Not what I was expecting...
Written: Apr 03 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The Beast, Adventure Express & Top Gun, well shaded.
Cons: Low quality coasters. Not as charming as the competition.
The Bottom Line: I would go if you're around there, but if you have the choice, Cedar Point, which is a few hours away, blows this park out of the water.
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| dukerz's Full Review: Paramount's Kings Island |
Last August I visited Paramounts Kings Island, hoping that it would offer what Paramounts Kings Dominion in Virginia offered...well, used to offer (they're both lackluster now).
Prices:
Adult: $32.99
Child/Senior Citizen: (3-6, 60+ or under 48"): $25.99
3 and under: Free
Parking is $9.00
You can get $10 discounts from Blockbuster, this is what they did last year at Kings Dominion (it's sister park) so one would assume they do it the next year at the same park.
Things To Do -
For The Little Ones:
Hanna-Barbera Land - Home to such favs as Fred Flintstone, Scooby Doo & Yogi Bear. A few kiddie rides are in here as well, a little swinging boat and smaller versions of what is in the rest of the park.
Nickelodeon Central - This part has the Wildthornberrys River Adventure ride, the Nickelodean Green Slime Zone and a meet and greet section. There is also an oil derrek AKA Big Rig GS1 that every once in a while shoots a blast of water out of the top soaking everyone around it.
Yogi's Sky Tours - I did not ride this cause the ride looks like it gets pretty hot and I'm claustrophobic. It is a small little helicopter ride that tours you through Hanna-Barbera Land. It has bars covering the windows which kinda takes away the entire purpose of the ride.
Nickelodeon Green Slime Zone - This is a big water feature which kids can run through and get soaked, it takes them a good 20 minutes if they do all the activities, so a good rest for parents.
Other Rides:
Eiffel Tower - Phew, this is one tall sucker, 300 ft, if you're afraid of heights this is not the ride for you. Unlike Drop Zone, you do not drop, simply go up to an freestanding observation deck and look around, they should rename it Vertigo.
Tomb Raider - This ride will knock your socks off, most people aren't prepared for the actual ride, which is not for the faint of heart. It a giant Top Spin, which is two arms holding a car in the center which rotates while the arms rotate also, making a very disorienting ride.
Drop Zone: Stunt Tower - This is probably the most popular ride in the whole park, and I see why, it is thrilling. You literally feel as if you left your stomach 315ft in the air, same height as Eiffel Tower.
Xtreme Skyflyer - I don't think this ride is really worth the extra cost, Drop Zone is taller and more thrilling for free. But this does have a position in which Drop Zone does not, a laying down position while Drop Zone is sitting.
(Note: I know for '04 they have added a new ride called Delirium, which in essence is a spinning disk which swings through the air)
Roller Coasters:
The Beast - This is easily the best ride in the park, it is intense. It was the longest coaster in the world at 7,400ft and is still quite thrilling. It pulls some serious G-Forces so a good tip is to sit up as straight as possible, I was kinda leaned over and I got a little bit of a twinge in my back.
Son Of Beast - Wow, this was a complete let down. I was expecting something a class above The Beast. The novelty of the first and only looping coaster in the world has worn off and I think it is rough and uncomfortable. Albeit the first drop is quite thrilling, the thrill is eclipsed by the overall roughness of the ride.
Adventure Express - Total Surprise, this ride is soo much fun, a bit jerky in some spots, but the sheer enjoyment of the ride is what really matters. A good kids coaster, not too big or scary and the animatronics add a bit of spice to an already flavorful coaster.
Vortex - Meh, the first drop is really exciting but then the the roughness of the ride once again eclipses any enjoyment, you kinda have to try to like the ride. It goes upside down a total of 6 times, a world record back in 87.
Top Gun - Fun, fun, fun, nice and smooth, with a super fun first drop and some nice swoops and drops. A tad on the short side and not really exciting, but it is a great coaster. The operators on this coaster are especially efficient, so even with a short line the wait can be mind-numbing.
Flight Of Fear - I rode the clone at Paramounts Kings Dominion and it is a exciting fast ride that was dulled by its roughness, but thanks to new lap bars (no worries, the G-Forces keep you in) this has become a great coaster. Back in '96 it was the first launched coaster ever and it is completely enclosed to keep you in suspense. It has everything required to be a thrilling ride.
Racer - Once again a clone of Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion, this one seems to be in worse condition than Rebel Yell, it is just rough and gives a choppy feel at the bottom and top of the hills.
Face/Off - When I was there this ride was not in operation, but Ill give you a review of Two Face: The Flip Side at Six Flags America (a clone). It is extremely fun, really good, you sit face to face with the car opposing yours> This is a shuttle coaster, which means that the train returns to the station the same way it left. You begin by being pulled backward up a lift and dropped forward, you rush through the station, through a cobra roll (double inversion) down into a loop up another hill and do the same thing in reverse.
Beastie - A baby Beast, logically the Beasts son and Son Of Beasts little brother. This is a fun little coaster, pretty intense for it's small size. Id suggest Top Gun before this one if you don't like intense rides.
Scooby's Ghoster Coaster - I didn't even see this ride when I was there, I don't know how I could have missed it, I don't think it was listed on the map, actually. I
Rugrats Runaway Reptar - Super smooth and fun, good twisting layout that offers kids something unique as one the few inverted (hanging below the track) kiddie coasters in the world.
Top Cat's Taxi Jam - I'm sure you've seen one of these small coasters, they're everywhere, it is pretty good for a first coaster, not too intense or anything but a coaster to be proud of.
Water Rides:
Whitewater Canyon - Your classic river raft ride, which goes through a channel of water through some good effects which typically do not get you that wet.
Congo Falls - This thing will get you wet, it is another classic water ride which drops down into a pool of water creating a large splash.
The Wildthornberrys River Adventure - You won't get that wet on this ride, it's fairly long and offers some good themeing along with the Wildthornberrys cache.
For More Information Go to PKI.com.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
dukerz
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Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 0 members
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