anyone been on son of beast yet?

I know I'm being a big pain, but as soon as the park opens, where would I want to head first?

(I mean what lines up the most)

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73 coasters and counting... I'm only 15 too.

My experience with SOB seems to be different with what others ahve reported. I rode it in June 2000 and did not find it intolerabley rough, certainly only a fraction as rough as Mean Streak which I had ridden a week before. I also thought that the loop was the worst part of the ride. This is a speed and power coaster, and I thought that the loop slowed the pace of the ride.

yeah but the loop adds specialness (i know its not a word) to the ride right?
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73 coasters and counting... I'm only 15 too.

Don't head for SOB first. The line seems to only be at most 45 minutes long. You would be better off heading for either Face/Off, Flight of Fear or Tomb Raider first.

FreakLogic said:
um, same as any loop on any other coaster? the wood converts to steel in the loop so its gonna feel like an ordinary (but large) loop.

The loop is wood with steel supports

pki forums

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D.o.t. Crew 2000
Flight of Fear/Wave Swinger crew 2001-2002

The loop actualy didnt feel very much diferent for me, than any other steel loops out there. All they did is took the wood off the sides.

I personally think it was too shaky of a ride and VERY loud. It wouldve been a great ride if it wasnt so shaky. Maybe if CCI or GCI built it it would have been a great ride.

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At least I dont call a vertical loop a "loopdie-loop"!

As you can tell from my signature, I`ve ridden Soony quite a lot. I prefer to sit up in the front of the train but it depends on what you like. I don`t find Son of Beast any rougher than the Vortex IMO. Depending when you go to the park the lines can vary. Last season I saw lines that filled the entire queue (about an hour wait) and I also saw several times in the fall when there was no line (a cold 50 degree day). In the past the Action Zone has had all the lines in the morning as that where all the crowds rushed. However, with the debut of Tomb Raider: The Ride, the crowds may now rush to River Town to TR:TR and The Beast so the Action Zone may have shorter line in the beginning of the day. I won`t know what has the shortest line at opening until the park opens to season pass holders on April 4, 40 days from now!
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I`ve ridden Son of Beast 67 times!

SOB isn't *that* rough IMO (though the washboarding *can* be vicious in some seats) but the ride itself is just lacking. The elements are very drawn out and the only thing I really like about it is the drop off the block into the loop.

Lines are usually an hour or less because the coaster hasn't caught on with people as much as PKI might have hoped. I'd go along with the suggestions up above that say go to FOF *first*! The ride is top notch with excellent pacing and some inversions and turns that are tighter than a spin-dryer, it's right up there with the original Beast for best in the park awards IMO. Getting back to TR:TR might not be a bad idea either since that'll be a capacity whore and from the sounds of it well worth riding at least once, if you like flats that is...
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* The Legend @ HW
* Superman: Ride of Steel @ SFNE
* Mondial Top Scan

Thats weird. I went in Augaust ona weekday think it was a Thrusday but my family and I had a walk-on. But there was a huge line for Face-Off. Strange...

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At least I dont call a vertical loop a "loopdie-loop"!

Crowds don`t just depend on the day of the week. It depends on the weather and time of year. I find that Son of Beast runs smoother when it is cooler out but that is just me. Tomb Raider: The Ride, from what I`ve heard should not be that muchof a capacity problem. It will, from what I`ve heard, carry about 75 guests per ride, which when compared to other flats at PKI is pretty good. However, because of the extrodinary theming on this ride, it will probably have a long wait (about two hours I`d guess).

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I`ve ridden Son of Beast 67 times!

I will go against the crowed

SOB is not worthy of the Beast name. This is the roughest wooden coaster out there. The loop adds nothing to the ride. If the ride is working you can expect it to shut down after you have waited 2 hours and are next to ride.

Disclamer: This is only my opinion this is not to cause a war of words.

"If the ride is working you can expect it to shut down after you have waited 2 hours and are next to ride. "

Hmmm, that's an odd comment. Actually SOB had a much better season operationally last year than Beast.

