countess_of_tuscany

We always stay at the Super 8 Mason right down the street from KI - prices, at least when we've booked them, have always been under $50 and we have never had a problem with the hotel - it's super close to KI - and always had clean rooms!

Sounds like you had lots of fun! Jeff (count_of_tuscany) and I just went to Michigan's Adventure a few weeks ago and we had a blast! It is a nice little family park and Shivering Timbers is just incredible! Thanks for sharing your fun time with us

The Beast is my favorite ride of all time!

I think that Flight Deck is fun just the way it is. My least favorite coaster at Cedar Point is Iron Dragon (probably because I got stuck on it and it freaked me out because I felt claustrophobic) My favorite suspended coaster of the sort is Vortex at Canada's Wonderland - that is such a fast coaster compared to Iron Dragon! Plus, I heard one of the funniest comments in line for Vortex - someone insisted that it "dunked you into the water" at one point!

I was 4 or 5 when I rode my first coaster - Screamer - at Boblo Island! It was a Vekoma double-loop steel coaster (not sure the exact name of the type of coaster, but I looked up the details and it said it was a Vekoma). I don't really remember much about it, but I know that I loved it!

Love it!

New parking becuase part of the parking lot near DD's old spot will be lost due to a new ride? That is exactly what I thought when I saw that last night! I hope!!

Jeff (count_of_tuscany) and I went to Cedar Point for opening day (May 15th) and stayed May 16th also. We had an amazing time as usual! We noticed some changes around the park, so I listed a few here. I know that there are probably more that I am forgetting, but if I can remember any more I will edit this post and add them in. What did everyone else notice that was different this year? It's interesting to see all of the changes from year-to-year. Here are a few of what we noticed (besides Shoot the Rapids, of course!): · Bosco Sticks near Power Tower and Wave Swinger · Funnel Cake Fries near Wave Swinger · No more video cameras on Raptor – just doing still-pictures now · Looks like Undertaker U will be getting a makeover – A teaser sign is on the building, hinting that the theme will be a haunted asylum for Halloweekends this year · Churros stand near Magnum · Go-Cookies at some food stands (mini cookies in a cup) · Chuck Wagon Inn now sells Montgomery Inn Ribs and other bbq-type foods instead of pizza · Perkin's restaurant in Hotel Breakers · It appears that a new parking lot is being constructed near the CP Marina side - either that, or the parking lot was already there and I never noticed it and they are just doing construction on it · New wait-time sign by Power Tower (now shows separate wait times for Space Shot and Turbo Drop) · Bigger courtesy-water cups (hope this lasts!) · Some of the coaster seatbelts seem new, but I can't tell for sure · Some ride-ops were wearing new jumper-type outfits (like a short body-suit with a red tie) · New paint on the metal handle on the end of Skyhawk (by seats 1 and 20 on both sides and swings) · Prices for food has gone up it seems – no surprise there · Cheese-on-a-sticks are about half the size that they used to be · New smoking section with white outdoor chairs and an awning near the entrance of Paddlewheel Excursions (absolutely gross – you get blasted in the face with cigarette smoke as the Paddlewheel boat pulls into the station – a major turnoff for that ride, IMO) · New set of lockers near Shoot the Rapids · 2nd family dryer by exit of Shoot the Rapids · A few new areas of new concrete · Some new wood on Meanstreak and Gemini · New flags outside of the main entrance – they say The Fun and Only! · A new store on the Frontier Trail selling Peanuts merchandise – I think it's called Charlie Brown's Corner Cabin or something like that? I don't remember the name of it - It may not be new, but I do not remember seeing it before. While on Meanstreak, we noticed some Chaos cars laying on the ground in the middle of Meanstreak (you could only see them while on the ride) and we went to Chaos, and sure enough, all of the cars were missing. I know that it's for sale, but I wonder if it was purchased, or what's going on (hopefully it's just temporary!) Also, did anyone else notice on Sunday (16th) that one of the Mantis trains had valleyed near the crazy-twisting-end part, and was just stuck there? I wonder how they will get that going again - it sure looked strange! Overall it seemed that the employees were super nice – the only downfall was that many of the rides were down for mechanical problems – but it was wonderful weather! It's great to be back, and I can't wait to go again! (May 27 – next trip!) I love Cedar Point!

