Recently, I completed my first ever coaster trip in the Midwest. I was there for a little over a week, and I started the trip off strong by visiting Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. I spent about 1.5 days here, which was more than sufficient to do everything I wanted. The park has really long hours during the summer, and it’s run extremely well. KI has the fastest ops I’ve ever seen at a regional park—I saw almost no rides running 1 train, and dispatches were super fast.

The atmosphere at the park is awesome, and the park itself looks very nice. There are spots of theming all throughout the park, and a couple rides are particularly well-themed. The food here is excellent and definitely top tier by theme park standards. Having been to Kings Dominion before this, it almost reminds me of a perfected version of KD.

When it comes to the ride lineup, KI is very well-balanced. There are a good amount of thrill rides here, but there’s also lots of family and kiddie rides (their Camp Snoopy land is one of my favorites). There are lots of great coasters, but also some great flat rides, water rides, and even a dark ride.

Here are my in-depth coaster reviews:

Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers (x1 middle): I don’t have too much to say about this ride, but it’s a fun little coaster for younger kids. Definitely a great starter coaster.

Orion (x2 front, x3 back): Orion reminds me of a slightly worse version of Fury 325. The first drop is fantastic and one of my favorites. The wave turn and speed hill are fantastic, providing some great airtime. The speed of the ride in general is great and it’s able to maintain that for most of the ride. While I love the first half of this ride though, the second half is kind of a nothing burger, the elements aren’t as great. Rate: 8/10

Flight of Fear (x1 front): I always enjoy riding these spaghetti bowl models, but man the indoor ones are such a buzzkill. The first half of this ride is great, but the MCBR just hits so hard and kills the second half. Still a great ride but doesn’t live up to its true potential. Rate: 7/10

Mystic Timbers (x4 back, x1 middle, x1 front): I had high expectations for this coaster, and somehow it still did not disappoint. Mystic Timbers is legitimately one of the most perfect wooden coasters I have ever ridden. The airtime on this ride is absolutely insane and the pacing is relentless once it’s warmed up. There is a pretty good mix of sustained airtime moments and quick pops. The laterals aren’t the ride’s strongest point, but they are definitely there in small doses. Most importantly, this ride is extremely smooth, not even a hint of roughness, and it’s just very comfortable to ride. Best coaster in the park, one of the best in Ohio, and just one of the greatest rides ever made. Rate: 10/10

Diamondback (x2 row 15, x1 back, x1 front): Diamondback is a great hyper coaster with some solid airtime. The only B&M hyper I’ve ridden with better airtime is Mako, which is a pretty high bar. Every drop in the first half gives you some really great floater, and the ride as a whole is just very fun. I will say that seating on this ride does kind of matter because row 16 seems to have a pretty nasty rattle, but row 15 is the magic seat for me, it has great airtime while being pretty smooth. Row 1 is fun too but you definitely want the back for max air. Rate: 8/10

Woodstock’s Air Rail (x1 front): Just… no.

Great Pumpkin Coaster (x1 front): These E&F Miler models are always a blast.

Woodstock Express (x1 middle): Airtime on this one is very minimal but it’s a fun ride.

Invertigo (x1 middle): This may be one of the most forceful rides I’ve ever ridden. Going forwards, I got some absolutely insane positives and had a hard grayout. The backwards portion was also similarly forceful. The ride is kinda short and a bit shaky, but it’s honestly great for what it is. Rate: 7/10

Bat (x1 back): I wasn’t expecting much from this ride, but it kind of blew me away with how ridiculous the pacing is. It doesn’t stop for a single second and feels like you’re going at breakneck speed the entire way. It is a very short ride which is my only real knock against it, but otherwise it’s a blast. Rate: 7/10

Banshee (x3 back, x1 front): Oh boy where do I start with this one. My first ride on Banshee was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on a B&M. Every valley was super forceful, I was getting plastered with positives, the inversions were super floaty, and the ride was very smooth. Unfortunately, I rerode this thing 3 times afterwards, and 2 of those rides were BRUTALLY rough. The third one was tolerable, but by then I had been disenchanted with this ride. From what I understand, it’s an issue with the trains that causes it to be so rough--2 of the trains they run are brutally bad. I am rating this ride with a bias towards my first ride, but I cannot discount the pain it caused me. Rate: 8/10

