LongLiveTheSmurfRide

Wow. I had never been to Cedar Point when it was so crowded before. Even on a Saturday in the Summer I've never seen it so bad. I'm not sure where to begin. We drove 3 1/2 hours from Dayton and we were able to park back in the Soak City parking lot around 2:00. Everything seemed alright. I expected crowds since it was a nice day, not too chilly, not too warm. But I've been to Halloweekends on Saturdays for the last 5 years and this one took the cake. The Magnum was over an hour wait so we passed. Gemini's line was out the gate with all queues open, so we passed. Maverick was full and had a line out the midway a mile long (we were told it was a 3 hour wait) so we passed. Even Mean Streak, arguably the worst wooden coaster in Ohio, had over an hour wait. So I think in the first two hours we got a ride on the train, Wildcat (line wasn't horrible, but they were running less trains so it was slow) and Cedar Downs. Then we got to the food. Oh man. We get in line for a hot dog. All lines for food were long but they weren't only long, but they were slow. We waited for 25 minutes to get to the hot dog guy, I then noticed that they didn't take cards there and I had $5, so I had to get just one dog for my fiancee and I to share. So we hit the ATM and go get in the separate line for fries. I'll pause here to say, they need some kind of way to link the food lines. They got a big sign in lights for corn dogs and pizza, yet under that sign they only sell hot dogs. Then there are lines for deserts, then there are pizza lines, then at the other end of this building are the corndogs. So if you're in one line for the big building and want a hot dog and a corn dog, they can't do it because they're on the opposite ends; though all of the rooms are connected. You'd think the hot dog and corn dog rooms could be joined at least since they both include the basic ingredient of a hot dog. But no. You have to wait 20+ minutes for a hot dog, then go to the other line (which is at the same building) and wait another 20+ minutes for a slightly different item. It probably wouldn't have been so bad if the lines were faster but they seemed understaffed for the enourmous crowds that day. So we're in the fry line now and we waited, I kid you not, 45 minutes for fries. I wouldn't have waited so long, but we were starved after sharing a hot dog and everything had the same length of line in the park so we couldn't really find anything else to hit that would have been any better. Everything had a line. EVERYTHING! The ATM had a line, the men's restroom had a line, to get out of the park - there was a line! Even the leather shop had a line. Who goes crazy for their leather fix at Cedar Point? It's like people were so sick of lines that if they saw something, ANYTHING, that didn't have a line, they ran to it so they could at least be able to do something. Then that caused a line. So I thought it'd get better as the night wore on and people started doing spooky stuff; but no, I think it got worse. We finally bit the bullet and waited for Maverick. It took all of 3 hours to get to it and it was when we were next in the station that they decided to finally put the last train on the track to help the line move. This was at 10. I suppose they thought that the line was just too long at that point. Pshhhh. The wait would have felt worse but we met a lovely Michigan family that we talked to for pretty much the whole 3 hours. I was conflicted being an OSU fan and them being Michigan fans, but we found common ground and stayed away from topics that may have started a war. After that we were pretty much done, but we had to do something scary, so we walked through all 3 scare zones. The Fear Faire was the best, the Fright Zone was about the same as normal, and CarnEVIL was pretty lame with the least amount of scares being dished out. We left at around 11, because I had to be here at work in the morning. So in the 9 hours we were there we rode 2 coasters and some flats and waited for food and other various things. Kind of a pointless trip, but Maverick was worth it. That's a fun coaster. I think it's the first new coaster I've ever ridden at night before trying it durring the day first, so that was cool. All I know is that every year CP's Halloweekends seems to get more and more crowded on Saturdays so I think this was my last one. I'm only going Fridays from now on. It also gave me a new perspective on how crowded a park can get. The only time I've ever seen KI get close to a day so bad was on "bring a friend free" days, so I'll be thankful to get back to KI and their relatively soft crowds this Friday. Oh, also, CP's park was the least decorated that I've seen since I've been going to Halloweekends. KI really set a high bar this year for me as far as decorating. Though I still have beef with KI's "Scare Zones" compared to CP's (their scare zones were the ONLY thing without a line); KI definately has a better scary feel to the park overall. Thanks for reading.

Guess it's a matter of opinion on what people consider a long wait.

