Pre Kings Island Rituals

[Cory Butcher]

I live so close (30 minutes) and go to the park more than 90 times a year, so I don't have a very creative ritual like some of you.

I guess my ritual would be, grab a Gatorade or Powerade, and once I get out to my car, roll down all the windows of my car, and turn the music on something upbeat.

Going to Kings Island, I ALWAYS go OH-741 the whole way (Rather than I-75south). The drive is just peaceful and puts me in a good mood.

Oh, I pick out a pen every day before I leave as well. Sometimes I go with blue, sometimes black, sometimes I have a lucky green one that has been good to me!

[pyrocoasterkid]

For me and my brother, we ALWAYS stop at Dunkin Donuts at our exit, then eat them on the drive from I74 to I71. On the way home, we always stop at the Fields Ertel exit and eat at one of the many restaurants, mainly Skyline, Longhorn, or PIZZA TOWER!

[iChase]

I don't mean to write a novel or get all sentimental, but here it goes.

I always go with three of my friends, or more depending on who gets a season pass. We live around the Richmond/Fountain City area of Indiana so we have about an hour drive. I always drive.

If we go for an entire day, everyone will spend the night at my house. In the morning, we'll leave bright an early. I usually try to get everyone out the door around 8-8:30. Then I'll head out for the back roads. We always take 227, which once you cross over to Ohio turns into 177. Then from there it's pretty straightforward. When we get to Hamilton, I'll usually pull over for gas depending how much I have. Gas is better in Ohio for the most part, so it works out.

Once on Tylersville, we usually have time to stop for breakfast. It usually ends up being Mickie D's (which usually sucks for me since I don't eat at the big three fast food places, D's, Wendy's, and BK.) So I'll usually head across the road to Chick-Fil-A. From there we head to KI. Every since we were kids, my friend Jake and I would play a "Who can find the Eiffel Tower first?!" game. We still do to this day. Since I know the route like the back of my hand (Chase notices a new freckle he never knew about, doh.) I usually win. We'll then get there. If we get to the park early enough we'll wait out on the road, rock the car back and fourth, and see how many other cars we can get to follow.

We've been doing our "man trips" to KI for about three years now. Really, since I first got my license. I've had the most fun at KI with this group and made the most memories. I know, it sounds sappy, but these are the times I'll look back on and long for. Every time we go our experience is different, and to this date we've yet to have a bad trip. In fact, as I'm writing this, I'm getting excited for this season. But I'm also becoming a bit worried of what will become of our traditions after we all graduate and go our separate ways. I know I'll still have Jake since we're both going to Ball State, but the rest, I'm not sure.

Anyway...after our day is over and our fun is had we decide when to leave. If we leave early, we usually run out just before the fireworks to avoid the mess in the parking lot. But usually we'll jump in line right before the park closes, for either Firehawk or Beast. This helps us avoid the bloodfest in the parking lot. Occasionally we get a spot and stay for the fireworks. Mostly at the beginning of the season, though.

Sometimes, I'll have a new person to our KI regulars group, or if we're in the mood to be creeped out, I'll drive down the road to the Peters' Cartridge Factory. We never go in, or even stop for the matter. But for those of you who know what I'm talking about, it's creepy enough just seeing it, knowing its story (in addition to supposed stories and folklore), and being in its setting to give us a good chill. We then keep going up the road and turn around to get back to the main roads.

We then progress home, usually one or two heroes promise they'll stay awake while I drive. They never do. So I get my chance to put on my jazz, which no one else will listen to, and drive home enjoying the peacefulness, my thinking time, and the jazz. We then get back to my house and everyone barely crawls up the stairs and passes out in their beds.

If we leave early enough, Jake and I always want to play Rollercoaster Tycoon, so we get home and to that for the rest of the evening. But usually we never get home anywhere before 12.

Good times, good memories. I wouldn't trade this for anything. Sorry for the massive post, by the way.

[The Interpreter]

Please don't be sorry. That was great. And yes, you will come to treasure these times always.

Terpy, how well he knows

[tigellinus]

Sorry for the massive post, by the way.

At first I thought Tolstoy wrote that post!! j/k!

[violakat03]

My mom reminded me of a few from when my brother and I were young.

