Kings Island TR and video link in 1st post

[RBull4life]

This trip report is long, so pour yourself a bowl of your favorite cereal, and read on.

After hearing about the new Nick Universe at Kings Island, and since not having been there in a long time, I figured why not head out that way before our annual trip to Cedar Point. Here we go.

I wanted to get an early jump so we wouldn't have to sit in that terrible 80-94 construction near the Indiana, Illinois border, and plus I figured that the kids would sleep little more, and make the 5 hr journey a little more bearable. So we hit the road at 4:00 am Saturday morning, and after breezing through that 80-94 construction, it was a clear shot to Mason, OH. I had booked our 2 night package deal, at Kings Island Resort, and Conference center which is located right across from the park, and let me tell you, I may think twice before I book there again. After some bum directions from Mapquest, we finally got to the hotel at around 11:00 am. Once there, I was told that our room was not ready, and to come back at 4:00. I was fine with that, since usually you can't check into a room until 4 anyway, so I asked if I could get my tickets for the park that was included in my package. To my surprise, they had me only booked for a one-night package deal, and I would only receive two tickets instead of four. Well I was stunned, and asked to speak to a manager. After about 10 minutes of waiting, the manager finally came over, apologized, and gave me the two extra tickets. Now that we have some time to kill, we headed over to the park.

We expected it to be crowded for being Memorial Day weekend, but it really wasn't. We coated on the suntan lotion on the kids, loaded up the stroller, and headed for the main gates. I was kind of surprised to see that the metal detectors are located before you get up to the ticket booth, not after like at Great America. As soon as we entered the park, we were greeted by Angelica, from Rugrats. My daughter was excited, and ran up and gave her a hug, where as my son gave her the "what in the heck are you" look. I looked at the "Paramount's Kings Island" sign that was right in front of the pool, and thought, "not for very long." After a few pictures of the Eiffel (sp) tower, and pool, we turned right, and ran into Nick Universe.

Nick Universe:

Let me start off by saying that this is one neat kids section. Nickelodeon stuff galore. Having a craving to ride a coaster, I took my daughter, and went to the first one we saw. The Fairy Oddcoaster, themed to one of my favorite Nick cartoons, The Fairy OddParents. The coaster, formally known as The Little Beast, had its trains colored green for Cosmo, and pink for Wanda. After about a 20-minute wait, we finally boarded Wanda, my daughter was happy about that, and headed up the lift hill. For a kiddie coaster, this one has a nice first drop, and cool little hills throughout. Almost similar to The Little Dipper at Kiddieland, the Fairy Oddcoaster just barley beats it out. For a kiddie coaster, the Fairy Oddcoaster gets a 9/10.

Next up we decided to ride something the entire family can enjoy. The Lazy Town helicopters. Basically it just cars shaped like, well, helicopters, that ran above Nick Universe. Sort of like a monorail, but with single cars. You want to talk about a line that is SLOW, well this is it. It was a good 40-minute wait, and with the temperature hitting around 90, and no shade, I was starting to cook. We got on board, and I, being 6'4, 220lbs, had just enough room to fit in. The ride seemed to go on, and on, and by this time, my legs had already fallen asleep. The kids really enjoyed it, so I had to tough it out. What a dad won't do for his kids. My score 2/10. Not for tall people, and for a slow moving line.

I had to walk around to get the blood circulating back through my legs, so we let the kid’s rides some rides by themselves. They went on Jimmy Neutrons Atom Smashers, which is just bumper cars for little ones. My daughter, with my son in the passenger seat, creamed this one kid that never saw her coming. That-a-girl. Next up for them was The Plankton Plunge, which is nothing more than Giant Drop for kids, and a spin on the Nick-o-Round. After I could feel my legs again, there was one ride that stood out the most....

Avatar:

My wife was too scared to go on this (much like she is scared to go on just about anything. Wimp), so she stayed with my son, as my daughter and I got in line. This is another slow moving line, but it was well worth the wait, which was about 45 minutes. Think of Avatar as Jesters Wild Ride on crack. Instead of spinning back and forth, Avatar has a hill that you go over, as you spin around. My daughter and I laughed the entire ride. After we got off, my daughter looked up at me and asked if we could go again. My wife took my son on some smaller rides for him, and we took another spin on it. Great ride. If you ever get to Kings Island, make sure you ride this. Avatar gets a 10/10.

By now the temperature must have been 90, so we needed to cool off. What better place to this than Bikini Bottom Splash. After entering though the pineapple under the sea, you walk through a maze that has water spraying you from every direction, as well as having you walk under waterfalls. Even though you really should walk through it in a swimsuit, it was a much-needed relief from the burning sun.

Next I tried to convince my daughter to go on the only kids inverted coaster that I know of..........

