MaestroJr

Like many people have said, their is a lot to do at the park besides rides but there is many rides you can ride, the rides you mentioned should be okay although I will say the log ride, Race for your life Charlie Brown is the ride I think your referring to is a little tight but still should be fine. Also The Bat is one coaster anyone can ride because of its overhead restraints and since it has a suspended/hanging track, it is not very rough and a very enjoyable family coaster thats not to intense. You could also ride Boo Blasters, which is a dark ride where you blast ghost for points basically, it can seat anyone and is good for catching a quick break from the outside. Also dont forget that the train is great, relaxing fun and can fit anyone. Viking Fury should be fine, along with White Water Canyon I would think. Congo Falls also should be alright. You could also take a trip up the Eiffel Tower, if your not scared of heights or anything like that! Most importantly have fun with whatever you ride and if you feel comfortable with a few rides go for it, if not dont worry and move on to the next ride. Hope all goes well and have fun!

Beast train back on the tracks, a sign that opening day will be here before you know it, especially now that spring is here! Picture courtesy of Kings Island Twitter page. MaestroJr

I skip it too, I rode it once or twice several years ago and wasn't really impressed except getting extremely wet! I see it leaving along with Boo Blasters and Congo Falls could offer some pretty nice space for future rides as well. If you've ridden Race for Your Life Charlie Brown, it's basically like that but with just one big hill. MaestroJr

Yes I do! I have taken these over the past few Haunts as I have an obsession with anything Phantom and whenever I see anything from it, I always try and take a picture as things from Phantom Theater are getting rare to come by. These first 2 I took in 2015 and were in front of The Beast queue line. It's the Flash Powder barrel and Light Bulbs crate both from Phantom Theater. Also the Flash Powder barrel was still in front of The Beast last summer. Here it is again. And this was one I'll have to tell you a story about. So, originally when I saw it in Madame Fatales, I looked at it and kept going however being with my obsession of Phantom, I did Madame Fatales again so I could take a picture of it since no one was hardly in there. Fortunately for me, even though you can't take photos in mazes, I took a quick photo of them and continued through the maze without getting into trouble and was very pleased on how the photo came out. I took this in 2015 and it's the mummy and Great Garbonzos cannon which are both from Phantom Theater in the Madame Fatales Cavern of Terror maze. I was so happy to see these still being used in the maze!I wasn't able to get a photo of the Phantom Theater furnace or Phantom Theater mouse being used in mazes but I hope you enjoyed these few photos I took of things being used from Phantom and hopefully they will continue to be used in Haunt this year. Thanks! MaestroJr

Speaking on the Son of Beast trains, they have been used for Haunt the past 2 years and I took a few photos of them both at both Haunts. I took this photo last year at Haunt and was really cool to still see it being used. It's the lightweight blue Son of Beast train from its loopless days that was on display near Mystic Timbers advertising. Next I took this picture in 2015 and it was 2 original side panels that were used on the original PSV Son of Beast heavyweight trains, from its loop-n-days. They were in a casket in front of The Beast queue line. They also spray painted the Son of Beast warning logo on the casket, as you can see. I hope to see these still be used and it's always cool to see anything from Son of Beast. Hopefully for Haunt 2017 they will be used again. Thanks, hope you enjoyed. MaestroJr

Hey it's weird reading this thread again and looking at a list that I made with my former account but I did read it and realize that I have a few more things I can add to the remnants list that I made in 2015, wow time moves fast! 1. I forgot to mention that The Crypt sign still remains and is only covered by a small cloth that barely covers it. 2. Looking at a picture posted today and going through the building for Haunt last year, many of the props and architecture from Tomb Raider and The Crypt still remain including many of the sculptures. 3. The Bat has the number "41" still painted on the station platform referring to an aircraft carrier from its Top Gun days. 4. I believe the American Flag is still painted to the wall in The Bat queue line tunnel, also obviously from Top Gun. 5. One of the blue lightweight trains from Son of Beast was on display in front of the Mystic Timbers box last year during Haunt. 6. The guns on Boo Blasters still have the peace sign on them from Scooby-Doo's! Haunted Castle and is in fact the same guns used on Scooby. 7. The mummy and Great Garbonzos cannon from Phantom Theater are both still being used in Madame Fatales. 8. Candles from Phantom Theater are still used and work in the exit hallway on Boo Blasters. 9. A couple things on Backlot Stunt Coaster are reused from the Italian Job version of the ride.10. And lastly, it's not really a ride remnant, but a great former effect on Boo Blasters was the smokescreen with Boocifer and even though it's gone, last year while I was riding Boo Blasters, I looked at the floor and saw his face acting the scene out as it was originally intended. However of course with no smoke it was only a projection on the floor. Hope you enjoyed and maybe learned a little more about some other small remnants at Kings Island, thanks for reading. MaestroJr

