Trip Report: Sunday-Monday, Aug. 3-4

[misselaineeuss]

For my upcoming 30th birthday, I decided I wanted to spend it like a teenager (except without using my parents' credit cards, heh..). I told my husband I wanted to go to Kings Island, since I love amusement parks but hadn't been to one in about five years.

Our trip began at 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 3. After stopping to fill up our stomachs at a Waffle House, we hit the AA Highway across northern Kentucky (which, incidentally, must be one of the most boring roads. I'm pretty sure I saw tumbleweed.).

Finally, seven days later, we got to Kings Island around 11 a.m.

It's always so exciting to see the skyline of the park. I couldn't wait to get in line!

Here are the rides we did the first day (and any pertinent thoughts):

Firehawk: About a 45-minute wait. I decided to try this one first, since we had never been on it. Gentlemen: If you've ever been curious about the experience of a gynecological exam, this might be as close as you could ever get to it. As the seats tilted backward, it occurred to me that's pretty much how a gal feels during such an exam: vulnerable and exposed. The ride itself was OK. I wasn't crazy about the seemingly loosey-goosey shoulder restraints (I REALLY didn't feel restrained.. which, I guess could be considered a good and a bad thing). If we had the time, I was going to try the ride again, but time ran out on us before that was possible.

Flight of Fear: About a 30-minute wait. The theming on this ride is really creative. (We were extremely thankful for the air-conditioned wait, as it got up to about 90 that day.) The launch is absolutely breathtaking. I was surprised that there were a few lights inside the building. (Do they ever run it completely in the dark?) We liked FOF so well that we rode it again on Monday and got stuck at the end for 20 minutes (stay tuned for that story, folks).

AVATAR: About a 10-minute wait. Thanks for the tips to ride this one (my husband laughed at me for suggesting it, but then he loved it). It was great fun. (As a side note in Nickelodeon Universe, is my sense of smell too keen, or does SpongeBob's Bikini Bottom Bash just really reek?)

LUNCH: This is important enough to break out as a separate item, hehe. LaRosa's is my absolute favorite pizza, so I was quite happy when lunch time rolled around. I keep hoping LaRosa's will venture north into Columbus, as my father-in-law lives there and we visit every few months. So far, no such luck.

Adventure Express: About a 10-minute wait. This is still a fun ride, and I'm still waiting "to pay."

Eiffel Tower: Whoever thought to build this is close to genius. Great views of the park, from all sides.

THE CRYPT: I had ridden TR:TR before and thought it was really great. I also had read the several posts here of people upset about the lack of theming for The Crypt and the poor ride program. While I completely agree with the theming complaint, the ride program rocked my socks (as the kids say these days)! But first, back to the theming, or lack thereof. Although I hesitate to complain because have no better ideas, is that the best they could come up with? The queue theming is OK, I suppose. Skeleton here, skeleton there. It was strange to me that they aren't using the giant sliding door between the final two queues. When I first rode TR:TR, I thought that part was really cool, because I just couldn't figure it out. Anyhow, it's unfortunate that they couldn't use the heat at the bottom/cool at the top elements of TR:TR. While I was still rather disoriented on The Crypt, at least the heat/cool features of TR:TR gave me some idea of what was happening. Now, for the ride program. I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly – and sincerely – surprised. I can't even begin to tell you what the ride did, but I was shocked a couple times at the quick flips.

WHITEWATER CANYON: About a 20-minute wait. A nice cool-down on a hot day (though, I would have preferred getting my front wet as opposed to my back). I must say, though (as a West Virginia native), that West Virginia whitewater is much better! =)

Son of Beast: About a 30-minute wait. It was my first time on SOB. After all I had read here on the forums, I was a bit … apprehensive, to say the least. But, for me, the ride was awesome. A little bumpy, but not overly rough as I've heard it described. The husband disagreed, though. It shook him like a rag doll. We both took an Advil after that one.

Delirium: About a 30-minute wait. We were also newbies to Delirium. What an awesome ride (although it KO'd my husband's stomach and he was pretty much out the rest of the day). Toward the beginning of the ride, it was just nice and pleasant. BUT, it then went way beyond nice and pleasant. I suppose, looking at it from the ground, I didn't realize how high that crazy thing goes. But, I loved it!

Drop Tower: About a 25-minute wait. This is the only time I fear heights at KI (the final 25 feet or so just about get me). But it's always a thrill.

Invertigo: We got in line and were about halfway to the train when it experienced technical difficulties. We didn't try again after it opened.

