jdawg1998

I won't even title this a trip report. My dad and I got to Kings Island at 9:30 this morning and somehow Diamondback's line reached all the way to Blue Ice Cream! We were absolutely stunned. Unfortunately, I didn't get to ride Diamondback today. Hopefully next week. We then went to The Beast. The line extended to the Rivertown games. Once again another must ride for us was passed up on. The park hadn't even opened yet - still 15 minutes, so we waited at the rope until the park opened. We went directly to BLSC and walked on to the front seat. By the time we got off, the line was about to fill up the queue under the shade structures (whatever they're called). Wow. I took some decent pictures from BLSC to The Racer that I will post when I get home. Vortex's line filled up the outside queue, Flight of Fear as well, and Firehawk of course wasn't open. The Racer was the only ride with a decent wait. We rode it, and I gotta say, it doesn't feel as rough as usual. It was actually kind of smooth. That was it for our day in terms of rides. But I took some pics of the Bier Garten, the new banners in Action Zone, and the mysterious fence around the Thunder Alley area. Pictures coming soon. We will be going next Sunday, because today was just a disappointment. Sunday we will also eat at the Reds Hall of Fame and Grille, which I'll review. Overall it's good to be back.

It does seem kind of weird that it's called Snoopy Surf Dog, and you're riding on a surfboard, and there's no Snoopy on top.

Thanks. I wouldn't think that would be on the Hours page, but ...

What are the early ride times this year? I can't find it on the website anywhere. I also forget what the times were ... it's been awhile ... and would the ERT's be in effect for Opening Day? I'm going on Opening Day, but just for a couple of hours so I can beat the crowds.

I can't tell if you're being funny or not ... because like jcgoble said, Jungle Jim's actually did take the water tower....

Did you say fall off the bone ribs?? I'm sold!

Test Track is pretty much the same ride, though. They just made the theme different and added new special effects.

^I don't count renovations.

Honestly, Disney World isn't all that great - in my opinion. New Fantasyland, as GYK noted, has only one E-ticket ride, a restaurant, then some meet and greets. I compare Universal to Disney now; look at Universal. Transformers, Harry Potter Phase II, Springfield Expansion, new hotel, etc., etc., while Magic Kingdom has added one ride and a meet and greet, EPCOT has gotten nothing new in years, Hollywood Studios' most recent new ride is Toy Story Mania which came out several years ago, and Animal Kingdom is pretty much at a sit still right now too. Then, while Disney builds new rides, the others deteriorate. Splash Mountain has had broken AA's for a while. EPCOT is getting outdated every second. Hollywood Studios is getting outdated, too. And Animal Kingdom's yeti on Expedition Everest never worked the way it was supposed to. Sorry for the negativity against Disney World; I still love visiting, but I like Universal Studios a lot better. Carry on with the Mystic Manor conversation ...

My grandparents live in Melbourne. I'll give you their address and you can say hi for me, ok?

Dang, you guys really skipped around a lot. When my family went last year, we went to one park a day. We would never be able to do what you did. What was your favorite ride?

I'm laughing at the speaker phone part ... it's amazing how much farther we've gone than that!

Is it strange that I'm mega excited about the new banners? I'm weird...

^^You better keep an eye on your son, he's been wrecking havoc on this site since he joined.

I never used it anyway, as no staff members asked me if I had a Gold pass.

Reds Hall of Fame Grille. The first day I go to Kings Island, you'll find me there around noon.

I just hate Congo Falls because of its slow, slow, buildup to the non-exciting drop. I wish we had something like Pilgrim's Plunge (sorry, Girafica), with a fast lift, and an exciting drop.

You mean it appears, as in it looks old, or appears, as in, it looks like it really hasn't been painted since the 70's?

Erm...no. Not a wooden coaster.

Speaking of this, why is the Kings Island Partridge Family episode not nearly as popular as The Brady Bunch?

You're banished from Kings Island Central for your mistake. Never make it again.

Saratoga Chips aren't just at Montgomery Inn...I see them at most restaurants nowadays. I love them! I will be getting them all the time at Kings Island now.

I hate looking at Kings Island Facebook comments, people complaining about no new roller coaster. I love all these little things. Can't wait until tomorrow - even if it is probably a small thing.

Don't trust the weather 10 days in advance. I start trusting it within 5 days. Even then weather is just too unpredictable.

That's how I felt last year. While we aren't getting anything big, it's nice to see things changing to make the park even better. When there's no new big attraction, it lets Kings Island focus on some minor things that need improvements.