Magenta Lizard

Heh. I just put on my The Beast comic book cover style t-shirt I bought at the park earlier this summer and noticed at the very top it says "King's Island Creative Team." So, I think the news media can be forgiven for that mistake. In all the years I've known of Kings Island (so, my whole life pretty much), I never noticed it shouldn't have an apostrophe until I saw things about it here on KIC forums.

I found it particularly annoying because I had to dress for a 20-some degree temperature span. Since I don't like carrying stuff, and frankly don't really trust their lockers, I couldn't partially change clothes like I usually have on days when it's been much cooler in the mornings than afternoons. At the beginning of the night, I was sweating even though I wore my hoodie around my waist, and by the end of the night I was really wishing I wore my long underwear. At least as the season goes on, it should be more evenly cold. As for the alcohol, yes, people can get it at the park, but in that case in particular, the mark-up should keep nearly anyone from seriously overindulging. It costs about the same at KI for one cider as an entire six-pack at the store. If the closed gate policy does keep people less under the influence, I'm personally for it. I can see why people might be much more likely to want to get drunk at Haunt than during the days at a park filled with kids (for some people their own children, who they are less likely to bring with them for Haunt).

Unless it is Philip (the one who replaced Sam near the end of the season), I probably couldn't guess. With the heavy makeup, zombie expressions, and especially the face coverings, I was having trouble making out faces at all*. I noticed the one in the dreadlock-style wig/hat from Cirque looked like Philip in body type/height, but it's just so hard to tell. *Not to mention heavy smoke by the third performance. They should probably get some big fans to clear the area because it can't be good for the performers to be sucking that in while working so hard, whether it is toxic or not. Edited to add: you are going to have to spill who came back, because it IS going to drive me nuts otherwise

OTOH, I found the difficulty of navigation one of the charms of Slaughterhouse. It's much more interesting to not know where you're going than to be following a clear trail.

Assuming it is a Gold Pass you are renewing, yes. I already renewed mine, and got in no problem last night. If you're upgrading to gold from regular, I think you only get one fall visit.

Out of curiosity, were the two men pinning the guy to the ground wearing light colored uniforms or dark ones? Because the dark uniforms are actual police, not security guards.

If they just removed that act you speak of, I think it would really improve the show, too. It wouldn't be so bad being a slow build up as long as something spectacular happened at the end, but as of yet, the ending of that act is cool but not cool enough at all for taking what feels like a third of the entire show. Moving it earlier in the show would help too, because it doesn't live up to what presently goes before it. Other than that, I loved everything about the show. As I mention in my trip report, I do still prefer Cirque as a whole, but there is one act in particular I found absolutely amazing. I like what they added that necessitated it being outside, too.

KillMart was a big yawn-fest. I'm not a fan of zombies in general, and it was a pretty good example of why. They just aren't particularly intriguing. Slaughterhouse on the other hand was the only house I went to tonight I can unequivocally say I enjoyed. Rather than simply people wearing costumes hiding behind corners, etc, jumping out to scream at you periodically (which was the norm for the other handful of houses and trail I did tonight), Slaughterhouse had some actual acting, characters into their roles, interacting with you for more extended periods rather than just sneaking up and being in your face for a couple seconds. It was fun and creepy.

