RAWKIN_coaster38

Day 2 of Coasterstock, Saturday May 20. We got about 5 ish hours of sleep, but we were up and at em the next day to get there around 8:00 again. 8:30-10:00 we had ERT on Racer, Flight of Fear, Vortex, Dodgem, and Zephyr. We rode everything except Zephyr and Vortex (since we already had rides on Vortex and...it's not my favorite). After having a rough couple rides on Racer and a few rattly rides on Flight of Fear, I remarked that today felt like the rough rides ERT day (besides Invertigo). Definitely felt like we finished what we wanted to ride pretty quickly even though there was still plenty of ERT left. It would have been nice to get on Firehawk, but we were able to ride it later in the day without much of a wait. It was cool to see Flight of Fear with lights on, but I definitely prefer it with lights off. 3pm we had our Beast behind the scenes tour. They divided us into 4 groups before we got to the event, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. One person had a later time and one person missed his earlier time, but staff was accommodating and let them go with us, so we had our entire clan on the 3:00 tour. The tour was definitely a lot shorter than I thought, and I thought we would go further out, but it was still really cool seeing Beast from the back areas and getting some neat photos as well as hearing some Beast trivia. Also, it started to rain again so if the tour had been longer, we would have been getting wet. We witnessed some people stall on the second lift, and they were shouting at us as we photographed them. 5:00 we met up again to get our Diamondback photo op. We went onto an area of grass on the other side of the big former Tomb Raider building where we could get some nice views of Diamondback. 5:30-7:00 we had dinner, and I faced the same problem from Friday. BBQ pork sandwiches, BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, and canned green beans. Not wanting to eat mashed potatoes and a bit of cole slaw and canned green beans (since I'm not a big fan), I asked if they had something vegetarian again. They eventually brought me another veggie burger much later (after forgetting about me twice), but I was still thankful to have something besides just mashed potatoes (which were actually pretty good as far as mashed potatoes go). Jeff Pike, President/Partner of Skyline Attractions and designer for a lot of GCI coasters gave a really great speech about how he got into the business and what went into designing Mystic Timbers and a lot of our other favorite GCI coasters. He talked about how Dick Kinzel didn't like wooden coasters and didn't want GCI at Cedar Fair for a long time, but now we have some really great GCIs at CF parks including Prowler, Gold Striker, Renegade, etc. Really, I can't do this guy's speech justice at all. He was a wonderful and entertaining speaker, down to earth, and inspiring to anyone interested in roller coaster design (which happened to be a lot of the crowd). We also heard from Mike Koontz, King's Island's Vice-President and General Manager. He used to be CEO of Paramount Parks, but lost his job when Cedar Fair bought everything. He recently got called to work at Kings Island again. (If I am mixing something up, please correct me or if you have anything to add that I missed). He shared about what goes into being GM of a theme park and then took some questions. Next, Don Helbig, King's Island's Area Manager Public Relations who put Coasterstock together for us and briefly spoke to us. We then had until 10:30 before ERT would start. By now, we were pretty exhausted, and just kind of meandered around the park waiting for ERT and riding things here and there (when there weren't long lines). Toward the evening, just before the fireworks, the weather took a turn for the worst. POURING rain, thunder and lightning!! We got to watch the fireworks show with lightning in the background, but not for long, because it started pouring right after that. We huddled out with other Coasterstock people by the bar again. Everything closed, except the Pirate Ship which never seemed to close in the weather. ERT was postponed until the weather improved. Eventually, security came over to us and told us to, "Go under the Eiffel Tower because we're clearing this side of the park." Not sure why they thought standing under a giant lightning rod in a lightning storm was a good idea, plus it wasn't waterproof at all, but about 10 of us decided to try. Wet and miserable huddled together under the tower, security came by again and told us to find shelter closer to where our ERT was. We made a run for it and ended up under some umbrellas by the Chick-fil-A. We were seriously starting to wonder if ERT was going to happen, and we were soaked and cold, but the posts on the Facebook page during this time were hilarious! One person asked for lights-on Boo Blasters, someone else followed up with a request for Diamondback lights on, another person posted a Snoopy meme of Snoopy lying bored during a rainstorm, people posted about all the random places they were waiting out the storm with other Coasterstock people. It was a weird bonding experience. About 11:30 we saw....DIAMONDBACK TESTING!! Still raining pretty hard, we rushed over to Beast. Our friends made it to the front row before us, which ended up a blessing in disguise. Super wet soaking cold Beast night ride with rain pelting our faces, but we loved every second of it! After a thorough soaking, the rain lessened and we got another less wet ride on Beast. It was HAULING!! Without much time left, we finished the night at Mystic with some of the best night rides ever! Also had some great shed clap and dance parties. Overall, a really amazing (but exhausting) weekend!! I already miss it and can't wait until I can go again. Now, the rest of my photos. Diamondback on the way to the rapids ride "Hey! I see you up there. Just what do you think you're doin'? You kids go home to your video games! This place is not safe!" This coaster really has a wonderful location. Artsy photo under Beast. Tons and tons of... coaster nerds! So much wood Hmm I wonder why it's restricted? Everyone waiting for Beast to come by again so we can snap more photos. So many nerds... WOOO!! WOOOO!! WOO!! There were some crazy beasts on the behind the scenes Beast tour! Some sexy beasts hanging out by Beast... SPLOOSH My first time on the train! (D's first time on any train). This old building is rumored to be haunted. Photo op of Diamondback! We love Diamondback! We had some great views from this area yayyY!! Chillin out by the fountain He suggested we take selfies and then made this face in almost every one! When you're tired and bored waiting for ERT to start *gurgle gurgle* Waiting out the storm under a giant umbrella SOAKING WET Beast ride! But we were so glad it finally opened for us! So cold but hauling!! "This is a restricted area, don't go in the shed. This is a restricted area...restricted area..#$(&....d*&(^*...go in the shed. Go in the shed. Go in the shed." Our credentials Schedule

