Kings Island or Wonderland?

So, the wife and I have been talking about hitting some of the other parks for a while now and I think this may be the year.
Info: We're in Metro Detroit so both parks are roughly the same distance from us (KI is 4hrs, W is 3.5hrs)
She has been to neither park, and I have been to Wonderland once, but it was literally 30 years ago, so it may as well be not at all haha.

Anyways, KI and Wonderland are our top-two that we want to hit first, but we can't decide which to try first.

There are +'s to both of them.. I think KI may have the better collection of coasters overall, but at the same time we've traveled extensively thru all of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, etc so there wouldn't really be any additional things to see while we were down there, whereas with Wonderland, we could add an extra day to our trip and check out Toronto a little.

Anyways, which park would you vote for first and why?
Thanks all!!

This topic is better suited for Coasterbuzz.

I'll probably make a post there as well, but there are enough people here who have gone/do go to other Cedar Fair parks... Plus I frequent this forum pretty much daily, where Coasterbuzz I check once in a blue moon...

In my opinion it's a toss-up as far as park coolness goes.

I'd give KI the edge if only because then you don't have to worry about border crossings, passports, duty, exchange rate, etc.

I'd go with Wonderland, mainly because you can also spend some time in Toronto on your trip, Toronto is a really cool, cosmopolitan city.

As far as the parks, I would give KI the slight edge in coasters but CW gets the edge in unique flat rides. Neither park will disappoint, and CW does have a dark ride that KI lacks.

You really can't go wrong with either! If I had my choice I'd go to Kings Island, for the Beast alone. I've posted reviews from both parks, from the perspective of a family with a young child:

http://pointbuzz.com/Forums/Topic/back-from-canadas-wonderland-want...ick-report

http://pointbuzz.com/Forums/Topic/back-from-ki-wanted-to-post-a-few-comparisons

I prefer Canada's Wonderland, but I think part of it has to do with it being in Canada.

Kings Island has a slightly better coaster lineup (variety of quality coasters), but Canada's Wonderland has a much better atmosphere. Plus, two solid B&M coasters and a wonderful Arrow suspended. Unfortunately one of my favorite coasters there has been removed.

Time of year and time of the week is important as well. Canada's Wonderland gets extremely crowded.

Wonderland may be closer, but traffic on the 401 can be brutal. I've driven in NYC (including Manhattan, in a minivan) and in Toronto. I prefer New York. Canadian drivers are crazy!

-Sam

KI has a dining plan that better than CW's by leaps and bounds... Not sure if you're planning on partaking, but thought I'd point that out...

If you do plan on some time in Toronto, I recommend the Hockey Hall of Fame if you're a hockey fan and the Ripley's Aquarium is a good time...

Do you have a passport??? If you don't getting one is an added PITA and expense...

And the exchange rate is currently in your favour, just be careful the plastic bills stick together when new...

Canada's Wonderland is slightly better IMO. Barely though. Behemoth and Leviathan are great rides. Like someone mentioned earlier too, Toronto's an awesome city. Save a day for that. Check out the mall downtown. Really cool. CN Tower is quite the site as well. You can make a great 2-3 day trip out of it.

While I haven't ridden Leviathan, Behemoth was a tad better than Diamondback but with KI having Diamondback and Banshee, I would definitely choose KI over CW. Plus, I liked KI's overall coaster collection more. CW had some strange ones, especially that flying coaster.

Thanks everyone for the replies!
This decision is tough even with the new opinions haha. Both really do have major +'s

Pete said:

I'd go with Wonderland, mainly because you can also spend some time in Toronto on your trip, Toronto is a really cool, cosmopolitan city.

As far as the parks, I would give KI the slight edge in coasters but CW gets the edge in unique flat rides. Neither park will disappoint, and CW does have a dark ride that KI lacks.

When you say flat rides, are you meaning stuff like, say, Tiki Twirl? If so, those are a MAJOR no-go for me. You can put me on ANY coaster you like, but get me on something that just spins? I'm blowin chunks and down for the count...
Wonder Mountain's Guardian does seem cool.. My wife loves things like that (she loved the Men In Black ride at Islands of Adventure)

shamrockcb said:

You really can't go wrong with either! If I had my choice I'd go to Kings Island, for the Beast alone. I've posted reviews from both parks, from the perspective of a family with a young child:

http://pointbuzz.com/Forums/Topic/back-from-canadas-wonderland-want...ick-report

http://pointbuzz.com/Forums/Topic/back-from-ki-wanted-to-post-a-few-comparisons

Yeah, how i've never been on the Beast is beyond me!
We are child-free, but your reviews were still great and had good info ;)

Honorarius said:

KI has a dining plan that better than CW's by leaps and bounds... Not sure if you're planning on partaking, but thought I'd point that out...

If you do plan on some time in Toronto, I recommend the Hockey Hall of Fame if you're a hockey fan and the Ripley's Aquarium is a good time...

Do you have a passport??? If you don't getting one is an added PITA and expense...

And the exchange rate is currently in your favour, just be careful the plastic bills stick together when new...

For CP we still do a cooler at the picnic pavilion by Blue Streak just like i've done for 30+ years, but when we hit other parks we plan on rolling light and eating at the park, so the meal plan may factor in.

as for the passport, we're from the Detroit area so we have had enhanced drivers licenses since they became available, and they allow you access to Canada and Mexico without a passport, so we are covered in that regard.

Hockey Hall Of Fame is DEFINITELY on the list, that's for sure ;)

I meant more large scale flat rides like MaXair and Skyhawk then smaller rides like Tiki Twirl. They have some unique ones that twirl you and lift you with some interesting motion

Ah right on...
Skyhawk I can do, and I have ridden MaXair, but I didn't care for it (that really pushed my spinning limit lol

CW is flat ride heaven for those of us that like those too.
They have a Huss Giant Jump, a Mondial Top Scan, a rare Huss UFO, an Intamin Calypso, and a giant Huss Enterprise, just to name a few (and I think those are the majors). There's also smaller flats like the Pirate, Swing Around, and Wave Swinger.

But (and you can youtube em if you like) I already know few, if any of those would be your cup of tea.

I've been to CW twice, once during its inaugural season and then about 6 or 7 years ago. (maybe longer, Stunt Track wasn't built yet...) I was shocked on my second visit to see how the park had grown in and grown up. It sure was a lot prettier than that barren, flat first year.

But Kings Island is pretty too. (yes, it is...) And I'd agree that if strictly coasters are your thing then KI has the edge. CW has quite a few production model steel rides that you may have been on similar rides already and the rides from the early days aren't all that great.

I'm from the metro Detroit area as well, and I'm going to post the unpopular opinion that you should check out KennyWood amusement park outside Pittsburgh, about a 4.5 hour drive. A family friendly park that has a great assortment of newer and also historical rides. Also: they have trees, which cedar fair seems to dislike. They have an old and very good whip ride, and the Noah's ark funhouse, and everything from ancient side-friction rollercoasters to newer styles ( my favorites are Phantom's Revenge and the Comet) Also, many of the rides dive into a ravine creating interesting layouts. Alot of the cedar fair parks have very similar rides to eachother, this park has very unique rides check it out.