SFKK Advise Please

In a couple of weeks I will be attending the big gravy buffet (ACE Con xxx) and need some input.

The first 4 days (of 7) are at KI with time at Stricker's mixed in. Days 5-6 at HW and the last day at BB. Due to event schedule issues, I would like to to try and get to SFKK the third day and get BACK to KI for the final day at KI. For some reason beyond me SFKK is not part of the Con.

Am I bighting off too much? Can this be done in one day?

The dumb part of this is that I'll be going back through Louisville to HW for 2 days after KI. But it is the only time I can concive going without missing certain parts of the Con.

Should I sacrifice my first day at HW? I think most of you would object to that.

*** Edited 6/3/2007 7:07:09 AM UTC by WildThingNative***

I am going to SFKK on the 23rd before I head to BB in the afternoon. I know its only for a few hours but thats the only way I could fit it in my schedule. I'm also hitting Dollywood on the 16th before Coaster Con starts to ride Mystery Mine.

Holiday World is a nice park, but it is a park that can be fully enjoyed in one day. It would definitely be worth your while to sacrifice one of your HW days for SFKK, if nothing else to check out their new watercoaster (if you plan to hit the waterpark), or to at least check out all of the cool changes they've made in the park. It does seem silly to drive to Louisville from Ohio and back when you will be driving through the city on your way from Santa Clause, In. That's my advice. Hope this helps.

KI while a good park, is tough to warrant 4 days at. 3 days is even pushing it. Holiday World is worth every minute you have there to just kick back and relax at one of the nicest parks around, so I would not sacrifice that time. SFKK is easily a one day adventure (I actually did it in about 3/4 of a day).

SFKK can be done quickly, especially on a weekday. I would say your best bet would to be either do it the 1st day and hit KI the other 3. Or hit it on your way to HW or BB. It is not worth the 2.5 hours down and 2.5 back IMO.

I was thinking, "Why would someone want to spend 4 days at KI?" It is one of my favorite parks, but 4 days at any park is overkill, imo. Maybe 3 if you were spending time at the water park. I could only go for 2 before I would be bored to tears.

I have to get to SFKK sometime this summer too. I've never been, but I am definitely not planning more than one day there, same with HW and DW; never been, but not spending any more than one day at each.

Kentucky Kingdom can be "figured out" in about 20 minutes, and finished in about 2 hours if attendance is light.

Don't skip the two days at HW. Instead use one of your four days at KI to experience other parks in the area such as SFKK and Camden.

FOUR days at KI? That's overkill!

Yeah, don't sacrifice any HW time. Everytime I go to Holiday World, I never feel like I have enough time there, especially if you do the waterpark, which you MUST! You should be able to get your fill and then some of SFKK with a 4-5 hour visit, so once you get your fill of Kings Island, head out to other parks.

Have you considered stopping there on your way down to Beech Bend?

I didn't think about spending 4 days at KI. That is quite a lot, so probably better to sacrifice one of those days at SFKK than one of HW's days. Take my advice, and avoid Friday or Saturday at SFKK. Lately their attendance has been pretty high on those days, from what I hear.

I'm getting that response of "4 days at KI?" alot here. I believe that too. And there is the time at Stricker's. But the Con is not just about the park. There are other activities. Sales tables, video and photo competitions, guest speakers, meetings, etc. at the nearby resort/hotel. But they are scattered throughout the schedule.

The third day is where I have the least amount of interest to participate. A Weak ERT and not much else except the buffet.

As foolish as it may be, I think that it's my only option. Just wanted to know if it was possible without killing myself.

With that said, any advise on how to spend a day SFKK? A short one.

*** Edited 6/4/2007 3:01:26 AM UTC by WildThingNative***

Just remember HW and BB are on CST while SFKK is on EST. Might make a difference in how you plan your trip to SFKK.

Make sure you ride Thunder Run in the front of the train (first 3 rows or so). And I hear the raft ride is very good, but haven't had a chance to check it out yet. Otherwise, just enjoy yourself and do what you feel like. You don't need a master plan to have a nice time at SFKK. :)

I went to SFKK this past friday night, after I left Holiday World. Got to SFKK 7 o'clock. I road every coaster in the park. Chang 4 times, and still had time to watch the wrestling show before they closed at 10. I don't know how I could spend a half day at this park. The water coaster looked go though. Thunder Run was running pretty good. Must sit in the front.

