When Kings Island opens this year on April 18, long-time visitors will remember the old Flying Eagles ride that originally moved from Coney Island to Warren County. Flying Eagles closed in 2004. The new family ride, Woodstock Gliders, features maneuverable flying scooters that will pay homage to the old favorite, said park spokesman Don Helbig.
“To be able to bring this ride back, it’s obviously not as thrilling as Banshee, but it might have a wider appeal because guests of all ages can enjoy it,” Helbig said.
Also opening in the park’s Planet Snoopy children’s section is Snoopy’s Space Buggies. Six four-seat vehicles will bounce up and down while rotating in a circle, Helbig said.
Another new addition to Planet Snoopy for 2015 is known as Snoopy’s Barnyard Friends, which opens May 21. Visitors will see more than 60 animals to learn about and interact with. Hours of operation will be noon to 6 p.m. daily once it opens.
“Planet Snoopy, we wanted to make it bigger. We’ve won the Golden Ticket for 14 straight years, but you want to keep on improving the area and giving our guests what they’ve been asking for — more rides that families can do together,” he said.
“The great thing about the Woodstock Gliders is you can create your own experience with it … you control your flight with the wing,” he said.
Other changes to look for include a new lineup of shops and restaurants along International Street near the park’s main entrance.
At the moment, International Street is a construction zone. Crews are building out a new 3,650-square-foot Starbucks, which Kings Island officials claim to be one of the chain’s largest coffee shops in the Midwest. It’s the largest in the Tristate, Helbig says. There’s enough seating for 219 people including an outdoor patio area overlooking the fountains.
The former Fudge and Candy Shop has been renamed Sweet Spot and is undergoing extensive interior and exterior redesigns with new product offerings. Guests walking by will be able to watch fudge and candy being made through large glass windows.
Joining the dining options is Yogurt Plus, offering 18 different flavors and toppings such as fresh-cut fruits, candy, cereal, nuts, granola and syrups.
Renovations at the Funnel Cake stand on International Street mean customers can see and choose their own toppings.
Elsewhere in the roller coaster park, the ride Shake, Rattle, and Roll, running since 1976, has been freshly re-painted and updated with a new LED lighting package. The ride cars are now red and white.
“For our guests it’ll be almost like a whole new experience,” Helbig said.
The Coca-Cola Marketplace, previously a tent selling healthier fare such as fruit and salads, has been upgraded to its own free-standing building near the Coney Mall section of the park.
Even though there’s not a new multi-million roller coaster this year, Banshee is still expected to be an attendance driver, Helbig said.
“That one has a chance to be like The Beast, where 36 years later people are still coming here specifically to ride The Beast, so Banshee will have a long-lasting appeal,” Helbig said.
“The main reason to come this year will be to ride Banshee still.”
The Beast opened in 1979 and holds the world record for longest wooden roller coaster at 7,359 feet.
Job seekers wanting to work at Kings Island this year haven’t missed their opportunity yet. A second jobs open house is from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15, to help fill the remaining seasonal positions, Helbig said. At the open house, on-site at 6300 Kings Island Drive in Mason, attendees can meet with department managers to learn more about jobs at the amusement park and ask questions before applying.
Approximately 1,800 jobs are still up for grabs and job openings remain in most areas of park operation including admissions, games, food and beverage, rides, warehouse, call center, guest services and merchandise, he said.
All prospective job candidates are encouraged to apply online at www.visitkingsisland.com/jobs.
Kings Island’s opening day is Saturday, April 18, but it closes Sunday, April 19, for a private event. Daily operations begin on May 8.
The 364-acre amusement park features roller coasters The Beast, Diamondback and Vortex. More than 4,000 people a year are hired in seasonal positions. Kings Island has more than 150 full-time employees year-round.
Altogether, Kings Island draws more than 3 million visits per year, according to International Theme Park Services.
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