Magenta Lizard

When I went by, at first the only obvious sign of change from the road was that the repainted school buses weren't waiting in the front to ferry patrons over to the park. As I looked closer I could see some buildings farther back seemed to be gone and there were large construction vehicles around. It was weird to be initially presented with the same face that has always been there, tho.

Every summer of my childhood, I went to KI a few times and CP usually one trip (two park days). During that time, I went on Beastie (now Woodstock Express) once, probably when I was five or six, and I can't remember anything but motion blur and terror. I never considered riding coasters after that, and was perfectly happy riding flats and playing games. The summer I turned 12, I went to a Girl Scout sleep-away camp, as I had for a few years prior, but this time on a special program where for part of the week we rode up to CP and camped out there (also visited Perry's Island and Put-in-Bay). The girls I had made friends with were happy enough on the non-coasters, and we had a great time not pushing my boundaries The next summer, I did the same camp, only this time the girls I hit it off with were thrill seekers. I could either hang out all day with girls I didn't like as well, or I could suck it up and try coasters. I don't remember actually being scared, although I probably was, before the first one, nor do I remember which we started on. But, from the first drop, I was hooked. I eagerly rode every coaster in the park at that time (I think there were nine then).

Isn't it possible to order things "to go" at RHoFG, if you don't want to be served/tip your server?

Wow. That's actually better judgment on their part than I expected. The things they've done in the past, and their poor PR responses that always manage to make them look worse, I fully expected them to have "accidentally" charged you several times and let the chips fall where they may.

I saw that Raising Canes in West Chester when I was down that way earlier this week. I didn't realize they weren't open yet. These boards are the only place I had ever heard of the restaurant, but from what I've heard I'm interested in trying them out. I personally didn't like In-N-Out. I am more interested in fries than burgers, and their fries didn't impress me. To hijack this thread more, how are the fries at Raising Canes?

If one is into sweet/salty combinations, the Maple Bacon taffy from the pick-a-mix wall at Sweet Spot is really yummy! I tried it first out of the many kinds I bought, and wondered for a moment if they'd let me exchange the rest of it for more Maple Bacon! I didn't dislike any of the other flavors, though, and most were quite good. The Root Beer Float was my second favorite.

Ooh! Who wants to tell me what is included on the plans at Panda Express and Chick-Fil-A? I had heard rumors about PE, but when I went by today didn't see any meal plan symbols on the menu (plus it was pretty busy). Today I found out the mini corn dogs and fries at Rivertown Potato Works were included, and tried those. I know they had been listed on one version of the list back before they finally came up with the current printed lists (which don't include them as an option). When I asked opening weekend I was told the chicken bites and fries were the only thing available on meal plans. I'm glad I got the plan, regardless of whether they keep changing up what is supposed to be included. I think I may have already paid it off if I had individually purchased each of the meals I've eaten so far this season. And everything I've had so far has been very tasty.

Every time I read the name the voice in my head says "valvern". I have a feeling this is going to be hard for me to unlearn, so I hope it won't be at a park I actually go to.

It seems that dark rides tend to have phrases as names rather than single words (although I still miss Earthquake!), so I think it will be either a coaster or high thrill flat.

What it means: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valravn

When I was a kid in the 80s, I listened to (and enjoyed) a lot of Big Band era music, because my grandmother enjoyed it. I definitely agree that going as far back as Swing era (and heck, as far forward as 80s pop, because the 80s were when the 50s revival happened) would be cool near Juke Box. I just really realized how much music seemed to be missing when I watched the video back.

I took a little video of the new lighting package tonight. It is on my list of must-rides now on visits when I stay after dark. Watching the video makes me feel classic 50s music is really missing from that area of the park.

The FUNTV just showed a zero minute wait for Invertigo. They should turn that off for rides that are down. Good news is that I saw two workman standing way up top doing something on the ride earlier tonight. So chances are they haven't decided to scrap it.

I thought I saw you on WG tonight, from the brief time I met you at last year's meetup. You probably saw LoraX in her KIC t-shirt cuz she was close in line at the time. It was around 5:30.

The flowering trees in the center of the plaza outside the gates are a particularly fragrant welcome to the park today. Could smell them from quite far away, it was very nice. Edited to add: They seem to have replaced Delirium's restraints in the off season. I didn't ride last weekend so it's the first I noticed.

I liked them OK until I heard them perform on Oprah at the dawn of their popularity. They weren't lip-syncing (although they should have). I couldn't believe that was what they really sounded like, and it did a good of keeping the tween me from getting swept into that marketing frenzy. That, and the girls I didn't like were way too into them...

I checked when I was at the park Saturday, but didn't see any wifi. I wasn't near the new Starbucks. Anyone care to give their experiences of trying to use wifi there? I'm curious if they have any definite plans for park-wide wifi or if it was just an off-the-cuff, indefinite "sometime in the future" speculation.

For me, Invertigo is a lot more about the sound than the actual ride. It's the first ride whose operation and screams you can hear from the parking lot, inviting you into the park for some FUN!

That sure didn't answer it tho. Removed for the construction, but not returned... Why? Will it yet be?

As a season pass holder, I don't find Fast Lane a nuisance at all. I feel like it subsidizes my pass being so inexpensive. KI gets bodies in the park with cheaper season passes, which sells more Fast Lane. I win because my pass costs less (I think) than the one I had in high school twenty years ago (and considering parking wasn't included back then, it's even better), the park wins more money from sales of Fast Lane and from me as a passholder (because I rarely visit without spending anything), and the people who can't visit often win by being able to buy a better single day experience. Of course, I also have the freedom to visit the park when I want, so I'm usually there when there are low crowds. I also experienced it from the other side two summers ago, my first time in the park in years, and a friend from out of state who could only go with me on a busy weekend. It was definitely worth it to me to be able to pay an extra $100 (I think, for both) and we could ride all the rides we wanted in a one-day blowout.

Here's some extra info from the zoo that is supplying the animals: http://www.honeyhillfarm.net/see-touch-learn-kings-island-is-hosting-a-brand-new-petting-zoo-for-the-2015-season/

I heard Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head" outside Hank's. I resisted the urge to sing along because I didn't want the KICers I was sitting with to realize I'm a little nuts I had a brief obsession with that song after I first heard it* (literally playing it over and over on repeat). And every time I hear it now, "I can't get it out of my head" for a few days afterward. *semi-cool story: she was the performer on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno the day my husband and I got to attend a recording. We lucked into seats very near the stage (we, among others, got to shake Jay's hand when he came out on stage at the beginning of the show). Arnold Schwarzenegger was also a guest. I thought she was a new teen pop star at first, because she was in a revealing costume and I swear she didn't appear to have aged a day, body or face, from the time she did the video for Locomotion almost fifteen years earlier.

Welcome to KIC!

From that article: "The station reported that the Fury 325 became stuck mid-air for about 20 minutes just after 7 p.m. Saturday." Mid-air? Not even on a track? That must have been quite a trick.

They're still calling for the possibility of hard frost in the coming weeks, so it is safer to wait to do much new planting. I'm sure things will look prettier as the season progresses.