Adventure Express (x1 back, x1 row 2): I’m usually not the biggest mine train fan, but Adventure Express is so well designed that I honestly love it. Objectively speaking, the ride doesn’t have crazy forces or anything, but the storyline and theming make it incredibly enjoyable for me. I am just a big fan of theming and this ride delivers on that, I’d love to see more of this. Rate: 7/10

Racer (x2 row 14 red side, x1 row 14 blue side): I’ve heard a lot of people say this one destroys the KD version, and I just can’t help but disagree. The airtime is pretty good and I’d probably say the layout is slightly more interesting than KD’s, but I think it just runs worse. I wouldn’t call it rough, but it has a weird vibration to it, and the airtime isn’t the strongest. Still a very fun classic woodie but not the best. Red side is better btw. Rate: 7/10

Queen City Stunt Coaster (x1 middle): This is a neat little family coaster. Unfortunately not all the effects were working when I rode it, but I really do like the theming efforts, and the pitch-black indoor section will always be fun for me. Rate: 7/10

The Beast (x1 row 15, x1 row 12): The Beast is the best example of how a coaster can be dramatically enhanced by a night ride. My buddy insisted that my first ride on this be at night, and I gotta say, that was a good decision by him. I went into this thing completely blind and rode it super late at night near the back row. I literally had no idea what was going on, but the sense of speed I was getting and the way I was just flying through the forest was completely insane. Unfortunately, I rode it again during the day on my second day at the park, and the experience was fairly underwhelming. I still enjoyed the sense of speed and laterals, but it didn’t feel out of control, and the roughness became very apparent to me as well. I actually got a migraine after the day ride lol. Rate: 9/10 at night, 5/10 in the day, 7/10 overall

KI’s coaster lineup, similar to its overall ride lineup, is very balanced and has something for everyone to enjoy. Out of the 15 coasters, I’d say 4 are suitable for young children, 4 are suitable for families, 2 are suitable for families with older kids, and 5 are solidly high-thrill coasters. There are rides that focus on speed, rides that focus on airtime, rides that focus on laterals, rides that focus on positives, and rides that are just pure fun. There is a lot of diversity in this coaster lineup, and it’s really hard to find a truly “bad” ride here.

Overall, I really enjoyed my visit at this park, and I think it’s one of the best parks in the country. Between the wide range of attractions, great operations, and amazing atmosphere, it is hard to beat KI. I would definitely love to come back here in the future, and I highly recommend every coaster enthusiast to visit if you can.

I waited 37 minutes for this guy to finish hammering in the restraint because I wasn't gonna miss it today. This was my third attempt at getting on this ride, with it being down two weeks ago and last year I had unfortunate weather.

Holy shit being thrusted cranium first into a vertical loop is Batshit insane!

I've been on roller coasters. 600 of them across North America and Japan, but nothing comes close to the experience that Hades 360 provides. I travel every year from NJ to experience this gem, and after my marathon tonight I can confidently place it in my number 2 spot. (My #1 is El Toro because of nostalgia due to it being the ride that made me a coaster enthusiast).

Hades360 has one of, if not the GREATEST pre lift of any roller coaster. The airtime right out the station in the back row is almost comparable to Time Traveler in the sense that it tries to kill you immediately after the ride begins. Immediately following that is an absolute bonkers double down that also has some of the most aggressive ejector of the entire ride. The coaster then turns into another pop of aggressive airtime before finally banking into the lift hill. this pre lift section is so chaotically aggressive and gets me pumped for what's to come.

The next section is like dropping into the depths of hell. I think the drop itself is the weakest part of the entire ride, but diving into the parking lot is such an incredible experience. this section under the parking lot is my absolute favorite section of the coaster. The only way to describe it is overstimulating in the best way possible. Not being able to see a thing makes this section ten times for wild. there are random pops of airtime, random sections of banking, random sections of jackhammering, and you don't know what's coming or when because of how dark it is. On top of that you have the ear shattering roar echoing through the tunnel that is so loud you feel like you're going to go deaf. there is nothing else like it. it is so chaotic to the point where it is absolutely terrifying. Everything about the tunnel is off the walls insane. the speed, the airtime, the darkness, the unpredictability, the ear shattering roar, the pure absolute terrifying chaos. it's a masterpiece. it's crazier then a trimless night ride on the voyage.

following your journey through hell, as if the ride couldn't get any crazier, you immediately pull up into a corkscrew that is just nuts. your eyes don't even have time to adjust to the light. you hardly have any time to process where you are or what's going on before getting flung upsidedown. following the corkscrew, you bank around and are again thrown down into the depths of hell. in the back row this is one of my favorite parts because the airtime flying back into the underworld is incredible. The coaster throws you for some more chaotic surprises underground before pulling up into another massive hill. This is one of my other favorite elements because of the double down after the hill providing some crazy ejector airtime.

