based on what others have said but I really hope that Kings Island takes good care of this ride. Is it better than Montu? Yes and no. Banshee's layout is definitely superior. Montu's pacing is better than Banshee's in the first half of the ride (snappier zero-g roll and batwing) but Banshee is much better than Montu in the second half. It's really close, and quite honestly, that's really all I was hoping for. It's a world-class ride and I'll go as far as to say it may be the best looping coaster of any kind in the country.

Assuming the prices mentioned earlier are correct I think Kings Island's version is leap years better than the Six Flags season dining pass. Six Flags version has windows when you can use the pass (lunch from 11-3:30, dinner 3:30 - close) so if you're stopping in for a few hours it's really unlikely that you're going to use more than one meal. I like the two hour wait between meals much better as it's much more flexible. Even on days with an 8 PM closing you can stop in at 5 in the evening and get another meal just before the park closes. Me likey!

There are tons more Platinum passholders at Cedar Point than at Kings Island so it makes more sense to have different tiers. I'm sure that the ERT and free parking not being included in Cedar Point's regular pass probably prompts many to upgrade to the Platinum, even those who don't travel to other Cedar Fair parks - KI included. I'm not sure how well Cedar Point's season pass model would go over at Kings Island. To that effect I don't think that a Platinum pass only ERT - particularly in the morning - would be practical at Kings Island. Kings Island's ERT is usually lightly attended as is with passholders - the vast majority of which have Gold passes and not Platinum. I will agree that it would be cool if Kings Island did a Platinum ride night or two during the year, but I would consider that a bonus.

Perhaps, and perhaps not. I was at Carowinds last Friday. One of the perks they offer according to their season pass benefits page is early ride time. We went to Guest Relations and asked what days their early ride times were. They couldn't tell us. The only way we knew about the bring-a-friend benefit was seeing a sign on their ticket windows. Do most people know you still get 10% off Beagle Bucks with your pass there? There's simply no reason in this day and age to not have that information communicated effectively. I - or any other passholder for that matter - should not need to make a stop at Guest Relations to see if I can get an explanation of the new benefits at the start of the year or run around asking the same question at every shop or restaurant. If they tell me that I need to shell out $180 for a pass and make that black and white they should be able to tell me what benefits come with my pass in the same fashion. I don't think it's too much to ask.

There was some recent discussion in the Early Ride Time topic I believe warrants additional attention. It's about the Gold/Platinum pass benefits at Kings Island and some other Cedar Fair parks and how easy it is for passholders to find benefits pertaining to their home park. I am a Platinum passholder and travel quite a bit to the various Cedar Fair properties. One of the first things I do early in the season is to find out what benefits are available at each Cedar Fair park to their passholders. Each park has a Benefits listing in their Season Pass section that lays out general information about the passholder benefits. Unfortunately, a lot of the benefits laid out in that section for most Cedar Fair properties are so general that they don't convey any worthwhile information. Compare this: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/ticket-category/2014-Season-Passes To this: https://www.kingsdominion.com/images/uploads/file/2014%20Season%20Passholder%20Guide(3).pdf The Kings Dominion passholder guide is beautiful. It tells you just about everything you need to know in a few pages and explains the benefits in an easy to understand, black and white fashion. You know what rides are open for ERT and when. It tells you when the bring-a-friend days are. It took exactly two clicks to get there from the home page. Kings Island does not currently have any specifics on their website. I tried to Google for additional info and only came up with the 2013 pass benefits, seen here: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/images/uploads/file/2013%20Gold%20and%20Platinum%20Season%20Pass%20Benefits(2).pdf. We know that Banshee is an ERT ride but that's it so far. We know there are food and merchandise discounts but don't know how much or how we're supposed to identify where those are going to be. When are the bring-a-friend days? I'm not trying to single out Kings Island here because most of the other Cedar Fair parks - including Worlds of Fun which is already open (and Carowinds to a slightly lesser degree, although it takes a thorough Google search to find any additional info on their pass benefits) - have the same issue. We're four days from Kings Island opening for the year. I just find it really odd that they haven't posted any real specifics on their pass benefits. Passholders want to spend in the parks (really we do!), but we shouldn't have to run through a gauntlet to get specific benefit info.

