Trip report Monday July 26th 2010

[Cormaster]

So yesturday I took a personal day from work and went to Kings Island with my brother, who like me is a season pass holder. We were hoping to get their at open but we were both running behind a bit, and alas by the time we left Indy it was 9:30. I ended up arriving at the park at 11:30... only to wait in a line of cars. I was kind if in denial about it, but I could tell right off The Bat it was going to be a busy day.

We got in there finally around 11:55, and hit up Diamondback...45 minute wait...what? Usually when I get in line for Diamondback all queues are closed and its just a straight line right up to the coaster. Well we got in line and it went fast, and when I got up there I noticed the green train wasn't running... didn't quite get that. So the park's really busy and you only run 2 trains? Anyway Diamondback was awesome as usual.

I attemped to ride The Beast next and then nearly stopped dead in my tracks as the wait sign said 90...wtf? I've been coming to the park constantly since 2007, probably 10 trips, and never once have i had to wait more than 5 minutes to ride The Beast... what was the deal today? So we decided to hit up Vortex, which while the line was long, I knew from past experience it would only take 15 minutes and it did.

Afterwhich we were a little frustrated and decided it was time to relax a bit, so we hit up outerhanks and got ourselves some beer. We sat there for a while, and then we went over to the Festhaus. I really dug the pizza deal... 2 slices and 2 breadsticks and sauce for $8. It was really good too, being La Rosa's. Afterwhich we hit up viking fury, and then we decided to go to Boomerang bay for a while to cool off...

15 freaking dollars for a locker? Someone pick my clothes off the ground because thats RAPE! Can't believe they don't have $2 one-time use lockers there. Anyway Boomerang bay was stupid packed as I would figure, but thats ok. I didn't really come to ride slides. We hit up the lazy river and then the wave pool, and then we hit up the lazy river one more time and took off. It was fun and more than enough to cool off. Afterwards we got dressed and went back to the park.

We decided to hit up Diamondback again. The line had regressed a bit from earlier and the wait time was only at 30 minutes this time. And they had all 3 trains running. And Diamondback is still awesome. We went and got some coffee from starbucks and drank it watching a little bit of Signed Sealed delivered, and then headed to Action Zone for some fun.

Delerium's wait wasn't bad when we got on it. We went on the 3rd cycle after we got in-line. Then we hit up Flight Deck, which was completly dead. I sat torwards the back and loved it... it was a little rougher and a lot more intense in the back. No one was in-line so we sat back down and rode it again.

After that I decided it was time for a ride on an oldy but goodie, Racer. Racer was nearly walk-on, which is about normal from what I've seen, but it was alot of fun and I kept my hands up the whole time. Decided it was time to check on X-base... and it was a nightmare. All the queues were full on FoF, and Firehawk had a 45 minute wait (which means 1 1/2 wait with that crappy loading system)... What was the deal with this day? The park ACTUALLY seemed to be getting busier, and at this point it was like 8!

So we decided one more ride on Diamondback and we were done. The line had grown to nearly fill up the whole initial queue area, but only took a 1/2 hour. Diamodnback, once again, was awesome, and then we took off from there and headed home.

I had a lot of fun hanging out with my brother...but what was the deal with the park being so busy on a freaking MONDAY? I went in July in '08 on a wednesday and the park was dead, I kinda expected the same thing yesturday. If I knew it was going to be that busy I would of just gone on Saturday and not take any time off work!

[Kirk Sheppard]

So yesturday I took a personal day from work and went to Kings Island with my brother, who like me is a season pass holder. We were hoping to get their at open but we were both running behind a bit, and alas by the time we left Indy it was 9:30. I ended up arriving at the park at 11:30... only to wait in a line of cars. I was kind if in denial about it, but I could tell right off The Bat it was going to be a busy day.

We got in there finally around 11:55, and hit up Diamondback...45 minute wait...what? Usually when I get in line for Diamondback all queues are closed and its just a straight line right up to the coaster. Well we got in line and it went fast, and when I got up there I noticed the green train wasn't running... didn't quite get that. So the park's really busy and you only run 2 trains? Anyway Diamondback was awesome as usual.

I attemped to ride The Beast next and then nearly stopped dead in my tracks as the wait sign said 90...wtf? I've been coming to the park constantly since 2007, probably 10 trips, and never once have i had to wait more than 5 minutes to ride The Beast... what was the deal today? So we decided to hit up Vortex, which while the line was long, I knew from past experience it would only take 15 minutes and it did.

Afterwhich we were a little frustrated and decided it was time to relax a bit, so we hit up outerhanks and got ourselves some beer. We sat there for a while, and then we went over to the Festhaus. I really dug the pizza deal... 2 slices and 2 breadsticks and sauce for $8. It was really good too, being La Rosa's. Afterwhich we hit up viking fury, and then we decided to go to Boomerang bay for a while to cool off...

15 freaking dollars for a locker? Someone pick my clothes off the ground because thats RAPE! Can't believe they don't have $2 one-time use lockers there. Anyway Boomerang bay was stupid packed as I would figure, but thats ok. I didn't really come to ride slides. We hit up the lazy river and then the wave pool, and then we hit up the lazy river one more time and took off. It was fun and more than enough to cool off. Afterwards we got dressed and went back to the park.

