McSalsa

^ (xxdrumerkidxx) Umm...X2 is at Six Flags MAGIC MOUNTAIN in California. There is a ride called X-Flight at Six Flags GREAT AMERICA in Illinois. However, Six Flags GREAT ADVENTURE in Jackson, NJ has no ride "X" named...they have El Toro, Kingda Ka, Nitro, Green Lantern, Bizarro, Batman The Ride, Superman UF, Rolling Thunder, and more but nothing that even STARTS with "X". I think you were thinking of Magic Mountain's X2...

An interesting thought I had... Kings Island, with Son of Beast, could boast 22,571 feet of wooden coaster track between Beast, SOB, Red Racer, Blue Racer, and Woodstock Express. This was a world record. Without SOB it is down to 15,539. I thought "does Kings Island still have this world record?", here's how some other parks stack up (most are known for their wooden coasters): Kennywood, 3 woodies, 1 racing: 9,519 feet Holiday World, 3 woodies: 13,284 feet Kings Dominion, 4 woodies, 1 racing: 11,060 feet Canada's Wonderland, 3 woodies: 8,334 feet Six Flags Great Adventure, 2 woodies, 1 racing: 10,800 feet Six Flags Great America, 3 woodies, 1 racing: 13,458 feet Six Flags St. Louis, 3 woodies: 11,636 feet Six Flags Magic Mountain, 2 woodies, 1 racing: 11,527 feet Blackpool Pleasure Beach, 5 woodies (!), 1 racing: 14,562 feet Well, I can't really think of any other park that has a lot of long wooden coasters, or a bunch of them (if you can, please tell me so I can look them up)...looks like Kings Island's world record remains so...just not nearly by as much as before. I guess when you have the world's longest wooden coaster (The Beast) and a long wooden racing coaster (Racer), you're bound to have a LOT of wooden coaster track, eh?

Hmm...this is cool. Apparently, you can purchase Beast backstage tours for $25, and go behind-the-scenes of the legendary wooden coaster. http://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog-article/online-fun/Take-a-behind-the-scenes-tour-of-the-Beast Park admission is required...I kind of like this deal. It benefits a good cause, and I think the price is OK. What about you guys?

^ Why not? Because people will see a wooden coaster there and think it is Son of Beast, when it really isn't? I don't think that would be much of a problem...

^^ (On the post about Flight Deck being hidden by SOB...) Actually, you could see Flight Deck pretty well with Son of Beast still there. From the parking lot, and the main walkway down to it, and from several other spots in the park...SOB being gone will do little to effect Flight Deck's visibility. I recall very fondly eating lunch in the parking lot (thank you, high food prices) and watching Flight Deck climb its lift and do its first drop...as well as seeing that same sight from next to Thunder Ally (the go-karts). And then, of course you have it clearly visible as you walk down to it...Son of Beast was, in no way, making Flight Deck hard to see. In fact, some of the best views I ever got of Son of Beast were from the path that leads to Flight Deck- you can see some sections of the ride from there that are not normally visible elsewhere, such as the MCBR and Rose Bowl. I remember watching the trains dropping from the MCBR in 2009 when the ride was closed due to a breakdown, but testing. I never got to ride it, and then it closed...for good.

^ I just saw that...and I LOL'ed at myself. Now fixed...but I have added my mistake to the OP for all to see.

