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I'll put it this way- they are pretty much anti-straight track between the lift and brake run. The entire track will be littered with pops of air, slight laterals, and very sudden forces you won't see coming because GCI is very subtle about adding them in. I call it elements within elements. What you think is a simple banked curve may have a unexpected pop of air in the middle. The pacing is very fast paced, you won't catch your breath until the ride ends. A reason Millennium Flyers are more comfortable than PTC's or any multi-bench cars is due to each row being its own car (an articulated design as the industry calls it). Each row of wheels can independently steer so there's not as much shimmying and thus they track better. GCI isn't afraid to take advantage of that, and you'll see transitions that are much more aggressive than a lot of other wooden coasters. They age quite well and are comfortable despite those more aggressive lines. I don't think the renderings will do it a justice (that 2nd hill in the computer rendering is way more stretched out that how GCI normally shapes their hills, but the actual construction does reflect that). I do wish they would have squeezed in a station fly-through as that was unexpectedly slick on Thunderhead, but regardless, this will be a great ride. I've ridden HP's Wildcat, Lightning Racer, and Thunderhead. I rode the later 2 both early in their existence and about a decade after they were built and they ran very good each time. Wildcat is a different story as it was GCI's first coaster and designed with PTC's (MF's didn't come until 1999, Wildcat was in 1996) and I am of the opinion it was better with the PTC's. All 3 are near the top of my favorite woodies list.

Another part I'm looking forward to is the turn around. It makes a high banked s-curve as it rises up and as its switching to make the turn, it enters the tunnel. That's got a whole lot of potential to be awesome.

One of my favorite parts of Thunderhead is the station flyby. It is probadly the only straight piece of track on the ride and the interaction with those waiting to ride is really cool. Also right after the train flys through the station there is a short drop and turn. As previously stated it's one of those subtle things on GCIs that don't look like much but it takes you by surprise and gives a nice pop of air. Also I completely agree with the element within an element type of design that GCIs loves to do. Can't wait!

They are considering staying open throughout the year, whether it's weekends only or a few days throughout the week. The marketplace/entertainment area would be open probably 364 days a year.

^ the only one that i rode that was rough and not comfortable from gci is Apocolypse at Magic Mountain. But i dont want to say they built it bad, i think with wooden coasters alot has to do with where it is built and the climate and how well the maintenence is kept up on it. MT will be smooth and fun for a very long time because its in ohio and KI has probaby the best park and ride maintenance program of any park i can think of with the exception of Disney. You would never see a wood coaster built somewhere like where i live in phoenix or say Las Vegas...the upkeep on keeping the wood from just drying out and becoming bad would be ASTRONOMICAL. and at Magic Mountain that particular coaster has just had a bit of bad luck do to a few other mother nature issues like earthquakes etc, if im not mistaken. But generally GCI makes top notch rides. Hands down.

Cedar Fair has gotten approval for the rezoning of CGA! http://www.coaster101.com/2017/01/26/californias-great-america-gets-rezoning-approval-city/

I find the curve drop fine and pretty steep for a curve, Also for the straight drop you want you on Mystic Timbers there is one on the second hill and it looks pretty nice. Here is a picture of it.

Depends on the ride....per the manual I have from 2009ish, there were 3 specific levels with one of those levels (1) split into a few additional categories for things like block testing, and controls for Vortex. I am unsure of WindSeeker as I never received that manual. See the advice I gave above....even though you applied for Admissions, everything would apply. Best of luck.

^^First of all, wait patiently. I applied on December 12, was contacted on January 18 and interviewed on January 25. Chances are they'll contact you in February as they make their way through the applications received. It's still fairly early in their hiring season (from what I can tell), so there's a good chance you'll be contacted, interviewed, and most likely hired on the spot. Second, refer back to the advice that fellow KICers have graciously provided in this thread. In fact, out of excitement, I've already read through the whole thread four times over and I actually am thinking about doing just that once I finish typing this very post! Third, when you are interviewed (providing they contact you, which, like I said before, is quite likely), just be yourself. Relax! Dress to impress (specifically business casual)! I don't know how interviews go for Admissions since I'm in the Rides Department, but I was interviewed alongside another person and we were asked questions (of course) which of course were about Kings Island, filled out a paper each with important questions regarding the job, and did some team activities. But like I said, what I described is a Rides interview, so an Admissions interview would likely be different. Fourth, practice makes perfect! Practice answering common interview questions! There are numerous job interview tip videos on YouTube that provide extremely helpful information. I practiced for my interview and actually ended up being more prepared than what my interview called for. Better to be overprepared than under, I'll say! I'm still on Cloud Nine just thinking about the fact that I am now a Rides Associate on Vortex and WindSeeker! I can hardly wait for my processing/orientation/training in March, the first of which is 43 days away!!!

This is how we will all react to what's in the shed!

When I count down not only the days until Opening Day (78), but also the number of days until the other days when I plan to return to Kings Island for processing (43), orientation (50), Rides General Knowledge class (57), and location training (date unknown at this time so no countdown yet). I'm still on Cloud Nine about the fact that the Kings Island Rides Department hired me two days ago and that I now have a job...the "Best Job Ever," to be exact!

You can't deny though that curved drops sure do look great in a classy way.

I agree, that turnaround will have some good fun. The only thing that me personally am not a huge fan of on this coaster is the curved first drop. I mean dont get me wrong, to me all coasters are fun even with a curved first drop...but i like the thrill that a straight drop has...but thats just my personal preference a straight drop always for the first hill. I realize that a lot of time it is also done for saving a bit of real estate that is taken up by a straight drop, especially on coasters over say 180'+ feet that entire lift hill and drop takes up lots of precious space.

