Kentucky Kingdom (SFKK, KK) Discussion Thread

cfc · April 29, 2016

It seems to me that most of the conversions follow a basic pattern. Inconsistent ride, with some balls-out crazy till the end, others petering out through the final elements, whether due to trains or time of day etc. Anyone who's read the reviews of NTAG, Iron Rattler, and Wicked Cyclone shouldn't be surprised by any of this.

Iron Rattler perhaps, but I really thought NTAG and Wicked Cyclone were awesome up until the brake run!

I haven't been on Iron Rattler, but New Texas Giant was all-out crazy from beginning to end.

Guy T. Koepp · April 29, 2016

I thought TC downtime was right in the middle during the second lift. Cause it was pretty balls to the wall through the entire coasting portion up to the breaks.

Mater · April 29, 2016

If it ended before the helix/overbank, people would complain that it hits the brakes with way too much speed and they under utilized the coaster's potential.

I think my issue with the layout (and this is coming from someone who's only seen a video) isn't so much that is has a slower finale, slow finales can be fine. The problem I see is that the final little overbank seems extremely out of place in such a low-speed setting. It's obvious they thought this thing was going to be taking that final section at a much higher speed.

gerstlaueringvar · April 29, 2016

I kind of like hanging to the side at that final overbanked turn, but I would put two of them back to back if I designed the layout instead of a flat turn at the beginning.

neil009 · April 30, 2016

It seems to me that most of the conversions follow a basic pattern. Inconsistent ride, with some balls-out crazy till the end, others petering out through the final elements, whether due to trains or time of day etc. Anyone who's read the reviews of NTAG, Iron Rattler, and Wicked Cyclone shouldn't be surprised by any of this.

Iron Rattler perhaps, but I really thought NTAG and Wicked Cyclone were awesome up until the brake run!

I read a lot of comments throughout opening season about Wicked Cyclone being very temperamental, and on some rides it can crawl through the end. NTAG some have said can vary depending on time of day. I've been following the coverage of all the conversions pretty closely and inconsistent ride experience seems to be a theme among all except possibly Medusa and Twisted Colossus (just guessing but I'd say that's probably because there's been a lot less commentary among enthusiasts about Medusa overall, and Twisted Colossus ends both halves with so much speed no petering out is possible). Can't wait until I get the chance to try all of them for myself.

My main point is just that I don't think anyone should cast final judgement on this ride until it's broken in more, they've ridden it under a variety of circumstances, and both trains are running in top form.

Koasterking48 · April 30, 2016

Really, the only issue I have with the ride is the final helix being just 'meh'. Otherwise, you are still getting great airtime on all four of the bunny hops despite how slow it looks in the video. It's another case of the front POV not doing this ride justice (for the most part). I 100% believe that the ride overall still is more intense than Goliath.

It may not beat Wicked Cyclone for me, but it's by absolutely no means a weak ride. I wouldn't be surprised to see it crack many people's Top 10-15

prozach626 · April 30, 2016

If it ended before the helix/overbank, people would complain that it hits the brakes with way too much speed and they under utilized the coaster's potential.

I think my issue with the layout (and this is coming from someone who's only seen a video) isn't so much that is has a slower finale, slow finales can be fine. The problem I see is that the final little overbank seems extremely out of place in such a low-speed setting. It's obvious they thought this thing was going to be taking that final section at a much higher speed.

You should write RMC a letter of suggestions and submit it with your job application.

Mater · April 30, 2016

I might do that. Thanks for the suggestion, friendly stranger!

Nitro1118 · April 30, 2016

Wicked Cyclone was so tempermental due to the paint rubbing off the first month (hence why new I-Box's have the unpainted strip), and then getting hit with the SFNE botched train curse. This year it seems to have been fixed and by all accounts it has been flying.

neil009 · April 30, 2016

I find it positively bizarre that RMC would have a problem with paint slowing their trains down when all steel coaster track is painted and I've never heard of other rides having this problem.

Coaster19 · April 30, 2016

If it ended before the helix/overbank, people would complain that it hits the brakes with way too much speed and they under utilized the coaster's potential.

I think my issue with the layout (and this is coming from someone who's only seen a video) isn't so much that is has a slower finale, slow finales can be fine. The problem I see is that the final little overbank seems extremely out of place in such a low-speed setting. It's obvious they thought this thing was going to be taking that final section at a much higher speed.

I have to agree with you. I have not ridden the ride. However, visually it looks out of place. In every video on and off it even gives off the feel of it being out of palace.

With that stated, I do love slower elements of rides. I feel they can provide interesting sensations. I can only speak for the looks. I have heard mainly "awkward" feels toward the end. What are some other thoughts?

ZeroGravity55 · April 30, 2016

I find it positively bizarre that RMC would have a problem with paint slowing their trains down when all steel coaster track is painted and I've never heard of other rides having this problem.

