Kings Island (KI) Discussion Thread

[Dan the Coaster Man]

On 7/16/2022 at 9:01 AM, swfan1988 said:

Was at the park yesterday (full trip report later) and Bat was back to two trains!

Awesome to hear! Impressive too. KI always on top of things!

[gardyloo!]

Hey guys, visiting KI (cedar point) for the first by the end of august. We’ll be visiting sunday 21st and have budgeted for fast lane. I was just wondering if groupers grant seat requests at rides here (&at cedar point)? Or are they kinda strict on this policy?

Are they’re also any healthy snack option in the park? really can’t wait to visit (& perhaps post a small TR :)

[swfan1988]

1 hour ago, gardyloo! said:

Hey guys, visiting KI (cedar point) for the first by the end of august. We’ll be visiting sunday 21st and have budgeted for fast lane. I was just wondering if groupers grant seat requests at rides here (&at cedar point)? Or are they kinda strict on this policy?

They were very accommodating when I was there, they did make me wait a little bit off to the side one time so as to avoid having too many people in the station, but other than that they were great about it.

[FeelTheFORCE]

Made a trip out to the park on Friday and yesterday, and FL+ was a definitely life saver.  Yesterday was packed, and I was expecting to even have some waits even in the FL line, but I don't think there were any instances of more than 10 or so people in front of us, despite the amount of people in the park.  Most of the time we either walked right up to the station or were only behind 2 or 3 others.  It even came in handy in the waterpark on the handful of slides you can use it.  Speaking of the waterpark though, they desperately need to expand Soak City, even if that meant doing a fairly large expansion and making it separately-ticketed like Cedar Point.  That park wasn't large enough for the amount of people in it yesterday, and I imagine most weekends in the summer are similar.  But that's really the only concern from this trip, as KI is an awesome park that definitely takes pride in providing their guests with a great experience overall, and they definitely went way above and beyond with all the 50th touches and offerings.  I just would hate to be a ride op for the Beast around when they suspend operations for the fireworks.  There was some hostility going on both nights, and I imagine a lot of other nights too, when the grouper pulls from one line and not the other for the last ride before stopping operations for an hour.

[thisdougsforu]

Went Friday for my first ever visit. My GF and I got the FL+ passes as recommended and it was an amazing time. Rarely had any waits for anything got a ton of rides on everything.

Diamondback and Banshee were both amazing, but damn do I love Orion. It's only the second gigacoaster I've ever ridden (Fury back in 2019 being the other) and while it's a shorter ride, I feel like it's all killer and no filler. Some of those pops of air are VERY aggressive pops where it felt like it was really trying to buck me off. Of course, Diamondback has a lot of that too. I feel like Diamondback is probably the better overall coaster but Orion hits a couple points higher, just not as many. 

Banshee is easily the most intense inverted coaster i've ever been on. Loved it. 

Mystic Timbers and Flight of Fear were both a lot of fun. Racer was better than I thought it would be too!

I started the day on Beast and it was fun (shockingly smooth!) and then the ending hit, and that spiral down is freaking crazy.  Got to end the night with a night ride on Beast, and wow is that insane. That was basically the perfect wooden coaster experience. Felt like I was going to fly off and die in the woods, haha. Seriously though, Beast is incredible at night. 

I don't have the experience that some of the folks here do, but KI has the perfect mix of coasters. The big giga with an insane first drop, the hyper that's an airtime machine, the invert that will not let you breathe, and then some nice woodies to boot, including the Beast which is now my favorite woodie.

Love KI, a great park! Totally recommend the FL+. Worth every penny. Doing that many rides in a day had us feeling it the next day though!

[thisdougsforu]

Pardon the double post here, but I've had a few days to process things and wanted to follow up with additional thoughts on Orion, because good grief do I love that roller coaster. 

Orion is a great example of how location/theming matters so much. The fact that it's sitting all by itself in the back of the park, above the woods, really lends to the terror/adrenaline of the lift hill and sense of speed. Before Orion, Fury 325 has been my favorite coaster and while I think Fury 325 is probably a better overall ride, I think I enjoy Orion more due to the sense of speed and isolation of where it's located versus Fury being basically in a parking lot setting. Being on that lift hill on Orion and having to look in the distance to see Diamondback, it aids to the scale of the hill. And then yeah, that first drop and soaring over treetops immediately after is insane. You feel like you are going to be shot off into the woods. 

Anyways, Orion rules. For a musical analogy, I view Orion as a band playing an absolutely killer short set. Yeah, it may not be a longer 2 hourish show thats totally comprehensive like a lot of bands play, but it rocks your face and kicks yours ass in the time it has with you.

[prozach626]

On 7/20/2022 at 9:50 AM, thisdougsforu said:

Fury being basically in a parking lot setting.

?

Yeah, sucks when coasters beautifully interact with park entrances displayed in well maintained grassy areas where everyone can see them.

