Creed Bratton

Forgot when I wrote this to add my tidbit about Crypt...I added it into the KD section. Glad you all like the PTR!

Haha! T'was a good trip! Out of all the coasters I rode this weekend, my top 5 favorites were: 1) Dominator 2) Afterburn 3) Volcano 4) Intimidator 5) Carolina Cyclone

I was at both Carowinds and Kings Dominion this weekend, they switched to the Cedar Fair style maps. I like them minus the fact they don't have categories for food, rides, games, etc.

So my trip to Carowinds and Kings Dominion started on Friday. Stalkerchick, her fiancé and myself headed from Cincinnati down to Charlotte at noon. We had smooth sailing the whole entire trip except for when we got to Tennessee. We ended up having to take a detour due to an accident on Jelico Mountain. The detour took us about 20 miles away…to a route that seemed, well it cultured us very well in shanty towns, low income places and pretty mountain rivers. Not to be rude but we felt like we should be hearing dueling banjos. Anywho, we got down to Comfort Inn around 9:45 pm. We pulled into the parking lot with at least 6 charter buses. I was a bit worried. After a night of relaxing and watching Ghost Adventures on TV we went to bed. We got up pretty early and headed to the park. I got my pass processed and taken care of well before 9 am. We met up with DaveStroem and his family. Once the gates were open, we headed to Planet Snoopy. They let us in at 10…we headed to do the Eagles, but the ride ops told us they wouldn’t open until 11. So we headed to Afterburn. We got 2 rides on Afterburn without having to leave the station. We then went and rode Northern Star. After which we went to Intimidator. I wasn’t too impressed having ridden Diamondback numerous times, but it was a good ride. After Intimidator we went to Nighthawk. It was a nice but short ride. Talk about major rush flying over water! We then grabbed a picnic lunch that a local radio station was sponsoring. It was weird, they didn’t offer much to eat, but it was good. We then headed toward the back of the park and worked our way about. We rode Carolina Cobra. It was an okay boomerang. However, I was not a fan of the Vekoma restraints. Then we headed to Carolina Goldrush. It was a simple but nice coaster. I wasn’t a fan of the load process or space in the cars. The load process took forever, we easily stood in line for 20-40 minutes. After that, a few people went back to the hotel to nap due to feeling a bit bad and/or having to drive that night. So then DaveStroem’s wife and kids went with me to Hurler. I was impressed with this wooden coaster. I didn’t understand the attempted themeing of the station. We then hit up Carolina Vortex. I have to admit out of the Arrow Loopers, this one had to by my favorite. The layout, the paint scheme, the smoothness made it amazing. I then went to Woodstock Express and Flying Ace Ariel Chase to get my coaster count somewhere nice, haha. By the time we met up with the crew that went to nap, we continued to ride Intimidator after it re-opened (was down due to wind). We rode until the park closed. The park stayed open a little later from what I understood to make up for rides being down due to the wind. I thought that was pretty cool. We then left Carowinds, grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed to Emporia, Virginia. We stayed the night in a hotel, woke up and headed the following hour and some odd minutes to Kings Dominion. We got into the park and headed to Dominator. We rode 3 times. I got to ride in the front row, seat on the left…best seat in my opinion for a view! The layout, the smoothness, the paint was amazing. I loved the ride and the coaster itself! Watching the mechanics of the floor dropping out from below was amazing. We then headed to the back of the park...since the park didn’t open until 10:30 we stood at the gate until they let platinum pass holders through. We headed to Volcano. I got to ride on a train with 2 other people. I was in the front seat on the right side. It was an amazing ride! We then headed to Intimidator 305. There was little to no ride. I sat in the 2nd car first row. I do think it is a good ride, but it did not wow me. Even though this was my first time riding it, I was happy to not have a trim on the first drop. The layout was so-so for me. I much prefer Millennium Force at Cedar Point over I-305. After we got off of 305, we went to ride Flight of Fear. I found it interesting that they had a haunt still set up in the queue. The queue was fairly dark though! It was a very smooth ride and I was happy to see that they had cubbies in the ride itself. We then headed to Anaconda. It was a nice ride but a bit too rough. We then got a chance to ride the Crypt. I must say I prefer this Crypt over KI's. I was a fan of the elements, the fact that it was outdoor, and that I didn't have a row infront of me. I think the gondola with a row on each side only enhanced the ride experience. We then rode Backlot Stunt Coaster. I was very unimpressed with how Kings Dominion ran this coaster. They were only running a one train operation. None of the effects were on except a very small splashdown outside of the billboard. At this point my pals headed to the car to get lunch, but I wanted a hot lunch so I headed toward International Street. I saw that Shockwave had opened, so I got in line to take a ride. From what I’ve heard it got a paint job over the off-season, which you could tell. It looks nice! I got in the back car, last row on the left. I was not a fan of the restraints. They were not designed to fit a wide array of people. I’m no big guy by any means but it was hard to get the restraints to close and then buckle up. The ride itself was so-so. I just wanted to ride one of the remaining To-Go stand-ups in North America. It was rough though. I then grabbed lunch at the front of the park. Once we all met back up again, we went and rode the Antique Cars. How I miss those at Kings Island!!!! They were so much fun! I really enjoyed their area for the ride. It was nice to see them operate. We then rode their eagles. They were fun and I got a couple snaps on them. After that we went and rode Ricochet. It was a lot of fun for a stationary mouse ride! I was impressed. We then went crossed over the midway to Hurler. This Hurler was terrible. It was rough and it was not fun at all. Rebel Yell was up next. I didn’t get to ride it because as the train before our train left, it got stuck on the lift hill. So then we crossed to the other side. As we were next to get on the train, they told us that there would be a delay. So we all headed to Intimidator 305. We got a couple rides on that again. Later in the day the ride improved. I did gray out though. We then headed to the Eiffel Tower to catch a view. To end the day at the park (a few hours early) we went and rode Dominator a couple more times. This time I rode in the back row, left seat. It was such a great ride! We then said our goodbyes and bought souvenirs. We hit the road. Stopped at an Applebees, but that’s a story for another time. Got back to Columbus around 3 in the morning. It was such a great trip! If you want to see more pictures, friend me on facebook to check them out! Edit: 11:40 am, Crypt at KD was added into the KD paragraph.

