July 4th, 2025 Debacle

[DJSkyFoxx]

Alright. So my fiancé and I decided to brave the crowds of the park Friday night for literally no reason other than to see the fireworks display. It has been many years since I have been at a park on the 4th and figured why not. It would have been crowded literally anywhere that night that had a display, so it was a "pick your environment" type of deal.

I will just say this. Never again.

I knew it was going to be crowded. I knew it was going to be insane. And to some degree, that can be worth putting up with when the product meets or surpasses the expectations. But my two biggest complaints? 

Lets just start with the fact that post COVID, people's spatial awareness is completely GONE. The amount of grown adults running into each other without saying excuse me and the amount of un supervised children literally running around and acting crazy just....I can't. Absolutely ZERO regard for anyone around them. I have no tolerance for rudeness and will very loudly announce this with no hesitation. It was around 2130HRS when we decided to take a seat up against the main entrance near the lockers and the gift shop because I felt that was the safest spot to be away from the absolute insanity closer to the fountains. Well, I was right until I was wrong. People started clamoring looking for places to sit or stand and what not. And while I get it, the last straw for me came when a woman with her child got right next to me, bent over IN A DRESS showing everything absolutely no one wanted to see and then proceeded to sit down next to me without asking if that was ok. Her young child then proceeded to kick me in the arm and no apology was given for this action-all the while two loud teenage girls were fighting over a wall outlet on the other side of my fiancé to charge their phones. After getting kicked in the arm by said toddler, I stood up, yelled a few profanities ( not sorry ) and proceeded to leave the park. We intended to still see the fireworks, but we opted to sit in the grassy area in front of the entrance. This was all fine and good for the most part as at least there was room to breath and a slight breeze, but of course kids were running around into people and no supervision to correct said behavior. 

I knew leaving the parking lot post show would be a nightmare as stated above, leaving any fireworks show from anywhere I have ever been has always been an experience in and of itself. But this is where lot attendants are needed. Big events like this ABSOLUTELY NEED to have staff out in the lots guiding and directing traffic to get things moving because sitting in a standstill for an HOUR is unacceptable. I was thinking we would at least be inching along out of the lot, but nope. Literally just sat there. And the amount of people getting impatient pulling dangerous stunts to get out and cutting people off....again...need some traffic control for these large events. Even if it has to be outside help. For safety as well as throughput. 

I realize this may just be a sign of the times ahead. I had a moment while we were inside the park thinking to myself "the appearance of this place really give SF vibes and not CF vibes" because the park has truly let so much slide. The amount of half-clothed, inappropriate attire I saw running amuck gave "trashy" vibes in a way that I can't quite articulate without sounding absolutely judgmental. I'm all for freedom of expression, but there are limits and the park just felt like a cheap sellout in the way that I bet annual Geauga Lake patrons felt when their beloved park sold out to SF.

Unrelated to the holiday weekend but related to my above sentence, we were at the water park a few weeks ago when we saw something incredibly disturbing. It was an incredibly inappropriate tattoo that should have NEVER been allowed to be seen in a public space due to what it stands for. And I realize this individual more than likely came into the park fully clothed and staff wouldn't have seen it upon entry. But the fact is, the tattoo was large and on full display for all to see and staff had every right to ask this person to leave as that tattoo absolutely violated a park policy. The fact that this man was not ejected from the park baffles me. And this just leans into the standards being so low that the bar is in hell at this point. 

I miss the days when things felt more together. Now it seems like anything goes and no one is able to stop it. My memories of this event from 2010-2012 are vastly different than what this past Friday showed. 

So were the fireworks good? Yes. The park did a great job. But after the fiasco that it was, we won't be attending this event again. And I really hope in the future the park finds a way to better manage the parking lot situation at the very least.

 

Anyone else go and have a similar or better/worse experience?

[robintodd]

I believe the only thing the park can do is raise the price of season passes.  Giving away the gate may have something to do with what you experienced.  The amount of entitlement of people is just unbelieveable.  It's definitely a sign of the times that civility seems to have taken a break in our current climate.  In my humble opinion, just as it comes from parents, it comes from the top.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[I...am SteVe]

I agree about the parking lot staff; I purposely delayed leaving KD on the fourth to dodge the rush to leave after the fireworks, and I still waited an hour and a half to get out of the parking lot. With a couple of employees helping out, that time could easily be slashed.

