June 29, 2003

[CoasterKrazy]

My friend and I got to the park around noon on Sunday. After parking in Drop Zone 41, we headed over to the metal detectors. There were only about 8 of them open; 4 on the extreme left and 4 on the extreme right, but the wait was short anway.

Once in the park, we headed over to Vortex. Only a five minute wait for seat 1-2. We usually sit right in front, but decided not to wait. I don't know how its possible, but Vortex was FLYING on Sunday. It seemed MUCH faster than normal. At the top of the second hill, I was completely out of my seat and and glad the restraints were there to keep me in the car. The increased speed also caused more headbanging than usual, but I didn't mind much. Vortex is one of my favorite steel coasters, and I hope it has a long life ahead of it at PKI.

Next came Flight of Fear. Before getting in line I noticed that the price for helicopter tours over Kings Island is a very expensive $30 per rider. Once I get a job, I'll have to give it a shot. Anyway, back to FOF: The hanger has been cleaned! Its true folks, you can actually breathe now without taking in a lung-full of dust. However, it seems that the themeing is still covered in dust and trash. The cleaner air is a great start, let's hope PKI keeps it up. The ride itself didn't seem any faster/slower than usual, and it was extremely smooth. A great ride without the OTSR. Didn't see King Cobra trains, so I'm still looking.

By this time we were starving, so we went to the now-open Bubba Gump's Shrimp Shack. This place is AWESOME. The themeing is spectacular when compared to other places around the park. The food is great and the prices are pretty good as well. Paramount's Kings Island really hit a home run with this place, and I look forward to the furture when more places like Shrimp Shack are added.

Adventure Express is right next to Bubba's, so it was our next ride. The spiels in the station were going full blast ( very cool ) and it seems like there is a little more vegetation growing around the beginning of the ride. The themeing in the first two tunnels still doesn't work ( not cool ) but everything was working on the last lift. All the guys were pounding away on their drums, and the head-guy at top was really lit-up with all his mouth-moving-eyes-glowing-lava-pouring action. Here's to hoping the rest of the ride gets spruced up.

After Adventure Express, we decided to have another expedition and went to Tomb Raider: The Ride. Nothing really to report here. The lights that "un-lock" the tomb are still out of sync, and a few other special effects on the ride aren't working that great either. Even so, I love this ride and its a must-ride for me every time I visit the park.

Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle followed Tomb Raider. I can't remember what I finished with, but it was one of my better scores. If you haven't ridden this ride, get to PKI. Its an awesome replacement for Phantom Theater.

Drop Zone was only a three-cycle wait, so we couldn't pass it up. While going up the tower, I scanned the park for any signs of a 2004 addition, and came up with nothing. King Cobra is still sitting in a field, rusting away. I can't get enough of Drop Zone, and if the lines were shorter, I'd ride it all day long.

Next on our list was Top Gun. No wait at all for seat 1-2. The kid in front of me lost his hat during the ride and I tried to catch it, but it was lost to the hat graveyard below the coaster. This is another ride that I hope spends a lot more years at PKI.

Son of Beast followed Top Gun. The station was empty, except for ride-ops and about 8 people waiting for a front-seat ride. The new restraints do help a lot, but this ride is still pretty rough. I've learned to deal with it, so most of the time I can enjoy SOB. I have one question though: Why are there a set of brakes right out of the station? I've never seen them used, and I wonder why they are there.

By that time it was about 4 o'clock, so we took a quick ride up the E. Tower and headed home.

[skatefanjeff]

Sounds like you had a good time. I would have loved to have an empty station on Sob. It is my favorite ride at PKI.

[SOB_TOM]

The brake out of the station of SOB is in case of a power failure, the brake will catch. Its a lot easier to get things from a flat line than that hill!

[Dane]

Ah. I never get lucky and get short lines. its always full ques...

Week day lines are alot better that weekend.

[slingshooter0607]

AH!!...Bad...Memories..Of ...Long Lines.....Avoid.....BET..Gospel ...Explosion.....Concert......Lines........Out of control!!!!!!Haha..I went last year and we didnt know it was the BET Gospel Explosion Concert and the park was PACKED.Im am talking full que for EVERYTHING...I waited all the way back to Rivertown LaRosa's for The Beast....Every lane open....It was bad

[BoObKiNoS]

Adventure Express theming not working in the first two tunnels? Theres no animation at all in the first one...so theres really nothing to ne "not working" and the animation with the spear in tunnel 2 is quick and you will not notice it unless you are near the front of the train usually. Does this help?

[Tanner]

The lights that "un-lock" the tomb are still out of sync, and a few other special effects on the ride aren't working that great either.  .

Yesterday (July 2) all the effects were working and the lights to unlock the tomb were in sync.

Edited January 1, 1970 by Tanner

[CoasterKrazy]

BoObKiNoS:

In the first tunnel, aren't the giant boa and the king cobra supposed to move as the train passes by? Also, I ALWAYS look for the spears to be moving, from the moment I enter the tunnel until I can no longer see them on the lift hill. While I was riding Adventure Express, they weren't moving. Its no big deal I suppose, the General Public isn't going to notice, but it would still be nice to know that PKI is willing to maintain their rides so they work like new.

Tanner:

I was also at the park on July 2 and the lights that un-lock the tomb were not in sync when I rode the ride. I suppose there might be a difference in what we consider to be "in sync." For the first few times I rode TR:TR, the lights would first form the right "combination" and then the tomb would un-lock. Now, the tomb un-locks long before the right "combination" is formed. The first of the two scenarios is what I consider to be in sync.

[FSASBoxcarRace14]

I went on the 26th and the lights on Tomb Raider "were" in sync.

[WildCat]

On the last day two years ago they took all the snakes out of the frist tunnel. The mist has not been working in 2 years what is up with that. That was the best part of the ride when you rode at night or in the morning.

[AZ Kinda Guy]

The mist has not been working in 2 years what is up with that.

Think about it...METAL covered with WATER for 13 hours every day for three months. What do you think is going to start happening to this metal? Oh and Boobkinos is right, there is no animation in the first tunnel and the second tunnel spear worked last time I rode which was about a week ago.