We were all set for a full day of water play and fun rides as we headed to Kings’ Island Amusement Park is 21 miles North of Cincinnati, Ohio and only 2 hours away from Columbus, Ohio, making it perfectly located. In fact, Kings Island Amusement Park is the largest Midwest amusement and waterpark and has something for everyone.
Each time we venture to a new theme park (new to me) I really like to learn about the park, and pass on tips, tricks and anything that I learn that will make your experience even better than mine. The idea of travel and destinations like Kings Island Amusement Park is enjoyment. If you follow my tips, and read up just a bit, your day will flow perfectly.
I truly believe that every vcation experience takes a level of planning and once that is done, it is all about letting the good times roll. Lavishly live travel out loud to the largest Midwest amusement and waterpark, where fun happens all day, every day. Travel to Kings Island Amusement Park and experience the destination.
10 Tips For Visiting Kings Island
It seems like every time I begin making plans for anywhere we are going to visit I come up with tips based on what we learned and experienced. Today at Kings Island Amusement Park, I believe I created tips for visiting Kings Island Amusement Park based on what we learned while experiencing the park.
Tips that make it easier to plan, easier to understand what you are about to head into, seem to just be calming, so I hope these are beneficial to you as well.
Food, Beverage, and Experiences At Kings Island Amusement Park
Tip 1 ~ Buy The 2016 Souvenir Drink Bottles
Dehydration during the summer months in amusement parks is real. You have to stay hydrated while you are walking the park, riding and enjoying yourself. Drinks averages about $4 per but, if you are there all day, plan on about 5 + drinks for 12 hours and you are at about $20-25.
Get online, before you ever head to Kings Island and buy the Souvenir Drink Bottles because after 2 refills the bottle pays for itself. In fact, if you live nearby and you bring the drink bottle back, it is only $1 refills each time.
I suggest the online method of purchase because in park the drink bottles are about $14 each, with free refills for the rest of the day (what a deal) but if you buy them online they were only $11 each, an even better value. There are refill stations all over the waterpark and the amusement park and most restaurants/eateries will also fill them up.
Staying hydrated is easy, and when you ride, you just leave your bottles in the ride area, and claim them when you get back.
Tip 2 ~ Food
Grab The All Day Dining Deal
You can read my food Finds HERE, but know, there is something for everyone, there are lots of places to eat at from sweets to treats, and the park is allergen friendly and latex free.
We did not see anyone bringing in coolers, (there are pavilion areas, but they are not in the park) and in fact the system that is in place the All Day Dining Deal, makes it possible to never reach for your wallet and dine all day!
Tip 3 ~ What You Won’t Need
Less is definitely more when you visit Kings Island Amusement Park. Most people entering had just a smaller backpack, with minimal items, and I would suggest sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a place to safely place your phone while you are riding (and not your pocket)
Tip 4 ~ WiFi & #KIBestDay
Now remember, I was coming out of Hocking Hills where we had NO Cell signal, no WiFi, and no GPS, so this was an extreme find, lol!
I was so happy to find WiFi that worked throughout the park. The WiFi was strong, and it allowed me to stay in touch while we were on the go. In fact, we took some great photos and I posted them because time spent at Kings Island Amusement Park deserves the hashtags #KIBestDay – you will understand once you go there.
Tip 4 ~ Weekday Park Going
My suggestion is as weekday jaunt to Kings Island. The lines are not bad, you don’t really need to Fast Lane Plus it, but if you do, you will really experience the ENTIRE park with ease. We really never stood in a long line and in fact the lines were not bad anywhere around the park. Our longest line was in Planet Snoopy at Surf Dog where we loaded and waited for about 15 minutes.
Tip 5 ~ Get To The Most Popular Coasters First
Diamondback is quite popular, boasts a nice big drop and can be seen throughout the parks. Get to this ride if you want to start your day off right, and then cross it off your list of rides. I also noticed a decrease in the line size on this ride at the end of the night, so perhaps you want to hold till the end of the day?
Tip 6 ~The Mobile App
The Kings Island Mobile App is free and fabulous and on my phone. We marked my car parking, navigated where we were in the park to where we wanted to go all day long. In addition, when we wanted food, we just went to the app and it told us how far we were from the particular food we were looking for.