Yeah your right, it's got a lot of different little details from the past and that makes it hard to tell if it is being checked up on and updated and I just hope that when The Bat needs a new paint job eventually, that they'll keep it looking fresh and keep it painted orange to prevent from the old white and silver/red from coming back. The Bat reminds me of Scoobys Haunted Castle, which I and so many others really enjoyed do to its theming of Scooby. Now almost 8 years after its removal Boo Blasters is looking very empty compared to Scooby, same as The Bat, although again The Bat is one of my favorites, but it just feels like a mix of Paramount, old Kings Island and a little new thrown in,which makes it very odd. MaestroJr

No that's the thing is that pretty much since 2013 when the model planes were removed from Flight Deck, nothing has changed or been updated. Even the "runway" concrete platform when you come back from The Bat to the station still says "41" (I think it's that number) as in reference to an aircraft carrier. I don't think the Halloween stuff is there anymore but the M&M machine still is and I have no idea if they are fresh! When Top Gun was new, the ride was like being in the movie with its massive theming. Although I doubt that The Bat will get any new theming, it's still a fun coaster for me but it is not as great as it once was. MaestroJr

You mean this? Image courtesy of CoasterNation.com

Well said jcgoble3, you also have to remember that when Top Gun was installed in 1993, the lines length was do to heavy theming pre-ride and also do to it being "FighterTownUSA" or something like that and made it feel like a unique area of the park being the only coaster back in the area. It was like that and very secluded until Son of Beast was built in 2000.

Yeah it's defiantly a great coaster to ride for an easier, less intense ride and great for families. It's also pretty smooth. But your right, the queue line is way too long. The Bat is something I hope sticks around at Kings Island.

Oh I just meant that whenever I ride its line is usually not very long and I just thought that maybe people forget its back there. I guess usually after Banshee people ride The Bat and that's usually when I ride it. I just thought that maybe it's short line was an indicator. I would hate to see it go as its one of few still around and is a great ride with great history. MaestroJr

Unless of an accident I see The Racer staying around and not leaving anytime soon. Also considering it's historical place in roller coasters. I love it and hope for a new paint job but it's fun regardless. I could see The Bat leaving soon as even though it's a lot of fun for me, it's popularity is decreasing every year.

The Smurf Ride was the next in line of Kings Island dark rides and was converted from Enchanted Voyage a year after its removal. It was the same as Enchanted Voyage, but with a Smurf theme. It operated until 1991 when the building was gutted, ride entrance moved and whole new ominmovers installed for the 1992 addition of Phantom Theater. Hope this helps,

Except Thunder Run and Racer, too rough!

I'm just happy to be one of the first riders and witness what's in the shed and also the back is my favorite seat on wooden coasters!

Defiantly! Imagine the line though.

With Winterfest coming later this year, something I have thought about is attractions. A couple things have been confirmed, but in the history of Winterfest, all dark rides have been open including Smurf's Enchanted Voyage, Phantom Theater, Scooby's Haunted Castle. With that being said, do you think Boo Blasters will be operating for Winterfest, and do you think some Christmas themes will be thrown in? I think it could work good for Boo Blasters, as well as providing some more entertainment for guests visiting the park this winter.

1. Defiantly in 2012 when I got to marathon Flight Deck and Adventure Express to get as close as I could to see Son of Beast's final stand and dismantling. 2. I used to like the Flinstones Bumper Cars and Pixie and Dixie swing ride as a kid. 3. Yes, it would have to be Run-D.M.C/Aerosmith's "Walk this way" in The Beast's queue line. 4. I like The Racer the way it is but it would be cool to redo one train to go backwards again. 5. When your reduced to watching POV videos on youtube and looking at pictures to get your fix! 6. Most defiantly a dark ride like aspect or something along those lines, thats my guess anyway.

I think that when Phantom was removed it was so the park could get rid of the massive expenses of Phantom. They went the cheap way with Scooby in 2003 and has been deteriorating ever since. I loved Scooby as a kid as I did Phantom and I do think that when Phantom was changed, it was a much more disappointing change then Boo Blasters from Scooby. Scooby and Boo are almost identical and never will reach the level of Phantom Theater. MaestroJr

For those who may not have seen it yet, The Vortex sign has been refurbished and polished off for the rides 30th anniversary. I think it looks very nice but what is your opinion on it? Picture courtesy of Kings Island's Instagram page.

Mystic Timbers has bits and pieces that remind me of Thunder Run at Kentucky Kingdom, anybody else see this?

Absolutely fantastic and nostalgic photos shaggy, thanks for posting all these!

Should be fun riding late on Mystic Timbers!

I love to ride alone and dont really pay attention anyway while on coasters, they are way too much fun! I have gone many times alone and had as much fun as with people. The only ride that I hate riding alone is Banshee or Invertigo because being that there are more than 2 seats on Banshee and that you face off (lol face off) on Invertigo, it can get kind of awkward. But riding any ride is lots of fun regardless of company or not and like mentioned before, you might get a new friend out of it, I have made several friends while in line as you can both talk about Kings Island or the local area, anything of interest at the park really. Ive always had fun alone as you can choose your day and odds are you'll meet some folks along the way! MaestroJr