jbeast

The Beast and Bat commercials were the best! No social media in existence or even thought of at the time and I could not wait to see them on TV.

Wow, that is crazy to think about. I rode Revolution the 2nd year after it opened. I was so scared to ride it. My uncle, who lived in Los Angeles, was the person who encouraged me to ride it. It was my first 'big' coaster that catapulted me into the joys of my love for rollercoasters.

Regarding a coaster doesn't have to be the tallest to be an airtime machine. Maverick is one of my absolute favorite rides ever for the intensity and airtime. The first time I rode Lightning Run, I was floored how much airtime and how much fun it is in a small footprint. Fury is in a class by itself. I rode it 25 times the day I was there last. It is a truly incredible ride, and I traveled all the way there just to ride it (and my former Eagles too). Saying that, I love Orion's height, quick lift to the first drop and the speed it keeps up throughout the ride. Out of the hundreds of times I have ridden it, no one riding with me has been disappointed afterwards. It's just a lot of fun and I am happy to have it in my home park.

With respect. I think there is a difference. Orion keeps it's speed throughout much of the ride and Diamondback, which I love, is more of an airtime machine. I absolutely love the speed Orion has. Sure, maybe some low to ground curves like Fury could add to that effect I agree. But I ride Orion because it hauls. That's why I love The Voyage and Top Thrill 2 so much...it's zen feeling for me going that fast on a coaster.

Seems like I am one of the few true coaster nerds that really enjoy Orion for what it is. Ha! Just kidding. It's no Fury 325, and is on the shorter side of overall length, but it I love that first drop, fun elements and tons of speed. It's a great combo with Diamondback's airtime and repeating big hills. And it is very re-ridable for most everyone. I can marathon both easily which is nice. I think we are lucky to have it at our home park. Now just we need a really amazing install in The Vortex old spot...it's just so empty back there without it.

I have not ridden Flight of Fear in many years. Being 6' 4" and size 16 feet, I don't fit in those tiny trains anymore. Got to pace myself and any looping coasters now anyway. Love Banshee, but wow does it hit me hard now. Equilibrium just isn't what it used to be. I remember well when the coaster first opened and how revolutionary is seemed with the indoor launch. Could not wait to ride it. And laughed at how many people would get up to the station, watch the train take off into the tunnel and then turn around and walk out of line. It was quite intimidating when it was a new thing. KI was good at that for awhile...bringing new tech to the forefront with a ride. I was in awe when I first heard about The Beast. And thank goodness they are keeping my favorite coaster going strong. And, when the original Bat was built, as a kid I just marveled at the way the trains on that thing snaked under the track. I am incredibly lucky that I was able to get alot of rides on it. Then came King Cobra. A stand-up coaster, seriously...that's what we all thought at that time. Love Diamondback, Banshee, Mystic and Orion as amazing coasters in my backyard, but KI definitely had a bit different feel in those days it seems.

Too bad it hasn't worked in there. On my last Disney trip, one of my favorite places was the Biergarten in Epcot. Met people from all over the world at our table, enjoyed some decent German food, had a couple of giant glasses of exceptional beer and thoroughly enjoyed the band playing and working the crowd. It was amazing! Such a festive atmosphere!

I had a great time the two days we spent there last summer. Some uptime issues with Top Thrill 2 and Millie and it was so hot outside and a bit crowded, but we were able to get several rides on each. My youngest son who just found his love for coasters a couple years ago, was floored by his first Intamin experiences. It had been about three years since I had been up there, and I was reminded why I have driven that 4 plus hours so many times to experience such an amazing park!

Of the many things I love about The Beast which is my favorite coaster ever is the angled drop going into that impossibly small tunnel into the helix. The helix itself at night is a zen experience for me every time I have ridden it since its opening year. The crazy helix, feeling like almost going off the rails in pitch black...nothing else like it! Over the years, quite a few changes have happened with the ride and I am super happy they keep updating The Beast with new track...the little pop of air off the first tunnel going into the valley is amazing! But I hope they keep the wild and out of control feeling going into the helix and the helix itself. No other coaster has such an intense ending and that's why I love it so much...even if it does beat me up a bit.

Having the meal plan and drink plus plan the past few years, I can say that KI has some amazing options for food. My go to is Brewhouse for the Pub Burger. Grain and Grill and Island Smokehouse are my other favorites. I have not been to Jukebox in ages. Not when I can stop in Brewhouse, in air conditioning (or heat) and get a far superior Cheeseburger. And I love my blue raspberry Icee and hot chocolate having the drink plus plan...won't go without it now. My youngest son and I went to Cedar Point this past summer (his first trip ever), and for the most part, the food was great, but wow did the burger and fries suck at Coasters as our last meal after 2 days there. I was shocked how bad it was. I stomached it because we were hungry before the park closed and it was close to where were getting after just riding Siren's Curse. Won't eat there again.

DJSkyFoxx...I cannot agree more on your take on both coasters. That backward launch on TT2 caught me totally by surprise on how forceful it is. Just could not believe it. I loved the original version, and the updated version is just the best. And Siren's Curse is just a flat-out amazing coaster in every aspect. The hangtime waiting to be let go is so much fun and it is one snappy coaster through the rest of the course! So much detail in that coaster! My only hope is KI gets something on that par and even better for the old Vortex spot.

