I didn't know KI was doing this, and I am pretty sure it is new, correct me if I am wrong, but here it is on KI's own website:

http://www.visitkingsisland.com/visit/visit_vip.cfm

Just thought this was intresting..

EDIT: Yikes! $200! KIC gives me the same thing for $6 plus even more!

I've been hoping the park would start doing this for a long time now, great to see they've finally decided to host them.

And G-Force, KICentral gave you a similar thing for $30. The main differences are that these tours include parking, are much smaller (maximum of eight per a group), include front-of-the-line access, and are not on a schedule. I think KICentral still offers a better value, however.

G-Force, I do believe the $199 gets you many things you won't be able to experience at KIC day...and KIC day gives you other things you cannot experience on a VIP tour. Apples and oranges.

G-Force, I do believe the $199 gets you many things you won't be able to experience at KIC day...and KIC day gives you other things you cannot experience on a VIP tour. Apples and oranges.

I understand that but I would like to take my apples and leave for $194 cheaper!

^The KICentral winter event features a lot less than the summer event. I think the summer event's cost, $30, is more appropiate when comparing a KICentral event to the new VIP Tours.

So how do you like them apples?

Terpy, who just HAD to

You all think THAT is pri$ey? Go visit the CF flagship park.. a VIP tour is $400 at Cedar Point.

Watch carefully. If many, many people buy the VIP tours at Kings Island, the price WILL go up. You can depend on it. Demand, supply and inelasticity.

Terpy, who knows a little something about economics, marketing, etc.

Six Flags parks that offer a similar VIP tour also offer unlimited food, beverages, and games all day. All games means you can continually play a game, getting better and better, until you leave the park with a truck-load of giant stuffed animals and a few hundred-dollars worth of technology. However, Six Flags charges more for their event, if I am not mistaken.

Great Adventure: $299 per person, minimum of four:

http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure/info/viptours.aspx

Gets you:

This experience will make you feel like a star with:

* Private tour guide for your family or group for the entire day

* Front-of-the-line access to rides with tour guide

* Preferred parking

* Theme park, waterpark and safari admission

* Preferred show seating

* Private autograph session with your favorite LOONEY TUNES and Justice League characters like BUGS BUNNY, Batman and more

* Lunch and dinner with reserved seating at select restaurants

* Meals, snacks & non-alcoholic beverages for each Guest

* Complimentary games

* Souvenir ride photo

* Go-kart ride, rock-wall climb and a paintball session per Guest

Rather do the Safari?

VIP OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE

Go behind-the-scenes in your own private Land Rover with your personal Safari tour guide. Come face-to-face with graceful giraffes and African elephants.

Tour the Lion Compound and other winter homes of our Safari residents. The

2½-3 hour tour includes a souvenir T-shirt. The VIP Off-Road Adventure is $149.99 per guest. Park admission is additional. Presented by Land Rover.

For information on safari tour options and reservations, call (732) 928-2000 x2076. Availability is limited so please book in advance.

Busch Gardens Africa also includes certain VIP events. My Dad and I decided to try their Howl-O-Scream tour in September of 2007. It gave us priority seating at two shows, no-waits for all haunted houses, walk-throughs on each scare-zone, admission, a lanyard, a tour guide, and a meal. It was for roughly $100 and proved to be a decent deal.

Interesting that you don't pay for the VIP tour in advance....

That it is. That part is a bit confusing.

The VIP tour sounds like a good idea if I was coming from out of town and did not have alot of time the spend at the park.

I would love to do that but i am not sure i would want to fork over that much cash when i can use my gold pass and get double rides! I mean $199 per person is a tad bit ridiculous. But never-the-less it is a very good idea and i think it will go over very well, that is if the word gets out and everyone hears about it. It could also prove for some interesting TR's on here.

I would love to do that but i am not sure i would want to fork over that much cash when i can use my gold pass and get double rides! I mean $199 per person is a tad bit ridiculous. But never-the-less it is a very good idea and i think it will go over very well, that is if the word gets out and everyone hears about it. It could also prove for some interesting TR's on here.

Season pass holders aren't the demographic they'd be going after for something like this.

In the for what it is worth department, it is virtually essential to reserve VIP tours in advance at Great Adventure. Why? They sell out, virtually every day!

I would love to do that but i am not sure i would want to fork over that much cash when i can use my gold pass and get double rides! I mean $199 per person is a tad bit ridiculous. But never-the-less it is a very good idea and i think it will go over very well, that is if the word gets out and everyone hears about it. It could also prove for some interesting TR's on here.

Season pass holders aren't the demographic they'd be going after for something like this.

Yes i know. The one group i can see this really affecting is the out of state or even out of country amusement groups that want to see views of the park never seen. Hopefully Coastercrew will come and make another podcast.

I would tend to think they are designed around the engineering crowd and then the out of town enthusiast, kind of like what GA has. It is amazing what you learn when you put theory to work and are able to see it.

In the for what it is worth department, it is virtually essential to reserve VIP tours in advance at Great Adventure. Why? They sell out, virtually every day!

And yet, even on the busiest of days at GAdv, a Gold Flash Pass is almost as good!!

But nevertheless, the VIP tours are best for corporate types taking advantage of write-off's or the company dime, the far-flung out of town'ers who can only visit on a busy day, or the Indian Hills types who can drop the coin without flinching or live otherwise busier lives and don't wait for a lot of things.

On the other hand, a Gold Flash Pass can cost almost as much as a VIP tour at Great Adventure. Just reminds me what a value Q to Q is at Dollywood! Even Kings Island's VIP tours are a supreme value compared to the prices charged at Great Adventure for what appears to be a comparable experience.

I think the value for the tours are pretty good, considering what you get for your money. I mean, you get food, drinks, front of the line access , and it lasts eight hours. Would I like to do a tour, heck yeah! Would I be willing to pay $199, definitely not! Oh well.

For the Tours do you think most people just go for the quick ride lines, well I mean I know no one wants to waste $199 just for front of the line passes but i'm sure some park obsessors do.

Ever since I was 10 I had the idea to have tours and then told my teacher that works there and he said it was a good idea. They totally stole my ideas!!! I want to be tour guide sooo bad.