Prelude: Uh-Oh. It's not just a poll. It's a Son of Beast poll! Hopefully, it's the LAST Son of Beast poll... Well, Son of Beast is officially doomed now, and when it's gone, that will clear up a LOT of room- so, what kind of ride should open up in SOB's place? I've gone and listed most of the "popular" ride types currently offered from name-brand companies Kings Island might have good use for- although I may have overlooked some smaller companies & their rides, I'm not sure. I've also not included types of rides Kings Island already has- so you won't see me asking for ANOTHER Vekoma Boomerang. I've also gone against "small" scale rides that would be unfitting as a Son of Beast replacement, so you won't see a Wild Mouse on here. I was also considering a few massive flat rides, but the only real choice among those KI already doesn't have is the S&S Screamin' Swing, and even that would not really be a worthy replacement for a 218' wooden coaster, so I kept this to just coasters- there could be some flats added too, but they could just be side dishes. If you really, really think a flat ride could go there, though- just choose "other" and then post what you think. Also, listed next to the options is a another coaster at other parks that fits this ride type... So, what do you think? Son of Beast is coming down soon- what should go up in that spot? Enjoy the poll. If you dislike, you can click back. If you refuse to leave even though you dislike the poll, you can ride Son of Beast one more time- while it is being demolished! (Yep, I am referencing another ride at another park there...) My take: I want an Intamin Plug N' Play. These wooden coasters are giant (and thus would fill the SOB skyline hole that's about to appear soon, or possibly even be larger than SOB), are smooth (would appease the Diamondback fans even more), and it would fit well into the coaster lineup. I would not mind if it had a loop, either. The price tag, if a claimed El Toro price I heard is anywhere near true, is also quite reasonable. And, we would not have to drive to New Jersey just to ride one! (Note: El Toro was ranked #1 on Mitch Hawker's 2011 wood coaster poll, and none of the other plug n' play wooden coasters were outside of the Top 10...why are there only 4 of these? Get to it, Kings Island!) UPDATE: Oh, and one thing to take into account- as for "Rocket Coasters", remember that Kings Island can only build up to, at least according to what I've been told, 399 feet. So no Strata-Coasters at Kings Island...sadly. UPDATE #2: I made an error...In the poll, I said the example for Stand-Up coaster was...Chang @ Cedar Point...it's been fixed now but that was a pretty funny error...(I meant to say "Mantis @ Cedar Point", as it is now)

Well, can't say I'm shocked by this...the ride has been SBNO for over 3 years now, and it's clear there is no sure-fire or "easy" fix for it. I think Kinzel said last year at Coastermania that it would cost $20,000,000 to give it the "Rocky Mountain" Iron Horse treatment, and that's just too much for a ride with the reputation Son of Beast has... Now, the question: what will rise where Son of Beast once stood? As massive as that coaster was (still is...for at least a little while longer, anyhow, until demolition begins...) it's removal will free up space for just about...well, ANYTHING. B&M or Intamin Gigacoaster? Invert? Wing Rider? New Wooden Coaster (I'm wanting a 200+ foot Intamin Plug N' Play...)...hmm... And, for the first time since 1979, Kings Island is home to only ONE "Beast" (the addition of "The Beastie" in 1980 made 2, and when SOB opened in 2000 it made 3, then Beastie got a name change in 2006, etc etc...)...and, perhaps that's how it should stay. Nonetheless, Son of Beast will probably go down in history as an ambitious coaster that just fell victim to poor planning & construction. While I never got the chance to ride it (for better or worse), I will still be able to tell my children (and possibly grandchildren) about the ride that first tried to take wood over 200' as well as the first in over 100 years to feature a loop. This coaster will probably become the stuff of legend...only, since SOB existed in the 2000s and not the 1930's we have numerous high-quality photos, POVs, and other stuff featuring the ride. Will we ever see another woodie try to beat the 200' barrier again? Only time will tell... RIP: Son of Beast (2000-2009) (Felt this post could use a SOB pic...)

If I am correct, it ended with the inversions getting removed and the ride actually became a great coaster. (Just wanted to point that out, in case anyone didn't know what Terpy meant... ) As for a 80mph+ ride doing inversions...it's possible, but the inversions will have to be pretty large at those speeds. More speed=you need a bigger loop, or the g-forces are excessive. Speed: The Ride at NASCAR Cafe (which was recently closed due to the closure of NASCAR cafe, but according to Wikipedia it is being re-located to a new hotel) went 70mph, and it had a loop...now a corkscrew at 80mph, I'm not so sure how you could do that one without making the corkscrew crazy big (and thus requiring a crazy amount of steel to support it)...I could see a B&M Hypercoaster, with a 200'+ drop, possibly even a Wing Rider, with giant inversions along its course (save the Corkscrews for after the MCBR if it has one, though)...the question is, who will pay the sure-fire to be expensive cost to build it... Speed: The Ride's RCDB page http://www.rcdb.com/593.htm

