Paramount Canada’s Wonderland season pass night not until Friday May 4, 2001. Hmm! What are four PCW Junkies suppose to do until then? We could either wait and lament over opening weekend or load up the PCW Junkie mobile and head to PKI for their season pass night.

As soon as the decision to go was made preparations were well underway for the first trip of the 2001 coaster season. Checked the web for Mason, Ohio’s weather forecast you don’t know whether to pack winter coats or summer shorts this time of the year. Washed the van on Wednesday evening and spend most of Thursday packing the van while Donna was getting everybody else ready to go.

DAY 1 Friday April 4, 2001:
The alarm goes off at 4:50AM and the 2001 season is underway. On the road and passing by our beloved Wonderland by 5:45AM. We are able to listen to Howard Stern until just past 7:00AM and then pick up the rest of the show as we get near Detroit – of course we turn off the rear radio speakers. So much for having a nice clean van, including Armor All’ed tires, because it started to rain within the first hour and really didn’t stop until we neared Dayton. We have this trip down to a science fill up before we leave, refuel in Windsor, before leaving Mason, and finally in Windsor on the way back. The trip was thankfully uneventful on the way down. No traffic jams around construction and no speeding tickets.

We get to Monroe, Exit 29 on I-71, around 1:00PM and we just love the drive down route 741 because we are all on the look out for the first signs of PKI. We stop at the Bill Knapp near Comfort Suites Kings Island and are asked if we are headed to King’s Island? Donna wonders why the waitress asks the question. Adam replies, "Mom it is pretty obvious Dad and I have ACE shirts on and you and Nolan both are wearing coaster shirts." After lunch we check into the hotel. I catch a power nap while the rest of the guys go for a swim.

We arrive at the main PKI parking entrance around 4:30PM. We get our normal Preferred parking spot usually row 2 first or second spot and head towards Guest Relations. The first person we see is Shaggy who is already there waiting for us. Tarayn at Guest Relations hand us our tickets. We had a few minutes to spare and Shaggy points out Coaster Fanatic to us and we make our way over to say hello to him, his brother and Brian. The funny thing about PKI for us is that we know more people at PKI than we do at Wonderland. On our way back from greeting Coaster Fanatic we run into Chris Trease and his wife.

The front gates finally swing open and where to go first was an easy choice? We finished our 2000 season on The Beast in November and that was the place where we wanted to start our 2001 season. When Shaggy is around I usually lose my riding partner, Nolan, to him. So my first ride on The Beast was Solo. Going up the lift that beautiful smell was present. You Know? – Chain Grease! The Beast delivered a very satisfying first ride for the Reids after being without for almost five months. The first ride felt like more so we hopped back on for one more ride.

Shaggy was very excited about Flight of Fear so we headed over in hopes that it was running. Nolan was still undecided whether he would give it a go or not. Unfortunately FOF was not running and we did not get to ride on Friday evening even though we did check back a couple of times later in the evening. Shaggy had already seen the new 7^th Portal at PKD and wanted us to see it with him again. We walked back to the 7^th Portal which had no wait and we were in our seats within a few minutes. We really liked it and believe it will be a big hit at the Paramount Parks this summer. At Wonderland we have been lucky because we had more than just "007 James Bond" over the last couple of years. When the show was over we could not leave because the heavens had opened and we stayed in the games area until the rain let up. Chris Trease and wife were in the show behind us and we chatted with them for a few minutes before they braved the elements and left. We were hoping the rain would keep the crowds away. We were wrong it rained too early and crowd had not even gotten into the park yet.

When the rain let up enough we headed over to the kids area to check out the new Thornberrys and Silver Streak oops! I mean Runaway Reptar. Sorry about that Angie! Since Wonderland announced theirs first I got confused on the names. Cagey old Shaggy knew when to get into line for both . Along with Coaster Fanatic and his group we sensed that the Thornberrys would soon be reopening up after the down pour. Normally we are not much for wet rides but, since we were already a little wet we gave it a go. PKI has really done an excellent job on re-habbing the old King Mills. With Cassie Kassem gone expect long lines at this ride all summer. Glad we rode when we had the chance. As soon as we got off the Thornberrys we queued up for Runaway Reptar even though it was not open yet. The rain had stopped and the sun was shining again. By the time Reptar reopened we only had a few minutes to wait for our first new coaster of the 2001 season. Again another excellent addition to PKI’s kids area. It will be very interesting to compare the success of these family additions to the big THRILL additions that PKI has made with their investment in Action Zone during the past couple of years.

After Reptar we decided to head over to Action Zone but, on the way we stop to get a nice ride on Phantom Theater. This is still a lot of fun and a very efficient people mover. (You’ll be back) We figured we would give SOB a go and quickly changed our mind when we saw the huge crowd lined up all the way back to Days of Thunder. We decided to forego in lieu of a Racer and Adventure Express ride.

I know I have said this before but the Racer / Adventure Express combo has got to be the most fun of any two coaster rides of any park that we visited to date. We would be happy riding these two rides over and over again. It was not quite hot enough yet on Adventure Express’s final tunnel to give off my most favourite smell in the world. As soon as I arrive in that final tunnel I put my head back and take deep breathes and then start my – "Now You Will Pay". I am not one for graffiti but I did leave my mark on the backward Racer. While grabbing the grab bar some wet paint came off on my hand and I had no choice but to leave my mark on the grab bar. So that could be my finger print you see on the Racer the next time you ride.

