homestar92

Everyone knows that Carl is a deranged sociopath with a long history of violence. I don't understand how you keep forgetting that. -homestar92, making reference to one of his favorite things on the entire internet, and not talking about any real person named Carl.

I think if we simply look at how long B&M has been building hypercoasters and how many of their restraints have failed in that time, we'll learn whether seatbelts would be needed. Also, isn't there a thread for this in the Rumors board?

Last season, Vortex was one of the most ridden attractions in the park. It's not going anywhere until it becomes prohibitively expensive to continue operating, it sees a DRAMATIC decrease in ridership, or until that land is needed for something else. In short, as long as no major incidents occur, expect Vortex to stick around for many years to come. Besides, everyone knows 2013 was its last season. And 2014 is its current season

Oh, really? You wouldn't know that by listening to the PA system. On Friday evening, the PA system was advertising the Starlight Spectacular. If it's gone, they should remove the ads for it from the system. Per this interview with Don, it's run its course. http://kifansite.com/2013/12/don-speaks-live/

^I had no idea. I've always just assumed something was broken. I'll be sure to do that in the future. This isn't the first time I've seen it not working.

I hope not. They will not. The Starlight Spectacular has thankfully been retired. If you're going to build an "attraction" that is nothing more than decorations, don't let said decorations get faded and horrible.

I mean... they own the shirts. They never signed an agreement not to sell them, and Kings Island never said they couldn't. Heck, I don't think Kings Island ever even said that it would be one per customer (though I may be wrong). Being that they own the shirts, they have the right to try and sell them. Basic economics will say that if people object to the idea of them being sold, nobody will buy them. Evidently, that has not been the case. I have a Media Day shirt, and I assume there are a lot less of those out there. I probably COULD sell it if I wanted to for a quick buck. But I enjoy having it, and as far as I'm concerned, I rode the ride before any of those 5,000 "first rider" shirts were given out. I have the REAL "First Rider" shirt. On a side note, I wore it on opening day and someone in line for Diamondback commented that the colors on it look girly. So I just kept my cool and informed him that he may be right, but I had lots of fun screaming like a little girl on all six of my rides on Banshee before it was even open to him. That shut him up real quick.

There is a lot of interesting history of Kings Island that could make great, informative trivia. They could ask things like "which previous coaster occupied the same station building currently used by Vortex?" while in line for Vortex, just as an example. Or, better yet: "at what rate is Vortex currently sinking into the ground?" with the answer being "it isn't, and stop believing everything the Dippin' Dots guys tell you!"

What?! No. Or if it has, it does not run at all times. Though FoF did recieve new HDTVs and the old video has been reformatted for the new screens. They added a sci-fi themed border around the old 4:3 video to make it display correctly in 16:9 (or 9:16 in some cases since roughly half the TVs were in a vertical orientation) without stretch-o-vision. I did not see the whole video, but I hope that it has been modified to show the side of the queue that actually gets used on slow days rather than the one that's empty every day but Saturday...

One seller successfully sold two shirts on eBay for $50 each. Someone's Fast Lane Plus wristband was (more than) paid for. I hate the fact that I didn't have their idea. I have to say, it's brilliant. I kinda object to what they did, though, on the basis that I think the shirts really were SUPPOSED to be one per person. Perhaps next time they could hand out paper slips good for one shirt later in the day, and you must provide identification to pick it up. When you get it, your name goes on a list and you can't get any more shirts. Though the issue there is that there may be more than one Bob Smith at the park that day, plus pre-driving age kids don't typically carry ID... Still, I think the system could be improved somehow for the next major attraction. Unless the park wanted this to happen as a way to sell more Fast Lane passes.

Also, if I'm in the park, but don't intend to ride rides, I bring my DSLR. If I bring my DLSR, I take lots of pictures and upload them on Facebook. If I upload them on Facebook my friends see them. If my friends see pictures of KI, they want to go to KI. And if they want to go to KI, they go to KI, most likely with a single day ticket and spend tons of money. (Suddenly, I feel like a DirecTV commercial...) Plus, I know me. I can't go to Kings Island and NOT buy a blue ice cream! And in my case, it certainly wouldn't be a 5 days a week thing. But I could see going to the park after work once a week or so and maybe taking in a show and going up the tower or riding the carousel before I head out. I think with my in-park habits, the park WILL make a net profit off of my having the dining plan no matter how much I may feel as if I'm abusing it. I mean, most of the food costs next to nothing to make anyway. I'd bet if I buy a soda with it (even at 99 cents) the park is probably profiting a little with that alone since soft drink syrup is absurdly cheap in bulk. If I were a betting man, I'd wager that this fact alone contributed to the decision to NOT include a drink. This will also help fund my idea of getting an on-ride photo on every ride that offers them while wearing a suit and tie...

