TGFTF: Thank God for Theme Park Food

by CoasterJunior
For most of us, food is an essential part of any day at a major theme park. There are so many different foods and restaurants; it becomes a maze in and of itself just to find what you are looking for. From the smell of popcorn and funnel cakes to the grilled turkey legs, this blog will give you a sample of the foods and restaurants that you can expect to rest your pallet at individual theme parks.

In this the pilot episode, I am going to talk about the food at my home park of Kings Island. Home of the Diamondback and Beast, Kings Island will surely make you work up and appetite as you work your way around Coney Mall and through Peanuts Kingdom. There are so many options to choose from that I will have to break this down into breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Agreed that this is not the only time you can eat at these place, I am merely giving you options for when you are in the park.
​
As guests arrive at the park, not only are you greeted with the warm smiles of the staff and the famous fountains, but also the smell of great breakfast pastry goodness on International Street. For those who have arrived on an empty stomach, there is no better place that Cinnabon. This small bakery is known for their sweet cinnamon rolls that will make any coaster enthusiast fall to his knees for a taste. For those who need a little pick me up, you can stop on the corner of International Street and Eiffel Tower Lane. Here you can find that famous coffee shop Starbucks where you can indulge in a flavored coffee, iced drink, or even try a famous latte. There is nothing to jump start a human engine and get you through the day like a cup of Joe.

Maybe you ate a decent breakfast before your travels but you have work yourself out of energy in the first two hours of the park opening. This is the time for a snack that will hold you until you get to lunch time. Many guests frequent the snack vendors throughout the park to give them something to munch on as well as something to do while waiting in lines. There are a number of options in the park for snacks. These include the Great KI Pretzel Company located on International Street which offers pretzels, lemonade, ice cold beer and more. If you have the children along with you, nothing will keep the little ones entertained like popcorn and cotton candy, especially if you are going to one of the shows in the park. A great place to find these items is at Snoopy’s Snack Shack. You can also find these at the Coney Refreshments stand in Coney Mall.

So, you have made it to lunch time. Your stomach is rolling from hunger, not to mention all the inversions from the coasters. It’s time to sit down and rest and take in a nice lunch break. There are way too many options to mention, so I will just cover the most popular ones here. Many guests like to go into the air conditioned Festhaus building. Inside you will find LaRosa’s Pizza and Panda Express. If you are looking for classic American food or Chinese fair, this is the place for you. Maybe you are instead looking for a true local classic. Head on over to Skyline Chili where you can pick up some Coney Dogs or world famous 3 Way Chili. If a potato meal or chicken is on your mind, stop by the Potato Works vendor for the American Famous fries. If you are in the mood for some pollo in your diet, then stop in to Chick-Fil-A, just not on Sunday, of course. You are sure to find something in the park that can satisfy your hunger as the sun is high above you.

And then there is the dilemma of what to do about eating dinner. Sure, you can go out of the park and eat at a restaurant in Mason, but there is plenty of options right in the park for a decent price. You can stop in to the Rivertown Junction Buffet for all you can eat classics like burgers, pasta, tacos and more. This is a great option if you want to eat just one major meal in the park. You can stop in at Hank’s Burrito Shack and take in some humongous burritos. There is also a bar attached to the back of Hanks for anyone looking for an ice cold bruski. If Mexican and Classic fair are not on your pallet, maybe diner fare will be. Hop on over to Juke Box Diner where you can partake in classic malts, fries, burgers and more. Nothing brings out the theme park more than a classic diner touch.

As you can see, there are so many options at the park for meals that you are certain to find something to please everyone. I have mentioned only about half of the options available. I can include desserts which range from handmade fudge on International Street to the one of a kind Kings Island Blueberry Ice Cream. You can even purchase a backyard BBQ located in the shelters between Kings Island and Soak City. Stay tuned next week as we will study a brand new location and the foods that are offered there. If you have a location you would like to be written, contact me. Until next time, I am CoasterJunior and may the queue lines be ever in your favor.