June 5: My 60th Kings Island Trip!

[VortexBFForever]

My mom and I were originally going with a friend of mine, but due to a miscommunication, it ended up being only the two of us this time. We scheduled another trip for this coming Friday (6/12) so she would still be able to come with us (which would mean ANOTHER PTR! )

 

Unlike most (if not all) of my other PTRs, this one did not have a first picture of KI's skyline, since I had decided I had taken enough skyline pics for a while. It was also because I had another thing on my mind: my Platinum Pass had mysteriously gone missing. I knew I had brought it home with me the previous Friday, but I had searched where I normally kept it this morning and could not find it. I even checked my dad's car (the vehicle we took last Friday) but I still could not find it. We also had gone to Lost & Found just in case I had unknowingly misplaced it during last Friday's trip but it was not there either. To this day I still have not found it, even after thoroughly searching my bedroom. Looks like I'll be saving up an additional $15 to replace it (though that is not a bad price, especially for the most expensive pass!).

 

We had a slow start to our day; we had planned on arriving early for ERT but ended up not arriving until 10:30. Thankfully, all the ticket windows were open and the wait was minimal, so it did not take long for me to obtain a "Temporary Season Pass" that would respectively serve as my "Platinum Pass" for the day. After going through the gate just as easily as I would with my real pass, we decided to proceed to Action Zone this time, since last time I had started out the trip at Diamondback. This is when my picture-taking started!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I started on Delirium, which happened to be a 2-cycle wait (about 10-15 minutes). The line was growing, and it stayed at least this length for the rest of the trip. I was assigned to Seat 21.

 

 

During the ride, there was a moment when it was swinging up on the side closest to Banshee's dive loop that happened to be the same time a Banshee train was passing through the dive loop! It was really cool seeing it from that angle, and the first time I was on Delirium when that happened!

 

 

I headed straight to Invertigo next, as it was still early and I wanted to ride now in case the line was going to get longer later. It was one of the rides I had not ridden in a year, so it was long overdue.

 

 

The wait wasn't too bad for a low capacity ride; it was about 30 minutes. During those 30 minutes I took in many different views and angles of the ride that I hadn't seen in awhile, including capturing some close-ups on my handy Canon Powershot ELPH 110 HS.

 

 

 

 

 

Standing below that loop never ceases to amaze me. I just HAVE to get a picture every time I'm under there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought this one was pretty interesting, especially since I had forgotten to switch to the "Infinity" setting (for far-away subjects)

 on my camera...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peek-a-boo with Banshee

 

 

 

(This one was taken during the loading process, as always)

 

My apologies if I have too many pictures here for you to take in all at once. I sure snapped a lot during those 30 minutes!

 

I rode in my favorite spot: the end row facing the midway. I sure missed being tossed (and pulled, while going backwards) through that loop and cobra roll! For a smaller coaster, it sure packs a punch! I'll have to make sure I ride it more often.

 

I'm going to end this first part here, since there are a whole boatload of pictures in this one post. Part 2 will be here before you know it!

[VortexBFForever]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite all these Banshee pics, it was not the ride I rode next. It was Drop Tower! Sadly, I have no Drop Tower pics from this trip (other than the one I took while in line for Delirium), mainly because I was waiting in a switchback instead of the shorter part of the queue that went around the ride's perimeter. At least I got some pictures of other rides from Drop Tower's line, though!

 

 

 

The first of two times I rode was in Seat 38 after a two-cycle wait. It was awesome seeing for miles around before free-falling at 65 mph! I did it again since the line had shortened some. I waited only one cycle this time and almost waited another one, but they needed a single rider. I rode in Seat 40 for another fun fall from the sky.

 

 

I was going to make this a full-on dive loop shot but I decided to include the Eiffel Tower.

 

 

I had not taken flight on The Bat in too long either! I was looking forward to speeding through its ground-hugging turns! (and, of course, swinging)

 

I know it's been a little while since May 25, but Happy Memorial Day! And a big "Thank you!" to those who have served our lovely country.

 

More peek-a-boo with Banshee!

 

 

 

 

 

 

On my way up to the big orange and black Arrow Dynamics-built machine, I was greeted with a line extending to the stairs just outside the station. That was good, since 1. The ride was getting a good amount of attention, and 2. I had time for more pictures! (don't worry, they aren't as numerous as the ones I got at Invertigo. )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, of course, more pictures of Banshee...

 

 

 

 

 

 

(You can still see part of Firehawk from here!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notice that Train #2 does NOT have a bat decal on it like Train #1 does...

 

I rode in 7-2 on Train #2, since it was one of the seats with a shorter line. It was so fun to be in the back, especially since it meant quite some airtime on the drop and flying around those turns!

 

 

Finally, FINALLY, Banshee got to have her turn...

 

 

As much as I like closeups, there's nothing like some good wide-angle shots that capture the overall presence of the ride!

 

 

I'm glad I rode Banshee when I did. Earlier, the line was longer, but when I arrived it was only on the stairs! At one point there was almost no line at all - it was a minimal station wait. To ensure maximum efficiency, there was still a separator assigning seats. I got assigned to Row 4, in the middle of the train.

 

I ended up walking onto the Blue Train with a group of 3. I noticed the Banshee crew were doing their best to safely check all the restraints and send the train out in less than a minute, which was the main reason why the line was so short! One moment I was walking to my seat, getting in and pulling down my harness; the next thing I knew, we were already ascending the lift hill. It was a very nice ride in the middle, and a good first time in Row 4!

