mhuffva
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Posts posted by mhuffva
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KD received the Spider, El Dorado, and the Americana Ferris Wheel from Geauga Lake.
From what I heard in the park rumor grapevine, KD inspected each ride when they arrived. It was determined that the Spider was not in good shape and the park never installed the ride. El Dorado and Americana were added the same year.
I am not sure if El Dorado was in the best shape either. KD kept that ride in operation for 3-4 seasons. It was removed when Wind Seeker was added to that spot.
So, out of the original three rides, only Americana Ferris Wheel still operates at KD.
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On 11/16/2020 at 8:51 AM, Mike240SX said:
The reservation system for pass holders for KD's winter event is live, but it's not linked anywhere on the main page. If you go into the ticket-buying part of the site, it will appear at the top left.
The park has moved the season pass reservation link to the Home Page of KD's web site. They are using the same system that you use to purchase daily tickets. Just no charge.
All Season Pass holders (Silver, Gold, Platinum) can go to this event with a reservation made. Yes, 2020 Silver passholders can go to this year's "Taste of the Season" event. Normally their passes expire Labor Day. I believe you can link up to 12-14 other season passes to one reservation. Only one reservation at a time. Once the initial reservation is used, you make another reservation for a future operating date.
Even the operational days vary greatly between parks. Carowinds started this past weekend and it is currently scheduled to end the Sunday before Christmas. KD's will start the Saturday after Thanksgiving weekend,12/05. Theirs will run two weekends and then go daily from Friday, 12/18 through Wednesday, 12/23. Closed Christmas Eve & Day. The final day of operations will be Saturday & Sunday, 12/26 - 12/27.
At this point, neither Kings Dominion nor Carowinds have any days scheduled for the week leading to New Years Day. I guess there could be a possibility that the event schedule might be extended if the parks come close to meeting their attendance numbers for the first couple of Weekends.
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A potential concept revealed at 2018 IAAPA.
Oh god... Please... no.
I was expecting this reaction in every CF park forum who has hosted this Monster Jam event in 2019 and will be hosting it in 2020. To save on reaction redundancy, here are the parks:
2019
Cedar Point
Kings Dominion
Dorney Park
2020
Carowinds
Valley Fair
As others have stated, KD seems to want to stick to a "Jungle" theme, so I am not feeling the vibes for a "Monster Truck" coaster. Course, at this point in time, we don't know what is going in that area. Hang Tight.
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Well, I was certainly thrown off guard by the park`s announcement. But, this coaster has always been a capacity/maintenance nightmare, given the GP love of this unique ride.
Seems the "one block" operational nature of this coaster with a launch system did not allow for capacity to improve. Maybe a split load/unload area with alternating sides might have allowed more throughput.
Given that volcano was a prototype coaster, I know they underestimated the power needed to launch the train and make a full curcuit that 1st season (remember the 2 seats per car instead of having the designed 4 seats per car?). The whole electro-magnetic launch system technology was still in its infancy in the mid-late 90's. FOF was just 2 years before volcano. It does appear that LIM motors, used on volcano, are NOT used on current, new electro-magnetic launched coasters. Seems LSM motors are the equipment of choice now.
I also thought volcano had structural issues with stress on certain areas of the ride; especially the apex portion where the trains exit the top of the volcano. Maybe the structural engineering of the ride was not robust enough for the stresses generated.
I can see now where any combination of the reasons above would make CF/KD make the decision to send volcano to the trash bin. Given CF's new policy of ditching low capacity / high down-time
/ high-maintence attractions over the last 2-3 seasons, Volcano's end was in sight.
Thanks for taking a chance KD on a very unique and fun ride that was volcano.
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What???? They removed the tree's around the Eiffel Tower????? They provided a lot of shade and looked great there!
According to the park, the trees were infested with some type of beetle/bug that bore into the wood. This, in turn, killed them. There was no treatment that could save them (not sure if that was because the damage was too far along to do anything about it or there was not an effective treatment to kill the beetle/bug). Anyway, someone stated the park had posted signs around the area stating the removal of the trees and the reason around Labor day weekend. The park stated new trees would be planted to replace them (I guess during the off-season).
