KI 8-31-12 PTR

[ohiocolts]

Hello again! I visited KI on Friday, and I am going to write a PTR. Ok. So, I went with my mom and sister, and met up with my dad later on. I got there at around 3:40PM and got greeted to green and orange leaves on the parking entrance thing.

Hello Diamondback! Nice to see you.

The green and orange leaves were also on the ticket booths.

We entered the park to find the Gold Pass sale already being advertised. I believe it is $10 more than last year, but it would still be worth every penny. We agreed to walk to Flight of Fear, hoping the line would be shorter now than later.

Lots of Haunt decorations were already set up by the fountains.

Décor was also set up by the Eiffel Tower.

Corn stalkers has made some progress sense my last visit.

I love how this is changed every single day. The last day of August.

Yeah yeah, we all know what that is.

The outside of Massacre Manor seems finished. (Unless it is being renamed)

It’s Zephyr! Yay. After the walk of observing a bunch of stuff, we made it to Flight of Fear. The line started just outside the entrance to the building, as seen here.

When I walked in, I noticed the alarm thing was actually on.

I forgot my film badge again.

We proceeded into the hangar and I got to see a part of the movie I rarely actually get to see. (I usually go in the hangar and it’s always “Roll Call, all stations reporting. Station 101”. So, I continued onward.

We soon headed into the Flying Saucer.

I can never solve this!

After about a 15 minute wait, we got on. I tried to notice any daylight shining thru, from the crack in the building. I thought I might have seen just a tiny bit. But anyways, it was a really fun Flight of Fear ride. I also love that it seems the Flight of Fear exit person seems to be asking how our ride was more often this year. We now decided to head to Backlot.

When we got to Backlot, the line was just over the bridge, and it was about 10 minutes. One thing I didn’t like, is sense there was no separator, Whenever someone at the station saw Fast Laners, we all had to get along the fence and let them walk to the station. That’s weird.

Time to get on, The Italian Job: Stunt Track?

I remember watching Diamondback construction from this line.

“Ok stunt team, listen up. As with any driving stunt, Safety First. So stay seated, keep your head against the head rest, and your hands and arms inside the vehicle At All Times. Secure all loose articles, or leave them, with the crew, before we roll”. After about a 10 minute wait, we got on for a FUN ride. Another great ride on Backlot. We then decided to head to The Beast.

I noticed these orange and black flags scattered across Rivertown.

Nice, peaceful Diamondback pond.

The Beast! We walked right up to the station, and just had a station wait.

We quickly got on for an awesome ride on The Beast. And the speakers on the lift were working! I love them. So, after that awesome ride, we headed to Diamondback.

Wonder how exactly this will work come Haunt time.

Looks like the Souvenir Cup unlimited refill is now $7 instead of $5.

What’s hiding behind the trees?

It’s Diamondback! We walked right up to the station and had a station wait for Diamondback, waiting a little extra for the back row. It was a great, airtime filled ride on Diamondback! I also put my arms back for the splashdown to get them wet. We were going to go and try Backyard BBQ today, and it was getting close to time for it. We decided to head to Flying Ace, just because I did see a short line for it on Diamondback.

I wonder what this “Top Secret” box is for. I’m guessing it has to do with Haunt.

Plenty of these colorful boxes were all around Planet Snoopy.

Ready for Flying Ace!

We walked right up to the station and waited a couple of rides for the back row.

I got on for a nice ride. I hate how the head rest isn’t soft, though. Made my head hurt a bit. It was a nice ride on Flying Ace Aerial Chase. We now headed to Woodstock Express.

It looks like they had the walls set up for Holiday Horror, I believe.

Another one of the boxes.

More PS Halloween decorations. Woodstock had about a 5 minute wait. It was a nice ride on Woodstock Express, my favorite PS coaster.

We now were trying to call my dad, but my mom’s cell signal was really bad, and it was hard to hear him. I soon was able to understand he is coming now and will try to get to Backyard BBQ. He said we could head on to it though. While walking there, it was really quiet.

We got to the entrance of Picnic Grove and did 3 transactions to get us all counted for FUN Perks. I never knew the shelters in Picnic Grove were named after rides. (Beast, Scrambler, Carousel, etc.)

There was a small buffet in the middle of “The Carousel”. It had hot dogs, baked beans, pulled pork, fried chicken, rolls, and a couple other stuff. There was also a freezer with “Ice Cream Treats”. There is also soft drinks you just get, (As much as you want) but bees were all around them. I’m not sure if they are the kind that sting or not, but it was hard to get a drink. Here is the food I got first go round.

