Paramount's Kings Island Trip Report April 18, 2004

[Galvan]

Having arrived from Louisville it was clear that this was a trip well worth the time driving and the money spent. Paramount's Kings Island is located right outside of Cincinnati Ohio and is actually closer to Chicago then SFKK.


Brian and I arrived at the park at around 9:40am ET and there wasnt too much of a crowd at least at park opening.


Vortex: Number of Rides: 3 Rating: 10/10 Amazing Ride!! I loved this Arrow Looper, sorry guys blows Shockwave AWAY!! Front row ride was great!!

Flight of Fear: Number of Rides: 2 Rating: 10/10 This was one of the best rides of the whole trip! The ride is my first indoor attraction. Theming is awesome with an Area 51 style space UFO style theme. The ride is similar to Mr. Freeze with the same type harness and launch but thats where the similarities end. The Lauch 0-55mph in 4 Seconds Rivals V2 and Mr. Freeze. The completely dark circuit was OFF THE CHART! this ride has umpteen inversions and is very very cool!

Racer: Number of Rides: 1 Rating: 5/10 This ride was sort of a disappointment, Another Backwards/Forward Racer. Layout was as long as AE but the ride is not as worthly of AE status. Ride is kind of rough at times. But arent all Woodies Like that?

Faceoff: Number of Rides: 1 Rating: 4/10 I might be a litte unfair to this ride, but it kept breaking down while i was inline and it reminded me alot like DejaVu, and in fact I think this ride is very very similar, The Difference is while DV has twin towers, FO has lift style type towers pretty cool The cobra roll was really cool.

Top Gun: Number of Rides: 1 Rating: 2/10 This ride Sucked, plain and simple. This ride did nothing for me, and i actually recall yawning during this ride. Very Very Disappointing.

Son of Beast: Number of Rides: 1 Rating: 10/10 This ride while as Scott warned me killed my knees, i have bruses on them as i type this, This ride was one of the best roller coasters (until i rode Beast more later)
I have ever rode. The 1st Drop is INSANE! and the Loop just as crazy, This Ride lives up to its Reputation as being one of the Best Wooden Coasters in the World. Great yet painful ride.

Beast: Number of Rides: 1 Rating: 15/10 This Ride blows away American Eagle,Boss,Viper pretty much name a Wooden Coaster is Beast Destroys it. The Ride lives up to its Claim as the Longest Wooden Coaster in the World. And it deserves to hold that title. Because it truely is "The Great One" Better then any Wooden Coaster i have been on and even better Front Row!

Honorable Mentions:
Delirium: Number of Rides: 2 Rating:10/10 Greatest Flat Ride EVER!!
Drop Zone: Number of Rides: 1 Rating: 6/10 Im not a real big fan of GD and Hellivator at SFKK sucked but DZ was a pretty cool ride none the less.
Effiel Tower: Number of Rides: 1 Rating: N/A We learned later that we where one of only 4 Elevator loads that made it into the Tower today. Got some AWESOME pics from the 265 Foot Top Observatory.

Final Thoughts/Grade:
PKI is a world class park, SF might want to take some of the things that PKI does and incorporate it in some of there parks i.e asking how your day was at shops,waiting in lines etc. That was really cool. PKI also is about as big as GA and was very very easy to navigate around.

Cleanliness of Park: 10/10
Ride Selection: 10/10 SoBeast,Beast,FOF,Votex all 10/10s!
Ease around Park: 10/10
Theming: 8/10 a Fair amount of theming here. Difficult to take pics of though
Prices: 3/10 SFGAM Style pricing ouch
Over-all: 10/10 PKI was well worth the trip, I will definately be making another return trip there this Summer. Awesome Awesome Park!

PKI pics Now Availible Click Here

[SfGaMownz]

I am currently trying to convince my parents to let us take a side trip to PKI on our CP trip, because of all the good things I have heard about the park. Your TR just makes me want to go more.

Everyone I have talked to loved Delirum, The Beast and FOF, but most people I talked to didn't think Son Of Beast was that good which is kind of odd because to me it looks amazing with the drop and the loop and obviously you agree,

[Great America Guy]

Yeah i her alot of complaints abot Son of Beast well glad you enjoyed it i would love to take a trip down their this year

[Galvan]

Son of Beast was rough, but not as bad as Boss, if your a taller/bigger guy get ready for some pain, especailly on the knees. But the ride is definately a great ride roughness or not.

[Mr. SFGAm]

I'm glad you liked Kings Island. It was the first park I ever went to, and it has some awesome rides.
I'm just surprised that you didn't like Top Gun or Face/Off. Top Gun is my second favorite steelie at PKI after Flight of Fear.

The only ride I've ridden at PKI and didn't like was Racer.

[CoasterDave316]

I am currently trying to convince my parents to let us take a side trip to PKI on our CP trip.

That's a VERY big Side Trip SFGAmMownz...the parks are about 4 hours away. You would be better off taking a side trip to Geauga Lake, and doing PKI and SFKK on a different trip. Just my opinon anyway.

Great TR Mike, Im glad to hear you enjoyed Flight of Fear after your not so great experience with Mr. Freeze. Awesome pictures too, I really like the aerial pics you took!

[SFGA 11]

Nice Tr. Although I disagree with you on most of your ride reviews. I liked Faceoff and Racer but hated Vortex, FoF and Son of Beast. But thats just my oppinion.