9/08/2013: Dollar Day Sunday/KIC's 10th Birthday

[VortexBFForever]

Photos Taken: 180

Part 1 of 4:

This was my first late afternoon/evening trip to KI since July 11.

TurkishDelightBGW (my mom) and I left our home in Beavercreek at 2:40 and got to the park at about 3:40. Needless to say our first stop was Guest Services, where we were checked in and handed our lanyards.

After that we walked up the left side of International Street and went to our first ride: the Grand Carousel.

(note: this was taken BEFORE the ride started, like always)

We had a good ride, although the music is still pretty quiet (ESPECIALLY compared to last season).

We had plenty of time to go all the way to the end of Coney Mall and get my first ride of the afternoon on Vortex. It had a station wait of about 3 minutes. Train #1 took me on my 193rd ever Vortex ride, which was experienced in 3-2.

Since I was so used to going in the morning (the last 5 trips of mine before 9/08 all started in the morning!) when the rides were first starting their operation, I had to get re-accustomed to evening trips. The difference: in the late afternoon and evening the rides have already been constantly operating for hours (about 5 hours, in this case). And yes, it was enough for me to tell the difference! I had a pretty wild ride in 3-2, and I absolutely loved it!

After a fun filled 6-inversion ride on my long-time beloved favorite, it was 4:15. We headed to Action Zone, where we met up with the group. DiamondAceExpress, jcgoble3, and IndyGuy4KI were 3 of the members I talked to.

The Banshee tour began at 4:30. With Don leading the way, we proceeded into the construction site.

For now, I'm just going to let the pictures do all the talking.

Part 2 will come as soon as tomorrow; I don’t have time to work on the PTR anymore tonight.

[fanofFirehawk]

Great Trip Report!

I have been desperately awaiting another on the KIC meet up.

[Hoeter]

Thank you for sharing with us! It was one of the most memorable days I've had at Kings Island and I've been there more times than I can count.

Thanks again!

[BB1]

Thanks for the TR, always a great time with these reads. I will try to post my PTRS but I have so many, and too much.

[IndyGuy4KI]

Nice part 1, can't wait to see part 2! Nice to finally meet you as well. It is cool to meet someone who loves Vortex as much as you do!

[VortexBFForever]

Part 2:

The Diamondback tour began just after 5:30. As we were walking back, a lot of guests waiting in line for The Beast were watching us (I'll bet they were curious about what was going on). Don instructed us to stay in the grass. The KI&MVRR was just departing when we reached our destination. I heard the announcer on the train mention us, and I put on a show for the passengers by doing a few cartwheels!

Like in Part 1, the pictures will do all the talking.

[Aaron88stang]

great pics. I wish I could have gone but it did not work out for me. maybe for the 20th birthday

[jcgoble3]

Great photos!

I especially love this one! Excellent shot and timing!

[VortexBFForever]

Part 3:

During the Diamondback photo opportunity, I did a few things most other KICers didn't:

1. Doing cartwheels whenever a Diamondback or KI&MVRR train passed by

2. Lying in the grass with my eyes closed, listening to DB

3. Taking a picture of DB from the ground by putting my camera in the grass and pointing it toward the moving train

On the way back to The Beast plaza I used "Continuous Shooting" on my camera for a Vortex train speeding toward the first loop:

...and a few more, right before we went back into the plaza.

Once we got back, the large group separated into smaller groups. Fire-Beast-OF FEAR, ohiocolts, Beastie1980 and I went straight to Coney Mall.

We stopped at the Juke Box Diner first and got a cup of ice water each. Then the four of us headed straight to Vortex. We wanted jcgoble3 to ride with us, but "he wasn't in the mood."

We rode Vortex together 5 times. I rode in 5-2, 7-2, 7-1, 4-1, and 2-1. They were great; the weird thing was, whenever we got back to the station there would be no empty rows in the queue, but when we had gotten back in line and to the station, the queue would be empty again!. I think we had started riding at the "wrong" time...

Anyways, I got some pics in between rides:

Unfortunately, after my ride in 2-1 the others wanted to head to the International Restaurant. I had to resist a slight urge to reride (because NOW there were empty rows...) just to follow them!

[VortexBFForever]

Part 4:

It was about 7:05 by the time we were let in to the International Restaurant. I was really hoping Don's Q&A would start right at 7 (and a few of you know the reason why ), but I guess not...

The Q&A went until just after 7:50.

As soon as he was done answering questions, my mom and I left the restaurant. We didn't even stay to listen to what Don was saying about the final Beast ride.

It was because...............I was not going to do The Beast ride. *everyone gasps*

This is really hard for me to explain. I had hoped to achieve my 200th ride on Vortex on 9/08. Even if I was already at 200, I would still catch its last train of the day. Yes, I understand that some people may think, "But you can catch Vortex's last train on any day." Call me crazy, but if I had to choose between the last ride on Vortex and the last ride on The Beast, I would most likely choose Vortex. It's just that special to me. And don't get me wrong, I like The Beast!

I went straight back to Vortex after the Q&A, and got there at 7:56. As I was walking back,

was playing in my head.

I rode my last Vortex ride of the 100s (and the summer season, too) in row 2-1. It turns out that I only had time for 1 ride. But hey, 1 ride is better than none! And the 200th ride will for sure be something to eagerly look forward to on my next trip (which may be on 9/22!)!

After doing my normal lingering and photo-taking (which is what I do right when the park closes), I started heading to The Beast plaza for the Banshee media day invite drawing.

I got to the plaza just before The Beast riders came back from their journey through the woods. Don drew the lucky winner out of a bag (congrats to the member who won, by the way!), and then the day was over. We headed back to the Front Gate.

+Grand Carousel: 1

YTD: 4

Overall: 23

+Vortex: 7

YTD: 64

Overall: 199! Just one away from 200!

+Flight Deck: 2

YTD: 18

Overall: 35

Notes:

-while at the Q&A I noticed most if not all of the guests were leaving the park (yes, I know, the park generally empties out during the last hour)

-It was a great event! Thanks to all who made it happen!

-my next KI trip will be my 45th KI trip EVER! (maybe it IS a good thing I only had time for 1 ride on Vortex after the Q&A)

-it was very nice hanging out with some KICers at/around my age! (thank you ohiocolts, beastie1980 and Fire-Beast-OF FEAR!)

-I saw a groundhog while I was riding Vortex

-I'm being totally honest here: I was at least half-expecting ohiocolts and jcgoble3 to write PTRs about 9/08! (wink wink, nudge nudge...)

(note: I'm not forcing any of you to write a PTR about this event; I'm just trying to "inspire" you to!)

Mom's (TurkishDelightBGW's) pics:

[jcgoble3]

Nice report!

If I don't get a trip report finished by the time I go to bed that same night, it never gets done, so don't expect one. That night, I was more concerned with getting my Banshee pics posted on the construction thread and never turned my computer on. The photos I was taking of you on Vortex are still on my phone, and I may post some of them in this thread later.