Favorite 2013 Season Moments

[Creed Bratton]

Hey All,

I'm working on an entry for my sites with Coaster Crew to re-visit the 2013 season before 2014 starts. I am looking for anyone who would like to share their favorite 2013 Season Moments at either Cedar Point or Kings Island. If it's okay for me to use your moments please let me know and I'll PM you before all gets posted on the site.

Even if you don't want me to use your highlights/favorite moments, that's fine I'd still like to hear what you enjoyed this past season!

I guess I'll start:

1) Coasting For Kids -- This was my 2nd year participating but 1st year at KI. I enjoyed KI over Dorney for sure. The itinerary was a lot better than Dorney's, I got to see some friends I hadn't in a while and it was just a ton of fun!

2) KI Big Bang! with Coaster Crew -- This was a fun event as well! I got to bring my friend and her son who hadn't been at Kings Island since her son was very young. They had an amazing time being back at the park. This event was a great time to see some friends I hadn't seen in a while and those who I hadn't met in person. This event also allowed me my first and at the time last visit (I'm not that hard headed to not try it again) to the Reds Hall of Fame Grille. We closed the night out with a Beast night right in the light rain! So fun!

3) All of the Banshee rumors and Bat Rumors -- those speak for themselves!

4) Gatekeeper Media Day/OSU Day -- Getting to the park at 3 am, on 0 hours of sleep! My friend and I thought we were going to sleep for about an hour when we got there, but we were the 3rd car there, met the families that parked in front of us and had a good conversation. Walking up to the front gate while the coaster was testing before getting into the park left me awestruck! So cool! When we finally got to the coaster, we were on the 1st train and had such an amazing ride! We literally rode for hours! Later in the day they opened up Millennium Force for us. We started out of the station and ended up getting stopped 2/3 of the way up the lift. Something about a seat belt....either way, we were stopped for at least 20-30 minutes. I had no sleep the night before and fell asleep for a good 20 minutes. Ran into Matt Ouimet not too long after we got off the ride and he asked how thing were going, told him I fell asleep on Millennium Force, he just laughed and said something to the sort of falling asleep doesn't happen everyday on our coasters.

OSU Day was just fun, we had got rides on everything. Everything about the day was just good. I remember getting one of the best rides on Magnum I ever had. Later that day storms started rolling in but hadn't reached the park yet. My friend and I got on Millennium Force before heading out of the park for dinner and we got stopped on the brake run due to the storm and they didn't move any trains from their positions. So we got evacuated.

[BoddaH1994]

I agree that watching Banshee come to be was the best part. I would include the teasers.

[Voicetek]

Going to KI the night Banshee was announced. That was a pretty cool experience.

[BB1]

What about the Beach?

BB1, one of many who frequented an certain event.

[MysticsTimber]

I went to Haunt for the first time and I almost peed my pants when one of the scare actors scared me. Great times man.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BB1]

To be honest, it was actually my first ride on Flight of Fear this year.

The line was short, and there was no one in our train. I got to ride in the front seat, and it was just a blast, literally. The best part about it was that halfway through the course, at the first brake run, the lights turned on and showed off what the ride really looked like. I would go farther into my thoughts, but it would almost be an TR of the ride.

[VortexBFForever]

Two of my favorite 2013 moments are:

-my 200th ride on Vortex

-having WindSeeker all to myself when I was on its first cycle of the day on both August 14 and September 2

Edit-I got 3 more:

KIC's 10th b-day with the DB and Banshee tours - I still vividly remember cartwheeling in the grass during the DB tour whenever a train passed by!

My first Opening Day, which included winning the first prize I had ever won at an amusement park!

Riding Vortex during the fireworks on both Opening Day and May 26. They were AWESOME! Someday I'm going to try for a ride on WindSeeker during the fireworks...

Edited December 31, 2013 by VortexBFForever

[Ride On_17]

My favorite moments of 2013, split up between KI and CP.

CP:

-Going on Gatekeeper following all the speculation, then construction, and then the PointBuzz off season tour. Plus we were able to marathon it on several of our trips when the park was empty.

-Going the most times I ever have before. I believe we went 8 or 9 times which isn't too many, but it's the most for me and I loved every bit of it.

-Spending time with friends and family.

KI:

-Speculation about Banshee including all the teasers and Decoding Thread, and discovering KIC

-My first time at the park!

Nothing else can top that. I made great memories with my family that day and now I'm hooked on the park. We are already making plans to visit at least once, hopefully several times, over the summer.

