Soak City Experieince

[ROBBE1]

First off, I must stress that I know staffing issues are plaguing all businesses currently, but I have to post this.  My time at Soak City yesterday was awful.  When I fist arrived I was looking for chair to place my belongings.  i realize at 3PM on a Saturday was going to be rough, but i was patient.  Evidently, that is not how other people think.  I saw to gentleman about to 'throw down' over a beach chair.  I don't know who was in the wrong, but they were both yelling at each other and not backing down.  I started looking around for security, i could not find any.  I noticed a staffer emptying trash and thought if he had a radio he could inform someone... he did have a radio.  I went over to the drink station and mentioned it to a worker who informed his supervisor.   I explained to the supervisor what was going on and I took her to where the incident was taking place and de-escalated the situation.  Issue solved.  What bothered me, is that there were so many people just staring and looking around and not taking action.  I personally want everything to be civil and solved peacefully with no violence... I guess everyone else were afraid to intervene.  i personally did not get involved, but went and got a staffer to take care of it.

Next incident of the afternoon was a staffer working the drink station just leaving and walking away while we were all in line.  I thought he was coming back, but he didn't.  What I did not predict is that everyone just took it upon themselves to just start grabbing cups and getting drinks.  I'm too honest, and was not going to partake if they could not scan my pass to see my dink plan.  Again, after a few minutes and watching people just go behind the counter and starting taking the souvenir drink bottles I went to find someone.  I found some lifeguards and notified them what was going on and they said they would let someone know.  In the meantime, it floored me that people were being so inconsiderate and continued to get drinks from the booth with no attendant.  IT just floors me people feel they are so 'entitled'.  A worker came by, and stopped what was going on and closed the station.  When she left about 2 minutes later, a customer went over untied the rope and started stealing drinks again.  What is wrong with people.  

I was just floored by the way the people in the park were acting yesterday and I told my wife we are not coming back to Soak City, but instead just stick to the main park.  I guess I am just really scared that are park is going to go the way of some of the other parks in the USA.  I am not blaming KI, they have to work with what is given to them, but if stuff like this is happening all the time it worries me.  Just last night Knott's had to close early due to violence and people acting a fool.  

Is it a sign of the times that everyone thinks the rules don't abide to them and they can do whatever they want?  Anyways, I just wanted to share my experience.  

[IndyGuy4KI]

I was at the dry park yesterday. The amount of people that were just rude, inconsiderate,  and thought they were the only ones there was overwhelming. We don't go too often on Saturdays, but that was our opportunity this weekend. Definitely not the fault of the park, for was saw security being visible in the park. People are definitely less considerate these days. 

We didn't stay as long as we were planning on, because we couldn't handle any more of the rude and inconsiderate people. 

 

 

[BoddaH1994]

The park draws the crowds to which it markets. 
 

Discounts, BAF, payment plans. 
 

All of which bring in larger crowds while marketing to the lowest common denominator.

Fortunately, I think the problem for the most part has gotten better in the past two years. 

[FUN&ONLY!]

I do agree that security has improved a lot over the past two years.

In terms of crowds, I feel that Soak City is under equipped to handle busy weekends crowds. Even on some busy weekdays, it seems that there are way too many people there for the size of the water park.

[brenthodge]

That’s one of the reasons I wish they would reconfigure the entrance set up and make Soak City an upcharge second gate. They could use the increased revenue to really invest in the park and make it a quality destination, and control capacity better. They could still offer a substantial discount of passholders want to add it on, but I think the free days should be done. 

[FEARSOMERIDER]

We had a similar experience in the main park last Friday.  We left early because we did not feel safe.

There were groups of unsupervised teens intimidating food vendors and challenging each other.  This all stared at about 6pm, up until then things were great.  I sat and observed, it seems something KI should do is eliminate the Basketballs as a prize.  I overheard some groups of teens, use the term bowling.  They were taking the balls and aiming at the feet and legs of park goes trying to trip them and they were successful.  Also, bouncing the balls off of kid's heads.  I know it's not popular, but I feel a chaperone policy is needed, or don't have the park open past nightfall.   When these policies were enacted at Malls, the incidence of violence, improved.  

[ROBBE1]

I guess it's a shame that some bad apples are ruining it for everyone.  I know KI Security is better than last year, but You may be on to something about the chaperone policy.  If it can fend off the riff raff I am all for it.

[FUN&ONLY!]

3 hours ago, FEARSOMERIDER said:

We had a similar experience in the main park last Friday.  We left early because we did not feel safe.

There were groups of unsupervised teens intimidating food vendors and challenging each other.  This all stared at about 6pm, up until then things were great.  I sat and observed, it seems something KI should do is eliminate the Basketballs as a prize.  I overheard some groups of teens, use the term bowling.  They were taking the balls and aiming at the feet and legs of park goes trying to trip them and they were successful.  Also, bouncing the balls off of kid's heads.  I know it's not popular, but I feel a chaperone policy is needed, or don't have the park open past nightfall.   When these policies were enacted at Malls, the incidence of violence, improved.  

