The Orion Debate, Mystic Timbers Love, & Honoring a Classic | Kings Island 2023 Vlog!

We're back at Kings Island for our annual visit for the year, ready to experience amazing rides and attractions like Mystic Timbers, Diamondback, Orion, and Beast! We also got to check out the new for 2022 show "Phantom Theater: Encore", which pays homage to the old Phantom Theater attraction in the park!
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[@noclosecoasters9903]

Little known fact: the rattle on Diamondback is actually theming

[@CoasterParadise12323]

I have actually noticed that.

[@jagmaida5074]

nice

[@BHV0810]

Good one

[@andrewcouncil3914]

It was smooth as could be 5-10 years ago I think it’s just getting older

[@CoasterParadise12323]

@@andrewcouncil3914 That's possible.

[@Jakebtw_7]

I love Orion I honestly think it’s the best in the park and one of the most underrated coasters I’ve been on, it has a great first drop, good airtime moments, a good helix, and it’s just so much fun

[@Jakebtw_7]

@@Tay_Sports fr

[@searcher00211]

Yeah, I'm not happy about all the hate on Orion. Last summer I rode both Orion and Fury 325 and Fury gave me a headache while Orion never did. I guess it's the age. And in regards to hypers, I'll take Intimidator at Carowinds over Diamondback any day. And for woodies, Mystic Timbers is just AWESOME!

[@gametime2473]

Orion is a lot of fun for sure. No replacement for speed. I think Mystic Timbers is my favorite in the park but KI has so many good rides Orion, The Beast and The Bat are in there for me (sorry but I love the hang and bang arrows)

[@varunvallury3499]

Orion is an AMAZING roller coaster.

[@Skullyoops]

Yeah it’s a great hyper

[@varunvallury3499]

Orion is one of the best roller coasters in the world. Straight up.

[@kirbiasplays1081]

I think it is a good, fun ride but coaster enthusiasts give it a lot of hate because KI has so much undeveloped land to work with and they couldve created a masterpiece but instead they went with a lesser, scaled down giga because 1) Cedar Fair doesn't want anything at KI to outshine anything at Cedar Point because of the 2 parks being in same state and 2) Money. This ride was originally supposed to go in at CGA as a hyper. they had a budget for a hyper and had to turn it into a giga at KI without raising the costs significantly. So I think they had to get creative in making it a GIGA but scaling it down to do so.

[@Coasterteam]

Kings Island did confirm that Blue Racer is getting its second half re-tracked this coming off-season!

[@keziah5647]

Diamondback and Mystic Timbers is such a good 1-2 punch. Brought my mom to KI for her first visit since 2015 and she wanted to go on The Beast first. Nope, we're doing Mystic. Safe to say it blew her mind.

[@gubthedestroyer]

I love seeing coaster youtubers go to kings island when ever I'm there I always keep my eye out for a possible selfie so happy to have one of the best parks in the country as my home park :)

[@maxhagenauer24]

Invertigo is easily the most underated coaster at KI. Might even be the most underated coaster I've ridden. It was glass smooth and very intense and I also love the restraints.

[@anjel130]

I love invertigo, it's never felt rough to me! 😁🤘🤷‍♀️

[@meef1610]

Lol

[@brianharrington7663]

I think mystic Timbers is the closest to an RMC that a regular wooden coaster can get

[@RonaldDScum]

Voyage at Holiday World

[@_stafford]

I've noticed around some of the Cedar Fair parks are groundhogs, I've seen 2 at Dorney, saw one twice when I went to Kings Island (same place different times of day), and almost everytime I go to KD the same groundhog is either by I305's lift, in the field where I305's track is, or over by Racer 75's turn around structure

[@smote_his_ruin]

The drop on Orion is no joke. Steepest of all the Gigas. It's fun and has some serious balls.

