2008 attractions.

[FOFirehawkFAN]

I wonder what they were smoking when they decided to move the 2 FoF coasters to other Paramount Parks. FoF at KI is one of the most popular coasters in the park, more then ever now with Firehawk being next door. But even before that, it was still very popular.

So wait paramount wanted to move the FOFs from KI and KD? Where were they gonna move them to?

[DropZone99]

^ That reminds me of the whole X-Flight thing.

If you go to Michigan's Adventure's official CF myspace it says that they are getting X-Flight from GL. Wich as everyone know's is at KI.

So most likely Paramount was going to take out the FoF roller coasters and sell them to some other park. So they could get alot of money for something in 2008 [if they still owned the park] but the park was purchased by CF, luckily they decided not to sale FoF and just get a new ride for 07, so that in 2008 or 2009 they could have more than enough money to get something huge!

=]

[Browntggrr]

I wonder what they were smoking when they decided to move the 2 FoF coasters to other Paramount Parks. FoF at KI is one of the most popular coasters in the park, more then ever now with Firehawk being next door. But even before that, it was still very popular.

When the decision was made to bring X-Flight to KI, the powers that be probably looked for a parcel of land that was relatively flat and easy to develop given the time frame. Since the former helicopter ride was there previously, and the land was cleared for the most part, it was a rather easy decision.

Now if CF is planning another major ride/ expansion, past history (CP) suggests they will add to an area of the park that currently does not recieve a lot of attention from guests.

My bet is Rivertown.

[BoddaH1994]

I wonder what they were smoking when they decided to move the 2 FoF coasters to other Paramount Parks. FoF at KI is one of the most popular coasters in the park, more then ever now with Firehawk being next door. But even before that, it was still very popular.

When the decision was made to bring X-Flight to KI, the powers that be probably looked for a parcel of land that was relatively flat and easy to develop given the time frame. Since the former helicopter ride was there previously, and the land was cleared for the most part, it was a rather easy decision.

Now if CF is planning another major ride/ expansion, past history (CP) suggests they will add to an area of the park that currently does not recieve a lot of attention from guests.

My bet is Rivertown.

Word on the street is that the X-Flight decision was made based on Kinzel's thought that KI lacked a good collection of steels, which is something I don't doubt at all. They have plenty of places where they could have put X-Flight in storage if they really wanted to.

[soviettraitor]

i have to agree with that about that somewaht, casue the last steel we got (Italian Yob), from most the people ive talked to, wasnt that good, so they needed something inovative and attracting, and a lot of people have been wanting a flyer, and since Geauga Lake isnt doing so good, it would have been much more profitable to move it to KI, instade of buying a new one from B&M or Vekoma

[DeMoN]

I am not so sure about FOF being one of the most popular rides at Kings Island. Everytime I have been at the park the line was only like a 10 to 15 minute wait minus the year it opened and I waited in line for 4 hours for it. I like the ride as do many others. I still feel The Beast is the most popular in the park, almost anyone who is tall enough to ride and likes Roller Coaster takes at least 1 if not 2 rides on The Beast (1 during the day and some shoot for a night ride). Son of Beast although many complained about the pain etc. had some of the longer lines and high ridership. Two of my personal favorites (aside from The Beast) are not even really Roller Coasters (Avatar and Delirium).

I like FOF but if I had the choice of having FOF or a new B&M Invert, Intamin Hyper, Intamin Giga I would choose the latter over FOF. That is just my opinion however.

[Browntggrr]

^ There is no doubt that FoF is one of the most popular ride KI has. Just because it does not have a line when you are there, does not mean that it is not popular.

Consider yourself lucky with quick lines!

[PKIVortex]

Since 2001 I have hardly ever seen FoF with a 10 minute line, unless it was a slow day. FoF from what I've seen always pulls a pretty good line.

Yes CBS was considering moving the FoF coasters, in fact the one at KD was closed most of the season, until Cedar Fair re-opened it in August. I believe the KD was going to be moved to Carowinds and the KI one to Canada's Wonderland. But that didn't happen as CF took over the park.

