RAWKIN_coaster38

I liked FoF at KI and didn't get why people thought it was so rough until I rode the one at KD and experienced how much better that one is.

You look way too happy on that horse Cool TR! I'd totally do the campout, but hell will freeze over before I get my significant other camping...especially with all the bugs at CP! Did you guys have any problems with the mayflies? Friday was a nightmare. I don't think I've ever been to CP when they were that bad. Also, we tried Melt for the first time on this last trip too and it was scrumptious! I liked that they clearly marked which sandwiches were vegetarian or could be made vegetarian. It took WAY too long to get our food, though! Also, when I first rode SV I thought to myself that the only negative I could see people saying about it was, "It's too intense." I guess that level of intensity isn't for everyone, but man.... I definitely don't relate.

Topper track 100% confirmed. Flags don’t lie.

^as a another user previously mentioned, before Goldstriker opened “officially” they soft-opened to those of us who were at the park that day. Then they ran the promo shoot that anyone could be a part of. THEN they did their opening ceremony. Fun fact: I got to be on the train that ran during the ceremony. There were fireworks going off along the lift as we went up. Probably one of those “once-in-a-lifetime” moments. when i added funpix this year, they gave me a new card with the qr code instead of the old bar code. i heard others having their cards replaced with the drink plan. not sure if that had something to do with your photos not working or not. i did get my new card at the same park i bought it at though, knott's. Yes, that’s why I initially had gotten a new one at KD, they were trading my card for the one with the QR code. Now, I believe all new passes (or at least Platinums) have them.

TR from the park yesterday: My Platinum pass had gotten stolen literally the day before, so I worried if I'd have any trouble parking, getting in, and using FunPix and drink pass. I actually managed to go through most of the day scanning my pass from my phone for everything. I hadn't been to CGA in a few years and was hoping that Railblazer would be open by now, but we still had a good time. Besides some school groups that we avoided for the most part, park was pretty dead. I think longest we waited was maybe 10-15 minutes for Grizzly but several rides were walk-on or one train wait, including Flight Deck and Goldstriker. This was my first time riding Patriot since the conversion. I absolutely HATED Vortex with a passion. I was skeptical about whether I'd like Patriot and well.... still hated it. Saying this ride is "better than Vortex" just means the trash is slightly less trash than before, the poo has been polished but it's still poo, etc. First ride I rode in the back left... big mistake. Basically from the end of the drop to the brakes I was struggling to prevent my ears from bashing. Ended up wrapping my arms around the top of the restraint to give my ears more cushion and punched myself in the face twice. Heard from a friend that maybe back left wasn't the best idea, try front and center. Nope. Still sucked. Still got punched. My friend, however, liked Patriot and thought it was less rough than Goldstriker (?????????). At least for me, I can safely say I do not have the urge to ride that ride ever again. Goldstriker was just as fun and maybe even funner than I remembered it... in the front. Back row has gotten a lot more jarring. It's not rough compared to lots of other rougher wooden coasters, but compared to what it was? Rougher. I like Mystic Timbers better (dat shed tho). I must say, though, CGA employees are really dumb when it comes to Platinum passes. Maybe they just don't see them enough? The girl at Goldstriker was super confused both times I went to get FunPix. My first ride I ended up having to use the kiosk because she had no idea what to do. Second time she said she scanned my pass correctly and obviously didn't because I didn't get that photo. Manager at the season pass center was also dumb. I showed him my pass uploaded on the KI app and he said, "You'll have to go to Kings Island to get a new pass." I told him my Platinum was actually renewed at Cedar Point but it didn't matter. He said if he gave me a new pass it would say, "California's Great America" on it and I wouldn't be able to get into the other parks. Um...what? Also, has it always costed $15 for a replacement? I paid my f*&$#@ arm and leg to buy this pass in the first place, and they're going to charge me for a new card? Overall, though, it was a good day. Weather was perfect. Funniest moment: when we were in line for Grizzly and I told my friend it was voted the worst wooden coaster in the U.S. Her, totally serious: "OMG really? That's awesome! I never thought I'd be able to say I rode the worst roller coaster." Railblazer looks even more amazing and stunning in person! The sign is now up I may not be able to ride it yet, but at least I can try out the seat. It's Spring, and no Railblazer. Sadface. :'( Such wow We got spit on by a giant worm and loved it! I had to take a picture of this drink machine, because this was FIRE. The juices were so scrumptious and tasty and not too sweet. All CF parks should get these! Such great flavors. Wish we had gone here first rather than getting sodas earlier in the day. Obligatory carousel shot. Still talked about riding it and never rode it. This was the one and only time I smiled on this ride....sorta Still a solid ride and one of the best GCIs! Getting ready for the pain

How so? The SV crew turns trains around quickly (dispatches around 90 seconds), while some coasters at Six Flags parks have 10 minute dispatches Oh come on. I've never seen a 10 minute dispatch at any Six Flags park, not even La Ronde (though it wasn't for lack of effort). I take it you've never been to Magic Mountain? Not saying it's the norm, but I'm pretty sure we saw dispatches close to that when I was last there for TC in it's opening year. It was at least long enough that one train went out and came back and waited a few minutes before the other even dispatched. Mind you that's with it even slowing down on the second lift. Regardless, Six Flags gets too much hate. I've seen awful operations at Cedar Fair parks too.

