VortexBFForever

^For that matter, there was one evening (Sunday, September 26, 2010) when I had a whole train on Vortex to myself not once, but twice. And that included the last train of the evening, so it was a no brainer that I was the last Vortex rider of that day! That, so far, has been one of two times when I've had the whole train/ride to myself on any ride; the other time was on August 14 this year when I was the only rider on WindSeeker's first cycle of the day (and let me tell you, it was REALLY cool being 301 feet in the air all by myself!).

When it's just my mom and I, I go alone on the rides because my mom's not the biggest fan of the rides I ride. This is the style of the majority of my trips - and I, meanwhile, have discovered all the freedoms of being a single rider, such as choosing my own order of rides, riding some rides (Flight Deck, WindSeeker, Diamondback and Vortex, for me) as many times as I want, and stopping for as long as I want to take pictures (like in front of Vortex). I've met and talked with some nice people while waiting for rides like Zephyr, Vortex, WindSeeker, and Diamondback just to name a few. Although I just LOVE all the freedom a single rider has, it does not hurt to go with a group once in a while. In my opinion, I have a slight preference of being a single rider over being in a group, probably because I'm so used to riding solo now.

I love them! To me it's weird/funny to see rides running so "quickly," especially Diamondback and WindSeeker!

That was on the day after I was there! Wow! Congratulations, Vortex! And like BoddaH1994 just said, here's to 40,000,000 more rides!

I myself just baked some chocolate chip cookies a couple days ago!

Hope those kids have a lot of fun! Apparently I'll be there with a few friends the same day (Tuesday)

All the times I've been to KI this year, I've noticed that the music on the Grand Carousel isn't playing as loudly as it did last season. Also one of the trees (by Vortex's transfer tracks) was cut down (there's only a stump there now). Anyone else notice this yet?

Flight Deck was the first "big" steel coaster I ever rode, and also the very first Arrow coaster I ever rode. My first ride on it was when I was 9, in 2008. I recall being very nervous about it since I had not yet fully "blossomed" into a thrill seeker - which was the reason I didn't ride it again until 2010, not long after my first ride on Vortex. FD is a really fun coaster, especially for a ride that's only a minute and a half long. My favorite part about it all is the SWINGING! It's so fun to be swung around on a suspended coaster. I always look forward to that every time I ride! Rode it twice so far this year - once on May 26 and once on June 20. When I go back to KI next Tuesday, I'll be taking my 20th ride on it (How appropriate for the 20th anniversary!). Although 20 rides doesn't sound like much, I have been trying to ride it more often (I rode it 11 times in 2012, for a start). For that matter, I'm going to make it a goal to ride Flight Deck a total of 20 times this season (I got that idea just now!) in honor of its 20th. Happy 20th Birthday, FD! <3

Loved it! Hope I can do Coasting For Kids next year. And a 30-minute marathon on Flight Deck with a fireworks ride included! How cool is that! (I've only had fireworks rides on Vortex and Adventure Express as of this post) Once again, nice PTR!

Front - good view (and seeing the track in front of you) Back - Airtime For me it usually depends on what I'm in the mood for.

WindSeeker and Adventure Express also have storage bins. I have not been on a Tuesday or Wednesday in June so I do not know about lines.

Great trip report! On another note, I couldn't see the pictures on here (they were just links that were supposed to be links but weren't actually linked to anywhere). Has this been the case for anyone else?

Familiar songs I've heard at KI are quoted below, from my 4/27 and 5/26 trip reports: Edit: I forgot to say in my 5/26 TR that I had also heard "All the Right Moves" by OneRepublic when I was getting in line for one of my rides on WindSeeker.

Same here; I also have Asperger's, and I've waited in lines with no problem (and I'm thankful.). - Topically speaking, I wonder what it is like to be autistic and suddenly be faced with a fact that you have to wait longer for a ride than you're used to...

^That's what I do! Also, don't tense up. I've heard it helps, in addition. As for the topic, I don't really have a least favorite. There's at least one thing I like (or don't mind) about every ride I've ridden.