Seriously don't give your days up of HW for KK. The truth is their is nothing more beautiful then riding a train at night at 60+ mph through the woods at HW on all three coasters. Man I can't wait :)

My advice for SFKK is to not go. This park is the worst in the chain out of the SF parks I've been to. I been to SFMM, SFGAm, SFStL, SFOT, and SFOG. Of course, I haven't been to all of there parks, but SFKK is pretty awful. There woodies are horrible, SLC is an SLC, and you are left with a standup, a mouse, and the Shwrawtkopf.

However, they do have one of the best rides at this park. That is the raft ride as someone has said. Don't miss Penguin's Blizzard River if you are still going. It's the best raft ride I've seen. You can't skip the Himilaya either if you are, but I wouldn't. I would go somewhere else.

S-c-h-w-a-r-z-k-o-p-f

An educated suggestion from a 12-year local?

Skip the Tuesday of Con at KI and head to SFKK. It's about 1:45 - 2 hrs from KI. (If you know exactly where you are going.) Tuesday is early enough in the week to be able to accomplish SFKK without large crowds.

Be wary of Cincinnati traffic... it can be horrible during rush hours. Plan extra travel time. If you must travel through the Cincy area during big traffic hours... I'd suggest taking the I-275 loop around. It's much longer, of course, but you'd spend that time sitting in traffic anyways. I personally prefer to be moving no matter if it extends travel time. (Also, I-275 takes you right past Cincinnati's Coney Island on the East side of the city.)

In Cincy, I-71 jams up at Fields Ertl, the Norwood Lateral, Kenwood, and close to downtown. I-75 jams at the I-270/I-75 interchange (horrible construction... avoid!!) the Galbraith Road area, Mitchell Avenue and the I-74 interchange.

There's construction on the way to Louisville, in the Kentucky Speedway area. This is about 40 miles past downtown Cincinnati. This construction isn't bad, but it can be scary with heavy semi-traffic manuevering lane "s-curves." Oh, and watch your speed... especially on I-71/75 in Northern KY and on I-71 in Carrolton KY. These areas are huge speed traps.

SFKK is definitely not one of my preferred parks. However, I do think it warrants a visit for newbies and coaster count seekers. Just go expecting little as far as operations, and you'll come away content.

4 days at KI is too much for even me to handle.

2 days at HW is too much for me to handle.

A full day at SFKK is too much for me to handle.

Unless you are a fan of waterparks, HW is a half-day park, as is SFKK, and every ride at KI can be ridden in 1 1/2 days. You'll be done with Strickers in about 2 hours... and Beech Bend is do-able in about 3. (Again, not factoring big crowds.)

Of course with Con events, that plays into your days at parks and gives you nice breaks away from the parks during the days. Designated ERT times allow you to get a jump on coaster counts.

When I attended Con's past, I'd not ride the coasters that had ERTs designated, and instead filled that day taking in the parks at a generally relaxed pace.

Also, if I may be so bold... spend time OUTSIDE of the parks. Cincinnati, Northern KY, Louisville etc all have some beautiful and great things to explore outside the gates of the amusement parks. Take in Slugger Museum, or Union Terminal, Newport on the Levvy, Carew Tower or Churchill downs.

I only suggest that because I travelled all over the country on coaster trips for years, and saw very little outside of parks. Something I regret.

Shaggy *** Edited 6/4/2007 3:25:02 PM UTC by Shaggy***

There's also the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green - about 10-15 minutes from Beech Bend - if you're into that sort of thing.

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Spinout said:
My advice for SFKK is to not go. This park is the worst in the chain out of the SF parks I've been to. I been to SFMM, SFGAm, SFStL, SFOT, and SFOG. Of course, I haven't been to all of there parks, but SFKK is pretty awful. There woodies are horrible, SLC is an SLC, and you are left with a standup, a mouse, and the Shwrawtkopf.

However, they do have one of the best rides at this park. That is the raft ride as someone has said. Don't miss Penguin's Blizzard River if you are still going. It's the best raft ride I've seen. You can't skip the Himilaya either if you are, but I wouldn't. I would go somewhere else.

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I guess not having ample amounts of rides makes a park the 'worst one in the chain'? Just asking. :)

I think the raft ride they are referring to is the new water coaster Deluge, but I could be wrong. Its a very fun ride! I can't see how PBR is that great of a ride, either...but its not too bad.

^No, we are referring to the "rapids ride".

SDKK...worst in the chain? Not by a long shot.