Has Kings Island Peaked?

[KI Guy]

This is a topic that may have gotten me pelted with proverbial "rotten tomatoes" 5 years ago, but I think some of you may be starting to see the same thing.

Kings Island does not seem to be the park it was 15 years ago. Summertime hours have been lessened, special events (think visits from the Reds, Wallendas, eating contests, celebrity visits, food truck events, etc.) are close to non-existent. Shows have been lessened. Halloween Haunt is a shell of what it once was.

The park is no longer as beautiful as it once was. The greatest example being the essential destruction of the Royal Fountain. What could have been a loving restoration became a cost saving replacement.

Ride additions are not what they once were. They are spaced further apart and are not the "world class additions" that Kings Island was known for until around 2015 or so. One glaring example of this cost cutting is Sol Spin-- the park bought the smaller capacity model with 1 seat per arm and not the side-by-side model. There was absolutely no reason to do this other than cost. My other example is that the Beagle Scout Acres play area. It was clearly done with almost no money and it shows.

The clientele has gotten rougher. Kings Island remains a babysitter for many. The unrulier the kids the more likely this will be the case. Food and drink lines are exceedingly long no longer moderated by the expensive prices given the meal plans. The reduced operating hours have made the park consistently "more busy" which has dragged down the value of a season pass. I have to believe this is by design, making people wait is good for business because it means more will buy Fast Lane. Yet another anti-consumer move that will ultimately lessen the experience for a lot of people.

A very large caveat is that I don't think this is the fault of the park staff. I still think they are some of the best in the business and KI's ride operations are the finest in Cedar Fair/Six Flags. This is a corporate problem. The powers that be would rather squeeze KI for all it's worth now than invest in the park for generations to come.

It's corporate's attitude and goals that have changed. The "best day ever" has become "make their day good enough."

My question to you all is do you agree with my general thoughts and what will be the ultimate result? Will the Six Flags merger ultimately succeed or fail? What will KI look like in 10 years?

[WoodVengeance]

1 hour ago, KI Guy said:

This is a topic that may have gotten me pelted with proverbial "rotten tomatoes" 5 years ago, but I think some of you may be starting to see the same thing.

Kings Island does not seem to be the park it was 15 years ago. Summertime hours have been lessened, special events (think visits from the Reds, Wallendas, eating contests, celebrity visits, food truck events, etc.) are close to non-existent. Shows have been lessened. Halloween Haunt is a shell of what it once was.

The park is no longer as beautiful as it once was. The greatest example being the essential destruction of the Royal Fountain. What could have been a loving restoration became a cost saving replacement.

Ride additions are not what they once were. They are spaced further apart and are not the "world class additions" that Kings Island was known for until around 2015 or so. One glaring example of this cost cutting is Sol Spin-- the park bought the smaller capacity model with 1 seat per arm and not the side-by-side model. There was absolutely no reason to do this other than cost. My other example is that the Beagle Scout Acres play area. It was clearly done with almost no money and it shows.

The clientele has gotten rougher. Kings Island remains a babysitter for many. The unrulier the kids the more likely this will be the case. Food and drink lines are exceedingly long no longer moderated by the expensive prices given the meal plans. The reduced operating hours have made the park consistently "more busy" which has dragged down the value of a season pass. I have to believe this is by design, making people wait is good for business because it means more will buy Fast Lane. Yet another anti-consumer move that will ultimately lessen the experience for a lot of people.

A very large caveat is that I don't think this is the fault of the park staff. I still think they are some of the best in the business and KI's ride operations are the finest in Cedar Fair/Six Flags. This is a corporate problem. The powers that be would rather squeeze KI for all it's worth now than invest in the park for generations to come.

It's a corporate's attitude ang goals that have changed. The "best day ever" has become "make their day good enough."

My question to you all is do you all agree with my general thoughts and what will be the ultimate result? Will the Six Flags merger ultimately succeed or fail? What will KI look like in 10 years?

As much as I hate to admit it, I think you are correct in your analysis that Kings Island has peaked. We have steadily been seeing the park cut back on multiple aspects such as operations, hours, and new additions and I don't think that's going to improve anytime soon. With the merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair, the new Six Flags chain seems to be currently prioritizing bringing up select legacy Six Flags parks up to the standards that was set with Cedar Fair. Parks like Great Adventure, Magic Mountain, Over Texas, and Over Georgia seem to be positioned to be getting heavy investments for the next several years. Parks like Kings Island, even though it's still one of the better parks in the chain, won't get as much focus since Six Flags has already built that park up to their standards.

