VortexBFForever

I was working there during that instance, and it was interesting (because it was actually my first time dealing with something like that!). It was something very minor, though, and Vortex reopened within twenty minutes. Nothing big at all!

I never knew that either! One really does learn something new every day.

I thought it was cool, including the preshow act the two purple-costumed fellows did about ten minutes before showtime. I would say that my favorite act (so far) in Origins is the first act of the show (on that bending pole thing). My favorite act in Imagine was the aerialist act, so I was slightly bummed that Origins doesn't have one. But all of Origins' acts are great, and I would watch it again when I have the chance (and time)! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Today is just as awesome as yesterday was! I walked onto Vortex for all eight of my rides this evening!

Just waited fifteen minutes to take my 97th ride ever on Diamondback. Now I am in line for Mystic Timbers, which looks to be the same wait.

I'm in line for Diamondback now and I just heard a lady say that the park originally planned to remove Vortex in order to build WindSeeker. 1. WindSeeker does not need that much land, and 2. I am so glad that removing Vortex was never a part of the plan!

Stay hydrated! Also if it is cooler out, then chances of graying out are much less likely.

Currently in the front middle row for the 5:00 show. I'm finally going to see Origins! -BFF, who has vivid Imagine memories flooding her mind's eye...

@Xdog42 If you want a smoother ride, try 5-1 (first row of the fifth car). I have ridden there and it's pretty smooth; other members can attest to that. Also it wouldn't hurt to try sitting in/near the front (1st, 2nd cars), as I suppose getting suddenly pulled through the batwing in 7-1 was what caused your head to bang. I usually ride on the left side (just out of habit) so if you want you can see if that makes any difference. Another tip: The hard right turn into the mid-course brakes is especially tight, especially when the train whips back upright which surprises many riders. During the turn, don't tense up trying to remain sitting straight, but instead lean to the left (as the forces in the turn sort of send you to the left anyway - physics ). It's not a huge thing to do but it saves your head. Also, part of it is just getting used to the ride in general. My supervisor got a headache on his first few rides on Vortex, but as he got used to it he didn't get headaches anymore. So, a lot of different factors contribute to one's experience riding Vortex, and apparently I literally have it down to a science...

For me, my big secret is relaxing. My brother, who used to go to Kings Island with his friends all the time when he was in high school, told me that if I tense up during the ride (on ANY ride; he actually told me this before my first ride on The Beast in 2008) I would feel worse; on the other hand, the experience would be better if I (at least tried to) relax, and it helps. I have offered this tip to numerous Vortex riders and they tell me upon returning to the station that relaxing has helped them have a better experience. I HIGHLY suggest relaxing during the ride, as I have experienced virtually no headbanging and therefore no headaches. I am literally not making this up! @jcgoble3 tried this when he rode Vortex with me on Easter Sunday and he said he had a more pleasant ride than what he remembered from his past experiences. As for head position, it differs. During my 366 rides on Vortex thus far, I have tried riding with my head forward and with my head back, and both generally help. I'm in the habit of keeping my head forward, as I have done it since my first rides in 2010, noticing that while the ride jostles me from side to side, my head does not hit the restraint if I keep my head forward. But sitting back may work just as well! What I like about Vortex is that different seats on the train offer different experiences. The front offers a great view of what's ahead and a lot of positive G's especially at the bottom of the first drop and in the inversions. The middle offers the most hang time in the corkscrews - and that's my favorite part of the ride! The back offers the wildest ride, and by wildest I mean crazy ejector air on the first drop and getting pulled through the inversions. The batwing is my favorite part when I ride in the back because one can get some hang time for a second before getting pulled through - it's a cool feeling! Then of course there's the supposed "magic seat" - the first row of the fifth car. I have ridden in that row, and yes, it does offer one of the smoothest rides. @Xdog42, where did you sit? I wonder what made for such an unpleasant experience. I'm really sorry you did not enjoy your ride on Vortex. To be honest, I firmly believe that Vortex is over-hated to an extent; at work I have met countless people who enjoy and love Vortex, including young kids with the purple 48" wristbands. And yes, I have met riders who don't really care about the ride. It's different for everyone, including you, but I hope soon you could give Vortex a second chance. It could be the case that it runs better some days than others, but even as a ride operator at Vortex, I can only guess. Vortex has a personality all of its own.

Vortex is definitely getting the love this weekend! Today it has had a 20-30 minute wait since noon. I think the fact that today is a Bring-A-Friend day contributed to this. Drop Tower and WindSeeker have been closed the whole time I was there, so currently one would still have to wait a while to ride either.

You know the park is packed when Vortex has had a 45 minute wait and WindSeeker's entire queue is filled with a 30 minute wait. Even when I clocked out at 9:17, Vortex still has/had a 30 minute wait. This is living proof of Vortex's still strong popularity as it definitely had a big line today!