I thought for sure someone would have posted a Coasterstock TR so I could sit this one out (since I'm really a sporadic photographer and not the best at relaying everything that happened throughout the day). However, since no one has done it, I'll post my photos and mention the highlights. Day 1: Friday May 19. -6:30 check-in begins, but since we drove from an hour away and wanted at least some amount of sleep, we didn't make it until around 8:00, which meant we wouldn't get to the 8:30 ERT until almost 9. Our fault. They did have coffee and donuts for us, but our fault for not making it earlier to relax and enjoy it. -8:30-10:00 ERT on Banshee and Bat, then starting at 9:00, Delirium, Drop Tower, and Invertigo. Adventure Express was supposed to be one of them, but I don't think it actually opened during ERT. We were able to get a ride on it pretty soon after the park opened, however. There were too many rides to choose from! We ended up riding everything about once or twice, but our time could have been spent marathoning Banshee and it still would have been great. -1:00-2:30 lunchtime. We heard from Logan Joiner and his father, founder of Koaster Kids. Logan grew up with severe autism and had developmental troubles, but once he found roller coasters, he started to feel more brave and became a whole new kid at home and at school. He began opening up and getting excited about roller coasters. When he began filming for Koaster Kids, he received a huge amount of support from individuals all over the world and kids who could relate to Logan who were inspired by him. One kid, from a war-torn area of Israel, even said that if Logan can be brave and ride roller coasters, then he can be brave and go to school every day. It really was a great story and I'm not doing it justice, you should check out his channel, youtube.com/koasterkids. Next, Lance Heal, King's Island's Manager of Entertainment spoke. He talked a little about Haunt and shared that a maze would be leaving this year, and we would also see something new. Also, they would be focusing on bringing in more backstories for some of the mazes that previously didn't have them. They were also working to acquire animatronics for some mazes, including Blackout and I can't remember the second, it may have been Slaughterhouse. He also talked about Winterfest and couldn't share which rides would or would not be open, but shared that they are working with the rides maintenance department to get that sorted out. He talked step-by-step about what Winterfest would look like. I just remember they said it would be similar to CGA Winterfest, that the ice skating rink on the pond would be a bit bigger, and that preparations are already underway to prepare the main plaza for the giant tree and other decorations. Now, during both of these speeches while everyone was enjoying burgers and hot dogs, I was working with the staff to get a veggie burger, which eventually arrived but took a long time. So, regretfully I missed some of what was said, or was too busy enjoying my veggie burger when it finally arrived to catch every detail that was said in the speeches. I am thankful to the staff for accommodating me, but I do wish they had had a vegetarian option on hand and I didn't have to wait 30+ minutes for them to go find one and bring it. 2:45-4:00 pm we took a lights-on tour of Slaughterhouse and Blackout. I wish could have taken our time in the mazes more, as I felt pretty rushed. They told me at Blackout they didn't mind if I shared photos of the interior of the mazes, so I'll share the rushed photos I did take. It started storming not too long after this, so the 5:00 behind the scenes photo op. of Diamondback had to get moved. My group ended up taking shelter at the bar by the pond. Apparently, nowhere was selling beer until 5:00, but it was still raining by 5:00 and we were able to get a couple beers and stay in our shelter. It's darned expensive, but oh boy did I want it. Eventually, it stopped raining and the park was DEAD, so we got a couple pre-ERT rides on Beast and Mystic. 