MDMC01 Posted May 19, 2019 Posted May 19, 2019 As some of you know, The Bat (1993, fka Top gun/Flight Deck) is my favorite coaster at Kings Island and as of 5/19/2019, I've ridden it over 200* times. However, during my 7-ride marathon today I wondered what the "best" seat was? What I mean by this is what was the seat that the ride was designed around? For example, the "best" seat on Vortex is 5-1 as the ride was apparently designed around that particular set of seats. I actually rode in 5-1 (left side) twice and while it gave a great ride, I wanted to know definitively, if anyone on here knows. So, anyone know what seat The Bat (or maybe even Arrow Suspended coasters in general) was (were) designed around? *I've probably ridden it a ton more as I've only started counting my rides since 2010. Quote
Logan Posted May 19, 2019 Posted May 19, 2019 I would say 5-1 or 1-1. Definitely in the first row of a car because of the added legroom. On Vortex I prefer 7-1 as the airtime on the first drop is the best in the park. 3 Quote
IndyGuy4KI Posted May 20, 2019 Posted May 20, 2019 I don't know what row Arrow designed the ride around like Vortex, but my favorite is in row 1 or 2. The swinging action in the front is my favorite on The Bat. 5 Quote
TheBEASTunchained Posted May 20, 2019 Posted May 20, 2019 My personal favorite place to sit is the last car. Much like sitting in the back car of Vortex, or some other Arrow coasters, the airtime on the first drop is phenomenal. And underrated. 3 Quote
lifetimecoaster Posted May 20, 2019 Posted May 20, 2019 That's interesting, I've never tried the back seat on The Bat because the ride is not super fast or tall so I normally go for the thrill of the front seat. May have to try rear seat. 2 Quote
TombRaiderFTW Posted May 20, 2019 Posted May 20, 2019 I don't know that I've ever heard of Arrow's suspended coasters being designed around a particular row. The loopers, yes--it's 5-1. With very few exceptions, 5-1 is great on their loopers. I don't typically get super excited about Arrow looping coasters, but 5-1 on Loch Ness Monster is one of my favorite things to ride. I've always heard the 5-1 thing associated with Ron Toomer, but I don't know Arrow's history well enough to know if he designed all of their rides, if he applied that to every ride he did, etc. That being said, The Bat is much swingier in the first car. The last car has airtime on the first drop, and you'll get whipped around the turn over the lift hill. The rest of the ride is kind of the same regardless of row, except when you swing up into the brakes, your car won't swing as much if you're in the back. In the front, you'll feel like you nearly reach 90 degrees (although I don't think it's actually that extreme.) I personally find the swinging aspect to be more fun than the forcefulness of the last row. Your mileage may vary depending on what you prefer. It's a fun and underrated ride regardless. 7 Quote
MDMC01 Posted May 21, 2019 Author Posted May 21, 2019 Great feedback, everyone! I personally like the very front seat, but 5-1 was nice when I rode it Sunday and the back is always insane (in a good way). Re: most Arrow loopers being designed around 5-1, I’ll have to try Corkscrew in that row and see if my ride experience improves! -MDMC, who literally fell into his seat while boarding Corkscrew last time he was at The Point. EDIT: 2-1 is also not a bad seat on The Bat. 2 Quote
Creed Bratton Posted May 21, 2019 Posted May 21, 2019 My favorite seat is the front of the back of The Bat! Followed up by row 1! 3 Quote
timfsu2k Posted May 21, 2019 Posted May 21, 2019 Question about identifying the seats you are talking about: When you say seat 5-1, are you meaning the seat that is the fifth row back, and on the left side of the train? So if you wanted that seat you would go to the fifth queue lane and sit in the farthest seat from you when you get onto the ride? Quote
Magenta Lizard Posted May 21, 2019 Posted May 21, 2019 5-1 means the front row of the fifth car from the front, either left or right seat. 5-2 would refer to the back row of the same car. 3 Quote
silver2005 Posted May 21, 2019 Posted May 21, 2019 I honestly don't have a preference for Bat, though, I will say I'm more willing to wait 3-4 trains to ride the front seat a couple times a season than about any other coaster in the park sans Beast. 2 Quote
homestar92 Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 I'm a 3-1 guy on The Bat. On Vortex, I was once a 5-1 guy but now it's 7-1 or nothing. That pop of airtime on the first drop is unlike anything you'll find on any other coaster. When I first got into roller coasters, I had to have 1-1 on everything. Now I can't even tell you how long it's been since I rode 1-1 on Vortex. Probably a few years. Maybe I should give it a go again. 1 Quote
