Kings Island Trip Report 7/13/15

[PiperArcher]

                My cousins travelled from Pennsylvania to visit our family over this past long weekend, so four of us decided to go to Kings Island for the day. The weather wasn’t looking good for both Monday and Tuesday, but we decided to go on Monday. We arrived at the park at 9AM and I got them the Gold Pass BOF tickets. We were within the first 20 people through the gates and I guided them to Diamondback for some ERT, which the $40 BOF tickets get as well. We rode Diamondback on the second train out of the day in the back two rows, and then after that, we went right back on in the second car. Two great rides.
 

                After our two circuits on Diamondback, we decided we had time for a ride on Banshee before the entire park opened at 10, so I guided them over to Banshee and literally walked right on to the back row. I have never had a more intense ride than the back row on Banshee, so I wanted my cousins to experience that. Great ride and funny ride ops that morning. It was a good experience, and I hit my 200^th inversion which was the last loop before the barrel role. (Yes I keep track of my inversion count as well as my ride count) As we exited Banshee, we saw a literal horde of people coming to the ride. Perfect timing for us. Come to find out, the park forgot to open the path leading to Coney Island, so almost everyone was funneled into Action Zone. They took the rope down as soon as we were walking towards it.
 

                We then started toward X-Base for the standard no line rides on FoF and Firehawk. We rode FoF front car first. Instead of taunting riders before launch, the ride op at the time just said facts about space. Cool, but not as fun as some of the stuff I have heard before launches. After FoF we went to Firehawk. This was all of our first time on a flying coaster. I had yet to ride Firehawk even though I’ve been to the park quite a few times. We walked right on to it and had no wait. I had no idea what was going on during that ride. It was mental and gave me a headache. Two of us took a break while the other two rode it again. It was a fun ride, but I think I may just leave it as one of those “I’ve got the credit for it, so I’m done” kind of rides.
 

                We all were hurting after Firehawk, so we went to Backlot Stunt Coaster for a slower smaller ride before hitting up Beast. Backlot was pretty good, but still a waste of space IMHO. God forbid if the park ever ends up taking out Vortex, they should take Backlot out with it and build a mega coaster there. Anyways, our next coaster was Beast. We had no line again and rode in the last row of the second car and first row of the third. Good ride as usual. I love the first tunnel turn after the second lift hill. Glorious…

                We decided to get a drink and rest for a while because one of my cousins was feeling a bit sick, and we didn’t want him to throw up. We walked to the tables over by Adventure Express and Racer. After about 20 minutes, we all felt better. It was only 11AM, so we did a marathon of 6 different coasters in that time. No wonder one of us felt a bit ill. We got in the nonexistent line for a ride on Adventure Express after our break. Fun ride, but the last hill is anticlimactic to say the least. For those who read the Ride Op thread in the forums, no invisible cat was spotted in the station that morning. After Adventure Express, we rode Red Racer. Only one side was running, and only one train was being used because someone threw up in the other. This was our longest wait; a grueling 8 minutes. Good ride, but bumpier than usual. Beast was also running bumpier than normal. Probably had something to do with the imminent rainstorm and the wood. I don’t know…
 

                After racer, we hit up the Dodgems and had the ride to ourselves. The four of us had a blast, but as usual, it was cut short as all bumper car rides are. We then decided we felt good enough for the rough loveable Vortex which was the final big coaster they had not ridden yet. Rode in the third car which was not ideal, but still a good rough ride. My cousins kept laughing because I kept making comments about all of us needing neck braces after the ride. Again, two of us got off the ride, and the other two asked if they could stay on the ride and go again since there was no line and half empty trains going out. They were able to and rode it a second time.

                After Vortex, the rain was about 15 minutes out, and we wanted to go up the top of Eiffel Tower before the rain came. We went to the top and saw the views. Once we got down, we rushed for Diamondback and tried to get one last ride in before the rain, but unfortunately, the rides closed even before the rain, so we called it a day. The rain hit just as we pulled out of the parking lot. Stopped at the Wendy’s one exit south of the park on I-71 for a bite to eat before we headed home and to wait the storm out as it had gotten really bad.  

               
                Overall, it was a fantastic day at the park with absolutely no lines due to the heavy storms in the forecast keeping people away. Not to mention that it was a Monday. The park was literally dead. I would say it was a successful day of coaster riding. Looking forward to bringing my counsins back to Kings Island next year. They were amazed at how long the coasters were compared to those at their home park, Hersheypark. Well that is my trip report. I hope it wasn’t boring and y’all enjoyed reading it! Rainy Mondays at Kings Island are AWESOME!

Rides:
Diamondback (Back car walk on)
Diamondback (Second car walk on)
Banshee (Back row walk on)
Flight of Fear (Front car walk on)
Firehawk (Back row walk on)
Backlot Stunt Coaster (Front car walk on)
Beast (Second car one train wait)
Adventure Express (Third car walk on)
Racer (Back car 8 minute wait for cleanup)
Dodgems (Empty walk on)
Vortex (Third car walk on)
Eiffel Tower (Walk on…)