Amusement Park Thrills Await You at Kings Island!
Written: Sep 17 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lots of Great Roller Coasters
Cons: Long Lines at the Top Attractions
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| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Paramount's Kings Island |
Located about halfway between Dayton and Cincinnati on I-71, Kings Island is a large amusement park, owned and operated by Paramount Entertainment. You will know when you get close to the park because you will see the Kings Island Eiffel Tower in the distance, a replica of the famous tower in Paris, scaled down to 1/3 the size of the original. This park has been open now for nearly 30 years and it features some of the nation's best roller coasters.
Admission Prices:
One thing you should know about visiting Kings Island: It's NOT cheap! An adult admission will cost you $40 and a child's admission (ages 3 to 6) will cost you $20. The parking rate is $7 per carload. So, if you have a family of four that includes two kids over 6, your general admission tickets and your parking will cost you $167.00 total! And that doesn't even include the cost of food and games, when you get into the park. If you intend to visit Kings Island frequently, I recommend buying a season pass. A family season pass costs $250 (plus $63 for each additional family member, if you have more than 4), and a season parking pass sells for $20. Just two visits to the park will pay for the price of a family season pass. The individual season pass costs $76, so it also pays for itself with just two visits. Children 2 and under are admitted free of charge.
Attractions:
Kings Island has a total of approx. 80 rides, including everything from a simple, peaceful, carousel ride; to very large, fast- moving roller coasters. The main attraction of Kings Island is the coasters. There are a total of ten: The Beast, Son of Beast, King Cobra, Outer Limits, Racer, Adventure Express, Top Gun, Face Off, Vortex, and the Beastie.
The Beast still holds the world record for being the world's longest coaster. The track is nearly 1.5 miles in length (7,400 feet, to be precise) and it's also one of the longest rides I know of, in terms of actual time spent on the ride. The total time is about 3.5 minutes- double the length of most roller coasters. Part of the reason for the long length is that the Beast has two large drops of around 140 feet each. The first drop takes you straight down into a small tunnel. The second drop is just as thrilling. You reach the top of the hill, then you start to descend slowly at first, then faster and faster, on your way through circular tunnels.
Son of Beast is the newest coaster. It has broken new records for being the tallest wooden coaster in the world, with a drop of 214 feet, and it's the world's only wooden coaster with a loop. It reaches speeds close to 80 miles per hour.
King Cobra is a stand- up, steel coaster with loops. It can get a little uncomfortable for some people, because of the way you have to strap yourself in. The other bad thing about this ride is that it's very short: just over a minute in length.
Outer Limits is interesting. This coaster is completely enclosed, in a warehouse- type building. The ride is mostly in the dark, although you can see a few flashes of light. Be forewarned: the initial "launch" of this coaster is very abrupt, and it could hurt someone who experiences neck pain.
The Racer is the oldest coaster in the park. It consists of two coasters with identical tracks, placed side by side. One side goes forward and the other goes backward. The great thing about this ride is that the wait is short. It usually takes no more than 30 minutes total to wait in line, ride the coaster, and exit.
Adventure Express is a lame steel coaster, devoid of any speed, loops, or anything else to make it interesting. This is the type of coaster you ride once, and never ride again. It is a good beginner's roller coaster for kids, but that's about it.
Top Gun is a suspended coaster, with the cars hanging down from the track above. It's a decent ride, but much too short for the time you invest waiting in line, which is around 90 minutes to 2 hours.
Face- Off is a new coaster, similar to Top Gun in the sense that the seating is below the track. To add to the fun, you are seated facing other people, so you can watch the expressions of fear on people's faces. This is a good ride, but the wait is very long- over 2 hours, and the ride is short.
Vortex is a good ride. It's a large steel coaster, with a steep drop and several twists and loops. The wait isn't too bad, compared to the other roller coasters, and the thrill is worth it.
The Beastie is a children's roller coaster, located in the kid's section of the park. It's fine for children, but adults will find that it's too tame and boring to bother with.
Other Rides:
In addition to the roller coasters, Kings Island does have some other fun rides, like Drop Zone, the world's tallest gyro drop, and Sky Flyer a ride that simulates bunji jumping and hang gliding. Sky Flyer takes you up about 170 feet, strapped into a harness and hanging from a cable. Then, it releases you into a free fall. You can hear the screams from far away, as thrill- seekers drop straight down and then glide back and forth on a massive cable swing. You should note that this ride does cost extra.
Kings Island also has a large water park, called "Water Works" which is included with your admission price. There are also many live shows to watch and two kids areas: Hanna- Barbera Land and Nickelodean Splat City.
Final Thoughts:
This amusement park is fun for the whole family, although it can get costly and the waits in line can get long. I recommend going during the week, if possible, and not on Saturday, to avoid the long waits. Also, remember that the park is only open on weekends in April, May, Sept, and October. It's open daily from Memorial Day through late August. There is a campground and several hotels in the area to accommodate tourists, but they can fill up quickly on weekends. So, plan ahead and enjoy your trip to Kings Island Amusement Park!
Recommended:
Yes
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