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Darn, too bad I can't go to the passholder announcement on Saturday. Oh well. I'm surprised there's actually going to be an event of sorts. Last year, there wasn't one for Delirium, right? There really must be something up their sleeve if there's an announcement with passholders.
The last time KD did a seasonal attraction announcement in the theater was about 4 years ago. That was for the old kids area getting a Planet Snoopy makeover.
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Well, construction logistics would dictate that a new, from scratch, major steel coaster is probably not the 2017 attraction for Kings Dominion. I305 construction started with land clearing and grading in early June. I don't see that happening for next year. Plus, if a major coaster was to replace Hurler in 2017, don't you think the existing ride would have been torn down by now?
It seems more reasonable to focus on Hurler getting a makeover. Who does the work and to what extent, remains to be seen. I would fathom that most of everyone's questions will be answered this Saturday.
My best guess is a Hurler makeover for 2017 as the main draw. There could be some secondary stuff thrown in for 2017.
Finish PTC Carousel restoration (maybe band organ restored and playing). 100th anniversary of this ride [1917-2017].
West end of Candy Apple Grove gets makeover. Finish replacing asphalt with brick pavers / new landscaping.
Maybe a addition of an golden oldie flat ride or two.
Action Theater gets something like what CGA or Carowinds received this year (Mass Effect or Plants vs. Zombies)
That's approximately what I think. RMC Hurler, Mass Effect, Candy Apple
Grove upgrades, and possibly that refurbished enterprise from Valleyfair.
That's really asking for a lot.
When I listed those other things Madmax, I was not expecting all the above to be done for 2017. Maybe one or two; in addition to the Hurler makeover. It was a list of possibilities.
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Well, construction logistics would dictate that a new, from scratch, major steel coaster is probably not the 2017 attraction for Kings Dominion. I305 construction started with land clearing and grading in early June. I don't see that happening for next year. Plus, if a major coaster was to replace Hurler in 2017, don't you think the existing ride would have been torn down by now?
It seems more reasonable to focus on Hurler getting a makeover. Who does the work and to what extent, remains to be seen. I would fathom that most of everyone's questions will be answered this Saturday.
My best guess is a Hurler makeover for 2017 as the main draw. There could be some secondary stuff thrown in for 2017.
Finish PTC Carousel restoration (maybe band organ restored and playing). 100th anniversary of this ride [1917-2017].
West end of Candy Apple Grove gets makeover. Finish replacing asphalt with brick pavers / new landscaping.
Maybe a addition of an golden oldie flat ride or two.
Action Theater gets something like what CGA or Carowinds received this year (Mass Effect or Plants vs. Zombies)
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I'm curious as to if KD has plans to add anymore flats in the future on the rest of the land Shockwave once occupied? I'm not sure if that if that has anything to do with the swing radius for Delirium or not.
I think there is a high chance of seeing at least another flat ride being placed in that area. The land directly to the right of Delirium (as you face the sign / ride) has room for another medium to large flat to go there.
There is space for maybe 1-2 more small to medium flat rides as well (one closest to the Carousel and another between the Peanut Showplace amphitheater and the eastern arcade building). The park shared part of the master plan for that area late last year on another park fan site. On that plan was a proposed building to go to the right of Delirium. That building was not built; so, not sure if Cedar Fair/KD changed their minds concerning that building and left the land open for something else instead.
If Kings Dominion gets a flat ride package in the next 2-3 years, I could see one or two more flat rides going in Shockwave's old site.
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Another thought to keep in mind with coaster height restrictions, is that height restrictions have gone up for older rides over time. I assume this is due to insurance reasons and/or corporate policy/[paranoia].
I worked at Kings Dominion from 1979-1983 in the rides department. Most of the time at the Rebel Yell. The height restriction back then was 42 inches to ride (3 1/2 feet tall). It was the same height restriction for the Grizzly.
Course, during the Taft/KECO years of park ownership, 1975-1992, we did not have any attraction that required a 54 inch minimum height limit. The steel coasters installed during this period, [King Kobra, Shockwave, Avalanche, and Anaconda], never had a height limit above 48 inches. I don't remember the height limitation for the King Kobra shuttle loop. Anaconda's height restriction was between 44-48 inches. Shockwave was unusual in that you had to be able to straddle the seat, at its lowest position, with both feet flat on the floor. Avalanche was 42 inches tall to ride alone.
