7/8/14 Evening TR - This is why I bought a season pass.

[mike_bruns_99]

Didn't get out of a long-day of work until almost 7:00pm and my wife had a girl's night out. I have only been to KI twice so far, early in the season, so thought I'd get in a ride or two tonight. First year I've had a pass in about 10. Pull into the lot about 7:25, lot didn't look bad at all. Find an open spot in 54, where someone had just left.

Walk-in and head straight to Banshee. When I walk to the station, I shockingly see I only have to wait for one car. Fantastic ride! Rode it 4 more times, walk-on each time. On one of the hills, I saw a train on Firehawk in the background. I'd never ridden Firehawk before, the lines were just too long the previous times. This was a legitimate front-row walkon. Great ride, rode it twice (both legit front row walk-ins). The first time, bit too nervous about losing my cell-phone from my pocket. The second-time,much better. There is something about laying on your back, climbing the hill, seeing nothing but the blue-sky above. Great ride.

Next, I decide to ride Flight of Fear. Hadn't ridden it for years since it was Outer Limits themed. And (first world problems) it had about a 20-minute wait. An OK ride, but I was disappointed with the lack of theming of the ride itself. Just riding in a big building. Glad I did it, but may not ride it again unless they change it. Just kind of boring, no character.

It's getting late 9:15ish, so I decide to get some food. I signed-up for the yearly food plan, and know Skyline.Coney is part of it. They were closed. Grrr. I decided to grab a burger to-go at the Diner near Vortex. They were also closed. Double-grr. I then try the Larosas by Beast. They have a number of plates made-up, of the 2 slices+bread sticks. I grab a plate, have my card scanned. In and out in 2 minutes.

I decided to eat the pizza in The Beast line. This again was a walk-on. They only time that a walk-on isn't a good thing, because I'm eating pizza. :-) I decided to wait in the first-row line and let a few people ahead of me. I throw away the crust and ride The Beast. It so takes me back to the first time I rode it, 25 years ago. Perfect ride. Front row, getting dark, fireflys out, fast and cool, just fun. This sounds weird, but Beast in the front row, at night, was smoother than I ever remember and oh-so fast.

9:45, so decided to end the night on Diamondback. Head over, and again, very little line. Decided to wait a train or two and get the front row. Fireworks start right before I board, the grand-finale is halfway up the hill. This is the one-time I wish I had a camera on a ride. I'm at the top of the Diamondback hill, Racer on the left, WindSeeker at the top in full red-white-blue on the right, and the fireworks in the center. Just a perfect view. Americana on a random Tuesday night.

Leaving Rivertown around 10:10, and take the exit by Eiffel Tower. Nearing the tower, I hear a loud-band playing "Happy". I laugh, cheesy but fun. The band (5 singers plus 7 instruments) were working hard. I've heard more raw talent before, but these kids were working so hard so I watch the last 15 or 20 minutes of their set. Great stage presence and interacted perfectly with the crowd. Talked to and hi-fived the kids after their set. Just fun, and a perfect end to a quick 3-hour night at KI.

Yes, I know I paid for the Season-Pass and the Food pass, but the marginal cost of tonight, 3-hours of awesomeness after a long-day of work, along with 2 slices of pizza, was $0.

[Sonofbeast2.0]

Glad you had a great day at KI minus not many fast food restaurants being open! Kind of surprised the park was that dead, since usually it picks up a little more around July. Just a question of wondering here, but, was your pizza warm/hot or cool/cold and was it good? Since it sounds like pizza might have been sitting in window for x amount minutes...

Also allow me to give you a great big open armed welcome to KIC! Please get your sowing machine ready, as you will look and add your own opinion (color) to each and every thread! And even start your own like this one!