General Chat / PKI TR

After making the 13 hour drive from Dallas, Texas to Lexington, Kentucky to visit my family, we made an additional 2 hour drive to visit Kings Island on Sunday, August 7. After visiting several Krogers in the area, trying to purchase discount tickets with no luck (computer problems), we were finally able to buy tickets at Meijer, and we were off.

We entered the gates at about 10:30 am, and headed to the back of the park to check out The Italian Job. It looked like a "cute little coaster", but they were still testing and the line had already started to form outside of the queue. So we headed to Vortex, since it was the closest. I still like the look of Vortex...it is so photogenic, especially right by the boomerang section. Anyway, although I love the initial drop, I hate the head banging of this ride...it seemed worse than I remember. It was fun, but not great.

Next we did the Spongebob 3D action movie, and I was quite impressed. I have seen 3D movies before and was never really amazed, but there were some really cool effects in this short film....plus the air conditioning was nice.

On the way to the Racer, we stopped by Zephyr (swings) because there was no line, and I felt a little ill after getting off. Is this a sign that I am getting to old for this shit?

A couple of us (including myself) rode the backwards Racer, while the other chose frontwards. I've always preferred backwards, especially in the last (front?) seat. It was a good ride...always has been.

Adventure Express was next. I've always enjoyed this mine train because it really seems out of control.

Delerium had just opened as we were making our way to it, so the line was short. This was my first time on a ride of this type. It was scary and awesome. I couldn't keep my eyes open on the swings downward because the force of air was too great and made them water profusely.

Next was Drop Zone. The amount of freefall time before the brakes was more than I remember, so it was fun...but the line was long, due more to the slow loading and unloading than the crowd.

Next was lunch. La Rosa's pizza.

After lunch, Top Gun. Top Gun was good and smooth...just wish it were longer. Then we rode Son of Beast. I absolutely hate this ride. Nothing remotely enjoyable about it. I felt as though I had been held down and beaten with baseball bats. Sure, it's nice to look at...but that's it. Worst coaster ever.

Congo Falls next, to cool off. I got soaked for some reason, while everyone else in my group just got showered a bit.

Headed towards Face-Off, but it was running with an empty train and the attendant said it would probably not open back up.

One of my nephews and his best friend rode Slingshot while we watched. I had been on one before in Dallas, and didn't want to do it again. I was genuinely scared on that thing. I thought I was going to die. The video of their ride was very funny. No sound, but you can read their lips really well. I bet "Oh Shit!" is the most often said phrase on that ride.

Made our way across the park to ride Scooby Doo and the Haunted Mansion. I rocked at this...with a score of 2015.

Dinner at Chik-fila. I was very happy to see a Chik-fila in the park (and a Subway and Starbucks for that matter).

Next we rode The Beast. Rougher than usual...really showing it's age. I still like it, just not as much as I used to.

Watched The Italian Job for a while, but the line was just too long to bother (only 12 riders per train is pathetic). Decided it may not be worth the wait and ate cotton candy instead.

Rode the Dodgem and Viking on our way back to ride Top Gun and Drop Zone again.

It was now dark, and although it was a Sunday, rides were staying open longer because of a concert (Cinderella, Quiet Riot, Ratt, Firehouse). So, we decided to check out The Italian Job once more since it seemed aot of people were either leaving or at the concert. I am really glad we did. The wait was only abour 20 minutes and the ride was really fun. Not real thrilling, but really fun. I was impressed by the launch and the amount of Gs I felt through the upward helix, and I was really suprised by the tunneled final portion of the ride. Could this be one of my favorite rides at PKI now? Maybe I really am getting to old.

When we got off the ride it was 9:50. One of my nephews wanted to see if Flight of Fear was still open since we had not ridden it earlier. I doubted it would be since the line is usually long, but to my suprise they were still letting people on. I opted not to ride since I had a mild headache by then. 2 of my other nephews and I played games (I won a Stewie doll) while the others rode. At 10:30, the finally got off of the ride and we made our way to the parking lot.

We spent another 45 minutes trying to get out of the parking lot and onto the interstate, because the concert ended just as we were leaving.

Overall, a fun day. No rain, but it was hot an humid. It was crowded, but lines weren't bad (the longest being for Drop Zone at 45 minutes).

...So we headed to Vortex, since it was the closest.  I still like the look of Vortex...it is so photogenic, especially right by the boomerang section.  Anyway, although I love the initial drop, I hate the head banging of this ride...it seemed worse than I remember.  It was fun, but not great.

LOL. When I went to PKI last summer, my fucking head pounded for the remainder of the night all thanks to Vortex. I think they need to replace that coaster before someone's head explodes mid-ride.

Then we rode Son of Beast.  I absolutely hate this ride.  Nothing remotely enjoyable about it.  I felt as though I had been held down and beaten with baseball bats.  Sure, it's nice to look at...but that's it.  Worst coaster ever.

also LOL. I had bruises on my legs for a week after riding SOB. I prefer The Beast over SOB. My 10-year old neice also went on SOB. It was quite comical to see her smiling, excited and anxious pre-ride then see her sobbing profusely post-ride. Definitely not a ride for the amatuer coaster fanatic.


Sounds like you had a decent time at PKI ST, makes me want to go back...

I think they need to replace that coaster before someone's head explodes mid-ride.

If that happened, somehow, it would be Disney's fault.

I went there this summer.

Vortex was somewhat smooth when I went, but I still hate that one part after the fist turnaround... it banks left, unbanks, then banks left again and basicly snaps your neck. Other then that, we all liked it and rode front seat atleast 10 times that day.

As for Zephyr, it didn't make me sick, but it made 10 out of 11 other people in our group sick... so the one other guy and I just rode Vortex 3 more times within 20 minutes.

Sounds like you had a good time and got your money's worth

You aren't old until you can no longer ride the rides with inversions....

then you are old