I did go to BGW frequently during those years as well. I thought the 2 small steel coasters (Glissade and Wildekat) were 42 inches. Nessie and BBW were 42 inches to ride as well. Unless a kiddy coaster, most average sized coasters today have a 46-48 minimum height limit now; with the massive ones at 52-54 inches to ride.
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I just reviewed the Kings Dominion web site for the 2016 Season Pass + Dining information. There is no restriction on Meals during Haunt for 2016. (Gold & Platinum SP + Dining |with and without the Souvenir Drink Bottle offer).
My guess is that, whoever manages the Cedar Fair park chain web sites, either got the parks mixed up or the info was miss-communicated. The wording I saw was that All Season Dining was not valid for admission for Haunt. In any case, it has been corrected for Kings Dominion on their web site.
I assume that, if there is any restriction for the 2016 all season dining offer, it is directed to those Cedar Fair parks who have a separate admission for their fall Haunt event. Right now, that includes Carowinds, Knott's Berry Farm, and Canada's Wonderland.
Given that KD Gold and Platinum Season Pass holders get admission to Haunt for 2016, I feel that the event is not going to be a separate admission for Kings Dominion.
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Are the Cedar Fair haunts all stupid busy on the OTHER haunt nights or just Saturdays/(Fridays?)?
I copied my response to a person asking the same thing on Kings Dominion's Facebook timeline. This pertains to Kings Dominion only.
If your focus is on experiencing Haunt, I strongly suggest going on Friday night. The park is open 7:00 pm till midnight. The crowds are MUCH lower than on Saturday's. Plus, if you are not a season pass holder, the ticket prices are lower as well. I'll give some tips, based on what I have experienced in Haunt in years past.
Friday Evenings | 7 pm - Midnight:
No where near the crowds on Saturdays! If you arrive before 7 pm, do not freak out if you see long lines at the entrance gate. The park starts letting folks through the turnstiles about 10-15 minutes before 7.
Based on my past experiences on Friday evenings, the crowds are like night and day when compared to Saturdays. I think I did all 9 mazes and walked through all scare-zones within 2 hours. Had time to see a couple shows, ride some rides, and go back through a few of my favorite Haunt mazes a second time. Keep in mind that the park is open only during Haunt hours. The kids area, Planet Snoopy, is NOT open and NO day-time activities for young kids on Friday evenings.
Saturdays | 10:30 am - Midnight
Best only if Friday evenings and Sundays don't work for you. I would suggest to go EARLY during the fall Haunt event. Usually, the first 2 weekends are not too bad crowd wise. The last 3 Saturdays of Haunt, in my opinion, are crazy! If you have young children and just want to do the kids Halloween stuff during the day, it is not bad through early afternoon. Crowds start to increase after 3 pm as the Haunt hours grow near. Keep in mind that about half of the Haunt mazes open at 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The rest of the mazes and all the scare-zones open at 7 pm.
Sundays | 10:30 am - 10:00 pm
Crowds are no where near the levels of those on Saturdays. You have the same children's daytime Halloween activities. Like on Saturdays, about 1/2 the mazes open at 6 pm with the rest of the mazes and all scare-zones at 7 pm. Course, the park closes at 10 pm and most folks have school and work the following day and don't want to stay out too late; but, I think you could do way more Haunt stuff on Sundays than what you could do on a Saturday. Plus, park admission is lower than on Saturdays.
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Hang on, I'm not saying other parks should add an upcharge for Haunt. I'm just asking, does it seem fair that some parks upcharge for Haunt and some don't? Wonderland makes huge profits for food and beverage at Haunt, but no Haunt merchandise this year. I have never had a problem with paying for Wonderland's Haunt, I think it is one of the best Cedar Fair Haunt's in the chain. I just don't know if it is fair, that's all. Wonderland does have a Haunt Season Pass, where you can pay one price to go to every night of Haunt, but you folks at KD, KI, Knott's wouldn't need that. Is that fair? My brother also thinks it is not fair that Knott's Haunt guests can see Elvira for free when he is willing to pay to see her. Actually, my brother met Elvira a few years back in Toronto.
As I stated in my earlier post, Knott's Haunt event is a separate admission to get into the park (along with Carowinds and Canada's Wonderland). I thought KBF offered a Haunt season pass too.