[TTD-120-420]

I'd agree about Gatekeeper media day, OSU Day and opening day at Cedar Point. Watching the sun rise while riding over and over again was awesome.

[LoraX]

One of my favorite nights was Banshee's announcement and the build up to it. I left work a little early, picked up Katie from school, we rode Diamondback, had a nice dinner at Reds Grille then waited for the announcement.

People thought we were weird for driving 1.5 hours each way - but they just don't understand. It was a two fold amazing thing - the announcement AND the most important "thing" getting to do something memorable with my daughter.

It was super exciting to hear the scream as time got closer to the announcement. I knew as soon as I heard that - we had a Banshee! The atmosphere was electric.

Second row behind the seats is where we stood - awesome crowd, except the man next to me did not wear deodorant. My daughter got pegged in the back of the head with a T-shirt. Too bad she did not catch it!

The other times involve going out on Friday nights for the Scream Like a Banshee contest and Haunt.

Oh - and the last Tuesday they were open during the week, I called in to work, took Katie out of school and went to KI. That was a great time. Low crowds, lots of rides.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[thedevariouseffect]

1. CP trip with one of my old HS/job friends who's now in the Navy

2. Numerous CP trips with the gf, ect.

3. KIC Holiday Party

4. KIC Mid Season Day

5. PB Halloweekends/Gatekeeper party

6. KIC B-Day

[MDMC01]

I'd say Banshee's announcement was a pretty big highlight (if not the biggest highlight) of the 2013 season. Although I was not able to make the announcement due to a prior commitment, I remember hearing an announcement of a "Special announcement at 10 PM" over the loudspeakers while sweeping in Planet Snoopy and getting so excited about what was to come. When I think of 2013, I think of these highlights (in order of occurrence): Opening Day, finding out about Banshee, KIC Day (with the Banshee and Haunt Tours- I still have the lanyard from that day!), working Haunt, going through my first Haunt maze by myself (and Blood Drums), Closing Day (especially the amazing ride on Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown in about 40 degree weather!), and the great times I've had working as a sweep and attending the park as a guest this season. I feel like I've grown a lot this season and I've enjoyed getting to know more and more KIC members as the season has gone on.

[stashua123]

2013 was a great season for me. The speculation for Banshee was awesome and the announcement was nice. I also met alot of KIC Members and saw a few ones that I saw last year.

My best moments where.

Opening Day- First Opening Day ever and maybe my last because it was so busy. Vortex stuck on its lift hill Diamondbacks 3 and a half hour line. Finding out about the land clearing and fence and overall just the busyness of that day. I also met up with the KIC Group for a short time

Coasting for Kids. Did not participate in it because I thought I wasnt going to be their but turns out I was their with my friend. Saw Fire Beast of FEAR and Ohio Colts while in line for Racer. I did not even realize it was Coasting for Kids until I saw Racer was not Racing.

Announcement Day- Went their with my brother and his Girfriend(now ex) and rode a bunch of rides before going to Action Zone at around 8 pm. The announcement was amazing and I loved it.

KIC Day- Went to Kings Island on this day that was also KIC Day and took advantage of the dollar day. Then got a behind the scenes tour of Banshee. It was cool and made you realize just how big Banshee and the valley where it was being built was. Then I went to the car because my dad was sick then I bought some merchandise and literally ran to the Diamondback tour. It was awesome and I got to talk to a lot of KIC Members in the process. Nice Trip

This season was one of the best if not the best of them.

[GamesAndRides]

Two of my favorite 2013 moments are:

-my 200th ride on Vortex

-having WindSeeker all to myself when I was on its first cycle of the day on both August 14 and September 2

Edit-I got 3 more:

KIC's 10th b-day with the DB and Banshee tours - I still vividly remember cartwheeling in the grass during the DB tour whenever a train passed by!

My first Opening Day, which included winning the first prize I had ever won at an amusement park!

Riding Vortex during the fireworks on both Opening Day and May 26. They were AWESOME! Someday I'm going to try for a ride on WindSeeker during the fireworks...

I was on the last WindSeeker ride of one night, And you have to do that! It was So awesome!

[James78]

My favorite moments at Kings Island this year would have to be that my 3 year old daughter was 37" tall this year so she had more rides to choose from. The list would be.

1. Her first ride on The Great Pumpkin Coaster.

2. Her first ride on Race for your life Charlie Brown. Which I bought the on ride photo of because her face is priceless.