[@CaseFamilyVlogs]

Kings Island is our home park, so far its one of our favorites we have been to. Orion gets alot of hate but on its own is a great roller coaster! Not our favorite giga but still fun!

[@coasterbreakdown]

What’s your guys favorite giga? Just wondering.

[@CaseFamilyVlogs]

@Coaster Breakdown we all perfer fury 325, then i305, then Orion, then Millie. Fury has a great mix of intensity and fun, i305 is all intensity, orion is all fun as well as millie, but orion is a bit more forceful. But we honestly love em all and they are all fun in their own way, millie and orion are the most re-rideable for us older people lol

[@coasterbreakdown]

@@CaseFamilyVlogs thanks! 👍

[@CoasterParadise12323]

It is a great rollercoaster

[@Ethan-rj7vn]

I Would love to see KI get a front entrance makeover but otherwise it’s a great park and great video as always.

[@SillyPlushStudios]

Coaster noobs need to stop whining about Orion. It’s perfectly fine and is incredible for what it is. It was originally supposed to be the hyper at CGA, hence why the layout is different that usual. KI didn’t need to make it overly tall and long because they already had people coming to the park. Carowinds built Fury because they needed a more headlining attraction and the city of Charlotte is growing more the Cincinnati. Orion is my favorite in the park and my 3rd favorite Giga behind Fury and I305.

[@ellisshane2951]

I don’t understand why so many people complain abt Orion’s length but turn around and hype up Mystic Timbers even though it’s even shorter LMAOO.

[@DeltaSixDJ]

Fair but I think people expect more length from a taller coaster I guess 😅

[@3godzilla3]

There's so much more in that shorter ride time, though 😅

[@cbjgirl23]

love seeing y'all vlog at KI! finally got back for the first time since 2014 (wasn't into coasters then) last month and i LOVED mystic!! it was for sure my favorite ride i got on that day!

[@mulishabeats9351]

Sara is hilarious and she is killing it in that dress 😊🤘

[@detroitdiezel7856]

Agreed 👍

[@jerbearadventutures]

KI is my home park and I love it so much. Very fortunate! Thanks for the video!

[@tribaltreegoat]

gotta love how their woodie from the 70s is less rough than their B and M from 2014

[@C3T1C]

Kings island is my home park so I know every bit of this park. I can even make my way towards Orion from the entrance without needing a map at all!

[@ducksfan_1149]

it wouldn’t be a coaster studios video if there wasn’t incessant complaining about elite B&Ms

[@sambell4370]

What a wild concept that other people may have different opinions and preferences than you. Oh wait that's how opinions work there is no right answer. Your insecurities shine brightly with comments like this.

[@ducksfan_1149]

@@sambell4370 work on your comprehension skills, that’s not what my comment said lmaooo

[@sambell4370]

@@ducksfan_1149 you're complaining that someone has an opinion and they're voicing it. Didn't miss anything you dunce.

[@joshuaheiny7764]

what a projector journey

[@Thecincyclips]

Always good to see you guys hanging at my home park.

[@nv_spartan1771]

Orion is fine. People need to stop being spoiled whiners.

[@rivertownproductions]

Exactly!!!!! People say it’s overrated but everyone hates on it so much to the point that it’s underrated now

[@bigthrillsmike3950]

My first ride I was very underwhelmed but I rode it right after opening so that’s probably why it ran so slow. The dusk ride and late afternoon rides were much better.

[@learei4642]

for real

[@Herosadvisor]

Orion is wonderful, my number 11 and I have no problem with that!

[@SillyPlushStudios]

Facts. It’s my personal favorite at KI and is one of my all time favorites.

[@guillaumecourchesne8684]

Hershey - Mason is a 7 hours drive. Brian is so motivated lol

[@connorburns7361]

Love the Vlog!!!

[@michael7054]

If Kings Island wanted a RMC they could turn the Racer into the Eastern US version of Twisted Colussus. I think a Copperhead Strike style coaster would be the best fit for Kings Island at this point though. Don't know how long that would take. They have such a good collection anyway.

