Kingda Ka originally featured a detailed and elaborate queue line that ran between the launch and brakes of the coaster. Guests would enter the ride, then walk down a narrow pathway where they would eventually cross under the launch track. A themed tunnel was built where guests crossed under the launch to ensure safety. Guests would then enter a series of three switchbacks, with the third being underneath a permanent structure. This structure featured poles with detailed carvings of animals to help immerse guests into the Golden Kingdom. Following this final series of switchbacks, guests would approach the station, where the line would divide in two to equally fill both sides of Kingda Ka's station. This queue was designed to handle the large crowds the park was anticipating Kingda Ka would draw. After an incident in the ride's opening year that occurred right where guests crossed under the launch, the decision was made to not use this queue to ensure guest safety. From that point forward, the overflow queue would be used as the permanent queue, and parts of the original queue were still visible from Kingda Ka's station.

Guests passed under the jungle-themed entrance sign and entered the queue line, which was surrounded by bamboo, which augments the jungle-themed music that played in the background. Throughout the queue, there were safety and warning signs about the ride. Following a long straight section, guests turned left and headed into a switchback section, which was followed by several curved paths before entering the station.
After the train had been locked and checked, it moved slowly out of the station to the launch area, then passed through a switch track which allowed four trains on two tracks to load simultaneously. When the signal was given to launch, the train rolled back slightly so that the catch car could latch on to the middle car, and the brakes retracted on the launch track. As the brake fins were retracting, a recording announced: "Arms down, head back, hold on!" The train was launched approximately five seconds later.

When the train was in position, the hydraulic launch mechanism accelerated it from 0 to 128 mph (0 to 206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds. The hydraulic launch motor was capable of producing 20,800 peak horsepower (15.5 MW). At the end of the launch track, the train climbed the main tower (top hat) and rolled 90 degrees to the right before reaching a height of 456 feet (139 m). It then descended 418 feet (127 m) straight down through a 270-degree, clockwise spiral. It climbed the second hill of 129 feet (39 m), producing a moment of weightlessness before being smoothly brought to a stop by the magnetic brakes; it then made a left-hand U-turn and entered the station. The ride lasted 28 seconds from the start of the launch. The track measured …

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On June 8, 2005, a bolt failed inside a trough through which the launch cable travels. This caused the liner to come loose, creating friction on the cable and preventing the train from accelerating to the correct speed. The cable rubbing against the trough caused sparks and shards of metal to fly out from the bottom of the train. The ride was closed for almost two months following the incident. Damage occurred to the launch cable, which was frayed and required replacement, including minor damage to seals and brake fins. The incident caused stress on a number of fins, and Six Flags did not have enough replacement fins. Extra brake fins were ordered, and the ride had to undergo thorough testing following the repair. Kingda Ka reopened on August 4.

Kingda Ka was struck by lightning in May 2009 and suffered serious damage. The ride was closed for three months for repairs and reopened on August 21, 2009.

On August 27, 2011, Kingda Ka suffered unspecified damage shortly before Hurricane Irene, and Six Flags Great Adventure did not open. It is unknown whether additional damage occurred due to the storm, but the coaster was damaged to the extent that it could not run before Irene. Kingda Ka remained closed until the start of the 2012 operating season on April 5.

Shortly before 5:00 p.m. on July 26, 2012, a young boy was sent to the hospital after suffering minor injuries from being struck by a bird during normal operation. The ride resumed normal operation shortly after the incident.

In 2019, a guest sued Six Flags and Intamin in U.S. federal court, claiming that tall riders could be subjected to "extreme speed and torqueing forces" and that the harnesses could also cause injuries. According to the guest, he had suffered multiple back injuries after riding Kingda Ka in 2017. This guest was 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall, three inches below the ride's posted height limit of 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m). Both Six Flags and Intamin filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which was partially granted and partially denied in 2020.

• Official Kingda Ka page
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