 

 

I decided to go for it a second time, because like I said before, the line was really short. This time I requested to ride in the front, and the separator said yes. It was about a 2 train wait for the front, which was only about 3 minutes at the rate they were going. I rode with a group of 2 in the front row of the Aqua-Green Train. It was another fun-filled ride with a great view of the track and a 67 mph wind added to it!

 

I only had about forty minutes left before we were to leave, and I still had not ridden Vortex! I high-tailed it to Coney Mall, but not before taking a ride on good ol' Adventure Express since it was only a station wait as well!

 

 

 

 

 

For my single ride on Adventure Express, I rode in the first row of the last car on Train #1. Still very fun as always, though it almost but didn't surpass the intensity of last Friday's ride!

 

End of Part 2...Part 3 will be up before you kn-Oh never mind; I'm sure you get the gist already

[IndyGuy4KI]

You got some great pics and seems like you had a great time. Can't wait to see post #3!

[jcgoble3]

Awesome pics as always. Waiting for more!

[acfinn]

Your trip reports are amazing. I especially loved those two peek-a boo pics of Banshee.

[freaks76]

Neat pics, thanks for posting!

[VortexBFForever]

Coney Mall gets the spotlight in Part 3!

 

Where'd the arch go!??!??!?!?!??!??!

 

 

Since I did not ride Racer last week, I did so this time. The line went just outside the station, but since both sides were open, I knew it would only be a moment before I got on the Blue train for the first time in a few years.

 

 

 

 

Remembering your tips about not sitting in a wheel seat, I got in line for the middle row of the last car on the Blue Racer. There were less people queuing for Blue, especially toward the back. All I had to do was wait until the two Trains #1 rolled into the dual station before boarding Blue for the first time in a (too) long time!

 

This race was just like the others. Red was slightly ahead on the lift hill, but by the end it was Blue that was ahead. I was still baffled by how it worked, but at least my side won! As much as I like Racer even if it's only Red that's operating, there's always something special about flying right beside the train on the other side - it's called a racing coaster for a reason!

 

This little bird didn't seem to mind all the people. He/she was just hopping around with everyone else.

 

 

 

 

Scrambler has really grown on me! Taking a spin on it has become quite irresistible lately. I hopped in line (like the bird), waited a cycle, and had another great time on this classic! I never get tired of Eli bridge rides (unless it's a Scrambler that goes too slowly, which thankfully is not the case at Kings Island, Cedar Point, or Coney Island).

 

 

I love this picture; a robin flew in front of me and I got it in mid-flight!

 

 

 

 

Shake, Rattle & Roll seemed to be having the hiccups. I saw it testing a few times, and there were a few ride technicians who were checking it out.

 

If you know me well, I would never go even one KI trip without riding Vortex at least once, even if that ride isn't until near the end of that trip! It was about 1:50 by this time. There was a minimal wait in the station. It was a 1 train wait for 2-1, in contrast to the 3- to 4-train wait for the front. I waited about 5 minutes before being swept away by Train #3.

 

 

 

 

 

After that ride (which was fun as always) I noticed that the rows for the back half of the train were empty in the station, including 7-1. Just like that, a supposed single ride turned into a double ride right in the middle of the afternoon as I made my way to 7-1 for another fun (and more intense!) ride.

 

Having finally ridden the special favorite, I decided to end this trip with a flight on WindSeeker.

 

 

Since I had entered the line when the cycle was ending, it did not take me long to walk to Seat 25. The soundtrack that played during my cycle was the "2001: Space Odyssey" theme. It was a nice, relaxing (and in some ways, thrilling) way to end this trip.

 

 

 

 

This one I took without looking.

 

 

Those pine trees by the batwing that were removed open up a clear view of the first drop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hadn't seen this view of Diamondback in a while...

 

 

 

 

I've taken plenty of photos like this, but this time I decided to include some shrubbery in the shot too.

 

Instead of putting my camera on top of the rail, I put it through the rail (close to the bottom) to get this.

 

A pair of Canada geese relax by the fountains.

 

 

The region's largest Starbucks!

 

Spotlight Souvenirs is open, for once...

 

 

 

[VortexBFForever]

So many photos! Part 4 will do the honors of bringing another great report to a close...

 

 

 

 

 

THERE'S that skyline picture...

 

Thanks again for reading! Next week, keep your eyes peeled for a report from the soon-to-happen June 12 trip!

 

+Delirium: 1

Total:19

 

+Invertigo: 1

Total: 11

 

+Drop Tower: 2

Total: 25

 

+The Bat: 1

Total: 67

 

+Banshee: 2

YTD: 3

Total: 11

 

+Adventure Express: 1

YTD: 3

Total: 37

 

+Racer: 1

Total - 14

Red: 12

Blue: 2

 

+Scrambler: 1

YTD: 2

Total: 12

 

+Vortex: 2

YTD: 7

Total: 267

 

+WindSeeker: 1

Total: 62

 

Notes:

-I appreciate the option of getting a free ticket/Temporary Pass to get in if my Pass inexplicably goes missing! (Speaking of which, I have $15 so I can get a replacement pass this Friday!)

-Lines weren't bad for an early summer day

-Coney Mall arch is missing

-Shake, Rattle & Roll had the hiccups

-Some lines were shorter than others (ex. Vortex, Banshee)

-I rode all the rides in Action Zone (with the exception of Xtreme Skyflyer)

-I unknowingly took my 25th ride on Drop Tower!

-It was my 60th Kings Island trip!!!