cparkes92

That would be a Coasters and Culture trip!! If I had unlimited funds and time, I would do a Coasters and Culture trip through Europe one summer

Add Mystic Timbers to this list, and will very likely add Steel Vengeance next year (and may still add SFGAm's Joker this year)

About the Sandusky/Buena Vista sign: More than one person I know has confused Sandusky, MI with Sandusky, OH. Also, Buena Vista is the worst part of Saginaw; it's so bad that its school district (it had its own district separate from Saginaw Public Schools) was shut down by the state a few years ago.

I might swing by Michigan's Adventure this coming weekend

Sounds like you had what they would call a Zen Day at Hershey

October Fridays are typically very low crowds BUT it's also limited ride selection. Even some coasters will be closed due to staffing(check the website). If you want to focus on Haunts Friday is your choice. Sunday most if not all rides will be operating but some Haunts will be closed. I guess it depends on if you'd rather experience rides or haunts the most for your October visit. Also, even though Columbus Day weekend Sunday has extended hours, avoid it like the plague unless you plan on Fastlane Plus. Another decision factor is if you have a Platinum Pass and you're renewing you get a free Fastlane Plus that can be used on Friday or Sunday. So more time, plus a free Fastlane Plus make Sunday your day. I would imagine most of the major ones would be open on Friday nights (rides like CCMR, Corkscrew, Blue Streak, and Iron Dragon could be closed)

They both have old wooden coasters named Thunderbolt. Fuji-Q Highland and Six Flags Magic Mountain?

Kiddie

I was so happy when I heard the clickity clack of the chain lift in the POV. This also basically cemented my plans to get a platinum pass for next year (I was already thinking about it with me living much closer to CP than before). Also, this will be longer (in track length) than Mean Streak.

If you're not on FB, they're playing a redneck version of Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass"

This band is now playing Sin Wagon by the Dixie Chicks

You can pretty much set its opening date: First Saturday of May 2018 (May 5)

They both get insane crowds during their peak seasons. Walibi Belgium and Knott's Berry Farm?

Me too! I think we are heading back in October this year. Me three! I haven't been there since 2005!

The entire country is getting at least a partial eclipse. The Orlando parks could be the closest parks open to the path of totality (unless Dollywood is open)

Wicked Twister's restraints aren't accommodating. Almost got walk of shamed there in June (I'm not super big - 6'2" 245-250 but with broad shoulders and chest). I've had very few problems getting on most other coasters

Congrats on riding Lightning Rod! My last coaster: Diamondback at Kings Island

First steel: Big Thunder Mountain (WDW) First wood: Mean Streak First looping: Corkscrew (CP) First launched: Incredible Hulk Coaster First inverted: Dueling Dragons First hyper: Magnum XL-200 First giga: Millennium Force First floorless: Kraken First suspended: Iron Dragon First wing: GateKeeper First B&M: Incredible Hulk Coaster First Intamin: Millennium Force First Arrow: Big Thunder Mountain (WDW) First CCI: Shivering Timbers First GCI: Mystic Timbers Favorite steel: Millennium Force Favorite wood: Mystic Timbers Favorite looping: Incredible Hulk Coaster Favorite launched: Maverick Favorite inverted: Banshee Favorite hyper: Diamondback Favorite giga: Millennium Force Favorite floorless: Valravn Favorite suspended: The Bat (new) Favorite wing: GateKeeper Favorite B&M: Incredible Hulk Coaster Favorite Intamin: Millennium Force Favorite Arrow: Magnum XL-200 Favorite CCI: Shivering Timbers Favorite GCI: Mystic Timbers

Are you sure it was dehydration? Vortex is the worst coaster at KI. Even the junior/family coasters are better!

At Kings Island on Sunday, I heard someone say that Mystic Timbers replaced the Beast.