DINNER: For dinner, we ate at Festhaus. My husband got pizza again, and I wish I had, too. I got a cheeseburger, and was less than thrilled with it. Later, I got my favorite Rivertown fries, and all was well with the world (except for my arteries).

Kings Island RAILROAD: I'm sure it's been discussed elsewhere, but I was surprised at how close the footings for The Diamondback are to the railroad. My husband seemed to remember the train going all over the park and was disappointed that it was so short. I asked if he was remembering the Lion Country Safari monorail, but he swore it was the train. Was the train's path ever different? Finally, I was too slow to snap a photo, but I giggled at the bear carving to the right on the way back from Boomerang Bay.

The Beast: About a 25-minute wait. Thanks for all the tips to ride The Beast at night. Completely awesome! (The husband skipped out on this one, too, because of the shaky factor. He has ridden it a half-dozen times before but said the older the ride got, the shakier it got.)

Backlot Stunt Coaster: About a 15-minute wait. This was our final ride of the night (another first-time ride for us). I remember reading several posts that the effects didn't work anymore, but I didn't notice anything amiss. It's a fun little coaster.

HOTEL: We stayed at the Wingate, about 20 minutes from the park in West Chester. Despite getting lost (the Internet directions were bad), the hotel was really nice and decent on the price ($116 through Hotels.com – though we found out later we could have had the room for $80 had we just gone through the hotel to book it. Lesson learned.).

MONDAY, AUG. 4

After a quick (and cheap) breakfast at MickeyD's, we were back at the park about 10:30 a.m. The goal was to catch the rest of the rides on our (well, OK, my) list, perhaps do a couple repeats and get out of the park around 2 p.m.

Vortex: A walk-on in the very back seat. Still one of my favorite coasters, it's a great way to start the morning.

RED RACER: Almost a walk-on. I love the saturated grease smell of old woodies.

Flight of Fear: About a 15-minute wait. We liked FOF so much that it was a definite repeat. BUT we got stuck on the ride. In the train in front of us, the ride ops could not release the restraints on a seat. So, we were stuck for about 20 or 25 minutes. At least we were out of the sun and in air conditioning. At first, the riders in our train were acting rude and generally stupid. So, one of the ride ops came back to talk to us – and she brought two reinforcements. It's funny how well the folks behaved after that. Anyhow, maintenance came and worked on it. From where we were, it looked like the crew had to take the back panel off the seat to get it unlocked. It was certainly nice to stretch my legs after getting off that ride!

After getting stuck on FOF, it seemed like the lines were really long on everything.

FLIGHT DECK: About a 35-minute wait. I thought I would get in one more coaster before leaving. Unfortunately, I chose the wrong one. I remember Flight Deck to be fun and fast. My memories must be failing me. The line was way too long, and the ride was way too pitiful.

So, around 2 p.m., we left. I was missing our 15-month-old baby (it was our first overnight trip away from him) and wanted to get home. I can't wait until he's old enough to properly enjoy KI!

Thanks for reading (link to photo gallery below)!

Aug. 3-4, 2008, Kings Island

[flightoffear4thtrain]

35 minute wait for Flight Deck? That's Crazy!

[welchce]

First I'd like to say great report and great photos.

AVATAR: About a 10-minute wait. Thanks for the tips to ride this one (my husband laughed at me for suggesting it, but then he loved it). It was great fun.

It's good to see we have another person that's seen the light on how fun Avatar is lol

Adventure Express: About a 10-minute wait. This is still a fun ride, and I'm still waiting "to pay."

At first I missed the reference about the "pay" part since it is right next to a pay attraction. But then I remembered the final lift hill.

Vortex: A walk-on in the very back seat. Still one of my favorite coasters, it's a great way to start the morning.

As I have said many times, the first drop on The Vortex in the back is breathtaking.

RED RACER: Almost a walk-on. I love the saturated grease smell of old woodies.

I agree. Something about that grease smell makes the world seem right.

FLIGHT DECK: About a 35-minute wait. I thought I would get in one more coaster before leaving. Unfortunately, I chose the wrong one. I remember Flight Deck to be fun and fast. My memories must be failing me. The line was way too long, and the ride was way too pitiful.

First, I think Flight Deck has a good pace but I guess that's your opinion. Second, if you thought Flight Deck was a pitiful suspended coaster, then don't ride Iron Dragon at Cedar Point.

Once again, great report and pictures.

[gnarkiller]

I hope you had a great time at KI!

