McSalsa

I shall contribute with one of my favorite classic KI photos. This was sometime between 1980-1986. It shows the entire layout of The Beast. If you have never seen the entire layout from an aerial photo, this may shock and suprise you with the coaster's huge size. Note the construction going on where Vortex is today, I am not sure what it is for, but know it was for either The Bat or Vortex. I am guessing this picture might have been taken in 1980, when Beast was only 1 year old, so my guess is it's The Bat. If you look really hard, you can see the Keenton's Cove Keelboat Canal and Flying Eagles in this picture as well. I originally found this photo here, it's not mine: http://www.rollercoasterphilosophy.com/2009/beast-30-analysis/ (Great review of the coaster too!) Enjoy the pic.

OK, I have looked at KI's operating schedule and seen that, for weekdays in May, they will only be open until 8PM. That is no problem if rides are walk-ons, but one question: How dark is it at 8PM on weekdays in May? Because I enjoy my night rides on Beast...if not very, how are lines on Sundays?

Well, all of my previous "attempts" to visit Cedar Point fell through, so guess what happened this time? Same thing. We looked it over and it just looks like Cedar Point is going to be too expensive now. Gas prices, tickets, hotels...ugh, it just got out of control. We are still planning a trip this spring/early summer, but it won't be to Cedar Point. The park that will visit instead is TBD at this moment. Kings Island, Holiday World, and Indiana Beach are all contenders as all are much closer (less gas), would not require 2-day tickets, and we could go home at the end of the day and not require a hotel. Kings Island and Holiday World get further "bonus points" for being great family parks, as we have my friend's girlfriend who dislikes anything tall and her toddler daughter planning on going. Thanks to everyone who gave advice in this topic, and since there are probably still lots of people who can afford to visit Cedar Point, continue to post your tips here for them. Thanks everyone. PS: How crowded is Kings Island, Indiana Beach or Holiday World on a weekday in May? I'd assume "very little" but might not be 100% accurate there...

Well, from the "far" distance, this new park map actually looks pretty good. Though they have seemed to carry-over the Eiffel Tower tower from the old map...it looks almost exactly the same from this picture. And as a side-note, the old map ran from 1999 to 2010...unless it was introduced earlier. But even if that's true, 11 years...perhaps it was time for a change. As for what he is covering up- I am pretty confident that is on purpose...

I wish him a speedy recovery, and will keep him in my prayers...as well as everyone whom was on The Bus. That's about all there is for me to say about this. Quite shocking and sad.

Actually, Kings Island's current park map is still Paramount-style. They have simply "updated" them with the new paint schemes and rides since 1999, which is when the current map made its debut, or so I think...could have been 1998. Know it was 1997, though.

OK, thanks to Terpy. I see now. Oh...this also explains the X-Files theme being played on The Raven when I visited Holiday World last year.

I know, I just felt it should have been brought up that, yes Adventure Express is Indiana Jones themed- just not officially, it's a "generic" version. It was clearly inspired by Indiana Jones, however. I just wonder how they get away with using the theme song. Unless the song is one of those "free to use" songs...or something like that. Then it makes perfect sense to use it.

Wow, this is gonna be Deja Vu (NO TERPY, not the roller coaster at Six Flags!), but do you have this park map too TOPGUN1993? I'd love to see it posted if it is possible... McSalsa, whom obviously enjoys looking at old KI park maps!

Umm...about the "how much it would cost to bring Indiana Jones to KI" thing Goodyellowcorn brought up, Adventure Express is ALREADY themed to be a generic Indiana Jones ride. It actually sometimes plays the theme song in the Q-Line (it did when I visisted on May 8th 2010 and I remember it well), and there is a "Indiana Jones skeleton" in one of the tunnels. And you even "disturb a forbidden temple" and "have fake lava dumped on your head". Just thought this would be worth bringing up here.

Last year on opening day, I arrived about 20-30 minutes before the park opened, the lines were forming at the metal detectors. I was on the first DB train of the year. A couple of pieces of advice: You can't always get lucky with which metal detector rope is dropped first (don't get your hopes up too high - is second or third train really that big a difference?) If you have a choice of two admissions turnstiles that are open, go to the one that has already had someone go through (you know the computer is working and the first swipe of the day always seems slower) Wait for the admissions employee to finish scanning you (the guy ahead of me last year took a header over the turnstile gate) Kings Island allowed the mad scramble last year Last year we knew which side of IS would be the Gold Pass Entrance, will that change in 2011? I'm also wondering how long the wait for 5-1 will be during Vortex ERT compared to the other seats Well, while it wasn't ERT or anything, but the wait for 5-1 on Vortex has never been much longer than any of the other seats every time I went and rode Vortex, both times (in May and October). In fact, it seemed the front and 7-1 had longer lines than 5-1.

Ahh...thank you. But this means...once the Coca-Cola contract DOES expire...DA DA DUM! JK, in all seriousness, I like Pepsi...and Coke...and RC Cola...so I don't care what the park serves. Although some might.

Woah. May have spoke too soon. The 2010 Pizza from that picture actually looks good. And another thing...Kings Island, a Cedar Fair park, has Coca-Cola...while Cedar Point, another Cedar Fair park, has Pepsi? Weird!

YUCK. Am NOT eating Cedar Point's pizza when (or if, though I hope I do) I visit them.

It has been added.

Before the 2010 KI season started, I made a poll asking "what will you do first in 2010?". Now, it's time for the 2011 version! Same thing as last time- what are you going to do first once those gates open for the first time? If you can't be there opening day, this means the first day you head to KI. Enjoy the poll. You should know the drill by now! PS: A bit early, but hey...opening day is less than 2 months now!

