Closing Day KIC meet-up PTR

[malem]

Thanks everyone for a great time on Sunday! It was chilly, but I escaped a rainy day in Columbus for a thankfully-dry Mason, so I didn't care. Closing Day is a great day to visit - crowds are minimal yet enthusiastic!

For the second meet-up in a row, I volunteered to help with coordinating everything and getting people synced up. Even with minimal lines everywhere, name tags, a widely communicated time/location, a mobile number for late arrivals, and personal invitations to everyone from KICentral I could find during ERT - this was much harder than I thought it would be.

On to the trip report: I was the 5th car at the park at 9:20am, before the parking gates opened. I managed to get the closest parking spot to the gate on the north half of the parking lot.

At the front gate, jcgoble3, ohiocolts, DiamondAceExpress, Vortexfreak, and I found each other. I had printed nametags for everyone who asked me for one or who indicated they'd be at ERT, but unfortunately they weren't sticky enough for the combination of nylon jackets and roller coasters.

Fortunately, I had printed extra sheets of name tags due to them jamming in the printer, so I we had replacements as they blew away. Unfortunately, we papered the park with stray name tags. (Next time, we need something more secure - tags with clips, wristbands, t-shirts, etc.)

At Diamondback ERT, several people saw my name tag and greeted me. Unfortunately, I don't remember all their names. I had enough of Diamondback after 6 rides, so I stayed off and took some pictures. (If you see yourself, let me know and I'll include your name)

KI-ORIG-EMP will appreciate this photo:

Just before the park opened, jcgoble3, ohiocolts+family, and I found each other again near the Eiffel Tower. We all rode Flight of Fear together with no line, then four of us (ohiocolts, jcgoble3, myself, ohiocolts's dad) tried to ride Firehawk - also without a line.

Unfortunately, Firehawk got stuck and trapped us right after the seats were lowered. After laying down in the train and talking for 16 minutes, we were released. After blocking off the malfunctioning seat and doing a test run, they let us back on for a successful ride.

ohiocolts's dad managed to take pictures with his phone while we were stuck in the ride, so read his report for those.

After a ride on Delirium, jcgoble3 and ohiocolts decided to ride Xtreme Skyflyer together for $5 each. Meanwhile, I walked around the park to recover a bit from all the riding.

Later, we attempted to have lunch at Rivertown Junction before the Tower Drinks meet-up and share ohiocolts's 30% food discount from FunPerks, but it was closed for the day (and season). We didn't have much time before the meet-up, so we rode The Beast instead.

We arrived at Tower Drinks early, where Don was already waiting on the KIC group to arrive. To give Beastie1980 time to arrive, we waited until about 1:35 for the group picture.

Here's our first group picture, of those who actually showed up on time.

After the picture, Don surprised us all by inviting us to a tour of The Beast later in the day. (Thanks again, Don!)

After the photo, ohiocolts suggested that we all eat Hanks burritos in the Festhaus while catching the Graveyard Shift show. Several of us decided to do that, and TheCrypt finally found us as we were eating. (Thanks again for sharing that 30% discount, Matt and Lucas!)

Halfway through Graveyard Shift, we left to join everyone else at The Beast. While passing The Crypt building (Madam Fatale's Cavern of Terror), TheCrypt asked us to bow our heads in respect.

Thanks to Don catching some who didn't come to the meet-up, the KIC group grew in size considerably.

ohiocolts took lots of video with his iPod:

First lift hill:

Over the hill:

Into the tunnel:

The terrain is hilly:

Double-helix:

Camera Reset:

Don took another group picture and tweeted it on the @KingsIslandPR Twitter account: http://via.me/-6fsszwy

After the tour, I tried to take the entire group to ride The Beast at once:

That didn't work out so well as we entered a very crowded Beast station. We ended up riding two different trains and causing some empty row dispatches.

We split back up after that, and I joined ohiocolts, jcgoble3, and Beastie1980 for a ride on Flight Deck, where ohiocolts found VortexBFForever.

We separated yet again as ohiocolts and VortexBFForever used ohiocolts's FunPerks voucher for Sling Shot. Later, we got back together for Racer, Adventure Express (including a train with just KIC'ers), and Vortex. The group separated entirely for the last hour in the park.

As is tradition, there was a large group of people from KICentral and ACE for Beast final rides.

Because of the group size, we had 3 trains of "final rides". I took the first train, sitting next to Mrs. Gator, so I could get pictures of the next two:

Last train!

jcgoble3 and someone else in the last row of the last train:

Kings Island is officially closed!

Again, I'd like to thank everyone who helped make this meet-up a success. It was great to meet so many people, and I had a really good time.

Next time, we should try to get a large group together for longer so that more people can meet each other. We broke up rather quickly after the tour meet-up, lots of people didn't make it to Tower Drinks, and the park was (obviously) closed following the last ride. It might be nice to organize a group lunch ahead of time, for example.

Riding things in the park with a small group of KIC'ers, yet again, was fun. As far as I know, the only such group was the same one that formed for the Haunt meet-up - with jcgoble3, ohiocolts+DiamondAceExpress+family, Beastie1980, myself, and occasionally other people. It might be fun for more and different such groups to form. (Especially for those who end up going alone.)

In any case, we really need to do meet-ups like this more often next year!

[Titan]

Sorry I wasn't able to meet up with you guys. I was running behind so much that I arrived at the park way later than I expected, then my buddy and cousin said they didn't feel like riding with a huge group of people. However I still had a great day and I'm glad you guys did too!

[jcgoble3]

Great report! One minor correction: I didn't go with you to Flight Deck; I split off after the group Beast ride to do a little shopping.

