Kings Island (KI) Discussion Thread

[Pedrinho]

(...) If this had been a bigger more intense layout I sure would have made my first visit. I think a lot of other would have done the same. (...)

Like I said I have never been to this park so maybe they don't need a 300 ft coaster and a 287 foot coaster will suffice.

(...)

I understand your point.. But you DO know, that Orion will be the same length as Fury until the MCBR, and that after the MCBR there's not much track that adds to the ride experience?

And truly NOBODY out of the GP, which is over 99% of the total attendance of any amusement park, cares how many inches short of 300 feet a coaster is? I would assume that 90% of all riders don*t even care (or know) how high the lift hill is.

 

So no, it really doesn't matter for CF, KI or anyone besides some (!) enthusiasts if there are 13 feet more difference between station terrain and the top of the lift hill then there will be now. People will come to the park because of Orion. And those enthusiasts who care will come and ride it, too. 300 feet or not.

[chschris1]

^^ I disagree that the portion after the MCBR doesn't add to the ride experience. You get a decent helix, an awesome head chopper moment, and 2 more airtime moments.

 

As for the 13 foot part of the debate...I was just using that as a frame of reference. I expected this coaster to be at least 300ft, but thought, in the beginning, it would be even taller. With all that said, a good portion of those who go to Kings Island probably also go to Cedar Point. A 287ft coaster isn't really something that awe inspiring when you have a park in the same state with 2 other coasters topping that. If they had beaten Millenium Force's height I would feel different. I think that a lot of people would love to see at least a 300 ft coaster and 287 ft to me just isn't cutting it when you have Diamondback in the same park. Not to mention adding height would also make Orion faster...which I think it should be as well.

 

I think there are actually quite a lot more "enthusiasts" out there than people think. Just look at the view counts on youtube of people watching reviews, speculation, and vlog videos. On top of that look at comments, social media feeds, and how things have changed. Since social media has taken over, the enthusiast base has grown significantly. I don't think they are as hard core as some of us but there are a lot more people interested in parks and coaster than ever before.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

A 287ft coaster isn't really something that awe inspiring

Really? Maybe it's time to find a new hobby....

 

For me, I'm pretty stoked about the new machine that can throw me off a skyscraper safely!

[ZeroGravity55]

^ For real. No one is gonna be able tell the difference between 300ft and 287ft just looking at it. The sheer size of this ride will be awe inspiring to look at in person. For example, Valravn is a smaller ride in terms of height, but I couldn't get over just how big and imposing that ride looked from the humongous track and steep lift. To me, that's one of the things B&M does best. They build the huge, beautiful imposing rides that you could sit and watch all day long.

[chschris1]

Just my opinion. I'm sure it will be a great coaster for KI.

[thrillseeker4552]

There is no mid-course break run on Fury. I am confused how we are comparing Orion to Fury "up until the MCBR." Fury is non-stop from the lift to the final brakes!

[chschris1]

^^ You are right. I think we are referring to the mid course trim. lol

[prozach626]

I think there are actually quite a lot more "enthusiasts" out there than people think.

 

No. There aren't. Even then, the financial relevance is the overwhelming percentage of the general public to enthusiasts. Enthusiasts aren't the bread and butter.

 

Also, Pro tip: Visit a park before having such a strong opinion about their brand new extremely expensive roller coaster. Diamondback vs. Orion: You're comparing one coaster you've never ridden to another coaster that hasn't been constructed.

[bill_s]

There are a lot of enthusiasts in the sense they'll travel a bit to ride a gigacoaster in a good park. Not so many that will make a trip specifically because the new coaster beats a sort-of record by 1 foot or so.

 

I think classifying a coaster due to the drop height is less a cheat than claiming a height when the whole coaster is elevated. E.g. Big Apple isn't really a hyper. But still Magnum is hyper despite the drop being less than 200 feet, partially because they still pushed themselves.

 

Fury isn't nonstop because there's the MCBR itself. The last hills are good but still feel a little tacked on.

[chschris1]

I think there are actually quite a lot more "enthusiasts" out there than people think.

 

No. There aren't. Even then, the financial relevance is the overwhelming percentage of the general public to enthusiasts. Enthusiasts aren't the bread and butter.

 

Also, Pro tip: Visit a park before having such a strong opinion about their brand new extremely expensive roller coaster. Diamondback vs. Orion: You're comparing one coaster you've never ridden to another coaster that hasn't been constructed.

 

Thanks for the PRO tip!

