A Fast Lane Tuesday with my 7 year old daughter

[Chalmers]

Hi KICentral! Just thought I'd give back to the community that was so useful in planning my first visit to Kings Island in nearly 20 years! (wow, am I really that old??) I decided to get Fast Lane passes for my 7 year old daughter and myself on a comfortable, 70ish overcast Tuesday. Why? Several reasons: 1. I haven't visited in nearly 20 years, 2. Because of where we live, we will not be able to visit again this year and possibly not in the next couple of years either, 3. I wanted a day of riding rides and enjoying the waterpark...not waiting in lines. As a teacher, I am far from wealthy, so it was an expensive hit for me for what it's worth.

Am I happy with my decision? Yes, in my case, it was a good buy. There were plusses and minuses which I shall go into. I realize probably most passes are purchased by big roller coaster enthusiasts. This review is from the perspective of a kid who is not yet into the bigger coasters and super thrill rides.

I don't think we waited more than 5 minutes to get on any ride all day! We rode every ride your average 7-year old might like at least once, and we rode her favorites multiple times (4-6 times): Surf Dog, Zephyr, Viking Fury. In addition we spent about 3 hours at the water park. There is absolutely NO WAY we would have been able to do many of these activities without the passes all in one day.

I'd say the passes payed off the most on Surf Dog. I actually felt kind of bad cutting in front of all those people. They make kind of a big production of letting the Fast Lane holders (in most cases only us..no other FL pass holders in line!) onto the ride first, and I kinda wish they hadn't done that. I actually insisted that my daughter ride something else first before coming back each time. I didn't want to cut in front, ride the ride and then immediately go back and cut in front of everyone again! That just seemed obnoxious. In the evening I heard some mumbled comments from someone in the regular line about "Oh, they have to let the Fast Lane holder on first" in a very condescending tone, and someone else responded " I hear ya" in a supportive way.

The following rides, we only rode once, but the passes saved us many hours of combined waiting time: Backlot Stunt Coaster, Monster, Scrambler, bumper cars, Boo Blasters, Monster, Race for your Life log flume, Flying Aerial Chase (we actually rode that twice).

The Fast Lane rides where the passes did NOT help us because there was essentially no wait anyway were the Zephyr swings, the Viking Fury, the Eifel Tower, and The Racer.

On a side note pertaining to Soak City, there is a significant security issue there. Not willing to give in on the exorbitant locker rental prices we just left our stuff in a couple of beach chairs leaving my money well-buried and hidden to make things inconvenient for a thief. When we returned to our chairs, our clothes were thrown off to the side and my backpack was open and leaning against the chair! Unbelievably, though, nothing was missing! It was almost as if something had scared them off in the process of rummaging. Also, when we selected a changing stall we noticed a wallet and keys next to an empty bag that had been abandoned in the stall! I let one of the workers know. Someone had obviously snatched a bag and gone in there to dig out the valuables before taking off. So let this info sink in if your planning on a water park visit. I never saw any security at all there until the abandoned bag incident at the end of our swimming hours.

So, I hope the info is of assistance to any weekday visitors thinking about the Fast Lane passes and your individual ride interests and situations.

Have a great day!

Chalmers

[YoungStud]

Glad you had a great day.

[jcgoble3]

Never, EVER leave anything unattended and unsecured in a public place. Lockers are provided for a reason. If you don't like the price, then park your car at the Soak City gate when you arrive in the morning and use your car as a locker when you go to the waterpark, like I do.

Otherwise, glad you had fun!

[Chalmers]

Never, EVER leave anything unattended and unsecured in a public place. Lockers are provided for a reason. If you don't like the price, then park your car at the Soak City gate when you arrive in the morning and use your car as a locker when you go to the waterpark, like I do.

Otherwise, glad you had fun!

Good points. But, unfortunately, Kings Island provides lockers for an important reason other than the one you imply(security of personal belongings). That reason is that they provide an opportunity for the park to make gobs of daily cash. If they want to jack up prices for food, souvenirs on a captive audience, fine. I don't like it, but I can accept that. But their insane $12-$15 locker price tags and lack of security personnel has created a thieves' paradise. If they want to keep the park safe for families, this high price locker policy is attracting an unsavory lot of characters that really is impacting their reputation in a very negative way. Lockers are extremely cheap to install.

Also, there actually are situations where people definitely should leave their things unattended and unsecured in a public place. Kings Island's water park is sadly one of those. Paying $12 to secure $80 worth of stuff is not a smart buy if the probability of getting your stuff swiped is less than 10%. There is a limit to how much one should pay for security. For most people, unless they're carrying $100s of dollars worth of valuables, King's Island has exceeded the price a rational person should pay.

Forgive me, but I used to be an actuary (one who sets insurance rates based on loss probabilities, etc) in a former professional life

[KI-ORIG-EMP]

When I go to the water park, I only carry the essentials such as a towel, flip flops, sun screen and a paper back book to read. I carry my ID, credit card, small amount of cash and car keys in a water proof container worn around my neck. I leave my cell phone and other valuables locked in the trunk of my car. As for the high price of food and the lockers, remember you are in the park and unless you go outside to eat, you will want to buy something. It is no different when you go to a professional baseball or football game where you are confined. Same with the price to park.

[Jr for Birdy]

I've been saying for years, I wish the KI police would set up bait and just kick thieves out of the park all day long, set a wagon up outside and give them court dates in Mason or however that would work? Now somebody can shoot down my idea, i don't care, I can't stand a thief. Glad you had a great day Chalmers and everyone hates the fastlane pass until they get one!

[ki lover]

I can understand the high food prices and what not, but $15 to store your stuff is just a flat out rip off by Kings Island and Cedar Fair. Also rides where you have to buy a locker, such as FOF, TTD, and MF is also a scam. I understand that you do not get off where you get on but that's just plain greed. Smh @ any park that does that. Period.

[jcgoble3]

Also rides where you have to buy a locker, such as FOF, TTD, and MF is also a scam. I understand that you do not get off where you get on but that's just plain greed. Smh @ any park that does that. Period.

You don't have to buy a locker for dry rides. You can instead choose to not carry so much crap in the first place and leave the unnecessary stuff in the car. Everything, and I mean everything, that I carry in the park fits in a fanny pack that I can take with me on the ride.

If you're carrying a backpack in the dry side of the park, you're carrying too much stuff. Period.

[coasterfanatic83]

It seems as if there has been an increase in thefts in Soak City recently. I wonder if the culprits are the same in a few of these reported cases...