Kings Island- Now With Dinosaurs Alive!

Where else can you go on one of ten roller coasters while your kids play on one of eighteen Peanuts themed attractions (ok, while mom takes the kids and dad rides the coasters, in our case)?  King's Island is one of those places that make you realize what an amusement park should be.  It is clean, family friendly, the lines are manageable, and they have a waterpark that is included in the price of the theme park- what???  Yep- that is what makes Kings Island my favorite theme park of all time.  Mark it down.  I have been all over the world, to 29 countries, and all up and down the coast and to about half the 50 states- and if you have only 1 theme park to go to- I'd make it Kings Island, for sure.  And it just got even better!

Right now there is also a really neat exhibit called Dinosaurs Alive!, only $5 with park admission, which is a recreation of a half dozen dinosaur scenes.  These scenes vary from carnivores setting up a mud pit trap to long necked sauropods.  These scenes are astoundingly accurate and kind of surreal when you get down to it.  They are on motion sensors, so they move and roar as you walk by.  Eerily, you can pass by a recreation flash flood scene from a dinosaur era. Then a second scene showing the deceased dinos and a third showing the fossilized remains of said dinos- sort of strange- not scary, though.  Very interesting and mesmerizing.  Not only for adults but also for kids. The dinosaurs are realistic but not overly scary for kids.

"Dinosaurs Alive! at Kings Island features more than 60 life-sized dinosaurs in a 12.5 acre Jurassic forest setting, including 56 animatronic models.
Highlights of Dinosaurs Alive! include the vicious-looking Irritator and its cousins the Baryonyx and the Spinosaurus, the lizard-like Stegosaurus, the meat-eating Tyrannosaurus Rex, the three-horned Triceratops and the flying Pteranodon.

Four of the dinosaurs have interactive consoles which allow guests to guide dinosaur movement so they can see how scientists believe each dinosaur moved its arms, tail, mouth and eyes.  There is also an excavation site replica, a kids’ paleontological dig site where visitors can uncover prehistoric fossils, and a 1,500 square-foot dinosaur-themed gift shop."

For the complete Kings Island experience, Dinosaurs Alive is a must.
A battle plan is a must for Kings Island.  It is so large and our family is so different in our tastes- Dad and Kamikaze like roller coasters, Little Man likes the larger then life characters, and Mom likes to see everyone happy and to be immersed in the fun of the moment.  Mom also likes the waterpark, a whole lot!  LOL.  First of all- get there as they open or as early as possible.  I would also suggest bringing sunglasses and hats, something that is distinct and easy to spot in a crowd.  A big guy in a big hat is easy to find, like Dad!  And don't forget the sunscreen.  With a plan and communication everyone can see what they like and conquer the whole park.

By the way?  I know you have heard me go on about Kings Island before- that is because of all the theme parks we have been to- and we have been to a lot of them- Kings Island is by far my favorite.  I mean, Snoopy alone is worth the trip!  But Planet Snoopy is just too cute, and named Best Kids Area ten years in a row by Amusement Today.  They have the waterpark (Boomerang Bay) included.  Where else can you get that?   Spending the afternoon cooling off after a scorching hot day at the park is awesome.  This year, they will be adding a new waterpark- Soak City!  How cool is that? 
Have fun and enjoy yourself at my favorite theme park, and say hi to Snoopy for me  :) 
Warren County is the place to be for family fun- book your vacation now!