My only problem with their "fear zones" is that they seem to be that same thing as a haunted house or trail at KI. My idea of a fear zone, especially since it was Cedar Fair/Cedar Point that defined scare zone for me, is an area that you just walk through and people are everywhere to scare you. But it's not an area you wait in line for. It's just an area everyone walks through all the time. I love Cedar Point's scare zones because of that. If you want to go somewhere where people are there to scare you, but you don't want to wait in line for a house; you go to a scare zone. Granted, this year the whole park is like a scare zone since the people are everywhere and able to scare you at any time. But then, why have areas called "Fear Zones" in the park when they really are no different than the Trail of Terror in the way that they're executed where only a small group of people are allowed through at a time?

If you turned around and left last night (Friday the 12th) then you missed out. It really wasn't as bad as the parking lot and ticket lines indicated. We got there at 7:00, and from 7 to 8:30 we got walk-ons on Vortex and Beast and just walked around the park admiring the decor. From 8:30 (when we met some friends) to midnight we went through the Cemetary, Death Row, rode The Beast (half hour wait), Blackbeard's Revenge, The Racer and the Monster (if that's what the spider ride is; can't remember off hand). We took our time strolling through the park and ate some pizza, watched Dead Awakening (ugh) and whatnot. Granted, I did expect it to be less crowded with it being Friday and pretty chilly, but it wasn't too bad.

Was the shop in Rivertown taken out in place of a large Old Time Photo? That's what I saw when I was last there but I'm not sure if it replaced it, or if I just missed the old shop there. If that shop is gone, they might not be able to sell them in Rivertown.

Hey, I was just wondering, do you think KI will start selling Knotts Berry Farm products in their shops; like jams and jellies and whatnot? Or are they already? I was at the park a couple weekends ago but didn't hit every shop yet. Cedar Point sells them in their Frontiertown section of the park, so I was wondering if KI might follow suit. My girlfriend loves that stuff.

To comment on the cleanliness of the park; has anyone looked at the park from the Eiffel Tower lately? It's pretty nasty looking from up there. A lot of the roofs on the buildings around International Street are horrid. The fountain looks very dirty from up there and so does the stage where they have the Hot Island Rhythms show. I know that the overhead angle of the park is probably a blip on the radar for the maintenance department, but if the symbol of your park is a huge tower and you're going to have people up in it looking down at your property, you should make the view a little more pleasing.

One summer I thought I was the master of that "small rings around the glass bottles" game. I went to PKI and paid for one bunch of rings and won a huge stuffed neon lizard. Then later in the summer I went to Cedar Point and once again got another bunch of rings and won like on the 2nd throw and got a huge Curious George (Like 4 ft tall). On the way back to the car with George a guy offered me $30 for him. I probably should have taken him up on it, but my brother was about to have my first nephew and they were decking his room out in Curious George stuff so I figured this was a one-of-a-kind addition and only cost me a couple bucks. Anyway, I thought I was the master after those 2 times, but now I never win that game. Just a lucky summer I suppose.

I first went to KI when I was around 2 years old which would be 1981. I don't remember it, but I have lots of pictures of me there. Since then I've gone every year and had a pass for most of them. I can't remember if I started visiting PKIC back in 2001 or 2002. I know that in 2002 there was a big re-vamp and everyone had to re-join. I think I'm still one of the first to join back in 2002, though my post total doesn't show it.

We took a band trip and did the parade thing back in 1994 when I was a freshman in HS. I was a quad player then. I remember they had a walk-through display of the actual figures and full sets from their new movie "A Nightmare Before Christmas". And I did the Great Movie Ride probably 4 times while I was there. You're right, they have sweet animatronics. I remember the Alien part was cool. I loved the Indiana Jones stunt show. I'm a huge Indy fan. I can't wait to go back there some day.

Going to see Jesus Christ Superstar in Dayton on Sunday so I might go after that. Not sure though.

I saw Delirium running at the park on Sunday when I was there. Didn't notice anything else at that time.

Obviously I can't believe that. In fact, after going to the park last weekend to get my pass and driving on it, I can't say I see how any of that money is going to the lot costs and maint.

I got a parking pass, but I'd feel happier about it if they actually made it seem like you're getting something for that money. The parking lot for KI doesn't look like it's been re-paved in years and is bumpier than the SOB. The last few times I've gone the Trams have not been running. It just seems like the high parking price should go towards a comfortable parking experience.

