willh51

I'd probably start a riot by saying Magnum XL-200, so I won't say that. For me it's probably Alpengeist. It's a solid ride, don't get me wrong, but I always felt you go too fast through the elements to really appreciate them. I think I'd like it better if they cut the midcourse trim down, too, since the second half lacks intensity. I definitely prefer Raptor, Batman: the Ride or even Silver Bullet, which is not intense but provides a more graceful ride.

Top 15: (oops left out Bizarro) 1. Intimidator 305 2. Maverick 3. Millennium Force 4. Raptor 5. Nitro 6. Apollo's Chariot 7. Intimidator 8. Favorite Wooden Coaster (Lightning Racer) 9. Storm Runner 10. Afterburn (Carowinds) 11. Volcano 12. Griffon 13. Montu 14. Top Thrill Dragster 15. Incredible Hulk Bottom 10: 1. Iron Dragon 2. Favorite Loop-Screw (Carolina Cyclone at Carowinds) 3. Favorite SLC (Kong at SFDK) 4. Backlot Stunt Coaster (Kings Dominion) 5. Avalanche (Kings Dominion) 6. Skull Mountain 7. Soak'd 8. Favorite Wild Mouse (Carowinds) 9. Shockwave (Kings Dominion) 10. Favorite Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster (Kings Island)

So does Batwing actually have 3 trains still? You mentioned it was running two and it looks like there's one pictured on the transfer. I know the X-Flight/Firehawk third train got stripped.

Whoa! That drop looks really beyond 90 degrees! Those inversions, too. With lapbars this thing could be crazy. I should be going to Japan sometime in 2012 so maybe if I start preparing now I can withstand the hell that is Fuji-Q.

It was definitely the constant maintenance and decreasing ridership. Hypersonic XLC was actually a pretty good ride when it opened. The launch beat the later Top Thrill Dragster and Kingda Ka in terms of intensity, and, depending on the weight of the train, you could get some crazy airtime over the tower. I remember loving it in its first couple of seasons, and the park changed the train design up several times. After a few years, the ride got incredibly rough after the launch. The aircraft tires built for "smoothness" didn't really cut it. I remember getting shuffled so badly over the tower that I hit my head violently on the back of the seat. That is the worst "injury" I've ever gotten on a rollercoaster and it soured me on the ride. The turn also got very rough and the brakes never were particularly comfortable.

Thanks guys! That's a sharp eye Intimdator 305! The new roof does look really good, too.

I thought I noticed some fresher paint on Anaconda. Well, I'm glad they continue to retrack parts of Grizzly, I should have know that was the case. And the syncing happened all damn day. FORTUNATELY, most people were sensible and just let me in front of them, but not everyone. There were TONS of little kids skipping people in line, etc. I didn't even try to care enough to say anything. Also...I believe the Shockwave trains WERE painted.

It seems to me that the Intamin seats of late have been much more forgiving to larger riders and B&M's seats have gotten tighter. I'm not sure if it's the deepness or just the restraints. Intimidator 305 easily can fit some pretty large guests.

I don't understand what's happening here but they do seem to be hustling at the end there... I guess the park was dead? After going to Kings Dominion that station is so much different than the vibe in Intimidator's station with people on headsets, running down the train, etc.

