taking young kids in late October

[Mickfarland4]

Hi there! I recently booked a weekend getaway at GWL for my family at the end of Oct since DS doesn't have school one day. My kids are 2 and 5. I have read here that Sat. during Halloween Haunts are very crowded and was wondering how this effects the kiddie rides for them? DH and I probably won't ride much because it is just us two with them and we aren't sure how we feel about riding things alone. Any suggestions to make our day at KI great even while busy? I am so excited for this trip and haven't been to KI since I was a young teen(I am now in my 30s)! Staying and going to KI on Sunday is not an option as DS needs to return to school on Monday and we have a 4 hour trip home. Thanks!

p.s. Are the fastlane passes in addition to regular admission? I assumed it was completely seperate.

[Oldschool75]

I do believe on haunt weekends Planet Snoopy closes around 7 pm. Usually during the day is not bad, it's when haunt open it gets busy.

[medford]

I've never been on a saturday during the haunt, only on a sunday (with kids)

Some suggestions, get there early, so even if there are crowds you can get a good amount of rides in before the park gets really packed. Saturdays in the fall are typically busy times for families, soccer games, football, school stuff, etc... I wouldn't expect the early morning/afternoon to be too crowded.

Get your kids measured when you get into the park, they'll give them wrist bands to wear so they don't have to be measured on each ride. There is a measuring station in Planet Snoopy b/w boo blasters and the great pumpkin coaster. There is also one by the front gate, to the left of the fountains and where you buy your fast passes. Its kind of tucked back into a corner, but if you go past the stroller rental area you should see it on your right.

Have an idea of your kids heights before you go and consult the parks website for what they can ride. My son recently turned 5 and just millimeters away from reaching 48", though he's pretty tall for his age, he's super excited to get on The Racers, beast, etc... however you don't want to hype up those rides if your 5 year old won't be able to ride. On the flip side, also keep in mind that your 5 year old isn't confined to just Planet Snoopy. White Water Canyon and Congo Falls (though in late october those may not be good choices, they may even be shut down?) are 46" height restrictions. Viking Fury is 40", Monster and Scrambler are 36" (one may be 40" can't recall exactly), shake rattle and roll is 42" I believe.

One of the best things the park does, is turn their Dinosaurs Alive exhibit into a treak or treat w/ the dinosaurs in the fall. you still have to pay the upcharge ($5 a person I think), but the kids will get various candy or trinkets at several stations spaced thru the walk. The dinos themselves are pretty neat and if you haven't been in so long, I'd recommend that trick or treat with the dinos option.

The water park is shut down, but they turn it into a kids haunt area. There are games, mazes, a foaming pit (might want a change of clothes, lots of kids wear costumes as well), etc... in that area. Its pretty well done. You can park over there and take the train to the main area, which will put you relatively close to Planet Snoopy, or you can park by the main entrance and take the train over to the water park/kids haunt area.

If you get there early enough, and your 5 year old is 44" tall, get on flying ace arial chase early. The line moves slowly and it may be too long of a wait later in the day (even on a non busy day). If you want to do woodstock whirly birds, I'd do that early as well. Honestly, its pretty boring, and the lines moves very, very slowly, so if you can get on it when there is no line you're much better off. The rest of everything in Planet Snoopy moves fairly quickly.

[CoasterFreak45]

Make sure to be gone by night, if your kids scare easy. Of course, many times I have witnessed little kids laughing their heads off at the scareactors, while the parents cower in fear.

[Mickfarland4]

Thanks so much! I did not know a lot of this about the trick or treating, or kid's haunt area! Now I am even more excited to go for them. They do not know we are going. We will be surprising our oldest the night before or even morning we leave. He will hound us if we tell him now! Both are on the short side though so DS certainly won't be riding any big coasters. He may not even be 42" tall. My other one is not even 36" so I am a little concerned about what he can do. I've been looking and I thought he could do scrambler and monster because they had no height restrictions posted?? Does someone know for sure? Thank you again for all the great info!

[medford]

^^^ with that note, also beware that the scare actors start migrating to their areas (often in full or near full costume/makeup) prior to the start of the evening haunt. So that if you're leaving at 6:00 ish you might wake past a handful of zoombies. It didn't phase my son at the time, the actors weren't doing anything other than walking back to their area w/ pizza in hand, but some kids are more squemish than others.

