So, how does D-back compare to your beloved Millennium Force?
Anyway, not sure when I will get the family to King's Island (probably not until at least both boys reach the magical 54" mark), but when I do you can bet I will be among the first in line for Diamondback that day!
One incident of note that I forgot to mention is a tribute to management and park dedication to safety. The ride ops stopped the train before mine in the middle of the first lift. One of the ops spotted someone with a camera on the ride, tied off to the safety cable, walked up, and took the camera away. They promptly started the ride back up after he got down.
To answer your question James, the jury is still out for me on which is better. Diamondback's first drop isn't as tall, steep, or fast as Millennium, and the design is a more traditional out and back style that pays attention to hills, rather than the "flying in a jet" kind of style of Millennium. I likes me some airtime though, and Diamondback deals it out heavily. That front seat is something else.
Put it this way, if Diamondback and Millennium cross each other in next year's tournament...I will agonize greatly over which one to pick.
Great report, Derek. I'm filled to the brim with steaming hot jealousy.
To be fair to the media, there were other people at media day as well. A lot of them were friends/family of the construction company or park management. I'm guessing they were the likely culprits.
My wife and I shot video and took pictures from all angles. Security was good enough to escort media into some restricted areas to allow some filming. I saw a few camera phones pass by on the backstretch.
Thanks for the report!
Considering my ladyfriend doesn't ride the coasters, this might just be bearable!
The kids' area within the park is Nickelodeon Universe, not Nick Central. It was redone in 2006.
Also, the coaster does not travel over the midway between Nickelodeon Universe and Rivertown. All of Diamondback is located in and above Rivertown- Nickelodeon Universe is a good 70-yards away from Diamondback's first drop.
The first drop travels right over the walkway, as does the helix to the splashdown. Unless you are blind Ty.. or didn't really read the report and just decided to throw your two cents in, you know that people walking between the Beast entrance and toward Nick Universe, (my apologies for using the old name Nick Central, the names are just so different) got a nice closeup view of the coaster. If you want video or pictures from several angles, I would be happy to post them. Also, The Wild Thornberries River Adventure and the Phantom Flyers (both Nick Universal rides) rest rather close across the way to the entrance of Diamondback, which is behind the Rivertown Junction Grill that used to be called Wings Diner, which prior to that was called the Columbia Palace before Ty was born.
Yes, the ride is in Rivertown..which I believe I mentioned in the report, but the entrance is close enough to Nick Universe to describe it as "in between", and people who have never visited Kings Island (or don't know it that well) would perhaps like a little more description than "The ride is in Rivertown".
I'm curious though Tombraider Ty (or should it be The Crypt Ty)...o'young moderator of KI Extreme (which is a great site by the way), how did you like the ride?
I'd like to take a moment and point out that I was wrong. Back when Cedar Fair bought the Paramount parks, I steadfastly argued that this was exactly what they weren't going to do (drop hypers in each park). Looks like I was wrong. That doesn't mean I'm thrilled with CF being in charge of the joint, but I'm most assuredly eating crow.
Are they managing the ride line for those who get there before the park opens? For the Behemoth, they were (sometimes) trying to set up the line before they opened the area, and then walking the line to the ride.
I've ridden Apollo's chariot and Behemoth, and except for the seats on teh Behemoth being really cool, I like Apollo's chariot a bit more for the overall ride.
Plus it is kind of fun to sit with the entire family in one row......
From what I've heard and read, the line for Diamondback moved very quickly and was rarely more than 3 hours. Given the size of the lines as seen on fansites and the webcam, I would say that they did a pretty good job. I don't expect the lines to let up for this one anytime soon.
Anyway, great roller coaster with amazing air time. It's right up there with The Beast as one of the best coasters at Kings Island.
Thanks, Derek, for that great report! Sounds like it was a fun day. Did they have any information about the ride's hourly capacity, or do you have any sense what kind of waits folks can expect for the ride this summer?