[@CoasterParadise12323]

Or they could make a hyper-hybrid SOB

[@pipepicasso8112]

The Racer is not getting RMCed. It's a landmark coaster.

[@coasterbreakdown]

Another video about my home park! How much better could this get!

[@camdenhochgesang6554]

Honestly, KI is the best run Cedar Fair park for at least the last 10 years. CP will always be my favorite park, but KI has been killing it.

[@DankPeezy]

Best park in the world! Imho

[@JD.778]

So the only park you been to is kings island

[@mrsbanana_girl5170]

name me a world class ride at the park……..I’m waiting……..

[@SouthAmericanThoosie-ps8dp]

​@@mrsbanana_girl5170 Diamondback? Orion? Mystic timbers?

[@me-myself-i787]

​@@mrsbanana_girl5170 Individual rides aren't what makes parks great. Plopsaland de Panne has Ride to Happiness, a world-class Mack Xtreme Spinner, but it's not as good as Europa-Park, despite Europa-Park not having any world-class rides. The reason why is, Europa-Park is the whole package. Great rollercoasters, great water rides, great theming, great staff, and great dark rides. Kings Island doesn't have great water rides or great dark rides, but they do have great rollercoasters, great staff, and good theming. No one Kings Island rollercoaster is world-class, but the park as a whole is. Like Europa-Park. Personally, I think Europa-Park and Islands of Adventure are better than Kings Island, but Kings Island isn't that far behind. And Kings Island has much better theming and staff than Cedar Point, even if Cedar Point has better rollercoasters.

[@me-myself-i787]

​​​@@SouthAmericanThoosie-ps8dp B&M Hyper are really common, and therefore aren't world class (except maybe Shambhala). Fury 325 is better than Orion. And The Voyage and Ghost Rider are better than Mystic Timbers. A ride is world class if people are willing to travel across the world just to ride it. For example, Steel Vengeance, VelociCoaster, The Voyage, Ride to Happiness, Fury 325, Eejanaika, FLY, Hagrid's, and Flying Dinosaur. But most of Kings Island's rides are outclassed by similar rides instead. Why would someone from Australia or the UK want to travel all the way to Kings Island just for Orion when they could instead travel all the way to Carowinds for Fury? The only ride at Kings Island which could be considered world-class is The Beast, but that's only because it's a classic, it's the world's longest wooden rollercoaster, and some people are overly obsessed with classic woodies. Kings Island is great, but there's not a single ride there which would get me to travel across the world to visit if all the other rides disappeared.

[@michael7054]

Great video! I enjoyed watching! I've been to Kings Island 9 times which is a lot.

[@andrewjames5373]

This was my home park growing up in the 80s and early 90s and that blue ice cream was my jam!

[@ikbendik09]

have fun in europe!!

[@kyokushinkuma]

Went there last month, brought my 7yr old daughter. She loved Mystic Timbers until the end, she’s not a fan of scary stuff, but will ride whatever roller coaster. I liked Banshee, it was more fun than I thought it’d be. The Beast needs no explanation, I loved it. Didn’t get to ride Diamondback or Orion. We finished out the day on the Red Racer. Will definitely be back.

[@budbud513]

Honestly I think racer has the 2nd best airtime in the park and it’s so smooth. Also if you go to Bat in the morning Logan from Thrills United might be there working Bat.

[@thewoodpeckers655]

My mom took me and my brother on a week long trip to cedar point and then kings island(we’re under 18, not broke) and she is terrified of heights. We got her on the smaller rides at cedar point, Iron Dragon, Wild Mouse, and Cedar Creek Mine Ride. When we got to Kings Island, we eventually built up her courage to do Mystic Timbers, which was her first ever coaster above 100 feet! I can’t say she enjoyed it *too* much, but it’s such an amazing moment for us!