[KIEnthusiast]

Steel Vengeance was built for enthusiasts and every enthusiast in the whole world went to Cedar Point last year to ride it. Yet 2018 still ended up being one of the lowest-attended years in the history of Cedar Point. Kings Island even had a higher 2018 attendance after adding nothing significant. Coaster enthusiasts make up a very insignificant minority. If they were the majority, Cedar Point would have had a record-breaking year. Instead, it was the complete opposite.

[PKI Jizzman]

I think there are actually quite a lot more "enthusiasts" out there than people think.

 

No. There aren't. Even then, the financial relevance is the overwhelming percentage of the general public to enthusiasts. Enthusiasts aren't the bread and butter.

 

Also, Pro tip: Visit a park before having such a strong opinion about their brand new extremely expensive roller coaster. Diamondback vs. Orion: You're comparing one coaster you've never ridden to another coaster that hasn't been constructed.

 

Thanks for the PRO tip!

 

He's a pro, it's true!

 

Comparing two coasters you haven't ridden in a park you've never been to is accepted in YouTube comments, though. Widely accepted.

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

I am in the camp that thinks that adding 13 more feet would have been advantageous for the park. Oh well, i'm sure it will be a hit for the park no matter what.

 

But would it have been advantageous for the chain? Remember that Cedar Fair isn't trying to make KI a destination park; it's doing just fine by drawing in locals. Remember, there's a 310 foot tall coaster 4 hours north...

Who says KI isn't a destination park? I mean it's not CP but I would still consider it a destination park compared to a lot of others in the CF chain.

There are a lot of enthusiasts in the sense they'll travel a bit to ride a gigacoaster in a good park. Not so many that will make a trip specifically because the new coaster beats a sort-of record by 1 foot or so.

I don't think non-enthusiasts/GP/whatever you want to call those people who don't care enough to spend their time arguing on an online forum about a ride that hasn't been built yet plan massive trips for one new coaster. Moreso I think nonenthusiasts would add a theme park to an already-planned trip if it looks interesting enough to spend the time and money doing that than doing something else in the area. KI is big enough and Cincy is boring enough that people will visit it regardless of 13 extra feet of coaster. They'll pass a billboard on the freeway and be like, "Hey, we should go there." And there are locals who will still get a pass and visit no matter what.

 

I think the "problem" isn't that it's a rule-bending Giga or whatever but that people think the park is basically just putting in another version of Diamondback. I've already had several conversations with my nonenthusiast but coaster-liking friend who doesn't understand why KI is putting in a new coaster that looks just like Diamondback to her.

[chschris1]

I think there are actually quite a lot more "enthusiasts" out there than people think.

 

No. There aren't. Even then, the financial relevance is the overwhelming percentage of the general public to enthusiasts. Enthusiasts aren't the bread and butter.

 

Also, Pro tip: Visit a park before having such a strong opinion about their brand new extremely expensive roller coaster. Diamondback vs. Orion: You're comparing one coaster you've never ridden to another coaster that hasn't been constructed.

 

Thanks for the PRO tip!

 

He's a pro, it's true!

 

Comparing two coasters you haven't ridden in a park you've never been to is accepted in YouTube comments, though. Widely accepted.

 

Thanks!

[pǝʇɹǝʌuı]

I am in the camp that thinks that adding 13 more feet would have been advantageous for the park. Oh well, i'm sure it will be a hit for the park no matter what.

 

But would it have been advantageous for the chain? Remember that Cedar Fair isn't trying to make KI a destination park; it's doing just fine by drawing in locals. Remember, there's a 310 foot tall coaster 4 hours north...

Who says KI isn't a destination park? I mean it's not CP but I would still consider it a destination park compared to a lot of others in the CF chain.

 

That's fair, I'm sure it's a destination for some. My point was that Cedar Fair is probably trying to keep Kings Island in a tier below Cedar Point. It makes sense to someone from Columbus like myself. Almost all of my friends from Columbus prefer CP to KI, although that might change with Orion being built. But I do admit I have a weird bias as my hometown is almost exactly in the middle of the two.

[partycat]

Cassy and Travis Halloween Haunt Trip Report!

Yesterday we went to the opening night of haunt for their media event, here’s some pictures from our visit:

Still love how they really transform the entrance of the park! Really gets me excited for spooks!