[jcgoble3]

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/plan-a-visit/rider-height-requirements

Scrambler has a 36" height requirement. Monster and Boo Blasters have none at all.

[medford]

If your youngest is under 36", here is what they can do in Planet Snoopy:

Other Attractions
Character Carousel (maximum 60 inches; less than 46 inches must be accompanied by a responsible person)
Joe Cool's Dodgem School (maximum 54 inches)
Linus Beetle Bugs (maximum 54 inches)
Peanuts 500 (maximum 54 inches)
Peanuts Off-Road Rally (maximum 54 inches)
Sally's Sea Plane (maximum 60 inches; less than 42 inches must be accompanied by a responsible person)
Snoopy's Junction (maximum 60 inches; less than 40 inches must be accompanied by a responsible person)
Snoopy's Spash Dance (no height requirement)
Woodstock Whirlybirds (less than 42 inches must be accompanied by a responsible person)

Don't know your dimensions, but sally's sea plane and snoopy Junctions (both of which a responsible person will have to ride with them) are not super roomy. I can get in no problem, but a larger person may not fit, something to keep in mind. There is plenty of room in the whirly birds, everything else I doubt parents are even allowed on.

A couple of notes, I'm guessing your 2 year old won't get the concept of turning the car on the dodgem so they'll essentially be a sitting target. Cars don't move all that fast, so I wouldn't worry about his safety, but it may not be something he enjoys. Snoopy's splash dance is a terrible design. the kids go in one side, walk thru the water, then exit on the other side of the attraction. You can't get to the other side as they come out, so either you've got to trust that they'll exit and come back around to the begining, or have your spouse on the other side. As I write this, I remember that you're going in October, I'm guessing that will be closed anyways since its a water attraction where you basically get sprayed w/ water. Also check the schedule for shows, your 2 year old will be able to enjoy that. There really isn't a ton for a kid under 36" to do at the park.

[zombiejane]

Get to a measuring station early. The main place is over by Boo Blasters and the line for that can get long.. I've heard of a 2nd station, but I don't know where it is.

Once they are measured, they'll get a colour coded wrist band according to their height. It makes getting through the lines easier so you don't do a lot of waiting to find out they are too short. Even if they aren't tall enough to ride a lot of the rides, there are usually a ton of activities to keep them occupied.

[TheCrypt]

There is a measuring station near the Fast Lane booth at the front gate.

[medford]

There is a measuring station near the Fast Lane booth at the front gate.

As I mentioned before, its not exactly easy to spot, you have to walk towards and past the Fast Lane booth, its tucked into a corner behind there, it should be more visable.

[OldieButGoodie]

There is a measuring station near the Fast Lane booth at the front gate.

^^ to the left of the main entrance as you enter (toward the Festhaus).

Kids can also wear costumes, but no masks when haunt begins (at least in years past) primarily intended towards adults. There are also some 'attractions' at haunt that are not appropriate for kids, the electric chair, maybe the jack in a box. And I was once cautioned because I had my little guy (8 or so at the time I think) when I went to watch Hot Blooded due to its suggestive dance moves. I told 'em he watches The Man Show with me, figured he was ok. The Scareactors DO try to scare everybody, so if they're there, they are fair game. Most times my kids are fine, but at least once my youngest was surprised and jumped right out of his skin. Took me a while to settle him down.

Then also DO NOT allow re-entry after 7. KI now provides a receipt for parking so you can leave/re-enter the parking area, but you may not re-enter the park after 7pm so make sure you're ready to be there by then. And HAVE FUN!

[Jr for Birdy]

I have a 2 and 4 year old and if we take them on Saturday during Haunt we are out the front gate around 5. I have been without the kids and see parents with small children out late during Haunt and it makes me sick. Just my opinion.

[DiamondBackGirl]

I have a 2 and 4 year old and if we take them on Saturday during Haunt we are out the front gate around 5. I have been without the kids and see parents with small children out late during Haunt and it makes me sick. Just my opinion.

I agree! last year saw a lady pushing a stroller around through one of the houses. its horrible! leave the kids at home after 7...another thing is every single year I see people complain on KI's facebook about how their kids got scared. or something was inappropriate. I remember one in particular was a lady complaning about the half pint brawlers saying her and her kids were trying to enjoy dinner and they ruined it. all I could think was really?!

[xXDrummerKiDXx]

Halloween Haunt is NOT a place for young children.

Unless you have some brave kids. Haha.