After traveling to Kings Dominion recently, I thought it would be a good idea to compare it with its sister park, and former Paramount park, Kings Island. Both parks have some rides that are very similar, but they also have many rides that are different. This comparison will hopefully give you a better idea of what each park has to offer, especially if you were planning a trip to one sometime in the future! So let’s get the battle started!
1. Park Feel
While Kings Island seems much larger when walking around it, I found myself preferring Kings Dominion’s small park feel. I love going to little parks, such as Waldameer, Lakemont Park, and Camden Park. Kings Dominion maintains this feel while still giving you the quantity of rides a corporate park does. Also, as I stated in my KD Trip Report, KD did a great job of keeping a lot of trees throughout the park. Their “Congo” section has very good theming too; not too many Cedar Fair parks do that.
Winner: KD
2. Food
The food I had at Kings Dominion was not terrible, but the prices seemed high, even for an amusement park. They did however have a Rita’s Italian Ice stand. For those not familiar with that chain, they are based out of New Jersey and they have extremely good Italian Ice. Make sure to grab one while you are there. Kings Island has way more to offer in the food category. LaRosa’s Pizza and Skyline Chili are two Cincinnati originals that are delicious. And with the addition of the Reds Hall of Fame Grill this year, their food can’t be beat. I had the chance to try this new full service restaurant out earlier this year. Their burgers are wonderful and the homemade chips with barbeque sauce is a great combo. I highly recommend giving it a shot.
Winner: KI
3. Drop Tower vs. Drop Tower
Kings Dominion’s Drop Tower really needed a paint job and its capacity was very slow. Kings Island’s looks great and when I’ve been on it, the line moves fast.
Winner: KI
4. Flight of Fear vs. Flight of Fear
I’ve always enjoyed KI’s Flight of Fear becaue it reminds me of one of my favorite rides: Rock’n RollerCoaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. But, when I went on it this year it seemed a bit more rough. As for KD’s, it was amazingly smooth. They also had a series of colored lights inside the building that allowed riders to see parts of the track and structure. As a coaster fan, it was very cool to see that.
Winner: KD
5. Diamondback vs. Intimidator 305
Yes, these rides are very different, but they are both their park’s major steel coaster. Since Diamondback opened, I have absolutely loved it. It made my its way up my top 10 instantly. Diamondback is very reridable and is an overall awesome ride. I think I could ride it all day long without a problem. It can’t get any smoother and the air time is as good as any other coaster out there. Intimidator 305 is a much more intense ride. If you’re looking at thrill factor, it beats Diamondback. The forces on this coaster are insane. If I had to choose one though, it would win based on its overall fun factor alone.
Winner: Diamondback (KI)
6. Vortex vs. Anaconda
Both of these coasters are fun to just watch. Their twisting, looping layouts are mesmerizing. Anaconda has a better first drop. It goes right into a tunnel under a pond. Vortex’s has more inversions though. For these coasters it came down to how rough they were.
Winner: Vortex (KI)
7. The Racer vs. Rebel Yell
These are the park’s racing coasters, that happen to be almost identical. The only thing really different are the turnarounds. The only deciding factor here was the smoothness again. The winner gave a really smooth ride and the other can seem very rough in some spots
Winner: Rebel Yell (KD)
8. Backlot Stunt Coaster vs. Backlot Stunt Coaster
These are identical rides. If I had to get really picky, the stunt effects on one were better timed than the other.
Winner: KI
9. The Beast vs. Hurler & Grizzly
You simply can’t get a better coaster than The Beast. It is a classic and the way it speeds through the woods and then through the double helix is incredible. Hurler was rough and Grizzly had some slow spots during the turns.
Winner: The Beast (KI)
10. Flight Deck vs. Shockwave
Flight deck is an old Arrow suspended coaster, while Shockwave is the oldest stand up coaster in the US. Shockwave did not give a pleasant ride after the loop. Flight Deck, while being a quick ride, is very fun and picks up speed throughout the ride.
Winner: Flight Deck (KI)
11. Adventure Express vs. Avalanche
Here we have each park’s family coaster. I keep giving Adventure Express a chance when I go to KI, but it is rough each time. On the other hand, its theming is better than Avalanche. Avalanche though is a unique ride because its a bobsled coaster. It also is very fun and smooth.
Winner: Avalanche (KD)
12. Firehawk vs. Volcano: The Blast Coaster
These coasters are located in the same spot at each park: right beside Flight of Fear. Firehawk was one of the first flying coasters and it’s always enjoyable to ride. Volcano is also very enjoyable! It is such a different type of ride. The launches are great and the inline twists at the top are perfect. This one came down to ride experience.
Winner: Volcano (KD)
13. Banshee vs. Dominator
I know, Banshee is not even open yet, or done being built for that matter, but once it is, Dominator would be its comparison. Both are B&M’s. Which means both will share similarities like smoothness and near perfect inversions. You know they will be quality rides. I think that Banshee’s location will be better than Dominator’s. It will be situated in a wooded ravine, while Dominator is on a bare, flat piece of land. It may be personal opinion, but I think Banshee will be an amazing coaster. At least its POV makes it look like it.
Winner: Banshee (KI)
I hope this helps break down the coasters at each of the Kings for you. In my opinion, both parks have something special and unique to each of them. I wouldn’t be able to choose one over the other, except I grew up going to Kings Island, so I am a little biased towards it. Go check them out for yourself and let us know what you think! If you have been to one, or both, let us know what your experience was like!
Read our other Park Battles:
KD is larger park then KI just saying.