Walking through the concrete tunnel of the main gate, you are huddled deep in your coat, hiding from the wind. Then, the ceiling clears and the view explodes. Every roofline on International Street is traced in millions of shimmering white bulbs, creating a glowing corridor that pulls you deeper into the park. Ahead, the Eiffel Tower is a colossal tree of light, cascading with mesmerizing geometric patterns that pulse and shift through every color of the spectrum. Below it, families carve figure-eights across the frozen Royal Fountain, their breath pluming in the cold air.
It is a view designed to mesmerize you, but you need to stop, turn around, and look at the structure you just walked through.
Looming directly above the turnstiles on the second floor is a massive wall of glass. Most visitors assume these are just dark, administrative offices, but in reality, this space is the International Restaurant, a legendary venue that rarely opens its doors to the general public. Tonight, however, it was alive with a warm, buttery glow as the setting for the International Restaurant New Year’s Eve Dinner Party.
How to Find the Entrance
As soon as you enter the park after having your ticket or season pass scanned, turn immediately to your left. Tucked away in the wall of the front gate building is a glass door marked with the elegant International Restaurant logo.
Step inside, and a staff member will be waiting at the bottom of the stairs to greet you. They will scan your dinner party voucher and issue your paper wristband. Do not lose this. This wristband is your “golden ticket ” for come-and-go access to the restaurant throughout the evening.
The Check-In Process & Assigned Seating
The staircase, wrapped in elegant black and gold fabric for the occasion, leads you upstairs. At the top, turn right to find the reception desk built directly into the wall. Here, the host confirms your seat assignment and hands you a personalized name place card. You then follow a staff member to your assigned table to claim your spot.
Having this reserved spot from 7:30 PM to midnight transformed the experience. On a freezing, snowy night, it gave us the confidence to brave the weather for a coaster ride, knowing we had a guaranteed warm seat waiting for us the moment we couldn’t feel our faces.
Dining Room
Walking into the main dining hall, the first thing you notice is how the space manages to feel both grand and intimate. The room is defined by its soaring high ceilings and elegant wrought-iron chandeliers, which cast a soft, warm light over the tables.
For New Year’s Eve, the park transformed the space with a distinct “Black & Gold ” theme. The massive floor-to-ceiling windows were framed in heavy black and gold drapes, and the chairs were dressed with shimmering sashes.
On the far side wall near the self-serve soda station, a large projection screen played a live feed of the WinterFest shows along with a countdown clock. Thanks to the screen’s size and strategic placement, it was easily visible from every part of the dining room.
Photo Backdrop
Located straight ahead from the top of the staircase, an open nook served as the perfect backdrop for our New Year’s Eve memories. The space featured a massive, illuminated clock face set against shimmering silver tinsel and a festive “Happy New Year!” sign.
A similar photo backdrop was available to the general public between The French Corner and Sweet Spot, featuring a fun roller coaster car cutout. Visually, I preferred this outdoor setup. The trade-off was the wait: the public spot kept a steady line all night, while the backdrop in the restaurant offered instant access.
Food Experience
At 7:30 PM, the dinner service officially began. True to the venue’s name, the menu was designed as a culinary tour around the world, moving far beyond standard theme park fare like burgers and fries.
Instead of one long, overwhelming cafeteria line, the food was arranged into distinct “islands ” scattered throughout the serving area. This smart layout kept the lines moving quickly and prevented any single station from getting too crowded.
Anchoring this arrangement was a stunning, hand-carved ice sculpture by Rock On Ice, illuminated by blue lights, turning the center of the serving area into a glistening visual display.
The menu itself was vast, starting with sophisticated appetizers like a charcuterie and cheese board, fresh oysters, and shrimp cocktail. For the main course, the carving station offered hearty cuts of steak and lamb alongside roasted chicken and duck. True to the venue’s history, the surrounding islands featured global favorites ranging from creamy pasta with sausage to Asian staples like stir-fry and pork dumplings. The Latin American offerings were also a hit, featuring empanadas and birria tacos, all accompanied by a full salad bar and a variety of vegetable and potato sides.
For drinks, there were a few self-serve options to stay refreshed. Guests could grab unlimited soft drinks from the soda fountain or visit a separate station for hot chocolate. For those wanting to toast with something stronger, a separate cash bar offered a selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. While alcohol wasn’t included in the regular dinner party voucher, there was a special $45 unlimited pass available specifically for bar drinks. I don’t drink, so I can’t speak on that personally.
At 9:30 PM, the dessert station was unveiled, and the presentation was incredible, featuring a massive gingerbread Eiffel Tower on display. The spread featured a huge variety of treats, from giant s’mores and strawberry champagne trifles to fruit tarts and meringue nests.
I loaded my plate with decorated brownies, a gingerbread cookie, and a peppermint chocolate cupcake. While everything looked great, the absolute highlight for me was the blue macaron. I swear it tasted exactly like the famous blue ice cream at Kings Island!
Characters
Throughout the evening, the atmosphere was kept lively with several guest appearances. At the start of dinner service, an amazing group of carolers came through singing holiday favorites. Shortly after, many of the parade and show characters stopped by to interact with guests.
The highlight for me was definitely Jack Frost (played by Mike Rochester). For Haunt fans, you might recognize him, he also plays Dr. Nightmare during Halloween Haunt!
Midnight Celebration
Leading up to midnight, the atmosphere stayed calm and relaxed as they handed out festive hats, tiaras, and horns. We were also given a choice of champagne or sparkling grape juice for the toast. The audio from the International Street stage played in the dining room, leading everyone in the countdown to 2026.
At the stroke of midnight, balloons inside the restaurant popped, showering us with confetti, followed immediately by an amazing fireworks show right outside the windows. I had to laugh at the very end, though. It was so sudden how they announced “Kings Island is now closed” the second the last firework faded!
Conclusion
Overall, this experience was worth every penny and is a fantastic way to ring in the new year without the typical chaos. I want to give a huge thank you to Kings Island and the entire staff for making the night so special. From the food service and restaurant teams to the talented actors and carolers, everyone worked so hard to create such a seamless and enjoyable atmosphere. If you are looking for a more relaxed but festive way to celebrate, I highly recommend booking this for next New Year’s Eve!