I don't think any of the Hot Blooded crew are repeats from Cirque, unfortunately. Although there was a brief moment when I thought, "holy crap, Julien (long haired clown) shaved his head!" He was doing some tumbling and acts in a similar way, but it's not him. Edited to add: Nearly missed the second Skeleton Crew show of the night. Missed the beginning of Blood Drums when I was composing my review of Skeleton Crew, so I decided to wait for a later showing of Blood Drums and try to get on Tombstone Terror-Tory. I ended up more or less trapped, unable to easily get out of the line until 9:25. Quick jaunt across to the Showplace tho, and I even got a good seat. I liked the Dueling Banjo skeletons at Tombstone even though that was all I got to see so far of it. Nearly saw a fight break out after the show, apparently someone dared to comment on some lady's usage of her cell phone during the show and she wasn't happy about it. Two issues with the smoke effects. One, it makes every smoker in the park (it seems) think they can light up wherever, including in line. Also, I can't see much other than the flames of Blood Drums even though I'm right across the plaza standing on the concrete wall. I'm wondering if I know one of the Blood Drums fire performers. There's a friend of a friend who does a similar act, which she's performed at a July 4th fireworks shoot at that friend's place. Edited again: talked to my husband, the FOAF doesn't perform anymore so it's not her. Two things I really like about Haunt. I'm not really into the houses, but most people are here for them so lines are short for rides. Just rode Banshee, DT, and Delirium all nearly walk-on even though the park is fairly packed. Also, they have new interesting FUNTV. They were showing clips from old black and white B horror movies, and I saw the video for the Ghostbusters theme song. Just after midnight. I discovered purgatory by sitting near the front of the train for Tombstone. Ages to get on a train, ages after you get off. I should definitely have stopped at the restrooms first. Edited again, it's now the next day. Tombstone was a great disappointment after all that wait. It would have been disappointing regardless. There is next to no variety on the long path back to the park, boxes every ten feet alternating left and right, often people lurking (visibly) behind them. Outside of the man who did the spiel on the train, no one seemed to be actually in a character other than "teenager in an old west zombie costume halfheartedly trying to startle people." I suppose they can be forgiven for their lack of enthusiasm, because I lost all of mine in the time I was standing out in the woods in the cold waiting for the disclaimer to be repeated over and over (could this be moved to the train PA so we all get it at once, and not create that second line?), and they had all been out there a lot longer. I also thought the hijacking would have been a lot more interesting than it was. Afterward, I went on to a station wait for a spectacular night ride on The Beast. The way the smoke lingers out in the woods around The Beast is my favorite usage of the effect, it makes it extra spooky. (My second favorite smoke effect was when I rode Drop Tower. It was cool to rise above the smoke near the ground, then after a bit rise to a second atmospheric barrier where the smoke had collected, and pass through it like a cloud) I finished up the night with a ride on Adventure Express (I was sort of hoping they added something to the theming, but alas no). I got a train entirely to myself, front seat. I particularly love that coaster at night. I'm looking forward to going again on Sunday to have more time to check out the decorations and theming in the light of day.

I'm going to be updating this sort of stream-of-conciousness through the night. Got here about two hours ago and am waiting for them to open up for Skeleton Crew. I've been through four houses so far. After riding FoF (had to, no line) Kill Mart was first, and my least favorite. There's only so much you can do as a disaffected zombie Walmart worker I guess. Plus I couldn't really see much because it was so dark and I had come from fairly bright outside. Next up was Slaughterhouse which probably ruined me for the rest of them. It was actually fun, a lot of chance for non-startle-based interaction with the scareactors. I did apologize to one of the actors for touching her when I was trying to get through a particularly tight squeeze, but I seriously couldn't even see her. I think I saw Sam outside the entrance if he looks kind of like Duke from Haven (Eric Balfour) only more, you know, bloody. Someone referred to him as Sam but he was more articulate than I expected.... With a break for Beast, I went through Madame Fatales. Since I totally missed out on the TR:TR and Crypt years, it was my first time in that building and was worth it for that alone. Had some fun interaction with a young lady who "cut herself shaving" and invited me to touch her foot. Next was Diamondback (oh how I've missed it the last two weeks, I don't know how I'll survive the winter), and a trip through CarnEvil. It was interesting, but mostly depended on startles. I like the nod to traditional funhouses, especially with the mirrors and "tornado" I walked through. A quick ride through Boo Blasters (1700-some points), and now I'm here waiting. I saw the guy whose sandals the clowns stole at that one Cirque performance, and he was in an "official" area so I'm relieved to finally know he wasn't just an audience member. Having seen the show, I'm floored. I don't want to say too much, but you have GOT to come see this one. It has elements of Cirque: some guys in red, some in silver and black, a rope act, the ring, clowning around on a trampoline. But wow! To give an idea, I loved Cirque (and as a whole show, prefer it). But the only time I was brought to "whoop" while clapping was at the final performance of Cirque. At the end of tonight's rope act, I was whooping and clapping so hard I nearly broke my hands. It was awesome. From earlier in the night, say it isn't so: I love all the decorations that have been added to the park, some in the most unexpected places. But it absolutely KILLS me they put this much theming into something for two months of weekends, and Adventure Express looks like it does.

I plan on seeing all three Skeleton Crew shows tonight. Haven't decided yet if I'm going to watch/do anything else or not.

Slaughterhouse, Sam?

I want one of those so bad, but I don't know if Skeleton Key is really for me. I've only gone to like two haunted things in my life (the caves, and a hayride) and they were both about startle rather than scariness, which I don't really like. I guess I'll give one of the attractions a try tomorrow and decide if I think it'd be worth it. Or maybe I'll just buy one of the key chains on eBay later. Surely there are people out there that want the experience but not the souvenier.