For some reason I thought the park closed at 9:00PM so we rushed over to The Beast for a final night ride. Wrong! It was 10:00PM. It turned out that Beast was our last ride of evening because they experienced a phantom train and the Ride Supervisors had to be called to give the okay. We got our last ride around 10:15PM and it was definitely worth the wait. Wow! The brake run was like a scene from a scary movie – the train roars through the brake run and quickly becomes engulfed in fog –erry! We ended our evening with a late snack at Perkins with Shaggy. Just made it under the wire they were turning people away after us. King’s Island is now open time to extend your hours.

DAY 2 Saturday April 5, 2001
Like clockwork we are at the front gate by 9:15AM in anticipation of the ACE Beast Walk back. We are greeted at guest relations by the fabulous GR Great - Angie! It was so good to see Angie again. Since we did not have PKI Gold Passes we waited over by the ACE plaque. Within a few minutes our good friends Scott and Carol Holmes arrive from Action Zone. Soon after Shaggy , Rocket Roger and son Adam arrive. Applause from our ACE group broke out when Angie and Jeff Siebert arrived to announce the first Beast Walk Back of 2001. Nolan my riding partner again abandoned me and Angie was kind enough to share her first ride on her baby of the year.

After Beast we wanted to make our way over to Flight of Fear before the lines got too long. But on the way Mr. Holmes could not let an empty Flying Eagles queue pass him by. Now! Let me say that when I first saw these things back in 1998 I was not impressed. I had no idea what they were and no understanding of the place they held with an enthusiast. Well! Lets say I am now converted. I know what cable snapping is all about now. Especially when you ride with the ACERs.

Flight of Fear only had one train running because the other two are not ready to go yet. Our group decided to all line up for the front seat. I was impressed that Donna needed no coaxing to give it a go. Nolan and Adam decided to pass on FOF but, we keep in constant contact via FRS. Wow! What a difference the new trains have made. I always liked OL:FOF mainly for the launch but now it is completely a different ride and one you will get back into line to re-ride.

After FOF we had some Racer and Adventure Express and then decided it was time to give Sonny a ride. What a difference in the line up from the night before. We were able to walk right into the queues on the platform. In the queue I had about one minute to say hello to URC’s LONNOL before it was my turn to ride. I love SOB with its speed and loop. There are two thing I look for in a coaster 1)speed and 2)airtime. SOB makes up for its lack of AIR with the over abundance of speed. My only regret is that Adam has not yet tried Sonny. I know at age 13 there would be now way I would have gotten on it either. Adam is just not into loops.

After our lunch at Wings with Shaggy and the Brocks the park was really starting to warm up. This is where the Reids were not really prepared. It is hard to think hot weather when you leave your driveway and there is still snow on your front lawn. Luckily I had a pair of tear off pants but the rest of the clan was not so lucky. The heat really got to us and we had to give in and go back to the hotel room for shorts.

When we got back to park with our lighter gear on we did Le Taxi and Bumper Cars and then meet back up with Shaggy. While waiting for Angie to finish her GR shift we decided to wait and ride Ghoster Coaster. That Scott Holmes fellow does have a sick side to him. Mr. Holmes showed me the fine art of watching riders prepare for the elevator ride or should I say unprepared?

Angie had not yet ridden Runaway Reptar so we made our was over to it. Angie, Donna, Nolan and Carol opted for a back seat ride while Scott, Adam and I waited for a front seat ride. We were trying to convince Angie that PCW’s Silver Streak was the World’s first junior suspended but she was having none of it. We lost the discussion but, when ours opens it will be the newest. HA! Take that Miss GR person.

On our way out of HB land we took a final ride on Phantom Theater. While riding with Scott he pointed out all the attractions that were now working that had not worked in previous years. Now if they would just do the same for Adventure Express. A very interesting thing I found out while riding the Racer is that a certain PKI associate employed in GR is chicken to ride the backward Racer. Now I am not going to mention any names in this trip report.

We ended our evening with a ride on The Beast. Donna even made a sacrifice by agreeing to meet everybody at Big Boys for a final snack. Suffice to say that Donna is not a big fan of Big Boy.

Day 3 Sunday April 8, 2001
Normally on travel back days we leave straight for home. But since joining ACE we can’t forego an opportunity for a Beast Walk Back. So being the good PCW Junkies we now do the walk back get in a few other rides and then leave for home around noon.

Scott and Carol join us on the walk back and we caught the first Beast train out for the day. Scott had queued up for the front so we got back in line for another Beast ride. On the way over to Vortex Scott again could not walk past an empty scooter queue.

Nolan and I did the last seat on Vortex and did the "old jump in your seat as you go down the first drop" routine. Somewhere on this ride is where thing went bad for Kevin. I got off this ride not feeling so chipper. I was pretty sure I could not do a FOF and opted for Racer and Adventure express. While exiting the Racer platform I felt a tapping on my shoulder. I look back and this gentleman asks, "are you Kevin Reid?" I reply with a, "Yes! And you are?" It was URC’s own Memphomaniac - Al. It was nice meeting you and your wife.

We made Sonny our last ride of the weekend. We meet back up with Scott on our way to the exit and stopped in to say our good byes and thanks to the great folks at guest relations.

We left the Speedway gas station near King’s Island around 12:45PM and pulled into our driveway in Newmarket at 8:40PM just a little over 800kms.

Summary
What a fantastic jump start to the 2001 season. We always have so much fun when we visit PKI. The great people at the Island make their guests always feel welcome. I know there are a few people that I meet and apologize for not mentioning your name. The only downside to this trip is that we still have to wait almost a month before PCW opens

Regards,
Kevin Reid