Why does Kings Island open before Cedar Point

I don't get it. Why does our in-state sister park open before our park? It makes no sense. Both are in the same geographical area, in the same climate zone, and in the same state. Why does Kings Island open first?

Mason and Sandusky have significantly different climates, both now and during the off-season, both of which factor in.

It makes perfect sense.

And a significantly different employee situation.

Locals vs a majority of people who drive several hours or fly from another country to come to a park with housing.

I'm in Columbus, so I couldn't be happier.

I am in Newark, about an hour east of Columbus. It only takes me an hour and a half to get to Cedar Point on State Route 13. It takes almost twice that to get to Kings Island. What a difference 30 miles makes

There is a difference between being at an amusement park in a wooded area in early April and being at an amusement park on a peninsula in the middle of Lake Erie in early April.

Yes it's friggen cold out on the Point in April. I remember waking up in the Cedars in early May with a cloud from my breath over my head. Plus like what has already been pointed out, the labor force for CP comes from colleges in about a dozen surrounding states. A few of these schools let out in mid May, a lot not until around Memorial Day. The insurance underwriters have specified that ride operators must be at least 18 years old when the gates open for the season, so recruiting from the local high schools will not work, as it does at some parks. These are just a few of the factors that determine how soon they can open.

When I first started going to Cedar Point the season was Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. That was it. No bonus weekends, no Halloween, no media days, no science days, nothin'.

^And that was the standard for many seasonal parks for years.

Even if CP was within 20 miles of Cleveland like KI and Cincinnati, they might only open a week earlier for the season. The weather does factor in after that.

I actually go to school down by Kings Island but live up by the lake, and let me tell you that there is quite a big difference in climate right about now. While the raw temperatures might be about the same, CP gets freezing cold wind off the lake.

I think it is less weather and more personnel. I was at Dollywood opening week and the temperature was in the 30s much of the day. KI had a similar situation at least for part of the day this weekend.

What KI has is a large, localized population to draw employees from and close college campuses. Dollywood has a huge senior population. I bet I saw 3 seniors for each young employee. Sandusky has neither.

It's the weather mostly, and also the locals and staffing. KI does not have dorms for everyone like CP does. At CP, you can be from Huron and still get a dorm there. KI I am pretty sure the dorms are only for internationals.

the weather plays a huge difference being on the lake for CP. That wind is freezing 24/7 always blowing. the humidity in the wind makes it even more cold. I just went to KI this past weekend, and it was a little chilly, but not that damp cold air that CP has. In april/may at CP, it's like san Francisco weather. :)

KI does not have dorms for their employees. They stay over at the KI Conference Center/Resort. The international picking is very very slim as well.

The majority work population comes from the local area around the park minors-up. Thats why you see minors in ride operations. At least this year only adults can run controls only, or so I've heard.

▼ You're correct regarding the 30mile radius.

Miss Maverick07, you cannot be from Huron and live in the dorms at Cedar Point. You have to be over 30 miles away from my understanding.

You can be in the dorms from Vermilion.

You can be in the dorms from Newark. But I am only 14, so I have another 4 years to wait until I can work at Cedar Point. I am only working there to pay for college(either at OSU or Akron) if my football career doesn't work out.

Paisley, are you sure? I knew someone from Vermilion and they were not allowed to live in the dorms. They were told they lived to close to the park.

^ Same here. Vermilion is literally 20 miles right down Rt. 2. Seems pointless to need housing anyways.

buckeyesbrownsindianscavs, Newark is approximately 105 miles from Sandusky. Of course they would offer housing.

TwistedWicker77 said:
^ Same here. Vermilion is literally 20 miles right down Rt. 2. Seems pointless to need housing anyways.

That's like saying that if someone lives 20 miles away from OSU, it would be a waste to live in the dorms. Half of my best memories of working at CP were of AFTER work in the dorms.