[FOFirehawkFAN]

I am not so sure about FOF being one of the most popular rides at Kings Island. Everytime I have been at the park the line was only like a 10 to 15 minute wait minus the year it opened and I waited in line for 4 hours for it. I like the ride as do many others. I still feel The Beast is the most popular in the park, almost anyone who is tall enough to ride and likes Roller Coaster takes at least 1 if not 2 rides on The Beast (1 during the day and some shoot for a night ride). Son of Beast although many complained about the pain etc. had some of the longer lines and high ridership. Two of my personal favorites (aside from The Beast) are not even really Roller Coasters (Avatar and Delirium).

I like FOF but if I had the choice of having FOF or a new B&M Invert, Intamin Hyper, Intamin Giga I would choose the latter over FOF. That is just my opinion however.

From my experience The Beast has almost always been a walk on for me and if not only like a 15-20min wait. FOF is almost never a walk on unless you run there first thing in the morning.

[Hendrick]

So they could get alot of money for something in 2008 [if they still owned the park] but the park was purchased by CF, luckily they decided not to sale FoF and just get a new ride for 07, so that in 2008 or 2009 they could have more than enough money to get something huge!

=]

Not true. They weren't selling them. They were moving them to other paramount parks.

[DeMoN]

I guess I just look at more popular rides differently. Most people I talk to that have never been to Kings Island and/or plan on visiting Kings Island when I am on trips to Cali etc. for my job give me hints to the more popular rides. In fact every person I have spoke to on my business trips to other states have heard of and or ask about The Beast but never mention FOF. That is what I call a popular ride and it has been doing it for years now. How many trains are running on a track and how many people can ride on the train can greatly influence lines. If FOF only has 1 or 2 trains running but The Beast has 3 running The Beast is surely going to have a shorter line. The longest lines I usually see are for Face/Off, Drop Zone, Delirium, etc. because they can only take so many people per ride and there aren't multiple trains etc.

The least popular ride I have seen at KI is Top Gun. The past few years I have gone to ride it there were barely enough people to fill 1 train.

[flightoffear1996]

I heard that the Water Park will be getting some new slides in the 2008 season.

[FOFirehawkFAN]

I guess I just look at more popular rides differently. Most people I talk to that have never been to Kings Island and/or plan on visiting Kings Island when I am on trips to Cali etc. for my job give me hints to the more popular rides. In fact every person I have spoke to on my business trips to other states have heard of and or ask about The Beast but never mention FOF. That is what I call a popular ride and it has been doing it for years now. How many trains are running on a track and how many people can ride on the train can greatly influence lines. If FOF only has 1 or 2 trains running but The Beast has 3 running The Beast is surely going to have a shorter line. The longest lines I usually see are for Face/Off, Drop Zone, Delirium, etc. because they can only take so many people per ride and there aren't multiple trains etc.

The least popular ride I have seen at KI is Top Gun. The past few years I have gone to ride it there were barely enough people to fill 1 train.

True, but FOF never uses only 1 train im pretty sure they use 3 just like The Beast. And the reason The Beast has a rep like that is cause its old, a record breaker, and a classic FOF is just a fun ride. But as far as Top Gun they need to add some fog over there and give it a new paint job SOON.

[DeMoN]

FOF use to actually have 4 trains, 6 cars per train, seating 2 across in 2 rows and could seat 24 passengers per train. Since they have modified the restraints from the OTS to lap bar restraints they have only ran 2 trains with 5 cars seating 2 across in 2 rows allowing 20 passengers per train. Right now they don't run 3 trains. The Beast runs 3 trains with 6 cars per train 2 across with 3 rows per car which allows 36 passengers per train. I do agree that FOF is a fun ride. The Beast is a fun ride also, very unique however and those of us who ride it a lot under estimate it. Nowhere in the world will you find a terrain woodie like The Beast. It no longer holds the record for fastest or tallest but still does for the longest ride. It is old but it is still a very unique woodie.

Top Gun is indeed in need of something. It can be a very fun fast ride although short. If something isn't done I can see it being tore out for a newer ride. I have been very critical about some moves made at Kings Island in the past. Not because I hate KI, but because I love KI. I have been to KI at least 1 time per year since 1977. Unfortunately under Paramount they had made some of their more ignorant moves. I am glad to see Firehawk come even if it is used, it definitely adds to a great park.

