VortexBFForever

I second that! I picked up a few shifts at Drop/Bat and Tower last year, and they were fun! I even called Drop/Bat my "second home ride" even though I wasn't there nearly as much as I was at Windex. I'm planning on getting retrained at Drop/Bat this season, and hopefully pick up enough shifts to maybe even get drive trained at one (or both)! -BFF, who would love to drive The Bat.

I have heard many times while at work (especially during the fall season) that "the park is understaffed today" or something along those lines, so the fact that KI endeavors to hire more people this year does not surprise me. My crew is among those from whom the least amount of people leave, so most if not every day we would end up sending a few people from my crew to help other understaffed crews. There was one day however where we had only four people who came on time for opening including myself (and we need a minimum of seven people -- six at the absolute least -- to open both rides). so that was interesting. As much fun as it was to deal with staffing (or lack thereof), I hope KI is able to hire more associates this year, especially associates who are willing to stay even when things get tough at work and the novelty of working at an amusement park wears off somewhat. And @BoddaH1994, I answered yes to all four questions as well!

When you really miss your favorite ride, no matter how much you do not want to admit it.

@stashua123, you have inspired me to elaborate more about my #KIBestJob! On January 25, 2017, Kings Island's Rides Department hired me. As the ride choices lay before me, I noticed that WindSeeker/Vortex was one of them, and I could not pass up an opportunity to secure a spot on my favorite ride's crew -- especially if said ride would celebrate its 30th anniversary! One year after that day and six days after finding I was rehired back onto the "Windex" crew, I have a lot to say about my job even though I have worked only one year so far. Like any ride operator, I have the pleasure of checking restraints, making sure everyone behaves themselves, and assisting in sending the train/ride on its merry way! Some days are very chill and everything goes smoothly, while on other days fairly stressful moments come about along with a fair share of ride downtime (as I've said before, Vortex acts quite picky when it's hot out and we all know how WindSeeker deals with high winds. ). Downtimes themselves can actually be pretty fun to deal with as a deviation from an otherwise repetitive task and an interesting twist to an already FUN day. The hardest part is trying not to reveal too much information to guests when they ask what's wrong. A TMI about a ride downtime can get one in some trouble! In July, my supervisors drive trained me on Vortex. Usually on our crew, new drivers train at WindSeeker first, as it's easier to watch one central ride unit than to constantly watch three trains. This is especially true for most first-years. In my case, however, my supervisors had seen that I LOVE working Vortex A LOT and do so very well, so they decided to drive train me there first. I am one of only several "Windex" crew members who were drive trained at Vortex first in their first season working at Kings Island. I drove Vortex for the very first time on July 4, familiarizing myself with the panel and the different controls. But after that came a 22-day hiatus, as our new head supervisor had just transferred to our crew and needed to be trained and familiarized with his new crew (a.k.a. us). After what seemed like forever, my drive training resumed on July 26, when I started learning the most important part of a driver's job - downtimes. Driving is a wonderful privilege...and a huge responsibility. Drivers must know exactly what they need to do in whatever downtime scenario arises (and some of them aren't even in the training manual!), which is extremely important when they're commanding a multi-million dollar machine with human passengers! After several more sessions in the drive box on July 26, 28 and 29, I officially became Vortex's newest driver after a combined total of 4.5 hours of training! Living my dream of driving Vortex is so much fun. I did get to deal with a minor downtime during one of my drive hours on Labor Day. It's so far been the only downtime with which I have had to deal as a driver (especially since I was trained at the tail end of Vortex's finickiest month), but in this coming year I will very likely deal with a lot more, including at least one with passengers on board! Bring it on, high humidity! And of course, there's the test rides. Test riding makes for a great start to any morning. Shake Rattle & Roll's crew always calls us for a test rider, so sometimes I get to ride SR&R too! Also, during a slow day (usually in the evening), we sometimes take turns riding if there's no line!! My crew is such a hoot and I love working with them. My supervisors genuinely care about each and every one of us and make sure we enjoy what we do. Since they know my love for Vortex, I usually work just one hour at WindSeeker and the rest at Vortex. But don't get me wrong; I greatly appreciate WindSeeker too! I'll most likely be drive trained there this season, which will be fun! And like Josh said, Kings Island is flexible with scheduling, as long as you submit time off requests at least two weeks in advance and if you have a legitimate reason. I have not had a problem with scheduling off when I needed to. If you want a fast-paced job where you get to test ride and operate your favorite ride, the Rides Department is the place to be! I'm genuinely excited to reunite with my crazy "Windex" family in April as we embark on another season together! Credit for photos in order: Paul and @Magenta Lizard! (Sorry the image quality isn't the best; I screenshotted them off of Facebook and Tapatalk.)

One of those 5,000 jobs is mine as of last Friday. It's a 45-minute commute to work (1 hour if I leave from school at Cedarville) but it doesn't stop me! -BFF, a second-year associate on the WindSeeker/Vortex crew.

@MDMC01, you got your wish! The Bat is included in the May-June ERT!