[@detroitdiezel7856]

I wish that they'd put one of the trains backward again on Racer. It was so much better that way.

[@arronmartinez4246]

I was there yesterday I loved Orion that airtime is crazy. I love the beast diamond back , , mystic Timbers , banshee ,

[@HeatherC1212]

"The hyper might be Behemoth...." OK, this made me laugh so hard, LOL =D Great video from my home park and I can't wait to check things out tomorrow when I head up there after I get off work! =)

[@EKGaming248]

i rode front row seat on blue racer, and it was smooth as butter. it was after the retrack. red was rougher though.

[@bigthrillsmike3950]

9:07 I noticed that too when I went last year. Banshees rattle and uncomfortable restraints ruined the ride, Orion it didn’t ruin it necessarily but it was much shakier than I ever imagined seeing it was only 2 years old. Diamondback I didn’t feel it much surprisingly

[@Blabhabonsteriods]

YO! I WAS LITERALLY THERE THAT DAY

[@chris_allupinya5613]

5:25 not gonna lie... Sarah had us in the first half 😂😂😂 doubled dowwnn

[@Ramon-fv6be]

Sarah riding Orion again and saying she meant everything the first time she rode 😂😂

[@quoteonquoteclub9711]

Can’t wait to call this my temporary home park

[@StamfordBridge]

Adventure Express ❤️

[@MIKEYPOOHBEARJACKSON]

That Vekoma Boomerang i wonder if that is the good ol rusty Two Face: The Flip Side i remember when i went to Six Flags America the first time.

[@gtonyxkid2012]

That’s my home park! And red racer is soooo much smoother! Even though sides have had work done

[@Raptor3698]

Speaking of painting. I305 definitely needs a repaint. Also, it’s running better than ever (at least when I rode it in April this year).

[@Salixian]

I didnt find Banshee or Orion shaky when I visited last week. But Diamondback, phew, between that and the Beast, I had terrible headache by the end of the day that I had to cut the visit short. Actually, when you sit at the tables near the Mystic Timbers and the Railroad entrances that gives you a clear view of Diamondback's first drop, we noticed how wobbly the supports were every time the trains dropped. I've never seen steel supports shake that much before, it was kinda freaky.

[@William_Does_Coasters2255]

Mystic Timbers looks great! You’ll be riding my home GCI soon. 73ft tall, 44mph and themed to a wooden man that’s been set on fire. (Wicker Man)

[@508mns]

When were you guys here? Because i was at the waterpark tuesday since this amazing place is my homepark and it was hot out

[@RealWildWalter]

When Diamondback and Beast are your top two in the park.

[@isat5693]

cool vid

[@masterwatermelonthemeparks]

I HAVE HIS UNIVERSAL SHIRT 😂

[@DSoto-nf8je]

This vid proofs that orion is underrated, its a great ride and most people i see find it ok or even bad

[@gametime2473]

Wow, I haven't seen the show in several years and they still have the same lead actor. Cool.

[@TheAlternateYT]

As someone with Ki as their homepark who went to college 30min from the park and who now has a job across the street from the park idk what is wrong with Orion! It has been down at somepoint or for my full days at the park. Such a great ride and it has a better airtime moment and treble clef moment like fury even tho fury is the better ride.

[@bassjasinski]

B&M train shake must be the wheels 😂

[@CoasterParadise12323]

Or if there is something loose on the wheel chassis

[@brianfurderer2685]

I was also KI Thursday before HwN and all the B&Ms felt shaky that day. Mystic Timbers was best in the park that day.

[@danielboshears6474]

Was at King’s Island for the first time three days ago. Loved Orion! Mystic Timbers is a great ride, but Thunderhead since the retracting is a better ride to me.

[@christianortiz793]

Orion is good but not great, Mystic Timbers is an amazing GCI & The Beast is very fun because of the length.

[@maxhagenauer24]

Im glad you think Diamondback is better than Orion.