People like that need to be kicked out of the park and be banned for at least a period of time. I really do not think a chaperone policy is the move, however, as it punishes people who behave just fine. I think Kings Island needs to weed out the bad apples by kicking them out and banning them (which the park does when security catches these people). I know this is not a full proof method, but it helps.

I also can not stress enough how helpful the security hotline is when it comes to dealing with unruly guests. If you see something bad, text the hotline, and security will kick the offenders out of the park and ban them. Security will kick offenders out and ban them even when it comes to line jumping and having a phone out on a ride.

[disco2000]

47 minutes ago, FUN&ONLY! said:

I also can not stress enough how helpful the security hotline is when it comes to dealing with unruly guests. If you see something bad, text the hotline, and security will kick the offenders out of the park and ban them. Security will kick offenders out and ban them even when it comes to line jumping and having a phone out on a ride.

Has this been your personal experience - for example have you texted them while in line for line jumpers or guests smoking or vaping and actually saw security escort them out, or is this what you think happens/should happen when someone texts the security hotline?

[IndyGuy4KI]

50 minutes ago, FUN&ONLY! said:

People like that need to be kicked out of the park and be banned for at least a period of time. I really do not think a chaperone policy is the move, however, as it punishes people who behave just fine.

I agree, there are kids at KI all the time that are being responsible and respectful. Why punish them? 

[KIEagle33]

6 hours ago, ROBBE1 said:

First off, I must stress that I know staffing issues are plaguing all businesses currently, but I have to post this.  My time at Soak City yesterday was awful.  When I fist arrived I was looking for chair to place my belongings.  i realize at 3PM on a Saturday was going to be rough, but i was patient.  Evidently, that is not how other people think.  I saw to gentleman about to 'throw down' over a beach chair.  I don't know who was in the wrong, but they were both yelling at each other and not backing down.  I started looking around for security, i could not find any.  I noticed a staffer emptying trash and thought if he had a radio he could inform someone... he did have a radio.  I went over to the drink station and mentioned it to a worker who informed his supervisor.   I explained to the supervisor what was going on and I took her to where the incident was taking place and de-escalated the situation.  Issue solved.  What bothered me, is that there were so many people just staring and looking around and not taking action.  I personally want everything to be civil and solved peacefully with no violence... I guess everyone else were afraid to intervene.  i personally did not get involved, but went and got a staffer to take care of it.

Next incident of the afternoon was a staffer working the drink station just leaving and walking away while we were all in line.  I thought he was coming back, but he didn't.  What I did not predict is that everyone just took it upon themselves to just start grabbing cups and getting drinks.  I'm too honest, and was not going to partake if they could not scan my pass to see my dink plan.  Again, after a few minutes and watching people just go behind the counter and starting taking the souvenir drink bottles I went to find someone.  I found some lifeguards and notified them what was going on and they said they would let someone know.  In the meantime, it floored me that people were being so inconsiderate and continued to get drinks from the booth with no attendant.  IT just floors me people feel they are so 'entitled'.  A worker came by, and stopped what was going on and closed the station.  When she left about 2 minutes later, a customer went over untied the rope and started stealing drinks again.  What is wrong with people.  

I was just floored by the way the people in the park were acting yesterday and I told my wife we are not coming back to Soak City, but instead just stick to the main park.  I guess I am just really scared that are park is going to go the way of some of the other parks in the USA.  I am not blaming KI, they have to work with what is given to them, but if stuff like this is happening all the time it worries me.  Just last night Knott's had to close early due to violence and people acting a fool.  

Is it a sign of the times that everyone thinks the rules don't abide to them and they can do whatever they want?  Anyways, I just wanted to share my experience.  

I'm sorry to hear about this. In my opinion and my experience, I find it best to go right when the water park opens on weekdays. Just about every water slide is a walk on (if that's what you like), and the wave pool is a lot cleaner! As far as the crowds attitude goes, KI can't control that, and the crowd tends to be better in the morning.

[FUN&ONLY!]

33 minutes ago, disco2000 said:

Has this been your personal experience - for example have you texted them while in line for line jumpers or guests smoking or vaping and actually saw security escort them out, or is this what you think happens/should happen when someone texts the security hotline?

I actually have not used it myself, but I have heard it works very well. I know that does not mean too much, but I will say that I have been at Kings Island when security kicked kids out of the park and subsequently banned them after a ride operator called security to report them for line jumping. Usually ride operators just kick line jumpers out of line themselves and don’t let them ride, but security showed up and escorted the kids out of the park.

[kissfan4]

12 hours ago, disco2000 said:

Has this been your personal experience - for example have you texted them while in line for line jumpers or guests smoking or vaping and actually saw security escort them out, or is this what you think happens/should happen when someone texts the security hotline?