The app also has bathroom locations, and ride wait times, and it can tell you when the shows are as well. This was a very useful tool and we all made sure it was on our phones while we were there. Sometimes while person was looking up food, the other was looking up rides. While ride times did not matter too much, because we had the Fast Lane Plus, the lines do meet and merge on some rides, so the Fast Lane Plus helps to a point, but there are still some waits.
Tip 7 ~FAST LANE PLUS
Get ready for the Ultimate in Kings Island experiences because the Fast Lane Plus will get you through the lines like lightening. You get to enjoy all the Fast Lane attractions, but wait there’s more!…..unlimited rides on the Banshee, The Beast, Firehawk, and Fast Lane Plus in SOAK CITY (the waterpark side) with unlimited rides on Tropical Plunge, Zoom Flume, Thunder Falls, Rendezvous Run.
Tip 8 ~ It’s Cool In Soak City
Hello to fun and no waiting. Here’s the deal, you and I both know that at any park there will be some waiting that is just to be expected, but if you can take the wait out of the possible wait, you have a wonderful day and we did!
The SOAK CITY is where we found the most value (though it helped us through the entire park as well), but zipping through lines and getting to the Zoom Flume without waiting was priceless and something we did a lot!
I have to say, I did not like when people shot us glares of ‘how dare you’ then again I thought, “why did you buy these passes?” they rock it. Every park has their own system, but these are just a brilliant way to get your attractions in and move throughout the park.
Your admission to Kings Island includes Soak City, and it’s a blast. Get wet, slide, swim in the wave pools (yes there are a few!), splash in the lazy river or just hang out, there is something for everyone.
How about chairs? There are loads of chairs, you just have to look around and people are always moving so don’t get discouraged, chairs are poolside and I found 3 and lounged!
Tip 9 ~ Souvenirs & Photos
I loved the stores in the park and one that reminded me of a large Florida-theme park was the Glass Blower’s Shop. This is a nice contiguous store, that goes part way down International Street. Honestly, inside there we were able to purchase some really nice sweatshirts and the price was Under $25, which is nothing for an in-park purchase.
Additionally, the cashier took our photo for us, in front of the Eiffel Tower as it was the end of day and the sun looked perfect against this awesome architecture.
The top of the Eiffel Tower will give you the best views of the park and landscape…. if you are ok with heights. Get up there, photo and remember that the end of the night also offers grand photo opportunities in front of it as it is lit at the base.
Tip 10~ Plan On Walking
You will walk more than you think and in fact you won’t even realize it, so don’t forget to stroll, and take in the small things like this cool landscaped clock fixture located near the base of the Eiffel Tower, all of the beautiful flowers and many of the stores and their products.
Kings Island Amusement Park Is A Destination
Kings Island is an experience that allows you thrills, fun, entertainment and great food. It’s nice to be able to find it all at one location.
I suggest purchasing tickets online before you go, adding in the Fast Lane Plus or at least the Fast Lane. Buying these online saves you time when getting into the park and also saves you money. Don’t forget to buy your souvenir drink cups online ahead of time too to save money and keep hydrated and of course, the All Day Dining Deal which you can read more about here.
Sharon says
March 18, 2018 at 4:09 pmHi Dana, you make it sound like a great spot to visit.
The pictures are also very good and make me think I must be traveling very soon to this spot.
Great guidance and tips again.
Cheers Sharon…
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Stacy D. Holmes says
August 6, 2017 at 11:34 pmGreat post!
I like travelling in the Kings Islands very much!
Thanks for your useful tips! 🙂
My trip is full of fun when I follow these trips!
Allie Smith says
June 28, 2017 at 3:03 amGreat tips for visiting kings island. Useful for our family, we will have a trip next month. Thank you.
Abha says
April 19, 2017 at 3:45 amThanks for your great tips!
I just followed your advice and I really have great fun in the theme park in my city!
I really enjoy the entertainment in the parks and the whole trips make me fully relaxed! 🙂
Joseph Vazquez says
April 9, 2017 at 10:13 pmGreat tips for Kings Islands, I hope to visit it now. Thanks for your shared.
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Beston June says
March 22, 2017 at 1:19 amfrom your post, I see that the kings Island must be an interesting places to go and I think many people including myself will have a fun day there if we follow your suggestions! Thanks for your sharing!
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Hengly says
December 4, 2016 at 12:16 pmWow up to top 1tip for visit Kings Island. Very good article thank for shared.
