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So a blogger posted this picture complaining about the Disney in Florida not enforcing social distancing. Here is the exact same photo taken from another perspective. These two pictures from Theme Park review shows how you can't trust everything you see on the internet. There just seems to be a whole lot of people out there who want to see the world burn and get some clicks on the internet while doing it. Clicks = add revenue.

My first ride on Orion! My mask slipped down under my nose during the ride. More to come eventually.

There is a really good video that I'll post the link to below that has a lot the easter eggs hidden in Orion.

My friend, Jeff Barklage, shot the briefing video that is in the last hut before you go up the stairs.

BLOG: Kings Island's Orion roller coaster a story-driven attraction https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2020/july/kings-islands-orion-roller-coaster-a-story-driven-attraction

Welcoming You Back: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/welcoming-you-back Full guide attached as PDF to this post. Download it from here or the park, and read on for full information. Additional FAQs available on each of the park's guide pages. Reopening Date: Season Passholders only July 2-11, 2020; others admitted beginning July 12, 2020 We sure have missed you! Now it’s time to have fun—safely. We want you to have an AMAZING day at Kings Island and feel safe when visiting, so we developed an extensive coronavirus reopening plan – new processes and enhanced procedures throughout the park to help reduce the spread of germs. We’re all in this together and by working together you can safely and confidently enjoy the thrills, giggles, and endless smiles that only Kings Island can deliver. These pages provide you with essential information for what to do before you arrive at Kings Island, what you’ll see and experience when you arrive, and how to make the most of your visit—safely—while you’re here. Welcome back! kings-island---welcoming-you-back.pdf

Opening to everyone will now take place two days earlier than previously planned, on July 10 rather than July 12. BLOG: Kings Island opens to everyone this Friday, July 10: Top tips for your upcoming visit https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2020/july/kings-island-opens-to-everyone-this-friday-july-10-top-tips-for-your-upcoming-visit

Kings Island is now OPEN for the 2020 season, with daily operations beginning today for season passholders. The park will open for daily ticket sales on July 12, and the reservation portal is now open for everyone! See everything here: Check out the official Orion debut preview video below!

They started a ticket reservation to ride Orion today that should cut back on how long you will be standing in the hot sun to ride.

2 and a half hours in the hot sun while waiting for Orion was brutal! Wearing a mask the whole Time made it thrice as brutal. Probably about 10% of the line had shading. My fiends had had bailed by the time we reached the hour and 15 minute mark. I didn't go to the park to stand in line for an hour so I stayed and rode it by myself. It was a awesome ride! They had three little shed coverings for shade but the roofs of them are so high the sun shines in through sides so your still baking in the sun. Horrible wait because the sun and heat, but again, a super awesome coaster.

BLOG: Orion first riders raise $160,000 for A Kid Again https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2020/july/orion-first-riders-raise-usd160000-for-a-kid-again

Reservations for July 2-11 are now available for season passholders. Be advised that passholders can only visit once during this period. The park will open to everyone on July 12. See the July operating schedule and access the reservation portal here: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/explore/calendar-and-hours The earliest reservation time is 10:30 AM with park operation starting at 11. Schedule and reservations are also available through the required mobile app, just search "Kings Island" in the Apple or Android App Store to get the free app. Note that park hours for July are 11AM through 7PM, with the exception of July 4th which is a 10PM close. Hours for August and beyond are not yet available. Kings Island Calendar Please find our up-to-date park hours by viewing the calendar below. August, Fall and Winter dates to be announced at a later date. NOTE: Reservations are required before visiting the park. Learn more about making reservations here. From July 2-11, reservations to visit will be available for Season Passholders only. Starting July 12, both Season Passholders and Single Day Ticket guests can visit with a reservation. The parking tolls and first reservation time on all days will be 10:30 AM. The park will begin operation at 11:00 AM.

BLOG: Online reservation system and daily ticket sales now available https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2020/june/online-reservation-system-and-daily-ticket-sales-now-available

BLOG: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2020/june/official-orion-pov-video-released

(along with Kings Dominion in the previous post that is on the page before this one) Busch Gardens in Virginia is also opting to stay closed. Gov. Ralph Northam announced that amusement parks can reopen soon, only allowing 1000 people in is “not an economically sustainable situation for us.” The parks will able to weather a year closed since both Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion are part of larger chains, but the surrounding bushiness around the park are the one's who are going to suffer. They are struggling now and count on the amusement parks to bring in their tourist dollars during the summer. Many of them are the one's that are going to end up shutting down forever. The whole story can be found here.