^ Oh...good point. Yeah, perhaps it would be a Discovery channel special, and not travel channel...at the time, I was simply thinking of them because they are the ones who show roller coaster TV shows most of the time (although even they don't seem to show them too often anymore)...although, you can see that "great old amusement parks" show from the late 1990s every now and then on PBS... Also, not shocked that The Voyage won best wooden coaster in this show's "poll". I'd just want to know if it was a total Voyage blowout, or if one of the other coasters (El Toro, Thunderhead, Beast) actually gave it a run for its money... PS: These TV shows "ratings" should be taken with a grain of salt. I saw one back in 2001 that called Son of Beast the 2nd best wooden coaster in the world, and The Beast was the only coaster that beat it. At the time, I was a kid, and believed those ratings...I honestly thought Kings Island had a great collection of wooden coasters...but, alas, it only one of those two turned out worthy of such praise.

Well, usually Coasterforce is known for their on-ride POV videos, but today they posted this- it's an on-ride POV animation of Fun Spot's coming-in-2013 GCI Wooden Coaster, White Lightning... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0WDv_ID5_I&feature=g-u-u I have to say...this looks cool. A GCI out and back...this could be an underrated coaster that ranks among the world's finest when it opens, and it's not even in a huge park...perhaps it will give visitors to Florida a reason to stop by Fun Spot during their vacations (alongside the Disney/Universal/Busch Gardens trips, of course...) Enjoy the video. It's Coasterforce's, and I'm assuming they got the video from Fun Spot. PS: Just noticed something...is it just me, or does this ride seem like The Voyage Jr.? It seems an AWFUL lot similar, especially on the return run, to The Voyage's spaghetti bowl...

SON. OF. BACONATOR!!! The world's tallest, fastest, only looping...bacon cheeseburger? Sorry, I could NOT resist...

^ Oh, yes...I'll remove it from that post, then...

^ Wait, Shake, Rattle, N' Roll is closed? It's a HUSS Troika! NOOOOOOOOOO!!! (PS: Joke, even though I do enjoy SR&R)

^ Yep. $20,000,000. Same as Son of Beast. Only Diamondback was a more expensive investment for Kings Island when it debuted in 2009 at $22,000,000. Makes me kind of sad: $40,000,000- down the tube on what were SUPPOSED to be Paramount's 2 biggest, best rides they ever added to the park. Instead, their best rides they added were Flight of Fear, Drop Tower, and Delirium...at least in my opinion.

^ Oh...thanks for clearing that up...hmm, perhaps Beast+No Trims isn't so "unsafe" after all...maybe not as comfortable (probably far from it), and certainly it's going to need more maintenance...but, still "safe" enough to operate for a short while... Oh, and thanks for reminding me- I forgot that skid brakes SUCK when it rains, which means Beast Pre-2002+Rain=Super Epic Ultra High Speed Rampage Through Forest at 70mph...and+Night=Super Epic Ultra High Speed Rampage Through Forest at 70mph in Pitch Black Darkness! I'll bet you THOSE rides are where The Beast got its "epic coaster legend" status from...and sadly, it's those rides the new brakes have taken away, because they work mo' better in rain...even though, because of the October 2001 accident, I can see why they were changed...

^ I, tragically, am a bit confused...are we talking about the ride in 1979 (original opening) or 2002 (opening with new trim brakes)...? Because it was running with no trims whatsoever when it re-opened in 2002, then some here sure do know what the trim-less Beast was like... Sorry about getting confused, BTW...

