Kings Island Trip Report

Recently I went to Kings Island for Media Day, Scream for A Kid Again, and opening day. It was one of the most memorable experience I had at an amusement park!

Frist off I hit the road on Wednesday, April 16th! Below are just a few of the many photos that I took!  To see more check out my Facebook page or my Instagram. Sorry if you are not my friend on Facebook you will not be able to see all of them. I will be finding a good way to avoid that.

I hit the road at 9am!

Indiana was my first stop, what a great rest stop! LOL

After waiting at the park entrance for 2 hours, we were allowed in. Check in process was a breeze for the people that got there quickly, other wise you had to wait some time. We received our badge and then a t-shirt, ride photo ticket, and a glass etching.

Look how official I am! HAHA! I have a badge to prove it! 

Rise and shine! It was 5:55am when I took on Banshee. 

I was on the FIRST PUBLIC TRAIN EVER!! This will be a feat that will never be taken away from me! What a great moment to be apart of! 

My review of this ride is simply amazing! My favorite invert in the world! This coaster has changed my top 10!!

As I was in line for my second ride, the sun began to rise. We all got excited because the temperatures were to rise! Well we were wrong, they dropped! 2nd ride temperature: 32 degrees with a 14 degree wind chill while ridding! I happened to make it front row for this experience!

No this is not the line for the ride, this is for breakfast! We received donuts, hot coffee, hot coco, and bagels. You never happen to be excited for hot coffee until it is this cold out! 

After breakfast I hit Banshee some more! I managed to get 10 rides during this event!

The fog machines were kicking it good this morning. What an experience riding through the fog!

Got to give my props to Cedar Fair! The station and line queue look amazing!!

Time for opening speeches! We heard form B&M, Kings Island VP, Kings Island PR, and Ohio tourism.

No matter where you look, she (Banshee) makes for beautiful photos!

A look at the second of 7 inversions on this coaster! This coaster offers everything! It is fast, forceful, fun, thrilling, and simply amazing! Make sure to get a trip out to Kings Island this year!!!

If you don't know SOB (Son of Beast) died and Banshee was the murder! What a nice touch to see a tombstone for SOB! It was hilarious during the opening speeches that they did not mention SOB! They claimed it was a hard decision to remove two ride and they knew it would cause some bad rep with the removal of the GO KARTS! HAHA 

The main entrance was looking beautiful as always! 

I cannot wait for this show to open! It is going to be incredible! 

Oops, someone left the gate open to SOB station! :)

Formally, Top Gun/Flight Deck, is now called Bat! What a great looking paint job! 

The sign brings a great refresh to the entrance! Action Zone looks amazing this year! It is not concrete land! 

As I was leaving, I captured this: a beautiful shoot of Face Off (Invertigo) in the background. 

Well media day kicked off with a bang! Went back to my hotel, took an hour nap and then it was time for Scram for A Kid Again! 

Saw some of the same people I saw at media day! Selfie time!:)

AMAZING!! $98,000 raised for A Kid Again! Could not be more happy to hear that great of news! Almost made me cry for joy!

Well that is a wrap for thursday! I managed to get 34 rides in on that thursday! It was a blast and I would not have changed a thing! It was such an amazing experience! Now onto opening day!

While I was looking on a forum I follow, I found this photo! If you notice the person with the red shoes, that happens to be me! I wish I met that person, they are a Club TPR member! 

Opening day was CRAZY! I don't think I saw so many people at a park! I guess this is what happens when Kings Island offers a free t-shirt!

Luckily I did not have to wait hours, I waited for 15 minutes! It was worth the wait to get my free t-shirt!!

Here is that t-shirt! 

Diamondback was just a glorious as I remember! She is still one of my favorite coasters! 

Vortex, is well PAINFUL still! I don't ride it that much any more but it does offer many great photo opportunities. 

Diamondback and her splash! I think this is my favorite ending to a roller coaster! It even created a nice rainbow for me!:)

This park employee needs a raise! He was smiling and enjoying the day! I captured him dancing and passing out maps! Had to go to guest relations to give him a compliment for his very positive atmosphere! 

I met ROB from TPR!! It was a blast seeing him! He was filming for a new official POV for BEAST at Kings Island, see it soon in the coming days! I will make sure to post it on here!

Well everything must come to a close!:(

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE! ENJOY TODAY!

Hope you enjoyed my trip report! It was amazing to see Kings Island being so popular this year! This is a big year for Kings Island! I can't wait to be back this summer! Stay tuned for more adventures happening this year! I have a lot planned!:)

Daniel Sukup

Thank you!!

I wanted to take this time to thank each and every single person that helped me raise money for "A Kid Again"!

 I am thrilled to announce that I reached my goal of $250!! I could not have done it with out your help!! It honestly means the world to me and these children!!

First an update on how much money was raised. 

Individual money raised: $50,707

Total money raised: $101,414

That is just some amazing news and it will benefit A Kid Again so much!!! Thank you for everyone that participated!

