Kings Island and Cedar Point Earned Spots In A New National Study

WARREN COUNTY, OH -- Cedar Point in Sandusky ranked No. 9 overall in a new Halloween theme park study conducted by Neon Designs, while Kings Island in Mason also appeared among the 20 parks analyzed. Both parks are part of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, which lists Cedar Point and Kings Island among its Ohio properties. (Six Flags Investors)

The study analyzed Tripadvisor reviews using several factors, including each park’s overall rating, total number of reviews, percentage of English-language reviews posted from September through November and the average score of reviews specifically related to Halloween. Those factors were combined into a score out of 100.

Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, topped the Halloween ranking with a score of 84.8, followed by Magic Kingdom Park in Florida at 84.1 and Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, at 83.2.

Cedar Point earned a Halloween study score of 52.8 out of 100, placing it ninth nationally among the parks included. The Sandusky park had 381 qualifying Halloween reviews, with an average Halloween rating of 4.07 out of 5. Its popular HalloWeekends celebration combines the park’s rides and roller coasters with haunted attractions, seasonal entertainment and fall-themed experiences.

But looking beyond the study’s Halloween formula gives Ohio an even stronger showing.

When the 20 parks are reordered strictly according to their overall Tripadvisor rating, Cedar Point moves all the way up to No. 4, with an overall rating of 4.35 out of 5. Only Disney California Adventure Park, Silver Dollar City and Universal Studios Hollywood had higher overall ratings among the parks studied.

Kings Island also fares considerably better when viewed by its overall visitor score.

The Mason amusement park ranked No. 16 under the study’s Halloween index, with a score of 30.7 out of 100. However, its overall Tripadvisor rating of 4.16 out of 5 places it No. 11 among the 20 parks when ranked solely by overall rating. Its Halloween-specific rating was 3.96 out of 5. 

That means both of Ohio’s major amusement parks sit in the upper portion of the group when general visitor satisfaction — rather than only Halloween-related measurements — is considered.

For Warren County, Kings Island's inclusion carries particular significance. The Mason park is one of the county's best-known attractions and draws visitors from throughout Ohio and beyond. Its 4.16 overall rating puts it ahead of several other nationally recognized parks included in the study, including Knott's Berry Farm, Hersheypark, Six Flags Magic Mountain, LEGOLAND California and Carowinds. 

The study also illustrates how Halloween rankings can differ from a park's broader visitor reputation. Neon Designs' Halloween index gives additional weight to seasonal reviews and the proportion of reviews posted during the fall, rather than relying simply on a park's overall Tripadvisor star rating.

Austin Colasanti, CEO of Neon Designs, said the results also show that visitors aren't necessarily seeking the same type of Halloween experience. Some parks emphasize intense haunted attractions, while others focus more heavily on pumpkins, lighting, family activities and fall festivals.

For Ohio residents, the results offer two different options from parks under the same corporate umbrella: Kings Island's Halloween Haunt and fall programming in Southwest Ohio and Cedar Point's HalloWeekends along Lake Erie.

And while the study's Halloween formula places Cedar Point ninth and Kings Island 16th, their broader visitor ratings tell another story — Cedar Point ranks fourth and Kings Island 11th among the 20 major parks studied based simply on overall guest ratings.

Study information provided by Neon Designs, neondesigns.shop.

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