TRIP REPORT: Kings Dominion - Tuesday, April 19, 2011! I decided to drive up to Doswell, Va., today since I'll be interning all summer and may not have another change to get to Kings Dominion until August. The construction on I-95 around Richmond was annoying but I eventually made it around 12:15 p.m. I'm not sure who's "Spring Break" it is this week since most colleges and lower schools in North Carolina had it in March, but that's neither here nor there. The day started off cloudy and I was afraid weather.com had lied to me about there being little chance of precipitation. Although it was overcast most of the day, it was a nice cool 80 and the sun came out later in the afternoon. This was my first 2011 visit to Kings Dominion and my first time back since East Coast Bash. Obviously, this visit couldn't possibly measure up to that day but I had a pretty good time nonetheless. The park was actually the most crowded I've seen it outside of my visit a couple of years ago in July. I was looking forward to trying Intimidator 305 after the off-season work, and it did not disappoint. Intimidator 305 As of today, I have a new #1 coaster...Intimidator 305 has moved from my #3 to #1 spot, bumping back Maverick and Bizarro at SFNE. As all of you know, the first turn was slightly reprofiled and the trims are indeed removed from the drop. All. that. moaning. last. season. No one listened to me either about common sense dictating first-drop trims were not a permanent solution on a $25-million giga coaster, but whatever it's done now. The bottom line is that I305 is just about perfect and I still cannot believe it's only 3 hours from my house. I remember telling John Pagel this last season at East Coast Bash and I still maintain that Cedar Fair's takeover of the park has been amazing. The ride was awesome last season, but the first drop is now supremely out of control. Ejector air all the way down the 300-foot plunge. It's great to no longer have that quick drag of the trims and I think it's the best drop on any coaster I've been on, beating out Millennium Force, any of the Accellerator coasters, etc. Front row gets wild air, back row gets wilder air as it whips you over the top thanks to the incredibly fast, smooth cable lift system. The first turn really isn't all that different. Yes, there is a slight (as in closer to not noticeable than barely noticeable) bump where the new track connects, but, as Robb pointed out, this will even out as time goes on. The big airtime hill now has EJECTOR air in all seats going all the way up, over and down. If you're getting a little loopy from the G's at the bottom of the drop, this will pull you back to earth. The twisties are still insane, with wild airtime and laterals. Yes, they are fast and intense, but they throw you around in a good way; the heartlining is really excellent here, IMO. I'd say the strongest positive G's for me were felt on the turn before the smaller airtime hump; after a long day of riding I literally could not keep my hands up. There are trims back on the small airtime hump but there's ejector air that's even more intense than last year so I can't imagine you'd be complaining about this. I think the Intimidator 305 experience can be summed up by a comment I overheard in line today: "What an incredible project; job well done." The ride is beautiful structurally and absolutely amazing as a thrill ride. Intimidator 305 doesn't pander; it whips your ass and knows you want more. Also, I heard nothing but incredibly positive comments about the ride all day. Everyone seems to like this ride: little girls, old men, teenagers, etc. People would immediately return to the line after riding. After the slight annoyance I'm sure the minority backlash caused last season, Kings Dominion has reason to celebrate this ride. It's that good. The crew for I305 was awesome today and the ride ran perfectly. I really appreciate the enthusiasm and energy. Both trains operating, waits between 5-20 minutes except for front row, which is awesome. The line stretched through a lot of the queue but the coaster really eats people. The sprinklers are still there in the station. The red-back train seemed to run just a little more unhinged. The ride tracks incredibly smoothly. The restraints are amazing; they are comfortable, don't ruin the airtime and allow people of all shapes and sizes to enjoy the ride. Well, this has turned into me gushing about I305...so I'll move on. Here's a bad video I shot of the new turn and speed: et al. The park looked great today. Cedar Fair really has embraced the natural beauty of the property, something people often overlook. There were trees and azaleas in bloom, lots of flowers, mulch, etc. No trash on the ground as employees constantly were sweeping and there are tons of trash cans (obviously) and recycling bins (is this new? good idea) The park continues to replace concrete with pavers, too. This is the best I've seen the park look and I know they have an eye out to continue improving in this area. The staff also was really good for the most part today. I saw lots of managers and suits and supervisors. The I305 crew was great, as were the Anaconda and Volcano crews. Shockwave's crew was slow but that ride is