Now I would love to send out a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart to:

Scott Evans

Gram Pat

Eldon and Tami Sukup 

Cathelyn Jones

Judi (for Dorian and Sylvia) 

Gail & Mike Fitzpatrick

Jeremy Sukup

Anonymous 

I can't thank each of you enough for helping me reach my goal! It means the world to me that you would take your time and scarfice something to help children with life threatening illnesses. 

I will be posting my Media Day coverage and also Scream for A Kid Again coverage on Thursday!! Follow along and see all the thrillin adventures!!

Daniel Sukup  

A Kid Again Final Days

April 13th 

Fundraising for A Kid Again ENDS!

If you are planing to donate, please do so before April 13th! 

Please go to my page: Daniel Sukup to give in support of me! 

I am wanting to raise $250! I am currently at $160! That means that I only need $90! We can do this! 100% of proceeds go to A Kid Again, to help CHILDREN with terminal illness to have a day to be a kid again!! 

This foundation means the world to me! These children are facing adult issues and don't get to be a child! Help them to be able to do that!

Here is a parent's daughter essay about A Kid Again!

A few years ago, when my family lived in Reynoldsburg, OH I volunteered with A Kid Again when it was still Adventures for Wish Kids. My daughters joined me on several occasions and those experiences have truly impacted their lives. When my daughter Michaela Ousley, who is now a High School Senior, started her college search, she fell in love with Berea College. She was required to submit an essay of either the worst experience of her life or the best experience of her life. She chose her experience with A Kid Again for her essay. The following is her essay. I'm pleased to announce that as of yesterday, Michaela was awarded a full four-year tuition scholarship to Berea College. Thank you for providing my daughter the opportunity to grow, learn, and give to others. Blessings rain down when you give. She is planning on double majoring in Child/Family studies and Sociology and going on to earn her Masters in Social Work. Who knows? Perhaps she will one day bring A Kid Again to Central Kentucky.
With a grateful heart,
Lisa Aliperti

The Best Experience of My Life by Michaela Ousley

Since I was a small child I have found joy in helping people less fortunate than myself, and one could say I am passionate about serving others. Community service has become second nature in my life; however, one project is especially meaningful to me, and I consider it to be one of the best experiences in my life. I worked with an organization called Adventures for Wish Kids in Columbus, Ohio. With help from volunteers, Adventures for Wish Kids provides events and activities for children with life-threatening or terminal diseases and their families that take the focus off the illness of the one child and allows them to enjoy normal family outings such as holiday parties, trips to amusement parks, and parent/child activities. I personally volunteered at a Halloween party helping the younger children choose a costume, get dressed, and go trick-or-treating, and assisted them with craft projects at COSI. At their Christmas party the same year, I helped wrap gifts for the families and I also served as an assistant photographer shooting family portraits
When I first started working with the children, it was very heart breaking. I met children with cancer who have lost their hair from chemotherapy, children with radiation burns, and others with missing limbs. Spending time with these children and talking to them has helped me develop a sense of appreciation for the health I've enjoyed and sadly taken for granted. Seeing the happiness on their faces made me realize how the little things a person can do for someone else can make a tremendous impact on the lives of others. In one instance we found out that the family portrait my mother, the photographer, and I shot was the very last photo of a certain little boy. He died of cancer two weeks after that photo was shot and his family will treasure that portrait forever. Although I was originally there to help them, the children and their loved ones helped me in bigger ways than I think they realize. They have given me the courage to reach out beyond my fears and risk heartbreak for the greater joy. They have made me feel thankful for what I have because it is what they lack and, although they do not know it, they have given me a greater sense of faith because for some, faith and hope are what they are clinging to so desperately while facing terrible odds. They have certainly influenced my decision to work in a service field such as social work or counseling in a school setting. By volunteering with this program, I learned the value of community service and gained an understanding of how important it is for people to use their talents and resources to help the less fortunate. I feel very privileged to have had this unique experience. One of the things I miss most since moving to Kentucky from Ohio is working with Adventures for Wish Kids. I have every intention of working with this organization again sometime in the future 

Please take a read, it is extremely powerful and shows the meaning behind A Kid Again and the impact it can have on people! 

To donate: Click HERE!

If you can donate, I know money is tight, then please share with all of your friends and family!! Thank you for helping me in my final push!!

Daniel Sukup

Spring Break

SPRING BREAK!

Yes it is finally Spring Break!  Lindenwood University has spring break roughly 3 weeks later then every one else! This is because of a wonderful thing called: J-Term! It is a blessing and a curse. 

I am so excited to be on break that I decided to write on the right side of the page!:) Ha! So what is everyone doing for spring break? I hear some people are going to Mexico, Florida, Utah,  and other exciting locations! I have been asked many times what are you doing for spring break? Well Now I tell you the exciting details!

  Are you excited to find out? I bet it is killing you! I am so excited to spill the beans on my spring break plans that I had to switch up the area of writing again! HAHA

Ok for real now, I am driving to my location, 6 1/2 hours away to.....WAIT FOR IT.... OMAHA!!!! I am so excited to go back home for my FINAL SPRING BREAK EVER AS AN UNDERGRAD!! 