3. Watching her marathon ride Linus Beetle Bugs.

4. Marathon riding Boo Blasters with her. I must have rode that more than 50 times this season.

5. Trick or Treat with the dinosaurs and hearing her yell at the dinosaurs to stay away from her candy.

6. Howl-O-Palooza and everything it had to offer.

7. Riding front seat on The Beast on one of the last trains of the year.

8. Banshee announcement.

I'm sure there is more, but those stand out the most. Oh and Halloween Haunt which is my favorite time of year.

[DontWantToWait42mar0]

Starting to Decode 2014

[BoddaH1994]

^ Or when that topic made it to Yahoo's Top 10 because of the traffic. That was fun.

[The Interpreter]

It was the green INTAMIN track that did it.

Not.

[KIfan73]

I have to say the Color Me Pink 5k on opening day.

[XGatorHead 8904]

1. Gatekeeper Media Day & OSU Day were definite highlights of the year. Going to bed at 7:00 the night before and waking up a little before midnight to drive up and be there by 4:00am, then taking that first ride in the dark, spending most of that bright sunny day reading since GK was difficult for me to fit into and I don't fit on MF or Raptor, but also spending a lot of time with friends (and who can forget the two free meals at Midway Market) and walking a lap around the park as all the associates were getting it ready for opening.

OSU Day was just fun, we had got rides on everything. Everything about the day was just good. I remember getting one of the best rides on Magnum I ever had. Later that day storms started rolling in but hadn't reached the park yet. My friend and I got on Millennium Force before heading out of the park for dinner and we got stopped on the brake run due to the storm and they didn't move any trains from their positions. So we got evacuated.

Hanging with chugh43 and another friend on OSU Day, being stopped by Matt Ouimet and him joking with us that we weren't allowed to sleep in the park (since he had seen us the day before) and impressing me that he actually stopped to talk with us and has a sense of humor (something we felt prior management wouldn't have done), the three of us waiting with Don in line for Iron Dragon and as a result trying to start a rumor about the land clearing that was being done in Action Zone, and chugh43 convincing me to give Mean Streak another try (I won't be making that mistake again). Too bad I couldn't stay with you for more fun on the next day too!

2. Participating in Coasting for Kids for the second year in a row, this time with Mrs. Gator & GatorGirl for their first time, and getting 99 laps on The Racer!

3. Visiting WDW, experiencing New Fantasyland, and GatorGirl getting her first ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

4. My first visit to Conneaut Lake Park.

5. Attending the announcement for Banshee, being smooshed in with lots of other fanatics who also got there early to get a good spot.

6. Visiting CP again, this time with the Gatorettes and friends for HalloWeekends, and GatorGirl getting her 50th coaster credit (Gatekeeper, which is now her favorite ride anywhere).

7. Working Haunt once again and bringing Sam the Butcher to life for the 5th year!

[FoF96"]

I liked the decoding thread and although this wasn't quite a "good" memory I remember being at the park and hearing a loud noise over the speakers followed by something along the lines of "severe weather in the area, please seek shelter" the shelter I chose I think was either Flight of Fear inside or Diamondback, seems like almost every time I can go inclement weather follows lol

[coasterfanatic83]

1. Gatekeeper Media Day, OSU Day, and opening day up in Sandusky. That was a blast and a half!

2. Banshee announcement and Starting to Decode 2014. Good times man, good times.

3. Taking my lady friend to Cedar Point for her first time! She loved it!

4. Kings Island opening day!

5. Tweetups! I am 2/2 in those, with a win at Cedar Point and at Kings Island!

6. Haunt!

[CoasterMyths79]

Hey All,

I'm working on an entry for my sites with Coaster Crew to re-visit the 2013 season before 2014 starts. I am looking for anyone who would like to share their favorite 2013 Season Moments at either Cedar Point or Kings Island. If it's okay for me to use your moments please let me know and I'll PM you before all gets posted on the site.

Even if you don't want me to use your highlights/favorite moments, that's fine I'd still like to hear what you enjoyed this past season!

I guess I'll start:

1) Coasting For Kids -- This was my 2nd year participating but 1st year at KI. I enjoyed KI over Dorney for sure. The itinerary was a lot better than Dorney's, I got to see some friends I hadn't in a while and it was just a ton of fun!

