Kings Island (KI) Discussion Thread

[EnglndPatriots6]

maybe. They are doing alot of changes in the back of the coney mall section, Maybe remove SOB and put in a re-designed SOB?

 

Oh on those changes in coney mall, they tore down the laser tag building, and removed the poles in the old flight commander queue, and theres now a trash can in there with a new Cedar fair sticker on it, and then separating it and another patch of land, is the turbo bungy, so they could remove it and put something in back there, or maybe a coaster that goes all around that side of the park and back into the section where SOB took up, just a thought. But most peoples speculation is a path to X-base for a future expansion, still id like the thought of the expansion, but the problem, is racer is int he way.

[EnglndPatriots6]

This was posted to screamscape.com

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090702/NEWS01/307020028/17+days+later++Son+of+Beast+still+closed

 

The article says:

 

17 days later, Son of Beast still closed

 

It has been 17 days and counting for the Son of Beast -- and there's no sign yet of when the big Kings Island roller coaster will re-open.

 

The wooden roller coaster will remain closed this Fourth of July weekend, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Amusement Ride Safety Division, which is investigating whether the 8-year-old ride caused an injury that burst a blood vessel in a woman’s brain on May 31.

 

Details on the inspection will not be released until the investigation – which includes a bolt-by-bolt check of the ride, operator interviews and other time-consuming steps – is finished, ODA officials said.

 

“It sounds trite to say it takes the time it takes, but that’s the case,” said ODA’s Chief Legal Counsel, Bill Hopper said. “The key is that before it operates again, that the owner has put the time and effort to ensure that the ride is as safe as it can possibly be.”

 

On June 16, Kings Island learned that a 39-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital intensive care unit after she said she was injured on the ride May 31.

 

Kings Island contacted ODA Amusement Ride Safety Division Chief Gary Hill the day the injury was reported to the park, Hill said.

 

At least there is some update. And again sorry for the double post

[DiSab]

I believe the Eurobungee has already been removed. I was at the park today, but I didn't venture that far down Coney Mall to be sure. But I don't recall seeing from the Eiffel Tower.

 

And no, I didn't see anything different with SoB. both trains are still on the transfer/storage track, the "CLOSED" sign is still across the queue entrance, and Red Bench: The Ride is still blocking the exit bridge. Hell, from what I saw today, RB:TR has gotten more ridership than SoB lately. Oh, and I didn't notice any inspectors or official-type people milling around the ride, which is what I would assume would take place during the state inspection. However, that might just have to do with it being the 4th of July weekend.

[RedB]

^Eurobungee is still there.

[CPmaverick]

Kings Island's website finally lists SOB as temporarily closed.

http://www.visitkingsisland.com/attractions/category.cfm?ac_id=18

[SLY]

I can tell you that all SOB merchandise has been pulled from the KI stores as of this weekend.

 

You can still find SOB stuff if it is packaged with other KI stuff, but no stand alone SOB stuff will be out.

[EnglndPatriots6]

intresting. I wonder if that does mean the ride will be taken down

[robbalvey]

For those of you who wanted an official Kings Island Discussion thread - here to go.

 

--Robb

[coolcalicoaster]

^You are quick! Always taking care of every interest. Great Job with TPR Robb!

[DBru]

I visited the park for the 2nd time this season on Friday, and I simply can't believe how rough some of the coasters are getting. Sitting in the back seat, Flight of Fear, BLST, Vortex, Flight Deck, and even Diamondback shook the heck out of me!

 

FOF and DB were both better in the front, but I was still shocked at how much worse all of the listed coasters have gotten since last year, or the beginning of the season.

 

Has anyone else noticed this?

[ginzo]

^Might have just been an off day, but Kings Island is pretty well famous for having a wide selection of rough coasters. My wife absolutely despises KI for this reason and starts up a steady stream of profanity whenever I drag her up there.

 

Vortex, like many Arrow loopers, is much more tolerable in the second-to-back row.

 

I've been to KI three times this season and the rides seem about their normal selves. People claim that Firehawk is getting worse, but I haven't ridden it since the year it opened. FOF is like the smoothest B&M in the world compared to how it ran in 1996 with the OTSRs.

[DBru]

Ginzo, have you ridden FOF this season? I think you may be in for a surprise...

[larrygator]

^Might have just been an off day, but Kings Island is pretty well famous for having a wide selection of rough coasters. My wife absolutely despises KI for this reason and starts up a steady stream of profanity whenever I drag her up there.

 

Vortex, like many Arrow loopers, is much more tolerable in the second-to-back row.

 

I've been to KI three times this season and the rides seem about their normal selves. People claim that Firehawk is getting worse, but I haven't ridden it since the year it opened. FOF is like the smoothest B&M in the world compared to how it ran in 1996 with the OTSRs.

 

Joe - Wait you're saying that Liz is complaining about coasters being rough and you aren't complaining? That must be a first.

[All Clear]

Ginzo, have you ridden FOF this season? I think you may be in for a surprise...

 

I rode FOF a couple of years ago and was shocked by how much rougher it was than the one at KD. Imagine my surprise when I rode it this season and is was way worse than I remembered it. It actually shuffled like a poorly maintained woodie.

