What has become of the Beast?

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MForce2k said:
Has anyone considered that maybe these people are just not interested in this ride and it's as simple as that? Maybe a long, wooden coaster doesn't appeal to everyone on the planet.

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There are plenty of people who like long wooden coasters that recognize that The Beast just isn't what it used to be.

It's not about the appeal of long wooden coasters, I think that monstrosity they built over at Holiday World last year proves that. *** Edited 6/16/2007 8:02:16 PM UTC by matt.***

Paramount did not maintain the ride like they should have. They also converted the trains from having low dividers, open headrests and single-position buzzbars to having solid headrests, a double, high divider, and individual ratchet bars.

Sure they had the skids, but they weren't used as heavily as they were during the Paramount years, particularly later on.

The mags do make it more consistent, bu unfortunately it removed the ability of the ride to start hauling ass when it rained, since the mags are not affected by being wet. Ironically that's what led to them being replaced.

It all depends on the year, the state of the track, and the state of the wheels. Sometimes I've had fantastic rides. Sometimes I've had awful, rough rides. But, atleast there is the potential for it to be good (unlike some other rides at KI).

Wooden coaster builders/designers seemed to have a lot of problems making rides which don't tear themselves to pieces. The braking is a natural result. However, I would argue it has improved since they atleast moved the new magnetic brake to the second hill instead of the old trims at the bottom of the first.

Come to think of it, that must be the only spot there is to complain about. IIRC, the brakes are on the second hill and the long straight shed. That's it until behind the station, right?

There is a magnetic brake on the drops from the first and second lift hills as well.

Nothing has become of the Beast. I was a mediocre ride when I rode it in 1984, 1999, and 2000; it was a mediocre ride when I last rode it in 2003; its probably a mediocre ride today.

It's myth and hype doesn't live up to reality.

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Beast Fan said:

Typically the easiest way to tell how fast the ride is running is to see how far it gets up lift 2. For the most part it gets to the same location that it always did on lift 2. *** Edited 6/16/2007 7:37:17 PM UTC by Beast Fan***

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I used to remember the front of the train making it a decent amount past the phone booth before the mags were installed. Now, if memory serves, it doesn't make it to the phone booth at all. This would indicate it doesn't run like it used to.

Does anyone else remember that?

In your opinion, Moosh?

I love Beast. It has always been one of my favorite coasters of all time. It doesn't let up, it just keeps going.

It isn't just all myth an hype, Moosh. A lot of people love Beast.

I respect your opinion.

After adding the mag breaks, I really didn't notice a difference at all. Is it possible that there is really not much of a difference and some poeple are imagining that there is?

I love the Beast.

I have always loved the Beast, and I will always love it.

It's unique in the world, and no one will ever build anything like it again, and that's why I love it.

It was the first major roller coaster I rode.

I remember the party atmosphere that night: people singing along to Queen's "Bicycle Race," back when they used to play alternative music in the queue, laughing, and every train coming back into the station cheering, and everyone in line cheering back.

I like the long straightaway. I like the long second tunnel. I like the sharp curve right before the second lift that makes everyone scream. I like being out in the woods alone. I like the suspense of the shallow drop into the helix.

And the entry into the helix is still the most terrifying coaster experience I've ever had.

Has it seen better days? Sure. But it's still amazing.

Let me ask this, if a coaster has seatbelts, tall seat dividers, and almost zero airtime.....why does it need individual ratcheting bars that weigh down the train as well as take away room from the cars?

Do they think I am going to fall out while going straight at a 2 degree slope under a shed? It just doesn't make since to me...........

Yes, of course in my opinion.

I grew up with the Beast so it's naturally more of a sentimental thing, although it still amazes me when I ride it. It's not my favorite woody by a long shot but it's a classic. :) I have had very good and very bad rides on it. It seems to get rougher as I get older and more fussy. ;)

The last ride a had a couple of weeks ago was horrible. I got a NASTY headache from it. The one before that was orgasmic. It was rather smooth! You just never really know what to expect on that ride.

I am mostly a "front seat" person since I LOVE visuals. Visuals are coaster "porn" to me. The Beast (in my whacked mind) is definitely one of those coasters that can only be fully appreciated in the FRONT seat. I am not really a "back seat" person as I don't care. I want to see the track coming at me, even if it's pitch black. ;)

-Tina

*** Edited 6/17/2007 7:58:42 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

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dexter said:
In your opinion, Moosh?

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Who else's opinion would he be stating? lol

By the way the word is "sense."

Now Tina is my kind of gal....

LOL Matt. I'm obviously not the only one who shares that opinion. If Beast were the end-all be-all of wood coasters and actually lived up to the myth and hype it would rank much, much higher in Mitch's annual poll.

I'm sure one could easily find people who love Mean Streak...of who loved Hercules. Doesn't mean those rides were actually any good ;-)

Moosh, you compare Mean Streak and Herc to Beast? (lol)

Sure, some people like it and some people don't, but your post I was referring to sounded to me like the people who DO like it just don't know any better, of which I must reply, different strokes for different folks.

Beast was in the top spot for umm...decades maybe. It just dropped off the upper spots a few years ago, imo because newer thus more interesting wood was built. Was Herc or MS ever shown any coaster enthusiast love.

I don't in any way want to discount your OPINION, but you stated it like it was more a fact. That's what I had a slight problem with. Your post was worded in such a way that it sounded like something Mr. Playa would say.

(Thanks matt. for pointing out my spelling error. That was a very nice thing to do. Sometimes Firefox doesn't spell check all fields. I need to change my sig soon anyways.)

*** Edited 6/18/2007 8:11:38 PM UTC by dexter***

My only problem with the beast is how rough it can be but if you sit in the front that defenetly helps.

I went to Kings Island yesterday for the first time yesterday, since it's convenient to go to now. And I rode all the roller coasters, and had ample time to ride some again. After riding The Beast the first time, I thought it was fun, I mean, for a 5 minute coaster that felt like they exaggerated the time, i was not entirely disappointed. But when I was ready to leave, I thought maybe I'd like to ride it again, get a second opinion, but the line was about an hour wait, and I decided it wasn't worth it. Not even the firehawk is worth an hour, seeing as the same track is at at least 3 parks. For being a high rated woody, it doesn't live up to all the hype it's given. Maybe if it kept it's intensity after the second lift and the rough helix, and kept going for another couple thousand feet, it would be able to live up to it's name.

I'll admit, the Beast is somewhat boring in the daytime. But it just comes alive at night, a whole new ride. In my opinion, its still one of the best wooden coaster experiences at night. They do need to turn off the lights back there though.

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stljason1 said:
They do need to turn off the lights back there though.

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What lights are you talking about?

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KICoasterDude said:

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stljason1 said:
They do need to turn off the lights back there though.

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What lights are you talking about?

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Just the random lights that are on back there at night, from after the first drop to the start of the 2nd lift hill. There are just a few random lights on back there at night that prevent the ride form being totally dark.