Kara & Coasters

Is the meal plan worth it at Kings Island

The meal plan for the 2026 season pass at Kings Island will cost you $145.00 and add on price for an all season dining plan will cost you $160.00 for this breakdown I will use the Kings Island Gold Pass because it does not include the all park add on.

The dining plan restaurants are listed on the Kings Island website but the website does not include the cost of the meal. When I was at the park in 2026 the cost ranged from $16.00 to $21.00. Cheaper options included chicken tenders while the seasonal meals like the turkey ball during WinterFest cost more. For this breakdown I am picking the average of 19 per meal (rounded to the nearest dollar)

The dining plan allows you to get two meals a day four hours apart. The total cost per day would equate to $38.00. If you are able to go to King’s Island four  times and eat twice at each visit you are already getting a discounted deal. $38 dollars x Four visits will equal to $152.00. You are already saving 5%(rounded up)

Or you can go eight times eat once at every visit and save 5% ofthe total cost.

So the all dining meal plan could be worth it if you are able to go to Kings Island frequently and plan to eat there. 

I have the all park season dining plan because I go to the parks frequently and often just for dinner. I paid $145 dollars for the all park dining plan, I went to Kings Island 33 times last year and the total amount I spent on food was $722.00. I keep track of this with an excel sheet. The total cost of my meals were$4.97.

Which is 73.7% cheaper

But there are other ways to save money on food without the all day dining plan and I can break that down in a later blog post! D

We just went on our second cruise with Carnival Freedom for 6 days and 5 nights and this was our second time on a cruise, both with Carnival. We kept the same itinerary as the first cruise with the added stop at the new island, Celebration Key.

First Stop: Nassau, Bahamas

My son loves sea life and creatures and when we went last time my daughter was too young to remember it and was splashed in the eyes so she ended up crying and did not have a great time. This year we paid for myself and the two older kids who have memories to do the event and my husband and youngest stayed behind. Next time I will only pay for the kids, you can stay with them and wear a wrist band and will not be able to pet the dolphin but it is worth saving money in my opinion

Second Stop: Carnvial Key

The water slide had no wait, there was a huge kids area that was perfect for families. I loved it. I think that the kids would be able to entertained all day. We were given a food coupon at our cabin but a lot of the lunch services cost extra.

Stop Three: Half Moon Cay

The Snorkels were $25 dollars each and the mat rentals were $25 dollars each and we had $60 dollars’ worth of water and sodas (we took them back to the cabin) which totaled to $300.00 but by having the cabana we wer able to nap, avoid sun burns, we did not have to walk down the beach to get any of the items we wanted, we didn’t have to bring towels on or off the ship. We rented the cabana last time, I would do it again. There was enough snacks there so we did not have to leave to get food, we left the boat and went to the cabana and stayed there all day.

On the ship:

I contracted King’s Island and confirmed that if you get a season pass for 2026 you will
be able to access the parks for the remainder of 2025 and you will be able to save money.

The Gold Pass is a total of $130 dollars or nine payments of $31 dollars

To go to Winterfest for one day you will pay $32 dollars for entry and $30 dollars for
parking. A single visit to King’s Island Winterfest will cost an individual $62.00.
If you plan to go to the park one more time for Winterfest or at any time during summer you will have made a return on your investment.

Families will take a longer time to see this return on investment, and it may not be worth
it depending on how far the drive is. For example, kids over three will need a ticket and
pass so the cost for a family of four to attend Winterfest would cost $158.00.
A season pass would cost the family $520.00 dollars, which is a lot of money. The
family would have to visit King’s Island at least at least four more times in 2026 to make a return on their investment.

You may be able to visit less than five times total to make a return on their investment because the cost to go to King’s Island increases during summer.

Kings Island’s 2025 Winterfest from select days from November – December

Winterfest Schedule:

Cost to get in:
Season Pass Holder – Free Entry and Free Parking
Daily Ticket Price: $37 – $47 dollars depending on the day (Sunday in Nov and Early December are the cheapest)
Parking: $35

A common question that I hear is: Can I buy a 2026 Season pass and attend WinterFest in 2025?

I searched the Six Flags website on new tickets and this is what I found through the Terms and Conditions:

The Terms page itself doesn’t list the start date of validity. However, marketing materials and press releases for Kings Island’s 2026 Gold Pass state that it offers admission “now through the entire 2026 season.”
That “now” phrasing usually means that if you buy the 2026 Gold Pass during 2025, it activates immediately, covering:

• The remainder of the 2025 operating season (including WinterFest 2025), and
• The full 2026 season (including WinterFest 2026).

This is consistent with Six Flags’ standard practice across parks: new season passes often include the rest of the current year as a purchase incentive.

I am emailing King’s Island I will report back later if you can get entry into the 2025 WinterFest, this could be a much more affordable deal for families

Hey friends! I’m Kara, a mom, and coaster enthusiast from Ohio – the Roller Coaster Capital of the United States

I started Kara & Coasters to share the fun, stories, and everyday adventures that come with chasing thrills, making memories, and finding joy wherever the tracks take us. Whether I’m riding front row on a woodie at Kings Island, exploring a hidden gem park with my kids, or just soaking in that end-of-day midway magic.

It’s about being intentional, staying positive, and celebrating the excitement that coasters (and life!) bring.

Here, you’ll find:
🎢 Honest ride reviews and park tips
👨‍👩‍👧 Family-friendly & solo travel ideas
🧠 Reflections on slowing down and having fun
💬 Stories that connect coaster fans and families alike

this is just the beginning of our ride together.
Welcome to Kara & Coasters.