Unfortunately, I probably will have to miss it due to a couple of plans we already have. My mom and I generally don't go on Saturdays anyway.

Kind of, yeah. I was referring to the times that my individual photos and videos were taken (they say what time it was when they were taken). Of course, that doesn't mean I don't have a great memory! Glad you enjoyed my huge PTR (of course, this also goes to all who have read it)!

Part 3 I joined WindSeeker’s even shorter line (only about 7-10 minutes = 1 cycle wait + slow dispatch times), noting the “Superman Theme” playing on the finishing cycle. I immediately knew those on the next cycle would be listening to the Harry Potter track as they rode. If I was one of the next 64 people in line after them, then my cycle would have “Romantic Flight” playing! I couldn’t stop marveling at WindSeeker’s lights. They are just soooo cool! I also couldn’t stop snapping pictures of the changing light patterns. At some point I switched to the “Super Vivid” mode on my camera so the colorful lights would have more emphasis in my photos. My camera was still on “Super Vivid” for some time after, including when I walked to my assigned seat, Seat 61. Yes, I made it onto the cycle after Harry Potter, which was the “Romantic Flight” cycle! I was excited; like “Test Drive”, I had not heard “Romantic Flight” on any cycle I rode since Closing Day 2011 - until 9:28 p.m. tonight, of course…. I don’t know why dispatching the ride takes a long time. In fact, on the previous WindSeeker ride this evening (the one with the unknown soundtrack that came after “The Launch”), it took them like 5 minutes, alone, to check the bars and give the “All clear!” Seriously, I don’t know if they’re still trying to get used to the routine or if they’re taking their dear old time. Just wondering … Despite the slow dispatch, I knew I was in for a treat when “Romantic Flight” began to play and the ride began. The beginning of that song, combined with the upward motion of the ride, always gives me the feeling I’m floating away. As we rose higher and higher, the lit park looked cool from far below while the ‘Seeker’s colorful lights flashed sequence after sequence. By the time the song had built up in volume and then reached its key change, the ride had become unforgettable. Needless to say I felt so free! I was flying on WindSeeker, at night, with bright colored lights flashing and with my arms spread out; my favorite soundtrack was playing, and the rest of the park lay almost 300’ below my own two feet (let alone the ride’s own 64 seats). It was spectacular! <3 Once I was back on the ground, I noticed Vortex’s shorter line, which was not as short as I had expected but it was still shorter. At 9:38 I entered and joined the line while slowing down periodically but quickly to take pictures. The shadow in the center of the image is the one of me. After waiting for 10-12 minutes, I hopped into line for 2-1. A few more minutes later, I stepped onto Train #2 for the first time this season (the other times so far were on #1 and #3). Great for my first night ride of this trip. I checked my watch as the train ascended. It said 9:56. At this rate, I would have to run if I wanted to ride again (and the line was still too long). I saw The Beast with a train parked on the lift; a normal occurrence that always happens minutes before the 10:00 fireworks start. I glanced at the bright chaser lights and listened to the anti-rollback (that sound NEVER gets old! ). All of a sudden the train had crested and was sailing down the drop, a reminder that this ride was gonna be good. Needless to say, night rides are always fun! As the train went up the helix, I looked at my watch, which said 9:58. “Oh my goodness, this is definitely going to be a close one!” I thought. When I was back at the station and about to get off, one of the attendants told another attendant to go block off the entrance. As I was jumping off the train and scrambling to the storage bin to get my things, I remember the same attendant saying “The Park closes in ONE MINUTE!” I jogged out of the exit, passing the brightly lit WindSeeker, making sure not to bump into anybody as I went. On the loudspeakers there was someone speaking from in front of the Royal Fountains with a couple of first-time KI guests who were going to