LongLiveTheSmurfRide

You mean Action Jackson?

I miss how when Paramount owned the park, people had threads where they discussed what they missed about pre-Paramount KI.

It's trimmed so badly that I had to vote it as average. I have fond memories of better rides in the past, but this year it hasn't impressed me.

I was so going to bash, but that would be mean, and I don't want to be meaner than Diamondback.

I don't love water parks, but I've still gone 4 times over the years (the first 2 times were before Voyage was there).

It's all about the value to the individual. In my opinion, HW has 3 coasters which are better than everything at KI other than Diamondback. Therefor, they're considered a "big league" park in my book. It's not quantity, but quality in my book. HW also has better bumper cars, for what it's worth.

^I agree Tom, now the ride might not get hype, but if you were around when it first opened you saw all the ads hyping it as a great adventure with awesome theming and thrills. The theming was pretty good, but the thrills were average and the finale was almost unforgivable. I've since cooled to it and enjoy it for what it is. But didn't we get that little invert and a huge dropping ride in the same year? That was a pretty good deal. Plus the construction of one of the park's biggest and most overrated rides began that year (SOB). There are 3 rides I feel are overhyped. Firehawk is one. I have never enjoyed it. I have never felt like I was "flying" so much as hanging uncomfortably. SOB was overhyped more by myself that anyone else as I'd watch it being constructed during the season and offseason; I was enthralled and imagined how great it was going to be. That hype wasn't killed when I found out there would be no tunnels (huh? both other "beasts" have at least 1 tunnel) or when it was constantly down when I'd go to the park for my first ride (went 3 times before I could finally ride). But once I rode it I found out how shakey, uncomfortable, and just plain dull it was. Has a good first hill, and the loop was cool, but the layout is horrible with no thrills or surprises. But my gold medal for the most overrated is Tomb Raider. When it was first built, it was touted as the most expensive and biggest addition to the park, ever. It was cloaked in secrecy how this was a ride like nothing ever before. That it was an emersive and interactive themed ride where the adventure began while in line. There were rumors about it being a top spin in a box, but nobody wanted to believe that. Then it opened. I went to the preview day and was impressed with the queue theme. I liked how there were different rooms we were being led into. But then the disappointment began when the big "show" before the ride itself was mainly just watching scenes from the movie, which I didn't care for. It wasn't anything original. Then the ride, even though I realized when the door opened that this really was just a top spin in a box, I was still impressed with its size. I was hoping it was going to deliver something new that I'd never experienced. Then the ride started and the theme seemed cool, but after a couple flips, I realized there really wasn't much more they could do with this ride. I guess they did all they could, but it was still just a top spin in a box, and a ride like that is not at all interactive or immersive. The only interaction was getting water shot in your face, woohoo, fun. I walked out disappointed, and when a camera crew who was covering the preview evening asked us what we thought, we said that we'd rather be riding the flying eagles. I'm pretty sure we didn't get on the air that evening.

I used to think that as well, that is until I rode the woodies at Holiday World where it's not necessary to brace yourself, lean, or hold tight. I don't buy the theory that you need to "know" how to ride certain coasters for it not to hurt. If it's made correctly then it should be enjoyed no matter how you sit. Look at FoF. You had to know how to ride it when it had the shoulder restraints or you'd get bludgeoned to death. Eventually it was realized that the restraints weren't working right for the riders, so they went lap bars and now it's a wonderful coaster with no "rules" on how to ride it to enjoy it.

I've voiced my disdain for the ride here many times. I'm glad others like it so that they can wait in line for it to decrease the line size for the better rides in the park.

Really not much of a report. I went on Saturday evening around 4:45 PM. I mainly wanted to get a night ride on DB since I haven't gotten one yet. Our friend Scott came with us and he wanted to see some shows, so that's why we got there way before sundown. So it was me, Laura (wife-to-be) and Scott. The parking lot looked crazy packed when we pulled up. We got in and the Endless Summer on Ice show was going to be starting in 45 minutes. So we wandered over to Flight Deck. It was a total walk-on. It was really hot, so I guess everyone was at the waterpark. We rode and nobody was waiting for our seats so we stayed on and got another ride. Station was still empty when we returned, but people were waiting for our car, so we got out. Good ride. I hadn't been back there yet this year and I have to agree, it needs some paint. I saw some scaffoldings sitting in the final break area so maybe they're planning on some painting? Then we watched Endless Summer. Pretty good show. I like the guys who were dressed like car wash brushes and would spin. We then went to the Festhaus to watch the Down Home Country show. I think I would have preferred they sing a few full songs. The constant medleys seemed a little much, but I'm just happy they have a show in the Festhaus so no complaints. Then we rode Adventure Express. Once again, total walk-on. Fun ride, seemed to be running nice and fast and jerky; the way it should be. After that we wandered around and rode Dodgem and then the Carousel. Then we went up into the Eiffel Tower. It's been 2 years since I've been up there. I remember previously I complained about the view and how the tops of the buildings around I-Street were in a big need of repair. Also, the fountains looked nasty then. I'm happy to report that they've re-done a lot of the roofs and the park looked marvelous from up there. The only 2 buildings that looked like they still needed fixed on top were the roof to the I-Street Restaurant and another building over near Nick-U. I know it's not a big issue, but if you're allowing people a high-view of the park, you should make sure the park looks good up there. After that it was only around 7:30. We got some ice cream (Smurf cones) and ate them by DB. The line was almost to the entrance with most switchbacks used. Laura was really hot and tired (we'd worked out earlier in the day) and it was still going to be a while until it was dark so we figured we'd take off and come back on a Sat in July when they were open until midnight for some night rides. So that's it. Not much, but was fun for what it was.

