KI PTR 9/03/12: My 100th ride on Vortex!

[VortexBFForever]

After taking nearly an hour to upload all my September 3rd photos to Flickr, I am finally ready to write this TR. Or, should I say, a PTR! ha.

So I arrived at the park at around 2:10 pm. I had known about these "Dollar Days" for quite a while. Upon entering the park, I immediately noticed how many more guests were purchasing food to eat. I mean, the LaRosa's on International Street had a good sized line!

IMG_2686 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I was in the mood to listen to carousel music again, just like I was on August 4th. So I went to none other than the Grand Carousel! (woo hoo!) I took 2 rides on the very first KI ride I rode back on September 30, 2007. My first GC ride of the day was on the jumping horse right next to the one pictured. (Original: if you are reading this, is this horse the one you were talking about in my 8/04 TR?)

IMG_2688 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

In fact, my other ride on GC was on that horse!

IMG_2689 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

After that Grand ole' Carousel, I went to Coney Mall. It was by then that I realized that Diamondback was closed, which was strange. Earlier in the morning I had checked the webcam and it looked like it was open! But it was closed now, so I just went straight to Vortex. Now, part of why I wanted to go so bad was because in my Science class at school, I had a project where you have to do an experiment (it's about the Scientific Method) and it was due on 9/05, so I came up with this experiment to see which part of a Vortex train offers the wildest ride. I would ride in rows 1-1, 3-1, 5-1 and 7-1. My hypothesis was that 7-1 was sure going to be the wildest. When I arrived at Vortex, my first four rides on that thing were, in order, 1-1, 3-1, 5-1, and 7-1. Better yet, they were all on the same train, Train #1. The wait for each ride was about 10-15 minutes at the most. Oh and another thing: This time Vortex had 2 trains running instead of all 3. It was the first time I had ever seen it that way. Plus, I don't know why, but there wasn't an op saying the usual "Enjoy your ride on Vortex" and "How was your ride?". It didn't seem to affect the actual ride experience for me, it just actually made it feel kind of "miserable" in the station. (like eating fries without salt. It just has no "flavor" to it.)

IMG_2696 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

My first ride of the day, in 1-1:

IMG_1600 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

3-1 (I'm the person wearing the shirt that says ">>go" on it):

IMG_1604 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

Overall shot from my favorite viewing spot (hey, it rhymes!)

IMG_2699 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

IMG_2703 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

After riding Vortex four times, I headed to WindSeeker for a ride, since I just heard the first of the four How To Train Your Dragon soundtracks play on the cycle that just went (the song is called Romantic Flight) while I was getting off Vortex. The wait was about 7-10 minutes. I got Seat #47 on the third HTTYD soundtrack cycle (See You Tomorrow- that is what this song was called.) It was drizzling, and it was now starting to drizzle even harder, making for one heck of a mist up-top! It felt soooo good...

After getting an epic 30 mph mist on WS, I decided to ride The Beast, not only cause it was raining, but I hadn't rode it even once this season (I was going to on August 4th, but the line was too long.).

IMG_2710 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

IMG_2716 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I really like the lights in the station. That got me wondering, what would they look like at night?

(theBEASTunchained: if you're reading this, then this next photo will say it all. )

IMG_2718 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

IMG_2719 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I don't have glasses, but I still like reading this sign.

The ride was pretty beastly. (no pun intended) My favorite part? The double helix! Once you crest that second lift hill, you turn and go straight towards that tunnel, just going faster, and faster, and faster, and faster and fas-ANYWAY...it was epic, too! I was sitting on the left side of the train and I could actually TOUCH the wall of the tunnel!!!! I could tell, because after the ride I had dirt marks on my left fingers.

IMG_2720 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I looked at my photo (it looked AWESOME) and I noticed that the "o" in "photo" had disappeared. (Maybe The Beast himself stole it!)

Now it was about 4:45 pm. I was getting REALLY hungry, and so was my mom, who always accompanies me on my KI trips since I'm not old enough to drive. yet. We each started off with one slice of pizza, along with the free 7 oz cups of water. Paid only $2.

IMG_2722 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I LOVED the pizza! It was nice, hot and fresh, and it was so good that both of us got another slice each, for another $2. Another wonderful pizza slice for me.

This was just fantastic. Four slices for $4. Go Dollar Days!!!

