pyrocoasterkid

Correct, it's the maintenance bay. By moving the load of the train onto the center wheels, maintenance has access to the entire wheel assembly and undercarriage of the trains. I've also heard that it prevents the trains from sitting on their wheels in one position for extended periods of time (overnight and off-season), which produces a "flat-spot" in the wheel, making a bumpy ride... or at least warranting a wheel replacement more often.

Huh? Care to explain your reasoning? I don't see anything similar between the two.... outside of both being Intamin's, but that isn't even THAT obvious to the GP since the track styles are entirely different.

Now the reports of missing limbs has made Yahoo's front page. Do you think the author's of these articles realize it was a spoof/fake article created by the marketing department? http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/winged-roller-coaster-swarm-rips-arms-off-crash-183513325.html#ugccmt-container

I'm betting they could reduce the number of spots affected if they felt losing any was a compromise they weren't willing to make. This is also extremely hypothetical, assuming they would want to go towards the lot. I'm sure spots could be added if they really felt they were necessary.

That's not true at all. It fills up 100% easily 7 or 8 days through the summer. The employees have to park inland and take the bus, especially 4th of July. I did say "rarely." So 99% was a bit of an exaggeration. But assuming the lot only fills up only 7-8 days out of 140ish (I estimated on the calendar), that's roughly 95% of the season the park could afford to lose spots. I would assume the number of spots lost wouldn't be overly significant either. Especially enough to negate the potential gains from a significant new attraction.

It's as simple as this: If Cedar Point wants to build over Perimeter Rd., and wants to spend the money to do so, they will. I'm guessing 99% of the year, a loss of a few spaces will not matter. The lot is enormous and rarely fills up. So something tells me the opposite would be true, as long as it's not a huge loss of spaces.

I guess it is all subjective. I rode it 8 or 9 times on media day the year it opened and was fine. I have ridden in a few times in a day numerous times since. It has never been enough to even come close to ruining the ride for me (or barely notice). I'm not claiming it is the smoothest out there, but at the same time, there is much, MUCH worse. I guess it is all in the type of ride you are looking for? It may not be saying much, but is there a smoother ride in the park? But I guess that is a little off topic here.... It'd be interesting to know if B&M feels the same about the V-shaped trains, since they put they 4-wide cars and Leviathan. It is made more interesting since it appears they have gone with the V-shaped trains for this. Or maybe it is strictly based on customer preference.

I want to know where people have been feeling this "rattle" on Diamondback. Sure, you can hear it a little on the first drop as it goes past the midway, but never once have I felt anything that I would consider abnormal or uncomfortable, and certainly nothing that was "headache-inducing." And I visit a handful of times throughout the year, in different temperatures. Headache-inducing in my mind is Mean Streak, Son of Beast, or Manhattan Express/Roller Coaster... DB is still pretty dang smooth.

Holy crap, welcome to the thread. Been following for the last few months. Must have missed that or forgotten that somewhere along the line..

Is that a trim brake I see on the first drop in that first picture?! I sure hope not. I told myself "no way" but there even appears to be a maintenance platform just below (similar to Mantis). Can anyone who has seen it or has a better picture clarify?

Thank you for the responses. I am more than OK with missing out on the water rides. A little disappointed that S:EFK will be down... I had forgotten about that. But I'll survive. I just wanted to make sure that the park wouldn't have a number of coasters down for winter rehab! Living in the Ohio means I don't exactly have ample opportunities to experience the park and I didn't want to miss out on a handful of the major rides. Now I just have to decide which day I think would be better to visit on the weekend...

I attempted a search, but got no results... so I apologize if this has been discussed. I'm considering a trip to Cali the first weekend in February and would really like to visit SFMM. I was wondering what rides are currently down for rehab and their expected re-openings? I know I have seen a Disney site that has a "rehab calendar" and I was curious if SFMM has a similar website somewhere? If not, I may hold off until April when the park is open daily. I assume the rehabs are usually finished by then?

I feel like this was discussed previously, but maybe I misunderstood. Is that tiny yellow support lattice at the base of the lift permanent or temporary? It just looks out of place and temporary.

I couldn't agree more. Honestly, I think it is almost a little ugly... am I the only one? Not that matters much, as long as it is a great ride. I'm one of the belief that this will be a great ride. I might have to make my first trip ever to HP this summer!