2) KI Big Bang! with Coaster Crew -- This was a fun event as well! I got to bring my friend and her son who hadn't been at Kings Island since her son was very young. They had an amazing time being back at the park. This event was a great time to see some friends I hadn't seen in a while and those who I hadn't met in person. This event also allowed me my first and at the time last visit (I'm not that hard headed to not try it again) to the Reds Hall of Fame Grille. We closed the night out with a Beast night right in the light rain! So fun!

3) All of the Banshee rumors and Bat Rumors -- those speak for themselves!

4) Gatekeeper Media Day/OSU Day -- Getting to the park at 3 am, on 0 hours of sleep! My friend and I thought we were going to sleep for about an hour when we got there, but we were the 3rd car there, met the families that parked in front of us and had a good conversation. Walking up to the front gate while the coaster was testing before getting into the park left me awestruck! So cool! When we finally got to the coaster, we were on the 1st train and had such an amazing ride! We literally rode for hours! Later in the day they opened up Millennium Force for us. We started out of the station and ended up getting stopped 2/3 of the way up the lift. Something about a seat belt....either way, we were stopped for at least 20-30 minutes. I had no sleep the night before and fell asleep for a good 20 minutes. Ran into Matt Ouimet not too long after we got off the ride and he asked how thing were going, told him I fell asleep on Millennium Force, he just laughed and said something to the sort of falling asleep doesn't happen everyday on our coasters.

OSU Day was just fun, we had got rides on everything. Everything about the day was just good. I remember getting one of the best rides on Magnum I ever had. Later that day storms started rolling in but hadn't reached the park yet. My friend and I got on Millennium Force before heading out of the park for dinner and we got stopped on the brake run due to the storm and they didn't move any trains from their positions. So we got evacuated.

Feel free to use my thoughts!

1. I rode on the last train of the season on The Beast.

2. I attended the Banshee unveiling on August 8, 2013.

3. I got to ride Gatekeeper earlier this summer and it was amazing!

4. I got first in line for The Beast one morning.

5. Attending KIC 2K13 The Event and going on a Banshee and Diamondback tour

6. Probably the most memorable memory was uncovering the rumors of The Bat and Banshee!

What a memorable year 2013 has been for us KIC'ers!

[Creed Bratton]

OSU Day was just fun, we had got rides on everything. Everything about the day was just good. I remember getting one of the best rides on Magnum I ever had. Later that day storms started rolling in but hadn't reached the park yet. My friend and I got on Millennium Force before heading out of the park for dinner and we got stopped on the brake run due to the storm and they didn't move any trains from their positions. So we got evacuated.

Hanging with chugh43 and another friend on OSU Day, being stopped by Matt Ouimet and him joking with us that we weren't allowed to sleep in the park (since he had seen us the day before) and impressing me that he actually stopped to talk with us and has a sense of humor (something we felt prior management wouldn't have done), the three of us waiting with Don in line for Iron Dragon and as a result trying to start a rumor about the land clearing that was being done in Action Zone, and chugh43 convincing me to give Mean Streak another try (I won't be making that mistake again). Too bad I couldn't stay with you for more fun on the next day too!

I believe it was at Iron Dragon, that Mr. Helbig mentioned to me the Son of Bat and the camp ground returning as a joke! That was hilarious!!!

P.S. Come on, Mean Streak wasn't THAT bad. Lol

[XGatorHead 8904]

I believe it was at Iron Dragon, that Mr. Helbig mentioned to me the Son of Bat and the camp ground returning as a joke! That was hilarious!!!

Yes it was...

P.S. Come on, Mean Streak wasn't THAT bad. Lol

... and yes it was!

[faeriewench]

For KI it was Banshee's announcement (despite my original Canon Powershot being stolen during the unveiling...still PO'ed but at least it wasn't the Rebel). Followed by KIC day (one with the Firehawk tour)

Non KI special moments:

1.) Seeing the baby orca at SeaWorld (later named Makani). Last time I seen an orca calf that young was back in the 90s.

2.) my interactions with Bella and Lightning at the Mirage. Bella being attracted by the Banshee cup was really funny.

3.) Going to Knott's with my friends. Park was so much fun in 2013, look forward to the next time of going

4.) Halloween Haunt (Knott's and KI)

5.) Knott's Merry Farm. I can't stand Christmas but I still had fun going to the Merry Farm. The overall atmosphere of the park was sooooo cool. Browsing the shops, the stands, looking at all the decorations and seeing the shows. It was great ending the year riding Ghostrider, Silver Bullet and Jaguar for once.