Kings Dominion probably won't open this year. Virginia's Phase 3 reopening restrictions don't take into account how large the park is and that, under the current allowance, the park will not open. Under Phase 3, which is slated to begin on Wednesday, July 1, amusement parks can open at 50-percent capacity, with a maximum count of 1,000 people. Kings Dominion—spread over 400 acres—has an official capacity of 50,000 people. There's a big difference between 50 percent of their normal capacity and a total of 1,000. "Kings Dominion is disappointed to hear as part of the Phase 3 announcement that the restrictions applied to smaller indoor attractions and venues are being improperly applied to large amusement parks, such as Kings Dominion," their official statement says. "Although we respect the decisions of our state officials, the restriction of limiting our park to just 1,000 guests does not reflect the large volume of space available to accommodate recommended social distancing protocols, and essentially suggests the state will only allow us to have 5 people per operating acre. You can read the rest of the story here.

I rode Fury 325 at Carrowinds last June. This is almost the exact same coaster, only Fury 325 is 25 feet taller.

I got my reservation for opening day (July second). If I just get to ride Orion and eat something... and check out any new collectable hat pins, then I will be good.

Additional FAQs are available on each guide page, so be sure to check the park pages! https://www.visitkingsisland.com/welcoming-you-back/before-you-leave-home Before You Leave Home Staying safe means staying informed, and we want you to have essential information before you arrive. Kings Island will open with limited capacity in the park so you can maintain proper social distancing from other guests. To ensure that happens, you must reserve your visit date and arrival time online in advance. You must also provide information about the current health of family and friends coming with you to the park. Here are details about what to do, what to pack, and what you can expect. What to Do Before You Leave Home 1. Reserve your date and arrival time in advance online. When we begin accepting reservations, you will be able to reserve your visit on the Kings Island website or on the park mobile app. After you have made the reservation, you will receive a confirmation screen and shortly thereafter, an email confirmation. These will help you confirm that the transaction was processed. The reservation will be attached to your Season Pass or ticket and you will only need to present those to be scanned for entry. Please note that each person must have a valid Season Pass or ticket to enter the park in addition to the reservation. Guests two years of age and under will be able to enter the park on their parent’s or guardian’s reservation. If you need to purchase a parking pass, we recommend you do so before visiting the park to avoid paying at the parking tollbooth. 2. Complete the pre-entry health assessment. Within 24 hours of your visit, open the Kings Island mobile app and complete the Health Assessment Questionnaire. Only one questionnaire is required per group. Your responses will be cleared each night, so this must be completed each time you come to the park. If your group does not pass the health assessment, we will ask you to reschedule your visit to a different date and time. 3. What to pack before you arrive. Your Season Pass, mobile or printed tickets. A face covering for each guest two years and older. A mobile phone with the Kings Island app downloaded and "Location Services" enabled. At least one person in your group must have this, but we recommend as many guests as possible have the app downloaded to their mobile device. Contactless payment method (other than cash) such as credit card, Apple Pay and Android Pay. https://www.visitkingsisland.com/welcoming-you-back/when-you-arrive When You Arrive Our reopening plan calls for new arrival processes to prepare everyone for a safe and successful day at the park. Here’s what you’ll see and experience when you arrive at Kings Island: At the Kings Island parking tollbooth, we will ask you for proof of parking payment. If you do not have a parking voucher, you may pay with a cashless payment method such as a credit card. We will also confirm that your group has a reservation for the day. As soon as you exit your vehicle, go ahead and put on your face covering and keep it on while at the park. Stay safe! Next, you’ll pass through a thermal screening tent where your temperature will be read. If anyone in your party has a temperature of 100.4°F / 38°C or higher, you will be directed to return home and reschedule your visit. At the gate, our Kings Island bag policy remains in place. At our touchless turnstiles, scan your Season Pass or Daily Ticket inside the Kings Island mobile app and let the fun begin! For everyone’s safety, all associates working in the park must complete a health assessment and temperature check each day before reporting to work as well. We’re all in this together! https://www.visitkingsisland.com/welcoming-you-back/when-youre-in-the-park When You're In the Park You’re here and that means it’s time for AMAZING! To help you enjoy your day, here’s what you’ll see and experience inside the park. Reminders and Protocols Here are some reminders and protocols to keep in mind when you visit the park: Wash your hands every 20 minutes. We have many hand sanitizer stations all through the park. Avoid touching your face. Wear your face covering at all times. Face coverings may only be removed when experiencing water rides, while dining or when inside the RelaxZones, located throughout the park. In the RelaxZone, you may remove your face covering, provided social distancing of 6ft/2m is maintained between your party and other guests. Maintain 6’ social distance from other park guests and associates. Be in the know about all things Kings Island with our mobile app. You can find nearby hand sanitation stations, restrooms, open dining locations, and available attractions and rides. Use contactless forms of payment, including credit cards, Apple Pay and Android Pay. For the comfort of all guests, smoking is only permitted in the designated smoking area, located outside the main gate. Restrooms Everyone knows restrooms can be a source of germs, so we want you to know we are following strict guidelines to help you have a safe experience. We are: Sanitizing restrooms frequently throughout the day. Deep cleaning restrooms at the end of each day. Restrooms will be staffed to meter traffic in and out of the facility. Because we’re all in this together, please make sure to wash your hands after using the restroom. Rides and Attractions To maintain social distancing and avoid the spread of germs, here’s what you’ll see and experience at our rides and attractions: The Kings Island mobile app will serve as your up-to-date list of available attractions. Some seats and rows will be unavailable to accommodate social distancing. Seats, restraints, headrests and armrests will be sanitized frequently. Dining We know delicious, fun food is a special a part of the Kings Island experience and we’ve got you covered. Here’s what you’ll see and experience when enjoying our scrumptious food and beverages: Some tables have been removed for social distancing. Distancing is marked on the floor for wait lines. All disposable products, including pre-wrapped utensils. Plastic barriers between guests and associates. Contactless payments, including credit card, Apple Pay and Android Pay are encouraged. Shops, Merchandise and Games Social distancing must be maintained at all of our retail and game locations. It’s very important to continue wearing your face covering in these locations. Contactless payment is encouraged where possible. All of our indoor entertainment and indoor gaming locations have been closed.