It's the nylon wheels. No other steel coaster manufacturer uses nylon wheels, so that's why you never see that problem. Schilke wants these I-Box conversions to ride like woodies. The nylon wheels give the closest feel to that. The problem with nylon wheels is that they do a number on the track, which includes ripping the paint off the track. Until all the paint is ripped off where the wheels run, it causes a lot of friction, which slows the ride down considerably. As others have noted, Wicked Cyclone had this problem all of last year. It's not a coincidence that the I-Box track that showed up for this years projects had the paint stripped off where the wheels run.

samhimburg · April 30, 2016

Popped into the park today between storms, appropriately, to check out Storm Chaser! What a great ride. It was my first RMC, so my expectations were high. That barrel roll drop is so bizarre, but awesome! Relentless airtime, laterals... loved it. I also didn't find the ending out of place, as some have mentioned. I agree that it looked odd in the POV, but the on-ride experience didn't seem out of place. Just an overall fun, intense ride!

In other news: Seems that Thunder Run is due for some track work again. There were quite a few headache inducing ker-chunks in there today. I'm a huge wooden coaster fan, so I expect and enjoy the roughness, but this seemed excessive. Hopefully there's some more work in the near future as this can be a really fun ride.

Whee!

Midgetman82 · April 30, 2016

Thanks for sharing! I heard the park was dead today thanks to the constant rain.

samhimburg · April 30, 2016

Thanks for sharing! I heard the park was dead today thanks to the constant rain.

It was pretty empty. Waited about 30-40 for Storm Chaser since it had just opened back up after the storms, and they were only running one train. Other than that, almost everything seemed to be less than a 10 minute wait.

coasterdude5 · April 30, 2016

I rode Storm Chaser at the media preview on Thursday. My thoughts: the coaster is a perfect addition to the park, especially considering the money saved reusing some of Twisted Twins' support structure. Yes, the ride fizzles a bit in the finale, but I'd rather have that than a 50-0 mph end with 500 less feet of track. More here: http://www.coaster101.com/2016/04/30/review-storm-chaser-touches-kentucky-kingdom/

ShaneH · April 30, 2016

The lines for Storm Chaser today.

RyanTPM · May 1, 2016

^^Some really good shots there, love that last one. Going to read the review now, interesting to hear what everyone thinks.

coasterdude5 · May 1, 2016

^ Thanks! I've attached a few more.

(Lots more here: http://www.coaster101.com/2016/04/28/storm-chaser-kentucky-kingdom-preview-photos/)

Lots of planes flying overhead as they prepare to land at Louisville International Airport.

Vonni · May 1, 2016

It seems they made the ride plaza nice and pleasant too. I don't remember it being that open, but I guess that could be because the other half of Twins is gone?

John Peck · May 1, 2016

I know they have a little bit of more room now with the elimination of the second track. If you look at this old overhead, you can see the original layout of both sides.

Not sure if you can fit much in the space flat-ride-wise, but you could intertwine another coaster pretty easily.

from Google

PVA62 · May 1, 2016

Heading to the park today! Very excited to try out my first RMC! I'll have pictures later.

Password121 · May 1, 2016

Thanks for all the photos--Storm Chaser looks awesome and the reviews sound very positive.mRMc continues to do great things. Wish I could've made it out this year.

larrygator · May 1, 2016

I rode Storm Chaser at the media preview on Thursday. My thoughts: the coaster is a perfect addition to the park, especially considering the money saved reusing some of Twisted Twins' support structure. Yes, the ride fizzles a bit in the finale, but I'd rather have that than a 50-0 mph end with 500 less feet of track. More here: http://www.coaster101.com/2016/04/30/review-storm-chaser-touches-kentucky-kingdom/

Thanks for posting those pictures from the event. I put some in the Park Index

PVA62 · May 1, 2016

Just got back from my first visit to KK of the year. I have to say that the park looks great! Even from last year, it looks a lot cleaner, it looks like they are really trying to make this a nice park. All the staff were friendly. Even though it was a very slow day Storm Chaser and T3 were running 2 trains. Lightning Run had very slow operations with one train, but the staff over there always takes a long time to get through everything. Storm Chaser, T3, and Thunder Run were walk-ons or 1 train wait.

Got on Lightning Run twice. I forgot how balls to the walls that ride is. Love it.

T3, rode it once which is one too many...awful, awful ride. Worst SLC I've been on. Thankfully the new restraints prevent head banging, but this ride is just not good at all. Rattles all over the place. In pictures I hated the all red but in person it looks very nice. That's all I'll ever do with that ride anymore, just look!

Storm Chaser....WOW! I have officially lost my RMC virginity. Smooth, fast, airtime, twisty, loved it. I rode it 7 times in a row but this is a ride I could be on all day. The restraints are very comfortable. I enjoyed the front more than the back. Thought the front gave a lot better airtime, I loved the feeling of just hanging on that first drop. The back was great too, favorite part being the first drop in the back. The ride does let up at then end but who cares, fantastic ride. Kentucky Kingdom has a real winner here. Also, going up the lift and have a 747 passing by for landing is seriously awesome!

I'll post just a few pics since there have been a lot better pictures posted previously.