Hey guys, it's that time of year again, I know I am writing this a little late. Tomorrow is thanksgiving. As I am writing this we have 2 days until Winterfest opens for the 2022 season!
I hope if you are reading this on thanksgiving eve or thanksgiving day that you enjoy this.
I would like to start writing more blog posts as the off season continues with us. So let's get down to business.
What should you expect for Winterfest at Ki if you have never been before? So as you drive into the park, the parking tolls are usually decorated with a huge sign in the middle that says "Kings Island Winterfest". Along with all the tolls having lights and wreathes on them.
So when you park then start walking up to the ticket booths, you have no idea what you are about to get into. As soon as you scan your pass or ticket, you are walking into a "winter wonderland".
All of International Street is decked out. Talking about lights EVERYWHERE. Then to top it all off, the Royal fountain is an ice skating rink, and in the background lurks the tallest Christmas tree in the area!!
That's just the entrance, each shop is decked out, you still have Skyline and Larosas on I-Street. The Emporium is where the skate rental is. I could just go on and on about I-Street. But we got more to talk about.
Let's work our way to the right side of the park, so entering Planet Snoopy, you have MOST the rides open. Not all are open but most are. Boo Blasters, most the flats. So if you have little ones you can defiantly have fun too!
Let's walk over to Rivertown, not much is happening by Diamondback, usually in the Back photo/store is where the big man is, ho ho ho Santa!! Be sure to get your photos with him, if you are one that likes to take your own photos, don't worry you can but they have tons of blue light in there to kinda mess with it and it looks like crap, so they make you buy theirs lol.
So usually in years past Brewhouse has been a buffet but this year it is not. I will have to see what they have turned that into according to the map its "Blitzens Brehouse" so I am going to assume it's the same food as always. IMO I'm glad they are keeping that the same cause the buffet was okay, but was an uncharge to season pass holders. So be on the look out for that.
Right across from Brewhouse is what you all came for, To ride MYSTIC TIMBERS in late November and mostly all of December!! So as you walkup to one of the BEST GCI'S. The whole station and line is decked out in, yes you guessed it, Christmas decor. The station is B-E-A-UTIFULY decked out in white lights and wreaths everywhere. If I can find a photo I will.
After Mystic we come to the "12 Days of Christmas" train ride. This is fun! The little ones will love it! If you like to hear many different versions of the song, then just wait!
Past the train, you have Beast in hibernation for the winter, Larosas is open for business, I think it's called "Blitzens Pizza". You can also get a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower from Dbacks splash down! Let's move up the hill a little and to the left you have Backlot also in hibernation for the winter. Usually this part of the park is decked out in nothing but beautiful white and blue lights!
Coming up on Coney Mall "Tinsel Town", you can walk back to only Antique Autos, back by Windseeker its blocked off. Take your family on a beautifully decorated car ride.
After we get out of Tinsel Town we work our way over to Coney Elf Village, so from about the games all the way down to Racer. In this area you will find ALL the flat rides open. You can also make your way back to Area 72 and ride "Flight of Cheer", sadly Orion is closed!
Also in Tinsel Town, that's where the Christmas parade starts, it follows the same path every other parade has at the park in years past.
After we get out of that area we come upon what's going to be the new "Adventure Port" area of the park, "Polar Bear Plaza" this stretches all the way to Delirium (which is closed)
In this part of the park you don't have much, so as we get to Action Zone, "Action Ice Zone", over here you'll find the ice carving int he middle by Banshee and where they do the pumpkin carvings. This is pretty cool to see! Not much happens on this side of the park. They do have a carpet style slide back by Drop Zone, if you want to do that, I highly recommend doing that first when you get there, as this isn't a "normal type ride" so you will have to wait for the tubes, just think of it kinda like a "water slide" type of ride.
So after that what else is there to do? We have not hit the main "paid" attraction that would be yes you guessed it ice skating on the Royal Fountain. Looks to be on opening weekend on Friday and Sat it is $20 and on Sunday its $17, which isn't a bad deal. You can get your tickets online and reserve a 90 min time slot I believe it is. I personally have never done this. I am going to try and do it this year!
Other than the shows, which we will record them all for you guys and get them up on our Youtube channel, I think I covered everything. Can't wait to see if they have done anything for Adventure Port yet. Just to be back at the park in general always makes ma happy. As I am writing this it's about 10pm on Thanksgiving Eve 2022, I hope you guys enjoy this type of blog. I hope to add more of these soon!
As always thank you for your continued support. Be sure to follow us on ALL social media its always @fyecoasters.
If you have made it this far I want to say thank you. Comment a 🦃 below! Hope you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving and remember what it's about!
Until next time!