The hot dogs tasted like All-Beef hot dogs, which I don’t prefer, but I still like. I guess my sister Lucy really likes All-Beef hot dogs, cause she was saying she really liked it. The roll and fried chicken were pretty good. But, when I was getting close to being finished with my first plate, a bee stops by and wants my fried chicken. If I had a good camera, this would make for a really cool photo.

Later, I also got some pulled pork, which wasn’t all that good. My mom got a text from my dad saying he wouldn’t make it for the Backyard BBQ. We decided we would meet up with him at Diamondback when we were done eating. The employee that you entered from looked bored out of his mind. He was doing weird stuff, leaning against the lamppost, and yeah, he was bored.

I got an ice cream thing before we left. It was kind of melty and drippy. I ate it on the way to Diamondback. Overall, Backyard BBQ was pretty good. All the food wasn’t the best, and there were lots of bees, but for $11 for pass holders it wasn’t bad. We saw my dad at Diamondback and got in line.

Due to too many photos in 1 post, right below here I should have part 2.

[ohiocolts]

The line was just on the stairs and it was about 5 minutes.

As always, it was a very fun ride on Diamondback. After that ride, we headed back to The Beast. The Beast was only a station wait. I noticed the new red/orange/yellow lights in the station were on.

The path lit up!

It was a great ride on the world’s longest wooden rollercoaster.

It was almost time for Lucy and my mom to leave, so we got a last ride for them on The Racer. Only the Red side was operating.

From when we passed by Vortex. Racer was a station wait. And it was a fun ride on The Racer. Now, Lucy and my mom had to leave for something, so they left, while me and my dad stayed till close. My dad was hungry (He hasn’t ate in awhile) and wanted “meat”. We were by Hank’s, I asked if he wanted burritos, and he said that would be good. But, of course, it was closed. I then mentioned there was cheesesteaks by Diamondback, so we took a detour and headed there.

We got to Snake Pit, my dad ordered a cheesesteak, I scanned my pass for FUN Perks, as he was way behind, and we waited for it. It took around 10 minutes, and then he sat down and ate it. He said I could probably take a quick Diamondback ride, so I went to do that. But, the line was almost to the entrance, around 10-15 minutes, and my dad was getting close to done, so I just went back.

After he was done, my dad wanted to go to Flight of Fear, so we headed there. I was hoping for a short line, but I wasn’t sure how it would be. Luckily, the line started in the hangar and was about 10 minutes.

“The Swings” of KI.

“All Clear. Goodbye.” It was a great ride for us on Flight of Fear. I also noticed green lights outside of the exit, which looked cool. We then headed to Drop Tower.

Drop Tower was literally a walk on. They weren’t even assigning seats. It was a great ride. I also noticed some people inside of Timber Wolf. I then decided to see if I was tall enough for Thunder Alley to use my instant reward, which expires on 9/22. I was tall enough. But of course, it was closed.

We then ended up walking to Invertigo.

There was only a few other people in Invertigo’s station, and we just waited for the cycle to end. It was my first time on Invertigo at night. Not much seems different, except for the lights. It was still a FUN ride. We then headed to The Racer.

The Racer was just a station wait. It was also my first ever Racer night ride. It was a fun ride on The Racer. After that, we headed to Vortex. There was absolutely nobody in line. We could have just got the front row, but I wasn’t sure how rough it was, so just to be safe, I went in 5-1. It was a very fun ride on Vortex. There was nobody in our row, so we stayed on. Another great ride. I love putting my legs up (or down) on the first drop and corkscrews. Now, this next picture could only mean one thing.

A Beast night ride! We walked right up to the station, but just missed a ride before the fireworks break. We waited for fireworks in The Beast station.

I’ve learned The Beast station isn’t the best place to watch fireworks. Not the best view. But, after about 30 minutes of waiting, we got on. It, was, of course, an awesome night ride on The Beast, the best night ride coaster in the world. After that ride, the park was closed, and we walked to the entrance.

We walked thru Snoopy’s Starlight Spectacular on the way to the car.

We walked thru the lit up International Street, and then out of the entrance.

Goodnight Kings Island!

A couple of notes:

*Mostly the water rides and pay rides were closed for part of the time, but opened up later.

*Lots of Haunt decorations, as you can tell, are being set up. It also seems The Crypt back doors are still half open

.

*I’m 65% to Level 4 and have just unlocked Bring A Friend Free, $20 off a 2013 pass, Free Dinosaurs Alive, Free fresh baked pretzel, free Sling Shot, and VIP Fireworks Viewing.

