Trip Report for KI
Kings Island: Well first off all, I would like to say that I wish I would have seen this site BEFORE I went to KI this year.
Well first off all, I would like to say that I wish I would have seen this site BEFORE I went to KI this year. My fiance, her brother, and I went to KI on a 2 day pass recently, and I must say, it was one of the worst times I have had there. To start things off, the first day we were there, we arrived in the park at 10:30 am, to find that Delirium, Drop Zone, Son Of the Beast, Top Gun, and Flight of Fear were all closed. Not only are 4 of these 5 some of the most extreme rides they have, but it made for a very long day on anything else. We waited in line for upwards to an hour for the Beast. So we decided to go on a "quest" for some enjoyment, only to find that while waiting in line for the Vortex, it breaks down. Around 12:00 Top Gun opened back up, and I am sad to report that it is in the worst shape I have seen in a long time. Not only is the queue line entirely too long with nobody in it, but, they are missing some of the props that used to visually please you as you walked the 8 mile trip back to the tower. I remember they used to have a model airplane up, and they used to show clips of the movie. This was no longer the case. We went to X-Fligh....oops, Fire Hawk. This was ok, except that I am origianly from Youngstown, Ohio and I grew up going to Geagua Lake/Six Flags/Geagua Lake all the time. So needless to say the "NEW" coaster was a let down. I can say that the wait for it wasn't to to bad (only about 2 hours) except for the fact that they make you get a locker if you have ANYTHING with you. What made it worse is the attitude of the vendors that would not give you change for a dollar to get a locker for 75 cents. At around 2 pm everything except SOB, Delirium, and Drop Zone were now open, so the day was getting better. I did however ask the attendant when Delirium would re open, and he told me "tomorrow". I'll get back to that in a second. All in all we had an ok time the first day. We then went to the hotel.
Day 2, this is where things made me wonder why I bought a 2 day pass. We arrive at 9:30 am and everybody is standing in a huge line waiting for the park to open. As we are standing there, you would have thought the Beatles have managed to regroup, or the 2nd coming was happening. We were in the middle of a heard of people, when at exactly 10 am the flood gates opened, and a rush of people went screaming for Fire Hawk!!! By the time we made it back there because I wasn't going to go sprinting to the park, there was a 4 hour wait!!! So I went to the employee sitting at the entrance to Flight of Fear, and I kindly asked him if it would open. What happened to customer service, or the old statement, "if you don't like your job, quit."? The 16 year old kid cops an attitude with me and says, "see the big round round trash can, I guess that would mean it's not open." So my lovely wife to be asks me to try and win her a snake stuffed animal, so I play a game that you have to knock 4 cats off the ledge with a baseball. Well, the first 5 dollars, I got 3 of 4, so I had to go again. Then I hit 4 of 4, and she receives her 20 foot snake. The attendant told me that if I played again, I would win another large prize since I only needed 1 more to knock down. Wouldn't you know it was the hardest thing I have ever tried to do!!! Well long story short and $20 dollars later, I won the Giant Stewie doll. Once again, what ever happened to customer service, I ask the game attendant if I could have a big bag for these animals, I have seen kids all weekend carrying their booty and winnings in these so I assume this wouldn't be a problem. WRONG. He doesn't have one. So I go to the Ring Toss game, Bank a Ball, 3 different basketball games before I give up. All the games said the same thing, we don't have them. So either these kids are bringing 250 gallon trash bags with them, or, nobody was willing to look. So I continue my day dragging these huge stuffed animals around, when we decide to go on some fun rides, ie Sponge Bob, Italian Job, etc. The day went pretty ok until we got in line for Sponge Bob. Did they give up on this side of the park? It was dirty, trash on the ground, and it looked as if it should be closed. We receive our 3d glasses when a guy trashed beyond belief starts making conversation with my brother in law. WOW, this guy was hammered. Makes you wonder what the cut off point is in beer land. I'm not a prude, but come on, I don't need to hear, " I can't f@#$in believe that this motherF@#$in ride is so GodD@#m long, bla bla bla, and the 15 year old pimply face kid is just sitting there like, what do you want me to do. So, after that, and lugging the stuffed friends around, I decide to go to the car and deposit the new found luggage I have been dragging around. There was a 10 minute line to get out!!! So by now I am hot, tired, and it is only like noon. So I get stamped, go to the car, which was close because of Premier Parking. I would suggest the extra 5 spot on this, seemed like the only good break I got all weekend. As I go back in, I go to the Action Zone for some fun. As I notice Delirium not running, I ask the worker, same one as yesterday, if it would open, and he tells me, tomorrow.... But yesterday, you told me tomorrow. This kid actually doesn't lie and say, "well, normally people are only here for 1 day, so we just say tomorrow cuz they won't be back the next day". Well at least he was honest. So by 1 pm on day 2 we have ridden everything that has been open. Not much to do now except wonder around and maybe eat. Why oh Why didn't I put a cooler with food in the car? We head over to Coney Island, and grab 3 burgers, 3 fries, and 3 big soda's, you know, the ones you can refill, and I am shocked when the man says 47.50 please!!!! Jesus, is this a burger 100% Fillet? We eat, and I wonder around a little when me and the wife to be start talking about maybe leaving. All of the sudden, I see people swinging from Delirium. I thought that it was closed all day. Seems that Gold Pass customers could get on, but it wasn't open yet for regular people just yet!!! Well by this time I have had it, so I stand there until they let us poor folk in line. Wouldn't you know that it was like I formed a protest or something, as people were getting in line behind me to wait for it to open to the rest of the people!! So we wait about 25 minutes, and they are running empty cars on SOB as I am waiting. That's usually a good sign it may open right? NOPE!! Anywho, they open up the gate for Delirium, and we go on. We have a good time on it, and when we get off, we hear the people a little upset. I guess that it was broken down again. WOW, quality first doesn't mean much in this park these days. So I ask a guy in a suit if SOB might open today. He says to me and I quote, "see the sign, it says closed, normally, if a sign says that it's closed, the likeliness of it reopening is rare. I understand that the giant CLOSED sign might be hard to understand, so I tell you that it is closed". Um, I am at level 9 on the anger scale and decide to go to guest services at this point. Welp, that was even more annoying. After a girl about 11 years younger than me apologized for my inconvenience about 12 times, there isn't much she can do, and that I should have either called ahead, or asked around before I bought tickets to see if the rides were closed or not. Isn't that something you may want to put up somewhere? Well I wonder aimlessly dragging the family around until it is time to go at around 9 pm ish.