Rugrats Runaway Reptar:

My daughter eventually chickened out, so I was forced to ride it by myself. Nothing really to exciting about this ride, but what do you expect, its for kids. There were some shaky moments during the trip around the course, but over all, it wasn't bad. My score 5/10

Next up was Wild Thornberrys adventure (I think that was the name of it). It was my wifes turn to take my daughter on a ride, so they went on it first, and then my daughter took a second trip with me. Simple log flumes ride themed to the Nick cartoon. Nice touch with an elephant spraying you with water after you come down from the drop. Fun for the kids. 6/10

Much to the kids’ dismay, it was time to leave Nick Universe for now, and venture out to the rest of the park. As we left Nick Universe, we ran into Scooby Doo's Haunted Castle. The four of us lined up in what appeared to be a short line. Well we were wrong. Once we got to the station, I realized what the ride was. It is like the Scooby Doo ride at Six Flags St. Louis. My son rode with me, and we had a blast shooting the creepy monsters. At first, since it was the first time I had ever been on a ride like this, stupid me didn't know I had to shoot the blue boxes with the little blue light in them. By the time I figured that out, I had managed to get 980 points by the time the ride was over. Fun family ride, and one that Great America should seriously consider getting. 1/10 until my dumbass figured out what to do, then after that, 10/10.

After a stop for a souvenir cup, and hot dog, we strolled around until I saw the one coaster I have been waiting to ride on.....

The Beast:

The wife took the kids back to Nick Universe, while I ran into line. I was expecting to be greeted with a very long line, but to my surprise, it was not bad at all. 15 minute wait tops. I boarded near the back of the train and proceeded up the lift hill. My heart was pounding with anticipation, as the life hill, at first, is the slowest that have ever been on next to Typhoon at Santa's Village. Once over the lift hill, we were flying, until we reached the next lift hill. This was the part I had been waiting for. The helix out of the second lift. Wow. I never remembered the helix being this rough. My insides felt like they were being scrambled. Think of the Eagles helix before the retracking, and going ten times faster. Don't get me wrong, it is one hell of a ride through the tunnels, but I think The Beast is showing its age. It’s hard to score this coaster. My previous trip many years ago, it would have gotten a 10/10, but now, it just doesn’t seem the same. Sorry Beast, but you get a 6/10.

After meeting up with the rest of the family at Nick Universe, and feeling the sting of my newly sunburned shoulders, my daughter had to drag me on this unique ride.

Danny Phantom Flyers:

You lay down sort of like Superman at Great America, but with just a harness that comes down over your back. Again, not really made for tall people, but it was a comfortable ride. It’s a chairswing, except you lay on your stomach. Fun little ride. 5/10

Ok, now I had enough of Nick Universe for today, knowing that we would be back tomorrow. Believe it or not, it was far more crowded in Nick Universe than it was for the rest of the park. We continued to stroll, and munch on food, riding various rides throughout the park. We came across Vortex, an Arrow looper. Having sunburned shoulders, and knowing of Arrows over the shoulder restraints having ridden The Demon, I decided to pass on this one. The one coaster I did see off in the distance was......

The Italian Job:

With my son asleep, I gave the wife some money so they could play some games. As I walked up to Italian Job, I noticed that it was closed, but it was testing, so I decided to wait it out. I only had to wait about 5 minutes before they re-opened it. Being a single rider, I had to wait to get paired up with somebody. Once I was paired with somebody, a pretty hot looking female, we shot out of the station, and up an upward helix that pulled some decent G's. After some curves, and bends, we stopped at a mock shipyard. Over to the left, there was a helicopter, and to the right there was some shipping containers, and a water tank. It then sounded like the helicopter was shooting bullets, which then appeared to hit the water tank, which spurted out water. After that was over, the train then was launched out. A few more banked turns, up into a "warehouse", and then dropped into a pool, which also blasted water next to you. A fast paced coaster, but yet, I got off of it wanting more. The Italian Job gets a 7/10.

Once again, I hooked up with the family, and headed off to The Coney Island Mall. As soon as walked in, I saw the coaster that started the coaster resurgence…

The Racer:

Yes. I couldn't wait. Once again, the family went off on their own, this time to see Spongebob Squarepants 3-D. More on that later. Again, not really much of a line, so I waited to ride in the front of the forward train. Well, little known by me, somebody had lost their lunch in the front seat of the blue train. After a few laps of an empty train, and a few reluctant people to ride in it, I finally hopped on board. This is one great wooden coaster. It’s not the biggest, or the fastest, but it does deliver a great ride, plus it was pretty smooth. Our train didn't race the other, but it didn't matter. This is another must ride at Kings Island. The Racer, thank you for started the "coaster resurgence”. 10/10, mostly due to the nostalgia.

