Coaster reviews

Theming Fun Disappointing! Dead spots

Before Cedar Fair owned Kings Island, movie production company Paramount owned it and several other current Cedar Fair parks. During that time, Paramount added many rides with theming related to their movies. One such ride was the Italian Job: Stunt Track attraction that went to three different parks. The second installation went to Kings Island. Now known as Backlot Stunt Coaster, these rides are all great family coasters. They blend theming with family thrills nicely. However, this particular one I found to be disappointing. It still delivers in terms of the layout and theming, but there are significant downgrades with this iteration in comparison to the others. The theming seemed much more budgeted with the same props but no effects and not even the sign that the ride popped out of. Even if there were effects, the ride did not stop in the middle to actually watch them, making it seem like a rushed experience. If for better capacity, I’m usually all for that, but it would be nice to stop and watch the effects. The layout remains the same as the others with fun turns, positives and a cool indoor section. Decent ride but definitely the worst of the three.

Fun Intensity Smoothness

I really enjoyed Poltergeist. Its really intense and whippy. The forces are nonstop altrough there is one part where it slows eown but the finale is my favourite. Some of the transitions give whiplash and the turns are so intense. Amazing

Inversions Pace Intensity

One of the most notoriously cloned layouts of all time is the Batman The Ride clone. The layout was the first that company B&M would ever design for an inverted coaster, and the great intensity per small acreage would prove to be wildly successful. The prototype for this layout and the prototype B&M inverted coaster was Batman the Ride at Six Flags Great America. As with any attraction featuring this layout, this ride is incredibly fast-paced and intense considering its small stats. It's small in height, short in length, and doesn't gain that much speed. However, the amount of whip that the inversions carry and the amount of positive G-forces that are exerted onto riders is deranged. Of the few Batman clones I’ve ridden, I rank this one as the greatest. I find it to not only run seemingly faster and more intense than my other rides, but it has a significantly better setting and theme than any other one. Overall, this is an awesome invert and definitely my favorite of the clones.

Airtimes Lap Bar Location Dead spots

The original Bolliger & Mabillard hyper coaster, Apollo's Chariot, is a ride that has undoubtedly withstood the test of time. The ride opened in 1999 as the prototype to one of the most popular and beloved models in the industry. Obviously, the ride isn't as good as newer, more polished hyper coasters, but Apollo's Chariot is still an awesome ride experience. Apollo's Chariot is the tallest attraction at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and it carries a very strong presence over the park's skyline. The ride is located in the Italian section of the park and features minimal theming. Though, as compensation, the ride has one of the most beautiful settings that I've seen follow a roller coaster. The layout takes riders out into the woods and around rivers, passing over other rivers and beautiful nature. Not only does this look spectacular during the day, but at night, it creates for a very underrated night ride. Now, about the ride itself. Being the B&M hyper coaster prototype, the ride seems significantly tamer than newer rides created under the same model. No element on this ride delivers strong floater airtime or strong positive Gs. Yet, it still delivers fun and sustained floater airtime (although a lack of positives). Any B&M hyper is obviously going to have some grace, but this ride seems to carry "too much" grace. Many elements on this attraction feel somehow too large and drawn out to successfully deliver the forces considered in these elements, particularly the helix before the midcourse brake-run and some turns in the second half. The ride may have its flaws, but it still is a very enjoyable ride that provides one of my favorite settings to any roller coaster I've ridden to date.

Airtimes Lap Bar

I missed this layout at Carowinds last year but finally got to ride a version in Kings Dominion. Not that bad! It has some charm with pops of airtime here and there. It's like a step up from a true kiddie coaster where the entire family can enjoy it. It's not too intense but not too tame to where you feel like it wastes your time. I was surprised it wasn't painful and the lap bar gave me some room to enjoy the airtime. 2.5/5 stars

Theming

No apple. Ride ruined!

Theming Too short Layout

Decent theming for a kiddie credit but did nothing with it

Pointless Layout

Went on way too long for it's own good. Barely span and the layout is boring

Pointless

There is absolutely nothing to this coaster and frankly shouldn't considered one

Harness Discomfort

Not enough space for my legs under the harness