IMG_2728 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

This time, there was an op with the mic saying the usual stuff you'd hear on Vortex. A few minutes into the wait, the ride went down with a technical delay. Five minutes into the delay, the ops started asking trivia questions to keep the still waiting guests (and me) amused. I dominated about half of them...

IMG_2729 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

IMG_2730 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

IMG_2736 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

The questions I got were: What is Vortex's manufacturer (Arrow Dynamics), what other two coasters did Arrow make for KI (Flight Deck and Adventure Express), What deceased ride's queue is still existing (Flight Commander), What other three parks got a WindSeeker in 2011 (Knott's, Wonderland, and Cedar Point), What two parks just got WindSeeker this year (KD and Carowinds), what three giga coasters are in Cedar Fair parks (Millennium Force, I305, and Leviathan), and I'm sure there were a few others I got as well.

At first, during the delay, the chain was running for 5 minutes after they started keeping Train #1 in the station and not going anywhere, then eventually the chain was turned off and the whole ride was just really quiet. You could clearly hear WindSeeker's soundtracks playing, no matter where you stood in the station.

Finally, about 17 minutes after Vortex went down, they started testing: first Train #1, and then #2. I could just tell when I heard that chain again. It was still drizzling out, so when #1 came back into the station, it had rain drops all over it. Luckily, I was wearing my raincoat around my waist so that wasn't a problem. I was originally in line for my favorite airtime row, row 6-2, but during the delay, quite a few people had left, leaving several rows empty. One of them was 5-1. I thought "Hey, I'll just go to 5-1 since there's no one there." I was actually deciding between 5-1 and 5-2. The op was saying things like "We are just about ready to roll," and "Are you guys ready to ride?" Of course I was ready, after standing in line and answering trivia questions for 15-20 minutes. What an interesting 95th ride. On the way up the lift, the rain stopped and the soon-to-be-setting sun was peeking through the layer of gray clouds that were covering the sky. Quite memorable, especially when I had the entire 5th car all to myself. Even better, when I got back to the station, no one was waiting for 7-1 so I took a re-ride in that row. Fine start for marathoning, now I'll be prepared for October!

To "celebrate," I took another ride on WindSeeker. That was when another weird thing happened. Right before I was assigned to Seat #30 on WS, The Vortex train I was on just moments ago (yes, it's train #1) came to a stop on the lift. I had no idea what was up with that, but a few minutes later it was going again.

IMG_2742 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

Part 2 in next post!

Edited September 28, 2012 by VortexBFForever

[Thrill_Biscuit]

Great PTR! Thanks! Congratulations on your 600 Inversions!

[TheCrypt]

When the ride op asked what deceased ride queue was still standing, you should have answered quite curtly with "The Bat!"

So glad you had a great time at the park, and congrats! I look forward to part 2.

[The Interpreter]

Richness of detail, incredibly well written, a splendid trip report.

However, please do follow the park's instructions, clearly stated on Beast's second lift and at the ride's entrance. Do NOT try to touch the tunnels. You can, and you can get badly hurt. Even if YOU don't. someone else may emulate your behavior and be badly hurt.

As one of the park's biggest and best fans, you are in fact a park ambassador. And even your own safety is at stake.

Now, how about a detailed ride comparison of those four Vortex seats you tried, from one of Vortex's biggest fans?

[BB1]

Congratulations on the 100th! Knowing how 100 rides on a certain coaster can be a large achivement for one. thanks for the tr!

[LongLiveTheSmurfRide]

Great PTR! After seeing your picture of the sign where you may lose your glasses to The Beast; I wonder if the The Beast has bad vision since it's always trying to take people's spectacles. Does it have a massive hoard of glasses, trying to find the best pair that brings out the color of its eyes?

[stashua123]

nice PTR. Oh and i have to point out Vortex has been getting stuck on the lift hill alot.(it got stuck the last time i went).

[Original]

I was in the mood to listen to carousel music again, just like I was on August 4th. So I went to none other than the Grand Carousel! (woo hoo!) I took 2 rides on the very first KI ride I rode back on October 7, 2007. My first GC ride of the day was on the jumping horse right next to the one pictured. (Original: if you are reading this, is this horse the one you were talking about in my 8/04 TR?)