By now it is around 5:00, and I am dead tired. We headed back to the hotel. As I walked in, it was extremely crowded, and I thought to myself, “oh, oh, this is not good.” Finally made it up to the counter to check in and I hear, “I am sorry, your room is not ready yet.” Not ready yet…WTF. Everybody behind the desk must have been new, because none of them knew their ass from the hole in the ground. After about waiting as long as I did for any ride at the park, they managed to get me a room at a discounted rate. After a hearty meal, it was time to hit the sack.

Sunday:

I was excited to get back to the park to get on some of the rides that I had missed the previous day. I won’t get into full detail of the day, since it is basically the same as the day before.

Spongebob Squarepants 3-D:

I have always liked 3-D movies like this, and this one, well, it kind of disappointed, but yet it didn’t. It revolves around the yellow sponge searching a pickle from a krabby patty. Along the way, he rides on his bike, manages to fall into Rock Bottom, and runs into a robotic Patrick that Plankton is using to lure Spongebob into the Chum Bucket so he can steal the secret formula for the krabby patty. In the end, the real Patrick shows up and spoils Planktons plans. The 3-D effects were good, but the story was lackluster. 7/10. It would have gotten a better score if Patrick were in it more.

They actually have two theaters side by side. One showing Spongebob, and the other side showing Hanna Barbara 3-D, which was closed. Later in the day however, Spongebob was closed, and Hanna Barbara was open.

Back over to you know where……Nick Universe. A few more rides on Fairy OddCoaster, and Avatar, and my day of riding rides in this section was done. The next 2 hours were set for letting the kids ride anything they wanted. This ranged from Blue’s Skidoo, to Dora’s car ride or whatever it is called. Once again, this section was way more crowded than the rest of the park. I also noticed something else about this section. You would think that they would be playing songs, and music from Nick shows. They Didn’t. Only one song that I remember, and that was the theme from Unfabulous. Other than that I heard Hillary Duff, (now I can’t get that song “Wake Up” out of my mind) Bowling for Soup, and other various artists. Getting an Icee could also be a wait. By the time I made it to the counter, and given the guy my cup and paid him, it must have taken him a good 10 minutes to pour the Icee. All the vendors in Nick Universe seem to be a little slow.

My son loves trains, so we took a journey on the railroad.

My wife wanted to hit some stores to cool off, and since shopping is not for me, I took a pass, and went off to ride……

Son of Beast:

Oh boy, a looping wooden coaster. I couldn’t wait. After waiting in a tolerable line of about 30 minutes, I was heading up the lift hill. When you read trip reports telling you that Son of Beast is rough, well they are not kidding. I am not sure if it was where I was sitting, but you get the hell beaten out of you on this thing. The first helix is simply brutal. The second helix is somewhat tolerable. The smoothest part of the ride if the loop, since that is made of steel. Now, the entire ride is not all that bad, there is some airtime, and a great first drop, but SOB seams to be learning from his father as far as roughness goes. SOB gets a 4/10.

Since I was right next to it, I got in line for Face-Off. Deja Vu or Face-Off? Got to take Déjà Vu.
I like boomerangs, and this one wasn’t bad. Once you have ridden Déjà vu, it knocks down just about any other inverted boomerang, or any boomerang. 8/10.

After again hooking up with the family, we took the kids to visit some Nick characters. It was at this time that I noticed that I was having camera malfunctions, in both my video, and digital. Most of the footage I had taken did not turn out, but I did get some which will be the video that I am currently working on. A few more small rides, and it was time to call it a day. We headed back to the hotel, and watched the nightly firework show. My total tally was:

Beast – 3
Son of Beast – 1 (That’s was all I could stand)
Face-Off – 1
Fairy Oddcoaster – 3
Avatar – 3
The Italian Job – 3
The Racer – 2 (Both forwards)
Runaway Reptar – 1

I missed the following:

Top Gun
Tomb Raider: The Ride
Drop Zone
Delirium

It was a fun two days. Like I stated before Nick Universe was simply packed, more so than the rest of the park. It will be interesting to see what Cedar Fair does to the park, and what changes it will make. I am glad that they will be keeping the Nick license for awhile because NU was an excellent kids area. The ride ops were not very talkative at all. There were no spiels of any kind. The food service was mediocre at best. Vortex was shut down towards the end of the day on Sunday. The hotel, while it had some problems, was not that bad. The kids basically ate for free the entire time we stayed there. As a whole, Kings Island gets a 8/10.

Our next stop on our Ohio park trip was Castaway Bay. That brief trip report will be coming soon.

[RagingBullLover1543]

Cool tr.

Yeah SOB is really rough.

[FRD714]

Nice TR.

[zjohn1988]

I really want to go there....

[LAFFfan4lyfe]

it sounds like you, your wife, and the kids had fun. that nick area does sound good for kids. i'd even be interested in walking around it just to see what it's like.

[RBull4life]