Coaster

Very interesting read up as always
 
Whilst Kings Island to me is not a park to travel all the way to America for on its own, it is most certainly worth a visit when combined with days at Cedar Point. I actually enjoyed the atmosphere at the park when I visited but certainly not an atmosphere on the level of Cedar Point.
 
Mystic Timbers to me was by far the star of the show at this park. Whilst front row on it isn’t really that great, the back row felt utterly frantic and the ride at night is sentastional and as such made it my number 1 wooden coaster (even ahead of Wodan and Balder)
 
I do think Diamondback is probably one of my least favourite B&M Hypers but I was quite lucky to have had some solid rides on it airtime wise. I do agree that that trim is utterly stupid though.
 
Banshee...where do I even start!!?? Can somebody please tell B&M that NOBODY LIKES THOSE DAMN VESTS!! Honestly was it not for those vests, it could have been up there with Raptor and Montu as one of my favourite inverts. Thanks to those vests it’s possibly my least favourite and that includes Nemesis Inferno!!
 
I do think the park desperately needs a true WORLD CLASS/ELITE level stand out coaster to go with the current line up. Hopefully the 2020 Giga coaster will give them that.
 
 

Interesting heading your thoughts on this park.
 
I actually found my visit there in May very enjoyable as it seemed clean, pretty and houses one pretty entrance. It’s not my favourite park and definitely no Cedar Point beater, but still has things going for it.
 
I honestly found Banshee disappointing, the layout didn’t feel like it did much despite it’s length and the vests cement this for me. The classic arrow coasters there are great, especially Bat.
 
I actually adored the Beast. The whole prospect of going into the unknown is simply immense and probably one of the best coasters to do at night. I didn’t notice the trims. Mystic Timbers was very good I thought! 
 
 
 
 

Glad you enjoyed the park. It really is a special place for all the reasons all of you have said that have visited. Just like Mark9 says it's great how we all enjoy different coasters for different reasons, and it is the variety that makes it such an awesome place. If funds allowed I'd be back there every year. 
 
For me (though minority for people here) I'm a Magnum hater, found it, rough and uncomfortable. 
 
My favourite three are Steel Vengeance, Millennium Force and TTD. 
 
The water on the exit path to the rapids caught me out! I tried to dodge it then slipped soaking my otherwise (through luck) dry shoes! It's there to clean people's feet from the dirt as oddly they allow the removal of shoes for this rapids. There's lots of shoe storage near the queue line entrance. 

I absolutely agree with you that the way Cedar Point takes care of its heritage rides is to be respected and admired. It’s something that often goes under the radar with this magnificent park given the focus on all the newer coasters they have. 

It's fascinating how many of us have now managed to get over to Cedar Point over the last year and how all of our experiences have been so completely different. It really highlights how unique all our coaster experiences are. Whilst I'm not necessarily in line with your views (TTD really annoys me for example), I have huge respect for your love of Arrow rides. When I rode Magnum, at first I was terrified but on the second each air time filled moment was filled with joy and I came away with it being a highlight. 
 
What other multi launch coasters have you done? Whilst Maverick is a great ride, there are elements of it I find.. frustrating.

Cedar point is probably my second favourite park I have visited to date.
 
Aside from it’s impressive array of coasters (arguably the best overall collection in the world), the park just has that lively ye charming feel, atmosphere and a perfect balance between old and new attractions.
 
Not surprised Magnum is your all time favourite coaster. I like the attraction and whilst I wouldn’t say it’s my top coaster, for it’s age it runs perfectly. 

Sounds like an American version of Blackpool Pleasure Beach from the report, albeit with better maintained wooden coasters, more classics and a crappy version of River Caves. 
 
Should try and get out to this place one day, but probably as a road trip thing.

Kennywood is a good park, unsurprising that you adored it so much due to the historical nature of it...
 
Phantom's Revenge and the later airtime hills are ridiculous...

Glad to hear this park was operated well, but still a shame on the farce with Kingda Ka.
 
 

it's most useful at CP I find, when I was at Canadas Wonderland, the top tier only had Leviathan and Behemoth but they had shorter queues then the next tier down rides anyway so it made it a bit of a waste. The only reason it really works at CP is because the higher fastpass is on the lower capacity rides. Even though CP run rides well, Maverick and TTD can't shovel through people like Raptor, Rougarou and Gatekeeper can.
 
Agreed about Port Aventura if only because I genuinely hate Spanish theme parks and I'd rather be the one doing the queuejumping then being incredibly miserable in their standby lines.

Will hopefully be doing Kings Island’s ‘’Fastrack equivalent’’ when I’m hopefully out there again in a few weeks. I’ll let you all know what it’s like. 
 
From current experience, Port Aventura is the only park I’ve gone full out on ‘’Fastrack equivalent’’ only because of their diabolical batching ratios and that their clientele can’t seem to grasp the basic concept of queuing. 

Four months late sorry. I think the CP Fastpass is excellent value personally, particularly the higher tier one. I didn't get it and I kind of wish I had. The silver tier was only on rides that had 5 minute queues anyway so was pretty useless, but being able to unlimited skip Steel Vengeance, Valravn, Maverick and Top thrill dragster would have made the days much easier.
 