I honestly thought it would be open by now. Was hoping, at least. I'd be pleasantly surprised if it was open by next week (soft-open, pass preview, or promo shoot) but not holding my breath. I'll be in the area, but going to the park will be less of a priority without Railblazer open. Nothing new for me there except Patriot, which I have low expectations for.

I hope they RMC Steel Vengeance. I've heard it's getting a bit rough in the back.

Great report and photos! I'm very excited to try one of these! Probably Railblazer first, if it opens soon enough for my trip. I'm a little concerned for my boyfriend about the height thing too. He's 6'3'' and skinny as a rail. He's had to cram into some ride vehicles before. They definitely should get a test seat for this!

What a crazy situation. I'm glad they got it back up and running so quickly. What's the wait time today even with the return passes? And did I read correctly that it's one train ops? Also, I saw some of the posts on Twitter yesterday and had to stop reading. Maybe it's hypocritical of me to judge because I wasn't waiting at the time of the incident (and would definitely disappointed if I was) but people were upset that they waited so long and got exit passes that didn't work on Steel Vengeance. Since when are people entitled a ride on Steel Vengeance?

I honestly do not understand why people go to a park for the "opening day" of a ride and wait HOURS in line when you can basically go a couple of weeks later and ride with a significantly (in this case maybe several hours) less of a wait in line. Is it really worth the bragging rights? Am I missing something? Then again, I watched people wait two hours for a freaking donut at Universal on the opening day a few weeks back and I went about a week later and walked right up to the cash register... If I was coming from far away or planning a "one time this year" trip, I absolutely would not go on opening weekend of a new coaster. For a local, I'd rather wait through horrendous opening weekend crowds to get that "unspoiled" first ride (i.e. early enough in the ride's operating life that a lot of other people's reviews/opinions of it haven't come through to taint my opinion) than bum around this sorry town watching Netflix/getting drunk/browsing other people riding it and thinking about how I wish I could be riding the new ride. Then still go several weeks - months later hyped from my opening day ride(s) and appreciating 30 minute - 1 hour waits so much more. It's a paradigm. Too impatient to wait for a later date, but patient enough to wait through long lines. It's illogical, but I am often an illogical person.

So Ohio people are clueless but out-of-state people who live nowhere near Cedar Point are well-informed and psyched for this ride. Why does that not surprise me? I was originally going to go this weekend but canceled my plans when I decided to go to the First Rider Benefit. I'll feel some type of way if the lines end up being not that bad and I turned down the chance to ride it again by not going this weekend, but I'll feel some sort of sick satisfaction if the lines end up being horrendous while I sit at home at my computer gawking at them.

^^How extensive were these "decorations"? I really only saw the one sign and maybe the shirt (hard to tell in some of the photos/videos). Also, is it wrong of me to feel annoyed that you can basically do whatever you want if you're rich and famous? (In response to them smoking on the train).

Forgot to mention, I bought FunPix through CGA's website and here is the answer about whether the "hack" works: Yep. Basically just had to have the employee scan my Platinum the first time. Second time I used the kiosk, no problem.

Steel Vengeance!!

