Cedar Point or Kings Island?

[almightyfire]

I went to both parks in 2005. I actually was more impressed with Kings Island than CP. The reason being is I wasnt impressed at all with the coasters. I know that I am going to be blasted but it wasnt all of that to me. It is a big piece of concrete with steel. It all depends on what u r looking for. I like themeing. Kings Island is more of a well rounded park. I am going this year to ride S OF THE BEAST. Now I know that everyone says it terrible but it is something i want to do before it is torn down. None of the coasters at KI are gonna make u jump up and shout but u will have a better time if u are like me. I liked Alphengeist much better than Raptor and Maverick does look like something i would ride but i am not a big inversion person. I like hills and airtime more than going upside down.

 

From Columbus u can darn near walk to KI but it is almost 4 hrs to CP. If Maverick is that important to u then go there by all means but if it isnt then KI would be ok. Now I am not the impressed with KI either but I had a better time there.

[alpengeist04]

I would wait to see the weather report first.

 

 

In all seriousness, I would go with CP too. Raptor, Maverick, and MF are all better than anything at KI.

[xingfu]

Maverick does look like something i would ride but i am not a big inversion person. I like hills and airtime more than going upside down.

 

Between the drop and airtime hill, I thought mav fullfilled these elements pretty well.

[slither37]

From Columbus u can darn near walk to KI but it is almost 4 hrs to CP. I

 

I make it to CP in a little over 2 hours from the east side of Columbus.

Trick is NOT to go up route 4, but to go 71 to Ashland.

 

I grew up going to KI every year. Last year was the first year of Cedar Fair owning KI and I went to KI once as I had some friends that wanted to go there.

 

This year, will probably not go to to KI at all. All CP

[coaster05]

I would actually go to KI in your situation. I love going to places I haven't been so IMO new park is always better then a park I have been to. If you remove the newness part of your equation CP is better on almost all aspects and both are equal in the area of losing the feeling about them I used to love.

[NINCUB]

 

I make it to CP in a little over 2 hours from the east side of Columbus.

Trick is NOT to go up route 4, but to go 71 to Ashland.

 

Really?! just over 2 hours on 71 from Columbus?! Well that is much better than route 4. Route 4 was scenic and fun in its own right, but 2hrs is much better!

 

We will def have to try that route next time!

[Philrad71]

Yes, that would be a tough choice. I have not been to KI since I was seventeen years old...long before Flight of Fear, Son of Beast and whatever they are calling the drop tower now (is it 'Drop Ride'?). I had great fun while riding 'The Beast' and just like someone else had pointed out, a lot of enthusiasts will go there just for that coaster alone. It was a fun ride (especially in the dark) back in the day, but I have read a lot of posts on here from enthusiasts saying that it is not what it used to be...too rough, trims, etc.

 

When I went to Kings Dominion and rode the 'Flight Of Fear' that they have down there, I will say that the ride surprised me like no other! I had no idea what was going to happen beforehand and was elated at the insanity and speed of the entire ride! I honestly thought that it was going to be a dark ride with maybe some surprising elements. Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of 'Disaster Transport' at CP, which I noticed wasn't mentioned in your report. If you did not ride 'Disaster Transport' and decide to ever go back to CP, I would not waste your time on that one unless it is a walk-on (think ultimate ghetto ride)!!

 

That being said, I did vote for CP in the poll, only because I know that you will have a great time and enjoy Raptor (front seat) and Maverick (any seat) and CP is always a blast. But, I still would like to get back to KI myself and was even thinking about going this year. I am torn between that and going back to Hershey, which I visisted for the first time last year, and really enjoyed.

 

Personally, I think that you would have a great time at both parks and would look forward to the trip report for either one!

 

PS - Like someone pointed out...just watch the weather report in advance if you decide on CP. Spring and early summer can be very iffy in Sandusky. I had four years in a row when I planned trips during that time of the year that ended up getting rained out! CP will not run anything if there is the slightest shower. Not sure if this is true with KI anymore now that they are owned by Cedar Fair, but when I visited many years ago, it drizzled and rained almost the entire day and I believe that all of the rides were open and running.