My best experience was the first time that I rode The Beast - I instantly fell in love! It is my favorite coaster in the entire universe! Edit: I just thought of another after I posted that ^. The first time that I went on Adventure Express was so funny and memorable - Here's what happened: Jeff (count_of_tuscany) had been to Kings Island and was always telling me about "the best ending of any ride in the world" - he said that he wouldn't tell me what it was, that it was absolutely amazing and I had to see it for myself (this was, obviously, before I ever went to Kings Island). So in 2008, I finally got to Kings Island for the first time and I was most excited to ride Adventure Express to see the awesome ending! I was SO excited when we started up the last tunnel with all the arm-punching guys because he said the best ending ever was coming up right after the tunnel! (I was ready for something spectacular and I was so pumped!) ... Then the coaster train gently went right back into the station! I was in shock! He wanted to build it up for me, to actually show me the lamest ending of any ride ever! He was totally joking about it being an awesome ending! (But we always laugh about it, and we wouldn't have it any other way - we love AE!) [and last year, we did the same thing to my mom and my friend the first time they came to KI - and it was hilarious!] It just seems like something awesome is going to come right after that tunnel! I suggest trying that with someone who has never been there- it gives everyone quite a laugh!

This is such a great idea! As soon as I read this I told my friend about it who is in the army and we will definately be taking advantage of it! Thanks, Cedar Fair!

^^thanks, coastercub - I'll have to check that out!

I searched the forums and I didn't see any topics yet about Boblo Island. I can thank Boblo for getting me so into amusement parks- that was my first amusement park that I ever went to. I went 2 times when I was about 4 to 6 years old. I absolutely loved it! I wanted to have this topic for everyone to talk about their Boblo memories, and hopefully share a few pictures or videos! I have such a hard time finding pictures of the rides at Boblo - I look all over the Internet and can barely come up with a few. I remember my favorite ride there was the Falling Star (now happily at Michigan's Adventure - of which I still ride!) I also loved the Screamer, Sky Streek, and Nightmare rollercoasters. Something that really stands out in my memory from Boblo was when my older brother and I wanted to ride the bumper cars - I insisted I was too old for the "kiddie" bumper cars, so I went on the "big kid" ones with him - what a mistake! I was probably the youngest person in there, and my car got stuck and was spinning in circles the whole time as all the big kids bumped into me and laughed. I, of course, was crying and screaming! And that affected me so much, that to this day, I will not ride bumper cars. They freak me out to the max! That experience must have been very traumatic for me! I also vaguely remember a huge ball pit (well, was huge to me considering I was so small!) and I think it was in the kiddie area. I absolutely loved that ball pit because you could literally swim in it, the balls were so deep. I cannot find any pictures of this ball pit either. I'd love to see it again! Does anyone remember that? Of course, I remember riding the boat there - that was always fun. A very unique way to get to an amusement park! I really thank the Screamer, especially, for getting me into rollercoasters - it was my first upside-down coaster, and I was so proud of myself for going on such a big ride! I immediately fell in love with rollercoasters, and I've loved them ever since! (As long as I can stay away from the bumper cars!) Please post your Boblo memories/pictures/videos/anything here - I'd love to read them, and I'm sure so many other people will too!

^^ I think Charlie was afraid of the weather outside! [it was Saturday night soon before the severe weather announcement was made over the speakers]

Jeff (count_of_tuscany) snapped our favorite picture from last weekend! (4/23-4/25) This is our friend Mark who was nice enough to not pull the football away from Charlie Brown!

A Platinum Pass is the absolute best thing that I have ever bought in my entire life! I've had one since the first year they were available. (before that, I had a Cedar Point season pass with Joe Cool club [Max plus pass, I think it was called?]) The Platinum Pass is an amazing deal, and when I first read about it I thought they were too-good-to-be-true! I love my Platinum Pass and I plan to renew it every single year!