I attended the First Rider Benefit on Friday with DILinator and his kids. It was my first time doing an event like this! Spoiler: this report contains a lot of unnecessary adverbs and may abuse the word literally. Let me say that this ride is literally perfect. It lived up to every expectation and even blew them out of the water. Literally, the only bad thing I could see people say is it's "too intense." In which case, have fun riding Millennium "Forceless"! I can't recall any other coaster taking my breath away as much as this one. I came back into the station after every ride literally coughing for air (I do have asthma). The inversions whipped me more than I expected, and I hit my riding partner in the head both times I rode in the back right, and I actually came away with sore arms! Maybe not an arms up ride, after all? The airtime was forceful and amazing, but I didn't feel like it made my thighs sore at all. I rode once in the front and three times in the back. I'd say the airtime in the first half of the ride was more forceful in the front, but post-MCBR it was stronger in the back. There, enough geeking out. You all will seriously have to come ride this ASAP! Or don't, and leave the line a little shorter for the rest of us I'll let the pictures speak further. In case you didn't know, our ticket money was going to the Lebron James Family Foundation! Driving in, just about everything was testing. Love Magnum! My first First Rider Benefit! They had this cool balloon art set up. Wish I could have taken it home to put up in my living room and piss off my housemates. We watched it testing while eating our free food and drinking our free beer! Just a bunch of Westerners...doing Western... things. Apparently DILinator and his kids are too cool to pose with us Westerners We raised over $54,000 for LJFF! I didn't know what LJFF did before the event, but they showed us a video that explained the cause more. As someone studying to become an educator, I really appreciated that the main focus of the foundation centered on educating and providing opportunities for otherwise disadvantaged youth. There was sorta a line here. Sorta a glob of hungry enthusiasts. Fireworks! It's just about time! Artsy Instagram shot First riders. Such wow. There is a really cool place in the queue where you can imagine you're getting run over by Steel Vengeance. Or, if you ignore all the signs to not go in restricted areas, you really can get run over by Steel Vengeance! This ride is even better at night! Are we technically the first night riders? For PoGo players: I may have lost the Mean Streak gym to Mystic, but I finally finished my special research and caught this little guy! He was more difficult than I thought. Such art. Such Instagram. WOW. Did you know that if you ride Steel Vengeance, you basically become blurry? A cool souvenir after an amazing night! Proof that this is an item no one would care about except enthusiasts! Only negative thing I have to say: I believe their camera placement is seriously not ideal. The person on the right rarely comes out clear, and every photo just overall looks awful. There could be many better placements of the camera! Is it difficult to have it moved? Because I seriously hope they move it!

My take on this, from riding the other night, is that while those hops absolutely feel like they're trying to chuck you off the train, they are still more "comfortable" than the ones at the end up Lightning Run, Lightning Rod, or Storm Chaser. I actually thought they felt *exactly* the same as the ones on Lightning Run, Rod, and Storm Chaser. I think what I'm trying to communicate is that they "felt" the same, as in what your experience was (the violent tossing forward, as if to eject you), but that the restraint was more comfortable, for whatever reason. That was my impression at least. Honestly, I have to agree with DILinator, from my experience. Not sure if it's the restraints, or more aligned airtime hills vs. off-kilter, but the final hills of Vengeance did feel more comfortable to me (while still delivering killer airtime). Of course everyone's experience is different, so I guess we'll see how other people feel once more people get rides on it.

Bill, I pretty much agree with what you said about the park, but I'm surprised you liked Flight Deck better than Montu and Afterburn. Or at least, you feel Flight Deck was more intense. The final helix of Flight Deck will definitely knock you out, but I still don't feel the coaster has the same charging intensity of Montu and Afterburn. Maybe the settings factor in? Also, haven't been on Patriot (yet), but I can't imagine it went from an F ride (Vortex) to an A ride as some people assert. You can polish trash, but it's still trash. Hoping Railblazer opens before my probable late May trip. Glad to hear it's been testing more!

Awesome report! Love the ridercam video! I don't even need to hear how you rank this compared to others, I'll just see for myself this week. It must be good with all the praise you have for it!

You're missing a key element to this: the training and determination. As soon as this thing was announced, you should have begun your training. Run on the treadmill at full speed for exactly 16 hours every day. If you feel the pangs of hunger, look at pictures of Hangtime instead. Food doesn't taste as good as it feels to be the first rider. You must never lose focus. Learn the Hangtime mantra: "hang ten, man." Chant it to yourself at all hours of the night and never lose focus. Only then can you become a Hangtime master and deserve the role of "first public rider." Now get off TPR and go train! First rides must be earned, not given! Also, when Mystic Timbers opened, KI employees lined everyone up who was going to the ride and led them over so that there wouldn't be a running mob. Maybe ask someone who has been to a previous opening at Knott's, or search the forums?

I haven't been on Medusa, but I wasn't expecting it to get #1 steel. Congrats to them! I'll have to plan a trip down there some time. Glad to see my #1 and #2 wood are appreciated as such. Also, congrats to Kentucky Kingdom for having two steel coasters that make the top 25 list, and one that makes the bottom 10

WOW. That video And the video of the newscaster riding it I'm so hyped right now. Robb's coverage just made me even more excited! If he says it's the best RMC... man, anything better than Lightning Rod is going to be great! Friday can't come soon enough! Hoping the rain lets up for us.

Man, I *WISH* I only wasted a half an hour on the stupid shit that was this thread for the past 10 pages... You'll thank me later in life when you get .01% of your sanity back. On the plus side, we ended up banning at least five idiots that the rest of us no longer have to put up with, so that's good, right? It needed to happen, so much. DILinator, you can tell me your thoughtful response on Friday when we go to actually ride this thing. Excited to see what you think of it, Robb! Hope the weather cooperates for you guys tomorrow!

+1 hopefully not-so-stinky woman! Also, I feel privileged to have made it to this thread. I have now leveled up on TPR, which matters 0% in real life.

Cedar Point this Friday to finally ride... nothing. I'm just going for the food.