Kings Island Trip...hotels?

My husband and I are taking our 2 kids to Kings Island in a couple of weeks and we are trying to find a place to stay with resaonable prices and a decent atmosphere. Any suggestions? Thanks

I have stayed at the kings island inn, it is a decent hotel with a indoor pool and hot tub. It is right across the street from the park, and they have a free shuttle to and from the park.

The rates are a little high, but it's not too crazy.

I stayed at the Comfort Inn one exit south on I-71 from King's Island. It was the nicest Comfort Inn I've ever stayed it. Two nights came to about $130 with my AAA discount.

I stay at the Baymount Inn and Suites. Great rates and pretty decent. It was renovated 4 or 5 years ago so its fairly new.

Have a good trip!

We stayed at the Kirkwood Inn. It's about 5 minutes away, but kinda out in the country (just a tad). It's very nice, friendly peeps.

They have this cool old house (I think the original portion was built in around 1850) that they host breakfast in.

And the price was reasonable! Highly recomended.

http://www.kirkwoodinn.com/

Thanks for the suggestions. Also since this is our first trip there, what are the places to eat at kings island like? do they have a variety?

There is a Super 8 accross I-71 from the park. I had a handicapped accessible room that had a fridge and a microwave. Because of the type of room it was ground level so it was nice to just bring the car right up to the door for whatever.

Also alot of restaurants within walking distance. Perkins, Big Boy, Waffle House...Hmmmm, Waffle House...

It think I paid about $80 a night. I'd have to look at my invoces.

Food wise in the park? There is a Subway, a couple of Skyline Chilii places. First time for me with Skyline. Cincy is known for chilli. Had a pretty good burger at a place over by Face off. Expect to pay CF prices. *** Edited 7/8/2007 7:19:06 PM UTC by WildThingNative***

For the last two years, we've stayed at a place called The Budget Inn in historic Lebanon, OH. It's about fifteen minutes from the park and is family-owned and maintained. The main-street area where the motel is located off of has a lot of atmosphere. There's no swimming pool, but that's what Boomerang Bay is for:)

Last year, we stayed there out of desparation after not being able to find one decently-priced hotel room for BeastBuzz at 2:30 a.m. in the morning and we really liked it. They got our repeat business this year. The rooms are very spacious and they don't feel like typical motel/hotel rooms.

There's also a Knight's Inn also in Lebanon (they referred us to The Budget Inn after they were booked solid) a little bit closer to the park that should also be affordable.

Surprised no one has mentioned Great Wolf Lodge. That's where we stayed.

Shell out the money, you won't be disappointed!

We stayed at the Super 8. If budget's what you want, that's all you're getting. Never again. I felt dirty the whole time I was there.

There was a Mexican restaurant next to a Shell near the entrance to the park. Very good, authentic, non-chain food. Try the rellenos. Yum :)

^It's called El Toro. :D

Also, there's a Popeye's chicken that is connected to the Shell station, and a Ruby Tuesday's next to the Harley store.
By the way, if you want to try a non-chain pizza, there's a great little place next to Sunoco called MVPizza.

I can't help it. I live so darn close to Kings Island! :)

Edit: They have a pretty good variety in the park. Chik-fil-A, Bubba Gump, LaRosa's, Skyline Chili, Graeter's ice cream, Subway, Panda Express, plus some things that aren't chains. *** Edited 7/9/2007 12:23:54 AM UTC by TayTay***

^We all had a good laugh about El Toro. I think the best option in the park is the new Wings Dinner Buffet. For a flat-fee, you can eat all you want from a large selection of good-tasting foods and desserts.

Does KI have the parent swap like CP does?

^Absolutely. Top Gun, for example, has a holding pen for kids located behind the operators booth.

Great Wolf would be the best choice -- though obviously not the cheapest.

Someone mentioned the Kings Island Resort. I've found the rates to be very reasonable there, especially mid-week.

Not only is it right across the street from the park (but wait for the shuttle that leaves every half-hour), but it's also the hotel where the Brady Bunch stayed and filmed the Kings Island episode back in the 1970s. The lobby has copies of the episode that you can watch while you're there. Check the hotel's website for Web specials (including tickets if you need 'em).

If you're really trying to cut costs, you can still camp. They took out the old campground right next to Kings Island (adjacent to Top Gun). However, Kings Island sits high on a bluff with the Miami River curving around below it. Down on that river is a fine combination campground and canoe livery. The campground has sites in the trees with good grass cover and good facilities. It's hot to be camping, but during the day you'll be at the park, or of course there's the river only a few feet from your campsite. At night, a cool breeze flows down the valley along the river and makes life quite comfortable. And it's only 10 minutes from the park. To get there you get back on I-71, cross the river heading East, take Exit 36, turn left over the interstate, and follow the signs about a mile. The number is 1-800-634-4277. Technically, it's the Oregonia location of the Little Miami Canoe Rental company. You could even do a little canoeing while you're there, if there's enough water flowing during this drought.

In my recent trips to KI, I've stayed at the Red Roof Inn and the Comfort Inn just South of the park at the Fields-Ertle interchange. Pretty much everything is right there in terms of hotels, and there are many, many food places, etc. It's about a 10 minute drive to the park from there.