I went to a ride accident reporting site a while back and it seems like the most injuries and deaths lately seem to be happening on these inflatable rides. I'd trust a rickety old fair scrambler ride over one of those things.

Cool report. Everyone looked so glamorous. You should have seen how many people you could fit in the windows of the Mystery Machine.

I'm turning 30 this July and I still feel like I can take spinning rides. The Monster at KI has been the only thing to get me even slightly nauseated, but that was 4 years ago. I did Shake Rattle and Roll last year with no problems. My fiance, on the other hand, is also turning 30 and last year started getting sick when riding spinning rides that she used to love. This year, just riding DB a few times then the Crypt got her to almost hurl. I wonder if I'm going to suffer the same fate eventually. We're possibly going to Disney World for our honeymoon in November. My big question is...should I ride the teacups?

Wow, how is SOB in the discussion for best of all time? Aren't Kingda Ka and Top Thrill basically the same thing? Top Thrill or SOB should be replaced with Magnum. I'll go MF.

I can get a fast speed in my car, but I can only get airtime on a coaster.

I think you're a Trepy if you're a fan of Terpy. Kind of a like a Trekkie.

I miss the roaming Klingons. Of course there was less line-jumping with Klingons prowling around! I also miss the music. I loved strolling down I-Street to "Moon River". Those are the only things I can think of. Was not a fan of them thinking they could make KI a theme park like Universal. They could never stay on top of the theming which made it a waste in my eyes. I'd much rather have better thrills with less theming than all the hype built into a theme that would only last 2 seasons before it was abandoned.

Sadly enough, I know some people that got in so much trouble that Mason police had to take them out of the park last year in cuffs. I won't relay who they are (but they're almost technically family that I don't associate with). They (husband and wife) went to the park and were smoking in line (I think for BLSC). I believe guests told them to stop. They didn't. Then security was called and told them to stop. They wouldn't, and were making a big deal about "blah blah, I have a right to smoke, blah blah, you can't make me, blah blah, I'm a baby..." whatever. They were basically being threatening. So the Mason police come and force them out of the line and are going to escort them out of the park and they get even more violent and actually strike an officer. Long story short, they spent a day in jail (got out on some high amount of bail), were charged with resisting arrest, assaulting an officer and disorderly conduct. All that stuff, yet I STILL hear them talk about it (at family functions) like they were in the right. I have a feeling that a lot of GP have this kind of attitude when it comes to park security, like it's something not to be taken seriously and that they paid to get in so they should be allowed to do what they want. Anyway, it's not exactly on topic, but wanted to throw in a story I know of security taking care of a problem. They actually wanted to go with us to the park once. Haha, yeah right. Is there a "banned persons" list with KI where people who go to that extreme in the park are banned? Like do they have Wanted posters on the wall to keep them from getting a pass the following year or anything?

That's exactly what I was thinking with each picture. Have you seen the horror movie The Decent? There's one scene in that movie where they have to crawl through this tiny tunnel with water in it and a girl gets stuck and starts freaking out....ugh...I was getting nervous and sweating just watching it. That was the scariest part of the movie for me.

I agree about The Beast. I've only ridden it once so far this year, and during the day, but it was slow and tame. Not The Beast I remember. It also seemed to have that Mean Streak squeek going on through the turns. That has me worried. I love Jungle Jims. Did you find the bug section? There's a section where they have a variety of bugs (like grubs and whatnot) that you can eat like candy. Ugh. Can't wait to go back.

My mistake on Corkscrew. I thought I always felt a slowdown right before the actual corkscrews. Haven't been there in a couple years so my mind must be failing me.

Mine too, it's short, but sweet.

It's kind of like people who buy band tour shirts who don't actually see them on tour.

That long walk was originally filled with people to the entrance so it was just a long wait then.

I wear my stylish long black wizard robe which I've custom lined with smurf-sized pockets.