Well, had one last night. Get ready for this guys. I had a dream we visited Kings Island for Opening Day 2011, a day I have yet to visit the park on. For some reason, there was a $3 upcharge for entering the park even after you had paid $30 to get your tickets, but this apparently allowed them to lower the drinks prices so a small drink was $2 and large was $3, instead of $4. Still bad but better than what it is in nondreamland. Then, we entered the park, where to my suprise Cedar Fair had installed (or possibly re-installed) a horse & carriage system which cost you no extra money and you could ride the carriage to whatever ride you wanted to get in line for before the park opened. Me and my friends and family decided to go for Firehawk since it almost always has a 1+ hour line if you wait too long, and on the way we passed the Eiffel Tower and Vortex. As we started passing the Eiffel Tower, my grandmother and some weird guy who was supposed to be my uncle (I have no idea who he is) joined us. On our way to Firehawk, I looked up and there it was- WindSeeker, towering above doing test runs. We decided since WindSeeker didn't seem to have such a long line, but my sister started arguing because she was afraid of it. Then I woke up. Weird dream. Some notes: Son of Beast was closed in this dream, first time for that...ever. In my dreams at least. Usually, it was open or had just re-opened...and for some reason in my recent dreams it has had timberliners and you get free Hardees for riding it! It was barley seen, but did appear at one point in the "background" in this dream as we headed down International Street on the horse (it was "looming" over the buildings and trees as I looked to that side like in real life.) This was the first dream I have ever had where Firehawk was mentioned. The coasters that pop up in my dreams the most from KI are, in order: Son of Beast, Beast, Vortex, and Diamondback. I have never had a dream where Flight Deck, Invertigo, or Delirium has been mentioned for some reason. Do they even exist at my dream Kings Island? What a crazy dream...well, less crazy than usual...

UGH! TRIPLE POST! I DID NOT MEAN TO DO THIS!!! (Fires Beam O' Mass Doom again!)

darn YOU DOUBLE POST!!! (Fires Beam O' Mass Doom)

Have you decided what you be staying at? Just one minor thing about the tents, they aren't allowed in either Camper Village or Lighthouse Point. LP though, there are the cabins. One nice thing about staying on property no traffic on the causeway Actually no, but it probably (and sadly) won't be on-site because that would take more money than we have. Although a LOT can change between now & May/June. I wouldn't even say this trip is 100% confirmed, but it is still very probabe. I say this because I THOUGHT I would visit Cedar Point last August and then got DUMPED at the LAST MINUTE by my own SISTER...who now constantly brags to me how awesome Maverick is... However, I counter by responding how awesome Voyage is! LOL

That should be an option for every poll when enthusiasts are involved... Did your browser back button stop working? I'm actually surprised McSalsa didn't attach his normal disclaimer to this poll. Umm...actually, I did: Please, keep this clean and friendly...if you're going to start fights and arguments here, for everyone's sake, click back. Enjoy the poll. Or at least, attempt to. Yep.

OK, new plan: even though KI only runs 2-ride ERT, in this poll, I'll expand ERT to 4 rides. But no more than 4. Less than 4? OK...but why would you want that?

Thanks, TOPGUN1993. Curses, why I didn't I visit Kings Island in 1985...oh wait, I wasn't alive...MUST BUILD TIME MACHINE...or... Will trade Beam O' Mass Doom for Time Machine!!!

OK, this poll was inspired by all the raging debate over in the "2011 Gold Pass includes WindSeeker and Vortex" topic: http://www.KICentral...25 It got me thinking: what 4 rides, if I could choose any 4, would I want open for ERT if I had a gold or platinum pass? And thus this poll. While it is multiple choice, please, ONLY CHOOSE FOUR. Also, you don't need to, but I would consider the average wait times for rides. What would be the point of Flight Deck ERT, for example, as it usually only has a 5-15 minute wait? If you want to ignore this though, feel free to do so. Please, keep this clean and friendly...if you're going to start fights and arguments here, for everyone's sake, click back. Enjoy the poll. Or at least, attempt to. NOTE: I only listed "major" rides and attractions, since having small family flatrides would not stand a chance compared to giant flats and roller coasters, however, Planet Snoopy and the Coney Mall flats are listed as "groups" of rides to be open for ERT. Racer only counts as 1. Planet Snoopy is a "combo", all rides & attractions there would open 1-hour early. It would be nice for the kids, wouldn't it? Son of Beast is closed and thus is NOT an option here. MY PICKS: I actually went against my favorite ride in the park, The Beast, and choose the X-Base coasters instead. Firehawk and Flight of Fear always have such long lines, why not open them an hour early and get them done with first? Even after the update, I still leave Beast out since it's lines won't be crazy and it's better later in the day, so my next 2 picks are...Diamondback (it does have kinda long lines at times and is VERY popular) and WindSeeker (NEW). UPDATE: Added a "random" option for those who might get tired of riding the same ride during ERT. This would be the park choosing a different major ride/attraction every day, possibly rotating.You may pick one "constant" and a random, which would mean for example: Diamondback open for ERT every day, with a random ride joining it: Diamondback & Beast 1 day, the next Diamondback & WindSeeker, Diamondback & Vortex on Day 3...etc etc... 2ND UPDATE: I'll be nice and let you open up to 4 rides for ERT now, even though KI only appears to wish to run 2...

Just curious...Where did all the coasters KI had end up? Is Beast at Disneyland now or something? Thanks.