When to visit Kings Island this week?

[DBru]

My brother is playing in a ball tournament right outside of Cincinnati starting on Friday, so I am planning on visiting Kings Island while we are in the area. We have the choice of going to the park on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, but each of these choices comes with a catch, so I'd like some help from you guys.

 

Obviously, the park will be the least crowded on Thursday. I don't mind waiting in lines, but my friend that's going with me does. The catch: if we visit on Thursday, we have to leave the house around 6am and drive to Cincinnati, PLUS, we'll have to watch all three days of my brother's tournament. (Don't get me wrong, I love a good baseball game...but their games tend to get pretty long and boring.)

 

If we visit on Friday, we will already be in Cinci, so we can sleep longer, and skip a day of baseball. Also, the weather forecast is better this day than the others. The catch: crowds will most likely be heavier than Thursday, and I'm afraid we won't have time to get in all the night rides we'd like to. (The Beast, Diamondback, Flight Deck)

 

The park is open till midnight on Saturday, so I wouldn't be too concerned about getting in multiple night rides, and again, we could skip a day of the baseball tournament. The catch: I'm sure that Kings Island is packed on Saturdays, and if the lines are unbearable, we probably won't have a very good time. However, there is a 30% chance of isolated storms on this day, so might this scare away some of the crowds?

 

I'm having a really hard time deciding what we should do, so I'd really appreciate any help you all have to offer. If you were in my situation, which day this week would you visit Kings Island?

[Cixot]

Thursday

 

I went last Thursday, and the lines were unbearable at times. It seemed like everything was walk on until around 12pm. We rode everything except FireHawk. Sleep is not an issue for me. I usually have no sleep before we go. And we go about 1-2 times a week.

 

Friday

 

I wouldn't go if I was you. It's going to be crowded.

 

Saturday

 

Since the park is closing at 12am only 4 times this year (besides HH later this year) I would expect the rides to be crowded. I can't remember who, but somebody on here said they had the busiest day working there, and it was the 2nd time they did this.

 

Obviously it's up to you. But since it's the middle of summer right now, the lines are just going to be longer then they usually are. I mean, I saw Diamondback, Flight of Fear, and Firehawk for the the first time with filled switchbacks and that was on a Thursday. Imagine how bad that would be on a weekend.

[scooterdoug]

Thursday. I'm of the opinion "the less people, the better". I personally find even major league baseball games to be painfully tedious, and I would gladly sit through three for a low crowd day at Kings Island. I have yet to visit the park, but would definitely go Thursday if I was in your shoes. Whatever you choose, have fun!

-Doug

[DBru]

When you say "filled switchbacks" on FOF, do you mean inside the building, or just those 4 rows outside?

[Cixot]

^ I didn't get a chance to look inside, but there are definitely more then 4. There's about 6-7.

[tedten]

Given your arguments stated above I'd probably go Saturday. 2nd choice would be Thursday. The Lines are probably going to suck on all 3 days so you might as well go on a night it's open until midnight to make sure you get all the rides in that you want to. If not Saturday I'd go thursday when the lines might suck just a tad bit less.

[CreditCrazy]

I would go with Friday. It's the summer, and I wouldn't expect crowds to be much different between Thursday and Friday (but Saturday would probably be extra crowded). On Friday, you can get sleep, there will be good weather, and you get to skip a day of baseball.

 

I went on Friday and a Saturday a month ago, and it was crowded but not packed. Now Saturday...that was packed.

[tedten]

^I see these points but I still think Saturday would be the best choice (if you can suffer through the day) in lieu of all the night rides you want to get. Staying open till midnight should make a huge difference especially at a park like Kings Island that seems to clear out pretty well towards the end of the night. Those last two hours should be golden for you as long as you could make it through the day.

[coasterbilly]

It's seriously a toss up to you man, I'm out here on my vacation in Ohio and went to Kings Island yesterday. Lines for Firehawk, Flight of Fear, Invertigo, and Diamondback were all an hour or more, even well into the evening. I walked on Racer and Flight Deck, but that's pretty much it, no matter when you go, you will have to wait. I'd say Saturday since you get an extra 2 hours in the park at night, plus if their is 30% chance of storms, you could hit jackpot if people get scared away from the rain.

 

PS- Diamondback was sick, prolly my new favorite B&M, and The Beast nightride took it back to my #1 spot again, no words for how sick it was!

[FlyingScooter]

They dropped their gate price to 22.99 from what i read elsewhere.

Have a good time!

[EnglndPatriots6]

I just got back from going yesterday and it was packed. Today would be good because up in kings mills area its just barely raining and the parking lot was about half full. Yesterday it was packed. I's say probably thursday or friday.

[WFChris]

Can you convince the powers that be to take you to KI on Thursday, and then have them drop you off at Coney Island on Friday or Saturday? Its relatively inexpensive, AND you get to miss out on some of that Baseball!

 

Chris.