BeastBuzz 2013: The triumphant return!

RCMAC said:

Sorry, etrainimac, I don't think I'll be springing for FastLane this time. As a frequent visitor to KI I'd just as soon follow a schedule like Gonch's rather than try to get past that crowd for a lot of rides. Plus I think I'll save my dough for my trip to CP next week.

I'm looking forward to meeting you, though. Maybe a meetup at the keg? :)

This is my very first KI trip but Scott (Electricfeel) has been there a few times. We're both super excited! We'd love to meet up! I have no idea what the keg is, but how about at lunch?

In fact, since we are both pretty new to Coaster Buzz, we'd love to meet anyone from the site! Side note: Not going to debate gay rights, I promise. :)

If you see us, please introduce yourself! I'm on the left (Eric), Scott is on the right.

See you all tomorrow!

The keg will just happen to be where the lunch is. Which is especially handy for those of us who drink our lunch. :-p

First trip to KI? Way cool, I'll be interested to hear your impression. And now I see why FastLane will be necessary for you, I predict a slammin' day and you won't want to miss anything.

Welcome, btw. And someone who says they'd love to meet ANYone from the site MUST be new to CoasterBuzz!

:-)

Not a shameless plug, but if you check out coasterimage on the various social media sites, you can play the home version of BeastBuzz all day long.

Jealous. Wish I could be there.

Currently holding hands with Josh and speed skipping to Beast ERT

Hope the security guard doesn't mistake it for sprinting.

Lord Gonchar said:
Currently holding hands with Josh and speed skipping to Beast ERT

I can only use one word to describe this experience: Magical.

By the way, where'd you learn the speed skipping instead of running idea? It sounds like it could be effective.

I'd love a trip report of Beastbuzz as I have many questions. If I were to ever get a cbuzz membership, that'd be why. How many laps did you get on the Beast? Was the food good? How were the tours? Did Gonch actually enjoy Kings Island? How busy? Who was there? I'm very curious, man, and I love to know how it was.

The park opened Diamondback back up for us until 11. Got 5 rides on Diamonback. Once the public line was gone got 7 on Beast and called it a night.

Did you have more than the norm?

Yeah, I had a blast. Kings Island really delivered for us. The day was paced so well. Nothing was boring. They even tossed in a Banshee construction tour. Lots of great behind the scenes stuff. Don and the whole team couldn't have been any better.

When they let us wait out the Beast line with Diamondback ERT - that was the topper. Just tremendous. From 10-12 if you rode nonstop (and you never even had to leave your seat on either coaster) I believe you would've gotten 7 or 8 laps on each...and there were a few hardcore among us that did it.

Had a good time putting new faces to screen names - everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves...

...and I'm not the boogeyman in real life.

I would have just stayed on the Beast the whole time. Getting a night time lap on Diamondback wouldn't have been a priority. So, what frequent posters from coasterbuzz were there??

I just made it home (2.5 hour drive).

Don was great. I need to send him a thank you card. And thanks to Jeff also. Thanks for introducing me to Yuengling. Good stuff.

Adding Diamondback ERT was just brilliant. I enjoyed all the tours. Best part was meeting Gonch... I mean Ed Alonzo.

Except that wasn't an option, Tyler.

Your choices were:

1. Stand in the Beast line for about an hour while they ran the rest of the regular guests though.

or

2. Go ride Diamondback for an hour while they ran the rest of the regular guests through the Beast line.

They didn't have to open Diamondback to us, but they did...and it was good.

Oh. Then I would have done Diamondback and Beast. I wonder if you will have a Banshee ERT next year.

My guess is 100% yes.

Tyler, we're your ears burning yesterday?

When I signed up for BeastBuzz I was a little leery of the fact that it would be held on some god-forsaken Saturday in August. KI is home park-ish for me and I get there enough so I reckoned I would have to be happy with a couple of beers and a lot of people watching. Instead, the organizers had plenty for us to do, with the train tour to open the day, walk backs, lunch, construction tour, magic show, fireworks, and ERT. Those who were infrequent or first time visitors either took advantage of early morning wait times or FastLane to help bust out those credits. It all worked well, and I didn't meet anyone who was unhappy with their day.

Special thanks to the KI staff for being so great to us. I always love it when ride ops, after having already spent what surely must've been a busy, grueling day, manage to enthusiastically host us for an extra hour. They always seem to be having as much fun as we are. Shout outs go to Don, Lizzie, the coaster ride ops, the train guys, the beer man, KI security staff, and especially the young man at the guessing game who guessed my age at 33. (I've decided the raccoon tail is a good look for me and I'm going to wear it every day)

And a BIG special shout out to my pals, old and new, who really made my day. Jeph With a ph, Rubbed the Wrong Way Adam, It's Vegas Baby Josh, Wanna Get Married Eric&Scott, and the Gonch Family Singers. And everyone else who shared a chat or a laugh with us on the magical skip-adee-doodah day. Turns out I had a blast.

P.S. Oh, and Tyler, The Beast was better than awesome, with amazing speed in the pitch black darkness. And unlimited rides. You really, really shoulda been there. It would've quickly become your favorite ride ever.
Oh, wait...

I love the Beast at night. The Beast at night is my number one coaster. In the day it's just top five.

You know it was a good event if Gonch was impressed.

And may I say Gonch handled the position of "Charles in Charge" with aplomb. He and his family graciously waited until the last diehards were done with their Beast rides, and he made sure we all got out to the parking lot and on our way.