10:30-Midnight: ERT on Mystic Timbers, Diamondback, Beast, and Flying Ace Aerial Chase. We rode all of the former 3, having the most rides on MT in the end. We already knew Beast night rides are the shizz, but Mystic Timbers night rides are AMAZING as well! Like I seriously had a hard time deciding between the 3 which coaster I wanted to ride at any given time (since I love Diamondback at night as well). Good thing they're all close to each other! Okay, here are some photos. It got really hot, so D. and I decided to ride "Race for You Life, Charlie Brown!" and both sit in the front....this was the result. Taking a photo with Snoopy was one option for the scavenger hunt! Lights-on tour Rawr IIRC there was a moving saw blade in here. During this whole tour, the kid behind me kept saying, "I'm going vegetarian now!!" Good thing I don't eat bacon On the roof Animatronic Did I mention that I hate animatronics in Haunt mazes? They scare the crud out of me, so I always run past them as fast as I can. This is probably the closest I've ever gotten to this thing. "Do you want to play a game?" We didn't realize how demented this maze gets toward the end until we got to stop and really look at the props with lights on. Like seriously, WTF? So twisted....I LOVE it! So I have a history with this maze, and I was beyond excited to tour it. I went through it 3 or 4 times during Haunt, and it was one of my favorites. The first time I went through this, I entered a room and saw a tall shadowy figure. Right as I was looking at it, the lights flicked on and there was a crash and there's this HUGE tall scary thing right in front of me. I freaked! It was one of the best scares in all of Haunt. After the maze, I was going on and on about it, and the person I was with (DILinator), said he hadn't seen it! The next few times I went in the maze (and admittedly closed my eyes in the room by the third time), the people I was with DID NOT SEE THE TALL THING! By the last day of Haunt, the tall thing had become a myth that apparently only I had seen, which was weird because of how BIG it was. So I went into lights-on Blackout intending to prove that the tall thing exists, and that it is really as scary as I remember it being! Even walking in with lights-on, this thing still scared me a little! THE TALL THING EXISTS!! Okay, okay, it might not look that scary to you all, but in the dark with flashing lights and crashing sounds and whispers this thing is TERRIFYING!! Facing my fears of the tall thing. These things blink and glow along the walls. Giant spider puppets lunge toward you. Credit goes to James H. for this gem. We were waiting out the storm, but this guy didn't seem to mind. Another scavenger hunt duty was to take a picture with someone new we met. @QueenOfSkyrush Emily has been on Skyrush over 1500 times! Always beautiful at night. We went up to the top to watch the fireworks. OOH, AHH! "Whatever you do. Don't. Go in. The shed!" They gave us free FunPix for the event, but I already had it on my pass. He made me ride in the back. Am I screaming in excitement or terror?? Diamondback ERT!! Mystic Timbers at night is a MUST do!!

