With the fear of rain this weekend, I'm trying to set a plan B in case I have to waste some time. What shops should I definitely take the time to check out?

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If you're a bargain hunter, Coney Confections (aka the "everything $10 and under" store) at the entrance to Coney Mall. They have a couple racks of clearanced t-shirts and ball caps, all for $5 each. They add new ones periodically, so it is always my first choice for shopping. The only problem is typically each shirt will only be available in one or two sizes, and sometimes they will have sun bleaching from having been in other shop windows for too long. There are some other discounted things as well, and if you're looking for merchandise for rides that no longer exist or have been renamed, it's the most likely place to find it.

The 80's shop is fun. I'm always finding interesting things I never saw elsewhere.

The Sweet Spot is not to be missed. Freshly made fudge, caramel apples, and other confections. A wall of pick-a-mix candy including saltwater taffy in my favorite flavor: maple bacon!

The 80s store, most definitely, a lot of rare items you can find that aren't sold in most stores.

Also as Magenta Lizard has already said before, the $10 and under store is a great place to find deals from candy to t-shirts. Last year I got a Vortex hat really cheap. There are tons of deals at that shop.

Random Question: Is Kings Island selling any merchandise with the new Bat logo?

The 80's shop is one of the stores that still sells those mugs that are black with neon names of a lot of rides that aren't at Kings Island anymore.  Most notably The Crypt.

 

EDIT:  This one:

http://www.kimarketplace.com/Kings-Island-Neon-Ride-Names-Mug-P390.aspx

I love the 80's store! I never went in the $10 and under store, honestly because I wasn't impressed with their window display but I will now!

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One of my favorites is The Emporium, located on International Street. It's a great place to find all kinds of interesting hats, shirts, keychains, etc.

The 80s store is a good one. We visit the Ten Dollar Tree from time to time to check out the clearance items.

Random Question: Is Kings Island selling any merchandise with the new Bat logo?

Ive seen an old school original Bat shirt for sale but not one with the new logo

There's a shop that sells awesome "snakeskin" mugs, with ceramic snakes in the middle of the cup, so that it "emerges" from your drink as you sip away. It's in the strip of shops that connects to the Emporium. Most unique thing I've seen in the park in awhile. I don't remember whether it was branded Diamondback or not. Anyway, that's the kind of thing you can find there.

Random Question: Is Kings Island selling any merchandise with the new Bat logo?

 

There are mugs for sale in The Emporium with the lettering "The Bat Flies Again!" across them, and the ride's logo above it.

 

Pictures of it were posted somewhere on KICentral at the end of last season. It's blue with black letters / logo.

There's a shop that sells awesome "snakeskin" mugs, with ceramic snakes in the middle of the cup, so that it "emerges" from your drink as you sip away. It's in the strip of shops that connects to the Emporium. Most unique thing I've seen in the park in awhile. I don't remember whether it was branded Diamondback or not. Anyway, that's the kind of thing you can find there.

 

This is sold in the Diamond Back Trading Post store right at the exit of the ride.  I think they have a few designs like this, they are unlike anything else you can find.  

For some reason one of the racks of $5 t-shirts is now missing from Coney Confections. I think it will eventually return (I'm sure they didn't sell all the shirts that had been on it), but for the moment they're trying some new display configurations.

Good news is that they have clarified the sale on their glassware. It used to have a sign saying "up to 70% off" leaving one with the impression whatever price was on the bottom was the sale price. However the sign now says "70% off" and I asked to make sure that was off of the marked prices and they said yes.

I bought four of the brown ceramic Diamondback shot glasses and two of the blue ceramic ones. The marked prices on the blue ones was $1 higher, but they rang up the same price as the brown ones, less than $1 apiece after tax. Since I had been hoping for a repeat of last year's sale of $1 each (which I stupidly didn't take advantage of at the time), this made me really happy!

If you're in the market for Kings Island drinkware, now is a really good time to buy! The selection isn't enormous but the price is right!

Also, if you have the Kings Island app and you sign up with Facebook or email, when you are in the park, check the "offers and notifications" tab. There should be an offer of "Buy one, get one 50% off" at the Int'l Street Emporium shop.