HWBeast1039

Yeah. And other than those two employees, the ride ops were much peppier.

It looks like you didn't need to see the changes to enjoy them. Was the $8 you had to give them the difference to upgrade into preferred parking? That's the thing. They made us pay $8 AND wouldn't let us have preferred parking.

It is as confusing to you as it is to me.

First off, I want to apologize for the length of this. I wrote it on my phone on the drive back I went to Kings Island for the first time in 2012 on May 27-28. I was eager to see all the changes everyone had mentioned. The first ride of the day was Diamondback. Diamondback had not changed. Still fast and full of venom. The crowds on the 27th were great, barely 20 minute waits at the most. Next was The Beast. I was excited to ride it since it had parts retracked. It was wonderful! I didn't have to grit my teeth and have a death grip on the lapbar. I could just sit back and enjoy the ride. Next was The Vortex. It was great. It rides like it's not a day over 20. The Racer was next, and hopefully, next on the retrack list. It was downright unpleasant. I couldn't put my hands up for fear of getting jarred into pieces. I am usually shocked at how smooth it is. Not this year. Continuing in the cycle, next was Adventure Express. The first time I came to Kings Island, I hated Adventure Express. But the more times I go, the more it grows on me. I respect it. Next was Flight Deck. Every time I go to Kings Island I try to ride Flight Deck as much as I can because, being an Arrow Suspended Coaster, and seeing how there is never a line, I feel that it could go at any time. It's also one of my favorite rides. People always rip on Flight Deck and the Iron Dragon for being slow, short, etc, but I love them. Next we got a bite to eat, and then I rode WindSeeker. There was no line. I waited one ride cycle and then got on. Since it was so hot, (did I mention it was 100 degrees?) the breeze was fantastic. We went on Diamonback and The Beast again, then we left to check in at the hotel. Since we had platinum passes, we expected to re-enter with no problems. Nope. Apparently you can't get free parking twice in one day without showing some paper work. The lady made us pay the $12 to park. We still got preferred parking. While my mom went to have a talk with the head office, my dad, brother, and I went to get in the park. Again, being two-year platinum pass holders, we expected it to be routine. Wrong again. Apparently you can't get 'scanned' into the park more than once in a day because it messes up the attendance counter. But the lady at the turnstile was cool. Her son went to Indiana and since my brother was wearing an Indiana shirt (Go Hoosiers) she let us in with no problems. My mom ended up getting the $12 refunded. We rode Diamondback again. Following that was a sunset ride on The Beast. We rode in the front. With the smoothness, the breeze, and the sunset park view on the second lift hill, it was downright magical. Next was a night ride on Flight Deck and Adventure Express. Something I notice about roller coasters. In the day, they are just hunks of man-made steel and wood. At night they have their own personalities, like they are living, breathing entities. It was overall one of the best days at Kings Island. Memorial Day was great, too. But, we had to pay $8 to park and they wouldn't let us have preferred parking. The lines were good today, too. The longest we waited was during Diamondback ERT. We rode all the stuff we did the first day. Next I experienced the new moral of the Kings Island employees. We were walking towards the bright new blue Invertigo when an employee stopped us. She said, " I'm going to need you step back. Can't you see we're closed?" First off, there was no trashcan at the entrance to show that it was closed. Next off, we were a good one hundred feet from the entrance. It's not like we were in the station trying to hop on a broken coaster. A simple "Sorry, the ride it closed," would have sufficed. Next we went on Backlot Stunt Coaster. I had a drink in my hand. I asked one of the employees if there was anywhere I could put it while I was riding. She said, "You have to take it with you." The way she said it sent chills down my spine. It was like she was being sarcastic to a toddler. Way rude and uncalled for. But, the good news is that I stayed plenty hydrated during the ride. So, all in all it was a great trip to Kings Island. But, other than the smoothness of The Beast, I didn't see any of the great changes that everyone had mentioned.

Finally someone said it.

Flight Deck's sign has been removed from the entrance to the line. I hope it's just for Club Blood.

Here are some of my pictures of the Phantom Theater Display.

DANG IT!! I was geeting ready to say a Dippin Dots guy joke. Guess I'll go to another thread..

Paul Revere's Midnight Ride was the closest I'vs came to ever puking on a ride. I had to lay down on a table. Let's just say I never rode an octopus ride again. Just thought I'd put that in there Still sad to see it go, though. It was always the first thing we saw when waiting for the rope to be opened to unleash the Opening running of the bulls to the Voyage.

Coney Island's Thunderbolt was SBNO for 18 years...

I think they're waiting for a windstorm

And on the website, you answer a question and it gives you a little clue. My clue looked like a cropped picture of a concept drawing with blue track and beige supports.

Some people take the whole 'racing' thing a little too seriously. I get flipped off nearly every time I ride The Racer. Probably because i make faces to the other side.

They're pretty close but I love wood (TWSS) so I'm going to have to say The Beast!!!

Also, who cares if China builds one longer. I guarantee it won't be as beastly as The Beast!!!

I heard that 'China is building one longer' than The Beast. Of course, a random guy on youtube said this. Is there any truth to this?

Once on The Beast, we were stopped on the second hill because there was a backup at the station. All of a sudden this drunk lady started screaming ''WER MAKIN HISTERY!!!" Then she got her phone out and started taking pictures. Then she made us move out of the way so she could take a picture down the track. She basically climbed all the way out of her seat.

Speaking of people dropping things on rides, I have a funny story. I think it was 2009 or 2010 and I was in line for The Racer. I saw an older woman and her husband get into the front seat. She had blond hair and he was wearing a hat. When their train came back, The lady was wearing the hat. What do you think happened?

Dang. I was fully expecting Proslide's new RocketLOOP water coaster. It was supposed to be a 215' watercoaster with a loop. It was to be called Son of 'Beest

Just merge all the topics and call it HoliWood's Wonderland 2012

Free soft drinks are familiar to guests. Maybe a huge slide complex filled entirely filled with free soda?

On the teaser on CW's website. it definitely looks like there is something BEHIND the fire. Not sure what it is. Even though I've never been to Canada's Wonderland, I hope they don't remove Dragon Fire. Arrows are starting to be as elusive as the elusive Ratmandogbearsnakeopotamus of the Amazon.

Purdy cool!

Sorry for the double post!

No, I mean it looks like I could have made it. The boards are just placed in random places.