@IndyGuy4KI Me too! I love hearing about interesting things [fellow] ride ops do. While discussing the purpose of spieling is a legitimate topic, it's already derailed this thread three times and I am getting tired of it. -BFF, a ride op whose crew does/says interesting things on occasion while focusing 100% on the guests' safety. Really though, it is indeed possible to include genuinely interesting things (NOT including incorrect names/stats) here and there all while focusing on safety first. I don't see a need for an entire firestorm... Back on topic, I rode the Butterscotch (yellow) train on Mysty yesterday, so I was greeted with "Welcome back, Butterscotch train! How was your ride?" I love how the trains have different nicknames. In fact, back in 2012, one op on Diamondback said to the Red train, "Welcome back, Apple Train! How was your ride?"

@BoddaH1994, I do agree with your post. When I spiel, I like to insert a cool fact about Vortex here and there, including how it is the first coaster in the world to go upside down six times, and how it was the world's tallest coaster when it opened in 1987. I also like to use the ride's stats, sometimes saying things like "Enjoy your view from 148 feet in the air before plunging 138 feet into six inversions at speeds of up to 55 mph." Sometimes I feel up to doing something interactive with riders, including the "How loud can you be?" and "Everybody clap your hands!" if I think the riders may be up to do it. I don't do it to every single train though, because then it would only get annoying. But the first thing I say to oncoming riders is where to put/secure their loose articles and a polite reminder that their seatbelts should be buckled (and shoes should be on their feet) to ride, and when a train arrives I do ask how the ride went; after they respond, I always say "When the train comes to a complete stop, you may unbuckle your seatbelt, pull down and push up on your restraint, and exit to your left. Have a wonderful day here at Kings Island!" Occasionally, if there is a holdup and it's taking us extra long to dispatch a train, one of us tells a joke to keep the station atmosphere up. But that doesn't happen very often so don't fret.

Great report and I am glad you enjoyed your rides on Vortex! I was working the Open shift there on the 8th so you may have seen me (unless I was at WindSeeker).

Glad you had a great time, @Rallyomalley! I did work Op-2 on the WindSeeker fireworks cycle last night and I had fun chatting with you! I'm so glad I helped make your #KIBestDay even more special!! As for current wait times, there are no lines at all. Even Mysty is only a five minute wait at most. Today's an amazing day to visit the dry park!

Sometimes while I check bars on WindSeeker or Vortex, a rider will ask "Has anyone died on here?" Of course I say no, as WindSeeker and Vortex are both perfectly safe.

Vortex ran two trains all day today and still sustained a walk on wait most of the day. It's safe to say the park was dead today with all the crazy weather, at least at WindSeeker and Vortex!

Whenever I work Dual on Vortex, I have lately been waving to the riders on the arriving train. Some wave back; others smile or nod while some don't notice/respond at all. But the response on each train is different. This morning, I got several trains that each had less than ten riders to wave, while on this past Saturday a full train would pass and not one person would wave back. But for the most part, the riders usually enjoy the greeting!

I have not (yet) seen any of the ghosts/spirits that are known to lurk at Kings Island, but if I ever have such an experience I will post about it.

Before my fireworks ride on WindSeeker got underway, the gentleman next to whom I was seated claimed that when the original Bat was there (where Vortex is), 14 people were killed when two trains crashed into each other and the third flew off the track. I found it to be barely believable and he said "Go look it up on Google; it's there." So I searched about it on Google, and I found...it's just a rumor and the original Bat had no injuries or fatalities in its three-four seasons of operation. Go search for yourself if you wish. It was crazy that he thought that the original Bat closed because of this rumor. But no, it was closed because of maintenance/design issues!!!! Also, several riders on Vortex were telling me it was haunted. Yes, Kings Island is haunted, but Vortex particularly isn't...

I know from experience that one can be admitted to the park even minutes before closing. On Closing Day last year, I was able to enter the park just five minutes before closing and snag the last train of the season on Vortex. Then the Renewed Passholder ERT came after that so my three night rides on Diamondback were a bonus. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am glad I had the privilege of checking your restraint on Vortex for your "zen ride!" I always love when I see friends (or in this case, fellow KICers!) while I am at work. A few friends from my high school actually visited on Wednesday night and they got to see me working Dual. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What has Kings Island done? Given me (and others here) a job! My job at Vortex has been quite the ride (pun intended) so far and it's been a neat experience! And, in the days prior to mid-2015, let guests stay on a ride for as many cycles as they wanted (if no one was in line) without having to exit. Still miss those days...but I understand why the current policy is in effect. Plus, I have many a fond memory of my numerous Vortex marathons (and other ride marathons too!) to look back on! So thanks Kings Island for many memories made so far and the many more still to be made!! And we can't forget how KI commemorates its history, from retheming Flight Deck to The Bat as an homage to the original Bat, to repainting all of Vortex's station and giving it cool new signs for its 30th anniversary, and featuring The Beast and its legendary history in numerous articles (as well as Racer in a few cases). I love how Kings Island gives its older, historical and iconic rides their fair share of attention as well as the newer rides.

While checking restraints on Vortex earlier tonight, one rider asked "Is this the ride with the shed?" (referring to Mysty's shed) I didn't quite expect to be asked that, as I was wondered how this question had come to be as I politely answered saying that Mystic Timbers is the ride with The Shed. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk