Theme Park Insider

Kings Island reviews

Written by
Posted: September 6, 2011

Location: Kings Island is located north of Cincinnati, just off I-71. You can obtain driving directions by clicking the Kings Island link on Theme Park Insider's Google map of U.S. theme parks.

History: Kings Island opened in 1972, boosted by "product placement" in Partridge Family and Brady Bunch episodes. In its first few decades, the park became known for hosting many prototype rides and coasters. These included The Bat, King Cobra, and Screamin' Demon, among others.

Hours: http://www2.cedarfair.com/kingsisland/. Kings Island is open from April through Labor Day, reopening for Halloween Haunt in late September through early November.

Tickets: Buy and print online. Always try to buy your tickets in advance, to save money and to save time when you get to the park.

Reservations: There is no ride reservation system. Nor are restaurant reservations available in advance.

Strategy: As with any amusement park, arrive early (at least :30 minutes before opening) and hit the headliner attractions first.

Most visitors tend to begin the day with Diamondback then work counter-clockwise around the park hitting the main coasters as they go. Use that tendency to your advantage and head left toward Coney Mall. Ride Firehawk first (because of its low rider capacity) followed by Flight of Fear, Racer, Back Lot Stunt Coaster, and Vortex. Now you can tackle the lines at the Beast and Diamondback (which has a single rider line if you are traveling solo). Finally head down to the Action Zone where you can hit Flight Deck and Adventure Express.

Once your coaster tour is complete, and you have ridden the family coasters, midway rides, and water attractions that interest you, visit the Eiffel Tower for some nice views of the whole park.

Park admission also includes access to Soak City, a 35-acre water park.

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Readers' Tips for Visiting Kings Island

[171 + / 24 -] Visit on days that there is a light drizzle, the park will be mostly be empty and you'll get a lot of rides to yourself!

[75 + / 33 -] Ride the most popular rides first.

[43 + / 3 -] Buy a 2-day pass if you are able to spend the extra day. It costs a fraction more than a single-day and you can enjoy all the attractions and the waterpark for one price

Where to stay at Kings Island

Readers' reviews:

Attractions
Action Zone(Rating)(Height)
Delirium952
Drop Tower848
Flight Deck748
Congo Falls746
Invertigo654
Coney Mall(Rating)(Height)
Windseeker948
Flight Of Fear854
Vortex848
Firehawk854
The Racer848
Backlot Stunt Coaster748
Zephyr748
Scrambler736
Shake Rattle and Roll642
Monster640
Action Theater544
Dodgem448
International Street(Rating)(Height)
Eiffel Tower9
Scooby-Doo and The Haunted Castle7
Grand Carousel7
Oktoberfest(Rating)(Height)
Viking Fury840
Adventure Express848
Planet Snoopy(Rating)(Height)
Woodstock Express840
Snoopy Surf Dog842
Flying Ace744
Snoopy's Splash Dance7
Race For Your Life Charlie Brown736
Kite Eating Tree736
The Great Pumpkin Coaster536
Character Carousel5
Linus' Launcher540
Linus' Beetle Bugs5
Peanuts 5004
Charlie Brown Wind Up436
Joe Cool's Dodgem School436
Woodstock's Whirlybirds3
Red Baron336
Sally's Sea Plane3
Peanuts' Off Road Rally336
Rivertown(Rating)(Height)
Diamondback954
White Water Canyon946
The Beast848
Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad5
The Crypt454

[Add a missing attraction]

Dining
Action Zone(Rating)
Stunt Crew Grill5
Coney Mall(Rating)
Midway Treats & Eats10
Juke Box Diner9
Skyline Chili - Coney Mall7
Subway5
International Street(Rating)
LaRosa's Pizza - International Street10
Chick-Fil-A9
Skyline Chili - International Street8
Oktoberfest(Rating)
Festhaus7
Bubba Gump Shrimp Shack5
Planet Snoopy(Rating)
Central Grill
Rivertown(Rating)
Potato Works9
LaRosa's Pizza - Rivertown8
Rivertown Junction Dining Hall6

[Add a missing restaurant]

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