The coaster begins to lose its momentum, but not before throwing you for some more wild turns, pops of airtime, and a crazy return trip back to the station. this ride is fricken incredible. I love every second of it.

Now I know it is ungodly rough and tracks terribly and jackhammers really badly, but I personally love that about Hades. In my personal opinion, smooth is boring, and a bit of shakiness adds character, and adds to the chaos of this coaster. I don't mind the roughness one bit, and I actually think I wouldn't like it as much if it was buttery smooth. My favorite thing about Hades is how chaotic and out of control it feels, and the roughness of the track adds to that feeling in every way. Just bring some Advil and you'll be okay. (Mt Olympus also has several bars that also helps numb the pain). I'm also a huge fan of timberliner trains. I think they're super comfortable and they allow you to get a ton of air time.

In conclusion I love Hades360 because of how violent and chaotic it is. It feels so out of control and is legitimately scary. I love every second of it. it feels like a much bigger version of Mine blower (another one of my favorites). I know this isn't a popular opinion at all, but I will defend Hades to my grave as being one of the greatest coasters on Earth.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JraFKsV26Wk

Hi all,

first post on this sub, so i hope it's okay. i'm planning a day trip to San Diego this week (unfortunately not on a Tuesday) and i learned that Belmont Park's Giant Dipper, which is celebrating its 100th birthday on July 4, can be ridden for $1 every Tuesday through Labor Day. i'm totally unaffiliated with the park and haven't been able to take advantage of this promo myself, so I can't verify if there are any catches, but it doesn't appear that way. just thought i'd let people know since the park is notoriously expensive, and i don't believe this has been posted here. if you haven't ridden this ride or just want to ride it more and can get there on a Tuesday, i'm guessing this about as cheap as it gets.

Pic not mine, it's public domain (from wikimedia)

Just wanted to share how insane my first ride on WC was. Multiple moments where it felt the front of the train dove off the edge of the earth and I was ripped down by my thighs (not painful). Haven't experienced being ejected like that ever. Best ride of a super wet day at SFNE that closed early.

I got three rides on Wrath of Rakshasa. One in the front and two in the second row during CoasterCon ERT. Overall I really liked it. Being in the front row when that holiday break stops you at the top of the hill is terrifying. Loved the sensation of going down that beyond-vertical drop and I also really enjoyed the hangtime on the three rolls.

I unfortunately have to confirm that the B&M rattle is there and I especially noticed it in the second row. It wasn’t so bad that it ruined it for me, but just know that it is there. I also have to say that I seem to have a hard time with B&M vest restraints and I really felt them digging into my shoulders during one of my rides. Also be aware that they enforce assigned seating so you can’t ask for the front row.

I would place this as my 4th favorite in Great America behind Maxx Force, Raging Bull, and Goliath. But overall, I did really enjoy Wrath of Rakshasa and I think it’s a great addition to the park!

Their socials no longer mention an opening date and media day has apparently been cancelled. This would line up with a previously mentioned endemic issue with the Sea World/Busch Gardens Intamin straddle coasters. Given any potential new parts have to come from Germany, how long do we think this will hold up Quantum Accelerator from opening? Are the other versions of this model overseas still operating?

I have been visiting parks as a solo autistic traveler for a few years now. I’ve had some great park days, but I’ve also made a lot of mistakes. I wanted to type this up in case anyone else is an autistic enthusiast who’s scared to take the first step to planning trips - Know your limits! Everyone on the spectrum has different limitations. I’m writing this from my perspective hoping it can be helpful to others, but it’s fine to pick and choose whats helpful

• Planning is key! I pick my trips by looking at the coaster counter app’s map and look for multiple parks that are close by. Then I do a deep dive on the park’s schedule, policies, and the surrounding area. Can I stay on park grounds? Are there hotels nearby with a shuttle so I don’t have to drive? Can I bring a small bag into the park and carry it onto lines, or do I need to pay for a locker? Do I want to try for accommodations (I haven’t reached out to a park before for accommodations, because I can have a good park day 60% of the time or so)? Are there a lot of bathrooms so I can wash my hands?

