Just think, brand new roller-coaster with Banshee, and a repainted Top Gun renamed The Bat on media day.. People will think Kings Island is getting 2 new coasters instead of just one.

Wings of the night creature await their silent signal from the lift hill lighting......

(Image captured from Kings Island's Bat Cam)

Am I seeing Banshee lighting glowing onto The Bat?



Image collected via the Kings Island Bat Cam. The aforementioned camera can be found here.

^ I hope that glow doesn't affect Adventure Express. They wouldn't want to break the eleventh commandment...

It's a little shaky at the beginning, I know...

When riding The Bat today I noticed there were no seat belts, but I feel like I remember them being there last season. So, were they removed over this off season or am I going delusional?

They were removed prior to the 2013 season. Same with Backlot Stunt Coaster.

^ I hope that glow doesn't affect Adventure Express. They wouldn't want to break the eleventh commandment...

But Adventure Express uses colored lights itself.. so perhaps it would only enhance the experience.. maybe.

Did anyone take any pictures of the removed lower section of The Bat's station?

^I was thinking about it, but I didn't take one. Sorry

Didn't happen to take any pics, but I can tell you that all they did between closing day and media day was paint every piece of metal down there to a dark grey. Not sure if it's the same as the supports or not. But it looks a lot better.

I don't like the colors on The Bat, the track itself is great, the supports however are too light, almost like a grey, and the trains should have been painted black with a little orange stripe.

They were removed prior to the 2013 season. Same with Backlot Stunt Coaster.

Did they change anything else with the restraints? Does Vortex still have the belt?

They were removed prior to the 2013 season. Same with Backlot Stunt Coaster.

Did they change anything else with the restraints? Does Vortex still have the belt?

No, the restraints are the same, sans belt. Vortex still has the belt.

I was so happy last Saturday when I noticed the seat belts were gone!

disregard

I don't like the colors on The Bat, the track itself is great, the supports however are too light, almost like a grey, and the trains should have been painted black with a little orange stripe.

Yeah, they advertised a "double charcoal" pattern. We did not receive "double charcoal". We received "gray", which wasn't a change.

Yes it is. They are much darker than they were before. It was very easy to see this as the supports were painted.

Not to mention, the supports have a nice glossy shine now. Prior to the paint job, they looked dull, flat, and faded. Even a fresh coat of the same color would have been an improvement. But I like the new colors even better.

I'm looking forward to the possibility of more theming in the line. The hike back there, I just missed the Top Gun music. And seriously, what a hike! It's nice to get out into the woods tho.

I never noticed before, but the ride itself makes a sound not unlike the squeaking of bats at some points. Seems to be an interaction where the car holds onto the track.

I like the new colors and new logo. My mom always talked about The Bat when I was a kid (usually mentioning how it seemed it was down more than it was up before it was gone) and I always wished I could have ridden it. Now I feel like I have.

^ It's the sound of the wheels on the fresh paint. Vortex made that same sound when its rails were repainted before the 2009 season.

There are spots where it's wearing through already too. It's bound to happen.

^ I hope that glow doesn't affect Adventure Express. They wouldn't want to break the eleventh commandment...

Nobody ever, ever disturb the holy mine train!

That's at Great Advencha.

Terp, just pointing out runaway things.

I'm looking forward to the possibility of more theming in the line. The hike back there, I just missed the Top Gun music. And seriously, what a hike! It's nice to get out into the woods tho.

I hope the park isn't done giving attention to the ride. It still has a lot of military characteristics: the painted stars and American flag in the queue line, the lighting fixtures, and some funky yellow and black striped speakers in the station.

Hopefully that short tunnel in the queue is painted, and it'd look fantastic if the park replaced the lighting fixtures with the gothic lighting style around Banshee. I also woudn't mind seeing the chain link lock-out fence replaced with a wrought iron fence like Banshee has - that'd look far nicer. Finally, I highly doubt this would occur, but I wouldn't mind seeing the queue rails repainted or replaced. They're currently the faded, grody gray that the supports used to be.

I agree. The new theming/paint on it looks great. But all those details, while minor on their own really stand out now with the fresh paint and decor elsewhere and becames very noticeable.

There's also a large number (41 I think?) painted on the cement below you as you return to the station at the end, which I'm pretty sure has something to do with military flight.

I am sure they (eventually) are going to do something with the remaining older theming, but just haven't gotten to it yet (weather was cold, then rainy most days). When I saw how much the ride had seemed abandoned by park and fans alike when I went a couple years ago, I actually would have predicted removal rather than revamp. I'm happy to have been wrong, and I really don't believe they'd have put this much money and work into it then say "screw it" about the things easily fixed by new paint. The length of the hike back there is ripe with possibilities, especially for the fall. I haven't actually ever been to a Haunt at KI yet (they didn't have them yet or I would have been all over it as a teen) so I can't really speculate beyond imagining what I would do if it was up to me, but a spooky long walk into the woods seems to me to be an exciting possibility to play with.

a spooky long walk into the woods seems to me to be an exciting possibility to play with.

RIP Trail of Terror.

You were gone too soon, and you just had to go the way of the dinosaurs.

There's also a large number (41 I think?) painted on the cement below you as you return to the station at the end, which I'm pretty sure has something to do with military flight.

I am sure they (eventually) are going to do something with the remaining older theming, but just haven't gotten to it yet (weather was cold, then rainy most days). When I saw how much the ride had seemed abandoned by park and fans alike when I went a couple years ago, I actually would have predicted removal rather than revamp. I'm happy to have been wrong, and I really don't believe they'd have put this much money and work into it then say "screw it" about the things easily fixed by new paint. The length of the hike back there is ripe with possibilities, especially for the fall. I haven't actually ever been to a Haunt at KI yet (they didn't have them yet or I would have been all over it as a teen) so I can't really speculate beyond imagining what I would do if it was up to me, but a spooky long walk into the woods seems to me to be an exciting possibility to play with.

If I'm not mistaken, and correct me if I am, 41 was the number for the ride on the internal KI phone system.

^ I hope that glow doesn't affect Adventure Express. They wouldn't want to break the eleventh commandment...

Nobody ever, ever disturb the holy mine train!

You should ask Confucius, for he would of told you not to touch The Racers.......

There's also a large number (41 I think?) painted on the cement below you as you return to the station at the end, which I'm pretty sure has something to do with military flight.

I am sure they (eventually) are going to do something with the remaining older theming, but just haven't gotten to it yet (weather was cold, then rainy most days). When I saw how much the ride had seemed abandoned by park and fans alike when I went a couple years ago, I actually would have predicted removal rather than revamp. I'm happy to have been wrong, and I really don't believe they'd have put this much money and work into it then say "screw it" about the things easily fixed by new paint. The length of the hike back there is ripe with possibilities, especially for the fall. I haven't actually ever been to a Haunt at KI yet (they didn't have them yet or I would have been all over it as a teen) so I can't really speculate beyond imagining what I would do if it was up to me, but a spooky long walk into the woods seems to me to be an exciting possibility to play with.

If I'm not mistaken, and correct me if I am, 41 was the number for the ride on the internal KI phone system.

Add a 1 and you would get the meaning to life .