...when you keep refreshing your job email inbox so you see the next email from KI's HR department regarding your job on-boarding process as soon as possible! And last night I had a dream that I was responding to a technical delay at Vortex. I'm looking forward to this summer when the temperature and humidity will soar above 90 once again in which Vortex will show just how temperamental a 31-year-old Arrow looper can be.

My last day of classes is May 4. I'm considering joining Great Ohio Coaster Club and making sure I won't be scheduled to work on May 18-19 (though it was cool meeting/seeing Coasterstock attendees enjoying Vortex when I was working there the morning of May 19 last year!). If things work out, this will be my first Coasterstock. -BFF, who's excited that Vortex is once again included in the 10:30-midnight ERT on Friday, May 17.

When you get a sore throat from all the cold, dry air, and imagine how much better you'll feel breathing in warm, humid air during those long summer days at work.

I got to be the greeter at Mystic Timbers a few times during the last week of WinterFest. I was so surprised at how many guests thought it was open. A few even ran to the entrance saying, "There's no line!!" Well of course there's no line; it's closed! The evidence that Mystic Timbers wasn't operating was quite obvious: no thematic music, dark station, lack of a train in the station, not a single associate working in the station, and the lack of noise from the lift hill, sound effects, and FunTVs. But for some, all of that was apparently not enough. One of the reasons could be because guests are used to seeing a greeter at the entrance, as there's always a greeter at Mystic's entrance when it's open.

I've been listening to "The Skater's Waltz" a lot lately. I had the privilege of hearing this very song as I skated my very first laps on Snowflake Lake back on December 18, and in my opinion it is absolutely perfect for International Street and of course the ice skating! I can't wait to hear it again next WinterFest! Words only underestimate how amazing it is to skate on Snowflake Lake while hearing "The Skater's Waltz" play from all directions from the surrounding International Street...

I took a spin on the wheel by Diamondback on Opening Day last season. I got a pass for Mystic Timbers, immediately after which I enjoyed a fifteen-minute wait to take my first ride on Kings Island's newest coaster! I think it's a fairly good alternative for those who would rather not fork over $50+ for Fast Lane or $70+ for Fast Lane Plus...

I really enjoy Alpengeist at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Out of the three B&M inverts I've ridden (Alpengeist, Raptor, and Banshee), it's my favorite!

^ I can't access it either, and I'm on my laptop.

^I agree completely! Last night, when I rode Scrambler, Dodgem, and Zephyr, I appreciated my rides on them much more as I did not have to worry about deciding which of the many rides to ride next in my limited time before closing. I declared Zephyr my favorite ride on this trip. -BFF, who partook three times in Zephyr’s time to shine in an otherwise quiet Coney Mall/Elf Village.

My favorite rides on Vortex have happened in the very back at night! In other words, I also really enjoy 7-1 (and 7-2 for that matter). I also like the front if I want the coolest view, and sometimes I hop in the middle if I want something different (like extra hang time in the corkscrews!). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm voting as often as I can (which, according to the site, is every two hours and fifteen minutes). I don't want our new GCI to lose to a drop ride!

Let the 2018 Ride Training Day dreams begin! Last night I dreamed I was getting retrained at Unload at Vortex, all while I re-realized how much I love working that position as much as I love Dual (and of course, Drive ). I won't be surprised if at some point I have a dream that I get retrained to drive Vortex, considering how much I enjoy that (and the fact that that dream will most surely come true...again. )! I want to enjoy and celebrate Christmas (14 days!). But SOME PART of me wants to reapply and retrain for the 2018 season already! The struggle is real...

Last night I dreamed I got stuck on Vortex (specifically the lift hill)! This has never happened to me in real life, so if I end up getting stuck on Vortex next year, it will literally be a dream come true. I must miss being there more than I think. And it’s only December!

Uhhhh...I probably don’t have to say mine. All you must do is look at my username.

"Believe" - Josh Groban (from Polar Express) "Winter Wonderland" - Pentatonix (my favorite music group; I was sooooooo excited to hear one of their songs playing at the park!) "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" - Johnny Mathis "Where Are You Christmas?" - Faith Hill

I second that. I thought Mantis was just okay, but I absolutely LOVED Shockwave!! I'm still sad that it closed two years ago... I'm personally indifferent to standup coasters in general. I enjoy them, but I do see how park-goers don't show as much interest in them anymore. -BFF, who will forever be grateful for enjoying three rides on Shockwave during her currently only trip to Kings Dominion on April 10, 2012...

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/play/winterfest/attractions and then click "Rides" in the white bar to see the rides that are open for WinterFest. You're welcome. (this is on the computer; the mobile site may be different to navigate)

And I am glad Kings Island is also home to what is considered one of the best Arrow loopers (Vortex)! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I feel a bit bummed that three of my favorite coasters (Vortex, Firehawk, Invertigo) have some number of votes for them...but that's what I get when I generally appreciate coasters for which many have mixed opinions! -BFF, who is also crazy enough to say she's enjoyed the one SLC she rode (Mind Eraser at Darien Lake).