[kingsislandfan1972]

I agree with some of this especially the part about Halloween Haunt not being as good as it once was. However I do think they are doing a great job with WinterFest, I feel like a lot of effort does go into that. As for the next 10 years what will Kings Island look like? I'm not sure but fingers crossed more new rides and less ride removals. But I guess we'll have to wait and see!

Also love your profile picture I'm a big fan of Hey Arnold! And everytime I read one of your posts or comments I'll read it in Grandpa Phils voice! 

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

I dont get the complaining about the new ride additions. Some parks out there get no new rides and KI since the pandemic has added new rides/attractions 3 years straight with likely another one on the way next year.

I dont understand the whole "KI doesn't get world class coasters anymore" claim. Imo Diamondback, Banshee, Mystic, and Orion are all world class coasters. I get it, Orion is not as good as Fury, but to the average GP a coaster with a 300 foot drop and over 90 mph is world class and a crowd pleaser which is what Orion was meant to be. It was never meant to be better than Fury which only enthusiasts (which make up such a small percentage) actually care about. 

I know 6 years without a major coaster is a long time, but at least KI is still adding new rides in that time frame. There are other parks that don't get annual investments like that. Plus, KI isn't the only large legacy CF park in a major coaster drought. Knotts and Carowinds has been waiting longer (Knotts since 2018, Carowinds since 2019). Canadas Wonderland is about to end a 6 year drought and TT2 ended a 6 year drought for Cedar Point. 

[BeeastFarmer]

I don't know if I would use the word "peaked" to describe Kings Island.  I think "they" are focusing on what makes them the most money in the market: families.  With selling so many season passes and all that go along with it, the company is happy to maintain rather than build.  

We are a much better park today than we were in 2005 and 2013.  Some things have declined, like the redo of the Royal Fountain and the destruction of Vortex,  but we have better new coasters, flats, maintenance and atmosphere.  

Things are typically cyclical, and when there are more non renewals and less new sales, they will react swifty with something major.  

I think like fine wine, Kings Island has aged/matured fairly well.  Hopefully, there isn't a midlife crisis down the road....I'd hate to see the park get an expensive sports car, toupees and young girlfriend, metaphorically speaking.

[KIBeast]

Try having Michigan's Adventure as your home park and then get back to me.

[nhimes90]

4 hours ago, KI Guy said:

This is a topic that may have gotten me pelted with proverbial "rotten tomatoes" 5 years ago, but I think some of you may be starting to see the same thing.

Kings Island does not seem to be the park it was 15 years ago. Summertime hours have been lessened, special events (think visits from the Reds, Wallendas, eating contests, celebrity visits, food truck events, etc.) are close to non-existent. Shows have been lessened. Halloween Haunt is a shell of what it once was.

The park is no longer as beautiful as it once was. The greatest example being the essential destruction of the Royal Fountain. What could have been a loving restoration became a cost saving replacement.

Ride additions are not what they once were. They are spaced further apart and are not the "world class additions" that Kings Island was known for until around 2015 or so. One glaring example of this cost cutting is Sol Spin-- the park bought the smaller capacity model with 1 seat per arm and not the side-by-side model. There was absolutely no reason to do this other than cost. My other example is that the Beagle Scout Acres play area. It was clearly done with almost no money and it shows.

The clientele has gotten rougher. Kings Island remains a babysitter for many. The unrulier the kids the more likely this will be the case. Food and drink lines are exceedingly long no longer moderated by the expensive prices given the meal plans. The reduced operating hours have made the park consistently "more busy" which has dragged down the value of a season pass. I have to believe this is by design, making people wait is good for business because it means more will buy Fast Lane. Yet another anti-consumer move that will ultimately lessen the experience for a lot of people.

A very large caveat is that I don't think this is the fault of the park staff. I still think they are some of the best in the business and KI's ride operations are the finest in Cedar Fair/Six Flags. This is a corporate problem. The powers that be would rather squeeze KI for all it's worth now than invest in the park for generations to come.

It's corporate's attitude and goals that have changed. The "best day ever" has become "make their day good enough."

My question to you all is do you agree with my general thoughts and what will be the ultimate result? Will the Six Flags merger ultimately succeed or fail? What will KI look like in 10 years?

I do think you’re correct about a majority of this. The quality of the parks atmosphere and events has been slowly going downhill within the last 5-7 years. Yes KI is getting ride investments and restaurant/bar improvements, so I definitely recognize that. I care more about the feel of the park, so taking away landscaping, turning off water features, and not replanting trees, has made the park feel less cozy. 
 

