Kings Island new Coaster 2014

The "evil phenomenon" causing "bone chilling screams" has gotten my interest at the moment. Wasn't there a proposed name circulating last summer for what is now GateKeeper that was similar to "Banshee"? I remember the discussion happened, because people weren't sure that would use a name so similar, but I can't remember what it was. Was this name based in documentation somewhere? Or just speculation? I only bring it up now because it seems applicable.

That graphic was on the invitation to the announcement of Planet Snoopy. It was for Planet Snoopy.

Mike Gallagher said:

As stated above, Tyler, this is old news. The "record" is that of having the largest Planet Snoopy in the chain.

Sorry about the false excitement then.

Jeph said:

While a B&M inverted would be a fine choice, look at the last 5 years at the 3 major ex-Paramount parks under Cedar Fair. None of these parks have a B&M inverted coaster.

Yes, but both KD and CW have full circuit inverted adult coasters.

Phase 3: Giga Coaster / Giga Coaster / ___ _____?

Can't really say that correlates to what KD will get next year, though. Canada's Wonderland is one of the highest attended (if not the highest attended) regional theme park in North America. They also got a hyper before a giga. Kings Dominion hadn't had a signature coaster built in years. I have a feeling that they did what they did based on other factors that have nothing to do with CF's 'phases', like the rumored non-compete clause (if that's true) for no new B&Ms built at the park, and the park's proximity to Carowinds, both of which got Intimidator themed coasters, both new signatures coasters, but only 5.5 hours apart. Obviously, those are more so speculation.

Kings Island is the only major regional park in North America that doesn't have at least one full circuit large inverted coaster.

Looking for patterns in capital expenditures is a fairly unreliable way of guessing what a park is going to get. Not only are the sample sizes statistically irrelevant, it assumes that the plans made 5 years ago haven't changed. They do. To that point, for every one new ride you see at a park, there are probably a good half dozen other serious proposals that are considered, and some that are even killed or delayed mere days before fabrication begins. They aren't going to decide on one project just because it fits neatly into some sort of pattern.

Tyler Boes said:

Sorry about the false excitement then.

All is forgiven, Tyler. I got just as excited last year when that stuff started coming out before the announcement, which led to a severe case of anticipointment. On September 12, my birthday, no less!

Of course they're not going to mindlessly follow a pattern, but you can get a great idea of what to expect, looking at past decisions by the same management crew, in the same chain, at very similar parks. See any similar decisions around the same time among the 3 parks during the Paramount-management era? How about the Cedar Fair-management era?

I'm obviously not saying Kings Island is definitely getting a giga next year, but it's not an unreasonable guess at the same time. While KI's hole might be slightly larger, I'd still say having Volcano or a Vekoma SLC leaves a hole for a B&M Inverted, and Cedar Fair didn't act upon those. In fact, they installed 2 B&M Hyper-style coasters back-to-back at CW.

This leads me to believe that Cedar Fair feels giga coasters attract more attention and are the better investment than something that might fill a hole. Regardless, a B&M Invert is probably #2 on my guess list, and what does that mean? Nothing. Just having fun like everyone else.

Jeph said:

Of course they're not going to mindlessly follow a pattern, but you can get a great idea of what to expect

You can, but on the other side of that logic, Kings Island and Great America should have gotten B&M Hypers already since that was what Cedar Fair added to the former Paramount Parks, no?

In fact, they installed 2 B&M Hyper-style coasters back-to-back at CW.

See, that, to me, proves that there is no logic in the "They built this here, so we'll build it there" arguement. No one expected another very similar, but slightly different coaster from the same mfg. to be built just a little while later at the same park. But...that park is one of the highest attended parks. Cedar Point has a hyper and a giga and a strata. I don't see Kings Island getting a Giga coaster at this point mainly because they could spend less money and build a decent invert, something that every other regional park already has.

The only thing in the hint that strikes me as any kind of real hint is SURVELANCE. To me that fits in with the Talon/Raptor type theme.

I already have a name for it, THUNDER CHICKEN!

Beasthawk. You read it here first.

I do think Kings Island needs a capacity monster, so all things point to B&M. Should they go with an invert, it would be awesome to have X-Flight type restrains, as they are by far the most comfortable OTSR's I've experienced.

I will say, I was not at all suprised when CF bought the paramount parks and basically Oprah'd hypers into all of them ("You get a hyper, you get a hyper, you get a hyper!") I always thought it was a little weird that the Paramount Parks didn't have hypers and it was clear that CF loved the crap out of them (enough to put 4 Morgan/Okamoto designed rides in rapid succession). CF also seems to love B&M inverts, so if I were a betting man, I'd bet on that. (Then again, I also would have bet strongly against a B&M Giga, so what do I know?)

I agree with others on the need for a huge capacity coaster, and B&M is the only one that really fits the bill. And I'm in love with B&M Hypers and Inverteds. Wing coasters has a lot of potential -- best OTSRs ever. (No more head banging -- Mantis, you're due for overhaul! Maybe with these new OTSR?) My experience with SFGA X-Flight was good, very smooth and fun but not memorable, methinks. So Gatekeeper has to prove itself.

Too many rides with slow moving lines at KI. Firehawk... * headdesk* Firehawk seriously needs a live-in maintenance team on stand by 24/7. Nighthawk at Carowinds is a better ride with still same reliability problems.

Thank goodness for Flight Deck. It's the best kept secret in the park. And the ONLY Arrow ride that I love. I'd be happy to see someone take Vortex out back to the woodshed with 2x4 stud and get that over with.

My prediction? B&M new & improved Gigacoaster. Hopefully with a LOT more heart line turns like Carowinds Intimidator. This heartline turn is present on Leviathan's 3rd hill -- love it! More, please!

Second guess? Intamin Giga. Reliability and capacity???

I'm not sure about a giga coaster there depending on where the lift hill tops out. Since most of that area is below grade compared to the rest of the park it just doesn't seam like a giga would have the same impact visually.

I305 sits on a lower portion of land than the rest of Kings Dominion. I'm not sure that's a real factor in the decision making process.

Especially considering that whether or not it has visual impact, Intimidator 305 blows the doors off of pretty much any other ride ever built.

Eh. I have plenty ahead of it in my rankings. It's great, but not outstanding.

Ugh. No 305 love from this direction. Middle of the pack at best.

I haven't been on it, but those twisties look pretty fun. More fun than tuns on typical coasters. Like Mav-oh, forget it.

bjames said:

CrymeLord said:

I won't shed a tear for the demise of just about any Arrow multi-looper except for Great American Scream Machine because it was my first.

You must never have been on Loch Ness Monster. That's one of my favorite coasters anywhere!

If the Viper at Magic Mountain ever comes down, Im going to need a day to mourn the loss!