When I was a kid, I had a little book-and-record based on the Haunted Mansion. Grim Grinning Ghosts, I believe, was on the B-side of the record. The book basically took you through the ride experience, from the stretching portraits through to the beating heart of the bride and beyond. I knew the "story" so far as that goes (I still think removing most of the plot-aspect before it was even built was one of the biggest mistakes of that era of Disney, personally), long before I ever went on the ride (when I was 13 or so) because of that. I'll admit it was really cool to see the actual imagery, eventually, but I don't think I'd have had a clue quite what was supposed to be going on without already knowing. You're right that it is hard to hear things on the ride itself. So you can experience the book-and-record yourself if you like. And if you ever wanted to know way too much about The Haunted Mansion, http://www.doombuggies.com

I've been a fan of cheesy horror movies from before I started school (my mom and I used to watch them together when my sister was at school). Halloween was tied with Christmas as my favorite holiday in my childhood. However, following September 11th, I lost my taste for it for quite some time. Seeing real horror took away my ability to enjoy pretend horror. I'm back to enjoying Halloween again these past few years, and watching way too many horror movies in October. My point is, though, I think most people who enjoy horror probably wouldn't want to see any of it actually happen. So it doesn't ask very much to have a little sensitivity and not do things that trigger people's memories of very real, recent, horrors. Obviously, everyone is going to have their own personal triggers, and it is up to them to decide if going to a horror event is for them. When it is something so publicized, like the beheadings, though, it's fair to avoid things that reference it, at least for now. It's not as though there aren't fifty-billion other ways to depict death, gore, and creepiness.

Thanks guys You mentioned "before Haunt starts". They don't open until 6 or 7 on Friday and Saturday, but there's a later time that Haunt actually begins? I'm not looking for definitive answers (plus I hate making phone calls), just trying to get a feel for things, since I haven't been to a Haunt yet. I may go twice this coming weekend, Friday to catch the shows, and Sunday for rides, etc.

Does the park allow re-entry on Sundays in the fall? I've been thinking about needing to redeem some arcade tickets and buy fudge, and like to travel light, so it's going to be a real pain in the butt if I can only do stuff at the end of the day or buy a locker.

I'm developing a knitting pattern to make a hat for myself. It will have a cable running around my head that looks like a roller coaster. What I think will really sell it as a coaster is if I can get a small pin that looks like a coaster car or train that I can attach next to the "track." It's driving me crazy that I can't just go to KI and look in the shops for myself to see if such a thing is available. I know I've seen small enameled tack pins for sale, but haven't paid enough attention to know if there is anything like what I want. I also haven't quite been able to find something representational of a roller coaster car or train online (at least nothing that doesn't also have a track as part of the design). I may end up needing to use a pin of an automobile or train engine instead. This is the sample I've been working out my pattern on, it's not the final color or anything, but gives an idea. The lizard pin is standing in for the coaster pin I want.

The next ten. The park is in a really good place right now, and with the addition of things like Cirque Imagine, has things I never expected twenty years ago (but would miss terribly if I had to return to the way the park was then). There are some small things I would like (a good dark ride, more flats, money put into adding and repairing theming) but I know the park seems to be in good hands and listening to us. I really see great things for the park in the near future.

Considering the primary category the latest Cedar Fair trademarks show up under is "metal key chains", I'm not certain it would help Of course, if we did, and they were hiding under a shell corporation, we still wouldn't know which park (or group of parks) the trademarks were for.

I'm holding off on buying a collapsible bottle specifically because I'm hoping KI will sell ones with their logo next summer.

About a week after the delivery of my copies of R. L. Stine's The Beast and The Beast 2 I bought off of eBay (thanks to the forum member who made me aware of their existence, sorry I forget who), I was amazed to see this awesome t-shirt on the $5 rack at the discount store in Coney Mall. What I found even more amazing was the similar tagline on the shirt's "comic book" and the first book (which says "Is the roller coaster really haunted?") Even though they're only loosely related to KI, the books made a nice segue into the Haunt season. Right now I am finally sitting down to watch the Roller Ghoster episode of Ghost Hunters. I keep getting confused every time I see Son of Beast, because other than three visits (two during the operation of SoB, but visiting with a non-coaster-rider, and the third when it was SBNO) I hadn't been to KI for about fifteen years before this summer. This despite innumerable visits before that, and at least 20 this year. So everything is really familiar except SoB.

They're having a "party" for the growing segment of the population who view their dogs almost as surrogate children, and love to dress them up for Halloween. This is actually a quite smart move, in my opinion.

I agree with those statements. But, I was selfishly thinking of my own comfort. Steel benches outside at night in the fall is not going to be nearly as nice as individual cushioned indoor seating. If it's anywhere near as popular as Cirque, I'll be spending a long time sitting on that hard cold metal. I'm probably going to have to bring some sort of cushion and/or blanket.

As far as paint, removing the remaining old theming from The Bat, and some work on The Vortex's station building (there is some serious peeling of the back of the cupola roof, for example) wouldn't be amiss. I'd love to see the return of the vine tunnel. It was always a nice place to get a bit of natural cooling on hot days. I'd much rather some intense focus on the little things than anything major next year.