Day 13: Paramount's Kings Island
Day 13: Paramount's Kings Island
Credits
Report Compilation: Chris Hull, David Elvey, Phil Coates and Susan Ellis.
Chris Hull
Great hospitality from the our host - Maureen. VIP passes, lanyards, printed schedule and ponchos (due to impending inclement weather). The park itself is nicely themed, very clean and nicely laid out. Managed a pre ERS ride on the Beast but was left feeling rather disallusioned. VERY heavily braked through the first half of the ride - it just never seemed to be given a chance to pick up speed. However the second half through the helix showed what this ride must have been like in its earlier years. However the hype around this ride still seems to maintain its status so I suppose some must like it. I can't say I like or dislike The Beast - Odd for sure! It's bigger "Son" proved that bigger isn't always better. A good first drop and the loop is great. However the rest of the ride seems to be spent going around a helix bumping from one side to the other. Another curious ride that goes show that bigger isn't always better. Vortex proved to be a typical multi-loop Arrow that again was heavily braked. The Italian Job ERS on the Thursday morning proved enjoyable. A nice family coaster with some nice theming. Not sure all the effects were working but enjoyable anyway. Good to have a chance to ride Flight of Fear though. Despite the negative comments about these rides it was still a very enjoyable visit to this park. It will perhaps be interesting to see what happens over the next few years. Many thanks to Maureen and her team for treating us so well.
Mark Riley and Jenny Lamb
What great hospitality! We felt very welcome at Kings Island - thank you Maureen. The ERS on both The Beast and Italian Job were great fun, and Tomb Raider was really fantastic - why don't more parks have rides like this? And no matter what anyone says, Son of Beast in the right seat is very good. Great park, great staff.
Jeff Holmes
Well this is my second visit to Kings Island so I had ridden most of their coasters apart from their kiddie coasters which I managed to ride. We had two ERSs the first one being The Beast at night and Italian Stunt Job in morning. Hey Paul Worts you will have to hurry up and meet up with us or you will miss everything.
Jeppe Nygaard
Paramount's Kings Island really showed us some excellent hospitality - by far the best on the trip so far. I can't thank Maureen enough for all the nice things they did for us. Meeting us with an ECC sign, lanyards, panchos for the impending rain, VIP cards, printed souvenir agendas, and then giving us an ERS on The Beast and a superb ERS on Italian Stunt Job, combined with a free breakfast buffet, and then our having a delicious lunch (by far the best of the trip) in the International Restaurant (with actual glass plates and silverware), the informative and delightful experience of the behind the scenes tour of The Beast, and as if all that wasn't enough, we had wristbands that gave us all the soft drinks we could want for the day. Even though I love all this, what I admired most was Maureen's vivacious personality and her dedication and enjoyment of her job. We also appreciated how she dressed up for us to greet us on Wednesday night - a black dress and three inch heels!! Jennifer was also very helpful and friendly. All in all, this was a fantasitc experience of park hospitality. The only disappointment was that we couldn't slap hands as the trains came and went in them station on The Beast on our private ERS, but yet I certainly respect the park's rules.
Yvonne Janik
Hooray, for Maureen Kaiser and PKI!!!! What an excellent day and a half! Thanks for all the gifts, hospitality, and enthusiasm. We had so much fun, and the weather cooperated too- also I finally got to ride Mr. Bill's Giggle Coaster, too!
Martin Valt
A good day in a nice park with great hospitality. Finally managed the elusive kiddie coaster credit. These American kids are just so gullible. As for Son of Beast, I can think of at least half-a-dozen woodies over which I prefer it. Huge thanks to Sean F for Wonderpark and Coney Island.
Andrew Barrett
Well my fourth visit to the park, ridden everything before. Had an excellent day, staff very friendly and the food they laid out for us was great. The Beast tour was really well worth it. I'm very surprised that the Son of Beast is still standing after Martin Valt rode it!