I understand that you and your brother feel that paying another park admission to experience their Haunt event is not fair. I assume Cedar Fair does analysis, for each park in the chain, about the regional demographics as to whether a separate admission fee for Haunt would work. If it makes business sense to charge another admission fee, then I assume Cedar Fair will tell the park to do so. I suggest you and your brother email the park / Cedar Fair about your concerns.
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Wait! Cedar Point, Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Haunts are all INCLUDED with day passes and regular season passes? How long has this been? Always? If so, then why have Canada's Wonderland season pass holders, as well as the general public, been paying for our Haunt? I know Wonderland considers it a 'special event', but I, and my brother have been paying for Haunt since Cedar Fair bought Wonderland back in 2006 and even before that as well when it was Fearfest. Hmmmmm, I wonder how many Canadian Cedar Fair season pass holders know about this. This doesn't seem 'fair'. (get it?) Your 'free' Haunts even have more monsters and mazes than we do. Something doesn't seem right. We even had our Haunt cut back this year, less monsters, no scarezones, no Haunt merchandise, and yet, season pass holders still paid around $32.99. Yep, something is not right.
Oh, by the way,
HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!
As far as I am aware, there are 3 Cedar Fair Parks that have their Halloween event as a separate admission; Knott's Berry Farm, Canada's Wonderland, and Carowinds. All other parks in the chain, that host a Halloween event in the fall, include it in the park's general admission ticket.
The 1st Halloween event at Kings Dominion under Paramount was Fear Fest in 2000(?). There was a separate admission for it. Attendance was poor that first year. The second year, and going forward, it was included in the general admission ticket. I thought Busch Gardens started their Halloween event around that same time. I believe their event was included in the general admission ticket. With poor attendance the 1st year and with BGW having their event included in the GA, Kings Dominion's Fear Fest / Halloween Haunt has been included in the general admission ever since.
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Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion is NOT a separate ticketed event. There are 2-3 parks in the Cedar Fair park chain that treat Haunt as a separate ticketed event, such as Knott's Berry Farm and Carowinds.
Kings Dominion Haunt event is included in your general admission ticket. Haunt runs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. No Haunt the 1st Sunday (09/27 | park open 10:30 am - 8:00 pm).
Fridays
Hours: 7:00 pm - Midnight
Notes: All Haunt Attractions open at 7:00 pm.
Children's area/rides CLOSED. NO kids Halloween Activities.
Select "Adult" rides and food locations open.
Saturdays
Hours: 10:30 am - Midnight
Notes: Staggered Haunt Attraction openings. (About 1/2 Mazes open at 6:00 pm. The rest of the mazes and scare-zones open at 7:00 pm.
Children's area/rides open 10:30 am - 7:00 pm.
Special kid's Halloween activities 12 noon till 5:00 pm.
Select "Adult" rides and food locations open.
Sundays
Hours: 10:30 am - 10:00 pm (in October)
Notes: Staggered Haunt Attraction openings. (About 1/2 Mazes open at 6:00 pm. The rest of the mazes and scare-zones open at 7:00 pm.
Children's area/rides open 10:30 am - 7:00 pm.
Special kid's Halloween activities 12 noon till 5:00 pm.
Select "Adult" rides and food locations open.
Fridays are best if your focus is on doing the Haunt Attractions along with some rides. The crowds are light and short lines for everything. Ticket price for Haunt is lower on that night.
Saturdays are busy the first couple weekends of Haunt. It goes from busy to crazy from mid-October till the end of Haunt (last 3 Saturdays in October). Probably will need to purchase a Fright-lane FOL pass for Haunt maze attractions; else, you might not get through everything in one evening.
Saturday and Sunday daytime stuff for young kids during the day. Less folks visit on Sunday than Saturday. Haunt has way less crowds on Sunday as well. Admission prices on Sunday are lower as well.
Hope this helps.
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I think land is going to be cleared in the back of the park around Hurler and Grizzly. A front gate coaster doesn't go with Kings Dominion's family friendly mantra.
I am not so sure that is a valid reason for not having a "front gate coaster" at KD. The LA times interview, with Matt Ouimet, on Cedar Fair's coaster legacy, (past, present, and future), points to a reason that holds more water than the family friendly logic. Matt alluded to the fact that some parks in the chain would not see a "front gate coaster" because of the nice, grand promenades like those at Kings Island and Canada's Wonderland. Given that Kings Dominion's entrance is almost a clone of Kings Island, I don't think we will see a gate coaster for that reason either.