Last year when my wife and I took our kids to the park I was starting to be impressed already under Cedar Fair's ownership. Little things really stood out to me: Cleanliness (gum being taken off the areas you always use to see), the workers were out and about constantly changing bags to trash cans and sweeping walkways of trash, things looked to have starts of better up keep. I personally felt that other than some rides needing fresh coats of paint the park looked great and the atmosphere was great. It was starting to remind me of Kings Island before Paramount bought them out. That is definitely a positive, judging how Cedar Fair runs their parks I see great improvements coming to Kings Island for Families, Coaster enthusiast, and people of all sorts.

[CoastersRZ]

Flight of Fear never had six car trains. It has always had five car trains. Yes, it was designed to run four trains. The first couple of years, I believe they ran three trains. But since they converted the over the shoulder restraints to lap bars, they have only operated two trains. KI retrofitted three trains to the lap bars. Occasionally, you may see the third train on the storage track.

[welchce]

From my experience The Beast has almost always been a walk on for me and if not only like a 15-20min wait. FOF is almost never a walk on unless you run there first thing in the morning.

I have had the exact same experience. But as said it doesn't mean that FoF is KI's flagship roller coaster. The Beast has been and will always be (as long as it is still running) the coaster that KI is known for. However, FoF may have longer lines because of lower ride capacity and that FoF is in a building that is air conditioned and a prime spot for when people get hot in the summer.

Also, The Beast is in the back of the park kind of by itself. The only other thing around it is TR:TR whereas FoF can be reached by people going to or from The Vortex, Spongbob, Racer, and other flats. One of the only reasons I even go into Rivertown is to ride The Beast.

[Ki Man]

The Beast would be an amazing coaster if they took off those #$%@%^^$%T$ trims! It was a superb woodie without them, not it is robbed of airtime and even more relentless speeds.

I hope Rivertown will become the wild west area in terms of how they made it become popular at Cedar Point. A few years ago, all they had was Mean Streak, aka piece of crap. Two years later, they have a cool flat and world class coaster. Sure, they had to take out a ride to make room for an excellent one, but I can see this happening at KI. All we have is Beast and TR:TR.

Firehawk was poorly placed IMO. Just like at GL. The very back of the park. You hardly have any acess to the ride!

A Mauhr (sp) Sohne spinner or Geastaleur spinner/95* drop coaster could go well back there. They fit into tight places and work wonders. (hmm..that sounds funny o.x

[Reon]

Truthfully, FoF works better only running 2 trains. Having recently gone to SFA, I noticed how slow Joker's Jinx ran with one station and 2 trains. It almost takes the entire ride's lenght for the train on the brakes to get back to the station, let alone unload people. With FoF's second station, they can unload the brake train while the load station loads and resets for launch. The MCBR makes this especially more efficieant. A third train would only get in the way, constantly making use of the MCBR to stall riders in that block.

Now to fuel the rumor fire. I've noticed this year a picture of Accellorator's tophat on all the souvenier cup posters. Its a long shot, yes, but it IS possible for KI to get some sort of small rocket coaster next year.

1. As previously mentioned, Dick's favoritism towards KI

2. Also as previously mentioned, we need more of a diverse coaster line up, and we could always get something new.

3. CP's history with Intamin

4. Subliminal hints are our friends. Remember how the TV's were showing IJ stunt stuff the year before we got IJ:ST?

5. This DOESNT have to be another TTD or anything. I'm guessing something along the lines of Kanonen, StormRunner, or Rita. Some sort of compact layout that is relitively small but still thrills.

6. It could easily be Rivertown's new coaster, seing as CF tends to be drifting towards the old west with their newest "themed" coasters.

If this doesnt happen (its feasible, though still a long shot), I'd like to see more substance in the X base section. They need more than 2 rides there...maybe some new flats or a restaurant?

[PKIVortex]

Actually the only way a train would stall in the block for a long period of time would, if for some reason they didn't get the train in unload moved to the holding area. They used to run 3 trains on FoF pretty well.

[BoddaH1994]

I remember when they had 3 trains and one would be kind of parked just outside of the entrance tunnel to the station. I think the original intention of the ride was to have another train almost immediately roll in empty after the other launched to give the effect that the ride had 'eaten' the last trainload.