With pictures as amazing as that, trust me, people will notice and comment. While I don't post regularly, I do love to read the PTR's and yours has been one I've followed I've seen with every posting. I was lucky enough to see Europe a few years back and Central America 6 years ago, so I have had a "travel bug" to head to the Far East. I'm especially envious of all the trips TPR does over there. I now have some family in Tokyo and am hoping to get there within the next few years. Just know, that your pictures (along with the other PTR's) have me dying to go! Even the pictures where you aren't happy with the editing are beautiful. Amazing pictures and entertaining reports and captions! I think I can speak for quite a few when I say keep 'em comin'!

standard CP bug defense. If you've ever ridden a front seat on any of the major rides at CP in the middle of the summer, especially at night, you can sympathize with them and understand what they are doing! Usually quite entertaining.

I highly doubt we will be seeing a new coaster for 2012, but maybe they will surprise us. But like was mentioned, there is NO signs of any work being done anywhere. As for SOB receiving the rocky topper track... I'm not interested. The layout of SOB is completely uninspired and boring and even more so without the loop; I don't think giving it the NTAG treatment will save it. I don't think I'm in the minority when I say I'd much rather see a new woodie on the site. The general consensus seems to be that it is 3 smaller things, referring to the 3 question marks in both graphics. But at this point there appears to be no evidence pointing to anything at all... so it's all guessing.

I'm surprised I haven't seen this mentioned (I hope I didn't miss it posted) but the teasing for 2012 has begun... sometime over this past weekend. On their website, they have this: And once you go to their facebook page, this is the profile pic:

"Turning Back the Clock on Thrill: Something BIG is Coming to Kings Island". Announcement, March 18th. http://www.visitkingsisland.com/public/park/mud/index.cfm Don loves to torture everyone!!!! Thoughts?

MF's broke back in May. When I was there, the cable and maybe even the catch car was hanging over the drop. There was a big crane over it that day, but not doing any work. If I recall, it only took a week or so. If EG's track is damaged, that could be a whole separate issue.

I guess we had good luck. You could usually get a half liter of beer for what amounted to a Euro or two, and you could usually get the amazing goulash meals for what amounted to 5 or so Euro's. It was always interesting to me to use the Czech currency, and to pull 1000 corona out at the ATM, and realize it was only roughly $50.

This is so cool! I was in Prague this summer for 2 days. I know exactly where all those pix are from. It really was insanely cheap, and reallly beautiful. I even know where that Absynthe shop with Absynthe ice cream is! On the hill up to the Prague castle, right? I recognize the ice cream cone behind you. I wish I coulda spent more time there.

The "guy with the coolest socks in the park" on Skyhawk, is almost definitely a girl! Eek for her. Hope shes not a member here.

To add to the airtime debate. Those of you who say it had little airtime, did you ride in the middle? IMO the middle was the tamest, and the front and back had extreme floater airtime. It went from huge negative G's to positive G's. The bunny hills after the MCBR weren't as airtime filled as the first 4 hills however. But even those in the front and back (especially the front) were loaded with air. I even got air after the final helix and up into the final brake run. Give it a shot if you haven't already!

I was there for media day today. My thoughts: The midway looks great. The sign looks amazing, especially with the adding of more to the sign.. The queue line TVs are a nice touch, though hard to see in harsh sun. The gift shop has a nice setup and really has the western feel. The exit back to the midway seems to be solely a handicap entrance. Everyone must go through the giftshop (at least today). The ride itself: Front is full of airtime! It's an odd sensation to get airtime, then get shoved as rest of the train catches up. The best seat IMO, and I'm not usually a front seat guy. The middle is fairly tame, not too much G's in either way, but still a fun ride. The back has lots of airtime too. It's a little more intense in the positive G category it seemed. The ride was running great, even with mostly empty cars, and it seemed to speed up as it warmed up. Also, sitting in the back seat during the splash is very intimidating! IT'S HUGE! The back also gives you that yanked feeling over the first hill! The third hill was definitely a huge pop of air, and rather surprising. The first drop felt very similar to MF's. All told, I rode 8 times, in scattered rows, and the front was my favorite. The trim break after the hammerhead didn't affect much, and huge airtime still soon follows. The MCBR wasn't grabbing too much either. My only disappointment of the ride was the final helix. It seemed very tame and not very intense, yet somehow there was still a nice pop of air dropping into the lake, so I can't complain. The cars look AWESOME with the eyes and teeth! And the seats are amazing. A trick I heard previously, and held true today. The SECOND row is basically a front seat, yet the wait is MUCH less than the actual front. Just a thought for ya all tomorrow. The buffet provided was also very nice, and I want to say THANK YOU to KI for making such a nice day out of it. Weather was perfect, and the ride is VERY photogenic. Thanks for a great day KI!