PKIDelirium

I regret to inform you of the deaths of both myself (Don) and Freddie (SFNERules). For details, see my avatar.

That's not paint chipping, that's normal wheel wear on the rails.

CLOSED: Drop Zone - Kings Island

Mini TR: Kings Island Thursday, July 12, 2007 "Me One, Employee ZERO!" This was totally unexpected. I had planned to go the next day, Friday, but I did a spur of the moment quick run to the park Thursday night instead, there from about 7:45 to a little after closing at 10PM. I get there and approach the front gate. Big sign: SOB is closed for repairs. LOL! That didn't take long to break! I went through the metal detectors quickly and entered the park, walking over to Action Zone first to take a photo of the big POS. Well, I got a photo of the front gate sign, a photo of a still-closed Drop Zone, and a photo of the SOB entrance blocked off, and then my camera totally died from dead batteries. Great. I went "light" today, so I only had my wallet, phone and camera. No camera case with spare batteries. ARGH! Making it worse, the Drop Zone photo and the photo of SOB's entrance aren't aimed very well because the screen had already died from lack of power, forcing me to guess with the viewfinder. I stuck the dead camera in a locker and went to Firehawk, where I stuck my hat and phone in another locker and got in line. One hour later I was riding in the right side of the station in the yellow train. Item of interest here was a guest, after hearing the station mic man call it the only flying coaster in Ohio, piped up what about Geauga Lake? Mic man fires back well they don't have it anymore because this is X-Flight! I found that funny... Anyway I got my Firehawk ride and then rode Vortex, where the kid in line in front of me plops down in the loading side seat, forcing me to literally vault over the train and slide in from the unloading side. Annoying... After Vortex I checked IJST. Too long. I then headed down along the pond to the Eiffel Tower and into Nick Universe, where I got a quick ride on Beastie. I refuse to call it Fairly Odd Coaster anywhere other than my ride count lists! Still the best wood coaster in the park! I then took a gift shop run to On Location in Action Zone and KI Keepsakes on I-Street. Employees at AZ flat out refused to get down the display hat that was the only remaining stock of the Delirium hats. Boo. After finishing there and going to I-Street, I had a gloating moment when I found another one there within my reach, and even more gloating when the cashier rang it up for $0.00 because it had no price tag! Oh yeah, the 30th Anniversary tan hats that they have in the KI Keepsakes shop (The former Glassblower location) ring up as $3.50 and then have 50% taken off of them. Hell yeah... After that, I left the park and got a BK Big Fish on the way out. Overall not a bad stop at the park considering the short time I was there. Flight of Fear was closed all day too, that was a bummer. Rides List Firehawk Vortex Fairly Odd Coaster Haha. This was the last photo I got before the camera totally died. Curses! Oh well it was getting into crappy evening lighting anyway. "Look at me, I'm a dead Intamin. Blame SFKK." LOL! "Hey guys Son of Beast already killed itself so we have to fix it!"

There was a rumor that they wanted it open by July 4, but I really don't know. It's close, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Some photos of it testing yesterday. Including two photos of it testing with some park management types riding it in the front two cars. http://www.kiextreme.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=264

Voyage.

No Officers Dick or Tool? That's no fun...

Write-In: Firehawk.

It wasn't so much the ops as mechanical issues. IMO, they shouldn't have opened until next weekend, I think it should have had more testing and training. The transfer switch was apparently broken, preventing the other train and station from being used.

Firehawk opened this afternoon. It had one train and one station operational with a three hour line. They were dispatching every ten minutes or so. I hope they take care of the issues quickly, there were a lot of people PO'd.

I might be there Tuesday as well, but not sure yet. I know I'll be going down on a weekday next week for some hopefully better wait time conditions. Saturday will likely consist of photos and 1-2 Firehawk rides. Them lines are going to SUCK.

I'll be there Saturday afternoon.

They're currently getting new lead car shells fixed up with the Firehawk logo. They'll be on when it opens.

1. It's still breaking in the new wheel bearings and axles. 2. They were not moving the trains out of the Fly position for the sake of rapid cycling.

Haha yup, I was standing there nonstop the whole time it was testing. I was wearing a blue longsleeve PKI shirt and tan Legend hat.

Video! http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=386812

Bump! Test flights are officially underway! All photos: http://www.kiextreme.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=259 Video coming soon...

That clock is NEVER finished during preseason. It and the Floral Date display will be set up within the next 2-3 weeks.

WTF! FORT KINZEL?!

They can use the Paramount stuff on the rides throughout this season without renewing. They're likely not going to renew the non-Nick (General Paramount) license, so all that stuff will be rethemed during the 07-08 offseason.

SOB's trains are there, in the maintenance facilities. Memorial Day Weekend opening for it seems VERY unlikely at this point, though. i was told June, at the very EARLIEST.

Here's some Firehawk photos from April 21: http://kiextreme.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=247

CP's Mine Train has these same type pf seatbelts.

Where to start... The layout is terrible. Vortex CANNOT be built all on the grid. It DOES NOT WORK. The MCBR is not a mile away from the lift hill. It's right alongside it, attached structure. The turn between loops and MCBR is taken a lot faster than that and it is NOT above the station. There is not a giant DIP right before the ramp into the loops like that. There is not a giant DIP and bunnyhop at the end of the ride. That's a brake run followed by a SLOW!!!!! turn into the holding brake. The entrance and exit of the chain lift are nowhere near that drawn out. I could go on for a while but I'll stop now.