I saw that Kings Island is running a promotion that offers one free visit in 2015 if you buy a 2016 Gold Pass. Can anyone tell me if you can use that free visit during Halloween Haunt hours? Also, do you get to park free during your 2015 visit since it is technically a Gold Pass visit?

Your free 2015 visit when buying a new 2016 pass is valid during Haunt. In previous seasons, parking for the "free" visit was not included. If you need a definite answer to the parking question in advance, I suggest calling the park.

 

Enjoy your visits, assuming you buy a pass!

However, if you will be coming to the park with somebody who is a 2015 gold or platinum passholder, then you will be able to park for free with their pass. As long as the passholder is in the car, you should be good to go!

short answer is "yes", you will need to pay initially but bring the parking receipt to the ticket windows for a refund on your one visit for 2015.

My sister, brother in law and niece bought season passes this year, in June, on a whim.  Now, they want gold passes for 2016.  I want to buy them for Christmas presents when I am at KI on Sunday Nov 1.  1.  Can I do this without them present. 2.  Do they need to be linked to their 2015 season passes?  3.  In 2016, on their first visit--if they keep the receipt, will season pass processing reimburse that parking fee?

 

Lastly, a question about my pass.  I'm upgrading to platinum for 2016.  Can I go thru season pass processing this weekend?  There is an off chance I will be able to go out west before KI opens in the  spring, and if  I can visit   Knott's I'd like to.

My sister, brother in law and niece bought season passes this year, in June, on a whim.  Now, they want gold passes for 2016.  I want to buy them for Christmas presents when I am at KI on Sunday Nov 1.  1.  Can I do this without them present. 2.  Do they need to be linked to their 2015 season passes?  3.  In 2016, on their first visit--if they keep the receipt, will season pass processing reimburse that parking fee?

Not sure; someone else may have a good answer, or else your best best is to ask at Guest Relations (or call the park, but I find that asking in person at Guest Relations typically gets better and more accurate answers).

 

Lastly, a question about my pass.  I'm upgrading to platinum for 2016.  Can I go thru season pass processing this weekend?  There is an off chance I will be able to go out west before KI opens in the  spring, and if  I can visit   Knott's I'd like to.

Yes, you can process the upgrade now. Since you are upgrading, make sure to hold on to your 2015 Gold Pass, as you would need to use it for entry this weekend. The 2016 Platinum Pass given to you when you process won't work until January 1 (and then only at Knott's until other parks begin opening for the season).

^^ You can purchase passes for your family without them being present. They will need to process them at the park in 2016. An unprocessed pass voucher is good for one entry into the parking lot (and one entry into the park, in case they want to process later in the day).

 

I would recommend bringing their 2015 passes along with you. There's a chance that they could copy information from these to avoid them having to process in 2016. Since their 2015 passes are regular passes, their 2016 gold passes will be considered new (not renewed) passes.