[disco2000]

Speaking of unsupervised teens (let's hope the KI chaperone policy prevented them from showing up at KI instead!):

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/blue-ash/pd-arrests-made-after-roughly-400-juveniles-set-off-fireworks-at-annual-ride-white-blue-ash-celebration

[Tr0y]

11 hours ago, DJSkyFoxx said:

Alright. So my fiancé and I decided to brave the crowds of the park Friday night for literally no reason other than to see the fireworks display. It has been many years since I have been at a park on the 4th and figured why not. It would have been crowded literally anywhere that night that had a display, so it was a "pick your environment" type of deal.

I will just say this. Never again.

I knew it was going to be crowded. I knew it was going to be insane. And to some degree, that can be worth putting up with when the product meets or surpasses the expectations. But my two biggest complaints? 

Lets just start with the fact that post COVID, people's spatial awareness is completely GONE. The amount of grown adults running into each other without saying excuse me and the amount of un supervised children literally running around and acting crazy just....I can't. Absolutely ZERO regard for anyone around them. I have no tolerance for rudeness and will very loudly announce this with no hesitation. It was around 2130HRS when we decided to take a seat up against the main entrance near the lockers and the gift shop because I felt that was the safest spot to be away from the absolute insanity closer to the fountains. Well, I was right until I was wrong. People started clamoring looking for places to sit or stand and what not. And while I get it, the last straw for me came when a woman with her child got right next to me, bent over IN A DRESS showing everything absolutely no one wanted to see and then proceeded to sit down next to me without asking if that was ok. Her young child then proceeded to kick me in the arm and no apology was given for this action-all the while two loud teenage girls were fighting over a wall outlet on the other side of my fiancé to charge their phones. After getting kicked in the arm by said toddler, I stood up, yelled a few profanities ( not sorry ) and proceeded to leave the park. We intended to still see the fireworks, but we opted to sit in the grassy area in front of the entrance. This was all fine and good for the most part as at least there was room to breath and a slight breeze, but of course kids were running around into people and no supervision to correct said behavior. 

And I bet Kings Island provided no options for preferred seating as an up-charge so folks would not have to deal with the swarm of people around the entrance and fountain. Disney for their fireworks shows offers a designated area that provides a view the fireworks as well as deserts and drinks for an upcharge.

Cedar Point did something very similar with their 4th of July firework show this past weekend. Meanwhile the International restaurant at Kings Island remained dormant. If that would have been offered this past weekend it would have likely sold out. 

[DJSkyFoxx]

I actually had that very thought that they could have had a premium seating option for Friday and Saturday utilizing the IR. Could have made it a whole package including food/drinks/snacks, a souvenir of some kind and of course the best seat in the house. It definitely would have sold out and probably been worth whatever the upcharge would have been to be in AC, away from the insane crowds and had the best viewing experience available. 

[CoasterJack]

I honestly think they could offer the fireworks viewing experience every Saturday. Pump the music into the International Restaurant. Heck, if they don't have the people I'd even organize this for free for them for a year just to show them it would turn a profit and they'd finally use the IR for more events 

[Tr0y]

1 hour ago, CoasterJack said:

I honestly think they could offer the fireworks viewing experience every Saturday. Pump the music into the International Restaurant. Heck, if they don't have the people I'd even organize this for free for them for a year just to show them it would turn a profit and they'd finally use the IR for more events 

From my understanding it does get booked out for private parties. I'm sure there is a time frame of when that can be done and not a last-minute thing. So, if it isn't booked with a certain timeframe, it should be an automatic punt as an offering to the general public on busy weekends for fireworks like you've mentioned. Offer a Dessert buffet, fountain drinks and a cash bar. 

[CoasterJack]

1 hour ago, Tr0y said:

From my understanding it does get booked out for private parties. I'm sure there is a time frame of when that can be done and not a last-minute thing. So, if it isn't booked with a certain timeframe, it should be an automatic punt as an offering to the general public on busy weekends for fireworks like you've mentioned. Offer a Dessert buffet, fountain drinks and a cash bar. 