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Anyone know if the hypersonic xlc station is being used?
I think during Halloween Haunt some of the Zombie High maze scare-actors use it for a break area. Other than that, I don't think the park has used that structure for anything. I never understood why they did not dismantle it when they removed Hypersonic XLC. Plus, the only time you can see the old station up close is when you are standing in line for the Club Blood maze during Haunt.
I always thought the west end of Candy Apple Grove felt like an "unfinished dead-end /no man's land" after Hypersonic was removed. The placement of the Windseeker did help give it a focal point; but, there still is that "dead-end" gap between it and the Jukebox Diner. I felt the old station should have been removed and the Haunt building for Zombie High placed further back it its place. That way at least another flat ride could have been placed where Zombie High is now, to round off the open area.
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^hmmm interesting choice with all the issues they have with the Windseekers, and how reliable the Huss versions CF own have been over the past decade.
The Mondial Windseekers had trouble because they were Mondial Windseekers, not Mondial Windseekers. Did that make any sense?
No, Maybe you really meant this?
"The Mondial Windseekers had trouble because they were Mondial Windseekers, not Mondial Revolutions."
As far as I understand, the Mondial Revolution version at Canada's Wonderland has not had any extended downtime due to mechanical issues.
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Outside of Knott's Berry Farm, I believe Kings Dominion has the greatest competition for local/tourist dollars within the Cedar Fair chain. Within a 100 mile radius of the park, you have a Busch Gardens park in Williamsburg, VA and a Six Flags park in Maryland. BGW is an hour away from KD and SFA 1.5 hours away. So I can see where Kings Dominion share of 2014 income is a little smaller than Carowinds.
Carowinds closest competition is Dollywood which is over 195 miles away from the park (approx. 3.5 hour drive); followed by Six Flags Georgia which is just over 240 miles away (approx. 4.25 hour drive).
With Kings Dominion being my home park, I think Cedar Fair has been very good to KD since taking over in 2006. I am not going to place a yearly "grocery list" of attractions installed since then in my comments. The park is a solid performer for Cedar Fair and corporate management is not ignoring KD. Matt Ouimet and team are working towards rectifying issues with park infrastructure and the park's "perceived image". I think they are meeting that goal; step by step.
Over the last 2-3 seasons, the park has been receiving "place making" face-lifts in most areas of the park; especially last year. The kids area received a complete overhaul with new rides and amenities in 2013. The water park got a makeover and expansion this year. With new attractions and an overhaul/addition of changing areas, restrooms, and food places.
In 2016, we a getting a major ride, "Delirium", and a good chunk of infrastructure improvements for Candy Apple Grove, (3 Food establishments are getting a makeover and one or both bathrooms in that area getting upgraded).
Yes, none of these things is a major coaster; but, they are major improvements that help the bottom line for Kings Dominion. I am sure a major coaster is in the works for the park; but, it looks like that possibility won't be until 2017 at the earliest.
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As Robb stated earlier, its not just about the coasters. I can see why so many coaster junkies want their next "hit" and are agitated that Kings Dominion is going into their sixth year without a new coaster attraction. Yes, it is the longest gap in the park's history between coaster installations. But, on the the flip side, the park received Dominator and Intimidator 305 just TWO YEARS apart.
It's impossible to debate the fervent coaster enthusiast who goes to a park to spend 90% of their time there riding coasters and complains that the coaster line-up is stale and the park "needs" (i.e. "I want") another new coaster for the new thrill and to combat my "coaster boredom".
It today's amusement/theme park business, with the competition for people's money/time being so fierce, parks have to spend money across the board to improve all areas to appeal to the broadest cross-section of folks. Remember that Cedar Fair has undergone a transition in corporate management within the last 4 years. Dick Kinzel and around 50% percent of upper management have left; with Matt Ouimet and a good number of upper management now in place over the last 2-4 years.