It's the one time I would have broken my no pay fastness rule.

We were at Cedar Point for 3.5 days and didn’t use any fast pass whilst out and managed to get on most things at least twice. 
 
Three days is sufficient when visiting the park without it. We stayed at CP’s Express hotel which gave us three days to visit included in our stay.

Great writeup.  Out of interest did you get fastpass for any/all of the days and how necessary would you deem it to be when visiting Cedar Point?

Glad you enjoyed Phantasialand, it’s certainly a park with impressive rides and some of the richest theming out there.
 
Taron, definitely an impressive coaster with lush surroundings and great pacing. I do see what you mean about the terrible cattle pen queue section though and hope they won’t need this in the future.
 
Chiapas is probably my favourite water ride for the disco room alone and Black Mamba is certainly a solid B&M invert. Shame River Quest is still having so many reliability issues because it’s such a crazy yet amazing rapids ride. Talocan is just as much a show as a ride. 
 
Temple is by far the weakest attraction there (alongwith Wakobato) as it takes up so much space yet offers so little really apart from 10 minutes of a slow meandering coaster and three lift hills. It is expected they will remove it (along with the Hollywood ride) for redevelopment in the coming years due to insufficient expansion space. 
 
I think Geister Riksha though is going next, because the China area is strongly rumoured to be the next area to be rethemed/redeveloped.
 
Fly looks great though and will hopefully be another worthwhile addition to an excellent park.

Tover definitely sounds a lovely park and hopefully somewhere which is up and coming. Avalon looks a stunning investment and fingers crossed will be successful enough for future additions of a similar or better quality.
 
Out of interest, how easy is it to access from Efteling and Phantasialand?

Glad you enjoyed Efteling.
 
Definitely a lovely park with much charm and atmosphere. Their park music is excellent.
 
Joris is is definitely a fun great ride, and probably my second favourite Woodie and best duelling ride I’ve probably done. Dutchman is definitely fantastic and features what is arguably one of the best ride stations out there.
 
Glad you liked Python, I’m yet to do it since the retrack. I love Symbolica, Dream Flight, Bird Rock and Symbolica. Did you do Fata Morgana, Villa Volta and Carnaval?
 
I know Baron’s drop isn’t the best but as a ride package I think it’s excellent.
 
Bob for me personally was the weakest coaster, so you didn’t miss much IMO.

I pretty much agree with all your viewpoints here, Helix in particular is a good ride but I've never found it to be the amazing ride that others do. I too prefer Icon. 
 
I think stacking is just an inherent trait of dive machines, I'm yet to ride one that doesn't stack in some way. I find Balder incredibly repetitive and I don't find the air time that interesting. I think I prefer the out of control woodies like Wodan and Wicker Man too the more controlled way Balder rides.

Interesting thoughts on Liseberg.
 
Its definitely a very pretty place which is often tidy and well kept, especially within it’s City location.
 
I generally prefer Helix to Icon, mainly due to it’s layout and pacing, but will say there are some things I prefer on Icon, like it’s second launch.
 
Balder is definitely a fun ride, however it’s lack of styling drags it down a little. Lisebergbanen sure is a crowd eater, I think Loki is my favourite flat ride. 
 
Shame to hear operations didn't seem to be that good. Last time I went they seemed pretty efficient, although maybe that has changed since things like the Helix seatbelts which is a shame if that’s the case. I cannot comment on Valkyria yet, but hope to return for it next year.
 
It is definitely true of it being one of the easiest parks to get to though. It’s just one bus ride from Gothenburg Landvetter and boom! You are literally outside the park entrance!

I'd go as far as to say it's an attraction in it's own right, not just a ride. The straight line queue, theming, pre-show, announcements, smells, effects and the ride station is the best I've ever seen at a UK theme park. It really is mid-way quality theming (Which Merlin have always been great at) finally at a theme park. I hope the flames are working again soon, even if it's less frequent as the ride is still strong without them in constant use. I love the thundering noise it makes as the car goes up the lift hill. As with all Merlin attractions, I expect the queue line shop to shut after a few seasons.

Great review, can't wait for my first visit to Tulleys next weekend!

Their entrance looks stunning at night, I'll give them that!
 
I really must get myself there again soon. Having been spited by Nash twice it is probably the biggest coaster in the UK I've not ridden. I hve to agree with Marks thought about your favourite coaster; I do love a lot of what is at BPPB, PMBO sucks balls though.

I couldn't imagine spending eight days at any one theme park, let alone the pleasure beach so I suppose you deserve credit for your.. bravery. 
 
I don't agree with you on Streak. I love Big Dipper, Wildmouse and National but find the Streak so tiresome and could name a handful of better family roller coasters in the UK, many already at the Pleasure Beach. Also can't believe the Big One is your favourite roller coaster. That thought sends me flying.
 
Thanks for the report CJ

Yeah Valhalla was just an amazing water dark ride, makes almost ever other uk major water ride look like a travelling double drop reverchon flume.
Blackpools rides are either amazing, very good or meh.

Ah okay. Lots of effects then! I believe we didn't get the fire on the arrows, the wooden slats or the small fireball, but we got the huge one in the cauldron. 
Like I said, still very impressed with the ride and would go back again just for it!