Kings Island (KI) Discussion Thread

[cfc]

I finally rode Beast back in 2009 and was pleasantly surprised after hearing so many conflicting reports about it. It's definitely unique and a lot of fun.

[B&MBoy1982]

Here is the POV of The Beast that we shot on Saturday morning. When we were done with it, and watching it in Don's office, he told me "This is the best footage of The Beast I have ever seen" and it's going to become their "official" POV video as well. I'm really pleased with it and even more happy with how well The Beast was running! I'll be honest, I've never been a huge fan of the ride before, but on this visit, WOW! And night rides... even more WOW!

 

Check it out...

 

Some of my best rides on Beast were all last season. After hearing how much work they have put into it for the second year in a row, I am going to have to get over to that side of the park and give it a ride. I have not been able to fully enjoy the park yet this season since I have started working there.

 

Also, this is an example of a slow ride on Beast. Watch for the stairs to the right side of the second lift at 4:20. Usually the first or second car of the train reaches that landing before the chain takes over.

[FaithPlus1]

Thanks for posting Robb. First off, The Beast is definitely an "accept it for what it is coaster." It doesn't have great airtime, it isn't very extreme, but its just freaking fun. It's like an out of control mine ride, as though you are Indiana Jones and the little Asian boy flying around in that cart! It's different, yet fun. And I have had the honor of being on the last train of the night as a "junior" on "senior" skip day!!! LOL Principal did find out, and I did get in trouble!

I also remember as a young child being too small to ride. This was the one ride where my parents both rode and my sister and I would walk across the trains and wait as they did so. I remember watching my parents on the train as they crested the first hill. I didn't know what happened after, but I remember being so excited as they came back to the station! It was magical to me and sis even before we were big enough to ride! This video just brought back many happy memories as a child and I thank you so much for it!

Edited April 22, 2014 by FaithPlus1

[robbalvey]

Also, this is an example of a slow ride on Beast. Watch for the stairs to the right side of the second lift at 4:20. Usually the first or second car of the train reaches that landing before the chain takes over.

Yeah, for sure. We had to run the train empty while the camera was on it so I'm sure that was the reason.

[coasterfreak101]

^I was thinking the same thing, good to know that's why! Awesome footage, I don't think there's been a solid mounted Beast video since that old Discovery Channel one.

[linearinduction]

Unless an Opening Day crew consists of the vast majority of ride operators who worked the same ride in the previous season, it is outrageous to expect them to be incredibly efficient. It doesn't matter how many weeks of training or how many employee days there were to dress rehearse for Opening Day. The fact is, once you add in the general public who does not ride coasters as frequently as employees or enthusiasts, it's a whole different ballgame operating a coaster. It is an acquired skill to learn how to anticipate the unpredictable nature of the general public. I shouldn't forget to mention the pressure of having to manage a 5 hour line of testy guests who are all anxious for a free T-shirt. It changes how you approach to working a ride. You can't understand the feeling until you have felt it.

 

Yes, I got antsy watching The Beast of all coasters double-stacking, but in the end I bit my tongue because I had to realize it was Opening Day and likely the majority of those employees never worked The Beast before. After a few weeks of experience, we can discuss whether or not Kings Island has an efficiency problem. To be honest, I was very impressed with Kings Island's management of Opening Day. Almost every employee had a grasp on what they needed to do, and every single one of them was extremely friendly despite being overwhelmed by the crowds. To criticize them on Opening Day would be hypocritical to everything I have experienced and learned in my first days of being a Ride Operator.

 

And let's be real here folks, are there that many parks who can regularly avoid stacking when running full train capacity? Cedar Point might be one of the closest to achieving this, but last time I checked the majority of three train operation coasters will have a train briefly pause just outside of the station unless there is a "power hour" underway.

Having worked in Ride Operations in a Management Position, I whole heartedly disagree. I've seen Brand New Ride Ops learn to Operate a Brand New Ride in an Hour and it's all about Training. From what others have Stated, the Opening Day Crew for Banshee was inadequately trained and deserve the critisism. If mediocrity is acceptable, then you are in the wrong business.

[GayCoasterGuy]

Great new video Robb! So awesome you got the visual of the other train going down the drops...

 

Reminds me of the early morning "walk back" rides I took on Beast years ago. Anyone remember Ruth Voss?

[Comeagain?]

Having worked in Ride Operations in a Management Position, I whole heartedly disagree. I've seen Brand New Ride Ops learn to Operate a Brand New Ride in an Hour and it's all about Training. From what others have Stated, the Opening Day Crew for Banshee was inadequately trained and deserve the critisism. If mediocrity is acceptable, then you are in the wrong business.

 

I'd say you're both right, speaking as an Op who's had good and bad trainings, and watched a lot of trainings with picky, bitchy, new rides. We can get efficient at some point in our time at the ride. If you've got good training and are comfortable at the ride moving quickly, then it doesn't take very long at all to be efficient. If you have bad training, you can still learn to be quick, it just might take longer. Now, I will say that I would expect the crew to be at Banshee (at least on opening day) to be returners who have shown they can move quickly and who hopefully have gotten past the "Guests are scary" phase, but it is still a new ride. SOP's were/are still most likely being finalized, and the Ops are probably still learning the quirks of the ride. You can do mock cycles all you want, putting people in the seats who don't regularly ride and dealing with how slow some people move, you're bound to slow down a little.