I can see myself some general trends happening with the "Place Making" effort in parks, (Valley Fair's Route 76 area and Cedar Point's Gemini Midway makeover), and the "Amusement Dark" portfolio of dark rides being installed in the park chain. Food is being worked on in most parks with Chefs being hired over the last couple years and working toward better food quality and service. Improving/expanding entertainment options. Adding mini-events at parks like "Spring Bloom", "Taste of the Carolina's", BBQ & Brew, Food Trucks, etc. Lord knows the Halloween Haunt events have exploded across the park chain.
Kings Dominion is in the middle of the Cedar Fair group of parks. We don't get 3 million plus in attendance like the top 4 parks in the chain. I think it currently averages between 1.8 to 2.0 million visitors a year. In the whole history of this park, I don't think attendance ever exceeded 2.2 million visitors in one year. I do believe current average attendance is lower than its peak in the mid to late 1980's.
The attendance drop started after 2-3 years under Paramount ownership. Most entertainment in the park was eliminated (the park chain entertainment division Kings Production was removed). Most younger people don't understand that, back in the pre-Paramount days, the former KECO park chain was known as much for their entertainment as they were for rides and attractions. I think around 6%-8% of park attendance was driven just by the entertainment options alone. There were folks that visited mainly for watching shows while riding only a handful of rides. The closest you can come to that type of park entertainment today would be to visit a Busch Gardens or Herchend park.
While under the Paramount name, Kings Dominion's themed areas slowly eroded by neglect or placing attractions, with a movie tie-in, in park areas where they did not blend in with the existing theme. Themed areas, once distinct, blended in with a kinda "no man's land" look to it. The western end of Candy Apple Grove reminds me of this still. The last 3-4 years, before Cedar Fair took over, were not kind to Kings Dominion. The park was looking run-down and general maintenance was either put off or minimal work was done. I think the park received the reputation of being an "asphalt coaster park for teens" during this time and attendance slipped further.
Cedar Fair had their hands full just getting the park up to their standards over the first 3-4 years of ownership. But, they did keep adding attractions most of those years as well.
It appears that Matt Ouimet and the current corporate leadership are trying to fine tune each park based on its market region, competition, and what type attraction to add and how frequently that happens. The main focus has been to up-size parks in the chain that have the most potential for growth. Carowinds was under-sized for the market it serves. Cedar Fair got tax breaks from the regional governments and they started a 3 year accelerated development plan for Carowinds. That should wrap up next season with the water related attraction(s) for 2016.
For Kings Dominion, the current primary focus seems to be medium investments in new attractions while over-hauling the park's infrastructure, most of which is 40 years old. I think that started with "Place Making" efforts in the appearance of several areas in the park last year; the water park this year; and Candy Apple Grove next year. The mini-events were expanded/added with "Spring Bloom" last year and "BBQ & Brews" this year. Haunt is always evolving with new/revamped mazes and scare-zones each fall.
I think a new coaster is coming, and it could be in 2017. Other possibilities in the next 4 years could be a dark ride, the return of some former flat rides, or maybe another expansion of the water park.
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I don't know much about these rides, is Skyhawk basically a Zamperla Air Race meets WindSeeker?
Reminds me of a updated version of the old Sky Pilot rides that were located at Kings Island and Kings Dominion.
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Flat rides are always a great addition. This looks to be the Mondial revolution.
Mondial to CF: "Sorry about the Windseekers, here's a free Revolution for your troubles."
There are 3 ride manufacturers that currently make this type of pendulum swing ride with a 40 passenger gondola.
Huss: Giant Frisbee - 40 / 50 passenger models (Cedar Point & Kings Island have the 50 passenger models).
Zamperla: Giant Discovery - 40 passenger gondola
Mondial: Revolution - 40 passenger gondola model (Canada's Wonderland)
Does anyone know which manufacturer is providing the ride for Kings Dominion for 2016?
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Update and predictions based of the Cedar Fair investment chart matching up with Canada's Wonderland's Redevelopment Large Multi- Year Project.
Yeah....no!
Those check marks probably shouldn't be assigned that way anyway because multiple parks could add some of those in the same year. And your lack of other parks mentioned just shows how you think the business operates (and your "sorry who" comment proves that). Dorney and MiA will also receive things in those years, and for the other parks to be lumped together like that just makes it to where anything is possible there it seems.
Not that I'm doubting some of them because I feel a few may be right. But we know major capital is also on the way for MiA per a release not too long ago.
