OT Cincinnatti/Columbus ?? Kings Island?

[susykt4]

We're skipping Disney this year to save some money and just have a change of scenery. I'm a big zoo lover so we're planning to go to the Cincinnatti and Colombus zoos. Also, we're thinking about an amusement park for DD7 and
DS5. I read that Kings Island has a Nickelodeon themed "land" that sounds great for my kids' ages. I know they'll be too short for most of the coasters. Has anyone been there? Is it a good place for younger kids? Also, any other ideas for stuff to do around Cincinnatti or Colombus?

TIA!
Susy

 

[Cruz91]

If it were me, I'd save the money and put it towards the next Disney trip. King's Island is NOT cheap. Having said that, if you're going to Cincy, I would recommend sneaking over to do the acquarium too. Just do a search for cincy and acquarium and it should come up. I forget the name...

 

[AMaloy314]

Your kids are about the right ages for the Nick land at King's Island. They will enjoy it, especially if they are very familiar with the characters. The previous poster is correct, though, that it is NOT cheap to go there, and after WDW, King's Island is sure to be a disappointment.

I would also save the money and skip it.

Instead, go to the Aquarium in Newport KY (just across the river from cincy). Check out the Cincinnati Children's Museum. I have not been there, but have heard good things. Depending on when you are taking your vacation, you could see a Reds ball game.

The Columbus Zoo is fantastic. Plan to pack a lunch and make a day of it. Also check out the web site (http://www.colszoo.org/ ) They often have special programs going on, including hands-on educational things for kids. If you are going in the summer, the waterpark that the zoo purchased last year and is refurbishing, should be open.

COSI (http://www.cosi.org/) is a pretty neat science museum with tons of hands-on things for the kids to do.

If anyone in your family is interested even the slightest little bit in aircraft, the Air Force Museum in Dayton is incredible. Several hangars crammed full of full size aircraft, from a repro of the Wright flyer to a stealth bomber and everything in between including a retired Air Force one plane. It is a little bit of a side trip, but it is free and well worth the visit.

I hope this helps a little.

 

[cruiserkaren]

KI is expensive but I think your kids would still have a good time. My dd4 has been to WDW 3 times and still asks to go to KI. She had a blast and honestly didn't notice a difference between there and WDW. (Dh and I sure did though!) She met Dora, Spongebob and Patrick.

I'll have to third the Newport Aquarium. It's nice.

Also there is a Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, which is just a few minutes north of Cincy, that is a lot of fun if your boys like water. It's an indoor waterpark resort right beside KI.

We go to Cincy a few times a year and always have a good time.

 

[mattsam1]

We went to KI last year as part of a family reunion. My girls, aged 2 and 3 had a ball. We also had my 4 year old neice with us. The three of them ran us around that Nickleodeon park like crazy. They had the best time. It was one of my favorite days. They were able to ride everything in that area, especially for little ones.

It was a great day for us because my husband went with my BIL and older nephews to ride all of the "big" rides. My sister and I kept the little girls entertained from 10 AM- 8 PM in the Nick park. We had a great time and I would go back anytime.

We have not been to Disney yet, leaving next week, so I can't compare but, we enjoyed KI for what it was, a great ONE day family adventure.

 

[powellrj]

instead of Kings Island, have you been to Holiday World? Its a lot cheaper and cleaner than Kings Island and is great for kids your age. The water park is wonderful!

 

[Suzanna1973]

We're from Missouri....King's Island is 6 hours away and we bought SEASON PASSES!!!! We LOVE King's Island. We haven't been in 7 years, but we are so excited about going back!!!! We got Season Passes for $85 each(not bad I don't think). They also have two day tickets that are pretty reasonable.(that is what we did last time) You really need two days to get through the entire park.

Your children will love the kiddy land. It is AWESOME!!! Our son was 5 and he had a blast! Our daughter was 10.

Go, enjoy yourself....make memories.

God Bless

 

[Flower Power]

I live about 20 minutes from KI and if you really want to go try a 1/2 day visit to the Nick area for kids. That's about all it's worth really. I think it's about 1/2 price to go in after 4 PM. I second COSI, Newport Aquaruim (across the river from Cinti in Newport, KY), Great Wolf Lodge is very, very expensive but you might try The Beach water park by KI. Also Cinti and Cols zoos are great, Cinti Childrens Museum, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton is a GREAT place for kids and very reasonably priced. Sunwatch Village by Dayton is a good place for kids also. You might try going to Loveland Castle (website) , Ft. Ancient in Morrow. CoCo Key Water Resort is also in Cinti and is about $20 for a full days pass. I've never been there as it's new in the area. They have one in Columbus too (same name). http://www.cocokeywaterresort.com/ . And there's Young's Jersy Dairy by Dayton http://www.youngsdairy.com/ . Oh! I forgot all about Coney Island/Sunlight Pool just East of Cincinnati on I-275. They have a HUGE pool and an old-timey amusement park that is great for kids too. http://coneyislandpark.com/. That's about all I can think of for now but if you come to Cinti you'll have lots to do between here, Dayton and Columbus.
And for MOM we also have an outlet mall on I-71 at Washington Court House.

