Kentucky Kingdom & Hurricane Bay — Attraction in Louisville

Beware with your children. Had 2 young women with a very young girl who couldn’t keep their eyes off my 3 year old grandson. I had noticed this and was watching as he was running around and that’s when I noticed both women staring at him and then the other woman started taking pictures with her phone at her waist. Then the one taking the photos had the little girl go to the benches with her to our left and then I noticed the 8-10 year old girl watching my grandson. I told my wife he I think something is going on but I’m not sure yet so keep a good eye on him. She had him come to us and as he got next to me the girls eyes was locked on him as the older woman pulled her phone out with her back to us like she’s taking a selfie but couldn’t get him in the shot so she turned her phone parallel and to her left but she didn’t realize I was watching her phone screen and could see myself and my grandson perfectly in her phone and only her shoulder as she snapped a few photos. Right then I told my wife she’s taking pictures of him. Yes we are in a public space and yes anyone can take anyone photo of him or our surroundings but suspicious is suspicious! I told my wife not to look just be normal but I knew better and really didn’t want to say anything bc of this and it was as he ran kinda their way she had her phone at her waist as he went by and that’s when my wife said she is taking his picture. Well she heard her and went straight to the other woman and the 2 of them took off walking in a hurry but before that I had noticed the other woman was near a older man and woman with a 4 to 6 girl and 7 to 8 Boy but never got close to them but was definitely making eye contact and when the 3 took off that family walked over and set at the bench and looked right at us.i told my wife let’s go. We stopped for hot chocolate and I noticed them women a good was away but standing there with what looked like a male in all white with their hood on so I pulled out my phone to snap a picture and they instantly turned away as they was standing there and then all 4 walked away with their heads to their right and was gone. About 2-3 minutes later that family came walking by and was headed to the front so I told my wife let’s see if they’re together when they get up front so we headed that way. As we got to the big Christmas tree I seen a line with a family and a older teen in line to take a photo at the tree and a couple with younger kids behind them and there was that family with the guy little girl and boy with the lady taking their pictures not with the tree in the background but those family’s in line as their background so I walked around the other side of the line and it was obvious that photo was not for or as a family photo bc the boy was setting way to far over and the woman was angled the wrong way to have the tree as their background. I knew better than to say something to any manager because I’d get gaslight bc they are taught to not let anyone else hear me saying anything about people taking photos of kids randomly so it doesn’t scare people away but as I was telling the manager I seen the family that was in line trying to listen to what I was saying so I told the lady ma’am they was taking pictures of your family and my grandson and I’m sure tons of others as well. I told her they send them photos to people letting people outside in the parking lot the kid plus who the kid is with and they choose who’s the easiest target and as your in the parking lot they set back watching as you’re loading the car while driving closer to you to try for the perfect opportunity of your back being turned and the kid not close enough for you to intervene as they throw them in the car and speed away. Security guard asked me so you was having an issue with someone taking your photo? I smiled at him bc I knew where this was going and said no bc this is a public space and I’m opening myself and my family up to being photographed when I’m here. Like I said the gaslighting starts coming in so I told my wife let’s go so I can handle this and...

Kentucky Kingdom & Hurricane Bay is a great park for family fun. They have so much to offer during your visit. From roller coasters, shopping, eating food or just laying in the lazy River at the water park. It’s Louisville’s number one family fun.

Prices ranges from $39.99-$42.99 on weekdays and weekends. The hours are from 11am-7pm on weekdays and 10am-8pm on weekends. Season pass goes from $79.99 to $89.99 but they are cheaper during Christmas time. Operators are Herschend Family Entertainment which also operates Dollywood in Tennessee.

Parking is everywhere around the front of Kentucky Kingdom. Price to park can be $10.00 to $20.00 depends on the day and all the events going on at the fair grounds. If you have a season pass to Kentucky Kingdom then parking is free. If you are dropping off people at the park, you still have to pay to get in the gates but you will get a refund.

As soon you pay for parking, You drive right in the middle of the park. Like literally down the middle since the park is split from the road. So it’s pretty cool to see all the roller coasters and rides before you get to the entrance. Make you feel excited even more to get your day started.

The front gate admissions employees welcome you to Kentucky Kingdom with a smile. Make you feel welcome like you are at home.