I have used the number to text security on numerous occasions. Mostly last year during haunt, and security pulled the line jumpers out of line, took down their info, and while still standing there, the line jumpers called someone. I can only assume were their parents, possibly calling for them to pick them up because they were getting kicked out? 

[Klabergian Empire]

Back in late June, I was in line for The Racer shortly after Blue side shut down and they only had Red side running. Because of this, a small line formed that maybe (just maybe) you would have to wait 5-10 minutes to get on. There were two security guards standing off to the side just chatting by the entrance. And there were these two girls that line jumped half of the line. The security guards witnesses this and they confronted them. After maybe 2 minutes of arguing, I kid you not, they line jumped the rest of the line despite being told repeatedly to stop by security. Well, they did get their ride on Racer. And while they were riding, the security guards went to the exit and waited for them. And after that I'm not to sure what happened. But its like really- you cant wait 10 minutes like everyone else let alone buy a FastLane pass if you're that desperate to get quick rides. Like sheesh...

But to address you, @ROBBE1, I am sorry your experience at Soak City wasn't good. I've only ever been to Soak City maybe once or twice but that sounds rough.

To answer your question, I think its fair to point out that there are mainly two kinds of people who go to amusement parks. There are enthusiasts/people who enjoy amusement rides and there are just people who are there because its something to do (Some people refer to these people as GP, or General Patrons. I know someone may argue with this categorization, but for the purpose of this explanation, I'm going to use the label of GP to make this simple). Enthusiasts/people who enjoy amusement rides go to parks more frequently than GP's do. And usually, Enthusiasts are more in the know of park policies and what you can or can't do. Im not making the point that GP's don't know park rules and whatnot. But what Im trying to say is that I would partially agree that a handful of GP have that "entitled" feeling that you speak of. 

I don't think a chaperone system would be the best way to tackle the issue of rowdy guests. Don't punish people who did nothing wrong. From what I have heard, the tip line is working well. 

[flightoffear1996]

The line jumping is really bad at the park this year.  I see it all over the place!  Adults, teens, families.  I was even lined jumped in the fast pass line once!  I have not one to make scene and I usually keep to my-self but when my 3 year old is getting line jumped by grown adults its a problem.  I have started standing with my hands across the rails.  Does security still have a number that you can text?

[disco2000]

The security number is (513) 434-6337

[BB1]

On 7/17/2022 at 9:37 PM, IndyGuy4KI said:

I agree, there are kids at KI all the time that are being responsible and respectful. Why punish them? 

As someone who was a kid who went to the park often, I can say I never once acted out in any group period. I would marathon Beast during ERT and during the day for years on end, IIRC from 2008-2011 it was on the ERT list at least for the fall when I rode it the most. I went to the waterpark often as a kid, never ran, only got yelled at once because the guard thought I ran up the stairs when I didn't . 

As for the overall Soak City experience; I'm probably the only one who goes to the waterpark semi regularly on this site. I'm impressed with how security has been operating however the waterpark itself is bleeding for staffing, every single year.

My recommendation is to go to the lifeguard stations around the waterpark if you need help (Right Tidal, lane near Mondo, station infront of old Kookabura and the station at the lip of the lazy river). 7-10 times there should be a supervisor to help, please note I do not represent the park in any shape or form .

[KIfan73]

It is unfortunate, but I have to say that it's definitely not new.  I've never had more of a feeling of being in a "no man's land" at Kings Island than being in the queue for Son of Beast in the early 2000's.  Something about that line seemed to bring out all kinds of sketchiness.  I remember watching large groups of smoking pre-teens line jump while loudly dropping every possible curse word like there was no tomorrow.  It was like being in the middle of one of those after school specials that used to be on TV!

[PKIDelirium]

Basketballs have been a problem forever. The general consensus has always been if they're going to have them as prizes, they should be given out deflated.

Do the lifeguard stations have radios and/or phones to be able to call security in?

[KIEagle33]

11 hours ago, BB1 said:

As someone who was a kid who went to the park often, I can say I never once acted out in any group period. I would marathon Beast during ERT and during the day for years on end, IIRC from 2008-2011 it was on the ERT list at least for the fall when I rode it the most. I went to the waterpark often as a kid, never ran, only got yelled at once because the guard thought I ran up the stairs when I didn't . 

As for the overall Soak City experience; I'm probably the only one who goes to the waterpark semi regularly on this site. I'm impressed with how security has been operating however the waterpark itself is bleeding for staffing, every single year.

My recommendation is to go to the lifeguard stations around the waterpark if you need help (Right Tidal, lane near Mondo, station infront of old Kookabura and the station at the lip of the lazy river). 7-10 times there should be a supervisor to help, please note I do not represent the park in any shape or form .

Your not alone, I go to the water park on a pretty good basis as well.