jcgoble3 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Well, I made it to the Great Ohio Coaster Club's 2011 Holiday Party and Winter Tour at KI today. This was the first time I'd ever been in a closed park, other than the walk back to The Racer the morning of Coasting for Kids. The tour entered through security post 3, turned to the right, went through backstage areas, into the Picnic Grove where most of the ride cars were stored, then down the train tracks to Rivertown. From there, we went through the gate next to The Beast's entrance and were able to walk around in the area back behind the Crypt around Diamondback. I believe I heard that this was the first time KI has ever taken a tour back there since DB was built because of the potential hazard of stuff (cell phones, etc.) flying out of riders' pockets. After that, we walked past BLSC and down through Coney Mall before going up International Street to the International Restaurant for the party. I think the best way to do this is to get straight to the photos. I snapped nearly a hundred photos, all of which can be found in this Flickr set. I'll post some of the more interesting ones below. So that's where Action Theater's old motion seats went! On the other side of the fence is the parking lot. Two classic cars parked backstage. One of the Haunt hearses. White Water Canyon's not as deep as I thought it was. Wonder why this light was on? "Oncoming riders, please secure all loose articles or place them in the green bins." Demonstration of how to make more water dummies. Interesting. The protective film or whatever in front of the laser maze area has "Coney Squirt" painted on it several times. I wonder if that means anything? Just from my observation, it didn't seem to me like the laser maze was very busy at all this year (the operator was usually standing there doing nothing almost every time I walked by), so maybe they're replacing it with something else? Look what I won! A Diamondback media invite! Again, the rest of the photos can be found here. Let me know what you think! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TombRaiderFTW Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Awesome pictures! I'm still insanely jealous I couldn't make it to this event, especially since you apparently saw just about everything I'd have wanted to see. (Therefore, here comes an avalanche of questions... ) How was the party? I heard Mike Graham was going to be there, but were there any other parks/companies that presented? What were some of the other prizes? And finally, the million dollar question: any news on Son of Beast? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgoble3 Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 The speakers included Mike from the Gravity Group, Chris Peters from Indiana Beach, Toby Garcia from S&S Worldwide, and of course the one and only Don Helbig. If I remember what I heard correctly (and that's a big "if"), Toby Garcia revealed that S&S has been contracted to build the structure for the Olympic torch for the 2014 Winter Games in Russia, and IIRC I believe he said that the structure would actually be a rideable drop ride. SOB: "No decision has been made." --Don Helbig. Paraphrasing here, he added that everybody wants a decision to be made, and the park would like a resolution, but they just don't know at this time. Prizes: They had a whole table filled with prizes, sorted into small stuff (lanyards, pins, etc.) on one end and better stuff (the media invite, etc.) on the other end. When your name was called, you got to go back and pick out one item from each end of the table. Don Helbig was the first name called, followed by what I think were two club officials, so at that point several people, myself included, were jokingly yelling "rigged". Then my name was next, which was good because they only had one DB media invite. The only other "big" prize I remember seeing was a game titled "Paramount's Kings Island–opoly". I didn't pay attention to any of the others because I spotted the media invite and went straight for it. Everyone's name was called, so everybody got something, which was good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlopez Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 This is something I hope to participate in in the future. i really wish I could have went. iv'e always wanted to go "behind the scenes". Does GOCC have events like this a lot at Kings Island? What about in this spring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Great report and pics! Thanks for posting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
standbyme Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Add me to the list of jealous! I would have killed to walk the tracks and see the buildings at a nice slow pace where you could/did get great photos. This event slipped past me...and by the time I found out about it I was already scheduled to work. Thank you SO much for at least letting me feel like I was there. P.S. Congrats on winning the media kit! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgoble3 Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 This is something I hope to participate in in the future. i really wish I could have went. iv'e always wanted to go "behind the scenes". Does GOCC have events like this a lot at Kings Island? What about in this spring? They had two events at KI this year (this party and the Spring Fling in May), but both of those rotate parks and will be headed elsewhere next year. They're still finalizing plans for next year's events, but at this time it doesn't look like there's likely to be one at KI next year. Great report and pics! Thanks for posting! And thank you for reading! Add me to the list of jealous! I would have killed to walk the tracks and see the buildings at a nice slow pace where you could/did get great photos. This event slipped past me...and by the time I found out about it I was already scheduled to work. Thank you SO much for at least letting me feel like I was there. P.S. Congrats on winning the media kit! Yeah, I didn't know we were going to walk the tracks until we turned onto them. At first, when we turned out of the Picnic Grove and headed toward the tracks, I thought we were going to get a look at Soak City construction, but that wasn't the case. As for letting you feel like you were there, you're welcome! And thanks for the congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyGuy4KI Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Thanks for the post Jonathan! I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as we did! Hope to meet up with you in park next season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgoble3 Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 Thanks for the post Jonathan! I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as we did! Hope to meet up with you in park next season! Thanks to you too! I did enjoy myself tremendously, and I look forward to 2012! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Incredible pictures! Thanks for the trip report! Terp, who until very recently, would certainly have been there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyGuy4KI Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Incredible pictures! Thanks for the trip report! Terp, who until very recently, would certainly have been there. I was hoping to have seen you there! Was not sure if you would be making it up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Oh, I would have been, but yesterday was a day that would have been very hard for me to make. Lots of reasons. Looks like y'all had a great time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan1980 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Thanks for sharing - I was unfortunately unable to attend, despite living 10 min away but am glad you took photos and shared your experience. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyGuy4KI Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 We were thinking about you the whole time KIfan1980! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohiocolts Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Looks like you had fun, and, do you know if they said anything about the Crypt besides "Under Review For Further Operations"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgoble3 Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 Incredible pictures! Thanks for the trip report! Terp, who until very recently, would certainly have been there. And thank you for the compliment! I had to be told to keep moving a couple of times because I was spending too much time trying to get a shot just right. Thanks for sharing - I was unfortunately unable to attend, despite living 10 min away but am glad you took photos and shared your experience. No problem. Wish you could have been there; the whole experience was great, especially the walk down the train tracks. Looks like you had fun, and, do you know if they said anything about the Crypt besides "Under Review For Further Operations"? The subject of the Crypt was brought up by Mr. Helbig and discussed for a couple minutes or so. Unfortunately, I don't remember what was said besides that they were reviewing the situation with it. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohiocolts Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 You should listen to Don more! Joking, i'm not mad at you. Just wanted to know if you heard anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 JC nice report and it was nice to see you enjoying your first off season tour of Kings Island. As far as Dons comments about The Crypt the ride he basically said; In the early years it experienced a lot of downtime and repairs expenses but with a good thrill experience. the continued with; In the past couple years less down time with increased ridership but with a much less thrill experience. So here is were the review part comes in. Don said; it is time to look at the numbers and see if in its present condition if it is best for the park to continue operating The Crypt or to look at other options for that building or the area for some other type of concepts, nothing yet has materialized on what is best. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Considering now tight lipped the park is about future plans, that seems like quite the proverbial limb to go out on when discussing a specific attraction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgoble3 Posted December 12, 2011 Author Share Posted December 12, 2011 JC nice report and it was nice to see you enjoying your first off season tour of Kings Island. Thanks, and it was a pleasure to be able to experience it with friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohiocolts Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 As far as Dons comments about The Crypt the ride he basically said; In the early years it experienced a lot of downtime and repairs expenses but with a good thrill experience. the continued with; In the past couple years less down time with increased ridership but with a much less thrill experience. So here is were the review part comes in. Don said; it is time to look at the numbers and see if in its present condition if it is best for the park to continue operating The Crypt or to look at other options for that building or the area for some other type of concepts, nothing yet has materialized on what is best. I wonder whats next. I'd like it replace it with another Top Spin, an get more thrill and hopefullly less downtime. And I haven't been to KD in forever, so does anyone know how much downtime Crypt gets there? Thanks for the info anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TombRaiderFTW Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 ^ Not saying I don't want another Top Spin, too, but... Given our Crypt's issues with downtime and HUSS's (the manufacturer's) infamously slow parts service, I'd kind of be surprised if the park bought anything from HUSS to replace it. If the park would decide to just replace the ride, I bet they'd go for the Zamperla (or some other manufacturer) equivalent. Still, I don't think I've heard of KD's Crypt having as many downtime issues as ours, so who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Isn't KD's Crypt a regular Top Spin, whereas KI's is a GIANT Top Spin though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsrattler Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 ^ You are correct, although HUSS's website advertises KD's as a "Top Spin 2". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohiocolts Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Actually, I think it is a suspended top spin. Definetly not Giant, because KI's Crypt is the only giant one. And I don't think it is a regular top spin, or top spin 2, because those have floors, and KD's Crypt dosen't have a floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsrattler Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 You are correct, does somebody else have a ride that is set up just like the Crypt at another park using the Top Spin 2? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohiocolts Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 I don't think so, I think the only 2 Crypts are KD's and KI's, excep it might just be down to 1 next year . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsrattler Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Does anyone know where this ride is at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohiocolts Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Absolutley no idea, but that looks like a top spin 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 It'll be interesting to see how Don handles the situation if The Crypt does in fact meet its demise. If they announce it the headlines may read, "Kings Island Opens April XX without two popular attractions." But if they quietly remove it, it could stir up more questions. I'm guessing that they'll have a decision on what's going to happen with The Crypt quickly. How many rides can be SBNO at KI before, "No decision has been made regarding the future of ______" doesn't quite cut it anymore? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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