After you interaction with the front gate employees, You see a huge sign with a beautiful fountain that says “Kentucky Kingdom & Hurricane Bay” Best spot for a photo shoot in the park. Definitely for all those social media influencers. After your photo, You have two ways to go. Left or right! Either way is fine since it’s a big cycle in the front half of the park. The second half of the park is across the bridge where the water park and most of the major roller coasters are.

Kentucky Kingdom has 5 major roller coasters. Lightning Run and Storm Chaser is the best coasters the park in my opinion. They have everything that a coaster should have during any coaster experience. The speed, airtime and intensity of them both. The duo is something you wouldn’t want to miss out. Thunder Run is the old-traditional wooden coaster. The coaster makes you feel like your first wooden roller coaster again but the airtime is great on Thunder Run. Roller Skater and Kentucky Flyer are the family coasters of the park but don’t miss out on Kentucky Flyer. That little coaster is no joke. They do however have another coaster in the back next to the water park but they did closed the coaster permanently this season (2023) Kentucky Kingdom also has so many thrill rides like Fearfall which is a 129 feet drop tower and Cyclos which is a swinging ride that goes in the air doing 360 degrees loop. Those two are my favorite thrill rides there. They also have a huge kids area with many rides! Don’t forget to checkout all the other rides that are available in the park.

The food just like any other amusement park out there. You have the traditional cheeseburgers, pizza, chicken tenders etc. But they did add a lot of food this season (2023) but I haven’t got a chance to try them yet. They also added a meal plan for $28.99 this season. (2023)

The water park is huge! They have many water slides and attractions for the whole family. They have two wave pools, two lazy rivers, two kids areas (which one is a toddler area) and many water slides! They have lockers for your stuff and food stands everywhere. One water slide is called “Deep Water Dive” is one of the world’s tallest body slides! You definitely have to check it out! The water park is a must for your visit.

The park is clean and the employees are nice and seem like they love their job. Definitely the ride operators. They are so engaging that you just want to keep riding all day long. The only thing that seem they need to fix is a full deep clean for the bathrooms! They are not the best. Highly recommend the restrooms next to storm chaser! They are cleanest in the park. You thank me later.

We recommend going on weekdays because there are no crowds and shorter lines for the...

I have always loved this park! Sadly, if a few things don't change or improve, I will not be wasting my money here again next year.

I got season passes this year because I remembered how much I had loved this park in the past. Unfortunately, for personal reasons, I had not been here since 2017 and it seems like there are a few new problems, in addition to a couple of old problems.

Issues I expected: How much walking is involved in vising here. Even just getting in from the huge parking lot can be exhausting if you don't arrive early enough or if the expo center is hosting an event.

2: The lack of shade. It has been 90+ degrees each time I have taken the kids this year, 6/15/24 and 6/22/24. I wasn't surprised to see that there is not enogh shade provided around the various pools and water play areas. I remember prople arguing over seats in the shade at this park as much as 24 years ago.

New problems: 1: Some of the staff have been super rude! I know people have bad days at work, especially when dealing with mass amounts of people in a single day, but that is not an excuse to lack sympathy and compassion. I have never been to a park with such blatantly hateful employees in my life.

Wait times at food and drink stations are insanely long. I waited almost an hour just to refill our drinks while my 16 year old was waiting with my smaller kids in the wave pool. We haven't even bothered with the food lines because they are closed at odd times throughout the day and when they aren't closed the lines are NUTS. it's been both faster and cheaper to leave the park and go to a restaurant nearby, or have a pickniin our car, instead.

Lost and found issues! My son left his shoes in the waterpark. We realized before we left and I went back for them. They had closed and locked a gate blocking us from getting into that particular area. We could see the shoes where we left them. Guest services told us there was no one with a key to help us retrieve them bit assured me they would be in the lost and found when I returned. One week later we came back and the girl spent maybe 20 seconds looking before telling me they weren't there.

Ride operators will tell you your kid is too short for rides even if they aren't. One of them even said "yeah, a lot of people say this stick is measured wrong" while another basically scared my 2 y/o half to death slamming the stick down beside him without warning, didn't speak to us first at all, and then didn't want to let him on because he kept crying and running away from the guy with the stick. Thankfully there was another ride attendant who was very sweet and was able to ask him nicely if she could measure him and he stood just fine for her. The other guy still almost didn't let him on the ride!

I have ways loved this park, ever since i was a child, but if they don't improve some of these issues I am not likely to buy season...