annoying to load so that probably had something to do with. Most everyone seemed energetic, from the food service employees at Panda Express to the games attendants to the ride operators. Also, though the park closed at 6 p.m., lines were still open at 6:30 p.m.? Ok, that's cool. Rides: I rode I305 ten times, mostly in the back seat or in row two, which, as mentioned in another trip report, really is a hidden gem and basically provides a no-wait front-row ride. I rode Volcano once because the line was long all day. I waited about 30 minutes around 4 p.m. Two trains, running great this year. The ride didn't have any of the rattle it sometimes does up top. All seats were being loaded. Dominator was running two trains. Its damn seatbelts have gotten SHORT. Doesn't Cedar Fair know that no one falls out of a B&M? It seems they would have cleaned up the trains a bit over the offseason, but both were extremely dirty. The ride ran fast today, no trim before the cobra roll. It was pretty rattly after the midcourse, but nothing life-ruining. Rebel Yell and an unfortunate event. Long story short, as I was boarding Rebel Yell, this family caused a ruckus. There was a man, woman and two kids. The woman and one kid waited in one row while the man and other kid waited in another. They were not evenly spaced so they weren't going to be on the same train. When the airgates opened, the man jumped in front of a waiting group, pushing them aside and jumped right on the train with his kid. The people looked at me in shock but just let it slide. Cut to the lift chain, which was stopped abrupty. Apparently, the crew noticed as the train was departing that one of the aforementioned kids wasn't tall enough to ride (now I'd criticize the crew for being inattentive at first but these are the people that just jumped aboard so I can see how it got confusing). The whole train got to wait 15 minutes until a manager unlocked the restraints and evacuated the child and her mom. The man seemed really upset at his wife about this whole ordeal and I hope calmed down after the ride. On a side note, the general public really is unaware as to the workings of a roller coaster. When the train stopped on the lift, some people were FREAKING out. One girl had never ridden a coaster and was hysterically crying. Luckily, the ride op (Joe?) calmed her down and got her laughing, etc. She ended up staying on, despite the hysteria, and instantly started clapping at the end. Another convert. As for the ride...when the hell did Rebel Yell get ejector air? The outward trip was intense and smooth with this newfound air. The run back was rougher but still nice. Shockwave's new paint looks so much better in person than pictures portray; it's really quite striking. I hadn't ridden this in years because I have broad shoulders and it's a tight squeeze and hurts like hell on the bunny hops. Anaconda was running really well this year. As with Shockwave, I'd expect to see Paramount's signature multi-colored paint jobs go by the wayside in the near future. I suspect Anaconda and Drop Tower will get painted soon and probably in a more solid scheme. Backlot Stunt Coaster was another ride I haven't been on in years. It seemed less pointless than I remember. The second half actually is pretty great. The helicopter still doesn't move, but fire has returned. It was interesting to witness human nature when someone vomited on the exit path. Some people warned exiting riders, others watched them step in it and laughed. I skipped Hurler because it was one train op with a huge line. For some reason, Grizzly and Drop Tower were closed. I saw everything else running, including the El Dorado, Americana, Cyrpt, Troika, log flume, etc. There seemed to be a lot of shows going on for families, too, which seems like a change from the past. I heard several parents saying how much their little kids enjoyed Kidsville, too, so that's good to hear. I hadn't intended to write a novel but here ya go. Overall, it was a nice visit. The teenagers in the park were annoying and KD needs to keep a watchful eye on line jumpers, but I'll give them a pass because I was once their age, too. It should be a great season for the park in terms of staffing, rides and ambiance. Hell, with I305, KD could be in the middle of a landfill and I'd still go. It's nice to be back on the tracks. No, I don't know those people but you gotta have an establishing shot. What're we here for? This guy. Going up! Not going up. Now with ejector air! Really; look at that hairtime! Racing. The sex part. Also enjoyable ejectiness. Back in the pit. Two-train op. That's the transfer track. That yellow thing is not an indoor Port-a-John. The double-secret blue compound. FYI, Uremet is a company that makes wheels. It's....the Anaconda. Best part. Really good. I love Arrow. Porque no los dos? New wood and paint on the exit ramp; a nice touch. The new sign for ShockWAAAAVE. Togo or not Togo. The new paint really looks excellent. How it looks in the Grove. Hey...kiddies. All gussied up and nowhere to go. This was disappointing. Had I waited I'm sure this would have been disappointing. Big yellow loop. With a side of rattle. I see you B&M Ball. Best deal in the park. Well, not the Powerade.