I was reading! Very nice PTR. And no, that isnt my horse! Here she is!

Pictures2 608 by KIC-Original, on Flickr

[VortexBFForever]

Do NOT try to touch the tunnels. You can, and you can get badly hurt. Even if YOU don't. someone else may emulate your behavior and be badly hurt.

As one of the park's biggest and best fans, you are in fact a park ambassador. And even your own safety is at stake.

Now, how about a detailed ride comparison of those four Vortex seats you tried, from one of Vortex's biggest fans?

I know. I found that out unintentionally that the tunnel was close enough to be touched. Little did I know, I actually had my hand out, as well as up, far enough to come into contact.

Now the comparison of the seats of my "experiment," you ask? Here it is!

row 1-1: This served as the "control" in the experiment. Loved feeling the wind in my face and hair, and especially loved seeing all that track in front of me. Very nice ride in general.

row 3-1: This was your usual middle-of-train experience. I'd call it "slightly mediocre" if I could. To be honest, it wasn't as "fun" as 7-1, or even 1-1. I still enjoyed it anyway.

row 5-1: Yes, 5-1 is the smoothest row. Definitely takes the cake when it comes to a nice, smooth flight on Vortex. Now I'll know which seat to ride if I ever get "tired" of being thrown around (like That'll ever happen!).

row 7-1: This one is definitely the favorite out of these four rows. The airtime is just fantastic on the first drop! Not to mention literally being PULLED through those inversions! (sigh... ) It also agreed with my hypothesis that 7-1 offers the wildest, if not, the most intense ride.

EDIT: I got a perfect grade on the experiment!

Edited September 8, 2012 by VortexBFForever

[Original]

Congrats on your A!

[VortexBFForever]

Sorry for taking so long to post. Twice I started to do it, but somehow it kept getting wiped out, so this time I’m relying on Microsoft Word.

Now, where was I? Oh right, I left off after Vortex stopped briefly while I was waiting in line for my post-95^th-Vortex-ride WindSeeker cycle.

IMG_2744 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

This WS ride was in Seat #30. It had stopped raining for a long time, but it was still a good breezy ride (like always) up top. Pleasant…very pleasant.

After that, I returned to Vortex and rode it six more times. The first four of those six were on the favorite, Train #2, while the other two were on Train #1. The first was in row 6-1, which is like 7-1, except it is a little less intense with a TEENY bit less airtime. Speaking of 7-1, the next two rides were in that row! Fun, intense, airtime-filled ride as I’ve always remembered it. My 99^th Vortex ride was in my favorite row in the back, row 6-2. It’s sort of a combination (in-between) 6-1 and 7-1. It’s more like than 6-1 than 7-1, though.

When it was finally time for my Vortex Ride #100, I suddenly felt this whole new lot of anticipation as I entered the queue. It felt like a casual “procession,” as I got closer to the loading station. At the same time I wondered: Which train would have the honor of taking me on my 100^th flight?

Turns out, that train was none other than Train #1.

IMG_1614 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I took Vortex Ride #100 in the same seat that I took Vortex Ride #1. Very, very nice ride. Like always, I loved watching the track in front of me while going through the loops. Vortex Ride #101 was in a sentimental seat, too. It was in row 2-1, the same row in which I took Vortex Ride #2 on 7/23/10, and it was also where I did my very first marathon, on 9/26/10. To this day I still call 2-1 "the lucky seat."

To “celebrate” again, I took a third ride on WindSeeker. This one was in Seat #53 (one of my August 13^th seats!) The song that played wasn’t one of the How To Train Your Dragon soundtracks, but I thought it was beautiful. Now if only I knew what it was called…

It was about 7:40 pm, just 20 minutes before closing. I had only rode 3 different rides, so I went to the X-Base. I wanted to ride Firehawk, but it was closed. (It was open earlier!!!!!! What’s up with that??? ) So I went on Flight of Fear instead. The wait was only about 10 minutes, as the line actually moved pretty quickly.

IMG_2751 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

IMG_2754 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

IMG_2755 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I don’t know how much irony was involved in this, but I rode in 1-1, the same seat that I was in when I took my first FoF ride, on 8/17/10! I’m on a roll with sentimental seats today… I was on Train #3. I loved the launch, and that out-of-control feeling as the train twists, turns, and spirals through near total darkness. I got off the ride at 7:55, which would be just enough time to go back to Vortex and possibly catch the last train of the day.