I have no clue who that was next to me in the back row on the final train of The Beast. I was trying to pick a row, saw a single rider in line for the back row, and joined him.

[The Interpreter]

Brrrrr! Y'all look cold!

Thanks for the great report. Next year, I intend to close out the seasonal season in Ohio. Or New Jersey!

Again, thanks.

[KI-ORIG-EMP]

Thanks for sharing all your pictures with us! It looks like everyone had a great time and are really enjoying themselves. It is something to see everyone bundled up while riding Diamondback and going on the tour of the backlot of The Beast.

[TheCrypt]

Great TR, Matt. Also, thank you for bringing to my (and others') attention that I am not photogenic!

Sorry I couldn't stay with the group the entire day, but I did have fun for the moments I was with you all. Thank you for coordinating this event. I enjoyed it.

[jcgoble3]

Brrrrr! Y'all look cold!

Yeah, the wind made it a bit chilly. I wore thermal underwear top and bottom, my warmest shirt, and a winter coat with gloves.

On the other hand, malem is the one in the shorts.

[malem]

One minor correction: I didn't go with you to Flight Deck; I split off after the group Beast ride to do a little shopping.

With people joining and splitting up so many times, it's hard to keep track of who was there at each specific time. I don't keep detailed notes like ohiocolts does, so I have to base it on memory.

[ohiocolts]

Great trip report malem! It was great to see you yet again! I've got that Beast tour video ready to upload.

[malem]

Also, thank you for bringing to my (and others') attention that I am not photogenic!

If you hadn't kept ducking away from the camera, I would have had better ones with you in it!

[Original]

Nice ipod ohiocolts, mind getting me one just like that? Anyways...looks like you guys had fun. Very jealous of you all. I was able to pick out some of the people in the photos from KIC day, but unfortunetly I was only with the group for 20 minutes at the begining of the day. We split up.. then never met up again. I really hope I can attened next years closing day, and that it will be as good as this one. Although, I couldn't be lucky enough to get a free back-stage Beast tour.

[KI FANATIC 37]

I cant believe I didn't see any of you all day! Even though I was with my friends I had all the intentions say hello to at least some of you! Great TR!

[SpongeBob]

I enjoyed the meet up very much. I wish I could have joined ya'll on The Beast after our tour, but mother nature called and I was the first one out of the fence. Next year, instead of name tags that were sticky, how about lanyards. I'm sure most of us have a lanyard from the past that we can use and others that don't, hopefully some of us can chip in, or mabye we can ask KI how much would they be if they could be for each person that will be attending. Perhaps the deal would also include the all you can eat buffet that the have?

I would also like to suggest a winter tour throughout some parts of the park. I'm sure this would be a little late to ask, but if not, perhaps next year. It was great to meet everyone at the meet-up and The Beast Tour. Lookin forward to many more fun filled activities Don has in store for us in 2013!!!

[malem]

Next year, instead of name tags that were sticky, how about lanyards. I'm sure most of us have a lanyard from the past that we can use and others that don't, hopefully some of us can chip in, or mabye we can ask KI how much would they be if they could be for each person that will be attending. Perhaps the deal would also include the all you can eat buffet that the have?

Lanyards aren't a good idea. They tend to hang in the way and get caught on things - not a good idea on dynamic thrill rides! I think clip-on name tags would work best: no holes in garments and very secure. Alternately, we could make KICentral t-shirts.

In the past, KIC meet-ups were organized as ticketed events. If we're able to have such an event again, tickets might cover a group meal, supplies, etc.

I would also like to suggest a winter tour throughout some parts of the park. I'm sure this would be a little late to ask, but if not, perhaps next year. It was great to meet everyone at the meet-up and The Beast Tour. Lookin forward to many more fun filled activities Don has in store for us in 2013!!!

If the park invites KICentral to such an event again, I'd certainly be up for going. (There have been off-season construction tours and winter parties that KICentral has been invited to in the past.)

[beastrider97]

Considering all the support that was put into the 2 KIC days and the closing day meetup, I bet we can get a better organized event such as the KIC day a few years ago.

[VortexBFForever]

I can't believe I missed a Beast tour!! And eating in the Festhaus? I missed that too? Sheesh...

Any ways, my first ride on Sling Shot was great. I was easily caught off guard by the rocking back and forth (when it wasn't flipping) but it was really fun!

And it was really nice to meet a few fellow KICers!

[ahank]

Great PTR malem! It's great to see some of the newer members getting together and meeting some of the older members here.

I'd love to see another KIC event. I got to attend RWCW a few years back and I got to meet some really cool people, and the opportunity to meet more of you is one I would love to take advantage of!

[SonofBaconator]

I would have but my biology teacher must have known that I wanted to go to KI so she prevented it by giving me lots of HW.

[kblanken]

I would have but my biology teacher must have known that I wanted to go to KI so she prevented it by giving me lots of HW.

Oh, that sounds like a good time. In 2011, I was able to visit Holiday World on the last day of the season.

[DiamondAceExpress]

Wow, we all look freakishly cold on Diamondback!

Great trip report!

[BoddaH1994]

We should do a ticketed event next year...

[Hendrick]

Looks like everyone had a lot of fun. Didn't realize Don had set up a back stage tour of The Beast. I'll have to go next year if something similar comes up.

[CoasterGeek101]

I always seem to miss these. I actually could go, but I was sick a few days ago so my mom said no to a whole day outside with freezing temps. I'm sure I'll see you guys next year.

[Jasper]

I would be more than game for a meet up next year, ticketed or not. Thank you to Malem for the organization.

And what do you know a picture of me. The one taken whike waiting for the final ride of The Beast, that's me on the right.