We always knew we were getting close when we went over the "washboard road" - the portion of 42 southbound just past where 73 crosses at Waynesville. When I was younger the paving was really warped and it felt like you were driving over an old washing board. Also somewhere along 42 there was old farm equipment up on the hill on the side of the road. All of it's gone now, over the years it started falling down the hill or rusting to pieces and was slowly removed. And then on the 48 bypass we always played the "spot the Eiffel Tower" game - which was a lot easier back then, I guess the trees have really grown up! You can't see it until you're on 71 now.

A friend of mine always said his family's ritual was the red horse. There was a small row of business that had I think it was called the Red Horse Tavern that had a statue of a red horse on the top of it's sign, on 42 just barely north of Lebanon. His mom always threatened that she could turn the car around if they misbehaved, until they got to the red horse. Once they got past the red horse they could do whatever they wanted because they were too far from home for her to turn around.

[violakat03]

Double post due to forum error message. Mod, please delete?

[Thrill_Biscuit]

^^^"It was the best of times; it was the best of times..."

That was a great post, 'Chase. At least next time you don't have to cross the road to get to Chick-Fil-A... They built a nifty, new McDonald's across the road from the old one, which looks like it's going to get the ol' steam shovel.

[goofywdw]

We used to live in Mason about 2 minutes from the park. There was a road we would take that has now been widened and just does not look anything like it did a couple years ago. It used to have a lot of little hills on it and every time we would visit the park we would have to take this road but my dad would go fast over them so it would get our stomachs and we would saying it was preparing us for the rides.

[XGatorHead 8904]

^There's a joke in there somewhere, if I could just figure it out. Something about iChase, chicken and crossing the road...

[Thrill_Biscuit]

We used to live in Mason about 2 minutes from the park. There was a road we would take that has now been widened and just does not look anything like it did a couple years ago. It used to have a lot of little hills on it and every time we would visit the park we would have to take this road but my dad would go fast over them so it would get our stomachs and we would saying it was preparing us for the rides.

That was Western Row road, east of Mason-Montgomery. My dad did the same thing. We called it "roller coaster road". The effect was more dramatic when you weren't looking forward!

[CedarPointer]

Looking for the Eiffel Tower from places there's no way you could ever see it whenever you drive near Mason.

[violakat03]

Looking for the Eiffel Tower from places there's no way you could ever see it whenever you drive near Mason.

I was totally guilty of that last week ... was going to Mason and knew I couldn't see the park from where I was (48 at Columbia Rd) but was straining to see it anyway!

[Thrill_Biscuit]

Some places I've been able to spot the Eiffel Tower from:

1. From the hill behind the WalMart in the west side of Hamilton (flashing lights atop ET and DT);

2. Coming down the hill from Middletown on Cincinnati-Dayton Road;

3. The entrance ramp from I-75 onto SR 129

4. The bike trail emerging onto Landen Lake from Simpson Trace.

5. Rt 63/741, by the ODOT facility...

6. The 10th hole at TPC River's Bend...

[gigacoaster2k]

Ok, Giga, I wanna see you kiss the MF sign goodbye!!

I'll do it. On CP closing day as I was driving back around Perimeter Rd. from the SC lot, I rolled down my window, blew a kiss and yelled GOODBYE, I LOVE YOU to Maverick and MF.

[tigellinus]

Ok, Giga, I wanna see you kiss the MF sign goodbye!!

I'll do it. On CP closing day as I was driving back around Perimeter Rd. from the SC lot, I rolled down my window, blew a kiss and yelled GOODBYE, I LOVE YOU to Maverick and MF.

That'd be some sweet girl on coaster-sign action!!

But I will admit I was caught hugging the Maverick sign last season!

[iChase]

^^^"It was the best of times; it was the best of times..."

That was a great post, 'Chase. At least next time you don't have to cross the road to get to Chick-Fil-A... They built a nifty, new McDonald's across the road from the old one, which looks like it's going to get the ol' steam shovel.

Sweet! Three cheers for closer Chick'n!