[prozach626]

I never realized how right you were until I looked back at these three pictures of Fury.

[thisdougsforu]

These are two world class rides and I feel like yeah, a strength of Orion is the setting. I very much enjoyed buzzing tree tops and the sense of speed and enjoyment it gave me versus looking out over a parking lot. That was meant to be a compliment to Orion versus smack talking of Fury. 

[prozach626]

Totally get it, but I just couldn't help myself.

[JJLehto]

OK enthusiast community, I admit I tend to take much of what is said with a dose of skepticism, but just had a front row night ride on Beast and for once the hype was 100% valid. That was shockingly awesome. Which was a nice cap to the day, I think I’ll include KI in all my Ohio trips now. Wonderful park with some good  rides. Was surprised how good Orion is and Mystic Timbers is just damn fantastic. Pretty great day. 

[thisdougsforu]

Having recently had my first ever night ride on it as well, I would agree. One of the few things where the hype was actually not only justified, but I thought it exceeded it. Best wooden coaster experience I've ever had. 

[prozach626]

Just think, only a few more years before we all complain about rough rides on The Beast and say it needs retracking.  Then, a couple shameless fanboys will mention RMC, and the other shameless fanboys will scorn them and call for justice. Others will compromise and suggest whatever X company came out with their newest topper track at IAPPA should work on The Beast, but keep the layout the same.

Ten years of mixed roughness reviews later, The Beast will get some new track work, flaunt a couple degrees added to a banking turn on social media, and we'll all be talking about how it's the best ride ever for one whole season. People will come from near and far to ride it. (Kentucky)

Until... the cancer returns with one comment similar to: "Man, all of my rides on The Beast last season were 'epic zen rides' during the Coaster Smash Bash Marathon Buffet Trivia Back Stage Scavenger Social ERT Awkward Fest 4th Anniversary Event, but this time I sat in row 25, seat 14, far left side, and it was brutal."

Long live the endless cycle of the wooden coaster.

[JJLehto]

On 7/25/2022 at 9:19 AM, thisdougsforu said:

Having recently had my first ever night ride on it as well, I would agree. One of the few things where the hype was actually not only justified, but I thought it exceeded it. Best wooden coaster experience I've ever had. 

Same, though to be fair my expectations were kinda low, I really expected it to be meh at night or at the least not worth the effort it took to achieve but I was pleasantly surprised. In fact while waiting I had TPR up and was ready to post "enthusiasts have done it again" in grossly overhyping something and doing sheeple stuff but yup: For once the community at large did not disappoint! Like parts where it felt like a crawl in the afternoon were hauling major ass.  Not my personal best, for that you need Voyage at night (and with the MCBR turned off) if you really want some epic shit.  But that's for another thread. 

And overall I did have a good day. Perhaps it was the brutal July heat but I found Diamonback and esp Orion better than previously. The ops were still fantastic and for such a big park still maintains some nice feel. All in all a wonderful time. 

 

 

[gardyloo!]

Beast's first drop has also been steepened this season right? Is there still no airtime to be found (due to the trims) or did it have an effect on the forces of the drop? I'll be visiting the park Sunday 22nd and unfortunately the park already closes at 8, so no night rides :(. Guess i'll have to settle with the mediocre/less superior day rides.

[AmyUD06]

48 minutes ago, gardyloo! said:

Beast's first drop has also been steepened this season right? Is there still no airtime to be found (due to the trims) or did it have an effect on the forces of the drop? I'll be visiting the park Sunday 22nd and unfortunately the park already closes at 8, so no night rides :(. Guess i'll have to settle with the mediocre/less superior day rides.

Yes, the first drop was steepened.  You will get airtime, even with the trims, towards the back of the train, on the first drop, and the first hill after the drop, as well as the new little "bump" they put it before the second tunnel.  The helix was also substantially changed, and is more awesome, but I won't ruin the surprise for you.

Prepare to be very impressed.

[gardyloo!]

2 hours ago, AmyUD06 said:

Yes, the first drop was steepened.  You will get airtime, even with the trims, towards the back of the train, on the first drop, and the first hill after the drop, as well as the new little "bump" they put it before the second tunnel.  The helix was also substantially changed, and is more awesome, but I won't ruin the surprise for you.

Prepare to be very impressed.

nice I'm actually looking forward to it now and know where to sit!

[bert425]

1 hour ago, gardyloo! said:

nice I'm actually looking forward to it now and know where to sit!

row 17 is the sweet spot.

its a non-wheel row, back car.  best seats on the Beast

[gardyloo!]

17 hours ago, bert425 said:

row 17 is the sweet spot.

its a non-wheel row, back car.  best seats on the Beast

Thanks!

 

any recommendations for a quick bite/ dinner on the way from kings island to cedar point?  can be just outside the park or an hour on the road.

[AmyUD06]

So I haven't seen a lot about either the history section that has been set up in the gardens, or the Phantom Theater Encore show, so I'll deviate from my big trip report to talk about them and show the pictures here.

