What's Your Favorite Kings Island Tradition?
For more than 50 years, Kings Island has been a place for families and friends to come together and make lasting memories. Along with those memories are traditions that are repeated every visit and passed along from generation to generation. Here are some of the top traditions shared with us.
Tradition #1: Getting Your Group Picture on International Street
Visiting Kings Island is just as much about the group you're with as the amusement park itself. And, what better place to get that group photo than as soon as you walk through the turnstiles in front of the Royal Fountain and the amusement park’s iconic Eiffel Tower?
Tradition #2: Meeting Your Favorite Member of the Peanuts Gang
While the characters have changed over the past five decades, kids have always had a chance to meet some of their favorite cartoon characters at Kings Island. From Charlie Brown to Peppermint Patty, when kids spot these loveable characters in person at Kings Island their faces light up.
Tradition #3: Enjoying a Blue Ice Cream Cone
Blue Ice Cream has been around for so long now that it spans generations and kids of all ages make sure they can get at least one cone during their visit to the park. Be sure to pick up this soft serve treat in Planet Snoopy, right next to the Great Pumpkin Coaster.
Tradition #4: Claiming Your Spot for the Nighttime Finale
Your reward for spending the whole day at Kings Island? A nighttime finale featuring fireworks, hundreds of drones, dancing fountains and laser projections, all choreographed to music. If you want a front row seat, and you're ready to wind down for the day, you can join the many gathering near the front gate near closing time to grab one of the best views.
This year, as the sun goes down, the skies light up with “Under the Stars, a Kings Island Nighttime Spectacular.” Fireworks, hundreds of drones and laser projections combine to celebrate the unforgettable memories from your Kings Island visit.
Tradition #5: Getting Your Height Measured
Look through any Kings Island parent's phone and in the photo reel you'll likely find a picture of their child hitting a height milestone on the measuring chart at Kings Island. When a new height level's hit, a whole new world of unridden rides opens up and it's like experiencing the amusement park for the first time...again!
Tradition #6: Going to the Top of the Eiffel Tower
After waiting in line at ground level, guests set foot into one of two high-speed elevators and are then whisked upward at 10 feet per second to one of two observation decks. Since 1972, nearly 40 million guests have taken the 30-second trip to the viewing platforms and been treated to panoramic views of the park and its surrounding area. On a clear day, they can see up to 18 miles away.
Tradition #7: Taking a Spin on the Grand Carousel
When the Grand Carousel first opened, Calvin Coolidge was president and many considered Charlie Chaplin to be the most famous person in America. Since then, the merry-go-round has survived several floods and been relocated from Coney Island Cincinnati to its home at Kings Island. One of its appeals? Virtually everyone in the family can take a ride at the same time.
Tradition #8: Sample some of Cincinnati's Favorite Foods all in One Place
For those visiting from out of town, and to satisfy the cravings of the locals, Kings Island offers the chance to sample some of Cincinnati's favorite dishes. From LaRosa's pizza to Skyline Chili and Graeter's Ice Cream, Kings Island is a one-stop shop for some of Cincinnati's favorite food traditions. You might even hear someone near you say, "LaRosa's pizza always tastes better at Kings Island," and we wouldn't disagree with that!
There you have it. Favorite Kings Island traditions that have been shared with us by our guests. Did we miss one? Let us know on social media!