Someone must of heard us talking... Dogs Trained to Sniff Out COVID-19 Score Near-Perfect in Diagnosis of Human Sweat Samples Does sweat from someone infected with COVID-19 have a unique scent? Researchers in Paris, and elsewhere, believe it does—and we now know dogs can sniff it out. A new study from researchers at the national veterinary school in Alfort, outside Paris trained 8 Belgian Malinois shepherds to identify the smell of COVID-19 in the sweat of infected individuals. The dogs’ overall success rate was near-perfect, correctly guessing an average of 95% of samples. Four dogs successfully identified a positive COVID sweat sample 100% of the time The whole story is here!

I think most people think the masks are to keep themselves from catching it and that they supposedly aren't very effective. They need to realize it is to protect other people from getting it by cutting the moister spray in sneezing and even talking down to about two feet as opposed to leaving a bigger vapor trail for others to walk through or get on them. There are people who have it and don't even know that they have it. If I'm in a store or something and realize I forgot my my mask, I will at least look away from other people when passing or talking to them. Even though I am at the point where I don't like a good chunk of people in the world today, I don't want to be the one that gets the virus on them to take home to their kids or grand parents. I bet much of the spread came from protesting. The protestors on the news were not practicing social distancing. They were all packed in front of government buildings like a can of sardines.

From Kings Island on July 8th. “We have had an associate who tested positive for COVID-19. Out of respect and for the privacy of our associates, we do not provide details of any individual’s health status. Kings Island continues to adhere to CDC guidelines regarding contact tracing. The affected associate was screened, as per usual, prior to park opening. In accord with CDC guidelines, our associate and guest screening procedures and contact tracing protocols along with social distancing and proper face coverings are designed to facilitate a safe in-park experience for our guests and associates. “Our policy as it pertains to any associate confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 is to send that individual home for 14 days or until they test negative. Simultaneously, any associate(s) identified as having close contact with an associate who has tested positive will also be sent home for 14 days or until they test negative. The workstation and general workplace where the affected associate(s) work will be sanitized and will not reopen to other associates or guests until proper cleaning of the facility has been completed. The health and safety of our associates and guests is always our top priority.” You can read the story on Fox and on WCPO, which is Channel 9 in Cincinnati

They might not let me in since liver disease at my stage and Corona share some of the same symptoms, like a dry cough and constant fatigue. They could think I got early stage Corona.

Cedar Point’s mask rule ignites firestorm of fan protests on social media And now fans of Cedar Point are complaining about having to wear a mask... SANDUSKY, Ohio — When you scream on a roller coaster with a mask on, what kind of sound comes out..?

I am incredibly unhappy with my life, the world and my medical conditions. My clock is already ticking and it has been devastating to me too lose the last three months. I'm beyond the point of worrying about catching it and don't even care. I'm not suicidal, but if I go at least I will be at peace.