And then there are people like me who may make special trips just to relax and enjoy a slice of pizza by the fountains after work. Heck, KI isn't even out of my normal way home other than the mile or so between the I-71 off-ramp to the parking tolls. I could actually use this to get an inexpensive meal if money is ever tight this summer! Perhaps visiting just to grab a bite to eat and then leaving is verging on abusing the system, but as far as I'm concerned, it's within my rights as a customer! Since it would take 10 soft drinks in a day to break even on that deal, I can't even imagine the diabeetus brewing in your system right now...

The only other coaster with no bins is Firehawk, and on Firehawk they do not. I would assume the same to be true on Banshee but I can't be sure.

I was told on Thursday by the worker at the ticket booth that it will not. It is only valid at Kings Island. I do wonder, if other parks decide to offer this plan and you have a platinum, will you be able to put a plan from each park on your pass, or only one from the park at which the pass was processed? Or at that point, would they perhaps offer a "platinum season-long dining plan" good at all parks (for a much higher price, of course)

But who will administer the punishment? Bubba did not seem to be talking yesterday, so somebody else will have to make them pay...

One of the trivia questions bugged me. It was the one about how fast Banshee goes in miles per hour. The choices were 50, 55, 68, and 88. Decent question for the general public as they probably don't honestly know. But one of the hints bugged me. IT ws meant to eliminate the choice of 55, but the hint was "Sammy Hagar can't drive it". Umm... I pretty sure that that's a misleading hint. Sammy Hagar can't drive 55, which seems to indicate that 55 IS the answer. In fact, the song was protesting the 1973 National Maximum Speed Law that lowered all speed limits to 55 MPH or less. Sammy Hagar most likely COULD happily drive 68 (which is the right answer) and so I think that's a bad hint. And it honestly bugged me so much that I couldn't enjoy the trivia in Banshee's line...

The only experiences I've had with odd navigation of a park did not relate to the park as a whole, but particular rides. Finding the entrance to Blue Streak was a chore (seriously, the exit is where the entrance should be, and vice versa!). I also had quite a bit of trouble finding Carowinds' Vortex the first time I wanted to ride it.

I want to give a huge shoutout to Banshee's crew. You guys rocked it hard today! After my first night ride (and overall ride) during a normal operating day, I gotta say, I love the theming, especially at night. The tombstones look great, both in line and on the ground by the ride. And as for my review: I love each and every element. Literally my ONLY gripe is that I think the zero-g roll could be just a hair more forceful like on some 90's inverts, but I love it anyway. It is the ONLY ride at Kings Island that is a truly great experience from the moment you step foot in the line to the moment you leave the under-station shop.

Since an order of Nachos and queso at Hank's is typically enough for me, I did not buy the meal plan yet. I just ate the $5 that it cost me just to avoid the line. I will soon, but the lines at the ticket window were absolutely absurd. Also, I think the nachos and queso probably counts as a side and not an entree. Since I typically get that for a meal (with chicken added to it) due to its affordability and being enough to fill me up, it looks as if this year, I dine like a king. This is slightly off topic, but while we're on the subject of price changes, were the lockers $1 an hour last year? I seem to remember them being more.

Media Day was nothing short of awesome. I (and most other enthusiasts I'm sure) would have been THRILLED just to get a chance to ride Banshee. But the park went WAY above and beyond what was expected and created an experience I will never forget. Thank you to everyone at Kings Island for a great event. You guys made my year!

I didn't... But as of posting this, I've only been up for around 17 hours. I think I'll manage.

This summer I will be working 10 minutes from the park... LaRosa's Pizza by the International Street fountains on my lunch break? Yes please!

No firestorm here. You're allowed to be wrong if you want to

It may be the lighting but the yellow on the arm is starting to look more like the orange on the disk...

Ooh, you're right at the height limit... I hope you can ride Banshee