Shaggy

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Shaggy
A.K.A. John K.

Also, if a ride is rough, wouldn't it earn the name of Beast? :) The helix on The Beast and the helix on SOB are really about the same in intensity and roughness.

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Sept. 11th 2001, Slayer released God Hates Us All. The song "Disciple" uncannily describes the events of that day, as well as the anthrax letters that followed.
--Slayer: Thrash band, or the next Nostradamus?

It's impressive to see, but as for the ride it gives, there really isn't a whole lot to it. There's a lot of speed in the bottom of the helices, but it doesn't really feel "powerful" because it isn't smooth to me. Sure, I'll ride it, but it wasn't what I was hoping it would be.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Make sure to ride in the second row, I found it to be incredibly smooth there comapred to the rest of the train. The ride itself is decent, but its nothing compared to its dad.
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"Yeah, they did it in Superman 3"

I've ridden SOB many (many) times. Did I say I've ridden it many times yet? I love this coaster- period. We all have our opinions on it and that's very cool. I would put myself in the group that truly enjoys the ride. Personally, as my sig says, I prefer "back seat, no hands" as I do most coasters (inverts and floorless I prefer front seat, however).

I truly feel the power of the ride from the back seat. I love being pulled from the top of the "bump" at the lift down the massive structure. I love feeling the intensity at the bottom of helix one. But, my favorite part of the ride is the drop off the midcourse block (sitting in the back it comes out of no-where) and the loop. Its my favorite vertical loop of any coaster I have ridden- power all the way through it.

I like to feel like I'm riding a "machine" for lack of a better word and not a "magic carpet ride" when I'm on a coaster. I want to stress that that is my personal opinion. If you like ultra smooth there's nothing wrong with that. Anyway, SOB gives me what I want- a powerful, "you are on a massive wooden structure" ride. I don't think its rough at all. Do I have a rough tolerance? Yes. I spell it S.L.C.- lol.

Whatever you beside with your opinion on SOB this summer, have a great trip! I don't know if this is your first trip to PKI but take it all in. Spend some time in the shade of Rivertown and by the Royal Fountains of International Street. I'm sure you'll have a memorable trip!

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OHIcOaster
"Back seat, no hands."

Maybe Im partial cause im on the crew 01 &02 but its one of the best coasters ive ever ridden. Its a good woodie with that little extra. Its not the best in the park. for airtime the racers are the best and for a better ride the beast is the best in the park.

If you go ride Sonny in the afternoon. The grease on the ride is nice and warm and makes the ride smoother. One of the cool things I get (ACE members get it too) Is i can walk back there and see the ride up close which is neat. on a daliy to weekly basis (i volenteer alot for lockout gate checking)

SOB is a one of a kind coaster thats a Can't miss!

As an example of my signature below, I'll simply say this regarding Son of Beast:

There is not a coaster in OHIO that I like better

And that my friends, its true...
jeremy
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Besides, if we were really shutting down people we disagreed with, would Jeremy (2Hostyl) still be around? :) I think not. - Jeff 1/24/02

jeremy, I can name five woodies in Ohio that I LIKED better, and I've never been to a park outside "the big three" yet...don't think I can? Beast, Racer, Big Dipper, Villain, Blue Streak....

Now, having said that, I maintain that SoB has the POTENTIAL to become a world-class woodie...once some foliage grows in, it'll move up. More comfortable restraints, ditto. Adjusting the top of that second hill so that the trains ROLLS down into the first helix (as opposed to bouncing), it'll move up further still.

I appreciate the effort, expense, and commitment shown by PKI, and their desire to stay innovative...and judging by the work they've put into SoB since its installation, I think it's apparent they haven't given up on it...AND, I haven't either.

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Florida needs an Intamin and/or CCI soon...PLEASE!
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

I can only think of two woodies I like better, The Legend and Lighting Racer. But then there is that proverb comparing opinions to anuses: Everyone has one...and they all stink...

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Besides, if we were really shutting down people we disagreed with, would Jeremy (2Hostyl) still be around? :) I think not. - Jeff 1/24/02