Do You Miss Paper Maps?

[kingsislandfan1972]

I want to know everyone's opinions on if they miss the paper maps? I for one am one of those people who loves the paper maps when KI had them as I would collect them, I know its probably more convenient especially in the 2020s to use the map on the app especially for wait times but I want to know if any of you miss them? 

[windshawne]

Yes!  I hate relying on phones for everything-I especially hate my pass being on there as well 

[jzarley]

I also used to collect them—I have a portfolio of them from multiple parks over multiple years. I think Disney may be the only parks still producing paper maps?

The maps were one of those things stopped during covid then never restarted because the parks found it to be a cost savings. Same thing with airline magazines—and I miss them too!

[KI Guy]

Yes,  I miss them a lot.

1. Downloading an app for a new park is inconvenient and still is not as good of a map as a paper map.

A guest should have the option of going phone free for the day if they want and yes that includes physical season passes.

2. I collected the paper maps and for 15 years and built up a very nice collection. They were my "record" of what parks I went to and when.

I'd very much like to see them back. Seeing the new ride for the year on the map was always nice.

 

[Diamondback_Is_King]

Yes, definitely. I collect them like many of you and have over 50 of them from different parks.

Yes, Disney still does maps.

I also don't like my pass being on my phone so I have a physical pass I bring with me every time I go. It's just so inconvenient to pull up the app-a way around that is taking a picture of it, but I still don't like pulling my phone out every time I want a drink or food. But I definitely like having my physical pass because it makes it so much easier.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Yes, absolutely, 100% and rising, yes. Carowinds' new 2025 SCarowinds map PDF has me hopeful because it's formatted as if it were printable, instead of being the long vertical format the parks have been recently putting out. 

Paper maps are one of the easiest souvenirs a park can make for guests. Depending on specifics they're cheaper to produce than the drink cups and are already formatted for the PDF version available online. Most guests will also not forgo buying a souvenir just because they have a paper map to remember their trip. 

I've considered looking into how much it would cost to order a plastic card with my pass information on it since they no longer have any physical pass cards. One upside with that is that I'd be able to customize it myself and make it look more unique to Kings Island. That being said, I could see totally Six Flags find a way to mess up pass QR codes and only allow them to be scanned from inside the park app or mobile wallet; therefore rendering any physical pass cards inoperable.

 

If Six Flags would like another suggestion for a cheap way to improve guest experience, start printing GOOD and PRE-FOLDED paper maps again.

[Diamondback_Is_King]

18 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

I've considered looking into how much it would cost to order a plastic card with my pass information on it since they no longer have any physical pass cards. One upside with that is that I'd be able to customize it myself and make it look more unique to Kings Island. That being said, I could see totally Six Flags find a way to mess up pass QR codes and only allow them to be scanned from inside the park app or mobile wallet; therefore rendering any physical pass cards inoperable.

When did they stop having physical passes? I got mine 3 years ago and just kept it but I also know someone that got one last December. Hopefully they keep working as time goes on, because having one is really nice.

[Shawn Meyer]

I miss the paper maps and brochures very much. I used to collect them. I still have a shoebox full of them. The last year I collected was 2018 before everything went paperless. 

[super7]

Yes.  They were a great souvenir.   this was the kind of souvenir that would actually make you want to return to the park when looking at it.

But they were another victim of cost cutting.    
 

What Kings Island did the last year they have them would’ve been the best way to handle it. They had a limited number of these maps over on the side by the customer service instead of in the main entryway. That way, the people that really wanted them would get them and there was less waste.

these parks are missing a revenue opportunity and not having the souvenir poster size maps like they did back in the 70s and 80s.   Especially now with computer computers, they would be easy to modify from year to year.

 

oh yeah, Dollywood still has them. Because their goalis  to provide the best experience possible to everyone.  Apparently enough customers still want them.

[Orion-XL200]

I miss having paper maps. While I do not necessarily use them while in park (especially if I've been to the park quite often), it's a nice thing to look back at after a visit to remember the day. Holiday World still offers paper maps I believe. 

7 hours ago, Diamondback_Is_King said:

 

When did they stop having physical passes? I got mine 3 years ago and just kept it but I also know someone that got one last December. Hopefully they keep working as time goes on, because having one is really nice.

Last year they began to phase out. I actually just printed a copy of my qr code and taped it onto a previous pass, so I could use a physical pass instead of my phone. 

[Shawn Meyer]

^If you request it, could they still make you a plastic card? 