[@marposted]

Honestly I just wish they would’ve did more with the land it was a big missed opportunity but it’s still good

[@psychichorse]

Saw you guys at Holiwood Nights - but instead of before I visited Kings Island the day after! Ended up with differing opinions than you guys on almost every ride. Loved Banshee, but makes sense you would prefer the snappier inverts. Racer was totally smooth for me on both sides, and really surprised me, ended up liking it more than Beast! Loved Orion, but it's my only giga so I can't compare it too much, and I also prefer Diamondback. Diamondback was my favorite ride in the park and so far my favorite hyper. The shaking on all the B&Ms was barely noticeable for me, maybe it was worse on Thursday than Sunday? And as for Mystic Timbers... easily my most overhyped and overrated ride. It sounds like I rode an entirely different ride from what you described, and it doesn't even come close to Gold Striker for me.

[@griffimythic]

most of the unpainted portions of Diamondback are in high, hard to reach places. they’ll definitely need a crane to finish it up. also, the reason why the B&M’s at KI have a rattle is because of low quality soil in the ground.

[@Ovanite33]

Hoping at some point they add an Intamin multi launch coaster and/or an RMC. The park needs to add these to the coaster portfolio bad IMO. Thinking an Intamin multi launch would fit really nicely on the land that formally housed Vortex.

[@middleman16]

Was at KI yesterday. Is that when you were there?

[@ScottyMania313]

Kings Island #1 Nothing says Summertime fun than getting moist fingers with the blue ice cream. It's melty yumminess. #TeamGoodSmellz Beast night ride is good too, I suppose.

[@TheDethsight]

I've rode diamondback and banshee multiple times throughout the years and didn't really notice the "shake" they apparently have. might be my "home park bias" coming through, not sure.

[@michaelonskis]

Taylor, how is the locker system at King’s Island? Do they have them at every ride like Cedar Point?

[@CoasterStudios]

Kings Island has lockers for Banshee, Orion, Flight of Fear, and Mystic Timbers. Everything else has bins

[@michaelonskis]

@@CoasterStudios Thank you! Looking forward to my first ever visit to King's Island later this month!

[@DoomPlague]

I've heard the blue side of racer is going to get more retracking in the offseason. The red side received retracking on the second half this past offseason. Banshee is temperamental. I've had really smooth rides on it and really shaky ones. Either way if I'm wanting something intense, that's where I go. Orion has grown on me a lot. It's a fun, consistent ride. I think its consistency makes it better than MF, to be honest, because most of my rides on MF are devoid of airtime. I still like DB more because of the sheer amount of airtime but Orion is at least smoother and better paced...and its best moments are arguably better than anything on DB. So I'm waffling a bit.

[@Spike-sk7ql]

I'd like to know why everyone says Banshee is too shaky. It's barely noticeable.

[@heyitsmaggiexxo]

Time out, is invertigo not going to be there next szn?!?!?!?!

[@Furyman325]

I think its a good ride overall, great airtime and forces! I am just still dissapointed with how short it is lmao Also when were you there? Yesterday?

[@508mns]

who is this i found

[@Furyman325]

@@508mns a wild fury325

[@508mns]

@@Furyman325 true

[@chopkix]

Orion is a solid 8/10 great ride it just doesn’t help how hyped and wanted a giga was in the park i don’t think it could please everyone

[@blackAnimate7768]

I’m going tomorrow, u gonna be there?

[@connorerhart6038]

You should play the skip the line wheel

[@whitneyg9150]

meanwhile i went to kentucky kingdom the day before hwn ....... yeah.

[@Salvatorie]

I agree with Sarah here Diamondback is indeed better :)

[@CoasterParadise12323]

Were you guys at Coasterstock I was

[@CoasterStudios]

We were not

[@parkerbook4108]

I saw them at holiwood nights but I was too scared too say something

[@robwille9180]

Fun fact - as a tall person, I cannot ride, Invertigo, Banchee, Flying Ace,

[@user-nr9ik2bs7p]

You know NV_Spartan I feel the same way about twisted colossus and the six flags company.

