Back from KI, wanted to post a few comparisons

I was at kings island recently and from the top of the tower could see the new footers being put in throughout the blocked off area. The appearance from above definatly looks like something big is in progress and the elevator operators for the tower agreed. I also really liked the Ed Alonzo show but the iluminate show at six flags parks was far above any other show I've ever seen. It was the best live entertainment I have seen anywhere, let alone a theme park! What is really most curious to me though is why everyone overlooks the firehawk. When I was researching the park for my first visit I didn't see too much information on it but after riding it I was shocked that it didnt have more hype. I loved it!

It's because it usually takes forever to load. Also it's a very old ride, back to the geauga lake days

They loading doesn't bother me cause there were no long waits anywhere else. And yeah I orginally thought the geauga lake part but that kinda adds to it I think. That it was saved from a part that people grew up at that doesn't exist anymore.

^^Firehawk was built in 2001. I wouldn't call that very old.

Well it's just one year younger than Millie, it' got some age to it, so to me it's not brand new like doamondback or before gatekeeper our maverick

Firehawk- the sun burning your eyes on the lift. The deafeningly loud anti-rollbacks. And just an uncomfortable ride. I'd rather ride Mantis on a pogo stick before Firehawk.

Has anyone been to the Six Flags park outside of Chicago recently? The X coaster they reviewed on Extreme Coaster Wars last weekend is very similar to Gatekeeper. It looks like they basically took the blueprints from that ride and revised/upsized them to fit Cedar Point.

The trains are almost duplicates (riders even complained about the restraint fit), the initial flip/drop (although less elevation) looks very similar, and they even have two keyhole elements!

I would be curious to hear from people who have ridden both on what is better/different

Wow. No words.

Are platinum pass holders for Cedar Point eligible for the season pass perks posted on the Kings Island website? Do you get the food deals and ERT and free parking with Kings Island?

With a Platinum Pass you get perks at all Cedar Fair Parks (both amusement and water). Free parking at all parks. Perks vary from park to park, but you get all perks available at each park. I have used Free Parking, ERT, Meal deals, VIP seating and other Platinum Perks at Cedar Point, Kings Island and Worlds of Fun so far this year.

Yea, I used my platinum pass for free parking and early entry at KI when I went at the beginning of the month.

Thanks to you both! Is Kings Island early entry actually only 30 minutes early and not one hour like CP?

Yes, one half hour. We did the Diamond Back twice, Beast once. Probably could of gotten a third ride on the DB. Not bad for a half hour of riding.

Rode Diamond Back for the first time Thursday. Holy airtime, Batman! That was a great ride but second time I rode it, I was afraid my restraint wasn't back far enough so hung on and braced with my legs for fear of falling out. Kind of spooked also by the Texas Giant tragedy.

I also wanted to add we got the pizza deal for platinum holders and it was a very good value, a lot of food and quite tasty. Wish Cedar Point had some better deals. I think that the Backyard BBQ sounds like a good deal also although we didn't eat there.

Also, I couldn't believe how smooth the Beast was, however I was glad that the effects of the double helix hasn't changed even though it had been re-profiled. A few extra trims, though, it didn't seem as wild as in years past.

Forgot to add we caught the Magic Show and it was very entertaining. They do have regular musical shows like at CP but we didn't get to see those.

Yea, Diamondback has incredible airtime. It's challenging MF as my fav steel coaster.

Speaking of the Texas Giant tragedy....when I was at Dollywood a few weeks ago, the park was buzzing about it. When my daughter and I just left of station on the Wild Eagle, somebody down below yelled I HOPE YOU DON'T DIE!! at our train. Real nice.

^Geez, that's awful!

I can see why you would think so about Diamondback, it's an airtime lover's dream and a forceful gliding at that. I really wanted to put my hands up, I think I'm just too unfamiliar with its restraint and maybe with MF, that extra seat belt gives some comfort in being there when you do lift up.

I didn't ride Firehawk, though. My husband and 11 year old did and they said it wasn't that fun. My husband, who years ago dreamed of a lying down coaster like you were flying, basically said it doesn't work. He said the sun was in your face half the time, both said it felt like you had to hold on and with your shins as well, although, he said there was no way of falling out. He said I would have to try it at least once, I probably will, but both said it was uncomfortable.

Kings Island is really a beautiful park. I wonder if they took their design from Disney, having the Eiffel Tower as the center with all areas projecting out from it like the castle. It makes it very easy cutting across. The main street area with fountains is beautiful we ate our dinner next to it, I have missed it. I remember ice skating there in years past for Winterfest. Cedar Point was always my favorite of the two when I was a child because of variety but I think Kings Island has passed Cedar Point in variety of rides now. I enjoyed the stunt coaster for the first time, always liked Flight of Fear, Adventure Express has some theming, Top Gun/Flight Deck is more exciting than Iron Dragon (but not as long). The Racer is a classic, The Beast is a runaway woodie through the woods, they have a flume ride (but I got soaked!), and of course, the indoor/dark ride.

I didn't care for the Enchanted Voyage's newest incarnation- point and shoot at cut-outs. I did it, but I couldn't tell you much else about the ride because you're busy looking for the bulls-eyes. It works but it's not what I prefer in a dark ride. My oldest remembers the one before, he said he liked it better, I think it was a Scooby Doo haunted theme ride. I think the one before that was Phantom Theater, I thought it was better than the Smurf ride before that, though, but I did like the boats. I like and play the shooting galleries at Cedar Point, but I'd rather not waste a dark ride doing it when I could be looking at something. You don't see the rewards of your target when you're riding plus I think cut-out boards are cheap. I can see why they'd want to capitalize on Toy Story Mania's popularity but some Disney enthusiasts think it's not up to Disney standards either being cut-outs as well.

I had done a little wiki reading after our trip. I didn't know that The Racer is what triggered the coaster revitalization, at least according to the article. I do remember well, the competition between KI and CP, who was going to top the other next through the 70's and early 80's. I will say The Racer was rougher than I ever remembered it being before, though.

I want to add that I also peeked through the fence where SOB was, I didn't see anything but the footers there for whatever's going in. At this point, I don't think major construction will start until after the season.

Announcement for new ride will be this thursday @ KI however

The Eiffel Tower is not from the Paramount era, it opened with the park when Taft owned it.

^I hope CF doesn't rip that stuff out of there. Just a little paranoid after seeing so much of what I loved at CP eliminated over the years.

Well, I've been down here at KI for the weekend. Thought I'd take advantage of that platinum pass. And I have to say, CP beats KI's rides HANDS DOWN. We r so spoiled up north. The live entertainment at CP is superior as well. With the exception of ONE SHOW AT KI. And that would be "Playlist Live". Wow. I loved it! Live music from a band that was just phenomenal! They had a horn section, conga/percussionist, keyboard, drums, and bass and awesome vocalists. CP should really look into the live music type of entertainment. Coming From myself being a musician, live music goes a long way.