We are considering going to KI on a Friday night (3pm to close) one of the next four weeks. Purpose being to ride The Beast at night and see the fireworks. Our kids have never stayed until closing time or been on the rides after dark, and it's probably been at least 15 years since I have. We've been season pass holders the past three years and are used to light weekday crowds with low wait times from 9:30am - 7pm. It takes us about 2.5 hours to drive one-way.

Can anyone share their experience on a Friday night? I'd be interested in normal, summer weather as a baseline, but if you had severe weather/rain, I'd be interested in hearing about that experience, too. Does Friday night typically get into 1-2 hour wait times for coasters like The Beast, Diamondback and others? How about the Planet Snoopy coasters or Coney Mall rides?

Thanks in advance!

I was there this past Friday night and wait times were all fairly short, with the exception being FOF, which was an hour. Everything else was a 15-30 min wait. Beast night rides on Fridays really only truly happen during the last 30-45 min the park is open since it's a 10 PM close. Regardless, whatever you do, Friday night is traditionally a great time to visit!

Gabe - I appreciate the reply. Thanks!

No problem. I live in Indy--2 hours away--so I tend to check these forums if I'm planning a Friday visit. I have now been on 3 Fridays this season and every one has featured rides with a minimum wait. I believe the last Cirque show is at 7. My kids loved it and I suggest you check it out!

I know the few times I road The Beast late enough they've shut the ride down around 9:45 or 9:55 and let it run again about 5 minutes after the fireworks resume. As a result I only ride The Beast after 9 if the line is short. Otherwise I'll gladly ride Banshee instead at night.

*This is of course during this season.

They do that on all nights when there are fireworks, and have for a long time. It is done for safety reasons because the fireworks launch site is too close to The Beast's track.

I refer the OP to: http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php/topic/29815-how-crowded-will-the-park-be-on-any-date/?hl=crowded

I appreciate that. I did search this forum and read that thread, specific trip reports, and other thread on this type of topic before posting my question in this newer thread. I intentionally avoided asking about a specific date.

I don't remember ever going on a Friday before, and was curious if, generally, Friday night crowds were similar to Saturday crowds or not. Tuesdays have worked great for us the past few years, and we've also gone on Sundays in early May and early October.

I think for this particular purpose, we are planning to do a Sunday night visit in August instead of Friday night in July. We'll have an earlier sunset & more kids back to school (Indianapolis areas schools, for example, are generally back to school earlier in August this year, with a few starting next week.)

Gabe - thanks for the Cirque Imagine tip. We watched that yesterday at 3pm on a 90 degree day. It was a fun show and the kids & adults in our group all liked it.