KIfan1980

Sounds like you had a fun trip ... I am hopeful for similar lack of lines when I visit on Sunday night and Monday this weekend!

Dave - that picture and quote is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I am stunned this morning at the news - met and talked to Will a couple of times at HWN, seemed so genuine, happy, and caring. Thoughts and prayers to his family, mom, and the entire Holiday World organization.

Look, I was misleading, Sorry, I meant this- To buy a pair of 3d glasses you have to pay $1 No worries - I was responding to the original post, not yours. We replied at basically the same time.

No - you can politely say "no thanks" to the associate and ride the ride without them.

Thanks for posting this report (well except that one picture of me looking like ->). What a great time we had, although you failed to mention your reaction after riding Voyage the first time - I recall you falling down in the station and then lying down at the entrance to the ride where people proceeded to literally walk over you!

As I haven't worked at Kings Island (or any amusement park), I'm sure I would be shocked at everything you have to go through just to get the Coke to the guest. I'd also be shocked if the the entire cost of getting the Coke to the guest added up to more than 50 cents - meaning there is still one heck of a profit margin on each Coke, even the $1.99 refills. Is this fair? The answer to that isn't easy - as people have pointed out, there is a choice that can be made and Cedar Fair is a business. If they can charge that price and make more money than by charging less (law of supply and demand is a good thing in my book), then so be it. My concerns, however, are: I'm not sure they haven't impacted their total profit by continually raising food prices - pricing models are extremely difficult to create however. I'm not sure that the corporation leadership is acting in the best interest of their "owners" (unitholders) - again, however, this is also opinion versus fact

I sure hope he has a finance guy managing his personal wealth ... ... maybe he'll figure out his rich enough to retire comfortably and do so.

In many topics, I hear people talk about the "seat" that turns a great ride into an incredible ride or a painful ride into a fun ride. The most obvious one being 5-1 on Vortex. So the question is what do you consider the "magic seat" on different coasters? I'll list some of my opinions for KI, but feel free to add coasters outside of KI (as I'm going to CP in 10 days, I'm especially interested in opinions for there). Diamondback: Row 2 is my favorite, although I don't think there is a bad seat Beast: 6-2, better in the back Vortex: 5-1, the seat that made me a believer in magic seats Racer: 1-2, can't explain why Flight Deck: 1-1 or 7-1, depending upon the way I'm feeling that day Edit: Sorry if something like this was posted already, but I couldn't find it via search

Most residents of the UK (ok, at least the England portion of it), will be a little busy on June 12th watching the ENGLAND v. USA world cup soccer match. A win will result is celebrations at the local pub. A loss will result in drowning of misery at the local pub. A tie will result in discussion of what ifs at the local pub. I'd expect very few Brits at Kings Island that day.

Based upon the options listed, my vote is counted - although there would be different answers if more of the park's flat rides were listed. I guess the good news is I didn't have to choose between Shake Rattle and Roll and Viking Fury.

Hey now, don't be blaming me - after all, yours wasn't event the first alarm to go off!

Well - we'll see how this works out. There were about 25 KICers at Holiwood Nights last weekend and to date only one Trip Report from Avatar. In addition, the comments on Facebook seem to indicate that there isn't a lot of motivation to write up a report - although many have said they'd reply to someone else who wrote one. So here goes - an attempt at a Progressive Photo Trip Report - all attendees are welcome to add a few memories, thoughts, photos, and/or funny stories from the trip here. A few thoughts from me first, then a couple of pictures. Favorite parts of the event: Meeting, hanging out, and riding with some great people that I've met through this site. Honestly, for me the park experience was enhanced by spending time and getting to know people - whether better or for the first time. The walkbacks - especially Voyage. I've never been on a behind the scenes tour before and getting such a different perspective (up close and personal) was amazing Night rides in absolute darkness. WOW - the out of control feeling on those coasters when you are flying through the track late at night without even the moon to light your way was unbelievable. Be it the speed, the laterals, or the airtime - it felt faster, more forceful, and longer on Saturday evening! Funniest/Most bizarre part of the event: Finishing our ride on Bakuli and hearing the story of why we were delayed from Nick, Ryan, and Mitchell. I'll let them elaborate. My opinions on the ERT rides/park: Voyage - not much can be said that hasn't already been said. The best coaster I've been on in my life. Legend - great laterals, although a little too many for my liking. Raven - incredible ride with nice varied elements. Wildebeest - a lot of fun, but I wouldn't wait as long as you'll have to on a hot day. Park - wonderful park with amazing people who run it. We were provided with a fantastic time. I'll be going back and taking the family. A couple of my favorite walkback pics (taken with my iPhone so not the highest quality!) Raven going down the first hill through the trees. Voyage emerging from the tunnel. Voyage on some serious banking.