We decided to hit up Diamondback again. The line had regressed a bit from earlier and the wait time was only at 30 minutes this time. And they had all 3 trains running. And Diamondback is still awesome. We went and got some coffee from starbucks and drank it watching a little bit of Signed Sealed delivered, and then headed to Action Zone for some fun.

Delerium's wait wasn't bad when we got on it. We went on the 3rd cycle after we got in-line. Then we hit up Flight Deck, which was completly dead. I sat torwards the back and loved it... it was a little rougher and a lot more intense in the back. No one was in-line so we sat back down and rode it again.

After that I decided it was time for a ride on an oldy but goodie, Racer. Racer was nearly walk-on, which is about normal from what I've seen, but it was alot of fun and I kept my hands up the whole time. Decided it was time to check on X-base... and it was a nightmare. All the queues were full on FoF, and Firehawk had a 45 minute wait (which means 1 1/2 wait with that crappy loading system)... What was the deal with this day? The park ACTUALLY seemed to be getting busier, and at this point it was like 8!

So we decided one more ride on Diamondback and we were done. The line had grown to nearly fill up the whole initial queue area, but only took a 1/2 hour. Diamodnback, once again, was awesome, and then we took off from there and headed home.

I had a lot of fun hanging out with my brother...but what was the deal with the park being so busy on a freaking MONDAY? I went in July in '08 on a wednesday and the park was dead, I kinda expected the same thing yesturday. If I knew it was going to be that busy I would of just gone on Saturday and not take any time off work!

Given that Sunday was pretty empty, you kinda got screwed. Sorry about that. :-)

I am encouraged that the park has been busy, though. This means 1) the economy might be turning around for real and 2) the park is hopefully generating enough revenue to continue improvements and additions into the future. Its just one day, I know, but still . . . busy is good in many ways!

[Cormaster]

Yeah I'm kinda hoping it means the economy is turning around and it'll help Cedar Fair make more money thus encouraging more improvements to the parks for next year.

[Pillsberry123]

Remember that July and the first half of August is the peak of the vacation season. If the park wasn't busy I'd be worried.

[The Interpreter]

People see the calendar, know the kids are going back to school soon, see the summer ending, and try to pack in their last outings...yes, even weekdays get busy this time of year. Always have, but even more so nowadays, since schools seem to start back earlier and earlier with each passing year.

Terp, who never ever went back to public school before Labor Day...

[pbkigi]

It was a very pleasent temprature outside that could have something to do with it.

[tycoonrebel7188]

Just for future reference Cormaster, a full queue at Beast (with a decent crew operating) is designed to hold approximately 75 minutes worth of people. If the sign said 90 minutes and some of the queues were empty it means a guest has been playing with the sign. Glad you had a good time at the park.

[BavarianBeatle]

I've seen large crowds all season, even on weeknights! It worries me, because if these crowds don't get lighter, people will stop coming.

--Beatle, who is not always as serious as he should be...

[The Interpreter]

And yet, you are smarter than the average bear!

Too bad so many of those people are bringing picnic baskets!

Terpy, who exits, stage right, before he booboos.

[tlvtr]

What was the deal with this day? The park ACTUALLY seemed to be getting busier, and at this point it was like 8!

This is my first year as a gold pass holder, so I don't have any historical experience, but I've noticed this year that weekdays after 7pm seems to get busier and stay that way up until close. I assume that that is a result of people leaving Boomerang Bay after it closes, season pass holders showing up after work (like me--I'm never able to get there before 7:30pm) and people coming for discounted twilight tickets. There have been plenty of times that I checked the Diamondback cam around 6 and no cue lanes are being used, only to show up an hour later to find a nearly full cue.

However Mondays usually are a lot less crowded than it was this week. I go almost every Monday evening, but when I saw how long the line was at Diamondback this week, I decided to skip.

[coaster_junky]

^just a random tidbit of information, a completely full Diamondback que, all the way up to the sign, with all three trains running, only means around a 45 minute wait, if that.

[Cormaster]

yeah Diamondback is a people mover, like most B&M's. Thats why I rode it 3 times, and its my favorite ride in the park.

I'll have to remember for the future, don't go in July. I kinda wanna go back at least once, not twice. See if I can actually try to like Firehawk again, and give Flight of Fear more love, since i don't get to ride it nearly enough. I've just kinda been spoiled by going on some really really dead days, and if the park's even normal, I get kinda impatient. BTW does anyone know whats going on in August on the week of the 16th? We used to go out there around that time and spend the night at either GWL or the KI resort, and it's usually dead, and rates are low. This year for some reasons the rates are higher. Something must be going on.

BTW I do want to point out I still had fun on my trip, but the crowds were definitely disappointing.

[Plankton]

My sister and I went to Cedar Point Monday afternoon, and the park was packed. Corkscrew had a 15 minute line, Calypso a two rotation wait, and the restrooms even had a line.