[sgshredder33]

I Always Listen to the Doors on my way down. If whoever I go with is a KI noob then I will make up some redicoulus(sp?) story( Such as that the Adventure Express got a loop.) I tell them I was kidding after we ride it. I also always look at the lines on Tazmanian Typhoon to check the waterpark lines. Those are Just some rituals

[Justin_M17]

The day before opening day I make sure to go out to Wal-Mart or something and buy a couple pairs of pants that have at least one zippered pocked for my iPod, camera, and phone.

Every morning before I go I usually hop on KIC just before I head out the door and see if anyone is going that day. In some cases (I.E. The time I was stuck with my friend's annoying, weak-stomached stepsister all day) I'll post asking if someone wants to meet me at the park. And I always toss a lightweight breakfast (Usually some random cereal bars) in the bottom of my backpack under the BB change of clothes so I can eat on the way there and not have to worry about throwing up on the first ride, and so I can eat later in the day without paying the ridiculous prices for food.

[goofywdw]

I need zipper pockets so bad! I have to hold my pockets on like every ride its annoying cus I feel like everything will fall out even though there are buttons.

[violakat03]

I always wear cargo pants that button and velcro on the lower pockets - I got them at Sam's for pretty cheap and I have multiple pairs in multiple colors. I've never had anything fall out of the lower pockets, though I almost lost my phone out of the non-secured pocket on Firehawk and I did lose my season pass out of the same pocket on Mean Streak.

[Big Red Dice]

i get up early and leave my home{shelbyville,in} and wether it is going to the park or monroe oh to the flea-markets i will always stop at the sunoco/white castle in west harisson just right across the line to get gas and have a slyder or two and by the time i get to the park im the only one sittin in front of the gate for about 15-30 min. before anyone else shows up and while i have that down time i will stratigize whether to start on the left or right side of the park and work my way around to the other side normally its to the left but when i got my first season pass last year that changed to whatever area was open early to the pass holders

[Justin_M17]

I need zipper pockets so bad! I have to hold my pockets on like every ride its annoying cus I feel like everything will fall out even though there are buttons.

Yeah, same here. I almost lost my wallet on Firehawk last year, and as I was walking away from Face-o...erm, Invertigo, somebody's phone flew out of their pocket on the cobra roll and hit my backpack (Luckily my backpack took most of the impact and the phone's battery simply fell out when it hit the pavement)

That was what made me start wearing zipper pockets. I love my stuff (And Invertigo, for that matter) too much for that to happen to me.

[Thrill_Biscuit]

I Always Listen to the Doors on my way down. If whoever I go with is a KI noob then I will make up some redicoulus(sp?) story( Such as that the Adventure Express got a loop.) I tell them I was kidding after we ride it. I also always look at the lines on Tazmanian Typhoon to check the waterpark lines. Those are Just some rituals

That's hilarious! (You can also make a noob believe SOB is part of AE.)

[sgshredder33]

I Always Listen to the Doors on my way down. If whoever I go with is a KI noob then I will make up some redicoulus(sp?) story( Such as that the Adventure Express got a loop.) I tell them I was kidding after we ride it. I also always look at the lines on Tazmanian Typhoon to check the waterpark lines. Those are Just some rituals

That's hilarious! (You can also make a noob believe SOB is part of AE.)

Haha or that The Crypt dosen't hurt you groin anymore lol.

[Big Red Dice]

i get up early and leave my home{shelbyville,in} and wether it is going to the park or monroe oh to the flea-markets i will always stop at the sunoco/white castle in west harisson just right across the line to get gas and have a slyder or two

gotta love them gutbombs!!!

[RWildman424]

I usually just round up the friends that are going with me. I'm the only reason any of my friends have been to KI in the past 4 years. lol Other than leaving 2 hours before the park opens to get there on time, there's nothing special about my mornings. However, After the park closes, we head back to Indy and make our traditional stop at McDonalds in Batesville. Its a pretty lame tradition, but it just started for whatever reason, and we never skip it.

[italianchef]

I put my season pass in my wallet.

[CincinnatiCyclone]

I live very close to KI. Every day, I always like to ride Top Gun first and On the way in the park, I walk down the side curb.

[KIfan1980]

Without the kids - grab the pass and go, heading to The Beast first.

With the kids - listen to the National Anthem and watch them raise the flag (don't know why, I've always enjoyed this in the morning), then head for Lazytown Sportacopters (this is the only time of day this ride has a wait less than 5 minutes)