[Carnage]

Do you have enough time to do both?

[steel]

I don't know. I loved KI. I don't know why everyone hates it so much. Drop Zone is really awesome and Beast is my favorite woodie ever (front row at night zomg). There isn't all that much to do, but the atmosphere is nice and the staff is fantastic.

 

On the other hand, you haven't been on two of the three best rides at Cedar Point!

 

If you can, go to both. If you can't, I don't know.

[NINCUB]

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of 'Disaster Transport' at CP, which I noticed wasn't mentioned in your report. If you did not ride 'Disaster Transport' and decide to ever go back to CP, I would not waste your time on that one unless it is a walk-on (think ultimate ghetto ride)!!

 

 

Oh yes... Disaster Transport was interesting... but kinda "blah".... slow....not really exciting...

 

Thanks for your response. I have really been wanting to ride The Beast... everyone keeps mentioning riding it in the dark.... hmmmm...

[coolhandluke]

Thanks for your response. I have really been wanting to ride The Beast... everyone keeps mentioning riding it in the dark.... hmmmm...

Oh yeah. Night ride on Beast is just something you should experience. All the stuff about the overall quality of the ride kinda gives way to the atmosphere. As you fly through the woods you can literally feel the air change to a more dense, moist, natural atmosphere. Talk about great theming...I think Mother Nature does it best.

Though I did vote for CP just because of Maverick and Raptor, I really doubt you can go wrong with either one. I sincerely wish you luck with your decision!

[steel]

^Yeah, see, that's exactly why Beast is a spectacular ride. It doesn't have to be packed with wild forces to be exciting and enjoyable.

I'm also a massive fan of the helix. I don't think I can ever remember having more fun anywhere than going through that helix in the front row at night.

 

Sorry, that was a little off-topic.

[FeelTheFORCE]

The Beast at night is the best! Just imagine how their new B&M is going to be at night.

[NINCUB]

OMG! Everyone has gave great reasons to go to CP and KI! I guess I'm just going to see when I get there. I might have to flip a coin now! LOL. Or I might work it out to go to both!?!

[Carnage]

^Yeah, see, that's exactly why Beast is a spectacular ride. It doesn't have to be packed with wild forces to be exciting and enjoyable.

I'm also a massive fan of the helix. I don't think I can ever remember having more fun anywhere than going through that helix in the front row at night.

 

Sorry, that was a little off-topic.

 

As long as you don't mind having the rock hard seat back slammed into your back over and over and over again.

 

It's all personal opinion I understand, but I consider Beast, Son of Beast, and Vortex at KI to be three of the most painful rides I've ever ridden. And I consider myself to be a glutton for punishment when it comes to coasters.

[RedB]

^ I have to agree with Carnage. KI has some of the roughest rides I've ever ridden.

[coolhandluke]

When did you last ride SOB, Carnage? Without the loop I found it to be smoothER and (ready for this?) ENJOYABLE. OMG. I SAID IT. Now, don't get me wrong, it sure ain't no Intamin pre-fab by any means, but the psycho turn-your-spine-into-a-whip chaos is pretty much gone. I know people still find it rough, and sometimes painful, but it is at least rideable most of the time, and occasionally enjoyable.

I will agree with you on one part of Beast being painfully harsh--the entrance into the renowned helix. gradual, yet fast, descent+banked track despite not turning+instant turn left to begin helix+beginning of tunnel (read: dark, so no way to anticipate)=all your vertebrae shifting 1/2 inch to the right and head of left passenger meeting the shoulder of the right passenger like a test dummy meeting an airbag.

As for the rest of the ride, though, I didn't find it too bad (old rough, but not "ouch" rough) if I kept my back off the back of the seat (which isn't too tough to do on that ride).

Vortex is hit or miss between "manageable Arrow roughness" and "where's the brake run? Arrow roughness".

