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Banshee Opens to Rave Reviews
After months of anticipation, Banshee was unveiled to the coaster world. This world record-breaking B&M had a lot of hype to live up to. Coaster101 writers Nick and Kyle were at Media Day to see how the new coaster measured up.
Kyle: Since Kings Island is my home park, I think I had even higher expectations than many. So when the time came to check out Banshee for the first time, I admit I was worried I would be disappointed. Banshee was not about to allow that though.
Nick: The pure size of the massive inversions had many coaster enthusiasts worried the ride would lag and crawl through the elements making for a boring ride. Those fears were swept aside as soon as the ride began making test runs.
Kyle: As I walked toward Banshee from the main gate, the first thing I noticed was how large the coaster really is. I have never seen another invert with inversions that are so gigantic. I then made my way through the fog to find something not so common in the regional parks: theming. I was thoroughly impressed with Kings Island’s effort when it came to putting the details into this roller coaster.
Nick: There were lots of little touches that added to the overall experience: the screaming sound at the top of the lift, the light fixtures, the fencing, the grave stones scattered throughout, the creepy fog effects. One of the coolest things was seeing the eternal flame memorial for Son of Beast.
Kyle: I was not only eager to ride Banshee, but to also check out the next generation wing-rider style restraints. As I sat down in my seat and strapped myself in, the straps did not lock and did not tighten throughout the entire ride. The seats were very comfortable and unlike on other inverts, your head is not subject to head banging. This made for a much more enjoyable ride experience.
Nick: I think they’ve finally figured out the ideal restraint for looping coasters and if anyone complains about them then that person will never be satisfied. I don’t know how they could be improved upon. As for visibility, the trains themselves do not really offer a better view than the older generation inverted trains; you still have to sit in the front if you want to be able to see straight ahead.
Kyle: On to the ride itself! Banshee is a fast, non-stop, intense ride that never lets up. It tops off Kings Island’s coaster roster with a bang. From the first drop to the break run you are subject to “Eve,” the Banshee. You will not have time to catch your breath. And like mentioned earlier, the inversions are huge! Because of their size, the forces last longer and are even stronger than what you would expect.
Nick: If I had to describe Banshee in one word it would be “non-stop” or “relentless.” The average roller coaster begins with the largest elements and and they get progressively smaller. Banshee starts out big and gets even bigger due to the superb use of the hilly terrain. The first drop is surprisingly steep and will have even experienced coaster riders holding on for dear life. If airtime is your thing stick to Diamondback as Banshee is laden with sustained positive g-forces. The second vertical loop and the following upward spiral are intense, maybe even resulting in “grey-out” for some riders.
Kyle: After the media day festivities ended, the fun didn’t end for me. As some of you know, I had the opportunity to attend “Scream For A Kid Again” that night at Kings Island. The event ended up bringing in $103,000 for A Kid Again! As a participant I got to be among the first night riders on Banshee. For months the park has been raving about how great night rides will be on Banshee and how they even will rival the famous night rides on The Beast.
I must say Kings Island was right. After two hours and 19 rides later, I was a huge fan of night rides on Banshee. The textured lighting effects are very mesmerizing and light up the track for the first half of the ride. Once you plummet into the valley out of the zero-g roll, you’re in complete darkness! For the second half of the ride you cannot tell where you are going or even if you are upside-down! I highly recommend staying late and grabbing a ride on Banshee after the sun sets.
The Coaster101 team would like thank Kings Island for putting on an amazing media day event. They’ve got a real winner on their hands!
Did you get to ride Banshee on opening weekend? If so, what did you think and if not when are you going to get out to Kings Island?
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WOW! Banshee sounds absolutely even more amazing and appealing than it looks. Awesome work guys covering this story!
Thanks Joseph! It’s a great ride.
I will admit, I’m a wimp when it comes to roller coasters. I can’t ride Diamondback because of my anxiety problem (adrenaline of the first drop causes my heart to beat rapidly which sends a message to my brain that my life is in danger, which triggers an anxiety attack) but I can confidently say that Banshee may be my favorite coaster. It’s smooth and the seats make you feel so secure. It’s the perfect coaster for somebody who likes the thrill, but not the fear. 🙂