help set off fireworks for the night. I reached the line entrance. There was an attendant moving a trash can to said entrance to block it off for the night, and he nicely let me pass him. I had once again won a race against time (this isn’t the first time something like this has occurred). My prize? Being the last rider of the night on Vortex, of course! I slowed down to a walking speed, knowing that I was now a rider on the last Vortex train of the day. On the way to the loading station, I took even MORE pictures! I stood near the queue for 2-1, unsure of what row to ride in. Then the attendant said for anybody who wasn’t the first or second in line for a row to move so that there would be no more than two people in the queues, for this next train would be the last of the night. Then loud BOOMs sounded from up in the sky – the fireworks had started! As the small line for the front seat (1-1) split up, it turned out that said line consisted of a group of about 4 with a single rider in front of them. Now this was an opportunity for me to get a ride in the front seat during the fireworks! So I waited in the queue for 1-1, behind the single rider. The train that arrived for us last riders turned out to be Train #1, the same train I rode during the fireworks on Opening Day! While walking to the storage bin, I took this picture: After I had boarded, my mom took a picture of me: So my first front seat Vortex ride of 2013 was during the fireworks. Wow. As Train #1 ascended, WindSeeker was already at the top, treating its last riders of the night to another great view of the fireworks. While going down the drop, I got a nice cool breeze in my face – the type of breeze only a front seat rider would get. It felt AMAZING. Meanwhile, I saw that the fireworks were still going! On Opening Day, they had stopped when we had reached the top of the hill. Not this time; this show was definitely longer! We turned into the first loop, with the fireworks continuing their reign in the sky over Kings Island. I still heard the booms while enjoying the hang time in the corkscrews, and when going toward the batwing I saw some bright flashes of light accompanied by more booms! This was an absolutely “true” fireworks ride, even more “true” than watching them while going up the lift hill on Opening Day. Two inversions and a positive-G-abundant helix later, the brakes kicked in and brought us to a stop. At the exact same time, the fireworks had stopped as well! (Perfect timing!). We arrived back at the station, fresh from the exhilarating journey. My ears noticed it was quieter – Train #3 was already parked in its “sleeping place” on the lift hill, since Train #1 had the last riders; Train #2 was traveling the course and came into the brakes just a couple minutes later. It was then parked behind Train #1. I said the usual good night to Vortex and its neighbor, WindSeeker, and then began the walk back to the Front Gate. Until next time…take care!! Familiar Songs (time played) “Chances” by Five for Fighting (6:12) “Wide Awake” by Katy Perry (6:19) “Lights” by Ellie Goulding (7:30) “Firework” by Katy Perry (9:15) “Catch My Breath” by Kelly Clarkson (10:07) In case you’re wondering, I’ve been using the time my individual pictures and videos were taken to estimate the exact times I was riding what, walking where, etc. +Eiffel Tower: 1 Total: 4 +Grand Carousel: 1 Total: 20 +Zephyr: 1 YTD: 2 Total: 11 +WindSeeker: 3 Total: 21 +Vortex: 3 YTD: 8 Total: 143 +Adventure Express: 1 YTD: 2 Total: 19 +Flight Deck: 1 Total: 18 Notes: -Vortex's chaser lights came on pretty early (and also turned off early too...they were already off during my fireworks ride) -it was actually the first time I discovered all the coins lying on the ground (and on that part of the roof that I took a pic of) around Vortex's transfer tracks (I wonder where they came from... ) -I found $0.11 on Adventure Express and was able to retrieve $0.10 of the $0.11 -the dime I got on AE said the year "2013" -Fireworks show was longer (5 minutes) than the one on Opening Day (< 3 minutes) -I was actually looking around to see if I could spot a KIC shirt somewhere -Quite a few guests were wearing white or gray T-shirts but none of the ones I saw were KIC shirts -WindSeeker seemed to be spending more time at the top during its fireworks cycle