Thanks for the advice 15 year old Henry M. What would we possibly do without your input? Nobody called anyone childish. I'm just saying, there are people who are 21+, 31+, 41+ years old this day and age in 2017, that act like children when their feelings are hurt, and there's no reason for it, and it shouldn't be condoned as acceptable behavior. The same way someone who is 5 minutes late on a TPR tour shouldn't be apologized to for missing his ride when 50+ other people were on time. Implying that it's somehow the OP's fault for having these remarks said to them?? I don't get the parallel.

Thanks for the responses! We'll aim for Monday, but if Monday doesn't work, would Sunday be the second-best option?

Yes. All the US Disney (non-water) parks! Is there a TV show you like that you'd consider a guilty pleasure?

Yes. Have you ever changed careers?

I'm planning on visiting Memorial Weekend too. It'll be my first time ever visiting the park, and we aren't time constrained (but money constrained, so I don't want to buy any fast passes or whatnot). Which day would be the best for less crowds?

Hey, I'm planning Holiday World and (possibly) KK Memorial Weekend too! You guys always seem to have the same idea as I do, yet I only met you once at Cedar Point. I hadn't fully planned what days for what but I was thinking Saturday for my first ever time at Holiday World would be the worst choice as far as crowds go. Am I wrong? I'll be staying with my boyfriend in Louisville so KK could be any day, if I even go that weekend. I've been to KK before so it's not as crucial for me to get everything done. (I'll ask in the HW thread as well).

And you like riding coasters in the rain despite getting cold and soaked because they haul a$$ during and after rainstorms.

Enjoying T3 is like an oxymoron, you realize. Preach! I'm surprised anyone could get a good ride on that thing. One and done for us. One of the worst coasters I've ever ridden. I take it you've never ridden Mind Eraser at SFNE. That coaster was a one and done for me. T3 was a walk in the park compared to it. I have been on that one, and I still found T3 far worse. Of the 3 I've been on, best to worst is: Kong ... Mind Eraser . .. ... .... ..... .... ... .. . T3 (Of course, of the 3 Kong is the only one I have and would ever willingly reride)

Enjoying T3 is like an oxymoron, you realize. Preach! I'm surprised anyone could get a good ride on that thing. One and done for us. One of the worst coasters I've ever ridden.

It didn't make a difference for T3. I never rode it before the vest restraints, but it was downright awful with no way to brace at all.

Kings Island for Coasterstock, then maybe Kentucky Kingdom or Holiday World Memorial Weekend, then Cedar Point for Coastermania!

^&^^ I usually did something similar with Kong and was successful enough to be able to get decent rides on it most days. I brace my arms and shoulders and then place my cheek on the side of the restraint. The vibrations on the soft part of my cheek don't hurt as much as my head. Of course, I have a lot of ear piercings that hurt really bad if they get boxed.

You've ever gotten in a debate about what counts as a credit. Or You've ever argued about what counts as ejector vs. floater airtime. Or Intamin vs. B&M and if B&Ms are good coasters Or Any other similar debate that coaster enthusiasts frequently get in, that GP don't care about (or even know the terminology about).

Isn't Sesame Street at risk for getting cancelled under Donald Trump's plans? Since PBS is supposed to be getting defunded. If so, it seems feasible that the next generation of children won't know these characters at all.

I305!! AMAZING <3

This makes my head hurt. CP-related, did anyone see this USA today contest that apparently Cedar Point is killing in? They posted on Twitter that they're #2 right now for "Best Amusement Park" but I can't seem to find what the current runnings are. Also, Valravn got best new amusement park attraction over Storm Chaser (2) and Lightning Rod (3). Not sure if it was mentioned on here before.

You mean locker? You type the name of the locked boxes that many theme parks require you to put your things in. I guess there was too much heated discussion about it so they implemented the word filter to make things more entertaining.

^WOO I can't wait! Who else is going to Coasterstock tomorrow? Also, Adventure Express is fun at night as well! Shout out to DILinator for tipping me off to that one!

I love Beast night rides too, they're simply like no other, but Diamondback and Banshee night rides deserve some love! Also, don't forget Mystic Timbers night rides!! Basically any night rides at KI just rock

^

Looking online, there's no more than $1 price discount (15 for $20 at the park) with the lower prices rounded up to the nearest dollar reflecting the prices at the park (i.e. 9 tokens for $12 in park). Although, when I click to checkout, it adds $1.99 for processing and tax. In park there was not a tax charge, so it appears that buying in the park is actually better.

I was thinking this too when I read the tweet and the response. Maybe they are trying to get more parts, or any number of other things than "OMFG A NEW INTAMIN COASTER!!" Isn't a world-class RMC enough as it is? I'm happy and excited for it!

Thanks for the comments, guys! I didn't find I305 ejector at all, but maybe I'm too spoiled with Skyrush/ El Toro/ Lightning Rod/ several other RMCs. Strong ejector + marathon = sore thighs. I've definitely had some soreness after marathoning several of the RMCs (Wicked Cyclone, Storm Chaser, Joker come to mind as some I've marathonned and definitely started to feel it). I sort of have the mentality that if my thighs aren't sore, then the airtime isn't strong enough or I didn't ride it enough. I could see why a lot of people wouldn't want it this way and that's why a lot of people rank "tamer" coasters (Millennium Force, any B&M) over coasters like El Toro and Skyrush. I do think I305 would be the "perfect" ride if it had more ejector, including over the drop, but that would require it to move faster and more people would gray out. I just wish I had ridden it before it was modified!