"Wait what? This is your final spring break, you are not going anywhere special?"
-No I am not, I have given up my senior spring break to do something awesome! 
"What do you mean?"
-In April I will be heading to Ohio to attend Banshee Media Day event and also attend a fundraiser for A Kid Again! I have given up my spring break to help children! 
"Is this a plug to help raise money again?"
-No this is not, I am just super excited to tell you how much this fundraiser means to me! you don't have to donate at all, all you have to do it SHARE!!

A Kid again is a wonderful foundation that I have talked about a lot, instead of telling you over and over why this means so much to me, I figured I would tell you by sharing what other people think of A Kid Again!

"As a very greatful parent of a Kid Again kid, I thank you for your time, effort, and love. The smiling faces we see at the Holiday party make all the difference in that event. From the moment we walk into the venue, Amelia and her sisters and I are greeted with smiles and laughter from what seems like a million happy people, all there to make our day better.
When my girls wanted to go in two different directions, one volunteer said she’d keep an eye on one for me. When we got to the meal and I couldn’t carry our prizes and two meals, and hold onto my youngest, a kind man took both meals from me and escorted us to a table.  The women at the face painting station are ALWAYS a huge hit, of course, even trying the specific requests each child seems to come up with.
And this is just one event. Each time a volunteer gives his or her time, it helps brighten the day of one of our kids. And we thank you.
Amelia was born with spina bifida, and has had 49 surgeries in her 8 years so far. She is blessed with many people who care about her and two wonderful sisters, but she also copes with more than her fair share of complications. Her sisters deal with this in their own way, as well.  A Kid Again means the world to Amelia, and to her sisters. Just the other day, one of her sisters said, “I wish Amelia didn’t have to deal with everything she does, but it sure is nice that people invite us to fun places.”
Thanks You! We appreciate all of the hours, and smiles, and the love that you share with our family.
~Pam Murphy, mom of Amelia, Claire and Emma"

So if you feel very generous about donating please help me out! I am aiming for a goal of $250!  I am at 38% and feel that I could make it, but I need all of your help! This is such an amazing cause, even $1 will help more then anything! Here is the donate link:

https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/DanielSukup/screamforakidagain 

Thank you for your help and hope you all have an amazing spring break! The semester is almost over, lets take this breather and relax for a bit!

Daniel Sukup 

A Kid Again Update

What time is it?? UPDATE TIME!

Donate Here!

Count Down: 23 days!! 

Amount to go: $155

Goal: $250

We can do it! I need to raise $5 more to be able to participate in this event, and another $150 to make my goal! I know that we can all pull together! What am I taking about??

If you are new to this A Kid Again stuff, well I will gain you up to speed.

Kings Island is holding fundraising event for A Kid Again, were all proceeds will be donated to this amazing foundation that helps kids with life alternating illnesses to simply be a kid again! 

I am raising money to support this foundation, it happens to be one of my favorite! I just wish I was not a college student, others wise I would not be asking him help from all of you! I would love to gather enough support to help me raise $250 for an amazing foundation!! 

At this time I am at 38% of my goal! I would love to be at 50% by next weekend and I only can do that with all of your help! Spread the word! If you can't donate $50, $25, I understand I am a college student. If you can only do $5 or less, every bit will help! EVEN you simply sharing this post will help! All you have to is direct them to this link: DANIEL SUKUP's PAGE!

why does this foundation mean so much to me?

A child should be that, a child! When something that interacts with there childhood, not for the good, it is divesting! A child should be able to have their childhood. They have to face these adult problems and don't have time to be a child. 

This organization gives them just that! I have been featuring stories from parents on how their children where impacted by this foundation and here is another one:

Thanks for the Murphy Family

As a very greatful parent of a Kid Again kid, I thank you for your time, effort, and love. The smiling faces we see at the Holiday party make all the difference in that event. From the moment we walk into the venue, Amelia and her sisters and I are greeted with smiles and laughter from what seems like a million happy people, all there to make our day better.

When my girls wanted to go in two different directions, one volunteer said she’d keep an eye on one for me. When we got to the meal and I couldn’t carry our prizes and two meals, and hold onto my youngest, a kind man took both meals from me and escorted us to a table.  The women at the face painting station are ALWAYS a huge hit, of course, even trying the specific requests each child seems to come up with.

And this is just one event. Each time a volunteer gives his or her time, it helps brighten the day of one of our kids. And we thank you.

Amelia was born with spina bifida, and has had 49 surgeries in her 8 years so far. She is blessed with many people who care about her and two wonderful sisters, but she also copes with more than her fair share of complications. Her sisters deal with this in their own way, as well.  A Kid Again means the world to Amelia, and to her sisters. Just the other day, one of her sisters said, “I wish Amelia didn’t have to deal with everything she does, but it sure is nice that people invite us to fun places.”

Thanks You! We appreciate all of the hours, and smiles, and the love that you share with our family.

~Pam Murphy, mom of Amelia, Claire and Emma

This is just one of many stories and thank you's that can be found on A Kid Again's website! I highly encourage reading some more on your own!

 ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE PHOTOS from A KID AGAIN!! This will bring  huge smile on your face! These are from the Cincinnati branch!!

Well I will share another story next week! Remember all you have to do to help is share this post as much as possible!!

Thank you again, have a great weekend!

Daniel Sukup