With Sol Spin, the reason they got the single seat versus the dual is because the park was given the “investment money” kinda last minute and very late in the season. So when they reached out to the manufacturer they were told they could get a single seat model but not a dual seat model to be ready by park opening. That’s the only reason they went with the single seat option. It was so late in the season and the park had to go with rides that could be ready by opening day, or shortly thereafter.  

[KI Guy]

6 hours ago, nhimes90 said:

With Sol Spin, the reason they got the single seat versus the dual is because the park was given the “investment money” kinda last minute and very late in the season. So when they reached out to the manufacturer they were told they could get a single seat model but not a dual seat model to be ready by park opening.

I've heard this and even if true it doesn't make anything better. Allocate the money in time for the parks to actually spend it. Not doing so just shows the powers that be in Charlotte don't care.

It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense either since Sol Spin ended up not opening until June 9 of that year. I also find it hard to believe the manufacturer couldn't expedite a dual seat model if given a little extra money. Money talks and... you know the rest...

[Orion-XL200]

6 hours ago, nhimes90 said:

With Sol Spin, the reason they got the single seat versus the dual is because the park was given the “investment money” kinda last minute and very late in the season. So when they reached out to the manufacturer they were told they could get a single seat model but not a dual seat model to be ready by park opening. That’s the only reason they went with the single seat option. It was so late in the season and the park had to go with rides that could be ready by opening day, or shortly thereafter.  

3 minutes ago, KI Guy said:

I've heard this and even if true it doesn't make anything better. Allocate the money in time for the parks to actually spend it. Not doing so just shows the powers that be in Charlotte don't care. It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense either since Sol Spin ended up not opening until June 9 of that year.

I find it hard to believe the manufacturer couldn't expedite a dual seat model if given a little extra money. Money talks and... you know the rest...

I have heard that Koontz didn't want the double seat option because it'd would cost more than he wanted to spend at the park out of the allocation. Not much fun to ride it with your friends when their either in front or behind you and you can't turn to them to smile/laugh/talk.

 

[Tr0y]

 

On 5/5/2025 at 10:39 AM, KI Guy said:

This is a topic that may have gotten me pelted with proverbial "rotten tomatoes" 5 years ago, but I think some of you may be starting to see the same thing.

Kings Island does not seem to be the park it was 15 years ago. Summertime hours have been lessened, special events (think visits from the Reds, Wallendas, eating contests, celebrity visits, food truck events, etc.) are close to non-existent. Shows have been lessened. Halloween Haunt is a shell of what it once was.

The park is no longer as beautiful as it once was. The greatest example being the essential destruction of the Royal Fountain. What could have been a loving restoration became a cost saving replacement.

Ride additions are not what they once were. They are spaced further apart and are not the "world class additions" that Kings Island was known for until around 2015 or so. One glaring example of this cost cutting is Sol Spin-- the park bought the smaller capacity model with 1 seat per arm and not the side-by-side model. There was absolutely no reason to do this other than cost. My other example is that the Beagle Scout Acres play area. It was clearly done with almost no money and it shows.

The clientele has gotten rougher. Kings Island remains a babysitter for many. The unrulier the kids the more likely this will be the case. Food and drink lines are exceedingly long no longer moderated by the expensive prices given the meal plans. The reduced operating hours have made the park consistently "more busy" which has dragged down the value of a season pass. I have to believe this is by design, making people wait is good for business because it means more will buy Fast Lane. Yet another anti-consumer move that will ultimately lessen the experience for a lot of people.

A very large caveat is that I don't think this is the fault of the park staff. I still think they are some of the best in the business and KI's ride operations are the finest in Cedar Fair/Six Flags. This is a corporate problem. The powers that be would rather squeeze KI for all it's worth now than invest in the park for generations to come.

It's corporate's attitude and goals that have changed. The "best day ever" has become "make their day good enough."

My question to you all is do you agree with my general thoughts and what will be the ultimate result? Will the Six Flags merger ultimately succeed or fail? What will KI look like in 10 years?

I wouldn’t say Kings Island has “Peaked” per se. You can argue there were better seasons than others depending on what you value. Food, atmosphere, ride additions, etc.

I agree that the park has tightened the belt in some areas. But I don’t view it in a sense that our season passes have been “devalued.” If anything, the park has decreased the quality of in park experiences to keep passes cheap. A Kings Island Gold pass is $145. If you compare them to their competitors and they are one cheapest around.

As far as where I see KI in 10 years will somewhat depend on who the GM is. Six Flags can go bankrupt tomorrow, and KI will still be chugging along. I’m certain Herschend or United Parks would love to get their hands on a park like KI.