Hmm...well, I can add to this conversation: according to the web video "Riding History to the Limits" (I'll link in this post), The Beast was originally not supposed to have the trim brakes prior to the double helix finale. However, a group of people rode it prior to the ride's opening in 1979 and thought the final helix was "too intense" so they added the trims there. Not sure if the other 2 "trim" locations, not counting the brake shed, were intentional- I've only ever heard about this one. However, in 2002, when The Beast switched from skid brakes to fin brakes for the first time, I was told by a reliable (I think...?) source (named The Interpreter) that the brakes before the final helix were removed, but not replaced, and the park let the ride actually run WITHOUT brakes before the final helix for a few days/weeks (not sure), and that said rides were quite wild... Also, on an early Beast promo, I read they claimed the top speed was...get ready for this...70 mph. Not sure if this is exaggeration, or if Beast could actually hit 70mph if ALL of the trim brakes were removed/off...I honestly do feel perhaps it could. However, if I was riding Beast and saw all the trim brakes removed, to be honest yet again...I'd actually be a bit worried, because the ride would likely be VERY rough and VERY forceful...and the ride would tear itself up, more than likely... Video link for "Riding History to the Limits": http://www.cetconnect.org/video/riding-history-limits-rivertown

I could see Son of Beast appearing on a Travel Channel special again...but only AFTER a decision is made with it. Heck, given the history of the ride, you could probably dedicate a whole half hour show to it...example...let's say SOB is demolished... TV Announcer: "Tonight at 8PM on the travel channel...it was supposed to be the ultimate wooden coaster, a ride that would build upon a legend established by its father. It was to be taller, faster, and be the only wooden coaster to ever have a loop. But, somewhere along the way, something went horribly wrong, and the ride was doomed before it ever even opened. Our research team interviews those who designed, built, maintained, and rode the ride through the course of its existence...and what finally did the gigantic wooden coaster in. The Rise and Fall of: Son of Beast! Tonight at 8..." I would actually watch that, too...or, if Son of Beast is overhauled, re-opens, and is somehow successful the special would be: The Rise, Fall, and Return of Son of Beast...which I would probably also watch. As for its papa, The Original Beast, best of luck in tonight's show...tragically, it's going up against The Voyage, and while I perfer Beast to Holiday World's massive wooden coaster, in most polls, Voyage pwns all...because so many polls are biased towards it because of how good the rest of the park around it is (I did also greatly enjoy The Voyage as well, as it is my #2 favorite ride after Beast). El Toro is also not one to mess with, even though I have never been on that one, it did win the 2011 Mitch Hawker Wood Coaster poll (a poll that actually does have some credibility)...and then you have Thunderhead (nope, haven't ridden it yet either), possibly GCI's greatest coaster ever, with its insane speed and twists and turns. To be honest, I feel the wood coaster battle could be the best on this show...then again, we saw a freaking Deja Vu clone win an earlier round, so perhaps Beast has a chance!

Hoosier Hurricane, Indiana Beach, Summer 1999. Rode it 3 times with my father. Loved it. I had probably been on small roller coasters at carnivals and such prior to that, but Hoosier Hurricane was my first full-scale coaster at a "decent" sized amusement park. Then, 1 year later (August 2000), we went to Kings Island, and I was scared to death at just at the mere sight of gigantic rides such as Drop Tower and Son of Beast. Then, not knowing what airtime was, I was scared a bit by The Beastie, and then Blue Racer scared the daylights out of me. I guess my ride on Hooiser Hurricane must not have had airtime...it would be 9 more years before I returned to Kings Island, rode Beast...and became a coaster nut.

^ OK, but I see one small problem with your idea: Now, all those people who would have been in the waterpark under the old system are now, likely, located in the dry park...have fun waiting a longer for Diamondback, Beast, Firehawk, FOF, etc etc. on a summer day- as well as the dry park water rides.