Lanyard for the event

A list of the mazes, no new mazes this year but there are a ton of new walkthrough experiences which I feel really adds to the experience. However there was a “lights out” version of Madame Fatale’s Cavern of Terror which we really enjoyed! They give you a glow stick when you enter and it really made that maze feel completely different in the dark

There are so many monsters to see, and they are all running around the crowd of people

They all gather on the stage and announce that the monsters will be unleashed

They had an “opening ceremony” which was new to us and I thought was a cool concept, they march to the stage in front of the Eiffel Tower and there scare actors all holding flags of the mazes/walkthroughs that they represent

Love these giant skeletons that are on each side of the fountain

Made our way to the tower to see the view from above!

You can see some of the walkthrough areas starting to get very foggy!

Such a cool view from the top!

Another funeral scene set up this year...are they getting rid of something else?

This is from earlier in the night, the lines got a bit longer as it got darker.

Footprints to the beast look so good!

The entertainment was really cool, there was a fire breather and they had people twirling fire and we noticed that they were in the new drums of the dead show

One of the food displays for one of the new walkthrough areas

Went to the media area for some food, love this area! It is such a nice spot for the party

Does this count as raiding Area 51?

One of my favorite walkthrough areas, I really enjoy all of the pumpkins and they had scare actors in the pathway as well

I really enjoy the theming of this maze and it really make you feel like you are going through different departments of a store

Shipwrecked was a new walkthrough area and we really liked it, they had pirate themed scare actors with barnacles on their faces and the whole area felt transformed

Haunted Homecoming is a newer show, it replaced Hot Blooded last year I believe

There were a lot of talented singers this year which was great!

Rivertown reaping was a new walkthrough as well, we really enjoyed the variety of new walkthrough areas, it really adds to the mazes and you’re still being scared as you walk to the next maze!

Drums of the Dead was a new show this year and included good music and lots of fire!

I took quite a few pictures of the tower, I really love the way it looks when it’s decorated all spooky

Some of the merchandise for haunt

I really like the new clown shirt

40th anniversary merchandise for the Beast

Still really like the night package for this ride!

night rides on the beast are a must!

At the end of the night the front was so foggy that you could barely see the tower

When a monster is behind you, just take a selfie!

We really had a great time at the park, haunt is our favorite time of year to be at the parks and we always love seeing the changes and the new things they add!

[tndank]

Nice post and pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[prozach626]

Thanks for sharing. Nice pictures.

[ZeroGravity55]

Planning on going to Kings Island on October 25th and getting fast lane plus. I'm assuming that the park will be bonkers busy. Should everything still be manageable with fast lane plus? Not really interested in the haunts. Looking to enjoy a fall day at the park along with a lot of night rides.

[prozach626]

That will probably be one of the more busy days. We've been to KI Haunt twice in the last three years. I can only comment on our experiences. The longest line we've waited in was last year for Diamondback and that was probably 15-20 minutes, if that. Beast and Banshee were 5-10 minutes. Everything else took us practically right into the station. Once the haunt starts the lines for the rides get shorter. Then, during the last few hours the haunted house lines die down. I suggest at least trying one or two.

[jarmor]

Steel Vengeance was built for enthusiasts and every enthusiast in the whole world went to Cedar Point last year to ride it.

I didn't . . .

[partycat]

Planning on going to Kings Island on October 25th and getting fast lane plus. I'm assuming that the park will be bonkers busy. Should everything still be manageable with fast lane plus? Not really interested in the haunts. Looking to enjoy a fall day at the park along with a lot of night rides.

 

I think you will be fine if you get fast lane, and like prozach626 said the lines tend to get shorter for the rides once the mazes open, and I know you said you aren’t interested in the mazes but I would try a couple at least! We really enjoy blackout and madame fatales cavern of terrors was really cool with ‘lights out’ plus it’s in then old crypt building! The only ride that might get super long lines will be the beast I would think, but its definitely worth waiting for when it gets really dark

[DoinItForTheFame]

Steel Vengeance was built for enthusiasts and every enthusiast in the whole world went to Cedar Point last year to ride it.

 

Yeah. No.

 

There are TONS air coaster enthusiasts who didn’t flock out to Cedar Point for SV. (Myself being one of them.)

[Pedrinho]

^

Yeah, I can second that. Also: Not all enthusiasts ale living in the US. There are some other countries on other continents.

[coasterbill]

The park has posted an updated ride lineup for this year’s Winterfest. Flight of Fear will be closed this year. No major rides have been added. Merry Christmas. Come to Great Adventure and ride Nitro if you want and I’ll buy you a sympathy beer.

Edited September 23, 2019 by coasterbill