[Browntggrr]

Firehawk was poorly placed IMO. Just like at GL. The very back of the park. You hardly have any acess to the ride!

First, X-Flight was at the very entrance to GL.

Second; Beast, FoF and Vortex are at the back of the park (from your point of view). Their location has not seemed to shy people away from riding those coasters.

I am wondering what location has to do with any 2008 project.

[DeMoN]

Flight of Fear never had six car trains. It has always had five car trains. Yes, it was designed to run four trains. The first couple of years, I believe they ran three trains. But since they converted the over the shoulder restraints to lap bars, they have only operated two trains. KI retrofitted three trains to the lap bars. Occasionally, you may see the third train on the storage track.

Taken Directly from RCDB see the bold red print:

Roller Coaster: Flight of Fear (2001 to ?)

Outer Limits: Flight of Fear (1996 to 2000)

Amusement Park: Kings Island (Kings Mills, Ohio 45034 USA)

Classification: Roller Coaster

Type: Steel - Sit Down

Status: Operating since 1996

Make / Model: Premier Rides / LIM Coaster

Designer: Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH

Categories: Enclosed

Lift / Launch System: LIM

Capacity: 2000 riders per hour

Length: 2705'

Height: 74' 2"

Inversions: 4

Speed: 54 mph

Duration: 1:00

G-Force: 4.5

Elements: Cobra Roll

Sidewinder

Corkscrew

Trains: 4 trains with 6 cars per train. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. Riders must be 54" or taller to ride.

The Flight of Fear originally had over the shoulder restraints. For the 2001 season, the over the shoulder restraints were replaced with lap bar restraints.

It isn't quite clear how many of the original trains were converted to lap bar only restraints. The Flight of Fear originally had four trains with six cars each. Today only two of these trains seem to ever operate simultaneously with only five cars each. Some rumors indicate the sixth car may return in the future.

Restraints: Individual ratcheting lap bar.

[teenageninja]

You can't take it as gospel, it had 5 car trains, trust me.

[CoastersRZ]

You know, not every thing over on RCDB is correct. This just happens to be one of those times when they have a slightly incorrect fact on their site. Just look at the way the exit platform is set up. When a train is parked there, it takes up the entire platform. If there was another car, there would be a car either in the tunnel to the load station, or a car back past the operator stand in the holding brakes.

[Browntggrr]

You know, not every thing over on RCDB is correct.

You are correct.

Check this out about SoB:

http://www.rcdb.com/document31.htm

Trains

Three trains, with six cars each, holding a total of 36 riders per train.

Hourly Capacity

1,600 guests

There are 3 trains, but it never ran 3 trains like it was supposedly designed for.

RCDB usually is very accurate, but it is the minor things that sometimes get overlooked.

[ragerunner]

For 2008 I hope KI either gets a new water coaster with some good theming or several small rides that might go with a retheming of a park area. (Example: Action Zone being rethemed to a safari village with a few family flat rides and a kids play area.)

[PKIVortex]

Yep RCDB has some wrong facts about FoF. It never had 6 car trains, it always had 5 car trains.

[MarketingExpress]

For 2008 I hope KI either gets a new water coaster with some good theming or several small rides that might go with a retheming of a park area. (Example: Action Zone being rethemed to a safari village with a few family flat rides and a kids play area.)

I wouldn't hold your breath for your AZ dream. I think Action Zone is fine as it is being an area packed with high thrill rides. To place family flat rides in it would bring down the image that it currently protrays. If you want that type of atmosphere go take a walk in Nick Universe

[ragerunner]

For 2008 I hope KI either gets a new water coaster with some good theming or several small rides that might go with a retheming of a park area. (Example: Action Zone being rethemed to a safari village with a few family flat rides and a kids play area.)

I wouldn't hold your breath for your AZ dream. I think Action Zone is fine as it is being an area packed with high thrill rides. To place family flat rides in it would bring down the image that it currently protrays. If you want that type of atmosphere go take a walk in Nick Universe

Actually, some of the best themed areas in different parks are the areas that offer something for everyone.

[Vortex]

While I don't know what Kings Island might be getting in 2008 their is a rumor that Knott's Barry Farm will be getting another coaster next year.