Paul Orsmond
Kings Island is a really nice park, and having visited here before it didn't disappoint once again. From the excellent hospitality we recieved to the really good staff around the park, it's my favourite Paramount Park by a long way. Son of Beast wasn't as bad as I remember it, and I still love the Beast as well, but let's not forget the other rides like Flight of Fear, Top Gun, and Racer etc which are still all very good indeed. I even got to ride the Kiddie Coaster as well today which I missed last time. I wish I could come back later in the year as they gave us a free pass for a return visit. Talk about top service
Mick FK
Hi Liz, Crystal and Karl. I liked Paramount Great America on our 2002 trip. However, I think this park has the edge. The staff are great but some still think we're Australians! The operator on the kiddie coaster was superb in letting us ride with any single children riding. The racing woodie (the first time I've done a backward Toride) confirmed that I prefer to see where I'm going but it had to be done! The Beast - an incredible sized coaster which run for almost 5 minutes - however no airtime but just speed. It travels through woodland and incredible scenery which we also got the opportunity to walk around on a behind the scenes photographic tour. I had a great day and thankfully the park wasn't that busy at all which enabled us to complete all the rides without big queue lines.
Matthias Pies
Mir hat Kings Island sehr gut gefallen. Nette Auswahl an Coastern und ein netter Scooby Do Darkride. Beast war einfch nur genial. Sehr schnell und sehr sehr lang. Leider wird die Bahn an einigen Stellen sehr stark abgebremst. Italian Job Stunt Track war auch ein tolles Erlebnis. Kein Thrillcoaster,aber punktet mit der Originalitaet. So nun zu Son of Beast. Was habe ich fuer Horrorstorys ueber diese Bahn gehoert. Und was soll ich sagen? Mir hat die Bahn gut gefallen. Ich bin auf diesem Trip weitaus schlimmere Woodys gefahren. Sie ist vielleicht nicht die Smootheste Holzbahn der Welt. Aber es gibt weitaus schlimmere.
Malcolm Marr
In Ohio, if your pet tiger escapes you must notify the relevant authorities within one hour; failure to do so will lead to your arrest. I don't know what they do to the tiger once it has been caught but if what PKI have done to The Beast is anything to go by I expect it'd be tamed beyond recognition. Excusing the physics pun this ride has great potential but it has been braked so much all the fun is taken out of the ride. I had been warned about Son of Beast but found it to be alright, at least compared to J2, which still remains the worst coaster of the trip. The other rides are alright with the most recent attractions, Tomb Raider and Italian Job being the best of the bunch. Thanks to Maureen and Jennifer for giving us a great welcome, definitely the most enthusiastic so far!
Tim Herre
Kings Island STOP If there was a price for ruining a coaster by braking it to death, this park would surely be getting it STOP What they have done to the Beast is beyond comparison STOP It may still be pleasing the GP, but enthusiasts will most definately be disappointed STOP It may be a relief for their maintenace dept. but for everyone who has ridden the Beast when it was still beastly it's a travesty STOP Thankfully, their new rides are quite good STOP Found the Italian Job immensely entertaining STOP Tomb Raider is an impressive showtype attraction, but could do more with the ride's hardware itself STOP Flight of Fear is also braked to death and the hangtime experienced on the bit after the blockbrake is just absolutely ridiculous STOP Overall park experience was top notch, with very cheerful ops and the most entertaining marketing director ever STOP Thanks Maureen and Jennifer for making our days there very special STOP But get rid of those brakes STOP
Andrew Lamb
PKI entertained us well, with two ERSs and lunch to boot. I found the Beast to be a good coaster it's just a shame it is braked a bit too much. I found the Son of Beast very un-rideable, it felt like it has twenty pence shaped wheels. The best coaster of the day IMO was The Racer, A racing coaster which PKI have turned two of the trains backwards. It's smooth and when the trains set off at the same time, it give great visuals of the other train when riding backwards.
Mark Sebley
We received a very warm welcome and were treated excellently both days at this picturesque park, many thanks to all. ERS on the beast was fun, been looking forward to riding it for ages, but was dissapointed by the braking of the ride. A good selection of coasters with the racer being really good fun both ways. Theming of tomb raider made for an interesting ride. Son Of Beast was just about ridable in the middle row, By God was it rough anywhere else. Not many brave souls rode it twice.
John Coffield
I can't believe I rode the 'Son of Beast' again. But it wasn't as bad as I had remembered. The 'Beast' on the other hand, originally was one of my favourite coasters. But they have added so many brakes the ride has been destroyed. They should rename it the 'Brake Run'. But the real high point of the day was when Ms. Janek was able to find a very sweet young lady named Kate to ride 'Little Bills Giggle Coaster' with me. Making it possible to add #888 to my Track Record.
David Elvy
Today was our full day at the Park, after a few hours and the ERS last night on The Beast. Speaking of the Beast, it is an amazing ride, one that I had wanted to ride for quite some time. The ride remains a mystery, until you are riding. It is an amazing terrain ride, but such a shame about the amount of trim brakes on the ride. The Beast is not such a beast anymore.