Part 2 I noticed that the new set of storage bins had received numbers, but they didn’t look exactly the same as the numbers on the original bins: Yes, I was on Train #3 for my first Vortex ride of this evening. As the gates opened, I made sure to stop the stopwatch. When I did, it read a time of 21:08.47, which was LESS than the time I had predicted! I had been assigned to 4-1 by the line separator. 4-1 was literally just ONE ROW up from where I took my first Vortex ride of the day on Opening Day (when I was in 4-2; that ride was on Train #3 too)! So I got into row 4-1, and a few minutes later we were off on an excellent ride. On the brake run I couldn’t tell if it was sprinkling or not because I felt like little teeny tiny rain drops were falling on me but I didn’t see them in the air nor was any sign of it on anything else, not even the smooth fiberglass on the train. Weird… I then headed back to WindSeeker. Its line was a bit shorter. A few minutes later, a cycle began with “The Launch” (from Apollo 13) playing and I had just mentioned to myself earlier, “Maybe ‘The Launch’ will be playing sometime soon.” Any irony involved in this? I ended up on the cycle after “The Launch”. This time I was in Seat 5, behind the seat I had forfeited when WS had to close in high winds on 8/28/2011 (seat 3) and in front of the seat I ended up riding in a lot, also in 2011 (seat 7). I got on at 7:59 p.m. after waiting about 5-7 minutes. At about 8:05, WindSeeker took off for my 2nd cycle of the evening. This time I didn’t know the name of the soundtrack that was playing. All I knew was that the beginning of it reminded me of a news channel-type intro, and it was the soundtrack that played after “The Launch”. Nonetheless, it still fit in with the ride well. WindSeeker landed safely back at ground level just before 8:10. After I got off, I started my journey down the Mall towards Oktoberfest and Action Zone, making sure to be back at Vortex by 9:30 in case the line was short enough for some power-riding/marathoning, like on Opening Day. At this point, the sun had just set and the lights of many rides were coming on. When I was walking past Monster, its lights came on. I looked at Racer’s also-lengthy line and decided against riding it. Before I knew it, I had exited Coney Mall and was in front of Adventure Express’s entrance. I entered at 8:18 to find that it, too, had a decent line. But knowing that it has a high capacity, I knew it wouldn’t take long. At 8:30, I boarded Train #1 in good ole’ row 1-3 (it always seems to have a one- or two-train wait at most). When I sat down, I saw a dime and a penny in a small space between the seat and the side of the car. After I had buckled my seat belt and pulled down my lap bar, I attempted to retrieve them. I managed to get the dime, but I couldn’t get the penny out in time before dispatch. I put the “captured” dime in my camera case. Less than 1 minute later: “All clear!” The ride was fun, like usual, and the lateral G’s were abundant. Of course, I love them because I love being thrown around like AE does it! In the final tunnel, I and a few other riders did the Tiki Dance while the music and the spiel (“You have disturbed the forbidden temple. Now you will pay!”) intermingled with the Arrow anti-rollback – it’s one of my favorite noise combinations… *sighs dreamily* After getting off this great mine train coaster, I had an urge to ride Flight Deck, since I did not get to on Opening Day. So I began another lengthy walk, this time to the secluded end of Action Zone, the home of KI’s youngest Arrow. Just as I expected, I saw long lines for Delirium and Drop Tower while walking through Action Zone. I knew Invertigo would have a long line because of its lower capacity of ~650 riders per hour. So I walked all the way through Action Zone, just to ride Flight Deck. And no, I do not regret taking the time to do just that. After entering the line at 8:43 and waiting roughly 10 minutes, I boarded Train #2 in row 1-2, since I wasn’t willing to wait extra time for 1-1 (it was already almost 9, and I wanted to get more rides on WindSeeker and Vortex after this). This was my first ever Flight Deck ride taken after dusk, by the way! It was really flying tonight. During the ride I’m reminded of How to Train Your Dragon and I imagine the train being like a flying dragon, especially zipping down the drops and swinging around the turns – it’s a neat experience. At 9:05, I started back to Coney Mall. As I walked, I once again took my camera and snapped at whatever I was interested in taking a picture of: Part 3 in next post (don't worry, there are only 3 parts )