May 12, 201511 yr I'm on vacation this week, so a buddy and I went to the park today. Here are a few things... Rode Surf Dog for the first time. It is a way fun ride!!!!!!! The last rows on FoF are now (not sure how to say this) operational. At the front gate, they have an updated pamphlet detailing what is available for the season long meal plan. Almost every ride was a walk on. Also, I have a question.. I want to go to the park for ERT. But, I will be going there by myself and I'm worried if I'll be looked at as creepy. Is that weird?
May 12, 201511 yr That updated pamphlet for the dining plans can also be found here, complete with Panda Express and Chick-Fil-A: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/images/uploads/file/2015%20KI%20Dining%20Plan%20Details%20v4.pdf And many people go the park alone, so you most certainly should not be judged.
May 12, 201511 yr I had him talked into Flight of Fear and he seemed excited... ...He's got about 1 more inch to go for Diamondback, he's really looking forward to that one. Sounds like a fun trip, but just thought I'd mention that Diamondback and Flight of Fear have the same 54" height requirement. If your son isn't tall enough for one of them, he isn't tall enough for either.
May 12, 201511 yr Nothing gets rid of the solo-visit awkwardness like a handy cell phone and a map. Just really be talking on your phone 'cause if it rings in the middle of your fake convo, everyone's creep-dar gets thrown into maximum ping mode! Naw, it's all good. ...and welcome!
May 13, 201511 yr I'm almost always a single rider, and I've met a lot of other friendly people who often are too. Nobody has seemed to think I'm creepy for being at the park alone. A lot of the time I prefer being at the park by myself.
May 13, 201511 yr Ugh, How I wish I could go to CoasterStock. Thus is the life a high school student with no stable income or car. (I had to work so hard to get this years season pass.) I feel that feel. Ironically, Kings Island does offer numerous summer jobs if you're looking for a good source of steady income Not for a high-schooler over an 1:30 away
May 13, 201511 yr When I was walking past the Biergarten today I heard Ace of Base's "The Sign", then I entered Adventure Express's queue and Van Halen's "Jump" was on FUNTV. I wondered briefly what year this is. It wasn't quite as surreal as another visit when a countrified version of Footloose came on FUNTV in the Drop Tower queue and a multitude of young people started singing along.
May 13, 201511 yr How long has the green from X-Flight been showing through on FH, last time I was there it was extremely easy to see
May 13, 201511 yr Just heard a ride operator say, "You can come back at 8:00 when the park closes to retrieve any lost articles.....if you find them." (This was at Adventure Express)
May 13, 201511 yr Ooh. Big faux pas by the ride op! That's a huge no-no! I understand, especially from recent memory of things (during 'Starting to Decode 2014') that the park takes its own trespassing rules very seriously; so, for an employee to announce that guests can "come back" when the park closes, joking or not, seems dubious if not irresponsible.
May 14, 201511 yr I'm not sure why I just now am visualizing this, but I think Seeing Stars (a song from Cirque Imagine 2014) would be awesome as part of the nightly fireworks soundtrack.
May 14, 201511 yr I'm always a single rider since my wife doesn't like to ride. However she is going to visit her family in Washington at the end of the month for 6 weeks. Maybe a group of us normally single park guests can arrange a meetup one day. Might be fun meeting some of you and having someone to ride with.
May 14, 201511 yr Maybe a group of us normally single park guests can arrange a meetup one day. Might be fun meeting some of you and having someone to ride with. It's not exclusive to normally single riders, but that sort of thing happens quite often. See the meetups forum here; the people who frequently participate are a rather welcoming group. It can definitely be fun to visit amusement parks with others who really enjoy them.
May 14, 201511 yr Actually, there is an ideal group size. Get much above that, and far, far more time is spent kibitzing and arguing about what to do next than doing it. Sometimes, that's a good thing, though.
May 14, 201511 yr The solution to that problem is to get a subset of the group to start walking towards an attraction. Some will follow, others will split off, and that's OK! People enjoy the park in different ways. Although, it is fun to get to a line separator as a group of <hilariously large number>. Bonus points if that number is as large as (or exceeds) the capacity of the ride vehicle.
May 14, 201511 yr I edited my post above for clarity. I was referring to the ride op, and not to the poster. Sorry for any confusion. -Tb
May 14, 201511 yr At DiamondStack.. Op: "How many do you have?"Group: "96." Op: "Uh, that's gonna be like ten minutes." Note that this is sarcasm; it only feels like ten minutes to dispatch three trains on DiamondStack. Er, Diamondback.
May 14, 201511 yr ^Given what I timed them on opening day, that might not be far from the truth, though they were slightly better a few weeks ago.
May 14, 201511 yr At that rate.. 60 min/hr * (3 train / 10 min) = 18 train / hr 18 train/hr * (32 rider / train) = 576 rider/hr Maybe that's close to accurate, but it shouldn't be. 576 rph / 1620 rph = 35.6% of theoretical capacity That would explain why that line takes forever.
May 14, 201511 yr Well, this is kinda interesting- stopped by my local Burger King to get some burgers, and they had Kings Island coupons for $25 off gate price. While that's not weird (see it often for amusement parks at several restaurants) by itself, what was is these coupons apparently include Banshee and the new-for-2015 Planet Snoopy rides ERT...that I don't think I have ever seen outside a Gold/Platinum season pass at KI before. Diamondback isn't included though, apparently. Well, just my findings. Also some lady took my food I was getting for my Mom thinking it was hers, and when her order did come up she was long gone so I got a re-make of my Mom's order and the lady's. Fast food errors in your favor can be pretty good.
May 15, 201511 yr Yea they've been advertising the ERT for tickets bought at a couple places here around Indy as well. Wasn't real thrilled to here it. Though the ads I've heard have only mentioned Banshee ERT and nothing about Planet Snoopy or Diamondback
May 15, 201511 yr Although, it is fun to get to a line separator as a group of <hilariously large number>. Bonus points if that number is as large as (or exceeds) the capacity of the ride vehicle. See also flying inverted kiddie coasters. LOL! I remember that takeover!
May 15, 201511 yr I just walked by it as well. I was thinking about riding until I saw it shut down. I usually don't do many of the county fair type rides but was considering that one tonight.
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