Random Side Note: the CoasterRadio Podcast is playing a game next week called "Try to make EB laugh" and the question you supposed to answer to get him to laugh is "What's in the shed?". Its going to be fun listening to all the submissions to see what people say from the universe of shed related humor.

Ah so your the lucky lad that my best friend was telling me about! She said her friend got log flume and you had got timbers but she didn't mention a name. Congrats and welcome aboard! As of right now we have a couple guys from backlot, a guy from beast, myself and a guy from Diamondback but that's all I know as of right now.

Congrats, I worked Vortex in 2001. Loved it! Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Still so happy you got the job VortexBFForever!! And congrats to anyone else who has gotten a job! Love reading this thread.... it really provides insight to working at KI... I decided to apply because I was thinking like I am there all the time already (19 times I went last year lol) so I might as well apply to wait and see... I applied around 3 weeks ago.... hopefully I will hear back in Febuary I am going to keep my job at LaRosas and work at Kings Island as well... I need the money lol because I am getting no financial assistance for college tuition and you know other fun stuff! I am open to any position... I applied to Admissions but anything else (well except for food because I already work food at La Rosas lol) would be great... I would just be a little nervous with rides because I would feel a bit of stress putting thousands of lives on the line everyday with operating a ride safely and efficiently.... I would probably be so nervous to do that... because the OCD and anxiety inside me would drive me a bit insane.... but if I did rides I would probably get accustomed to it... I will probably be able to drive by the begining of summer.... gas isnt too much an issue... as my job at LaRosas would quite literally supplment that cost. (I live 25-35 minutes away from the park) Keeping the job at LaRosas may lead to an uncomfortable talk with my manager... but he only schedules me one shift a week and I NEED more hours than that but even when I asked to be scheduled more I didnt get it... (Saturday Nights is when I work) And a bunch of factors lead to me wanting to apply and get another job.... I have done job interviews before... I can be a little nervous but I am usually quite open by the end... heck I even uploaded my resume... I really think my MDA Camp Counselor experience is going to look good on my resume. I really really hope I get the job... if I only work day shifts I could like spend the whole day afterwords there lol.... wouldnt mind that a bit! Any advice for me?

Congratulations, Nick_Plummer! I've noticed others who've posted about which ride they're working this year have said they re on the Mystic Timbers crew. I think I'm the only one here who's working somewhere else, at least for now. What and how many levels of being a ride op are there? -BFF, with piqued curiosity.

I got the job! I'm on the Mystic Timbers crew. You'll have a new co-worker Drummermat, I interviewed with a girl who really wanted to work RFYLCB and she got the job as well.

I watched the meeting from the link above where this was approved. It sounds pretty awesome! The opposition that showed was outweighed IMO than the supporters. However, the opposition did have some good points. Some of the stuff (speakers facing the wrong way, speiling being insane, etc.) can be fixed almost immediately. The one thing that kind of cracked me up was there was mention of people on rides screaming and that was hurting their quality of life (paraphrased).....how in the world could they tell guests to stop screaming on their rides? Anyway, I'm happy for them!

I love to marathon Thunderhead as well. It is almost always a walk on after opening. The thrill seekers at Dollywood don't realize what a gem that ride is. I would agree that it is agressive but it is a fun aggressive like Beast when it is at its best.

They are really nice pictures. Bout cried when I seen the KC destruction pics, though.

I had a chance to finally actually spend a few minutes on your FB page and it is awesome. Thanks so much for sharing with us. I look forward to seeing many more Sit On It posts!

Long time no see Shaggy.. Met you a couple times at KI events. I love the old nostalgic KI stuff as well. Life long resident of Cincinnati and been at KI since they opened. My dad used to go to Coney Island for company picnics till they opened KI. I remember driving on a dirt road along The Racer when being built. Lots of old memories from this park (including canoes where Beast resides).....

Awesome look back at the park's history. My first visit to the park was back when they had the Safari ride, so I was raised on both the antique cars, King Cobra (which I will still claim wasn't that bad as a TOGO) and the single rail suspended coaster in Hanna Barbara, but never got to see the Demon or any of those older rides....

^I can vouch for that. It was surprising the first couple of times I experienced it. I kind of missed the time to look down when I rode in the front seat, but overall it was an exciting change.

Did anyone of you ride FOF this season? Mid season until closing day it flew through the MCBR hardly stopping. But what do I know

^^ Thanks, CoastersRZ

That is the mechanical/electrical room for Zephyr. It is likely where the hydraulics are located for the ride. I believe that there is a metal plate in the concrete that leads from the ride to this building, for easy access for maintenance should something spring a leak.

Here is a screen capture from Google Maps but it's the closest I can get for you. I think Zephyr was added around 1986 and the 1985 Park map shows the Mat Racer slide just about where Zephyr is currently at the bottom of Racer's first drop. Also, IIRC, I believe the Coney Disco was further down the midway right next to Zodiac. I know you can't really go by park maps for obvious reasons, but the curiosity is killing me. If you look really close, the building material and roof are an exact match of the ride operator's little covered stand just to the right, so it must have something to do with Zephyr after all. One would think that a wave swinger wouldn't need any machinery/mechanicals that large just to operate...I dunno

Today there are officially fewer days left until opening (83) than there have been since closing day (84). We're halfway through the off season! It's all downhill from here!