Dave Scott
Not quite sure what to make of this park - extremely friendly welcome to the park but I was left wondering what to do here! A lot of the rides are strictly once-only affairs... Cedar Fair would do well to introduce some re-rideable adult sized coasters to the park! Beast was an experience, lots of reminders of the Ultimate - although the brakes kill the airtime. Son of Beast was just horrible and should be replaced.
Steve Fagin
Very hospitable park, to the extent of kitting us out with (premium) ponchos on arrival, and laying on breakfast before the morning ERS. The enthusiasm of the Marketing & Comms Manager was also very heartening. A decent set of rides awaited us, including a nice drop tower and a good indoor launched coaster. Defining moment: The Beast. I know there are those who hate this ride, but despite its obvious and significant flaws, this violent and epic journey was something to behold for my first time. Second-place defining moment: riding backwards in the front (back) seat on the Racer. Worst moment: Son of Beast, every second of it. What a nasty, painful, laterally-vicious, monstrous git of a ride. The coaster circuit itself seemed superb, and if it were possible to re-track it as a rideable coaster, then it would probably be a classic.
Lars Sorensen
Very beautiful park, the view from The Beast is unbelievable, and going into that last helix is just mad. We had many goes on the Racer, on the train that faces backwards, that is what I call a mind-boggling ride. The Flight of fear is also a really cool coaster.
Bart Van Goethem
PKI did a great job to give us an excellent night and day. The Beast ERS was really intense, but great. The Italian Job ERS was the right way to start the day. I was really looking forward to this themed coaster. It is really a unique ride experience. Sadly I had to ruin the mood because I used my photocamera during this ride. I really feel sorry for this and I hope everyone accepts my apologies. It will never happen again. During dinner I never felt so ashamed, but I deserved it!
Kim Varde Lassen
As Bart I too was told of for using a camcorder on a ride. It happened once, not in PKI though, but I felt bad just as well. I'm done sneaking the camera onboard. Anyway, the park was great. Some of the ride-ops where even quite friendly and conversational. Still, we did come across these machine-like employees where you just wonder if they really can think for themselves. Beast was an awesome ride, best woodie so far. Blazingly fast and actually scary at some points, a rare commodity! Just great! Son of Beast was just too shaky, not a pleasant ride. Maybe it's the trains rather than the track itself. Once was enough for me.
Terry jarvis
Many thanks to the lovely P.R.lady and her staff for making us most welcome. Thanks also for the ponchos yesterday evening, for without which most of us would have been very wet. Loved the ERSs on The Beast last night, and The Italian Job this morning, and a big thankyou for the behind the scenes tour of The Beast. It's not often you get the chance to go where so few have gone before!
Stu Simms
Action, drama, adventure! I really enjoy the more lively atmosphere at the Paramount Parks, especially at Kings Island. The staff have been execptionally welcoming and made the experience even more amazing.
Stefan Rothaug
Ein schoener Park! In erster Linie werde ich den Tag wegen des Essens in Erinnerung behalten: Keine Hotdogs oder Hamburger - endlich mal Kartoffeln!
Paul Freeman
A great park with a really nice mix of rides and the best hospitality of the trip so far (breakfast laid on for the morning ERS, behind the scenes walk, wristbands for free soda throughout the park, etc.). Some of the best themed rides (Italian Job coaster and Tomb Raider dark ride) plus some great wooden coasters, particularly the Racer with one train facing foward and one facing backwards. I finally got to ride the Beast coaster that I missed out on riding on a family holiday 20 years ago!
David & Susan Ellis
Last evening and today was Kings Island. This is a pretty park with 13 coasters. We had an evening ERS on The Beast and an ERS on Italian Job. We were treated to some great hospitality, including VIP lanyards, free soft drink wristbands and complimentary ponchos! Queues were short so we had no problem getting all the coasters in. Highlights were the Stunt Zone Drop Tower, and the Italian Job, which was my 500th coaster (David). Lowlights were the big trim brakes on the Beast, which really ruins this once powerful ride, and Son of Beast, which we will never ride again. Ouch! The behind the scenes tour of the Beast was a terrific bonus.
David Harrington
Superb park, second only on this trip to Cedar Point. Highlight has got to be the behind the scenes walk of the Beast, although the unexpected breakfast next to the Italian Job was a close second - better than we got in the hotel!
