Cedar Point vs. Kings Island

Cedar Point vs. Kings Island

Two of the best roller coasters in the world are located in Ohio: Cedar Point and King’s Island. Ohio residents tend to favor one or the other. If you are visiting the state and ask a local which one you should go too, you will probably get a lot of opinions. In this post we are going to take on the age old debate, which is better: Cedar Point or Kings Island.

About Cedar Point:
Cedar Point has the most steel roller coaster at 1 park.  The park now has the world’s tallest, fastest, steeping drop and longest hybrid roller coaster in the world.  If adrenaline activities are what you crave, then Cedar Point won’t disappoint. Known as The Roller Coaster Capital of the World!®, you won’t find a better thrill seeking experience anywhere else. The first hyper, giga, strata and terra coasters all got their start at Cedar Point.  The beachfront waterpark makes it easy for anyone who wants to get their splashin’ thrills. You can spend the day at Cedar Point Shores Waterpark and then walk over to the beach to be towed 200 feet in the air on a parasail ride. And there’s many more options including kayaking, paddle-boarding, jetskiing and so much more.

Cedar Point Stats

-Located on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohi0
-365 acres
-Opened in 1870
-71 rides
-17 roller coasters
-Waterpark
– 3.51 visitors annually

Popular Rides:

-Wicked Twister
-Top Thrill Dragster
-Mean Streak
-Maverick
-Steel Vengeance (opened in 2018)

Tickets:

$47.99 online or $65 at the gate, Waterpark tickets $35.99

Options are available to upgrade to Fast Lane and Fast Lane Plus.  Buy Tickets Early for 2019 and get 1 free visit.

Pros:

Cedar Point is located right on a lake so visitors get an extraordinary view when on the rides. The waterpark is attached and you don’t have to leave to get to it. The kiddie area is rather large, but overall the main attractions to this park are the rollercoasters. For guests worried about waiting in line, there are two entrances- the main entrance and another on the causeway that doesn’t tend to be that busy.

About King Island:

Kings Island is home to some of the top-ranked roller coasters in annual industry and enthusiast polls, including Mystic Timbers, voted by Amusement Today as the “Best New Ride” in 2017. This fun and thrilling wooden roller coaster takes riders on an adventure through 3,265 feet of track through wooded terrain and over water at speeds up to 53 mph. The Beast, which is listed in the prestigious Guinness Book of World Records as the longest wooden roller coaster in the world at a staggering 7,359 feet! Riders sprawl across 35 acres of densely wooded terrain at speeds up to 65 mph on The Beast. Banshee sends riders screaming their way through seven stomach-churning inversions at speeds up to 68 mph on the world’s longest steel inverted roller coaster. Diamondback is the tallest and fastest roller coaster at Kings Island. Standing 230 feet tall with a first drop of 215 feet at a 74-degree angle, riders snake their way around 5,282 feet of track at speeds up to 80 mph! The Vortex was the first roller coaster in the world to send riders through six inversions when it debuted in 1987 and remains as popular as ever with park guests. Other adrenaline rush activities include Adventure Express, Backlot Stunt Coaster, Bat, The Racer, Flight of Fear and Invertigo. There are also four roller coasters designed specifically for children and their parents and grandparents to enjoy together. The roller coaster thrills never seem to end at Kings Island.

Kings Island Stats

-Located in Mason, Ohio (about 24 miles from Cincinnati)
-364 acres
-Opened in 1972
-More than 100 rides, shows and attractions
-14 Rollercoasters
-Waterpark
-3.34 visitors annually

Popular Rides:

-Delirium
-Invertigo
-Xtreme Skyflyer
-The Bat

Tickets:

$46.99 for any day admission, $42.99 online or $63.99 at the gate for tickets being used Monday- Thursday

Pros:

Kings Island has a wide variety of ride types. It’s fairly kid friendly and there are a lot of ride to choose from. The park is also known for their sweet treats like fudge and taffy. Tickets cost less than Cedar Point and the waterpark is included in the admission price.

Which One Should You Visit?

While both parks do have waterparks, Kings Island’s is not attached and you will have to leave the actual park to get there. However, the 33-acre waterpark is so huge that many visitors go to the park one day and explore Kings Island a different day. However, admission is free to the waterpark if you purchase a ticket to visit Kings Island so if you are concerned about the cost, Kings Island is a better choice. Both parks are constantly trying to be more innovative and add new rides on a continuous basis. This year Cedar Point unveiled Valravn, the world’s tallest, longest and fastest dive coaster in the world. In 2014 Kings Island opened Banshee, which is the world’s longest inverted roller coaster.

Which one should you choose? The best way to decide is to visit both parks to determine which one you like more. Hurry though, because both of these parks close in the late fall and don’t reopen until the spring.

Please note, prices are ticket subject to change. Photo credits to Cedar Point and Kings Island.

If you are looking for other family travel ideas, popular destinations include National Parks tours including river rafting Costa Rica tours and escorted Italy tours are all popular options.  Cruises with Royal Caribbean cruise line, Carnival Cruise line and Norwegian Cruise line have a lot of things for families which children of all ages.

The post Cedar Point vs. Kings Island appeared first on .