Which Park???

[Joe Moffitt]

Hello everyone. My name is Joe, I've been checking out TPR for awhile now and decided to make an account here.

Now on to my question's, I have here...

Wife and I are trying to plan a family trip to an amusement park, We live in Maine so all the big amusement park's are a drive ((or flight)) from where we live. We've been to Disneyland, loved it but I wanted to  experience other amusement park's. We are a family of 5
Wife
Husband
14 year old (boy)
12 year old (boy)
4 year old (girl)
 

Amusement Park's we've been looking at are

Six Flags New England
Cedar Point
Kings Island
Kings Dominion

Note: I'm looking for a park that offer's a good selection of rides for all ages ((not just rollercoaster's)), we aren't taking the trip anytime soon, probably within a year maybe 2.
Any in-sight or if anyone could share their experience to or any of these park's that be helpful. Thank's

[grsupercity]

Buy A Cedar Fair Platinum pass and Do Michigan's Adventure, Cedar Point, Kings island, kings Dominion and maybe Dorney  

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Welcome Joe! I can help on the Midwestern parks. If you liked Disneyland and are looking for a similar experience, Kings Island is going to be a bit closer than Cedar Point is. Cedar Point has a LOT of rides, but their main focus is roller coasters. Kings Island is more balanced; for example, they have a log flume that is very fun and not too intense, so it's good for all ages, while Cedar Point doesn't have a log flume at all.

 

Of course, if you're going that far, you may want to do several things in the area, in which case the Platinum Pass may be worth it. It's pricey; you'll pay over $1000 for the five of you (but it's not like Disneyland is cheap either), but I think it also makes for a saner pace as well. You can do a couple of days at Kings Island and a couple of days at Cedar Point and you won't have to pay more for tickets, just food and lodging. 

 

In between Cincinnati and Sandusky you could take a day in Columbus. They have an excellent zoo and an excellent aquarium. If you prefer to skip Columbus, it's only a four-hour drive between Cincinnati and Sandusky. Plenty of options.

[Joe Moffitt]

Hello, thank's for the reply's back.

5 hours ago, grsupercity said:

Buy A Cedar Fair Platinum pass and Do Michigan's Adventure, Cedar Point, Kings island, kings Dominion and maybe Dorney  

However, due the money and driving, we'll only want to do 1 park, maybe 2 (Both Ohio's)

 

4 hours ago, ytterbiumanalyst said:

Welcome Joe! I can help on the Midwestern parks. If you liked Disneyland and are looking for a similar experience, Kings Island is going to be a bit closer than Cedar Point is. Cedar Point has a LOT of rides, but their main focus is roller coasters. Kings Island is more balanced; for example, they have a log flume that is very fun and not too intense, so it's good for all ages, while Cedar Point doesn't have a log flume at all.

 

Of course, if you're going that far, you may want to do several things in the area, in which case the Platinum Pass may be worth it. It's pricey; you'll pay over $1000 for the five of you (but it's not like Disneyland is cheap either), but I think it also makes for a saner pace as well. You can do a couple of days at Kings Island and a couple of days at Cedar Point and you won't have to pay more for tickets, just food and lodging. 

 

In between Cincinnati and Sandusky you could take a day in Columbus. They have an excellent zoo and an excellent aquarium. If you prefer to skip Columbus, it's only a four-hour drive between Cincinnati and Sandusky. Plenty of options.

I see that Kings Island has a kid zone (Planet Snoopy?? I believe) and that's good for our 4 year old. However, with us traveling from Maine doing any type of Season Pass "may" or "may not" be in our money range. As for water rides, not so much but kids do love them when they are hot etc. 

Question: Is Cedar Point/Kings Island owned by the same people? Or company I mean?
 

Wife and I just talked about it, we could do Cedar Point and Kings Island depending on our money. With Cedar Point being 2 hours 15 minutes from our friend that lives in Columbus  and Kings Island is about an hour's drive. 
Like I said before it'll be awhile before we go and I would like to hear some stories from either one. 

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Yes, Kings Island and Cedar Point are owned by the same parent company, Cedar Fair. Each one has its own season pass, but the Platinum Pass gets you access to both parks (and all the other ones owned by Cedar Fair). There is also a combo ticket that gives you one day at Kings Island and one day at Cedar Point for around $75. It does not include parking, though, which is about $20 at each park. So tickets and parking for your family of 5 would be $415, significantly cheaper than the Platinum Pass.

 

Kings Island's kids area, Planet Snoopy, is awesome and huge! It has 3 roller coasters that are good for litle kids, and lots and lots of rides, play areas, etc. Your 4 year old will likely enjoy Kings Island more than Cedar Point, which has two small children's areas but even combined they don't have as many things for kids to do as Kings Island.

[SharkTums]

I'll be honest, Cedar Point will not be the best choice for your family until your youngest is 54".  Maybe a Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and some culture stuff would be a fun choice?

[bert425]

BGW/KD, with a few days at Smithsonian Museums in Washington was one of the best 6 day trips we've ever taken.

lots of fun, BGW is GORGEOUS, and we loved the culture aspects in both Colonial Williamsburg, and in DC (you pass right by KD on the way to DC from BGW. .so we stopped in for a full day at KD before continuing on to Washington to check into our hotel - I highly recommend the Courtyard Marriott at Foggy Bottom. . it's right off the mall and close to university, so very safe "walking" area, and prices were incredibly reasonable).

 

 

but I'm surprised nobody responded with suggestion for HersheyPark/Knoebels trip.
Knoebels really is a PERFECT family park, with an incredible mix of fantastic coasters, flats, a swimming area, a mini golf course, walk thru museums (and live eagles), great (and inexpensive) food, Fascination, and best of all - free entry and free parking.

the place really is magical.

[disownedpear]

^Was about to say the exact thing, I think a Hershey/Knoebels or even just Knoebels trip would be great for this group as well.