pki winterfest

Regardless the temperature will be cold. Too cold to be outdoors for some Christmas lights for me.

XS Nighclub where are you located, Green Bay? Those are frozen tundra temps! We are in the teens here in Rochester, NY with a “feels like” temp of -1°. Gonna stay this way through Sunday. So all you folks enjoying the balmy 35°-45° weather at KI WinterFest, have fun and enjoy the weather!

Yeah, I'm in Green Bay. We are getting the 4-8" snow starting tonight, Before it heads to northern ohio.

its been about 8-9 degrees with the wind chill last couple of days, which is cold no matter how you dress.

But we've been in the 40s as of late, really warm for this time of year, the last couple of weeks.

Wish I could check out KI Winterfest, its a beautiful park and I think the overall layout of the park with the grand entrance and intricate walkways lends itself very well to this type of event.

Haha are you seriously in Green Bay? I was being a smartass!

Yeah, its a 505 mile drive to CP from my house. We make the trip 4-5 times a year. Mostly 4 day (Mon-Thurs) trips, except July for 7-9 days stay. Usually visit friends in Cleveland and doing the Islands in July as well.

We also try to make it to KI once a year at least as well, we are really looking forward to Winterfest at KI next year, especially with all the good reviews. I usually like to head to Florida for my cold-weather trips, but maybe a detour to lower Ohio will be in the plans next year.

XS NightClub said:

Quite the contrast from the forecast for KI.

I'm going down to KI this weekend and I thought I was looking at the wrong forecast when I saw the forecast for Mason, OH. Looks like weather will be decent for me.

Well one more 2017 trip will happen, going to KI Winterfest myself next week (either Tue, Wed, or Thu). Mostly for the Christmas experience of course but I'm eager to ride a roller coaster with temps in the 30s.

ImpulsivePhoenix said:

....but I'm eager to ride a roller coaster with temps in the 30s.

Serious question here...

Why is this a thing for enthusiasts? With more parks opening in the winter months for events, I have seen a lot of comments around the excitement to ride a roller coaster in near freezing temps. I enjoy the cold myself (I vacation in Vermont during its coldest month) but I don't understand the thrill of a cold coaster ride.

99er said:

ImpulsivePhoenix said:

....but I'm eager to ride a roller coaster with temps in the 30s.

Serious question here...

Why is this a thing for enthusiasts? With more parks opening in the winter months for events, I have seen a lot of comments around the excitement to ride a roller coaster in near freezing temps. I enjoy the cold myself (I vacation in Vermont during its coldest month) but I don't understand the thrill of a cold coaster ride.

Unique experience I guess. I like cold but... Coasters are of course better in warmer temperatures. But in October last weekend in HalloWeekends when it was in the 40s, riding Millennium and getting an intense cold blast was something else.

Serious question here...

Why is this a thing for enthusiasts?

Maybe it’s the never ending quest to get the most admissions off of a years pass, or the most meals off a dining plan, go the most amount of days to a park in a season without spending another dime after a pass and dining plan, or it could be the intense feeling of attachment some have with the park.

Well this is going to my first Kings Island trip ever. I would like to go next year when I can ride all the coasters. This is mainly for the Christmas experience, but of course I'm going to want to experience a coaster, will make the wait less short for next season. And heck yeah one more usage of my dining plan! It will cost me $25-30 in gas but I'm sure will be worth it.

XS NightClub said:

Maybe it’s the never ending quest to get the most admissions off of a years pass...

For some I'm sure but I was asking in regards to riding roller coasters in cold temperatures. The comments I have seen more frequently have been all on the topic of finally getting the chance to ride a roller coaster in the cold, not the excitement of having a 20 day extension on a season pass.

Cold temps are a side effect of the real treat - riding a coaster in snowfall.

As much as I would love spending more time I the park and would love seeing it all done up for Christmas this time of year is so busy there's a chance I would simply not have the time to go. Work gets crazy because we spend most of December peeling children from the ceiling so I'm more tired, the are Boy Scout obligations, church programs and practices, today is my older kid's birthday and I have two medical tests scheduled for next week to try to beat the year end while I already have my deductible fulfilled...so I can understand why many people would probably think that it sounds cool but not actually go even before you factor in the weather. It's cold up here today. What I really want to do right now is sit in the hot tub at Castaway Bay but last Christmas break we didn't even manage to find a day free that we could do that as a family.

Maybe it's an enthusiast thing. I've never looked at it that way though, much like many people enjoy the heat I personally would rather ride a coaster when it's 30 over 90. Obviously 65-70 is ideal.

Or what XS said, quite cynical but I'm sure there is some truth to it for other people.

Well, that's interesting, but I would much rather ride a coaster when it is 90 and ski when it is 30. Of course, if a coaster ride is offered at Winterfest, I'd have fun on it even if it is 10 degrees.

I'd like to say that I would enjoy a coaster at 10 degrees but it was 10 degrees this morning when I drove my kids to school and I was freezing. I don't tolerate the cold like I used to. Coasters at 40 degrees I had no problem with but this week I am cold just going from the house to the car.

I attended every Winterfest KI (pki) had back in the day. I remember so much of and the magic it made to me as a young adult. It was so much better than the memories! KUDOS to Kings Island and Cedar Fair for putting together such an enjoyable experience!

Rode Mystic Timbers Twice, Scrambler and the Swing and the 12 days of Christmas train ride! Took in 2 indoor shows, 3 outdoor shows and listened to a traveling brass band. All in the 5 hour window that Winterfest is open.

Went Fri. Dec. 15th. Crowds were light and everything was decked out amazing! The park had seriously dozens of great photo ops that were placed throughout the park. So many great photos that we were all tired of taking pictures when it was all said and done. The snow globe was pretty unique! Got to meet and get pics with many other costumed characters in the park. Did not ice skate, but enjoyed watching others.

Again, thank you KI for a Super Duper amazing day! My holiday Spirit is now beyond annoying!

Pete said:

Well, that's interesting, but I would much rather ride a coaster when it is 90 and ski when it is 30. Of course, if a coaster ride is offered at Winterfest, I'd have fun on it even if it is 10 degrees.

Riding is not the issue, it's walking/ waiting in line that makes 90 unbearable for me. I work in all the extremes and simply prefer the cold. However living in Rochester/ Buffalo all my life may have just made me crazy ;)

Question for those who went to Winterfest:
I am assuming they provide ice skates, but do they cost anything to rent them out? Or are they free to use?