Personally, I like Fury and GateKeeper over the entrance to those respective parks. Both are stunning in those spots. I don't want that for KI though. I think maybe a refresh on the entrance building perhaps, but I love walking through and seeing the fountains and tower unfold as it has been since the park opened. I would much rather see an amazing coaster installed into The Vortex's old site. It feels barren along that walkway from Rivertown to Coney without a major coaster in the spot. And of course, without my beloved Flying Eagles also. I'm old enough to have ridden the original Bat and Vortex. So, to me, that is sacred coaster ground. My personal wish is for something along the lines of Maverick or next gen version of a multi launch, or a ground-up RMC (one can wish).

I went last night and stayed till almost 9pm and had walk-ons or really short lines on Diamondback, Beast, Orion and Mystic. What a great evening! I got a ton of rides on those coasters and other rides and didn't miss going to any of the haunted attractions at all. The atmosphere with a ton of fog, scare actors roaming the park and world class rides, plus some good food worked for me.

The haunted houses and mazes don't do much for me anymore it seems. I'd rather ride than wait for them. I'm a big horror movie fan and love Halloween and scary stuff though. On a semi related note to scary stuff. When I lived in Texas as a kid, my dad and I visited one of the new caves at Carlsbad Caverns at the time. It was pretty wide open till the end. We had to crawl through a pretty narrow tunnel at the end of the trail to get to a back room big enough for about 30 people called the dark room. The test was how long we could keep our flashlights off the longest back there in unreal pitch black. I am 6' 4" and crawling through that tunnel to get in and back out was one of the scariest things I have ever done. And the weight of total darkness in that back room was unreal. It feels heavy and you lose all sense of where you are. It did not take long for people to turn their flashlights back on. That's the stuff that scares me.

That ride looks incredible! Can't wait to visit again!

I can remember being a kid way too small to ride The Racer (It took all my courage to ride The Scooby Doo then my love for coasters was born) and absolutely loved riding Enchanted Voyage. I had been to Disneyland the year before and I was amazed that my home park had something that rivaled the dark rides there. Once Phantom Theater was created, I finally felt like they had put something in that building that was worthy. So, I cannot wait for The Phantom's return!

My oldest son grew up with Nick, so I was a fan of that for him at the time the kids area was themed to that. Watched many a Nick cartoon with him. Rugrats was the worst though. Kids screaming all the time when I already had that at home...ha! Loved Angry Beavers and Hey Arnold though.

I am happy about this decision. I grew up watching Looney Tunes cartoons on Saturday mornings, so I have a special place in my heart for all those characters. But, I also grew up watching Peanuts too. And my favorite of all time is Snoopy. I have Snoopy stuff integrated in all my coaster souvenirs. Now that they have secured it for a some time. Let's put a lot more trees and upgrades to Camp Snoopy and make it more of a camp like feel and amazing.

I have a really nice collection of paper maps over the years and do miss having one to either use at a park or take home as a souvenir. And I still use my physical card pass every time I go to the park. Same one I have had for years works just fine (for now anyway). I do not like not using my phone for literally everything and it's much easier just to take my card out and get my meal or drink. Of course, at Cedar Point, I had my pass in my zipper pocket and as I sat down to ride Top Thrill 2, they made me take it out and hand it to an op until we got back. I did not get that...we had our phones, keys, etc in the lockers, but can't have pass in your pocket I guess too.

I am old enough to remember, as a very young kid, Enchanted Voyage and was bummed when it was gone. I was never a big Smurf fan, so I enjoyed being inside in a/c on a hot day with that version. I grew up with Scooby but always wanted Phantom back. I absolutely loved Phantom Theater. I think it speaks volumes to all who cherished rides on Phantom Theater that the park decided to bring a new version back. Cannot thank them enough for recognizing the love for the original. Now just bring back my Flying Eagles...ha! I wish! It was totally unique to KI and I am so happy that that will continue again.

At last it's announced! Cautiously optimistic since I am a big fan of the original!

I hate to see any ride retired and leave KI. I have seen too many in my life and losing the original Eagles still hurts. After just visiting Cedar Point again after a few years last week, I'd love a Maverick style coaster anywhere in the park. But, especially in the old Vortex spot. (or a ground up RMC, one can wish). I saw tons of kids and parents riding Maverick as intense and fun as it is. Not the biggest coaster in the world, but sure packs a fun punch. Took my youngest son for his first CP visit and Maverick was his first ride and favorite as well as Top Thrill 2. With Millie a close 3rd. Lightning Run In KK surprised me too the first time I ever rode it as a coaster that is family friendly. But wow, what ride! When I was a young kid, KI often pushed the boundaries a bit with the coasters they installed...The Beast, original Bat, King Cobra as examples. I think there is plenty of want for a more intense coaster experience watching young kids riding all the intense coasters at CP.

Don, Thanks for putting that out there. Going to Cedar Point next week so, I guess I'll wait to renew after we get back!

Very True Disco2000. They will show up regardless. Charging for mazes will probably make the ride lines crazy long. But they are now anyway during the event when the weather cooperates.

I am torn on this one. If they do charge extra for mazes this year, it's obvious there is a need for cash any way they can get it. Only reason I can think of facing the throngs of gold passholders angry or confused why their gold pass does not include that this fall. I don't envy anyone working in guest services if so. It doesn't bother me too much. The mazes are fun, but no need to stand in a 2+ hour line usually, when I can ride my favorite rides in cooler weather. I'm at a point in my life where just walking through the park in the fall/Halloween time and riding rides is enough. If the mazes were truly scary or had better theming, etc., maybe it would matter more. Saying that, I remember when Fear Fest began and it was a separate gate charge the first few years I think. First of all, I was much younger, so mazes mattered more, the event was better than it is now, and the crowd size was much more manageable. Rides had relatively short lines while the lines for the mazes were not quite as long as they get now with all gold pass members getting access. Weather always plays a role too.