[Calicoasters]

Granted I've only been there once (June 2009) so I'm not familiar with any of the coasters, but Beast was the only "rough" coaster there.

 

We started off with Son Of Beast thinking to get the worst out of the way, and it ended up being great! I didn't think it was rough at all!

 

Flight Deck vibrated a lot, but seems to be a normal thing with all suspended coasters.

 

Flight of Fear was pretty good. It vibrated a bit but not enough to hurt the experience, the layout did all of that!

 

Backlot Stunt Coaster was perfect. Vortex was Arrow perfect (not too rough of too smooth) Diamondback was perfect front to back. Invertigo was perfect.

 

Beast had some rough spots, but not enough to keep us from enjoying our ride.

 

My girlfriend hates rough coasters and enjoyed Kings Island's collection so much that it is now her favorite park. Both Wood and Steel coasters are very much alive! They can deliver totall different experiences in different seasons or in at different times of the day, I guess we just got extremely lucky! Because we loved all their coasters.

 

And the park is very pretty too!

[DiSab]

and even Diamondback shook the heck out of me!

 

I've actually heard DB has been getting a little shaky throughout the season. Particularly near the bottom of the hill coming out of the hammerhead.

[Reon]

Yeah, Diamondback shakes a little at the bottom of the 2nd-4th hills. Its barely noticable on a single ride, but if you start to marathon it it does become identifiable. I was marathoning it one day to get to 50, and actually got a headache after my 15th lap of the day....

[FeelTheFORCE]

Finally got to ride Diamondback. This is nothing more than your average, run of the mill B&M Hyper, in my opinion. I like Nitro a lot better. I also prefer the 4-across seating. I did notice a slight shake at the bottom of a couple hills. Makes you wonder if a trim or two will be added in the off season. Speaking of which, I noticed that the trim was on EXTREMELY hard. It was almost a bit annoying. I'd rather have 2 or 3 trims on a little bit than just 1 that causes you to jerk forward.

[Cixot]

Thanks Robb. I've been looking for something like this since I joined the site 2 months ago. KI is my home park and I've always wanted to make some changes to it since Paramount took it over.

 

I know that some of these ideas of mine are harsh, but it's just something I've always wanted.

 

Fact: KI doesn't have an Invert. Why a park this big and with this many coasters and not have an Invert is beyond me? I thought long and hard about this, but I came to 3 choices.

 

Remove Backlot- We already have 5 family coasters if you count Racer. I can see a nice underground tunnel going to DB's Final brakes where a Cobra Roll would be.

 

Remove FireHawk - Yes I know, we just got this 2 years ago, but the wait times are horrendous with this thing. I've never waited under 15 minutes when it would of been a walk on any other ride there with the amount of people in line. The fastest I seen the load, into position, back to upright, and then finally unload was 5 minutes. That's terrible. Plus having the sun bake you as you go up the lift hill and at the final brakes is no fun.

 

Remove Son of Beast - A perfect opportunity has opened up since SOB hasn't been running in the past 2 months. This ride is beyond ridable lol. The loop was without a doubt the star element of the ride. Without this, we have a boring layout, mass bumpiness, lame ride. Even since the new trains have been put on, I find that they will shake left to right throughout the entire ride. I honestly don't feel safe whenever I ride it.

 

But you also don't have to take out any rides. Over at KIextreme.com, there members have been discussing adding a new section to the park behind racers. Having a pathway extend X-Base all the way to Action Theater. Placing a couple coasters back there would also be a good idea. But I don't see this happeneing for a couple of years.

 

Also I would replace Vortex with a B&M Floorless, and keep the name. Vortex is a really rough ride. When I was shorter, my head would bounce back and forth between the restraints. Now that I'm taller, it's not that bad, but it's still a rough coaster.

 

But hey, this is all my opinion.

[coolcalicoaster]

^All I can say is wow! Glad you aren't in park management!

[CPmaverick]

^^I agree with you on SOB, but not Firehawk and Backlot. Firehawk is one of my favorite rides and is also still a very popular ride (what sence would it make to remove a popular ride after just 2 years). Backlot is more of a family coaster, which KI needs.

[DiSab]

Remove Son of Beast

 

As much as I would love to see this, I think the fact that they are testing SoB again points that they won't remove it in the next year or two. Which is too bad, 'cause I would love to see it burn to the ground.

 

Over at KIextreme.com...

 

[Cixot]

^All I can say is wow! Glad you aren't in park management!

 

Oh no, you got it all wrong. This is just something I would like to see. I know for a fact that the majority wouldn't, and I accept that. This is just something I think about time to time. Call me jealous, but my favorite type of ride is the B&M Invert model. The closest one to me is Cedar Point and that's 4 hours away. I just wish we had one.

[John Peck]

My Wish list?

 

• A nice 3-Train B&M Invert

 

• Either Son of Beast removed or redesigned omitting the Rosebowl.

 

• 4 more flat rides (Teacups, Flyers, Enterprise, Swing Around, etc.)

 

• A Splash-Battle water ride

 

• Giant Wheel

 

• New set of Bumper Cars

 

• Second Wavepool & some more slides.

 

• More corporate sponsors

[Jew]

My wishlist: bulldoze the park.