 

[GatorGirl]

Wow you guys are bringing up memories! I grew up in Mason, had the first season pass KI ever offered and also was there when the Beach it's opening day. I haven't been home in 20 years though and I am sorry to hear KI is not all it used to be!

We went to COSI in Columbus on a field trip with the girl scounts one year and I still say that was one of the best museum type places I had ever been!

 

[tublady]

We have had Season Passes to KI for years. My dd (6) loves it, she is a daredevil and she is between heights for the big coasters but she loves the Kiddieland and the two coasters they have there. The water park is nice and has several areas for that age group that are fun and it is included in the ticket price. I live about 5 minutes from the Columbus Zoo, there are a lot of changes going on there this year - they are expanding and including a water park - it costs extra but looks like it's going to nice, it's called Zoombezi Bay. I have to say that we took my dd last year to COSI and she really did not like it - many of the attractions were closed or broken and it does not have nearly the exhibits that it had before they moved to their new building. She was bored after about an hour and it seemed very expensive for what you could see and do.

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

We lived 5 mins from Kings Island. We miss it! They have the best children's rides off Disney property. I don't remember cost because we had season passes, but our DDs loved it! They have roller coasters for all ages, as well as fun things like bumper cars.

 

[GatorGirl]

We lived 5 mins from Kings Island. We miss it! They have the best children's rides off Disney property. I don't remember cost because we had season passes, but our DDs loved it! They have roller coasters for all ages, as well as fun things like bumper cars.

MommaSnowwhite we used to be able to see the fireworks from our house every night we weren't rich by any means but apparently it took me a while to realize most kids don't grow up with an amusement park like KI across the interstate. My parents made us buy our own season passes with money I made (I had to buy my sister's until she was old enough to babysit herself) from babysitting.

I had heard COSI moved to a new building and I am sorry to hear it isn't as good as it used to be.

I remember the botanical gardens being really nice in Cincy as well.

 

[MomtoMMKO]

We just bought season passes to Kings Island for this year and we have had a membership to COSI for the past two years. My children love both and can't wait until Kings Island opens.

 

[becca011907]

we use to go to KI every year when i was younger, we are only about 4 hours away, me and dh went when we were dating and so on, then went to disney when we got married, we took the kids to KI a few years ago i think they were about just turned 6, just turned 4, and almost 2... it was ok, we went 2 days the kids land is pretty good, dd loved seeing dora, but DO NOT expect disney quality by any means... it's dirty we decided after that year that we won't be making a trip there any time soon, just save the $$ and put towards disney... we did take them to a few chicago zoo's and museums this past summer and had fun there. they didn't even miss the amusment park stuff at all.

 

[VolleyballQt07]

We love KI!!!..The water park is free with your ticket and we always have a blast there. The Beach waterpark is fine too but we can't see spending more money on a waterpark when KI has a perfectly good one at no extra cost...Blockbuster used to have good any day passes that you had to buy by mid June (but then could use anytime) for $20...not sure if they still do that since i "think" KI was bought by Cedar Point's company.

If you have a zoo membership, check it because most zoos in the US are included in your membership throught the reciprocity agreement and the includes Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton which as another poster stated is awesome. We love going there! You may even want to consider buying a annual pass anyways to your local zoo if it reciprocates because with most zoos now, you will get your money's worth after 1 visit If you are thinking of visiting the multiple zoos on your vac. then you really would save some money! (cincy zoo is supposedly 1/2 off with reciprocity but everytime we go the let us in free.).

Also check out Jungle Jims in Fairborn (near Dayton) its a grocery store but not like you have ever seen before!! We love going in and looking at all the exotic things they sell. WE always get a big laugh at the packages of ducks heads in the poultry case.!

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

If you go to Cinci and the Newport Aquarium area, eat at the Fish Market. It is delicious (and lunch is much cheaper than dinner. )

 

[wdwcp93tlt]

Jungle Jims is in the Fairfield Ohio area off I-275. It is closer to Kings Island and Cincinnati. Here is a link to their website http://www.junglejims.com/ It is a lot of fun.

I grew up in the Cincinnati area and now live between Cincy and Dayton. If you stay at a hotel in the Monroe or Spingboro area you are about half way between everything in Cincy and Dayton. There is a lot to do in the area as you can see from all the great ideas people have given already. Have fun planning.

 

[bzzymom]

We live about 45 minutes from Peoria. We have gone to KI several times.
Every couple years we head to Ohio for Cedarpoint and KI. We spend as much money as we do going to WDW, but we ride much better rollercoasters and thrill rides.

We prefer Cedarpoint to KI though. Cedarpoint is set up nicely and the children's rides/family attractions are spread out around the park. KI has one large kids area. There are a couple rides the older may be tall enough to ride.

Our last trip was in 2003. We were going to go this past summer, but I got injured at work and couldn't travel. We prefer Cedarpoint to KI though.

We have stayed in Mason when we have gone and stayed at a couple different hotels like springhill suites and comfort inn. We save money by not staying real close to the park, we usually stay about 10 minutes away.

We also have gone to the aquarium in Newport and it is awesome as well. We have not gone to the zoo there, but we will whenever we get to go back.