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Unfortunately once each park ran out of cards last year they didn't order any more, meaning there is no way to get a Kings Island-issued pass card. If you don't have a way to have it on your phone I believe Guest Services prints a receipt with your QR code on it. Not at all very user friendly for anyone who either does not have a functional smart phone or for those who prefer the real thing.

9 hours ago, Diamondback_Is_King said:

When did they stop having physical passes? I got mine 3 years ago and just kept it but I also know someone that got one last December. Hopefully they keep working as time goes on, because having one is really nice.

Yours looks like the last of the batch from before Cedar Fair moved from Platinum to Prestige, which is right about when they began to phase out the plastic cards. As long as Six Flags doesn't start requiring guests to use the mobile app or their phone wallet to scan passes, the screenshots/older physical passes should still work. I believe another park chain (can't remember which though) will only accept tickets/passes scanned through that method and have employees yelling among the crowds to ensure guests have their ticket/pass downloaded to the app or mobile wallet.

 

I think one of the issues that has been popping up this year between Legacy Cedar Fair and Legacy Six Flags parks is the fact that CF seemed to have mostly switched to QR codes, while SF stayed using barcodes. IIRC the scanners are slightly different because of how they read each type of code.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

2 hours ago, super7 said:

Yes.  They were a great souvenir.   this was the kind of souvenir that would actually make you want to return to the park when looking at it.

But they were another victim of cost cutting.    
 

What Kings Island did the last year they have them would’ve been the best way to handle it. They had a limited number of these maps over on the side by the customer service instead of in the main entryway. That way, the people that really wanted them would get them and there was less waste.

these parks are missing a revenue opportunity and not having the souvenir poster size maps like they did back in the 70s and 80s.   Especially now with computer computers, they would be easy to modify from year to year.

 

oh yeah, Dollywood still has them. Because their goalis  to provide the best experience possible to everyone.  Apparently enough customers still want them.

The big souvenir maps would pay for themselves easily as long as there are enough guests willing to purchase them. They'd have to be different from the current map style to be worth it (to me), but making them would be no different from the process for the Made to Thrill posters. It would be a nice opportunity to create a new souvenir.

Dollywood and Disney have their paper maps, so maybe its a spelling thing. Would we be able to get paper maps back if the park was renamed to "Dings Island"?  

[johnjniehaus]

Simple answer - YES

[DJSkyFoxx]

Agree with the sentiments already made. Having to use your phone for literally everything is just ridiculous. I get that in some ways it makes sense to have everything linked to one place and since 99.9% of the population has a smart phone, just make it all in one spot. But if we could just go back to have physical cards/maps/etc this would help cut down maybe even a small fraction of people having to use their cell phones for EVERYTHING and thus maybe some people will keep their phone locked up or with a non-rider or in their vehicle instead of it flying out on a ride. I know there will always be stupid people who think that THEIR on-ride video or pictures or whatnot will be better than any professional/made with permission content....so long as there are cell phones and no real policing of devices in the parks across the board, but having the option to have physical items again would be helpful.

Not to mention for those of us who just like to collect things of this nature to have as small keepsakes or scrapbooking material. 

And yes....them not having physical passes is just nonsense. I still use my old Platinum Pass from years ago because the barcode is still valid so long as I keep it renewed. But the idea that I can't get a new pass card is annoying. I like having the card because it makes going through the parking tolls easier as the scanner reads the card's barcode much better than on a phone. Using your phone to scan in is slow and not always accurate and hold's up the line if you do a self-scan in. And it's also nice to be able to hang onto it in SC because it's waterproof and any time myself or my lady get thirsty I can keep it with me to obtain drinks without having to go back and forth to our locker to retrieve a phone for this matter.

Now I know there are people doing work-arounds with this by printing off their barcodes and laminating them to effectively be able to accomplish the same thing one would with a physical card. But this just proves that there is still a need for them!

[IBEW_Sparky]

As silly as it sounds, I absolutely spaced the idea of printing the screen image of the barcode and laminating it for wallet keeping!  Im definitely utilizing that if I get a new pass!

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

3 hours ago, DJSkyFoxx said:

the scanner reads the card's barcode much better than on a phone.

I'd entirely forgotten the fact that the parking toll scanners were installed during the age of barcodes... Maybe on my next visit I'll have to try using my pass card to see if it scans better.

I'll see if I can finish a version of a printable pass and share it here to KIC in case anyone wants a pre-made version that you'd just have to copy/paste your barcode/QR code to.

[IBEW_Sparky]

1 hour ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

I'd entirely forgotten the fact that the parking toll scanners were installed during the age of barcodes... Maybe on my next visit I'll have to try using my pass card to see if it scans better.

