Anyone have a game plan for Kings Island?
Thank you to everyone who has replied in previous theme park game plan threads. Today, I would like to open a discussion about Kings Island.
I doubt that Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare will change anything about strategy for KI this year, as that's a new Sally Dark Ride replacing an old Sally. But I would like to hear from recent visitors about how they approached visiting Kings Island to get the most out of a day.
When do you need to arrive? Do you need a Fastlane, and if so, when? In what order should you try to do the rides? And what tips do you have to share about food?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
For Kings Island, it really depends on if you are a completist and MUST ride everything in the park, or want as many rides as possible on the headliners. If it's the former, you're probably better off taking a contrarian approach by starting off with the slightly less popular, but lower capacity rides first. Flight of Fear, Queen City Stunt Coaster, and Adventure Express can have some of the most annoying waits in the park (over 30 minutes on a normal day for what I consider bottom tier coasters), so heading toward those earlier in the day can reduce your overall wait time. Also, Mystic Timbers can be a bit of a slow loader, but I find that coaster best in the dark, so is worth trading a longer wait for a better overall experience. The Bat can also be a slow loader, but you're better off just hitting it before or after a ride on Banshee
If you're more interested in getting the most rides on the headliners, I would recommend systematically making your way around the park - I'd probably start at Diamondback since Beast and Mystic Timbers are close by (Banshee and Orion are not close to other top attractions - Orion is near FoF and Banshee is near Bat and Invertigo, which is rumored to be closing soon if it even operates this season at all). I have never felt the need to purchase Fastlane/Flash Pass, though we've always planned our trips to avoid Saturdays and holidays, so if you do find yourself here on a busy day, paying the upcharge may be worth it if you only plan to visit this park once in your life.