Kings Island (KI) Discussion Thread

[KICoasterkev]

Good to see Soak City is getting an expansion with the new water coaster coming for 2025. 
 

[prozach626]

We were going to go to Carowinds this weekend, but we're going to stay away from the east coast all together. We'll be going to KI this Saturday so we can rediscover again that we're just not into this shit very much anymore. That seems to be the theme every trip. But, here goes another try.

[thepoint4life23]

May the odds ever be in your favor!

[prozach626]

My wife and I ended up going and had a decent time. 

We got Fast Lane and Fright Lane. We only had a couple train wait during our daytime rides.

Our first ride was Diamondback. My personal opinion is it's still the best piece of steel in the park. It kicks ass all the way into the MCBR, and still packs more excitement than usual for a 2nd half B&M hyper. Diamondback offers a ton of negative forces with a good mixture of positive forces. My favorite part is the low left bank into the second airtime hill. It hauls. I also love the unintentional rattling on the first drop, which fits with the theme, including the great looking new paint job. The drop over the midway, the nearby helix, and the splashdown led by long trains offer some of my favorite visuals. Row 2 is a great place to be, because you're basically in the front, but you don't have the front seat wait. We lucked out with this seat, since more often than not we do not request seats, anymore. 

We then rode Mystic Timbers, which is highly underrated. The mix of jostling transitions with low floater airtime is perfect. Night rides are great, as well.

After that, we rode The Beast. I missed out on this over the past few visits, because the wait is crazy near the end of the night. That's with, or without Fast Lane. We weren't going to miss it this year, whether it was during the night or day. Daylight rides are nearly just as fun. Flying into the final helix still makes me nervous, even more so that I don't ride roller coasters nearly as much.

We spent a decent amount of time sharing a cheat soda sitting in front of the Troika and talking. We took advantage of non-parent moments when we have our chances to do so. Watching Orion trains cycle over the antique cars and racer makes for a great spot to relax and enjoy the view. No regrets.

We went on Flight of Fear. Holy shit this thing sucks. It beat the absolute fuck out of us. We won't ride it again. Ever.

We went for a ride on Orion. This time, we did request a front row seat. We only had about a ten minute wait in total. The feeling of speed in the front row is incredible. I like Orion, but I think a giga coaster shouldn't be overshadowed like it is. I really wish KI could have packed more ride time into it, but the economic timing was unfortunate. As great of a ride as it is, I think it's a missed opportunity. I much prefer Diamondback, Mystic Timbers, The Beast, and possibly even Banshee over it. My optimistic hopes for a multi-launch or a dive coaster in Vortex's prior location will hopefully also overshadow Orion. (my money is on the multi-launch)

We left the park to get chicken wings and crush beers at BT Roosters, which is our KI tradition. We took an Uber from our hotel back to the park, and we got there around 5. We killed some time with a beer and grabbed our Fright Lane passes after 6. 

The park was absolutely packed. Fast Lane is no longer a value during Haunt evenings, and they're doing the same fucking thing CP is. Some of the Fast Lane queues were out past the entrances. The add-on seems more profit driven than ever. They could easily raise the prices enough to keep consumer volume down and offering a better up-charge experience. But, I'm sure the numbers don't work out as well. It's disappointing to know that Fast Lane (plus) used to be such a perk, but now it's more of a necessity. Anything longer than fifteen minutes used to be taboo even despite being on Haunt nights. With our limited visits to parks, I'd be willing to pay $200 - $300 per Fast Lane pass in order to be as good of an experience as it used to be.

We went through all of the haunted houses. They were fun and all, but I just don't know how adults can be intimidated. They're more laughable entertainment than anything, which is not a complaint. As an 80's/90's kid, Kill Mart still takes the cake for me. The nostalgia is hilarious.

I don't even think it was 9 PM yet when we decided to queue up for our last ride. We waited about 40 minutes for Orion. It was the only Fast Lane queue we could find that wasn't out to the entrance. I think we were seated in row 3. Compared to the front, it felt neutered 

We went to Corn Stalkers, which was our last haunted attraction. After that, as per usual, we found a nice looking family and gave them our Fight Lane passes with the bonus selection remaining.

It took about 30 minutes to wait for our Uber.

Just like last year, my feelings were mixed. I genuinely wish I had the same interest as a I used to, but it just seems to be drastically diminished. We set our expectations appropriately compared to last year, so it wasn't a disappointment. We still decided the trip was worth it. However, in the end we both think we could have had just as much fun, if not more, by watching and riding all of the bullshit rides with our daughter. For us, sharing new experiences with her is an irreplaceable feeling compared to trying to relive our past.

[michaellynn4]

16 hours ago, prozach626 said:

However, in the end we both think we could have had just as much fun, if not more, by watching and riding all of the bullshit rides with our daughter. For us, sharing new experiences with her is an irreplaceable feeling compared to trying to relive our past.

Hear hear.

I imagine it may change a bit for us back in the other direction as our kids get older and gravitate towards the larger stuff, but all depends.

[prozach626]

I think you're right about that.

[thepoint4life23]

My Daughter keeps asking me to ride the big coasters with her when she is bigger. i feel like its going to take 2-3 years for her to go from 40 to 48". Till then i wont do much riding or new parks.

 

How much was fast lane? I know this time of year at cedar point its around  $200 but it still sells out

They could really charge more as at both parks its the busy they get all year. 

[prozach626]

Our daughter is the exact opposite. She doesn't like roller coasters or anything with big drops, so... She was 42" this past summer, but it didn't matter. She's terrified, and hasn't enjoyed any of the roller coasters she has been on. Log flumes are a no-go, too. It's definitely ironic, but I was nearly the same way until I was around 10'ish.

