Kings Island Windseeker e-mail

I just received an email from Kings Island showing off Windseeker construction. Within the email was a link to a poll, asking, "Do you have the guts to ride the new WindSeeker?" The answers were, "YES - Bring it on", "NO - I just can't do it", and "MAYBE - I could be talked into it".

This leads me to believe that the park wants to anticipate if this new attraction will be considered too extreme (or scary) for most of the park's fans.

So far, as of this posting, 63.5% voted "YES", 21.6% voted "NO", and 14.9% voted "MAYBE".

It's been said a lot by CosterBuzz posters that if the ride had chains instead of stationary bars, that the ride would be even too scary for coaster enthusiasts.

Is the park just having fun with this poll, or is it there to gain insight as to how the public feel about the thrill factor of the new ride?

And the photo gallery is located on the right hand side of this page. It really only has a few photos of Windseeker construction, but what is really interesting is that it appears that they are tearing out the entire Coney Mall walkway to install a new one. ...And there are a lot of bricks to use for that job. Hmmmm...

Just for poops and giggles.

This will be very interesting to see. Coney Mall has been basically blacktop for as long as I can remember. All that asphalt can absorb a lot of heat on summer days. Replacing with pavers should make a noticeable difference in the comfort aspect back there. It might even increase the charm.

Look at what they did at Cedar Point as a guide Almost all of the asphalt has been removed from that park, and as of last year they have started replacing the white concrete with pavers. Also look at Kings Island in the DIamondback plaza and at the entrance to the Snoopy section; notice that Kings Island is being returned to its original brick pavers from the asphalt midways we know of the modern Kings Island.

Asphalt is an endangered walkway material at Kings Island.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

LostKause said:
This leads me to believe that the park wants to anticipate if this new attraction will be considered too extreme (or scary) for most of the park's fans.

Parks don't do that after construction has started. I think it's just to raise a little awareness of the ride during an otherwise quiet period in terms of updates and activity.

This is something other parks need to master. Some of the UK parks have great Facebook/Twitter communities but as soon as its closed season they die off.

I'm more excited about the Coney Mall pavers than I am about Windseeker.

Yup. I might be inclined to agree. Not that Windseeker won't be cool, but I love me a good landscaping/scenery/walkway upgrade.

Did Charmland buy Kings Island from Cedar Fair? :D

Looking at the construction photos, I am interested in the exact placement of Windseeker. It looks to me like they are blocking the entrance and exit to the motion theater, but I could be wrong. If that happens, the entrance and exit could be put somewhere else.

An employee at the park told me that the rumor was that the park wanted to build a new path to go behind the Racer Turnaround and link to the Flight of Fear area. I suggested that behind the Racers would be an ideal place to reinstall the auto ride. If that is still the plan (or if it ever were that plan in the first place), the placement of Windseeker would hint to it.

I've also read that the motion theater might get shut down more or less permanently. Whenever the Sponge Bob film rights expire, they are unlikely to renew them, and who's going to watch a generic motion film?

I wouldn't be surprised if the theater became a haunt-only attraction.

I wouldn't mind seeing those shut down at all of the former Paramount Parks. I never watch those films.

Tekwardo said:
I wouldn't mind seeing those shut down at all of the former Paramount Parks. I never watch those films.

I enjoy them, but there's a low re-visit ratio for me. Rarely will I do one twice in a visit. Best one is Elvira's Superstition. I could watch and ride them..I mean, it..all day. I really missed them..I, mean it..on my GAdv October visits this year. Speaking of which, has anyone heard what GAdv may be doing with that building? I'm very glad for the departure of the cloying, annoying, boring Fly Me To The Moon, but I do hope SF will keep a sim of some sort on the site.

The Spongebob film is one of the few things my family will do everytime at any park. Love it.

Saw that Elvira one at KI's haunt a few years back and thought it was absolutely horrible. Fly Me To The Moon somehow managed to be even worse.

If they are indeed laying bricks down on the pathway, I think that is awesome. Never cared for the heat-or smell- that paved walkways emit in the summer heat.

I always thought that it was odd that KI had paved walkways when its sister park Canadas Wonderland is completely bricked.

Raven-Phile said:
Yup. I might be inclined to agree. Not that Windseeker won't be cool, but I love me a good landscaping/scenery/walkway upgrade.

Me too, I love to smell the flowers :-)

I'm with Gonvh. I absolutely love the Spongebob motion simulator show.

Is there an chance they we are mistaken about them laying bricks? Those bricks could be used for new walls or planters, or whatever. (I am pretty sure that they are for the street though.)

I love the humor and animation of Spongebob, but it is WAY too much sensory overload for me. I must be getting old.

For those who are interested, and since I had never seen the Elvira or Fly Me To The Moon...

Fly Me To The Moon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3iuq7reHTw

Elvira
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjdoiQ1gyM4

SpongeBob
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN5aXwuDCDk

As stated above, Superstition is my favorite sim. But that video was painful to watch.

It's been said a lot by CosterBuzz posters that if the ride had chains instead of stationary bars, that the ride would be even too scary for coaster enthusiasts.

They are wusses! ;) That makes it even MORE enticing! I have no fear of heights whatsoever. I am more scared of the skyride at Camden Park, but only because it looks like it could snap at any time.

As far as the new and improved Coney Mall walkway, I can't wait to see it! It's about time it was upgraded. :)

-Tina

Even Tina might reconsider after she rides the I-Drive Star Flyer....

The first review I found (yelp.com): "I typically have faith in carnival rides, figuring that if the ride was unsafe, they would shut it down. However, this was literally one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. The swings were harnessed with the thinnest metal chains possible. Does not look or feel safe at all, which contributed to my fear."

Oh, wait, this IS Tina we're talking about....nevermind. ;)