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Theresa says
August 17, 2016 at 10:56 pmWe have lived a few hours from Kings Island for years, but have never been. I need to add it to our travel bucket list for next summer! Thanks for the tips to make the trip a lot smoother!
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Jocelyn Brown says
August 3, 2016 at 7:36 pmThis looks like it was just too much fun! I would like to here one day! I love the photo bombing dude haha
Robin Rue says
August 3, 2016 at 7:39 amThe fast lane passes are definitely worth it at parks like this especially if you don’t go there all the time. That way you can experience way more in one trip.
Crystal says
August 2, 2016 at 8:57 pmThat looks like so much fun! I’ve found that it’s easier to get on the popular rides early in the day like you mentioned here. Hope to make it to Kings Island soon.
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Rosey says
August 2, 2016 at 8:42 pmI love when you don’t have to wait in the lines too long. We had that at Michigan’s Adventure. We NEVER have that at Cedar Point, but I do love that park so. I’ve always wanted to go to King’s Island. Maybe this will be the year. 🙂
Kita Bryant says
August 2, 2016 at 5:14 pmI’ve never been here but always wanted to go. It looks beautiful and sounds like you have a great list of places to visit!
kristin says
August 2, 2016 at 1:47 pmThis sounds so fun! Lots of walking for sure but totally worth it! I like that they give you options to buy your drinks ahead of time.
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Dawn McAlexander says
August 2, 2016 at 12:44 pmThe walking part would get me. Bleh! When we went to Disney, my feet hurt so bad that I couldn’t hardly make it back to the hotel. We wound up renting me a wheelchair. That worked much better. I would probably do that here too.
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Amanda Love says
August 2, 2016 at 12:30 pmThat’s pretty awesome! I would love to take the kids here at least before the summer ends! Thanks for all the wonderful tips!
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Nikki Wayne says
August 2, 2016 at 7:39 amOh, it would be so nice to go there! I wish we can make it this year, my son will surely enjoy.
Toni | BoulderLocavore.com says
August 2, 2016 at 7:34 amThanks for all these tips! I will definitely try tip #5!! Looks like the perfect place this summer!
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Rachel Ferrucci says
August 2, 2016 at 12:05 amThis looks like a fun amusement park and we’ll need to put it on our list when we head out that way
Melisasource says
August 1, 2016 at 11:40 pmThe next time my family and I visit Cincinnati, we’ll have to add King’s Island to the trip plans. This place looks like a great time.
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Liz Mays says
August 1, 2016 at 11:33 pmOoh,great advice. King’s Island sounds like fun. There would be so much to do there on a little family trip.
Val says
August 1, 2016 at 11:07 pmThese are all wonderful tips, I will have to look into visiting here sometime. Be nice to get a one last Summer vacation trip in!
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Mitch says
August 1, 2016 at 9:15 pmWhat a great vacation spot! We are always in search of fun places across America.
And these tips are a must have before we go.
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Stefanie says
August 1, 2016 at 8:54 pmI haven’t been to Kings Island— but it looks like a lot of fun! Thanks for the tips 🙂
meagan says
August 1, 2016 at 8:24 pmThis looks like a lot of fun.
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Chrystal | Nevermore Lane says
August 1, 2016 at 7:21 pmI have never been to Kings Island. It looks like a fun place and great for the whole family.
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Lisa Favre says
August 1, 2016 at 6:37 pmWow! King’s Island sounds like a great place to visit. Definitely need to check this out more.
Pam says
August 1, 2016 at 6:28 pmThe all day dining deal definitely sounds like a great way to save money. These are great tips, thank you for sharing.
Catherine S says
August 1, 2016 at 5:09 pmThanks for this tips. This looks a great place for a fun family outing.
Jeanine says
August 1, 2016 at 2:36 pmI’d love to visit Kings Island if and when I get the chance to! Sounds like some great things to be done and seen, and this is helpful for planning a great visit!
Brandy says
August 1, 2016 at 1:46 pmI’ve never been to Kings Island before but it looks like fun! This is definitely a place the whole family can enjoy!
Stacie says
August 1, 2016 at 12:10 pmI think my family would have a fantastic time at King’s Landing. We’ve never been, but I’ve had some friends who’ve been. They said it was the best time ever.
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