My first ride on Diamondback came in May of 2009. It was only my 2nd ever visit to Kings Island, and the first had been 9 years earlier in August 2000. Basically, I visited the opening years of the park's 2 biggest coasters ever built- SOB and Diamondback. I had conquered my fear of coasters on Beast, and had also ridden Vortex, Congo Falls, and White Water Canyon as "warm-ups". Seeing Diamondback's line at "only" 45 minutes (I considered that short for a brand-new 230' B&M Hyper) we got in line. Right before we got on the ride, it rained, and we had to wait 15 more minutes, making the total wait time one hour. We began climbing the lift hill, and I noticed the two "big" coasters I had already ridden- Beast & Vortex- start to shrink, which was quite intimidating..."wait, wait, The Beast is supposed to be huge...why the heck is it so teeny looking...uh oh..." Then came the drop, and I will tell you this: I had no idea what "air time" was at the time. I had encountered it before, on a ride on the Blue Racer back in 2000, and didn't know what it was then , either, and it scared me to death. I had, however, this time browsed KIC (I didn't join yet) and heard the term. So, when I flew out of my seat, I knew what it was this time, but it was still pretty scary! Hill after hill, Diamondback kept launching me out of my seat, and the intensity was keeping up. The MCBR barley slowed us down, which I even commented on ("The brakes didn't slow us at all!") and we finally neared the end and hit the splashdown... WOW. At the time, Diamondback had become my #1 coaster...but it would not stay there, as I took the first of several epic night rides on The Beast that very night and in 2010 visited Holiday World and discovered Voyage & Legend (I still rank Diamondback above Raven though, no slam on Raven it's still my #5 just too short....) and got a taste of super-strong ejector airtime. To make matters worse, Diamondback has, thus far, been unable to recapture that magical "Ride #1" status on any of my re-rides: probably because I now know what airtime is, feels like, and can expect it. The height still intimidates me a little bit, but I've since noticed the ride really isn't much besides airtime- no strong laterals or other g-forces besides it, no unexpected drops or turns (you can pretty much see everything on this ride beforehand), no tunnels (I enjoy them), and no crazy intensity (once you've become used to its airtime, of course). And that was my first ride on, and a summary of my feelings on, Diamondback. It's a great ride, but I don't really see it as being 10/10 great anymore...but, once upon a time, after that first ride I did. (PS: My current rating of Diamondback is 9/10...) Also, anyone else notice how well Diamondback and Beast seem to work together, even though they are total opposites? Diamondback -Steel -Little Use of Terrain -Smooth -Lots of Airtime -"Traditional" Layout with lots of hills -Splashdown Finale -No Tunnels -Heavily Visible throughout park. Dominates the skyline when viewed from parking lot. -Built by a world famous coaster company, B&M The Beast -Wooden -Heavy use of terrain -Can be rough...it's a woodie -Little to no airtime whatsoever -Odd layout with few hills or drops...lots of straight track... -540 degree tunnel helix finale -4 tunnels -Hidden in the woods with very little of the ride visible. Just try seeing it from the parking lot, that's a tough challenge! -Built by the park itself (though Charlie Dinn & co. did eventually form their own company based off their experience with KECO wooden coasters, Dinn Corporation) Wow...talk about different things that end up having a similar result- both the coasters are admired and have tons and tons of fans, yet are very, very different from one another...

^ To the guy who put Flying Eagles @ Carowinds...sadly, it must have been at KI when you rode it. This would also apply to people who count Screamin' Demon because they rode it at Camden Park...if any did. I'll update the first post. Also, I've noticed a few "errors" in some of these posts- please double check, for example: some of you have a ton of rides listed off, then when the "grand total" numbers come up, you say 0/66...among other problems. (Goastergeek101, you claimed to have ridden everything at KI, then list 0/XX for everything...the correct way would be to say, for example for family rides, 15/15...meaning out of 15 possible credits, you have all 15. Hope this clears that up) Thanks to all who have already posted, however! The current high score is 86, held by KIFan1980. Can anyone here beat that?!?! PS: You can always come back and edit your posts if you get new rides this season you previously did not have.

^ Umm...which of the Dinosaurs Alive! items do you have...you didn't mark either one...just asking. And the Spongebob Action Theatre thing...was called Action FX Theatre...and before that it was known as PARAMOUNT Action FX Theatre. And it played other 3D Motion films before Spongebob came in '03 and lasted until 2010...

^ And I've already been PWNed... Good job getting all the Planet Snoopy rides, BTW...I figured since most on this site are adults, those would be the "hard" ones... I'm expecting MOST to have many or all of the thrill rides...