Riding FOF with the OTSR's was not so bad if you could stretch your neck out to get your ears away from them. But like I always say, it's bad design if you have to follow additional instructions to have a good time on a ride. Good thing they got rid of those headbangers.

I love just walking into the park and getting hit with that combination of chain grease, blacktop and LaRosa's pizza; and feeling the breeze coming out from International Street combined with the mist of the fountains. I love rushing from ride to ride, but there's nothing like taking a day just to stroll and relax at the park; watching the passers-by and enjoying the sights and sounds of the park. As far as the rides go, I can't wait to ride my first flying coaster and I can't wait to see how SOB rides this year. I really don't like that coaster, but if I can ride it without getting a headache or bruises on my knees then I'll be happy with it.

I liked back when they were showing Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle cartoons and Dr. Katz shorts on the TV's. Does Cedar Point still do the DJ thing? I've been going once or twice a year for the last 10 years. They had DJ's in the late 90's at Raptor and Magnum, but I don't think I've seen a DJ there since there was one in the Millenium Force queue back when it first opened. Obviously I could just be going on days where they didn't have one anywhere, but it seemed to me that they were a thing of the past. I did enjoy them though. I also remember when Mantis first put the TV's in, it had a History of CP show always on it, then they had music videos, and now they're covered with just music blasting from the speakers. I wonder if there are even TV's under the covers they have anymore. I think it'd be cool to have DJ's at KI. They always gave the lines a party atmosphere where people would be singing along. You could even request songs from the DJ's selection if you could get him to hear you over the music.

Okay, I haven't been on the site in a while. I read this whole thread and I'm still kind of confused. What exactly are we getting in 2007 again?

Yeah, nobody cares about 3rd and 4th place records. Real records are the 1st place holders. I have heard it's the coaster with the most tunnels and longest amount of total airtime.

That's right, it was called the Scoobie Doo originally. Another themed ride in the right location. Not sure when they moved it on the map, but now the ride that was Phantom Theater is part of International Street. Originally it too was an HB ride when it was the Enchanted Voyage and then the Smurf's Enchanted Voyage so it was appropriate then.

Maybe you could videotape yourself reciting the whole thing and sell it on ebay.

Yeah, I have to go with Interpreter here, Kings Island has always been a theme park. The "park" consists of "areas" and if those "areas" are themed then the "park" is a theme park. It doesn't matter if the rides aren't all consistent with their location within the themed areas, they're still considered themed areas. Kings Island has not been the best park in the world with putting the right rides in the right areas for which they are themed, but you can't say Paramount did much better. Paramount coming in and tacking their lousy movie names to rides does not make the park a theme park, it just disrupts the already established theming. And The Beast certainly is more appropriate in Rivertown than a ride like, say, TR:TR. Don't forget, The Beast used to be above a pond with its neat wooden Mill look (which still exists). It's got Rivertown written all over it, right down to the outhouse next to the station. And anything can fit into the Coney Mall theming, as it's supposed to take after the old Boardwalk amusement areas where all kinds of rides (old fashioned and state-of-the-art, especially out-and-back coasters) were prevalent.

*Grandpa voice* I remember when that was aaaaaaaaaall wheat and corn fields as far as the eye could see....and if you weren't careful you'd step in a zzzzZzzzzzZzzZZzzZzZZz.....

