New member here! Stumbled upon this site while planning for my family's trip to Kings Island on the weekend of May 15 and 16. Its about a 5 hour drive one way for me and I haven't been there in a little over twenty years. I first visited Kings Island in about 1980 when I was around 5 and then a few years later when I was around 10 or 11. I'm going on 34 now and still fondly recall my two trips there. I am looking forward to taking my two kids, 8 year old son and 13 year old daughter, and hope to make some new memories with them.

Kings Island is a very special place, especially through the eyes of the very young, and I hope my kids enjoy it as much as I did in my youth. The only other amusement park they have been to is Camden Park, and while that is a nice little park, I believe they will be blown away when comparing it too a really big park like Kings Island. I'm sad to see that Hanna-Barbera Land has been changed, as that was always my favorite part of the park. Things change though and anyway, my kids wouldn't know any of those classic characters except Scooby-Doo and maybe Fred Flintstone.

Hopefully we will have good weather for that weekend. I will post a trip report after I return from my trip.

Hope you have a great time. I will be sweeping in Rivertown on Friday and Sunday

Welcome to KIC! I hope your trip goes well and I am sure that your family will make some incredible memories.

Oh goodness your mind will be blown away on how much the park has changed since then but let me assure you that the park is still and maybe more special and amazing as it was back when you visited, I sure do hope you enjoy the park and don't forget to c'mon down to the world famous Blue Ice Cream stand in Planet Snoopy (Formerly Hannah Barbara Land) and enjoy some wonderful Ice Cream that might even spark some wonderful memories. I hope you enjoy your long awaited return to the wonderful Kings Island, where everyone knows your name and remember its the fun and only in the world!!!!

Yes...welcome! I hope you have a nice trip...that's quite a drive.

Oh but the drive is worth it!!!!!

Hope you have a great time at the park! Visit me on Diamondback if you can!

I won't be at KI that weekend.

May 15 and 16 is Cedar Point opening weekend, and I already made plans far in advance to go up there. I'm sorry. I do hope you have a great trip though.. welcome to KIC, and be sure to post a trip report!

Welcome! Yes, you are true Kings Island is a magical place. I hope you can share that experience with you and your kids! (I probably live 15min. away from Camden Park and it is not even comparably to KI, even though it is nice KI is much much much better.

I would die if I didn't go to KI within 20 years. How did you make it? Haha.

I think it would be kind of cool to go to KI years ago, then come back and be able to see a whole new world!

I spent a lot of time at KI in the 80s, and I remember the excitement of going back twenty or so years later. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Everything seemed old and dirty to me. Maybe I'd just become too old and cynical, or maybe I was foolishly hoping to recapture the carefree feelings I had when I went to the park as a kid. Who knows?

I've heard that Paramount neglected the park for a while during the time period in which I visited and that things are much better now, so I'm hoping to go back soon. I'd like to introduce my daughter to the place that gave me so much joy as a kid.

I too grew up going to Camden Park, so I can appreciate the sensation of walking into Kings Island for the first time and being awestruck! I hope you and your family have a great time. I may have to take a trip to Huntington this summer and catch a ride on the Big Dipper

~Josh

Thanks for all the great replies! I will be stopping along the way in Lexington, KY to pick up my cousin who hasn't there in over twelve years himself. IceCream 329, I will be sure to come down and get some of that famous blue ice cream.

I was wondering, since I wear eyeglasses, do I need to get some sort of strap to keep them secure to ride certain rides? I know some places have restrictions for riders who wear glasses. I may get a strap of some kind just in case anyways.

Forget about restrictions...do you want to keep your glasses? If so, you had best get a strap. I recommend Croakies brand...On Firehawk and Diamondback, in particular, no strap may well mean no glasses when you get back. And of everyone I ever knew who broke their glasses on a ride, every one of them was trying to hold them...

Took your advice and picked me up a Croakies strap. I got a Cincinnati Reds strap, so maybe it won't look too dorky.

By the way, the early forecast for this coming weekend is sunny with highs in the mid 70's. Will it be too cool to ride the water rides without getting chilled to the bone? When I rode the log flume at Camden Park a couple of years ago it was similar weather and the cold water nearly froze me to death!

Most likely yes, but we do have a family dryer, so everyone can dry off

^That costs $5...just as a head's up...