I got to ride both while it was still night and during the day and while it's a really good ride during the day, holy crap was it crazy at night. Makes me wonder after people discover it, which ride will have the longer night ride line, Mystic Timbers or The Beast. Hmm...
As for "What's in the Shed?" Watch the video below. Yes, I'm having fun with it and yes I'm hamming it up to an extreme (seriously, what did you expect from me?) but what I describe is actually *EXACTLY* what is in the shed! Not joking! Now there are different variations. One time we got Hall & Oats, another time we got Gary Newman's Cars. I also heard that Ace of Base is in there and Bonnie Tyler, but I never heard those two.
Basically you pull into the brake run which is themed to an abandoned shed due to some really unexplainable scary stuff that happened in the 1980s (yes, that's the story line) and the first thing that happens is you see some beat up "shed stuff" with an old cassette player. It plays a song for you. You can dance, you can enjoy it. It's there. Next you advance into a room with some projections of "spoooooooky things!" We saw angry trees, bats, I heard there were lizards, too. I think some eyes glowed at you and there was some nice product placement with a beat up Coca-Cola machine. And that's what's in the shed! lol
Honestly, it's "fine." I think as the park told me "Normally you just sit on the brake run waiting for the train in front of you to finish loading and dispatching. We just wanted to give the rider something to look at and have fun with it." And that's exactly what it is. Those of you who were expecting a drop track or an inversion, or giant ladies to come tickle you with feathers, re-adjust your expectations now.
I actually think it would have been funny as hell if you pulled into that first room and just heard Rick Astley on the tape deck playing! That would have been the ultimate theme park "We trolled you!!!" and it would have made me very happy! lol But the show scene is nice, too.
Anyway onto some photos & video!
Yes, that video does in fact reveal What's In The Shed!
And here is the park-supplied POV and B-Roll for your viewing pleasure:
- Here I am at Kings Island at 5am. I want you all to know that I normally don't even start getting out of bed until around 10am, so you can see the sacrifice I'm making here! lol
- It's still dark, but there are fountains.
- I'm tired, and I needed reminding where I was...
- I walked a few hundred feet from sign A to sign B and yet again forgotten. Thankfully I know now.
- Here's the ride entrance sign. But it's night time. It looks exactly the same during the day. But lighter.
- I took this sort of blurry picture of the train and people's bald heads. It's the only picture of the train that I took because I'm horrible at this.
- The sun is starting to rise and you can see that blue stuff in the air behind the coaster.
- This is probably going to be the best picture I'll take the whole day, so it's cool if you want to stop reading right now.
- I had to wear this thing in order to ride.
- It had my name on it! I love it! You know you're a celebrity at a coaster media event when everyone is wearing your name around their necks! lol I did do some TV interviews and newspaper stuff. If anyone happens to see them, please link us!
- There's a magical disappearing podium. It disappeared shortly after everything was done and it was never heard from again.
- Mike Koontz came out and said some words.
- Rob Decker said more words and things.
- Adam House was all "Doesn't GCI kick A$$? Yeah we do, baby!"
- Don was all "pardon me while I eat this microphone. OM NOM NOM!"
Seriously though, great presentation. Short and to the point. And that's how we like it!
Here's the replay of the live stream:
- I figured we'll throw in some POV shots for you. This is "Imma gonna carry the train thing up the hill" section.
- This is the top of the hill where you see more roller coasters.
- You can see the ride is "Twisty" but I didn't say "Twiiiiisty" in the video because that's sooooo 2010!
- And here is the shed. Today we tweeted about things that could be in the shed, and this is what we tweeted:
#WhatsInTheShed? Measles. Everyone gets measles.
#WhatsInTheShed A giant spider web filled with fruit!
#WhatsInTheShed The nuclear fridge from Indiana Jones 4.
#WhatsInTheShed Hall & Oats are in the shed!
#WhatsInTheShed A guy with a megaphone saying "don't go in the shed."
#WhatsInTheShed The Boners of the Elderly.
One of them was 100% true. Another one was sort of true.
- Here's pictures of the roller coaster thingy.
- People seem to be having fun, but they were also promised free food, and that goes a long way at a media event! lol
- Dude. Front Row. Left Side. Has issues.
- Dear Kings Island. Please do not listen to the tree hugging hippies and mercilessly chop all these down. That would have been such a great photo!
- Cut these while you're at it. Thanks!
- This is the front of the train. It turns out you're in a crappy old truck going on a joy-ride. They didn't supply me with any Coors Light though and I'm OK with that.
- This sign has words on it. It's themed to a book that also has words.
- Here's the actual truck you're supposed to be riding in.
- #WhatsInTheSecondShed
- Hung out with Nick today at Kings Island. We both have similar social media woes. This means we need more alcohol.
- We took a picture. It was a nice picture. I'm trying to attack Cassy. Travis is all "LookatmeI'mcool!" Other dude sat down next me and said "I have no issues with you." And I was all... "Thanks...I guess?" It's cool, though. I have no issues with me either! lol
- Tomorrow this goose will be in the shed.
- They gave is this nice bag and a commemorative media day ticket framed! I'm actually giving one away on our Twitter, so go try to win it!
That's it! Media day DONE! Get out and ride Mystic Timbers. We'll be back at Kings Island later in the year!
Much of what you said reflected my thoughts as well. A great, solid coaster overall! The shed definitely adds to the experience, and I'm happy that they chose to do something interesting instead of just have riders simply waiting to get off. It might not be worth all of the hype and speculation it had been getting, but it's better than nothing. Plus the coaster layout makes up for all of that!