I agree with all of this. My first reaction was that the coaster is "cute". The coaster does serve a larger purpose in that families who have 39"-48" tall kids can ride together while any taller kids in the group can ride the bigger coasters in the same area at the same time. On a side note, the vests on Wild Eagle have been modified and are now flexible! I still believe that the first drop - particularly in the back rows - is one of the best drops out there.

I would love to have a GCI at KI. The only downside is capacity, as I don't believe any of the GCIs on the list above can pull through more than 800-900 people per hour. Also notice that most of the parks that have GCIs - and the parks where Cedar Fair has installed them - have been small to mid-size parks. The more interesting question to me is, where in the park would you put it if you had free reign?

It would appear that testing has resumed. I can't post a webcam still photo while here at work, but... https://www.visitkingsisland.com/Banshee/live-view

Kings Dominion has released their expanded season pass benefits list. The most notable thing on the list IMO is the addition of the half hour of early ride time each operating day through August on Intimidator 305 and another ride depending on when you visit. Take a look at the flyer for additional info: https://www.kingsdominion.com/images/uploads/file/2014%20Season%20Pass%20Benefits%20Information(1).pdf

Even if there is a trim that was put in post-install, I'm not sure it will be anything more than a decoration anyway. I can only think of two on-course, non-MCBR brakes that are ever used on any inverted coasters in the US - the trim at the top of Alpengeist lift hill and the trim just before you hit the batwing on Montu. The Montu trim isn't used frequently and doesn't affect the ride at all.

Thank you for the revision. I just checked and saw that Gatekeeper also has the "Country of Origin: USA" tag. Manta, Intimidator - Carowinds, Wild Eagle, and Leviathan did not have that line on their stickers so I guess Clermont Steel changed the labels on B&M track recently. I learned something today!

The "LC" code on the track simply means that it's a flying coaster. Manta had the exact same code on its track pieces when it arrived at Sea World Orlando. The "Country of Origin: USA" tag means that the track is heading overseas (i.e., not in the US or Canada). To my knowledge none of the B&M coasters that have gone to parks in the US or Canada in the last few years have had the "Country of Origin: USA" tag on them.

I'm not sure whether these questions should be emailed directly to Kings Island staff or not, but I think they are of a general enough interest that it might be nice to get some clarification on this board. If Kings Island wishes to keep communication on these things private then kindly let me know that too. Here we go... (1) Kings Island had a policy last year to allow its season passholders to re-enter the park using their season passes instead of getting their hands stamped. I enjoyed the convenience and it was nice to not have to deal with the hand stamps. Will a similar policy be in place this season? If so, will that policy be extended to other parks in the chain? (2) Has there been any discussion on the possibility of providing Platinum passholders additional benefits over the Gold pass at Kings Island?

For those of you thinking about visiting Carowinds through May 18, there is a Living Social deal for two single-admission tickets. You can check out the link below for additional info: https://www.livingsocial.com/deals/1033797-50-off-amusement-park-admission

This is an interesting topic for sure! The most recent dialogue here prompted me to come on and give the guys - particularly the younger guys - a bit of wisdom. Two quick things: Guys - if you're with a good lady who has high interest in you AND you can make her laugh then she will be happy doing any activity with you. Be original with date ideas! There are a ton of fun, unique, and inexpensive things you can do together. Mix in some expensive dates with the less expensive ones. If you can make a woman laugh you'll make your job a lot easier (and you'll have more fun!). Be a gentleman. Say "please" and "thank you". Open the car doors for any woman who may be getting in and out of the car. If you're walking down the street make sure that she's on the inside. Classy women notice these things. Not only will you gain a ton of points but it doesn't cost you a dime!

