May 2 - day with the kids - with a bit of a run

[auge.dog]

Well, Saturday started for me with running the 10k as part of the Flying Pig Marathon weekend. The race started at 8 a.m., and conditions were pretty ideal - Nice and cool with little wind. I ran to support my friend who has lost 70 lbs in the past 16 months or so, and would like to lose about 40 more. He plodded along, and I provided encouragement the whole way. His time was slow, but there is no way that last year at this time he could have even completed this event. We hung out for awhile, and then I headed home at about 10:15.

When I got home, the weather actually looked like it was going to be pretty good, so I told my kids that we would in fact go to KI for what I hope is our first of several trips this year. We left the house about 1240 and got to the park about 1:20. After applying sunscreen to my 7-year old daughter, my 5-year old son and myself, we made our way inside. Got them measured at the entrance, son well over 48", and daughter just a bit over 54". My son had indicated he wanted to go on The Racer first, so off we went, and the kids chose Blue. The ride was fun as always, and our 2009 adventures had begun.

From there we went to Flight Deck, and this was the first time this ride had any line to speak of in the 4 times we have been to the park over the past 3 years. We waited for about 30 minutes. Always a fun ride, but too short.

As an aside, the park was the most crowded we have seen it in the 4 trips we've made over the past 3 years. There were many middle school and high school aged kids there from the various music groups. Contrary to the other reports I've read, I thought most of the kids were pretty well behaved. Sure they were a bit loud and goofy at times, but I thought for the most part it was just pre-teens and teens being pre-teens and teens. There was one group that got behind us in line on Vortex, and they were being totally inappropriate. Way too many cuss words and sexual innuendos. They could surely see me with 2 young children in front of them, but they did not in any way curb there behavior. I did not say anything as I did not want to draw my kids attention to them. However, my daughter was upset by their language and attitudes. I did my best to have her ignore them, and think about her upcoming great ride.

Back to the ride rotation - from Flight Deck, we convinced my son to go on AE - wait - 10 minutes. He remembers that ride being loud - and my son and loud do not get along. He rode it, and to his surprise, it was not too loud. I'm not a big fan of AE, but the kids enjoyed it - and that is the main thing.

From there it was the swings - wait = 1 ride. Then to Vortex, which was down for maintenance. However, I noticed they were testing the trains, so I figured they were going to open the line back up shortly, which they did. When the opened, a few rude people jumped ahead of us, but we still got to the que pretty quickly, and had perhaps a 10 minute wait. I thought we might need to try to persuade my son to ride, but he needed no convincing. After he rode it, he declared it was his new favorite ride.

Next we went on Shake, Rattle and Roll - virtually no wait. I go them a frozen limeade, and then we were off to The Beast - sign said 45 minutes, but actual wait was about 30-35 minutes. They were hungry, so we stopped and ate at LaRosa's in Rivertown. They had been asking to play some Arcade games, which I usually put the kabosh on due to costs. However, the water gun game right by the LaRosa's had no one playing, and the operator indicated only 2 people had to play for there to be a winner. Knowing one of kids would win, I let them play. My son won the first race, and I could see the disappointment in my daughter's eyes, so I let them play once more, and told her to really concentrate. She did and won the second time around, While leaving my son said, "This is the first time I won anything, dad!" That made it worth it for sure.

From there we did the old Log Flume, where our shoes got wet, but not much else. We then started with Avatar at Nick U, and they rode Go Diego Go and the little car ride, while I watched. We all went on FOC and then on Scooby Doo for the first time for all of us. Again, the wait time posted for Scooby Doo was 30 minutes, but it only took us 10. Kind of a fun ride, especially once my kids figured out how to shoot.

It was getting late, so I told them they needed to decide the 3 or 4 rides they wanted to ride before we left. They definately wanted to go on Vortex again, but the line was pretty long, so we headed up towards The Racer. There was virtually no line for the bumper cars, so I let them go on that first. My poor daughter got a car that was not working. She was pressing the gas, and nothing - no sparks up above or anything. People were staring at her, and she is very self conscious to begin with. The only time she moved was when someone hit her. It was certainly the low point for her. I told her we could take care of that frown with a ride on The Racer. I told them they couldn't beat me there, so they ran ahead and I plodded behind.

They had so much fun, we did it again - 2 in a row. From there, we went to AE as I had read it was great at night. It was not dark quite yet, but we went anyway, and the line was now a walk on. We then headed back towards The Vortex, and my son decided he wanted to see Sponge Bob, so we did. When we got off, we got in line for Vortex as the line was much smaller. Other than the poorly behaved teens behind us, it was a great ride. It was almost dark now, and the wait was only about 10-15 minutes.

We then headed back over to The Beast for a night ride on my favorite. After a 25-30 minute wait, we got on just before they temporarily stopped operations for the fireworks. After the ride, my son commented, "That Beast is some Roller Coaster, dad!" Another great quote for the day.

We stopped and watched the fireworks on our way out, and then headed home. They were both asleep within 5 mnutes.

Next time, hopefully my wife can make it, so she, my 7-year old and I can all ride D'back, and perhaps Firehawk and FOF - all rides I have yet to ride.

We were at the park about 8 1/2 hours and they got in 20 rides, and I got in 17. Not too bad for a fairly crowded day.

Sorry for the length and the lack of pictures - but my wife is the picture taker, and she had to work.

[The Interpreter]

And that, my friends, is what Kings Island is all about. Thanks for that.

Kings Island, making smiles and memories since 1972

[TheCryptRaider]

Wow. This TR just made me feel so so so nostalgic. Great, I'm glad you had fun with your kids .

[auge.dog]

Yup, I get nostalgic everytime I go. I remember going when I was a small kid. We went the first year it was open, and it was my firts amusement park. My very first ride at the park was on The Racer, back when there used to be about a 45 minute wait for it. My family would go 1-2x per year, and everytime I would get overcome with excitement. When I took my family for the first time in 2007, it had been about 17-20 years since I had been to the park. It has certainly been one of the perks of moving back to town.

[standbyme]

auge.dog,

There are SO many good lines in your report I wouldn't know where to begin to say which is my favorite quote! It sounds like some great memories for all of you. (If I were you, I would print out this TR so that you & your kids can read it in the years to come...it is better than photos!)

[auge.dog]

Thanks for the kind words. I need to write things up like this more often - for the reasons you state.