I'll see if I can finish a version of a printable pass and share it here to KIC in case anyone wants a pre-made version that you'd just have to copy/paste your barcode/QR code to.

If I happen to get another pass, Im going to play with them a bit just for my personal entertainment.  Ive still got my old hard card, and Im going to make an exact, two-sided copy of it and place the new number over the old one before laminating it.  Old-school metallic dark gray pass with the new numbers 

[kingsislandfan1972]

I honestly would love to get a map for the new Phantom Theater Opening Nightmare ride, I wish I had the 1992 map from the original Phantom Theater.

[jbeast]

I have a really nice collection of paper maps over the years and do miss having one to either use at a park or take home as a souvenir. 

And I still use my physical card pass every time I go to the park. Same one I have had for years works just fine (for now anyway). I do not like not using my phone for literally everything and it's much easier just to take my card out and get my meal or drink.

Of course, at Cedar Point, I had my pass in my zipper pocket and as I sat down to ride Top Thrill 2, they made me take it out and hand it to an op until we got back. I did not get that...we had our phones, keys, etc in the lockers, but can't have pass in your pocket I guess too.

[rexpostal]

Nah.  Wasteful and environmentally unfriendly.  

[IndyGuy4KI]

On 9/16/2025 at 12:30 PM, rexpostal said:

Nah.  Wasteful and environmentally unfriendly.  

Agreed, I do think they should make them and sell them at the Emporium for those that want to have the map added to their collection.

[Stoan]

I miss having maps, and it's hard to argue that they're bad for the environment when you compare to the amount of cups the park just tosses away each day. 

 

I'd be happy to pay a nominal fee for one of that helps slow waste, but I also don't want a 20+ dollar "collectors edition" map

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Port Aventura in Spain uses a reusable return-cup system where you buy the drink plan, redeem the cup, and use it similarly to Cedar Fair's drink bottle plans. The difference is that you can return the cup each day to get some of your money back. An apt comparison could be to can recycling programs where you get $0.10 or so back per empty drink can you return. Six Flags could probably do something similar to replace the One Day Drink Bottle and seasonal paper cup plan. The alternative is to switch to other paper cups, even though they may degrade while in use. Finding the space and staff for dishwashers/cup returns looks to be the biggest barrier to anyone in the US going the same route as Port Aventura.

 

A $20+ "collectors edition" map each year would only really be worth it if the parks were able to make them look really good and changed them up every 3-5 years. It'd be better to have those in Kings Island Collections or the Emporium, and then provide actual paper maps (not the plastic-y ones from pre-COVID) at one stand with a limited stock available each day. It'd also help if they brought back some of their recycling programs, but I doubt Six Flags is interested in doing anything like that anymore.

 

If Six Flags wanted to dive further into being a sustainable company, there are so many routes they could take if they just put in the money and effort — two things the company seems to be losing every day.

[rexpostal]

22 hours ago, Stoan said:

I miss having maps, and it's hard to argue that they're bad for the environment when you compare to the amount of cups the park just tosses away each day. 

 

I'd be happy to pay a nominal fee for one of that helps slow waste, but I also don't want a 20+ dollar "collectors edition" map

I mean,  just because one thing is bad doesn't mean you should just forget that something else is also bad.  It's all a drop in the cup to the emissions tossed in the air by India and China,  but that doesn't mean we should just give up and do nothing. 

[Stoan]

On 9/25/2025 at 2:45 PM, rexpostal said:

I mean,  just because one thing is bad doesn't mean you should just forget that something else is also bad.  It's all a drop in the cup to the emissions tossed in the air by India and China,  but that doesn't mean we should just give up and do nothing. 

No, but arguing we shouldn't have physical maps because of the waste is also a drop in the bucket compared to cups. I'll trade paper cups for the maps

[rexpostal]

On 9/26/2025 at 5:46 PM, Stoan said:

No, but arguing we shouldn't have physical maps because of the waste is also a drop in the bucket compared to cups. I'll trade paper cups for the maps

Cups are needed to drink water.  Paper maps aren't needed to navigate the paper.  Its not comparable.  

[Stoan]

On 9/29/2025 at 8:39 AM, rexpostal said:

Cups are needed to drink water.  Paper maps aren't needed to navigate the paper.  Its not comparable.  

Paper cups are not required for water. Water fountains do a fantastic job of allowing people to drink without a container.

 

You are right though, it isn't comparable. One of these things is generally only given once per visit and has a chance to be reused or stored for later. 

 

Really though, the park needs recycling something fierce.

[rexpostal]

Lol

[kingsislandfan1972]

Honestly I miss the old Paramount maps.