First up, the 50th Anneversary history section set up in the gardens.  This area has stones for every year with the big addition on the ground, with blank stones set up for another 15+ years.  Along the path are signs talking about the parks history, broken down by era, as well as model Eiffel Towers painted in the colors of major rides.

And the Phantom Theater Encore show.  It was entertaining enough...I definitely enjoyed the acrobats, and the talent and production values were there, but not knowing anything about the original ride, I found the show kinda meh.  There was also a little too much union bashing for my liking.  In the lobby of the theater there's a whole bunch of history about the ride, including reproductions of the lenticular posters, and the original model of the ride (which apparently the park had to buy back from a collector who had purchased it).  I love park history, so honestly this part was better than the show for me, but I'm sure people who remember the original Phantom Theater ride will be very entertained by the show.

Out front, one of the original ride vehicles.

The poster on the outside of the theater.

Inside the theater (no photo or video allowed once the show began).

And the history section:

And I'll close out this post with some pictures of the art contest winners and runners up, on display in one of the stores:

 

[abovethesink]

We got our first trip to King's Island as a part of our road trip about a week ago now and I think it might be my new favorite park. The operations were outstanding, the park itself is well maintained all around, and there is legitimately not a bad coaster built for adults in the park right now. Mystic Timbers is just below the top tier of woodies, awesome ride. Diamondback is probably my favorite B&M hyper now. Orion might be the weakest of the three B&M gigas, but that still makes it a top 25 coaster. We also made what turned out to be the right decision to wait for dark to ride the Beast for the first time. Not only did we get an amazing experience that was one of the most fun coaster rides of my life, but while in line we lucked into a great view for the fireworks/drone show which was great too. I left the park with zero complaints. 

[prozach626]

Another believer is born.

[BigDipper 80]

On 8/2/2022 at 4:25 AM, gardyloo! said:

Thanks!

 

any recommendations for a quick bite/ dinner on the way from kings island to cedar point?  can be just outside the park or an hour on the road.

Two Cities Pizza is the way to go.

[The username]

All right, my first trip to KI will be this coming Sunday, last day with the late hours. I'll be there all day 10 to 10, so I want to hear all the veterans recommendations on where to go/what to do. Obviously planning to ride everything and I'm leaning towards starting with the Beast. How slammed are we thinking on a Sunday? Super excited

[AmyUD06]

40 minutes ago, The username said:

All right, my first trip to KI will be this coming Sunday, last day with the late hours. I'll be there all day 10 to 10, so I want to hear all the veterans recommendations on where to go/what to do. Obviously planning to ride everything and I'm leaning towards starting with the Beast. How slammed are we thinking on a Sunday? Super excited

It might be busy, might not be depending on the forecast. 

Will you have Early Entry with a Platinum Pass?  Guessing not.

No FL+?  You should have FL+.  It will turn any wait into a station wait on everything except Flight of Fear, possibly Orion, and possibly Beast at night.

Read back through the last few pages, plenty of tips for first timers have been given, but I'll give a quick rundown of how I would hit the park without Early Entry.

1.  Flying Ace Aerial Chase (it's horrible and you'll be glad you didn't wait, plus its never fun to stand in a long line with kids) - Back Row
2.  Woodstock Express (see above about waiting in line with kids) - Back Row
3.  Diamondback - some people swear by Row 11, but I prefer Row 2 or the very back.
4.  Mystic Timbers - Back Row
5.  Beast - Front Row or Row 17.
6.  Backlot Stunt Coaster - Back Row
7.  Flight of Fear - Front Row or Row 2
8.  Orion - Front Row (some people swear by the back but gigas are all about the speed for me)
9.  Racer - Front or Row 2 or 5 (if not the front you want a non-wheel seat)
10. Racer (whatever side you didn't do first) - Same
11.  Adventure Express - Front or Row 2
12.  Banshee - Front or Back Rows
13.  Bat - Front for visuals, Back for forces.

At this point you've hit all the coasters and have time for rerides on your favorites.  I find KI's flat package somewhat lacking, but you'll probably want to hit the Log Flume (Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown) at this time (don't let the fact that its in the kids section fool you, it's good).

Many people will suggest the Phantom Theater Encore show but if you've never been to KI you might not be very impressed; personally I'd spend more time on rides.

Note that they shut Beast down from approximately 9:25 to 10:35 for the fireworks show.  If you're trying to get out of the park before 11:00 PM, you want to be in the station for Beast no later than 9:15 to try to time it for a night ride.  If you don't care, take a nice long bathroom break and then get in line at like 9:45.  You want your last ride of the night to be Beast, preferably in the front row.

For food, Tom + Chee has awesome various grilled cheese sandwiches and so-so mac & cheese.  Everything at Miami River Brewhouse is good.

Let me know if you have any more specific questions.

EDIT:  If you will have Fast Lane plus, the ride order will be a bit different, so let me know if you will.