All in all, I would have to say that I used to be a big fan of KI, but after this trip, I think the 3 hour drive to Cedar Point would be worth it the next time. I hope that next year they hire some people that don't wish their life would end while working, and they work on Customer Relations. After all, it's not like I paid 5 bucks to get in or anything, I payed $150 for the 3 of us, let alone the 80 plus dollars in food and drinks, and the money on the games. Spending around $300 at a n amusement park should warrant a certain level of respect one would think, but then again, the time we live in that is asking a bit much.
From Don Neal
Posted July 10, 2007 at 11:17 AM
That's really disappointing to hear. We were just there a few weeks ago and it was great. Crowds weren't bad, lines weren't bad and everything was running. Also we used coupons and got our family of 5 in for about $125. That's too bad that the crowds and heat seem to be taking it's toll on the park. Hopefully they'll be able to make it right.
I was just there on Sunday (which is one of the best days to go to a park for smaller lines and crowds, I never waited longer than an hour for anything). The Beast was closed for maybe 30 minutes and the kid outside could only say "I don't know how long it's closed for." They could at least give us a rough estimate. Also, they don't hire the brightest crayons in the box if you know what I mean. I felt like I had to wait forever, whenever I got change for any purchases. But at least the gift shops were having 50% off anything that had the word "Paramount" on it. :)
3 BURGERS, 3 FRIES, AND 3 BIG SODA'S FOR 47.50 !!!!!! WHAT HAS THE WORLD COME TO!! ( Those people dont deserve to sell the High Life )
From Tyler W.
Posted July 10, 2007 at 3:34 PM
Glad you had a good time
From Don Neal
Posted July 11, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Michael Santmyer Said: "3 BURGERS, 3 FRIES, AND 3 BIG SODA'S FOR 47.50 !!!!!! WHAT HAS THE WORLD COME TO!! ( Those people dont deserve to sell the High Life )"
LOL - I didn't catch it at first. Funny post. :)
I am so sorry you had a bad experience at KI. I just started visiting the park a couple of years ago after growing up at Cedar Point. The past two years I have gone there Delirium has never been open. Not quite sure why...
What days did you go? I have always had the best experience on a week day. Weekends are always busier. Also something else CP test their rides before the park opens, so when everyone is allowed in they are good to go. KI does not seem to do that. I have walked in at 10am before and had to search for an open ride that wasnt being tested. A little annoying, but handable if you know that's how they operate. They also tend to employ younger people (similar to six flags) then say Cedar Point does. I have never had them be rude to me, but it doesnt surprise me one bit. (thats part of being a teenager and not caring) I go with my boyfriend we tend to split food like fries and a drink to save a few dollars. I am sorry Firehawk was a disappointment to you, from what I heard its a pretty cool ride. I guess what I am trying to say is give it another chance now that you are more experienced. Each park is different and has its quirks, once you get accustomed to them, maybe they wont bother you so much. And maybe it will take Cedar Fair a year or two to apply it's park standards to the old Paramount parks. I am heading to KI this weekend, hopefully I wont be disappointed also.
Last time i went to KI it was three years ago it wasn't the main part of the trip cause my family went down to the kentucky horse park but i wasn't really impressed
In June of 2006 I went to KD and was treated the same way by the staff there: smart-alec answers and no help at all. At least they are consistent with their hiring. I wrote to tell them what I thought, but I just got the "we'll let the proper people know" e-mail from them.
Lousy attitudes from park workers can ruin an otherwise decent day. And this was right from the start of the day, not just later on when the workers have had to deal with difficult customers all day, either.
So I just got back from my trip to KI and it was awesome! Delirium was up and running. Son of Beast was closed of maintenance testing. But there was big sign as you walked up to the gates that told you this. After reading the thread here was curious of two things a) what was going on with SOB and b) if the kid would be polite to me. So I asked if the teenager who was sitting outside the entrance to SOB. He was very friendly and had lots of information to share with me. Answered all my questions and then some! And no one else there was rude to me either. I will admit one thing though, I am 25 and I look like I am 18. So maybe the people that work there feel they can relate to me more. I dont know. Saturday was a HOT day and there are no drink machines in the Firehawk line, so some of the workers brought big water jugs out and were filling up glasses of water for everyone in line! The Firehawk (Which is a great ride by the way) workers were great. Laughing and joking around. One guy told us a story of a DUMBA** who refused to secure his new Iphone before going on the ride and it fell out of his pocket during the ride and broke into a million pieces. HAHAHAHA I am sorry some of you have had a disappointing time at KI. I have had nothing but great times. I think everyone needs to remember what it was like to be a young adult again. (and remember you were probably rude to people too!!)
(I am not excusing anyone from being rude to guest, they should definitely be professional.)
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