I loved Boo Blasters! We went this weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and we rode it 4 times total. I like it better than Scooby- it seemed more on the scary side. I did also notice that the blasters were louder than before. We didn't get the 3D glasses, though - for someone that did, is it worth buying a pair? - does it really work well? Overall, very fun ride! (I can't remember my high score, I think it was somewhere around 860 or something - I'm not the best blaster! )

Those Eurobubbles look crazy! How does one get into one of those bubbles - how do they open up? And is it just for kids? [i can't wait for KI this weekend!]

Hi msm2009! Welcome to KIC! If you are looking to save money, I've got a hotel for you. I would definitely recommend the Super 8 hotel right down the street from Kings Island. It's called Super 8 Mason and the website is here. I like using discount hotel sites such as Orbitz and Priceline, but with Super 8 Mason, I've always found cheaper rates right from the official site. You may want to check the discount sites first, though, just in case. I have never had a problem with the hotel - always have had a clean room and sheets and shower, etc. It's so close to KI too! That would be my recommendation to anybody because the value is great!

These are in no particular order at all, I just wrote them down as they came to me. I don’t think I am forgetting any but I may be. As you can tell, I love Halloween! Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle (Kings Island) Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle (Canada’s Wonderland) The Crypt (Kings Island) Nightmare (Boblo) Flight of Fear (Kings Island) Spaceship Earth (Disney World) Tower of Terror (Disney World) Space Mountain (Disney World) Disaster Transport (Cedar Point) The Haunted Mansion (Disney World) The Haunted Mansion (Houghton Lake) Hellblock 13 (local haunted house) Urgent Scare (Kings Island) CarnEvil (Kings Island) Death Row (Kings Island) Massacre Manor (Kings Island) Pharaoh’s Secret (Kings Island) Undertaker U (Cedar Point) Eerie Estate (Cedar Point) Happy Jack’s Toy Factory (Cedar Point) The Slaughterhouse (Kings Island) Club Blood (Cedar Point) Club Blood (Kings Island) My favorite out of those: Tower of Terror! I haven't been to Disney since I was in 4th grade, but I was so into that ride, when I got back home that's all I talked about! I want to go back!

Wow..that is an amazing quote! Thanks for posting..it is so true! I always tell people to never lose the kid in them. I will never lose the kid in me! It's so awesome because as soon as I step foot in an amusement park, I am instantly a kid! One of the reasons I love amusement parks so much (especially Cedar Point and Kings Island) is because [mostly] everyone is there for just a good ol' fun time and I always see smiling happy faces -- I love that!

I noticed that the date on them was April 1st (both CP's and KI's blog). I would assume that it is an april fools joke, considering that many companies did things like that yesterday. But, I could be wrong, but when I read the OnPoint! blog yesterday that said that, I automatically thought it was just a joke for April Fools!

We always stay at the Super 8 which is just down the road from Kings Island. The prices that we've come across range from 40-55 dollars a night. And it really is not a bad hotel! We have never had a problem with it, never found any bugs in the room, beds clean, shower clean, everything is great and it's super cheap for a clean hotel! [at least, we haven't had problems yet *knock on wood*] I'm not sure how old you have to be to book a hotel room, but I assume that 20 should be fine, but I don't know for sure. I've booked hotel rooms when I was only 18.

I actually just got done watching that video (I saw it on the "OnPoint!" blog) It really amazed me to see how much they do to the rides in the offseason. I knew that they took them off the track and fixed them up, but I didn't know how much detail work they really went into. It's incredible! It's good to know that they are so well taken care of - it really shows! Great job, Cedar Point!

Hi urakan, welcome to KIC! I am a newer member as well, but long-time reader! I have had glasses since 2nd grade, and I used to wear them on the coasters with a strap, or just take them off. It was such a pain because I couldn't fully enjoy the rides because my eyes were so blurry (I am nearly blind without them). I would definitely, totally, 100% recommend contacts over glasses any day, in my opinion. Especially for amusement parks - I have never had a problem with them on any of the rides, and I even rode TTD in the front row with them on, and they were just fine! I have Acuvue 2 and they are wonderful! (2 week disposable) – I highly recommend contacts to anybody! Such a convenience!