After visiting PKI this April and suffering through that terrible weather we had no choice but, to return. I had booked the Hampton Inn early in May and knew that all the area hotels would be busy because of the PKI Cheerleader competition. We planned to leave Toronto around 6:00AM but Simba, the family cat, didn’t agree with those plan so we were delayed about an hour. Our drive to PKI was extended to 10 hours from 7 because of the horrific accident near Windsor, Ontario and construction traffic near Bowling Green, Ohio on I-75.

Arrived at motel with not much time to waste because we had planned to meet Shaggy and Rocket Roger’s Family for dinner at Dave and Busters off I-275. Roger brought me an interesting article on Americana to read and Shaggy brought a vintage Kings Island booklet. We agreed that we would meet at the PKI front entrance at 9:15AM on Saturday morning.

DAY 1
The first people you are greeted by when you arrive at PKI are parking and ticket staff. These are the people who give you your first impression of the park. This is where PKI outshines all others that I have visited. PKI’s staff at these areas are usually mature adults and not kids. The person at the parking gate notices my Ontario license plate and PCW parking pass and waved me in and wishes me a good day at the park. Arriving nice and early I am able to get my normal spot. This is my fifth visit and I already have a favorite parking spot. Shaggy has beaten us by a few minutes and Rocket Roger and family soon after arrives. I made Roger’s family wear all the PCW stuff that we gave them the night before. Between the Reids and Brocks PCW was well advertised at PKI this weekend.

First up would be, what else? You guessed it -the Beast of course! We head over to the rope and had about 15 minutes to spare. Now this first ride on Beast was going to be very special for a few among our company. My two sons, Adam and Nolan, and Roger’s son, Adam, were getting on for their very first ever Beast Ride. I knew my boys would love it after riding Knoebels’ Phoenix for an hour. We didn’t wait for front seat and Roger’s wife, Robin, chicken out so Shaggy didn’t have a riding partner. All the boys loved the Beast and I think they added it to their favorite list. Personally, I was a little disappointed with the first half of the ride because I found it extremely slow but, the second lift and helix did not disappoint. Shaggy was quick to offer his explanation on why it was running so slow. I guess that is the price we paid for not wanting to wait 2 hour to ride later in the day when it would be faster on the first half. We bought the on ride photo with special 20^th anniversary frame. I now know what I collect at parks? - On Ride Photos. Right Shaggy?

Next up was OL:FOF and I was real excited because my wife, Donna, did not try it last year and it was not operating in April. I don’t care about the negative things that other people say about this ride - I absolutely love this ride. Oldest son, Adam, could not be convinced to ride while Nolan was too short to ride. It was still early so there was no line up and we were able to get right into the queue for front seat. My boys couldn’t get to the exit quick enough when they watched the train launch for the first time. This was only my second ride and I heard enough about the "lean forward principle" when inside the drum. There was minor headbanging but come on people we are riding roller coasters not Rolls Royces. Shaggy went to the back to try Rocket Roger’s new OL:FOF riding technique. We bought the on ride photo. We probably should have got right back in line because the line got huge later in the afternoon. This ride has two things going for it IMO 1)the launch and 2)the theme. The inversions don’t really do much for me but I love the launch.

The Racer was next and Nolan was hinting at the backward Racer. I didn’t want to admit that I was chicken so he agreed to the forward one for his first ride. Shaggy instructed me to look at the old location of Sky Lab but, I forgot. I didn’t find the Racer rough at all.

Over to Adventure Express where you get your best view of SOB construction. Ah! You can’t beat the sweet smell of a new coaster being built in the morning. This is one impressive site. This is only the second time that I have taken pictures on a roller coaster hopefully they will turn out.

Adam wanted to ride King Cobra because he had just recently started riding its sister, Skyrider, at PCW. Notice how I said "sister" and not that other word. We make our way through the queue and notice this extremely long line. I had never seen such a long line at PCW and I would guess the wait to be in excess of 2 hours. So we decided to skip King Cobra. Unfortunately Topgun had just shutdown for technically difficulties so that would have to wait till tomorrow. But we did take that time to get a few shots of Topgun and SOB.