No idea how it compares, but HW Facebook had the following quote in a recent post: "Saturday night, the Beachcombers entertained about 650 coaster enthusiasts from all over the country"

Jesse - thanks for sharing. I couldn't agree with you more about the way we were treated by Holiday World. It was a truly fantastic event and I greatly enjoyed hanging out with you and others from the KIC family! While a lot longer drive for me than KI, I'm sure I'll be visiting again and taking the wife/kids to enjoy it! Also, since it's your trip report, I hope you'll let me share the story about your conversation with Will Koch - Jesse: "I've figured out the secret to the success of your park" - Will: "Oh, what's that" - Jesse: "It's got to be because you have four Pat's running around here" - Will: Confused look - Jesse: "Well, the way she seems to be everywhere all the time, you must of figured out cloning" And I'm sure others will agree, Pat Koch is a caring and friendly person who does seem to be everywhere (I can't even count how many times I saw her this weekend), is always interacting with guests (quick hi - how was the ride or longer conversations), and shows a true love for her park (her speech after dinner on Saturday was touching). She sets a great example that seems to be followed by the entire organization at Holiday World.

As a reference point on drink prices in a competing entertainment industry - I attended a Reds game today where the prices seem to have continued to rise even faster than Cedar Fair would deem reasonable: All prices were for what looked to be an ~20oz bottle - Beer: Either $7.50 or $7.75 - Pop: $5 - Water: $4.75 And yet even with being able to bring in small soft sided coolers (with pop/water in them), people were forking the cash over quickly.

Since I've never stopped to watch the 3-pt shootout game, can someone confirm/fill in the details? - It looks like 3 shooting stations - I'm guessing based upon the 14/15 that there are 5 balls per station - I know there is a clock, what is the time limit? - Is there a bigger prize for getting a 15/15?

There used to be an arch right about that spot ... but it said "Happy Land of Hanna Barbera" I remember that arch, but in the recent years didn't they remove that arch, because the one just put up looks new. I don't know when this arch left, but it has been a while - so the one just put up would be new, obviously . I just wanted to reference this, because it seemed interesting (and a good thing) to me that they'd put an arch in that location.

At one point in time when the park schedule for 2010 was first released online, Sunday the 23rd did show a 10pm closing (and Sunday the 30th showed 8pm - it is now 10pm). That said, it is unlikely that anybody who was surprised at 8pm last Sunday saw this - and I would agree that people should be more aware. Also, to get agitated over this is kind of silly.

There used to be an arch right about that spot ... but it said "Happy Land of Hanna Barbera"

While the cost of a day at Kings Island or any amusement park can be significant (gas, parking, admission, food/drinks, etc...), I totally agree that the value received is also good in most cases. Entertainment is expensive, but if you visit a park as often as many season pass holder enthusiasts do, the value can be incredible when you really think about it. An almost absurd example If you assume Gary Coleman paid ~$160 total for Gold passes in '09 and '10 With 2000 Diamondback rides, he is now at 8 cents a ride. Not bad at all. There are many interesting dynamics associated with spending money in the park on extra's. It is a difficult situation for the park as the season pass holder enthusiasts who visit so often are also less likely to spend $ on any given trip than the family of four from Knoxville making their only trip (this is my guess). I also don't believe that most pass holders can afford to buy a meal at the park on every trip, allthough I think most of us do buy a meal (or even two) when visiting a new park that we'll only spend a day at. I actually try to plan trips when I will stay for a meal, especially now that the park is working to accommodate special dietary needs more.

I really, really hope this isn't the case. I think seeing people, including the kids, enjoying themselves at the shows makes the shows more interesting. If kids can't have fun at an amusement park ...

I have also heard/read from several riders that the trims on the first drop improve the overall ride experience - I'll have to take their word for it. My question is about the type of trim being used. It has been stated it is all the way down the first drop? If so, this gives me hope that what I'd like to see in the future is possible - a style of trims that meets the needs of the parks (reliable reduction of speed for safety and maintainability reasons), like the magnetic trims do today, while not "grabbing" too hard and negatively impacting the pacing and flow of a ride, similar to how the old skid style brakes seemed to.

And you are right, 5 and 6 year old kids can be 48". My 6 year old took his first Vortex ride yesterday for example.

Having been in the park during the Sept 2008 windstorm when it closed early - as I recall, the announcement was only really able to be fully heard/understood in select locations and on IS. However, the park staff did a great job of moving people to the exits quickly. Although that was a private event day so it was fairly uncrowded. Unfortunately KI is not the easiest place to have an evacuation/tornado drill.

BLSC helicopter scene and police car lights were working tonight. As for the LaRosa's Pizza - I was told once (can't say I know this to be factual, but it makes sense) that at places where they serve it cafeteria style (people pick up their own - like at KI), that they intentionally flip the toppings/cheese order to make it more obvious for people to see what they are getting.