[@Kilbaneisking]

Whilst I agree Diamondback is better than Orion. Mystic Timbers is the best coaster in the park. Orion is still a fun coaster, and I feel it is a fine fit for the park. Kings Island didn't need a record breaking coaster and being so close to CP, it sadly probably will never get a record breaker so Orion is probably the best CF will give KI. Really hoping for a Mack Extreme Spinner in the Vortex plot tho. Ki is my favorite park so I really want another banger to replace it.

[@kirbiasplays1081]

I agree. Cedar Fair doesn't care if they put anything in the Vortex spot. If they cared they wouldn't have torn down the historic and iconic station that was originally built for The Bat and also used for Vortex. These 2 Iconic coasters were record breakers and prototypes for their time and precursors to a lot of coasters we ride today. If they do put something in, it won't be a record breaker like the 2 coasters that were there prior.

[@ThemeParkPlunge]

Orion is my fav in the park I think. I like the rush, it has a few pops of air time which is fine, because Diamondback has crazy airtime. It’s a really good mix. Honeslty, Fury 325 to me is the best giga, but Intimidator was meh to me. I think this duo at KI is fantastic. I think Mystic is a great ride, but way overrated. We all have our opinions lol.

[@rileycebulskie]

Lucas = 🐐

[@johngrzeschik1769]

5:06, the guy looks like Jesse pinkman from breaking bad

[@me-myself-i787]

4:38 If they kept things lower to the ground, the ride would be even shorter.

[@gemmachaos]

Orion's worst crime seems to be that it isn't Fury.

[@owenfouts2494]

My takeaways from KI…. - Orion was hated so much to where I was surprised how good it was - Red racer is better - Banshee is a fantastic invert and better than Raptor - Mystic Timbers is overrated

[@ProfessorPeyton]

I seriously don't understand the rattle on Banshee, it just isn't there for me or doesn't bother me.

[@itsKegger]

i thought sarah was gonna change her mind about Orion but naahhh hahaha

[@rumizuums]

orion isn't bad. It was wayyy overhyped and Diamondback will always be better than it but I feel like it is really truly a good coaster if you don't put it up to what "it could be" think about what it actually is. I feel like cedar fair just doesn't want kings island to top cedar point. I just really do hope we get a top 10 coaster soon. It really needs it.

[@kirbiasplays1081]

Nailed it! I agree. I don't care what anyone says. The reason KI didn't get a giga similar to Fury is because Cedar Point is right up the road in the same state. KI will NEVER get the record breakers and prototypes it used to get before Cedar Fair owned it.

[@tahjo7]

Meanwhile....over here on the West Coast... Where we have NO modern hypers, and NO Gigas... We'd love just one, ONE giga or proper hyper 😔 🤦‍♂️

[@sairosekk]

Orion is okay it's a glass smooth ride that is a good ride. Diamondback for thrills, Orion for coasting. It is a coasting coaster

[@garminkid]

I don’t get the hype for Mystic. It’s probably my most overrated coaster. The ride is good, but that “ejector” airtime everyone talks about does not exist. Personally, Thunderhead is the ride people think Mystic Timbers is. It’s my number 4 at KI behind Orion, Banshee, and Diamondback.

[@kylebetz9684]

Why do people not like Diamondback???? It’s like my favorite coaster in the park. It feels nothing like the other B&M Hypers. Not even intimidator.

[@hammermk4001]

I don’t get why coaster studios calls Orion overrated when the general consensus from enthusiasts is that Orion is the weakest giga.

[@drewaj]

taylor is a taylor swift fan confirmed

[@raphytvlogs504]

How are all these spoilt Americans saying Orion is okay if this was in the uk I would go every day