I had no intentions of riding Face/Off and the line was also out of this world. I rode it in April and once is enough. Fortunately for me Drop Zone was also unavailable. When push came to shove I would not have let Roger and Shaggy down and would have ridden if operating.

We all decided to try Congo Falls and figured we would dry real quick with the heat. This was my first ever ride in one of these. We have one at PCW, Timberwolf, but I have never ridden. Lunch was next so we headed to the air conditioned Festhaus for a $75 pizza.

After lunch we head back to OL:FOF hoping to get an other ride but the line up was to busy. So over to Vortex we go. This line up looks bad when it is out of the station but, it moves real fast and we waited about 20 minutes. You can’t help to think or talk about the Bat when your are in the Vortex queues. You point out the remnants of the old Bat footings and overhead cut outs for the track. Then Roger had a surprise for me and points to a crate full of old Bat parts at the back of the platform. It is also kind of funny to be talking about the Bat when most people around you think you are crazy because they think the Vortex was the only ride in this location.

We decided to do a few wet rides and this is where I see a very sadistic side of my buddy Shaggy. He has a mean streak in him. He flat out lied to us and made us take the wettest seats. We go over to watch the White Water Canyon and he was explaining to us the pleasure he gets when he gets transferred to this ride. Shaggy was roaring "hit the button now" to soak those poor fools below us. Then when we were leaving Shaggy makes us stop on the bridge to watch the raft hit a special spot on the gate that would hurl the riders across the tube. He is a very sick man and I should of known better when he asked us to go on the wet ride at Americana. Roger and I will get Mr. Shaggy back.

It was about 3:00PM so we decide to pick up our on ride photos and head over to Americana for the rest of the evening. Americana TR to follow under a separate message.

DAY2
Reids arrived early at the park and had a few minutes to check out the shops before the ropes dropped. We would be at the park by ourselves today. We made our way towards the Beast and the rope was further back today. It took almost an hour for front seats on the Beast. Again the front half was slow. We had planned to get right back in line for a second ride but, the hour wait discouraged us from doing so. We bought the pictures because it was the boys first front seat. Stupid me, I should of had Nolan sit on the other side because I put my arm right in his face.

After the Beast we did the same routine as yesterday. Adam still could not be convinced to try OL:FOF. At least this time the line was a little longer and we seen more of the theme. There was a special person who had been transferred to the OL:FOF and paid special attention to our boys pointing out special features of the ride. Nolan invented a game called "CLEAR" after watching the launches.

Topgun was working and the wait was about 40 minutes. We would normally not wait this long at PCW for Vortex but, what the heck the boys were eager to add to their coaster count. It was real hot in the line and we were disappointed that the queues were not open on the platform because I know my boys would have enjoyed them. When Paramount spent a lot of money for theme and you would think that they would be showing it off. Especially since this area would have offered some relief from the sun.

After lunch we head to HB land to ride Beastie – bought the photo. Then got in line for Ghoster Coaster. The wait was about 45 minutes but, worth it. This is an extremely cool kids coaster. We had a great chat with a family from Detroit and at the same time I was promoting PCW and told them that they should go there next year.

After Splat city Nolan decides he wants to try Vortex. I had previously promised him that I would try the backward Racer if he tried Vortex. Adam and Mom did the Kenton flume while we headed to Vortex. On the way over Nolan stops by the batwing to study all the elements and I pointed out were the camera was. We waited about 30 minutes but didn’t want to wait the extra for front seat. Nolan is a bit of a coaster snob and only likes doing front seat. Vortex was Nolan’s biggest steel coaster and not bad for a eight year old who at the first of this season would only get on Taxi Jam. Nolan also new exactly when to ham it up for the camera. I was hoping Nolan would forget about the other half of the promise. But, he didn’t and we found Adam and Mom and he hauled us over to the Racer. I actually quite enjoyed the backward Racer and wished I hadn’t waited so long. I tried to convince Adam and Mom to give it a go but, they said they would save it for next year. I thought I didn’t like going backwards but, I know now that it is going backwards through loops that I don’t like. Thank you Nolan for forcing dad onto this ride.