[ginzo]

When did you last ride SOB, Carnage? Without the loop I found it to be smoothER and (ready for this?) ENJOYABLE. OMG. I SAID IT. Now, don't get me wrong, it sure ain't no Intamin pre-fab by any means, but the psycho turn-your-spine-into-a-whip chaos is pretty much gone. I know people still find it rough, and sometimes painful, but it is at least rideable most of the time, and occasionally enjoyable.

 

I rode SOB shortly after it re-opened last year and it sucks as much as it ever did. Only now you have to deal with the annoyance of G-trains and trying to position yourself away from the back of the seat, yet not too close to the lap bar.

 

Ugh. Still a bottom 5 coaster that would make far better firewood than anything else.

[slither37]

Really?! just over 2 hours on 71 from Columbus?! Well that is much better than route 4. Route 4 was scenic and fun in its own right, but 2hrs is much better

 

Go 71 North to Ashland, I think it is exit 182. It is Route 250. Just stay on 250 all the way to Sandusky. The advantage is that on 71 you get to go much faster than on 4. Pay attention to the signs as there are some twists and turns on 250 between Ashland and Norwalk.

 

I do not know if it is much quicker, but it SEEMS as though it is.

[NINCUB]

Very interstesting that the loop in SOB was removed. It doesn't seem that the loop would have been the most rough part of the ride. Normally vertical loops are quite smooth compared to corkscrews or cobra rolls.... but it was a loop on a wooden coaster which had never been done before....

[supertrooper]

I think it's been established that the loop wasn't removed because it was rough. The loop was actually the only smooth part of the ride.

 

I'd say go to KI...just because you've never been. I grew up going to KI every year, and I had fun each time I went. I do like Cedar Point more, but still....KI isn't bad.

[coasterguy618]

Without the loop I found it to be smoothER

.

 

Removing the loop wouldn't do anything to change the smoothness of the ride. Plus, it must be a lot worse with those crap G trains. Ew.

 

Anyway I say CP. At Cedar Point you will have a great time anytime you go, and since you haven't gotten on Raptor and Maverick, CP without a doubt.

[coolhandluke]

I heard that the loop removal enabled them to use lighter trains ("those crap G trains"). Lighter trains equals less strain and stress, and (typically) a smoother ride. Similar thing happening at SFMM with X2 (granted they didn't remove anything from the track for the lighter trains). I'm not saying the loop was rough. Far from it--it was easily the smoothest part. I'm saying that without that element, they could use the lighter trains. When I rode it last year, it ran better. Smooth? Hell no. Bumpy? Nope. It was rough and jostled me around a ton (especially the first helix). But I stepped off without a migraine or Scoliosis. In fact, my friend and I went to ride it again, but couldn't in a timely matter (because a girl in the train had gotten a bloody nose on the ride...yes, I realize that doesn't help my case...). Maybe God just made me immune to torture that day, or maybe I got amnesia on the ride and don't remember the pain, but I think the lighter trains helped it on at least one run.

 

But apparently, this "lighter trains=smoother ride" theory is like Communism, and only worked on paper. Everyone still seems to despise it except me...

 

Oh, well, more walk-ons for me until they finally do tear it down and put in a pre-fab...

[Carnage]

When did you last ride SOB, Carnage?

 

Two years ago now I think? Summer 2005 I believe.

 

Considering how much I despise G-trains, I doubt I would like the new SoB much better.

 

The helix isn't even the part that bothered me the most on Beast. I found it to have a real weird stuttering shuffle through most of the flat parts. Where it would just kind of lurch, stop, lurch, stop, etc. My back took a pounding on it.

 

Vortex along with GASM is the perfect example of how far engineering has come in the last decade. My head/neck just hurts looking at pictures of the ride.

[MisterP]

I'm not sure I consider KI a "bad" park, but I'm hard-pressed to come up with even one good reason to go back........ok, maybe Drop Zone.

 

CP? I'm hard-pressed to come up with any negatives.........ok, maybe Mean Streak