So CF is getting rid of all the trees? Obviously teasing! I'm okay with this map...I'm not wowed by it. I feel it's a bit to simple...but thats what people like in maps...as long as it tells them the basic information they're golden. I did laugh when I saw Diamondback and Beast just out there in the open!

I lived 45 minutes away...yes it's worth it.

Double Post Please Remove

I think this would more appropriately need to be discussed here My link

I am not sure if it has been mentioned, but in my opinion I hope that this park stays a Paramount Park while it's in operation. From the renderings, I couldn't even imagine rebuilding after paramount would leave.

I don't disagree one bit! Maintenance also will walk every possibly bit of track on any coasters in the morning including the lift hill of Diamondback among other rides. If it were me doing maintenance, I'd hope there would be an elevator as well.

I am not familiar with Drop Tower's mechanics...I've only rode it! Haha. I remember someone somewhere saying there was an elevator. Whether or not there was truth to that statement, I'm not sure. I wouldn't think there would be. If you think of all the mechanics on the inside, cables, electric, hydraulic lines, etc, don't really see much room for an elevator. I'm assuming that the inside is crafted much like WindSeeker with ladder rungs on one side. Your guess is as good as mine!

Amen! Amen! Amen! I totally agree. Why must we always be fickle with each other? The people on here who truly come here to get information, to have conversations about how much fun they have, to discuss news, etc. do not care who is right, who is more valid than the other. Just state your opinions and move on....don't question other opinions, they have a right for their opinion. If you do decide to question an opinion, support your reasoning with legit information, not just I know more than the GP, I know more than you, etc. Get over it! Back on topic, working at the park in rides, anytime there is a maintenance issue, the ride goes out of operation until the problem is fixed and the ride is operated. I am assuming that maintenance would go up WindSeeker just like they do for Drop Tower to check on the systems, etc. I'm also assuming that unless it is absolutely necessary the ride operators will not shut down the ride unless there is an issue. I thought I read somewhere that WindSeeker was going to be completed today...but I haven't seen any press info from the park and the topper is still on the ground.

Has anyone seen a rendering for what the WindSeeker Plaza area will look like?

Awesome thanks for sharing

CedarPointer do you have a quote from when they said that? Was it the park or someone from the GP? Just wondering, would like to see it. Grsmerdel06 I haven't seen any information about either of your questions.

RWildman424 all of your points are valid. Mr. America your point about the door is also valid! From working at the park previously, I know that the park would not allow for someone to be on top of the tower while the ride is in operation. We were always told that our safety is important as well. Not to mention, if there is a topper on the tower (the UFO) where exactly would said operator go? The control box is much like that of Drop Tower as you see on the webcam. I think from here on we should talk about ideas we would like to see when WindSeeker is operating on how they will move people to their seats, where they will exit, etc.

Wow that is so incredible!

Of course we all know how the weather reports are...they could change in 10 minutes, much like Ohio weather. As long as it's not storming or really windy, I imagine them going ahead with the process, because they can install ride parts (i.e. Diamondback) in winter. Looks like part #5 is starting the process in the next few minutes.

Like some others have said, this thing is going to be massive!!! I'm stoked! kjkjkj you are right there have been people in the tower to help guide the pieces into place. I'd imagine seeing piece 5 and possibly 6 going up today before 5 o'clock. I'm assuming that all of the tower will be built by Tuesday. (Just a guess)

I do apologize CoasterGeek101 for what the topic has turned to from your OP. I am glad that you got a video of the transfer track, some people do see it but most don't get it captured on "film". As I said in my post previous to this, I think it's amazing to see a 22 million dollar ride operate in all senses.

For most people that don't go to the park every single day for ERT, among other times at the park and see the transfer track it is a big deal. For one, you're talking about a multi-million dollar piece of machinery being used daily that no matter what it does, is beyond exciting. For another thing, don't ever discredit someone for seeing something that they find interesting that you find minuscule. Part of someones day at the park can be just experiencing simple things like the transfer track moving, riding the KI&MVRR, etc. If you don't think something is cool that someone else does (i.e. transfer track), then let them know something about the first time you saw the track move, how it made you feel, etc. Make the effort to get to know someone by having a good dialog with someone before just pushing their thoughts aside and making them feel like crap. It's not about who's seen the most things at the park, it's about the friendships you make and continue to let them grow instead of burning bridges.

I too miss the bacon.

I've seen the transfer track, transfer multiple times. It's pretty cool!

From: http://www.pulsejournal.com/news/local-news/new-attraction-at-kings-island-is-animated-dinosaur-walk-1109715.html I think the above quote is interesting. Plans for the walk itself have not yet been filed....so maybe it's not a walk...maybe it's something else. Maybe the plans for whatever it is are confidential until tomorrow at 2 pm. The news story to me sounded a lot like speculation. So in my mind, maybe the park has filed other type of plans than a walk and the story is speculating what it could be since Greg Nichols said that the walk plans have not been filed.

Carl Winslow!