Yes, I've been in one of those private parties a Saturday night and it did offer fireworks views. It really is a great premium feeling space. I understand they do have quite a few private events, but I think they could stand to utilize the space more often, it's dark a little too often for a space they already have paid for.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

With how many people come to Kings Island, it is absolutely baffling that the overall handling capacity of the park isn't better thought out by now. That is, the park is lacking adequate capacity in rides, dining services, cleanliness, and security. Guests could've been spread out to so many more places than just International Street (albeit with a worse view of the shows), but the planning looked as if there was none outside of "put on a fireworks and drone show". The parking lot could use a rethink/redesign to make it easier to get to the exits as well. If the park can't/won't put people out to direct traffic, then they could at least spend some good time and money to make the parking lot flow better. They could at least install more signage directing guests to use both exits. 

The main dining room of the International Restaurant can hold 117 guests, while the Carousel Room next door can hold an additional 63, all for a total of 180 possible guests each night (page 10, https://qr1.be/BUYH). It would be super easy to have the IR open as a special dinner and firework viewing location, it just also takes planning and execution. I don't think having it open so often would cheapen the experience either. That's a lot more money that the park could be making. Maybe if the front entrance building gets renovated we could see the IR entrance moved to be a little more visible to guests. With the way that the door is facing the park exit I can understand how it might be hard to see. 

On 7/7/2025 at 9:58 AM, robintodd said:

I believe the only thing the park can do is raise the price of season passes.  Giving away the gate may have something to do with what you experienced.  The amount of entitlement of people is just unbelieveable.  It's definitely a sign of the times that civility seems to have taken a break in our current climate.  In my humble opinion, just as it comes from parents, it comes from the top.

Giving away the gate is what makes Kings Island Six Flags' most penetrated park I have a feeling that we'll be seeing higher pass prices for 2026 or 2027, starting with the All Park Passport. If Six Flags starts to use the Regional Park Passport then I could easily see a future with a $220 KI Gold Pass (up $50) and $80 Regional Park Passport (same price, but for 6 parks instead of 26+ parks). The company needs more money and may not be willing to keep their passes more affordable. That being said, I don't know what the combination of this year's major issues, increased pass prices, and the possibility of another lackluster addition may do for season pass sales. Let's hope Six Flags is willing to put in the work to find a better route out of this situation.  

[disco2000]

^I think they will go the other way and either hold prices steady or lower the price for 2026 passes.  They have made comments that have alluded to making it up in quantity moving forward.  The only way to do that is lower prices. 

[BeeastFarmer]

On 7/13/2025 at 4:35 AM, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

With how many people come to Kings Island, it is absolutely baffling that the overall handling capacity of the park isn't better thought out by now. That is, the park is lacking adequate capacity in rides, dining services, cleanliness, and security. Guests could've been spread out to so many more places than just International Street (albeit with a worse view of the shows), but the planning looked as if there was none outside of "put on a fireworks and drone show". The parking lot could use a rethink/redesign to make it easier to get to the exits as well. If the park can't/won't put people out to direct traffic, then they could at least spend some good time and money to make the parking lot flow better. They could at least install more signage directing guests to use both exits. 

The main dining room of the International Restaurant can hold 117 guests, while the Carousel Room next door can hold an additional 63, all for a total of 180 possible guests each night (page 10, https://qr1.be/BUYH). It would be super easy to have the IR open as a special dinner and firework viewing location, it just also takes planning and execution. I don't think having it open so often would cheapen the experience either. That's a lot more money that the park could be making. Maybe if the front entrance building gets renovated we could see the IR entrance moved to be a little more visible to guests. With the way that the door is facing the park exit I can understand how it might be hard to see. 

Giving away the gate is what makes Kings Island Six Flags' most penetrated park I have a feeling that we'll be seeing higher pass prices for 2026 or 2027, starting with the All Park Passport. If Six Flags starts to use the Regional Park Passport then I could easily see a future with a $220 KI Gold Pass (up $50) and $80 Regional Park Passport (same price, but for 6 parks instead of 26+ parks). The company needs more money and may not be willing to keep their passes more affordable. That being said, I don't know what the combination of this year's major issues, increased pass prices, and the possibility of another lackluster addition may do for season pass sales. Let's hope Six Flags is willing to put in the work to find a better route out of this situation.  

Canada's Wonderland now has '26 passes on sale.

Gold now (at least from this park) gets you into all Six Flags parks.  No passport required.

All Six Flags park meal plan--$155 CD.

Gold, All Park Meals, Drink+, Funpix is approximately $250 USD.  Add ~ $73 USD for prestige.  Add ~$730 for all park FL+.