^That ride is a lot of fun and pretty zippy for lack of a better term. No one is going to want that ferris wheel lift though, no matter how cool. Wasn't Premier one of the main ones not to get paid?

At this point just move the damn B&M and raze the land. I've come a long way on this place and no longer do I have any optimism of it ever working out. The only thing I could ever see working is making it a huge water park with a couple of other rides. The one thing I do wonder, though, is how quickly do rides deteriorate? For example, would Time Machine actually be in bad shape after this period of inactivity?

I think I'm going to head up tomorrow since it's supposed to be beautiful. Probably just walk around and take pics, too.

Probably Intimidator 305, Volcano, Dominator...oh wait, that already exists. Actually, 1. 305 2. El Toro 3. The Voyage 4. Raptor 5. X2 If we're going for imaginary then some kind of Cheetah Hunt/Storm Runner/Millennium Force combination that is lengthy, launched and awesome. I would also love a dueling flying by B&M or (gasp) a Giant Inverted Boomerang that works properly. As for flats, definitely Intamin Gyro Drop, Huss Top Spin, Mondial Top Scan, that death trap aeroplane thing and a Chaos! Also, I'd definitely have a Perilous Plunge style flume with only lapbars and an Intamin Aquatrax. And, ILoveRides, what you describe sounds suspiciously like Six Flags America.

B&M has been getting stricter on guest size. Intimidator at Carowinds has TIGHT seats compared with Nitro/Apollo, etc. As much as I hate to hear it, I assumed that's what Raptor would be like.

I guess if it really does increase capacity then that's fine. I shouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions just because it's Six Flags. Last time I rode KK the crew actually did an excellent job.

Why in the world can't they use both stations and all four trains on Kingda Ka after this long? What's the problem with unloading/loading/dispatching two trains at a time on alternating sides? It seems like this is the most efficient way to do things. If not that, use the back part of the station for unloading only, then dispatch one train at a time from each side like Storm Runner.

In 2008 I was on a train that rolled back and had to be evacuated from the launch track on Volcano at King's Dominion, where people are pretty dumb judging by this thread. Girl to employee assisting guests to leave the area: "I'm gonna sue ya'll asses for that. My dad almost had a heart attack and my back hurts." Me to employee after they left: "Are people normally that stupid?" Employee: "You have no idea." Also, the GP love to add "the" in front of everything. The Volcano, the Dominator, the Nitro, the Kingda Ka, etc. It annoys me more than it should.

Nice POV of Jet Rescue. I've always been curious about that coaster, and it looks like it was a lot of fun! I think Intamin could probably do a pretty kickass coaster with motorcycles or another one of these in the US.

Fire dragon!

I know it won't make up for the crappy day a lot of people had, but the park seems to be pretty up front about addressing the issues, at least on its Facebook page. This is in light of some truly stupid comments, too. It seems like the park has a real problem with overcrowding, as this isn't the first time I've heard about it being an issue. I can't think of another park off the top of my head with a similar issue (maybe Great Adventure?), but this is not surprisingly given its proximity to Atlanta. From what I remember, it's not a huge park either. One a side note, during my visit a few years back I talked to a member of management while waiting for Deja Vu to open. I got to ride it twice in a row and saw him again afterward. Basically, he agreed that even with all its problems, it was a crazy ride, and it was nice getting to talk to a suit who was pretty honest about how some attractions are problematic.

The ride runs a lot faster than I anticipated it would. That barrel roll should be a seriously good element, as should that near-miss with the scenery! I can't wait to hear some comments about the ride quality, but, knowing B&M, there won't be much outside-seat shaking.

What the unholy hell? That thing looks insane, but I don't think I could handle it. I can ride coasters all day but that kind of ride would have me heading for the trash cans.

My prize came on Monday after about 4 weeks!

^Yeah, Busch Gardens is like 1 hour and 15 minutes or so tops from Kings Dominion.