Chris Simon
PKI - one of my favourite parks. Lovely setting and some imaginative theming such as Flight of Fear and Tomb Raider. Drop Zone is my favourite drop tower - the freefall goes on for ever! The Beast walkback was a great privilege and fascinating. Many thanks to "Maureen the Unstoppable" for being such a great host. :-)
Lorna & Adrian Dade
Great park, we were made to feel really welcome by Maureen. Stunt track was a well themed ride, Adrian's favourite woodie is now the Beast! Son of Beast was a bit rough! Tomb Raider was over too quick! But overall a great day and a half.
Tim Tipler
We were looked after very well by the park did all of the rides but the two big woodies were rough. It's taken me 28 years to ride the Beast after seeing it on a tv program caled QED back in 1978. It's been 80deg (Ed: Not too sure about this, seemed 65-70 ish...) today and no rain. Hi to Jan and James speak to you saturday.
Chris Penn
PKI is a superb park. Great theming, especially international street, which features fountains and a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower, a good selection of rides with the best coaster for me being the Racer. Many thanks to Maureen our host who did a fantastic job treating us like vip's.
Bob Clark
Coaster 250 on the front of the legendary Beast - wow! wow! and triple wow! Thanks to Maureen and her team for making this a visit to remember.
Darren and Mary
Maureen welcomed us so well, the meal was nice, the setting for this was ideal - looking down International street. I am the only one on the trip who seemed to prefer Son Of Beast to the Beast. I found the Beast was rougher. Darren, as usual, enjoyed the whole day, especially the wooden coasters. A very nice day today and evening yesterday.
Leon Schuurbiers
My first visit to PKI, and surely not the last! It has a great collection of rides, only surpassed by CP, but the theming makes the whole experience a better for the non-hardcore riders. I loved The Beast, even with the trimbrakes. His Son could use some too!
Bob Even
We arrived around 6 PM last evening, and I managed to ride 6 coasters before the 8 o'clock ERS on The Beast, which became my 200th coaster! Yippi!!!! The Beast was nice in the front but a killer in the back. I still have some souvenir bruises on my arm! I hope I get to use my return visit ticket, 'cause this was such a nice park! Also, Sponge Bob says hi to you Eirik! It's sad that you couldn't join us for the rest of the trip, but I'm sure you enjoy going back to work...NOT!!!
ED:
A quick note here about Eirik Erstad - he had to return home to Norway yesterday for an operation. We all wish him well Eirik, and all wish he could have stayed on.
Fairly Odd
Maureen and her team did a fantastic job for us. Two great ERSs on Beast and The Italian job: Test Track. Beast was my coaster 150. Adventure Express was my 100 coaster on this trip. PKI had changed the name on Beastie to Fairly Odd Coaster. It's nice to have a coaster with your name on it? Eirik we miss you.
Peter Jackson ( AKA DUCKMAN LYSMB )
Kings Island welcomed us on the evening of day 12 where we had some evening time in the park and an ERS on the Beast. The park welcomed us with a free VIP pass & a rain poncho. Day 13 started with an ERS on The Italian Job a very different ride but short. A nice meal at lunch time with a free drinks wristband for the afternoon in the park. Today the Ducks were quite illusive but I found a few. Did lots of walking around the park and some day dreaming while relaxing in the waterpark.
Steve Davies
Hi Les, no phone signal again! I loved this park, great hospitality, not busy so rides were generally walk-on. The Beast - heavily braked? Maybe. But such an intense, long and unique coaster through the woods, I couldn't help but love it. The behind the scenes tour of it was unique, like a country ramble with a coaster thrown in. The infamous Son of Beast? It was more massive than I imagined, it took skill to ride it without smashing your vertebrae - it was sort of horribly fantastic. And rode my biggest drop tower yet. Italian job - a short but fun experience.
Ole Bredesen-Vestby
Great park and great hospitality. The ERS last night on The Beast was awesome. What a great woodie. Italian Job this morning was fun, and Face Off has to be one of the best Boomerangs I've ever ridden. Son of the Beast on the other hand...yikes... my knees still hurt. I wish I was 5cm shorter.
Nina Kleppe
King's Island was a great park, and I felt very welcome here. The ERS on The Beast last night was great, and the ERS on The Italian Job this morning was really fun. VIP passes, good lunch, and free soft drinks all day. Very good. Savner deg veldig Eirik. Wish you were here with us!!!