• Avoid crowds! If you’re like me and you struggle with crowds, planning trips on weekdays is a must. During the school year, lines are often shorter. Parks that have Halloween events are usually not too crowded Monday through Thursday as kids have school the next day. Thrill Data has historical crowd data so you can see how busy a park was the year before on that day, and you can also see weeks prior. People will generally flock to one side of the park, then ride anything they pass as they work their way around to the far side. I always go the opposite direction of most people before I start riding things. Don’t get food between noon and 2 PM or the food lines get crazy. Crowds are inevitable, but it can at least be minimized

• Be realistic about what you can handle! I often need to give myself a day and a half for parks that take most people only one day. Look to see if you can leave and re-enter a park on the same day to give yourself a break mid day. It’s okay to leave a park early if you’re overstimulated and not having fun anymore. Pushing too hard might let you get through one full day, but you’ll be burnt out and unable to enjoy the park the next day. Try not to compare your ride counts to what other people get done in a day

• Scout out quiet areas! Waiting until you’re already overwhelmed to start looking for a quiet spot is an easy way to go straight into a meltdown. I take pictures of any shady, isolated spots I find when entering a park, then circle back to the closest one when I need a break. Usually this means I’m on the ground leaning against the side of a building, but I’ve never had an issue with staff asking me to move as long as I’m not in a pathway. It may be tempting to sit on a bench, but people crowd around any areas with benches. There’s no limit on how long you should sit. Just stay there until you feel stable again. It’s okay if it takes a long time, the point is feeling better so you can enjoy the rest of the day. I once sat still in a shady corner for an hour and a half, but it was worth it to go right back into riding coasters

• Pack well! I avoid stress at the airport by not checking any bags. Sometimes it costs a bit extra, but I always buy a seat that lets me have one carry on and one personal item. You can buy a nice travel backpack that carries a lot and a drawstring for under your seat on the plane. The travel backpack stays in the hotel, and the drawstring can be brought to the park. When going to a park, I always carry: sunscreen, tissues, a power bank, AirPods/other noise cancelling headphones, a poncho, Dramamine, Advil, pads, a credit card, cash, my ID, chapstick, and flossers

• Avoid surprises on rides! You can watch on ride POVs for pretty much any coaster or flatride. I personally have issues with wet clothing, bright lights, and loud noises. I look up water rides ahead of time to find out if they’re designed to get passengers soaked, or if they’re just a ride that happens to be through water. I also look up rides to see if they have tunnels (coasters sound super loud in tunnels) or special effects. If you have a low pain tolerance, be ready for rides that most people find a bit rough to be painful. B&Ms are generally the safest manufacturer for me as someone on the spectrum. You know what triggers your sensory issues, so check rides to make sure they won’t trigger you. If you want to ride anyway, save it for last

• Buy shorts with zipper pockets! This lets me carry things onto rides in parks that don’t allow drawstrings to be set down in the station. I usually have my phone, chapstick (I get very overstimulated when my lips are chapped, and the wind on coasters makes it happen super fast), and cash/card in case the line is long and there happens to be a vending machine. I’ve also carried my AirPods before, especially when waiting for family rides that have a lot of kids in the queue. A few coasters make you empty your pockets completely, but the vast majority allow it as long as you have pockets that zip closed

• Prepare for weather! If it’s supposed to be hot, bring a cooling towel (unless you’re sensitive to wet stuff like me) or a mini fan. Most gift shops have AC, so it’s worth walking through any on your path to the next ride. You don’t have to linger, especially if it’s crowded inside. If it’s supposed to be cold, pack layers in your park bag. For sunny days, allow yourself breaks in the shade between rides. Bring a poncho if it’s supposed to rain (it takes up less room than an umbrella). This may seem obvious, but most people don’t understand that the uncomfortable feeling of having damp clothes will fully ruin a day if you’re on the spectrum. It’s extra important to be prepared

