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Kings Island

By , About.com Guide

Kings Island

Racer is one of the coasters at Kings Island.

© Arthur Levine, 2009. Licensed to About.com.

Overview:

Kings Island is an enormously popular theme park. Coasters are king here, and the legendary The Beast, the world's longest wood coaster, is thrill machine royalty. Diamondback, introduced in 2009, is a world-class hypercoaster and among the best steel coasters in North America.

Despite its revered status, I rank The Beast as one of the most overrated roller coasters in North America. At one time, perhaps, The Beast deserved its accolades, but it's been declawed and just doesn't hold up. Read more in my review of The Beast. If you're looking for a more classic wooden coaster experience, with plenty of airtime, head over to The Racer at Kings Island.

The Peanuts characters, such as Charlie Brown and Linus, come to life in Planet Snoopy and provide inspiration for some of the rides, including Sally's Sea Plane, The Great Pumpkin Coaster, and Woodstock Express. The park offers shows as well, including musicals and fireworks.

Soak City water park is included with admission and offers tons of slides, two wave pools, an interactive water play station, and an action river. Among the features is a funnel ride and a FlowRider surfing attraction.

Location and Phone:

Mason, Ohio, near Cincinnati

(800) 288-0808 or (513) 754-5700

Admission Policy

Kings Island offers pay-one-price all-day passes both at the gate and online (often at a reduced price). Discount tickets are available for children and seniors. Soak City water park is included with admission. The Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park is open to registered hotel guests only.

Directions and Hotel Info:

I-71 to OH-741, Exit 25. Paramount's Kings Island is northeast of Cincinnati.

Hotel Info
To stay on property:
Search for Great Wolf Lodge at Kings Island rates at About.com's booking partner, Kayak.

For hotels near the park:
Compare rates for Kings Island-area hotels at About.com's booking partner, Kayak.

Featured Attractions:

Huge assortment of coasters including the record-breaking The Beast wood coaster, the steel hypercoaster, Diamondback, the themed Backlot Stunt Track, and the indoor launched coaster, Flight of Fear. Other attractions include the 315-foot Drop Zone freefall tower.

Ride Reviews:

New at the Park:

For 2012:
Water park expansion
The water park gets a new name (Soak City) along with a newly themed lazy river and an expanded wave pool.

For 2011:
WindSeeker- Seated in two-person swing-style seats with their feet dangling, passengers will get lifted to the top of a 300-foot tall tower and spin around for a three-minute ride. As they spin, riders' seats will lift away from the tower at a 45-degree angle. Cedar Fair says that the ride will cost $5 million.

Dinosaurs Alive
Also coming to Kings Island for 2011 will be a new, extra-fee animated dinosaur exhibit. It will include dozens of life-size beasts, including a record-breaking 72-foot dinosaur.

New for 2010:
Planet Snoopy
The former Nickelodeon-themed rides for younger children get a Peanuts makeover.

New for 2009: Diamondback Hypercoaster

Halloween Event Info:

Water Parks:

Outdoor water park: The adjacent Soak City is included with admission to Kings Island.

Indoor water park: The adjacent Great Wolf Lodge at Kings Island is open to registered guests of the resort.

Pictures of the Park:

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