That 3 pointer is way further than what it is in real life. The basket is much higher and the rim is just barely big enough for the non-regulation ball to fit. The 3 Point Challenge rim at KI is legit, and the shot distance is legit. There are some 3 Point Challenges around the country that have varying rim heights and distances that are shorter/longer than normal, but I've never seen a completely non-circular rim at any 3 Point Challenge game anywhere. To IAmABanshee, I wish you the best in your quest for 3 Point perfection! I believe only five different individuals have won 3 Point Challenge at Kings Island and Cedar Point combined so you'll be in good company!

I only have two KI-related goals this year: ride Banshee on opening day win 3 Point Challenge on opening weekend

I've ridden all of the Vekoma and B&M flyers in the states, and Tatsu and Manta are orders of magnitude better than all of the other flyers. Firehawk is probably the best of the rest IMO, but if I'm at any park that has a flyer I would only be truly disappointed if I didn't get a ride in on Tatsu or Manta.

Just wanted to follow up on this for those interested. Rhino Rally is not currently operating and was apparently closed several months ago, in line with the Screamscape report earlier. Also, for those of you who have Seaworld/Busch Platinum passes and who will be visiting the park on or before this Friday (Jan 31), you get 30% off all purchases and also have access to a "get someone in free" ticket. Sorry for the late notice on this but just thought I'd pass that along.

Perhaps this is too simplistic a view of this situation - but what it seems like to me is that Disney is trying to spread people around their parks a little more efficiently. The new system might cut the overall wait times for some of their popular attractions by spreading some people who would ordinarily be at a very popular attraction and shift them to attractions that weren't getting much action.

That's a lot of advantages though! I agree with most of these except this one: El Toro, Skyrush, and Leviathan all have much better first drops IMO. I'd argue that Maverick has a more 'fun' drop than MF despite it's shorter length and duration. The other major thing that I would add to your list is how many people come back smiling and cheering after a ride on MF. I've yet to run across another ride anywhere that generates as much positive reaction after each circuit than that coaster.

More importantly, a Friday opening day will likely spread the crowds out from the last few opening days from just one day to two (assuming that the park will still be closed that first Sunday). I'm also off that day so I can't say I'm too disappointed!

Rhino Rally was open the last time I visited the park in April 2012. The water portion of the ride was closed, however, and it made the ride a ton shorter and a lot less interesting. I remember reading something on Screamscape a few months ago about it being closed "for extensive maintenance" or something like that. It's currently listed on the BGT ride list so I'm not sure what its status is. I'll be down there in the next month or so and I'll report back then. Busch Gardens Tampa is one of the few parks in the country I can spend all day in and not get bored. There's just more to do at the Tampa park. The coaster selection at BGT is better IMO and the overall atmosphere is more immersive. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is probably "prettier" than BGT from a landscaping standpoint, but it's still very nice in its own right. There are only two things I don't like about BGT: it's lack of shade (particularly at a park where it seems like it always feels tropical!) and their ride operations, which range anywhere from slow as molasses to glacial. Having said all that, BGT is still my favorite park. I would argue that when they add a speed coaster that they'll have the best coaster lineup in the US.

I don't believe the line will be nearly as long this time around. Diamondback was the first big-time ride Kings Island received since Son of Beast. Nine long years between "blockbuster" attractions (no Paramount pun intended!). The collective sense that Kings Island was finally installing a people-moving headline attraction after years of mostly low-capacity installs. It was also (and still is) the tallest and fastest coaster Kings Island has installed. I really don't think that the importance of Diamondback's height can be overstated as far as the buzz it created on its opening day. Diamondback checked a ton of the "what Kings Island really needs" boxes and re-established Kings Island as a destination park. The other thing to consider is that the weather on Diamondback's opening day was nearly perfect. It was a bit cool early in the morning but the sun was out in full measure. If we have weather similar to Diamondback's opening day it's possible that we get a similar crowd, but to me Diamondback's opening day was the perfect storm. The best thing about Banshee is that it's a B&M. Opening day lines will be what they will be, but it's infinitely more important to have a coaster that is reliable and has high throughput ALL the time. It's going to be so nice to have another re-rideable coaster that has fast-moving lines!

^^^ Thanks for posting the batwing photo. My initial thought was "I thought it would look taller" until I saw the two guys standing on the lower left hand side of the photo. Amazing!