As for CW, I sense some waterpark stuff for next year.
Also, that 2018 coaster re-work you have circled I think will be for Mean Streak at CP and not for CW.
And CP's dark ride will probably be sometime in the future and not for 2016 (maybe a VR experience but not the dark ride).
Of course, just predictions.
Smaller parks get less frequent and less expensive investments that's why I listed the small parks together...
Also sarcasm can be missed epically sometimes, I know all the parks I simply forgot to add it tot he list. Orange just stands for all the small very low attendance parks, as Cedar Fair is very a top 5 park company. Do I think I'm going to be right on these guesses, yeah maybe like 1 or 2 out of luck lol... That's why I said predictions..
God these small Cedar Fair park fan boys get so defensive and cry so much when they year after year after year after year after yearsssss get no rides and they are confused why but don't understand, your home park has to bring in a ROI to receive big attractions and most the small parks in this chain cannot afford a 20+ million dollar large attraction.
Your comments tell me that you have not visited many Cedar Fair parks, have you? You need to take Kings Dominion out of the orange and give the park its own color (or colour if you are Canadian).
Kings Dominion was the 2nd park to be built from scratch in the old Family Leisure / Kings Entertainment Corporation [KECO] park chain. It is modeled after Kings Island, the 1st park built from scratch. (The final park built from scratch was Canada's Wonderland, which opened in 1981). The other 2 parks in the old park chain was Carowinds (purchased from a private owner in 1975 - Same year KD opened to the public). The last park in the old chain was California's Great America. Initially managed by KECO in the late 1970's/early 1980's. Then purchased in the mid-late 1980's.
Currently, KD has 13 operating roller coasters, water park, campground, and sets on 480 acres of land (almost 2 square kilometers of land). Last major coaster: Intimidator 305 in 2010. I think you might be referring to those complaining that it has been 6 years since I305 was installed. That is the longest stretch of time between coasters in the park's history.
A few factors that might be influencing how Cedar Fair is developing Kings Dominion.
1) Park has been dinged in the past for being perceived as an "asphalt teenage coaster park". Cedar Fair has been working toward changing that perception by orienting the new attractions toward family and kids. Especially, over the last 3-4 years.
2) Aging park infrastructure. Kings Dominion is 40 years old and a good deal of infrastructure was past due for a refurbishment. Cedar Fair has been working on that aspect over the last 2-3 seasons.
3) Outside of Knott's Berry Farm, Kings Dominion has the greatest amount of competition for tourist dollars. Within 1-1.5 hour's drive of the park is Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Six Flags America. Go a little further and there is Hershey Park. Kings Dominion averages around 2 million visitors a year.
Given the above, I can see why there is more of a coaster drought for Kings Dominion right now. I feel the park will be getting another coaster in 2017. I just don't know if we will be getting a new one every 4 years. More likely every 5-6 years going forward.
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Here's the article that will be printed tomorrow morning in the RT-D:
http://m.richmond.com/news/local/article_973d2821-4711-531e-a76a-a856b3439565.html?mode=jqm
Thay called the Intimidator 305 the Intimidator 360 . A few things to note are that
a) Pat Jones stated that the Shockwave might be sold or donated (sorry, Dorney).
b) She also said that it was being removed for a new attraction. Singular. That means a coaster (or an upcharge slingshot or a disko. Whatever we get, it's only one ride.) Flat-package hopefuls go home.
This Flat-ride package hopeful person is already home.
The only thing I get out of the article is that:
1) ShockWave is out after today.
2) Something new is coming for 2016.
I think the park's general manager, Pat Jones, gave enough information concerning ShockWave's fate and a confirmation/tease that Kings Dominion is getting something for 2016. I would not think a major park official would spill the beans on specifics of what's coming until the park is ready to make the official announcement. The attraction could be a single ride; But, what if the "A New Attraction" is an expanded Candy Apple Grove area with 2-3 new and/or classic flat rides?
Given that the reporter was being a little inaccurate on ride names; they could have misquoted Pat when interviewing her. In any case, I'll just "stay home" until I hear/see Kings Dominion's official 2016 announcement.
Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread
in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
Posted
It sounds like the rides had long lives while at GL. Were any of them already used rides when they were at Geauga Lake? Or, were all new?