And catch the last train I did! I entered the queue at 7:58. Train #2 was just about to dispatch when I arrived, so that meant I was on Train #1, as part of the last trainload of riders for the night.

IMG_2757 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

This was the second time I had caught the very last train of the day this season. The other time this happened was on May 24. I was riding WindSeeker and got off at 7:59, and then I had run like the wind to Vortex and ended up being the very last rider that was let on the ride before the park closed at 8.

IMG_1620 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I rode in the front seat for Vortex Ride #102, the same place where I took Vortex Rides #1 and #100. Pretty fun for the last of the night!

IMG_2758 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

IMG_2761 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

Is it just me, or were Vortex’s storage bins moved to a different spot in the station??

IMG_2762 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

Train #2 was already parked on the lift when #1 arrived back.

IMG_2763 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

To me, after closing, the trains become good places for photos…This time I couldn’t resist hugging Train #1. After all, I AM Vortex’s BFF…I’m living up to my KIC username! ha.

IMG_1627 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I finally wished WindSeeker and Vortex a good night, and then I began my departure from my home amusement park.

But first…

IMG_1630 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

Okay, NOW I began my departure from my home amusement park.

IMG_2765 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I see you, Train #3! Good night…

IMG_2766 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

IMG_2768 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

How about that! The (military) time is 20:12…

IMG_2769 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

IMG_2771 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I didn’t know what they were doing with Dodgems’s cars…maybe they’re cleaning them?

IMG_2773 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

Grand Carousel is dark and quiet…

IMG_2778 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr

I just love the Eiffel Tower and the fountains at night. Simply amazing!

Hope you enjoyed reading!

Grand Carousel: 2x YTD: 5x Overall: 15x

Vortex: 12x YTD: 27x Overall: 102x!! Yay!!

WindSeeker: 3x YTD: 10x Overall: 18x

Flight of Fear: 1x YTD: 2x Overall: 7x

EDIT: In this link, I thought the music in the video kind of fit the overall experience I had at Vortex that time (most of the lyrics actually apply!). (Note: the music doesn't start until 0:20 in the video) This is only based on my opinion & experience, so no criticizing...

[Original]

Wow! You really love Vortex!

Sorry for taking so long to post. Twice I started to do it, but somehow it kept getting wiped out, so this time I’m relying on Microsoft Word.

I had that same problem! I was sick and I had lots of time on my hands and nI was trying to type up a tr. But not once not twice but tree times it wiped out on me and it said : Tab has been recovered. But I had a lot of time on my hands so I would just smack my laptop and on my 4th try, it finally let me type it.

[TheCrypt]

Wow! You really love Vortex!

Sorry for taking so long to post. Twice I started to do it, but somehow it kept getting wiped out, so this time I’m relying on Microsoft Word.

I had that same problem! I was sick and I had lots of time on my hands and nI was trying to type up a tr. But not once not twice but tree times it wiped out on me and it said : Tab has been recovered. But I had a lot of time on my hands so I would just smack my laptop and on my 4th try, it finally let me type it.

The writing may not appear, but it does auto-save. Click on the lower left hand corner on the text box and you should see it.

Happy 100! I'm sure you will remember this day for a long time. By the way, what maintenance was doing with the Dodgem's cars is routine, and happens every night. If I were to guess, this is probably just so no weird electrical charges can either power up the Dodgems or damage the cars' wiring and such. That guess could be very far from the truth, however.

[Original]

By the way, what maintenance was doing with the Dodgem's cars is routine, and happens every night. If I were to guess, this is probably just so no weird electrical charges can either power up the Dodgems or damage the cars' wiring and such. That guess could be very far from the truth, however.

I dont know, I took a picture just like hers, and it was in the middle of the day... why wouldn't it be running? Heres my picture:

Pictures2 542 by KIC-Original, on Flickr

[TheCrypt]

Probably because they never opened or they shut down operations?

[tuxedoman52]

Wow VortexBFForever thats an amazing night and story!

[VortexBFForever]

Why, thank you. In fact, I thank everyone for all the compliments and replies! I appreciate them! [Of course, keep 'em coming (even after this post) because I'll STILL be thanking everyone...]