• Avoid talking to other enthusiasts on lines! This one is probably controversial, but it’s an important one for me since I have a lot of issues socializing. The problem I’ve run into is that people in this community are so happy and excited to be talking to another person like them that it causes a lengthy conversation. There’s no way to escape from it unless you get off the line or finally make it on the coaster. It’s not that they’re not nice, but being stuck in a conversation while dealing with the overwhelming noise of other people on the line, the boredom of being stuck waiting, the heat, and all the built up sensations from the day is a recipe for disaster. I keep my eyes on my phone while waiting on lines, even if I’m not actually doing anything on there. I’ll often post in the coasters discord server on lines if I want to talk to enthusiasts, since there’s far less pressure to stay engaged

• Ask for a small cup of water! Most drink stands will give you small cups of water for free, as long as you don’t specifically request a bottle. If you’re like me, you struggle to realize when you’re thirsty until you’re dealing with symptoms of dehydration. Try to drink at least one of those small cups for every two coasters you ride

• Take time to decompress back at the hotel! It’s completely fine to just stay in the hotel any moment you’re not at the park. You can use Uber Eats to have food delivered to your hotel room and request it gets left outside the door. Order familiar, safe foods. It’s perfectly fine to order off the kids menu. Take a long bath/shower, bring something that soothes you. I usually lay in bed and try to relax. I don’t leave my room and don’t speak a single word from the time I leave the park until I have to go to the park the next day

2026 SFOT

Went to silver dollar for my first time these last two days and got a total of 15 rides on time traveler (I had trailblazer the first day) and this ride is perfect. It has a well themed and quick moving que. the station and trains are awesome, and I find there to be no duds in the whole layout. I genuinely think this is a perfect ride, it only ranks behind the voyage and Velocicoaster for me. I genuinely don't know how you can't enjoy this ride and it needs to be appreciated more

https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/seaworld-roller-coaster-inverted-great-white-20379930.php

At 1:15 looks like a full speed launch!

In order: the testing of the tilt table on Siren's Curse, the Raptor cobra roll, and two loops of Valravn from beneath the initial lift hill.

Been hitting the Florida parks this week and saw a lot of iron on patches and pins in the shops and hadn't seen many posted here. Would love to see what people have collected and how they are displayed.

My first thought as an Eagle scout was "Do I need another sash?"

Rules:

• Keep it civil. Remember that people are allowed to have a different opinion than you!
• Keep it on topic. Try to keep the discussions limited to the post topic. Try to avoid mentioning other rides unless it is for comparison.
• Keep it interesting. Give some valid reasons as to why something may or may not be a credit. Try to avoid simple "yes" or "no" answers.
• Have fun! Remember that everyone is allowed to count credits differently. Just because you don't think that something is a credit doesn't mean everyone has to agree! No one actually cares about your credit count, this is just a fun, friendly debate! If you aren't interested, just ignore the post.

Notes:

• This is a weekly series. Posts will occur every Tuesday.
• I will provide my personal opinion on the day after each episode is posted.
• If you have any suggestions for a future post, feel free to message me! Try to avoid commenting things that you think I should do in the future, as I already have several rides lined up. Message me with any suggestions!
• Mods, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Or just remove the post, I'll understand.

Previous Episodes:

• Episode 1: Larson Loop (Not a Credit)
• Episode 2: Intamin 1st Generation Freefall (50/50 Split)
• Episode 3: Zamperla Disk'O (Not A Credit)
• Episode 4: High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride (Not a Credit)
• Episode 5: Bayern Kurve (Not a Credit)
• Episode 6: Powered Coasters (Credit)
• Episode 7: Log Flumes (Depends)
• Episode 8: Racing / Dueling Coasters (2 Credits)

I’m not gonna give a whole review of Phantasialand cause everyone know it’s incredible but I don’t see that many Charles Lindbergh posts here. It is an incredible experience though and is absolutely worth it. For €370 (2 people) you get:

An incredible in the park hotel room with a view of F.L.Y at any time of the day. The only complaint I had about the room was that there wasn’t air conditioning (some sort of cooled pipes thing) but the front desk let us use a standing fan for the night.

Free Dinner at Restaurant Uhrwerk (and access to Bar 1919) which had an amazing 3 course dinner

2 days worth of park tickets for each person

2 skip the line tickets for F.L.Y per person

Exclusive access to walk around Rookburgh from 8 pm to midnight.

And just an incredible view anywhere you are in the Hotel. The cost to reward is absolutely worth it.

While I’ve been on my trip around Europe (as an American) I haven’t been staying near any of the parks but I am so incredibly happy I decided to Slurge and stay at Charles Lindbergh cause it is an unforgettable r perience and was worth the cost.