Here's to 2014!

[Thrill_Biscuit]

Standing for two adrenaline-charged hours at the rope right behind the press pews, meeting enthusiasts and KICers, counting down to the exciting announcement of Banshee was truly memorable. Hearing the crowd's reaction when Greg let fly the introduction video, and the "columns bursting up from the ruins of SOB" was priceless! Oh, and watching riders of Delirium get an epic set of unique runs through stage fog and spotlights was pure Kings Island amazement (to borrow from CP's old jingle).

[CoasterMyths79]

Hey All,

I'm working on an entry for my sites with Coaster Crew to re-visit the 2013 season before 2014 starts. I am looking for anyone who would like to share their favorite 2013 Season Moments at either Cedar Point or Kings Island. If it's okay for me to use your moments please let me know and I'll PM you before all gets posted on the site.

Even if you don't want me to use your highlights/favorite moments, that's fine I'd still like to hear what you enjoyed this past season!

I guess I'll start:

1) Coasting For Kids -- This was my 2nd year participating but 1st year at KI. I enjoyed KI over Dorney for sure. The itinerary was a lot better than Dorney's, I got to see some friends I hadn't in a while and it was just a ton of fun!

2) KI Big Bang! with Coaster Crew -- This was a fun event as well! I got to bring my friend and her son who hadn't been at Kings Island since her son was very young. They had an amazing time being back at the park. This event was a great time to see some friends I hadn't seen in a while and those who I hadn't met in person. This event also allowed me my first and at the time last visit (I'm not that hard headed to not try it again) to the Reds Hall of Fame Grille. We closed the night out with a Beast night right in the light rain! So fun!

3) All of the Banshee rumors and Bat Rumors -- those speak for themselves!

4) Gatekeeper Media Day/OSU Day -- Getting to the park at 3 am, on 0 hours of sleep! My friend and I thought we were going to sleep for about an hour when we got there, but we were the 3rd car there, met the families that parked in front of us and had a good conversation. Walking up to the front gate while the coaster was testing before getting into the park left me awestruck! So cool! When we finally got to the coaster, we were on the 1st train and had such an amazing ride! We literally rode for hours! Later in the day they opened up Millennium Force for us. We started out of the station and ended up getting stopped 2/3 of the way up the lift. Something about a seat belt....either way, we were stopped for at least 20-30 minutes. I had no sleep the night before and fell asleep for a good 20 minutes. Ran into Matt Ouimet not too long after we got off the ride and he asked how thing were going, told him I fell asleep on Millennium Force, he just laughed and said something to the sort of falling asleep doesn't happen everyday on our coasters.

OSU Day was just fun, we had got rides on everything. Everything about the day was just good. I remember getting one of the best rides on Magnum I ever had. Later that day storms started rolling in but hadn't reached the park yet. My friend and I got on Millennium Force before heading out of the park for dinner and we got stopped on the brake run due to the storm and they didn't move any trains from their positions. So we got evacuated.

Feel free to use my thoughts!

1. I rode on the last train of the season on The Beast.

2. I attended the Banshee unveiling on August 8, 2013.

3. I got to ride Gatekeeper earlier this summer and it was amazing!

4. I got first in line for The Beast one morning.

5. Attending KIC 2K13 The Event and going on a Banshee and Diamondback tour

6. Probably the most memorable memory was uncovering the rumors of The Bat and Banshee!

What a memorable year 2013 has been for us KIC'ers!

And of course, I can't forget the KIC Holiday Party in that heave now storm!

[LoraX]

Did your dad have fun or did he think we were crazy? I actually loved the KIC holiday get together. It was a lot of fun.

I have had flash backs to the trip there with driving with this mess of snow we have had over the past day or two. I am very happy I was not the one driving though on the way to GWL or I might have a major panic attack now. I still think if they can incorporate the thrill of icy high ways with fish tailing and / or donuts into a ride it would truly be a blast.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[xXDrummerKiDXx]

Probably one of my favorite 2013 moment was going with my cousin/best friend for the first time (together). It was a double date. A FUN double date at that.

Going with my dad for the first time together. It was a great time seeing my dad on the Firehawk (first time riding it! And he LOVED it!).

But some of my favorite moments of the 2013 season didn't happen AT the park, some were on our way to the park.

I brought my acoustic guitar along with us one day and we sang songs all the way there (Good Riddance by Green Day and Fix Me by 10 Years being my favorites).