Kings Island (KI) Discussion Thread

[Legocraft]

Has anyone found the Beast to be really rough?

[Guy T. Koepp]

Has anyone found the Beast to be really rough?

 

Yes. Stay off the wheel seats. I'm not a huge Beast fan, night rides are more than the day rides, but overall, I find the whole thing kinda meh.

[prozach626]

Am I the only one who thinks that MT took some inspiration from Verbolten?

Although I haven't experienced it in person, I agree with you.

[Vonni]

It seems like the trees on Mystic Timbers have really closed the roller coaster in nicely. I'm glad I didn't go earlier in the season like I had originally planned.

 

 

 

[Peeps28]

I was wondering the same thing about the crowds this weekend. Was planning on worlds of fun. But may just drive here.

[coasterbill]

Has anyone found the Beast to be really rough?

 

No

 

Anyway, I'll write a full report eventually (emphasis on eventually) but I'll share a few thoughts from yesterday which was our first visit in a few years.

 

-Mystic Timbers is a lot of fun. It's a pretty average GCI but that's not a knock on it since even average GCIs are great. The ride has a great location and the theming in the queue, shed and station is really nice for Cedar Fair.

 

- Diamondback has to be the best ride in the park (during the day). It has incredibly forceful airtime for a B&M hyper and is just an all around awesome ride.

 

- Banshee is running great. They let you wait for the front now (unlike our visit a few years ago) which is nice so we opted to do that every time.

 

- Can we all just take a moment to appreciate how awesome the Bat is?

 

- I'm still riding high after our amazing Beast ride last night. We were on the second to last train of the night in the back car and holy living crap did that thing fly. There was a pretty intense storm moving in so they were rushing to run out the line and the fact that they sent the last few trains was definitely questionable. I was really happy when the train started rolling and there was no longer an option for them to let sanity prevail and close for weather.

 

The Beast at night is legendary on it's own but the random flashes of lightning, light rain and impressive view of the storm from the second lift made it even better. Also... that helix. OMFG!!!

[ytterbiumanalyst]

^ Yep, pretty much exactly my thoughts. I liked Banshee but I loved Diamondback, especially back row. I'm not sure whether I like Ninja or Bat better, but that's a good problem to have.

 

Beast in a thunderstorm must have been quite the experience. Glad you had fun!

[Steely Dan]

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Edited August 22, 2017 by Steely Dan

[Jcoaster]

Beast at night is a religious experience.

 

Beast at night in an imminent thunderstorm? You lucky dog, you.

 

I can't wait to take my virgin voyage on the Beast in August.

[firewalk13]

- Can we all just take a moment to appreciate how awesome the Bat is?!

 

I love the Bat!!

[Steely Dan]

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Edited August 22, 2017 by Steely Dan

[JJLehto]

How does Beast run these days? In recent POVs it seems to have a lot of trims on. Does it impact the speed at all? Since from what I hear the speed is the biggest draw of the ride. Sooo many rides are neutered by the time I get to them, I really am aiming to get to KI this year so I'd hate for this to be the case for Beast after finally riding.

[CP Maverick]

Beast has had trims on it for nearly its entire existence. They just changed from skids to magnets.

[bluestreak]

Beast has had trims on it for nearly its entire existence. They just changed from skids to magnets.

 

...which, since it is a more abrupt slow down, makes the ride seem slower even though the speed is still the same.

I remember Don telling us that during the beast behind the scenes tours at coasterstock in 2016.

[JJLehto]

Beast has had trims on it for nearly its entire existence. They just changed from skids to magnets.

 

...which, since it is a more abrupt slow down, makes the ride seem slower even though the speed is still the same.

I remember Don telling us that during the beast behind the scenes tours at coasterstock in 2016.

 

Ah guess just the different look stood out more to me.

Darn that's a shame, my fault for not being more dedicated on going to parks. By the time I finally do rides have been neutered or had some less than ideal change to it. Well I'm sure Beast is still awesome.

[Philrad71]

^ As many have said, night rides are where it's at for The Beast. I have never ridden anywhere but the front seat at night, but it sounds like coasterbill had a great ride in the back at night too.

[Pseybert]

First visit here coming up in a little more than a week. Does anyone think that Fast Lane+ will allow me a night ride on The Beast and MT on a Monday (10PM close).

 

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Edited May 29, 2017 by Pseybert

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

^ As many have said, night rides are where it's at for The Beast. I have never ridden anywhere but the front seat at night, but it sounds like coasterbill had a great ride in the back at night too.

I believe he said he rode in the back car. When we rode in the 2nd to back or even third to back, it wasn't too bad. The very last row was very uncomfortable and rough for us. I told my bf we shouldn't sit in a wheel seat, but he insisted we sit in the very back, and now he has learned his lesson.

[coasterbill]

First visit here coming up in a little more than a week. Does anyone think that Fast Lane+ will allow me a night ride on The Beast and MT on a Monday (10PM close).

 

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

No. Because Kings Island is so close to the central time zone it doesn't get dark until (basically) 10:00 so you pretty much have to pick one this time of year.

 

PS: You should pick the Beast. If you have Fastlane get in like about 20 minutes before park close so you can guarantee a front seat ride.

[jonskinny12]

^ As many have said, night rides are where it's at for The Beast. I have never ridden anywhere but the front seat at night, but it sounds like coasterbill had a great ride in the back at night too.

 

I've had both the front row and back car at night on The Beast and I found both to be amazing.

[Arthur_Seaton]

I got to ride The Beast at night as well as in torrential rain / thunderstorm. The storm hit about 4pm, and The Beast was the last ride to shut down as the rain progressively got worse and worse. By the time the train dispatched, rain was coming down in sheets. It ended the day early, but it was so worth it. Riding at night and riding through rain are fairly similar — you're largely blinded, and it feels as though the train is flying through the landscape. It did have some rough spots for sure, but about what's expected for an old wooden coaster.

 

When I visited KI last year, I was on a mini tour, hitting Indiana Beach, Cedar Point, Kentucky Kingdom, and Holiday World, and Diamondback was my favorite coaster from any of the parks I visited. In fact, I think it's my favorite coaster, period. The floater airtime is perfectly calibrated and ridiculously sustained. I loved The Bat as well — it's like a grown-up version of the other arrow swingers I've ridden.

[prozach626]

I think I'll take a night time ride vs. being peppered in the face with heavy rain drops.

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

I think I'll take a night time ride vs. being peppered in the face with heavy rain drops.

How about both. That's what we got during Coasterstock ERT. It was a lot more fun when the rain let up and our faces were spared but the track was still pretty wet.

[Prof Kaos]

I'm headed to KI next Friday. As of right now, it's looking like there could be a bit of rain and maybe a storm that day. Hopefully things start looking clearer in the days ahead.

 

If it does rain, but not too badly, how is the park? Do some rides close sooner than others? At what point does the park just throw in the towel and close? Does it go that far?

I can imagine there would be very little in the way of crowds on an overcast day with some rain, is this a safe assumption?

[CoasterGuy06]

My last visit was in June 2015 on a day where there was an off and on drizzle throughout the day. Virtually everything operated as normal all day.