Kings Island 6/02/2014: End of School "Celebration"

[VortexBFForever]

My school's last day was on Friday, May 30, so going to KI on June 2nd was one of the ways I "celebrated" that. Since a handful of schools are/were still in until June 5, I figured it wouldn't be too crowded. I was pretty much right. Although the waits for the rides weren't walk-ons, the most I had to wait was only 20 minutes for Diamondback. The least I had to wait was a cycle-length for a couple of the Planet Snoopy rides I rode.

I had originally planned to be there for ERT, but we didn't get there until about 11:00. But whether what time it was or not, this was our first time visiting during the day after 3 evening visits. For once, I didn't have to worry about running out of time!

The first place we went was Planet Snoopy. I was itching to ride a few of my previous favorites from 2007 and 2008! The first one I rode was the Fairly Odd Coaster/Woodstock Express.

Since I had not been on this ride since 2009, I was far from used to hearing "Woodstock Express" instead of "Fairly Odd Coaster" in the station and on the lift hill. I still vividly remember the light purple track and supports, the pink train (Wanda) and green train (Cosmo) and hearing "Welcome to Cosmo and Wanda's Fairly Odd Coaster. Please remain seated..." halfway up the lift hill (I didn't really hear the rest of it because the train was already at the top by then).

The wait was only a couple minutes. I rode in the back row on the yellow train. The ride was still so familiar to me even after not riding it for about 5 years. The only things that had changed were the name, the spiels, and the colors. The experience was exactly the same as I had remembered! Granted, I had never rode in the back seat on this ride before, since in 2007 I was very picky and only rode in the middle or the front.

I had, and still have, NEVER ridden Avatar/Surf Dog. I was hoping I would get to ride it this time, but it was closed. It was testing at some times during the trip but it never opened.

Next, I headed to Plankton's Plunge/Kite Eating Tree. The wait was only a cycle length. I was the first person in line for the next cycle.

I rode on the end seat on the side facing the front of the park. Next to me was a little girl who was riding with her father. She was laughing for almost the whole ride, which made me laugh a little as well. The ride was already fun as I remembered, and this experience was making it better!

Like on Fairly Odd Coaster/Woodstock Express, I had to get used to hearing "You're not gonna get this kite!" instead of "All hail Plankton, or you take the plunge!".

Just because you're growing up doesn't mean you'll stop enjoying Planet Snoopy. Big kids can enjoy it too.

Next I headed to Runaway Reptar/Flying ACE, my first full-circuit inverted coaster (and the park's only invert with a powered lift). The wait was a 5-train wait (about 10 minutes).

I rode in the second row. Like the others, it was just as I had remembered, although it was a teeny bit shakier than I remembered.

The next former favorite I visited was Phantom Flyers/Linus' Launcher. The wait was a cycle length. I had a nice mini-flight for the first time since I last rode it in 2008.

I was getting a little hot by this time, so you all should know where I headed next--

--to Wild Thornberry's River Adventure/Race For Your Life Charlie Brown, Kings Island's oldest Arrow!

I rode 2 times. The wait was about 5 minutes each time.On my first ride I rode in Boat 5; the second one was in Boat 19. It was a very good way to cool off!

I joined the line for Diamondback. Although it was a bit lengthier than I hoped, I knew it would move fairly quickly. I had not been on Diamondback since October, so a ride on it was WAY overdue!

I rode in Row 6 on the Green train. This was my first time riding Diamondback since when it got the seatbelts. Thankfully, they do not affect the exhilarating ride experience! It felt so good to fly down that drop again!!!

[VortexBFForever]

Edit: PTR Still in progress. I accidentally thought this was "Random Photo of the Day" for a sec. Sorry for the false alarm!