[The Interpreter]

Wonderful narrative and great pictures. No, the train track path has not been altered. As for Beast, a ride in the middle of a CAR (NOT necessarily the middle of a train) can be very smooth and delightful, regardless of age. The backs of cars are shaky, and the fronts less so but not as smooth as the middle seats of the cars.

And as for Delirium making your husband sick, often it is the cumulative effect of a day, and the last ride before that sickness gets the blame.

[tigellinus]

^^BUT is it possible he was in seats 40-ish or 15-ish, which have the most negative-g's???

[Kawana]

Waffle House??? I had to catch my breath just from reading that. If I ate there before a trip to KI, I'd be out of commission for the whole day.

Seriously though, thanks for the pictures, and I'm glad you had a great time. Maybe next year you'll come back and take on Diamondback.

[indianapolisman]

Great times in great words. First I've never heard FH described quite like that before. But then again it wouldn't know, mabye I should ask my wife she does love that ride.

I also tend to miss the kids after a trip without them. Sometimes we have to get some fun in too though. I also not to found of the spinning, flipping, swinging rides so I share that same

intrest of Delirium with your husband. Thanks for the nice post.

[misselaineeuss]

Thanks for the nice comments, everyone!

First, I think Flight Deck has a good pace but I guess that's your opinion. Second, if you thought Flight Deck was a pitiful suspended coaster, then don't ride Iron Dragon at Cedar Point.

I suppose that after a 35-minute wait, I was expecting more. I remember Flight Desk (typo, but it's staying) being fun when I rode it in high school (as Top Gun). I understand that not every coaster at a park can be the fastest-highest-best. But, I wish I had chosen something else for my final ride of the trip.

Wonderful narrative and great pictures. No, the train track path has not been altered. As for Beast, a ride in the middle of a CAR (NOT necessarily the middle of a train) can be very smooth and delightful, regardless of age. The backs of cars are shaky, and the fronts less so but not as smooth as the middle seats of the cars.

And as for Delirium making your husband sick, often it is the cumulative effect of a day, and the last ride before that sickness gets the blame.

Terp: What's your take on the train being so close to the Diamondback footings? Will they add a fence between the train and Diamondback? I was rather surprised at how many people had scrawled their names along the rides in places I thought would be difficult to impossible to reach (one example is at the end of the red Racer. In the covered area to the left are several names. Of course, they could have been added while the ride was not operating, but that's just one example).

Also, I was looking at The Beast trains, because I remembered you mentioning that middle seats are the smoothest. But, from what I could tell, it was four seats per car. I couldn't figure out which seat would be the middle seat in that setup.

And, finally, the husband drank a lot of water that day, and was mostly blaming the not feeling good on that. Delirium just happened to be the ride that broke the husband's stomach.

^^BUT is it possible he was in seats 40-ish or 15-ish, which have the most negative-g's???

Yes, I believer we were seats 44-45. Still, HUSS sure has some crazy ideas for rides. =) The husband and I thought it would be insane if Delirium spun all the way around. hehe.. I'm sure HUSS is working on that.

Waffle House??? I had to catch my breath just from reading that. If I ate there before a trip to KI, I'd be out of commission for the whole day.

We ate at the Waffle Hoose (as we call it) around 7 a.m., so our food was definitely settled by the time we got to KI at 11 a.m. =)

Great times in great words. First I've never heard FH described quite like that before. But then again it wouldn't know, mabye I should ask my wife she does love that ride.

I also tend to miss the kids after a trip without them. Sometimes we have to get some fun in too though.

Yes, men, go hug your wives, sisters and mothers!

[Gordon Bombay]

Also, I was looking at The Beast trains, because I remembered you mentioning that middle seats are the smoothest. But, from what I could tell, it was four seats per car. I couldn't figure out which seat would be the middle seat in that setup.

Great TR and photos! The Beast's gates are set up so that there are four air gates between each pillar in the station, this is because there used to be 4 rows per car, 5 cars. Today there are 3 rows per car, 6 cars. You have to look closely when your about to get on, there are only 3 rows per car, this is why some of the gates open up at weird angles and don't always line up straight.

[BavarianBeatle]

Nice TR. I've only been there twice in the lat few years without kids and always loike to go without them every once in awhile. Glad you had a good time.

[The Interpreter]

And as for the train and Diamondback, I am quite certain there will be safe clearance between the train and the coaster...

[KIBeast]

Great trip report! Sounds like you guys had an awesome time, other than the little bit of sickness. So, did you feel like a teenager again? By next summer, I'll know the feeling of leaving the little one at home while we play as we are planning a trek to include CP, KI and Holiday World. Not sure if I'll be able to stand being away from baby that long. Great pics too!