Now that my body has had time to recover, it's time to write a quick trip report of my Holiday World visit of almost a month ago. This was my first visit there in a while. The last time I was there was the year before they started adding second trains to the Raven and Legend. I can't remember which one got the first 2nd train. I think the newest stuff I had yet to ride were the Voyage (obviously), Hallowswings, Liberty Launch, and the Gobbler Getaway. I was pretty psyched about the Voyage, so I wanted to ride that right away. But something told me I should hit the Raven and Legend first, lest I become jaded and unappreciative of them upon my return. So we got there, my buddy Adam and I, and the park didn't seem too crowded. This was the last weekday of operation, and I advise all who wish to go to Holiday World in the future to mark this day on the calander because it ended up being empty. We walked right onto Raven when we got there, all coasters had 1 train operation that day. The Raven was still fun and got me ready for more. Then we walked right onto the Legend. Same great coaster I remembered. I did seem to notice the lack of speed I've read others mention in trip reports. It was still a crazy coaster, but wasn't the monster I thought it was once before. So then we were primed and ready to hit my most anticipated coaster since Millenium Force, The Voyage. It wasn't walk-on at that point. We had to wait about 4 trains, and it was excrutiating. Like I said, there was only 1 train operation, and that 1 train seemed to take its sweet time getting back every trip while we stood there sweating. (It was a very very hot day) Finally our train came. We were in the very last seat. Off we went and the ride was a blur. I couldn't believe what just happened when we got back. It was the most action packed coaster I'd ever been on. Easily became my #1 wooden coaster. I held back on giving it an overall rank until I'd ridden it a few times. It's so intense for so long, and I've heard people say that it's rough, but I thought it was great. It is rough and forceful, but not in a Son of Beast type way. This thing is not rought because of poor design and layout, it's rough because it's a monster. After the first ride we went over to the Gobbler for some much needed air conditioning. It was a walk on and I found it to be a pretty fun little ride. The targets were not being as kind to me as they were Adam so he pounded me. The only thing I found that could be improved would be if the sound was a little louder because I don't remember much of the soundtrack or the musical number at the end. We then hit the Eagles and the bumper cars which are still the fastest and hardest hitting cars I've ever been on. I can see why you're not supposed to go head on at someone. They'd need to install airbags if that were allowed to reduce fatalities. At that point the park seemed to show its emptiness as we were told by the OP that we could stay in our cars for another round, which we did. At the end of that one she said we could do it again, which we did. I think we did 4 rounds of bumpers before we finally left on our own accord. Then we hit Liberty Launch. I wasn't expecting much, having been on Power Tower, but that thing was pretty cool how it shoots you and jerks you back down a couple times. After that we rode the Raven again. It was a walk on and they said if you had nobody waiting in your queue, you could stay on, so stay on I did. I rode 3 times in a row, while Adam could only take 2. Then we hit Frightful Falls where we were, once again, told we could stay in our boat if we wanted, so we did and rode again. Then we hit the Legend again and were able to stay on so I did for 2 more rides while Adam said 1 was enough for him. I have to admit, at this point my body was feeling a little run down. I think between the bumper cars beating me around and riding the Raven and Legend so quickly so many times, I felt tender areas begining to develop on the sides of my legs where the forces on these coasters were constantly pushing me against the lap bars and on my arms which were taking the majority of the blows against the sides of the cars. So, perhaps unwisely, we headed back to the Voyage. At this point it was a total walk on. We decided to hit the front seat this time. Once again, a great ride. My body was really starting to feel it now. So we went back around and rode Voyage again, this time in the middle-back area. Now my legs felt every lateral G as they slammed against the bar, but when we got back to the station and nobody was in our queue, I couldn't help but ride again. Adam bolted in pain, but I stayed, knowing this could be my doom. It was a painful ride and I was glad when we finally got to the end. I felt like I had just been through a major workout, and I didn't think I could do another, so I bid the Voyage a fond farewell for this year. I may be getting old, but I think the main reason I left Holiday World feeling like jello was because it was such an empty park day. I don't remember getting so beat up on their coasters before, but then I never had been there when everything was a walk on and I had no time to let my body recoup. Upon reflection, I do love the Voyage. It's one of the only coasters I don't think I could marathon on without needing to be taken out on a stretcher. I could never marathon coasters like SOB or Mean Streak because they're just badly kept coasters. But the Voyage is a different animal. It defies all laws of coaster logistics and actually seems to get faster and more intense the closer it gets to the end. When the station is in sight and the end near is when the Voyage pulls your bones out of your skin and puts them back in upsidedown. Regretfully, I forgot to grab a ride on the Hallowswings, though they did look pretty cool. So, yeah, that brings me to the end. Good times.

Some people are already preparing to jump ship on CF because of this great deal? Everyone wanted a combo pass, and now you're getting it! Just because they're not offering free parking at the other parks doesn't negate the value of this deal, in my opinion. I mean, the other CF parks need to get SOME money from us. They can't be garunteed all us PKI'ers are going to come fill their park up, buy merchandise and stay and eat. When I go to CP I normally leave to eat, like KI, so parking is about all they will be getting from me per visit. They didn't HAVE to do this combo pass thing and though it's not perfect, it's still better than nothing.