countess_of_tuscany

That is what I always hope happens to me .. that I get so used to them that they don't bother me anymore! I'm trying but it's tough

This is probably a strange topic/poll but it's out of curiosity. I have only been going to Kings Island since 2008 (CP is my home park) and I absolutely fell in love with it! Everything is amazing there except for one thing .. the yellowjackets in the fall time. They are terrible! Both years I have been there have been filled with them. There were so many that they were even on top of Eiffel Tower and at the top of Drop Tower all the way at the top! I am really freaked out when it comes to bugs of any kind, but especially ones that can actually hurt me like yellowjackets. (and it doesn't help being allergic to them!) My question is, is it common for yellowjackets to be so prominent at Kings Island and the surrounding areas? It just freaks me out because I always think that I will get stung. I put a poll on here asking if you have ever actually been stung at Kings Island Maybe it may give me a tiny bit more peace-of-mind if I see that, although there are so many of them, not many people have gotten stung. Or, it could go the other way and actually have tons of people who have gotten stung, which will back up my fear even more! I'm curious to see how often those pests really sting! Also, feel free to share strange yellowjacket or any other kind of bug encounters at Kings Island or any other park! buzz..buzz..buzz..

I voted for Beast - that's my favorite roller coaster of all time! I hope it wins!

Speaking of how intesne the Crypt used to be, check top-spin out! Now, I can handle a lot when it comes to rides, but I don't know if I could handle that!!

I'm not sure if it was the most exhilarating ride for me, but the first time I rode The Crypt was the only ride that I literally thought I was going to die on! (In a good way, if that makes any sense!) Jeff (count_of_tuscany) had been on it when it was Tomb Raider (I started going to KI in 2008 so I didn’t get to ride Tomb Raider) and he said he absolutely loved it and he was telling me all about the ride. We had heard that the theming was taken down, but he still really wanted me to ride it. He said it flips upside down a few times... This was in the summer of the 2008 season, when it was actually still a thrill ride (unlike it being a ferris wheel now.. ) and when it started going, it was insane! It flipped so many times, so fast, and I couldn't tell if I was up or down! The reason it was so scary to me, was because I thought the ride was broken and somehow out-of-control since it was nothing like he explained it to be – even he didn’t expect it to be that intense. But we absolutely loved it! The Crypt used to be my favorite flat ride at Kings Island, probably one of the most intense rides I'd ever ridden, until they un-intensified it towards the end of the 2009 season.. What a shame!

For one of the Platinum Passholder ride nights on Magnum, there weren't many people there so they let us stay on the train for 8 consecutive rides without getting off! (And, that is my favorite steel coaster of all time, so it was amazing!) The only bad thing about it was the bugs - there were tons of them! I probably ate at least 5 of them during those 8 rides, and got pelted with probably hundreds of them - it felt like tiny needles hitting my face! (and we weren't even in the front car!) I also got some stuck in my eyes, so for about the last 4 rides, I rode it with my eyes closed! And bugs freak me out to the extreme, but since I love Magnum so much, I didn't let them spoil my ride time!

I was in line for Wave Swinger at Cedar Point last season. I am not sure who else noticed this, but there is a point, while waiting in that line, that if you look at Maverick, it looks as if the train goes down the hill and vanishes because of the position of the tunnel hiding the bottom of the drop. And the point where the track comes out of the tunnel is positioned so that if you are standing in the Wave Swinger line, it looks like the first drop is connected to the track coming out of the tunnel, which it's not. [hard to explain if you haven't been in the Wave Swinger line; hopefully I didn't completely lose anybody!] (It really is a great optical illusion, you should check it out next time you are there, it looks like the train literally vanishes!) So anyway, a man behind us was watching the train go down the hill, and it "disappeared", and he exclaimed, "The Maverick train just fell off the track!" He was really concerned and shocked. [Coincidently, the ride must have broken down right after that and no trains were sent out for awhile.] About a minute later after not seeing the train go by, he said "Oh man, it never came back! It must be in the water." (by this time, I was cracking up hearing this) then he turned to his son and said, "We aren't going on Maverick today, it's not safe!" It was hilarious!

I love the sound of Invertigo that is heard from the parking lot. The "click-click-click-click-[pause]-AHHHHHHHHHH!" It just gets me pumped!

I was going to start a dream topic and I found that there already is one! This morning I woke up from an amazing dream! I dreamed that I was in line for Son of Beast and they weren't sure if it was going to open. They said they were only going to let a few trains go for the time being, and my mom and I got the last seats on the last train. And I felt everything, as though I was on the ride! It was so realistic, I wanted it to be real! It actually felt like I was on a rollercoaster. I was controlling everything that was happening; it's almost as though I knew it was a dream and that I could make anything happen..it was really interesting. I love that ride, and my dream just made me miss it even more!

Seeing those pictures just made my entire day better! I can't wait!!

I live, according to Google Maps, 228 miles away. It says 3 hours and 50 minutes, but sometimes it takes a little longer during heavy traffic. But it's totally worth the drive! Plus, we have fun along the way sharing our anticipation of getting there! Oh, I can't wait for this season!!

Awesome pictures, great captions! Makes me miss Kings Island even more -- can't wait to go back!

I plan on riding Son of Beast first, which was my first ride of the season for '09 also! (Or should I say, I hope to ride Son of Beast first)...

I have often wondered what it would be like if Kings Island, Cedar Point, etc. (the parks that close during the winter months) were open year-round. Now, as soon as I hear "year-round" I automatically think "YES!" But the more that I really think about it, the more I actually am very content with the way it is. Actually the main reason that I don't mind the offseason is because of the anticipation of going back. And there is no better feeling, to me, than that first ride of the year on a rollercoaster! It honestly feels like the most intense ride of the year, since you are not used to the feeling. When it really comes down to it, as sad as I am to say goodbye to amusement park season, I think it actually makes me appreciate the parks even more when they are open. Sometimes, getting there is half the fun! Of course, they will never be open year-round due to weather, but I'm just curious to hear other's opinions on the inevitable offseason!

I think Flight of Fear would be amazing with every light turned off. There is an element of surprise when you are completely disoriented and have no idea what is going on, especially on a rollercoaster. Like in Backlot Stunt Coaster, I love the part that is in the building when you can barely see anything -- it's a fun feeling that really catches you off-guard! By the way, hi everyone! This is my first post and I have been readng KI-Central forums for quite awhile and I'm glad to finally be part of it :]