WindSeeker + Fireworks = Amazing (July 3rd TR)

[m2raptor]

I am normally more of a lurker on this board but something amazing and probably once in a lifetime happened to me today at Kings Island; riding WindSeeker while the fireworks where going. I was thinking just starting a post in the general are but the more I thought about it I decided it would be best in a Trip Report.

Ok let me start this out. I decided to go today and just have a water ride day and since it was open late get some night rides in. I really didn't have any expectation for the day when I set up, I actually figured I might not get to do much at all due to the Holiday Weekend. I showed up around 3 pm and decided to ride Congo Falls, this is still a very nice water ride. I then decided to get my second total ride on WindSeeker, which might not be super thrilling but it is very unique. A few things I noticed while riding this time, Number 1: if there is an empty car, it swings widely like the Cedar Point video and is kinda scary, and Number 2: They really need to do something with telling what seat is not locked, from what I can tell they can only tell what section it is in. While on WindSeeker I notice that the there was a chain next to the lift hill for Vortex, so my guess as to the real reason the ERT was changed back to DB and The Beast is due to Vortex being down and WindSeeker just not reliable enough to support it.

Next I hit up The Beast, which sadly was not playing the music on the lift hill. At this point I was pretty dry so I head to White Water Canyon and RFYLCB, needless to say i was not dry anymore and soaked. After walking around a little bit I decided I was really hunger so I went to Rivertown Junction. For you that don't know this they offer a discount for Gold Pass holders; instead of the 16.99, it was only 15.73. I then decided it was time to put on my learning cap and head over to Dinos Alive. If you are going to do this attraction I recommend doing the movie first. Speaking of the movie it was not to bad and very educational. Also the seats where not as uncomfortable as I had heard (still poor Action Theater...Days of Thunder, James Bond, etc, and of course Spongebob FOREVER). The trail is really quite a hike going up and down and up and down. Some of the sensors didnt seem to be working properly, but still very educational. I thought it was interesting that they mostly had newer discovered dinos and not all of the ones that we are more familiar with (dont worry they have TRex...or do worry that they do). Overall I think this is a very good addition to the Park and there appears to be a clearing forming being it so I would expect expansion.

After walking around for a bit it had started to turn dark so I hit up Diamondback twice, which was good as always. Then it happened... at about 9:20 I got in line for WindSeeker. I was pretty excited to finally ride it at night. Well needless to say I got one at 9:58, which we were not for sure if we were just gonna sit there or actually ride. As soon as we got the all clear I hear a loud boom behind me. We then started to rise and more booms then we rotated so I could see the fireworks, and wow that was an amazing sight. As we rose we got farther and farther up the fireworks until we were finally eye level with them. That one its own hand would of been great, but with a rotated ride you see a 360 view, and what a view it was, for the time I was one WindSeeker I saw at least SIX, yes SIX Fireworks shows from the neighboring area. I really dont know if I will ever have such and amazing and unique firework experience in my lifetime. I know I am a lucky number of 3 WindSeekers cycles that got to see the Fireworks from that unique view but still it was AMAZING. Needless to say I finished watching the fireworks from the ground and was still in shock of what I had just experienced. Strange part is I have had seats, in order, 49, 48, and 47 (a little freaky but I only have about 61 seats to go). After the Fireworks I hit up Flight of Fear, Red Racer, and Adventure Express (I forgot how good this was in the Dark), and also grabbed a Blueberry Ice Cream Coke Float (yes it was interesting and very good at the same time). By that time it was after 11 so I decided to finish my day on Diamondback, so I rode it twice. Then started the Forth Of July one it for a final lap of the day.

Overall I had a great day. Normally when it is just me I make it from the ERT to about 2, so about 5 hrs or so. Today somehow I made it from 3 pm to after Midnight and I am glad I did. After the experiencing WindSeeker + Fireworks I knew that this was gonna be my longest post so far. I hope you enjoyed my trip report and Have A Happy Forth Of July.

Diamondback - 5

WindSeeker - 2

Flight of Fear - 1

Adventure Express - 1

Red Racer - 1

The Beast - 1

White Water Canyon - 1

RFYLCB - 1

Congo Falls - 1

Dinos Alive + 3D Movie

[The Interpreter]

Awesome! What an incredible experience you had! Thanks for sharing!

[standbyme]

Nice trip report...and your WindSeeker ride does sound like it was great!

Happy 4th to you too!

[KIfan1980]

I was standing outside the peach basket game as the Fireworks began and WindSeeker started to rise - I told my wife, "I wish I was on that cycle - great view of the Fireworks and I bet they can see several other shows also!"

Thanks for sharing how right I was. Sounds incredible.

[jcgoble3]

Congratulations on getting fireworks on WindSeeker! I tried to do that last Thursday, but I was one cycle too late.

Number 2: They really need to do something with telling what seat is not locked, from what I can tell they can only tell what section it is in.

If you look on the outside of the seats, you'll see two red lights. Those lights go out when the lap bar is locked, so they can in fact tell exactly which seat isn't locked. However, if they need to release the lap bar to let someone off, I'm guessing that they can't release individual seats, probably because that would overcrowd the control board with way too many buttons or switches, so they have to release a whole section of 16 seats instead.