homestar92

I know they used to be in the FoF building, but lookie what I saw on Bing maps...

So I was playing around with Google Earth and I found some interesting things. In these pics: Pic 1 Pic 2 I'm not sure what's in Pic 1 and my guesses are probably way off. In Pic 2, I'm 90% sure those are spongebob and Patrick. Any ideas what those may be? And if any other cool goodies are visible on Google Earth (Besides SOB's trains, I learned about those in another topic)?

So my girlfriend and I, who are both very obsessed with Kings Island for many reasons, were having a discussion about removed or demolished rides, and where they stood when they existed. We all know that Antique Cars were where Backlot is now... That's easy. And King Cobra was where Delirium was, or more specifically, King Cobra's helix was precisely where Delirium's disc sits. (I checked Google Earth on that, plus I, unlike her, have been to the park at a time when King Cobra still stood, although I was too short to ride it). My question pertains to Bavarian Beetle and Screamin' Demon. Comparing 1972 map scans online with current maps leads me to believe that the Paramount theater (or whatever they changed it to) is where Bavarian Beetle stood. What about Screamin' Demon? Online photos and her father's recollection dictate that it was about where Invertigo stands, but that could be a horribly wrong estimate. If anyone knows, would they like to delve into this subject? I love history, I love Kings Island, and I love to combine them. So any knowledge of this sort that anyone knows would be very interesting to me.

So According to their site, KI says that 18 rides are open for haunt. I have a couple questions since I'm going tomorrow. Are all rides open during the day before Haunt starts, and which rides close? If I had to guess, I'd assume Planet Snoopy closes as well as most of the flats in Coney Mall. But I really don't know. So my question is, which, if any "good" rides are closed. By "Good" rides, I mean coasters and the bigger flats, like Delirium and Drop Tower. If anyone knows, I'd love to be informed before I go. Thanks!

This is probably not applicable to most but getting over my fear involved having a more powerful desire than fear. I was scared of coasters, but my girlfriend was addicted to them. That's what made me ride my first "big" one. The urge to impress the lady. And I've been a junky ever since. If you want my advice, start with Flight of Fear. You can't see, so you won't realize you're scared until it's over. And then you'll see it isn't so bad. Also, try to find ways to lighten the mood. Joke around in line. Do something to lift your spirits so you don't know you're scared. Personally, I love video games, so as Flight of Fear launched, I just had to yell "Use the Boost to get through!" (A StarFox 64 quote). This got me laughing as the ride started. And if you can get past the initial shock that you're on a big ride, you'll start enjoying it, or at least you'll stop being terrified. And believe me, I had so much fun that I went straight to Firehawk after that, likely the most intimidating ride in the park.

I've never rode Son of Beast. By the time I got into Roller Coasters, it was long closed. I've ridden everything in the park (except SoB, if you choose to count it) and I for one, hope they re-open it, with or without changes. Those three tomb stones could very well be intended to make us all freak out and try to make something of it. Or they could be a legitimate clue. We don't know. But I've heard that the park still owns the original, heavier cars. Wouldn't it be cool if they somehow fixed its structural issues, allowing it to use the heavy cars again, and, it it would even be possible after the modifications they made, restore the loop? I know this is all wishful thinking, but it sure would be cool to see it back in its original form. But I'll get real now, it won't happen. But a re-opening in some form is very possible.

Oh this summer... best months of my life. Let's keep this KI related. I more than quadrupled my lifetime visit count (with this summers three trips, I bring my life total to 5). But these were different. At the beginning of the summer I was a huge wuss. The biggest ride I would go on was probably Adventure Express. My first trip was for my Senior Trip for High School, the last time out with most of my friends... and a huge step in my life. It brought on my first rides on Beast and Racer (Oh what I was missing). But that isn't the best part. You see, this spring I met the most compatible girl I've ever known, a girl who I feel sure will be the love of my life. But there was a problem. She was a major adrenaline junky, and I was afraid of just about everything in the park. But sometimes the urge to look big for your girlfriend overpowers instinct. I remember, the sweaty palms, the overwhelming fear, 9:45 A.M., waiting because she wanted to be the first rider of the day on Delirium. So I went through the line, possibly having several minor heart attacks in the process. But I rode it... And I hated it (at least at the time). Somehow though, my desire to impress the lady was not swayed by the fear. We then proceeded to face my fears on the aptly named Flight of Fear. Admittedly, my fears were brought down a bit there when I started to overpower my instinct and have... well... fun. Having a gamer girlfriend and being one myself, nothing could stop our urge to shout "Use the boost to get through" as we felt the launch. From there I never looked back. Did I love coasters yet? No. Did it help that our next stop was possibly the most intimidating ride yet? No. But again, for her, I rode Firehawk. By now, my fears were dying, but oh how stubborn they were. Next was the Crypt. What was to her a boring fragment of a once great experience, was to me a terrifying, high-intensity tour-de-force (literally) that left me questioning my urge to impress her. But I had to press on, the next stops to Vortex and Diamondback (also first rides for me) were increasingly less in the fear factor and more in the fun department. By now, I was a man, and a coaster Junky. I happily went for another go on Vortex and Diamondback, and then took the route to Invertingo (Which will still always be Face/Off to me). This... Brought me a few steps back, giving me a noticeable headache that lasted about 15 minutes. But all that passed with a night ride on The Beast... And a kiss from the one I love near the top of the lift hill . Our next visit was not so successful. You see, at that time, I was about a week away from move-in day at my college. Unfortunately for us, this college is 3 hours away from home. Also, it rained a lot, and many coasters closed. But I got to go out with a bang, finishing a night ride on Diamondback just before the fireworks started. It was a very bittersweet moment for us, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Now as I sit here, 3 hours from home and missing my love terribly, I'm reliving this summer in my mind and thinking about how much I grew from just that one trip to KI. Except I still won't do Drop Zone. Tower of Terror at Disney when I was 8 turned me off to dropping rides forever. But in spite of that one area, I went from a coaster wuss, to a junky in about a week. Even as I type this, I'm waiting for 2011 Platinum passes to go up for sale to complete our vacation plans next summer, when we plan to visit Carowinds, Kings Dominion, Cedar Point, and KI (several times). So to quote a song that I love... "When I look back now, that summer seemed to last forever. And if I had the choice, yeah, I'd always want to be there. Those were the best days of my life." So here's to the memories and the life-changing events of 2010 at KI, and to the bigger, better memories next summer at some of the best parks in America.

So this is my first post ever here, as I just recently acquired a love for roller coasters when my girlfriend forcibly dragged me on FoF earlier this summer. But anyway, does a drop in Gold Pass price usually coincide with a drop in Platinum Pass price. Because next summer I plan on going South, so I may possibly hit up Carowinds and Kings Dominion, and then I'll likely be going up to Cedar Point with my girlfriend's family. Not to mention numerous trips to KI. Would the extra $90 be worthwhile for the *possibility* of going to all these parks, and is the price likely to drop?