Logan Posted May 25, 2019 Posted May 25, 2019 10 hours ago, homestar92 said: I'm a 3-1 guy on The Bat. On Vortex, I was once a 5-1 guy but now it's 7-1 or nothing. That pop of airtime on the first drop is unlike anything you'll find on any other coaster. When I first got into roller coasters, I had to have 1-1 on everything. Now I can't even tell you how long it's been since I rode 1-1 on Vortex. Probably a few years. Maybe I should give it a go again. Another 7-1 truther! It truly does provide the best airtime moment in the entire park. Quote
homestar92 Posted May 25, 2019 Posted May 25, 2019 ^ Best in the park? I think it's the best in the state, and I'm a guy who adores Magnum's bunny hills! Quote
Logan Posted May 25, 2019 Posted May 25, 2019 1 hour ago, homestar92 said: ^ Best in the park? I think it's the best in the state, and I'm a guy who adores Magnum's bunny hills! Magnum's bunny hills in the magic seat and Maverick's first drop in the back are better than Vortex's imo Quote
ldhudsonjr Posted July 3, 2019 Posted July 3, 2019 Sat in the front with my wife a couple weeks ago, and I'm pretty sure that was the best experience I've ever had riding that coaster. It honestly reminded me of what it felt like to ride it when I was a kid. 2 Quote
coastergirl24 Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 I like the front seat when it is really dark outside and the back seat when it is light outside. 4 Quote
ldhudsonjr Posted July 8, 2019 Posted July 8, 2019 4 hours ago, APE said: 2nd to last row every time. Don’t care which seat. Interesting answer. Why second to last? Quote
Maverick44 Posted July 8, 2019 Posted July 8, 2019 I'll take front seat all day on The Bat. I love right when the train disconnects from the chain lift. It used to be more secluded back in the Top Gun days I loved it so much and then going down the hill is amazing. Quote
APE Posted July 8, 2019 Posted July 8, 2019 12 minutes ago, ldhudsonjr said: Interesting answer. Why second to last? The ride is good for the whip/strong pull sensation in the back. If you take the front of the car you have more leg room. So second to last row every time for me 3 Quote
ldhudsonjr Posted July 8, 2019 Posted July 8, 2019 Just now, APE said: The ride is good for the whip/strong pull sensation in the back. If you take the front of the car you have more leg room. So second to last row every time for me I'll definitely give that a shot next time I'm at the park. 1 Quote
kingsislandfan1972 Posted December 15, 2020 Posted December 15, 2020 My favorite seat on The Bat is definitely the front, I actually prefer The Bat front seat than the front seat of Iron Dragon at Cedar Point. Quote
Honorarius Posted December 20, 2020 Posted December 20, 2020 On 12/15/2020 at 10:36 AM, kingsislandfan1972 said: My favorite seat on The Bat is definitely the front, I actually prefer The Bat front seat than the front seat of Iron Dragon at Cedar Point. Iron Dragon is what you would get if you ordered The Bat from Wish.com 6 Quote
MDMC01 Posted December 21, 2020 Author Posted December 21, 2020 First off, thanks for bumping this, whoever did. I totally forgot I made this lol! Also, in response to myself: On 5/20/2019 at 8:39 PM, MDMC01 said: Great feedback, everyone! I personally like the very front seat, but 5-1 was nice when I rode it Sunday and the back is always insane (in a good way). Re: most Arrow loopers being designed around 5-1, I’ll have to try Corkscrew in that row and see if my ride experience improves! -MDMC, who literally fell into his seat while boarding Corkscrew last time he was at The Point. EDIT: 2-1 is also not a bad seat on The Bat. Yes, Corkscrew's ride experience improves in 5-1. Yes, it's still a bit wonky due to the curvature of the seat (IIRC), but it makes the ride decent. Quote
GigasAre300f Posted December 21, 2020 Posted December 21, 2020 The one that's open 8') Ride on! Quote
coastercouple Posted January 3, 2021 Posted January 3, 2021 I'm really big fan of the first row or back row on arrow suspended coasters. Can't even recall if I rode The Bat in anything but those two seats in my 6+ years of going to KI, since the line for The Bat is never long... 2 Quote
kingsislandfan1972 Posted February 1, 2024 Posted February 1, 2024 Since there is never really a line for The Bat, I feel the very first seat is always the best, especially at night! (Now let's talk about the Bats LONG que.) Quote
DJSkyFoxx Posted February 1, 2024 Posted February 1, 2024 Very front because of the view and also that last big swing before it hits hard into the brakes feels like you're about to slam into one of the support beams. Get's me every time. And the very back row because of the bigger feeling of speed. This ride is so deserving of much more praise. It's such a powerhouse of a little coaster. 3 Quote
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