[linearinduction]

^ Good Points. At Lagoon SOPs were always established before the ride opened and usually based on SOPs from other Parks and those from the Ride Manufacturer. Employees Riding and Operating the rides before opening also were asked what they thought and what changes should be made. Let's hope that happens here and adjustments are made.

[scbt]

Wow, great pov. I can only imagine what a ride on the beast would be like at night with the trims turned off.

 

Edit: Hey! 500 posts, Yay!

[bonsaiisuperstar]

Great Beast POV Rob! Finally a worthy one after 35 years! And Steve...those pictures are the best I have seen of media day. Nice work sir! You are all a bunch of talented TPR people.

[gerstlaueringvar]

Amazing POV! Finally got to see a high quality Beast POV. And congratulations of this video becoming KI's official Beast POV!

[Geauga Dog]

I just viewed the Beast POV and thank you, Robb, for making my moring start off on a great note! That is the best POV of the ride I've seen in years and you couldn't have asked for better weather to do so.

 

I wish KI would release a DVD with POV of all the coasters like what CP did a few years ago.

[robbalvey]

Unless an Opening Day crew consists of the vast majority of ride operators who worked the same ride in the previous season, it is outrageous to expect them to be incredibly efficient. It doesn't matter how many weeks of training or how many employee days there were to dress rehearse for Opening Day. The fact is, once you add in the general public who does not ride coasters as frequently as employees or enthusiasts, it's a whole different ballgame operating a coaster. It is an acquired skill to learn how to anticipate the unpredictable nature of the general public. I shouldn't forget to mention the pressure of having to manage a 5 hour line of testy guests who are all anxious for a free T-shirt. It changes how you approach to working a ride. You can't understand the feeling until you have felt it.

 

Yes, I got antsy watching The Beast of all coasters double-stacking, but in the end I bit my tongue because I had to realize it was Opening Day and likely the majority of those employees never worked The Beast before. After a few weeks of experience, we can discuss whether or not Kings Island has an efficiency problem. To be honest, I was very impressed with Kings Island's management of Opening Day. Almost every employee had a grasp on what they needed to do, and every single one of them was extremely friendly despite being overwhelmed by the crowds. To criticize them on Opening Day would be hypocritical to everything I have experienced and learned in my first days of being a Ride Operator.

 

And let's be real here folks, are there that many parks who can regularly avoid stacking when running full train capacity? Cedar Point might be one of the closest to achieving this, but last time I checked the majority of three train operation coasters will have a train briefly pause just outside of the station unless there is a "power hour" underway.

Having worked in Ride Operations in a Management Position, I whole heartedly disagree. I've seen Brand New Ride Ops learn to Operate a Brand New Ride in an Hour and it's all about Training. From what others have Stated, the Opening Day Crew for Banshee was inadequately trained and deserve the critisism. If mediocrity is acceptable, then you are in the wrong business.

How many other parks have you worked at other than Lagoon? Have you worked at any corporate owned parks? Like a Six Flags, Disney, or Universal?

[rcjp]

Great POV, as usual. Also glad to know it wasn't running so rough.

[coasterbill]

That's great news about Beast. Hopefully we get out there this year before it returns to it's former state.

[linearinduction]

Yes Robb, I worked at Cedar Point in 2001 on the Only VertiCord Crew as well as Several Other Positions.

[Invertalon]

The Beast was running well, for what it is. It was very smooth and ending helix was great when we rode on Saturday. However, I still can’t help but feel it is a relatively boring ride. Maybe when I ride it at night in a few months it will make it somewhat more interesting.

[mikeykaise]

The Beast was running well, for what it is. It was very smooth and ending helix was great when we rode on Saturday. However, I still can’t help but feel it is a relatively boring ride. Maybe when I ride it at night in a few months it will make it somewhat more interesting.

 

At least they removed the brakes on the downhill plunge into the spiral from what I could tell.

[Invertalon]

I still felt the trims into the final helix if I recall correctly. As well as a few other parts of the ride.

[mikeykaise]

I still felt the trims into the final helix if I recall correctly. As well as a few other parts of the ride.

 

that was my bad, I re-watched the video and they're there. I missed them the first time but still what an incredible ride, it makes you forget you are on a roller-coaster and more like a runaway train.

[shivtim]

My photos from Media Day:

 

 

Amazing. You've got some photography talent.

[mikeslagy]

Lets try this again...

 

Final Banshee Construction Time Lapse Video

 

Final Video:

 

Here are some interesting facts:

* I captured images for 261 days, 20 hours, 6 minutes and 58 seconds Or 8 months, 18 days, 20 hours, 6 minutes and 58 seconds

* I captured 365,758 images that took up a total of 31.7GB disk space

* I created 27.2GB worth of video

 

Here is another interesting link; the first image I captured and an image captured from the last day: http://imgur.com/gallery/tDCIM

Thats some serious dedication.

the video is pretty sick too

[mikeslagy]

Here is the POV of The Beast that we shot on Saturday morning. When we were done with it, and watching it in Don's office, he told me "This is the best footage of The Beast I have ever seen" and it's going to become their "official" POV video as well. I'm really pleased with it and even more happy with how well The Beast was running! I'll be honest, I've never been a huge fan of the ride before, but on this visit, WOW! And night rides... even more WOW!

 

Check it out...

 

The Beast is by far one of the best coasters in the park as well as in the US, as well as one of my favorites.

This is 100% the best POV i've ever watched, i've never seen one that looked so amazing.

 

Kudos to you Robb

Edited April 22, 2014 by mikeslagy

[coasterbill]

That video was really interesting to watch. Great job!