Also, as mentioned, a fellow KICer Keith Harrison (Kifan1980) has passed away from cancer. I never knew him, but I know people who knew him. Rest in peace.

Thanks For Reading

[thekidd33]

Always enjoy your trip reports, thanks or sharing!

[The Interpreter]

First night ride on Racer.

Worries about being tall enough.

And some of the best trip reports I have ever read. Period.

Thanks!

[VortexBFForever]

There was nobody in our row, so we stayed on. Another great ride. I love putting my legs up (or down) on the first drop and corkscrews.

You MARATHONED Vortex?!?!?! On a Friday night in August? I am SOOOOO envious. I LOOOOVE marathoning Vortex. If I do go to KI tomorrow (September 3rd), I hope I'll be able to do some. If I don't, at least October will have some great days. Glad you enjoyed Vortex, the other rides, and the Backyard BBQ thing. Sounds like you had a lot of fun!

EDIT: I remember my very first marathon on Vortex. It was in the evening of Sunday, September 26, 2010. I was 11 years old at the time. There was literally NO ONE waiting in the station. The ops were actually inviting me to stay on if I wanted. Meanwhile, the other passengers were getting off. I was the only one who stayed on, so for the rest of the evening, I had AN ENTIRE TRAIN all to myself! I will forever treasure that memory as I continue my riding on Vortex to this day. (What are the odds that someone will see an 11 year old on an entire Vortex train she has all to herself?) Ahh, good times, good times indeed.

Edited September 3, 2012 by VortexBFForever

[TheCrypt]

And you neglect the new and improved Express?

Glad you had a great day, as well as experiencing one of your father's favorite ride with him. Your trip reports are great, and this one did not disappoint.

[ohiocolts]

I didn't know it was new and improved. I'll try it next time I go. And, also, is there anything that could possibly be done with my Thumdet Alley Instant Reward? Or should I just let it be? I never got a chance to use it.

[TheCrypt]

I got the Thunder Alley reward. It's quite boring, honestly. I don't think the cars were meant to be handling those tight repeated left turns. In fact, half way through, I was thinking "Are we done yet?"

It's good if it's free, but there isn't a bat's chance in hell I would jump at a heartbeat and pay $6 to turn left...and left....and left...

[malem]

It's good if it's free, but there isn't a bat's chance in hell I would jump at a heartbeat and pay $6 to turn left...and left....and left...

But lots of people pay at least 10 times that to sit and watch others turn left for 4 hours.

[ohiocolts]

^In the 100 degree heat (At least for me).

[Woody Autumn]

OhioColts,

Thanks for your excellent Trip Report and all of the photos.

Also, I am very sorry to hear about your online friend Keith Harrison that has passed away from cancer. God bless Keith.

[TheCrypt]

It's good if it's free, but there isn't a bat's chance in hell I would jump at a heartbeat and pay $6 to turn left...and left....and left...

But lots of people pay at least 10 times that to sit and watch others turn left for 4 hours.

That is something I will never understand. To this day, I still don't understand the purpose of people wasting gasoline to turn left. And better yet, why people watch them.

Crypt, who has been to a few races in his time, each and every one he thought was boring.

*this is my opinion. Do not take it as an attack towards people who enjoy that sort of stuff, it's just not my cup of tea*

Edited September 3, 2012 by TheCrypt

[Delirium13]

Wonderful trip report, enjoy those trips with your family. I miss the years that my family always made at least one trip to the park together, but as we've gotten older it's harder to get everyone together to go, so it's been a few years. Great pictures thought, seeing the decorations for Haunt has me excited for October.

Question since you mentioned a bee landed on your plate, how was the bee situation in the rest of the park? When I went on the 26th they were everywhere, especially bad at the Ice Scream Zone in Action Zone (it was really unappetizing). Just wondering if they had taken any steps to remedy the situation over the week they were closed because the problem was extremely bad in multiple areas of the park.

[The Interpreter]

If they are truly bees, and not yellowjackets or wasps, extermination options are extremely limited in most areas, since the collapse in hive populations.

[ohiocolts]

Whatever they were, they were hogging the soft drink machines at Backyard BBQ and also for the worker at Snake Pit.

[TheCrypt]

Do not bother them, and they won't bother you. Mutualism!

[KI-ORIG-EMP]

The bees are drawn to the sweet nectar of flowers and ice cream! Without bees, our plants would be history.

[TOPGUN1993]

And you neglect the new and improved Express?

Whats different about Express?

[TheCrypt]

http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?/topic/26393-how-much-roller-coasting-can-you-take/#entry483359

[LongLiveTheSmurfRide]

Nice report. I like seeing the Haunt stuff pop up around the park.