I think FL was around $100-$120 each. I know all together everything was around $600. I would have been fine with the FL being a total of $600 for both of us in order to have the experience we used to. Its always been a cash grab, but at least is had a lot more value to it. Now, FL is closer to a necessity. Would it be a huge shocker to see a normalized third tier option for most parks?

By contrast, Fright Lane is an incredibly good value. For around $100 each, we never had to wait for any of the haunts. Fright Lane has always been like that.

[thepoint4life23]

For as many rides as kings island has and how busy it gets this time of year no way they should be less then $150. 

Funny you said something about a third Tier. I am by no means rich but I am getting to the point where i start looking at the price of VIP tours and think it much just be worth spending the money. 

I think Holliday words was like $300 bucks and when I left said I will come back but I will only do it with a VIP tour.  Its what is my time worth. Its also a way i can do everything i want and not be away from the kids and wife as much. 

Might be something that more parks do or find a new benefit. That's what Disney is doing and everyone is mad about the price but the people staying at the top hotels  can most likely afford it. The point is to limit it and to price large % of people out. 

[prozach626]

Agree , especially with your last statement. They need to find a better balance with the same profit result.

[prozach626]

delete

[thepoint4life23]

I saw someone posted that on a Youtube video where is the  picture coming ?

[prozach626]

I deleted the post. I can't find anything to substantiate it anywhere else but in one video.

[KICoasterkev]

This was just released about the 2026 additions for the Six Flags chain. Going to be a big year for sure! 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241114984167/en/Six-Flags-to-Invest-More-Than-1-Billion-Over-the-Next-Two-Years-to-Enhance-Guest-Experience?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0mmwtcAWD9xSXKcpqkMzEQxxx8TI17i6nhnh7ECBzG-TCZmf_NNSa8YBc_aem_pSEEHTkUUFKJgOd_n2GGYQ

[jedimaster1227]

Kings Island has announced that The Beast is undergoing a project that will see over 20% of the classic coaster's wooden track replaced in when it opens for the 2025 season. 

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2025/march/the-beast-receives-new-track-during-offseason

It’s no wonder guests from all over the world travel to Kings Island to ride The Beast. Its record-breaking features include a 7,361-foot-long track (1.4 miles) and ride time of more than four minutes. The legendary coaster has been lurking the woods in the amusement park's Rivertown since 1979, and this offseason, crews began the massive project of replacing more than 1,600 feet of the coaster’s track. 

By the time work is completed, more than 20% of the wood coaster's track will be replaced. The project encompasses the section from just before the second hill, through the brake shed, and the mid-course tunnel, including the track immediately before and after it.

It won't be long until April 19, when Kings Island opens its gates for the first time in 2025. Enjoy unlimited visits for one low price (including unlimited rides on The Beast!) with a Season Pass.

[KBrylczyk]

Retrack it all.  Replace it with steel track, I don't give a hoot.  The only thing, the ONLY thing that I'm asking for, is to remove the trims in the shed.  At the very least, relocate them to the beginning of the shed, not the end.

[AmyUD06]

2 hours ago, KBrylczyk said:

Retrack it all.  Replace it with steel track, I don't give a hoot.  The only thing, the ONLY thing that I'm asking for, is to remove the trims in the shed.  At the very least, relocate them to the beginning of the shed, not the end.

My request is even simpler:

So, back when the ride had skidbrakes, it actually slowed the train to around the same speed that it does now with the magnetic trims, you just didn't notice it since it was a slow, gradual speed decrease, not the jarring, throws-you-forward experience that it is now.  Just make the magnetic trims graduated through the old-MCBR-shed (it's certainly long enough) so that it feels like it used to.

[bert425]

King's Island today announced they have renamed and "reimagined" Backlot Stunt Coaster.

I kinda like hte name "Queen City Stunt Coaster"

https://local12.com/news/local/kings-island-cincinnati-queen-city-stunt-coaster-backlot-announces-reimaged-ride-will-have-guests-racing-through-streets-season-passholders-opening-day-celebration-classic-coasters-experience-announcements-consumer?-fbpost&fbclid=IwY2xjawJvb4dleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHs8zpJRXglQjLQOt4FDk0uIW7atKb6lJIUHit-j7PoJ7gQ8wwQWMCyBPOPUw_aem_upJAcgRa5oUp1dy3iT5oGQ

 

 

[AmyUD06]

I'm kinda surprised it took this long for them to give it a retheme - still waiting on KD to retheme theirs to mesh with Jungle X-Pedition LOL.

I like the concept too, and I love how the description on their webpage still talks about it being a movie-set-simulation-thing (lest people think they'll be shot at from a helicopter driving through Cincy).

Quote

Have you ever watched an absolutely insane chase scene in a movie and thought, hey, I could totally be a stunt car driver like that? At Kings Island, we’ve got the chance of a lifetime to star in your own stunt car race through the streets of the Queen City! It’s a closed movie set with a state-of-the-art linear induction motor launch that delivers a no-holds-barred, high-speed movie chase unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Your stunt-driver training begins with an unheard-of acceleration of 0 to 40 miles per hour in three seconds. Yes, seconds! Race through a parking garage via a series of crazy helixes and then up, down and around high-banked turns. Your adventure may even take you through part of the city’s abandoned subway system!  Worn out yet? We’re just getting started! Queen City Stunt Coaster is non-stop, white-knuckle action from start to finish. Lights! Camera! Action!

 

[Zand]

I know it's nothing to do with the jungle theme but KD should retheme BSC to I-95 in Virginia and have it stop for 25 minutes when it gets to the helicopter scene for added effect, and then add a Sheetz to the end of the ride with someone getting arrested in the parking lot.