Kings Island 8/6/2017 As many of you already know, I went down to Kings Island in mid-June on a 95 degree day. Needless to say, that did not end well. However, I redeemed myself on Sunday by going back to Kings Island and managing to get out of there intact and with every credit (save the steal-a-kid coaster) checked off. I arrived at Kings Island at about 10:30am. There was a light rain at the time, but most rides were still running. Despite the rain, it was much more comfortable weather-wise (only about 70 degrees most of the day). The first ride was Woodstock Express. After about a 15-20 minute wait, I was on. Woodstock isn’t a bad junior coaster. It may be the worst wooden coaster at Kings Island, but it beats Blue Streak at Cedar Point easily. Next, I headed over to Diamondback and got in that line, which took about 45 minutes. Diamondback is a very good ride with lots of airtime which puts it into my top 5. After waiting in that line, I decided to bite the bullet and get Fast Lane Plus, which was well worth the $80 it set me back (more on that later). I was hungry, so I decided to try Skyline Chili at the front of the park. I had a 3-way (cheddar cheese on top of chili on top of spaghetti noodles) and it was good. It took me probably 15 minutes to get up to order, mostly due to the person right in front of me having a very complex order for his entire family. After lunch, I went up the Eiffel Tower and took a few pictures of the park. Everything looks so small from the top of the tower! Parks with towers like these (that actually operate) get points in my book! I decided to come down from the Eiffel Tower around 1:00pm so I could start my credit run around Kings Island. Here is where Fast Lane Plus comes in real handy. On many coasters, Fast Lane Plus takes you right to the station. In addition, there were very few people with FL wristbands at KI (unlike Cedar Point, where it seems like ¼ of the crowd has a FL bracelet of some kind). I was able to get 16 rides in between 1pm and 6pm thanks to FL+. Almost every ride in this timeframe was a walk-on or near walk-on. The first coaster in the credit run was Backlot Stunt Coaster, which is a very fun launched coaster with some nice theming elements. After Backlot, I headed to Vortex, which was awful. My shoulders were banging on the harness most of the ride and I couldn’t wait for it to end. At least it was a walk-on with FL while the regular line looked to be about a half hour. Next up was WindSeeker, and I can see how this ride gets its name. At the top of the tower, there was a nice breeze and a nice view of the park. After that, I headed to the Beast, which I found somewhat enjoyable and not as bad as some people make it out to be. On my way to Mystic Timbers, I decided to take a lap on the Kings Island Railroad, which goes into the woods and behind Mystic Timbers and White Water Canyon. After finishing the railroad, I hit Mystic Timbers. MT is by far my #1 wooden coaster as it was smooth and forceful with plenty of airtime and laterals. I would love to see a GCI come to Cedar Point as they need a decent wooden coaster (Blue Streak sucks). After a second go-around on Diamondback, I conquered Flying Ace Aerial Chase, which is way better than Vortex. Following surviving the junior Vekoma hang and bang, I wasted about a half hour on Woodstock’s Whirlibirds, but I had to ride them as I didn’t know such a ride existed in real life (I thought it was only in RCT; they’re just as slow in real life as they are in the game). The next stop was Invertigo, the full-size Vekoma hang and bang shuttle. I didn’t find it to be bad, but I found it to be disorienting at times. It has a nice color scheme! Next, I rode Drop Tower, which also gives a very good view of the park at the top, but follows it with a very fast drop. I preferred this to Power Tower at Cedar Point. The Bat, in addition to being the coaster I spilled protein on last time I was at KI, is the only major coaster at Kings Island not to have FL at all. That, combined with one train operation, led to a 45 minute wait. At least the queue is in the trees and lacks a switchback section! The Bat is a decent ride that is much more intense than Iron Dragon (the other Arrow suspended coaster I’ve ridden). Following the Bat, I hit up Banshee for a very intense back row ride, followed by return visits to the Beast, Mystic Timbers, and Diamondback to finish my day at Kings Island. In my last installment of this series, I mentioned that I had found cheap gas. Well, on the way back yesterday, I found cheap gas again, this time along I-75 just south of Lima, Ohio. This station was $1.99 per gallon while most other stations near I-75 were in the $2.19 range. Trying Skyline Chili for the first time. A bunch of old phones lost on Diamondback. A giant mound of cheese on top of chili and spaghetti! This clock actually works! Finally got to ride the Beast! Banshee's first drop. Drop Tower, Xtreme Skyflyer, Delirium, Banshee, and the Bat. WindSeeker was aptly named today. See previous caption. Planet Snoopy. The parking lot. Vortex: Hurting Tall People for 30 Years! I bet this photo has been posted on here hundreds of times by now. Just like RollerCoaster Tycoon. A stream runs under the Bat's queue line and station! One train ops = long wait. Didn't eat here, but likely would have if I had eaten dinner in the park. Flying Ace! Even Woodstock Express has a TV in its queue! Choo choo! Managed to avoid first aid today!! Two good coasters at KI. Hang and bang! This must have been put together prior to Kyrie falling out with LeBron and Kevin. Mystic Timbers' station. Vortex's station looks very neat! Diamondback's station. Vortex looks good, but is utter trash. Out of the tunnel on Backlot.

TPR's Twitter linked back to this, so I had to read the Holy Land report! Love it!

At KI. Decided to get FL+ after waiting in a 45 minute line for Diamondback and seeing FL patrons basically walk on Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I love the park without it. If they get Lightning Rod running with near constant uptime next year, I think a return visit will definitely be in order for Smoky Mountain Christmas or 2019. Or whenever Lightning Rod is no longer new hotness (i.e. when Dollywood puts in another coaster, which I think will likely be a B&M)

Even with the State Fair prices, parking looks to still be cheaper than many major theme parks!