JRice92

Long overdue, I have a few trip reports from 2014 I've been meaning to post. 2014 was a great year for me doubling my credit count from 42 to somewhere in the 86 by the time the year was over. It's not all about the credits but I was luck to ride some really awesome new (to me) coasters last year. First up we have Kings Dominion. My sister & I traveled to Virginia for nearly a week in June last year to visit Kings Dominion & Busch Gardens Williamsburg. We spent Monday evening, Tuesday & Thursday at Kings Dominion and Wednesday at Busch Gardens. Why did we spend so much time at Kings Dominion? I had super high expectations for I305 and wanted to get a second opinion, also Busch was only offering the coaster tour on Wednesday & Saturday that week. So it worked out. This was my first time at Kings Dominion and I really liked the park. We spent most of our time on rides and a small portion of one day in the water park. We ended up going at the perfect time of year because half of the coasters were walk on's and the headliners (except for volcano) were station waits. The water park was fun but if definitely needed more to do. This years water park expansion was a great move for them. International Street when entering the park looks phenomenal with a lot more landscaping at trees than at Kings Island. Small touches like the singing mushrooms & the re-themed Candy Apple Grove looked really nice. Overall the park had a great atmosphere with for the most part very friendly employees. Kings Dominion is very high on my list of parks I'd like to visit again. I was able to get in all the rides I wanted but Windseeker it was down the entire two and a half days I was at the park. Here's some ride reviews. Anaconda: At this point for me it's just another arrow looper, didn't love it but I didn't hate it. The layout gets weird after the MCBR but nothing really stands out here. Avalanche: I thought this one was really fun and unique. There should have been more of these built cause this one's great for the whole family. Worth a ride on every visit. Backlot Stunt Coaster: This was a big surprise for me, I had always skipped the Kings Island version because I used to go "Well that doesn't look very big, so I'll just skip it" but I was credit hunting and boy was I wrong. This little coaster packs a punch in it's small size. It's a must ride, now if they could just get all the effects working. Flight of Fear: I knew what to expect riding Kings Island's version but this one had two distinct differences. First it's a lot smoother, second the MCBR doesn't grab as hard as KI's version. The best part is the launch throught the cobra roll. It really disorients you in a good way. Grizzly: If you can find the entrance, this is a coaster all about laterals and it was a lot of fun. Hurler: While yes this coaster is pretty rough, I really liked the layout of it and took a re-ride on it. Rebel Yell: This ended up being my favorite of the wooden coasters here. Just sit on a non-wheel seat and enjoy the airtime while racing. Ricochet: This was first mouse of the non-spinning variety and didn't find it too much fun. I just prefer spinning wild mice. Shockwave: My only other stand-up was Mantis and this was my first Togo ever. I didn't find it uncomfortable, but the layout was just "meh" and some transition were kind of awkward. Volcano: This is one really unique ride, the one surprise this ride had was between the first and second launch the train banks really fast for the turn around behind the volcano and I love those quick transitions. While traveling the course it may not be going terribly fast but it's a ton of fun. I couldn't help but go "wheeeeee" during each heartline roll. On our last day at the park there were shooting fire balls out the top when a train would blast up and it looked great. Dominator: This was an old friend of mine. I remember my first ever ride at age 7 and the brand new Six Flags Ohio at the time. Back then it was my first B&M and my first "big" coaster. The swooping first drop is great and the ride is still as smooth as ever and I like the layout a lot. My only other floorless to compare is Kraken and while that's for sure the better ride for me, Dominator holds it's place as a special coaster from my childhood. Intimidator 305 This. Coaster. Is. Absolutely. Amazing. Where do I even begin do describe this magnificent piece of machinery. I have a new love of positive G's because of this ride. It's all out intense and I loved every second of it. First the lift, you don't have time to build anticipation because you arrive at the top so fast you don't have time to think about it. Then the drop, 85 degrees from 305 feet is so awesome, ejector air in the back of the train. Then the first turn, POSITIVE G'S TO THE EXTREME and I love them. Partially lost my vision for a few seconds on all but one of the TWENTY-SIX times I rode this coaster in the few days I was there. Then the airtime hill, long, sustained ejector air in every seat of the entire train! Then the fast transitions, prior to I305 Maverick was my number one because I LOVE those incredibly fast transitions and I loved them even more in the super long trains. Then the last two airtime hills deliver some floater air and a couple fast transitions to round out the course. WOW. that was a ride. Then on top of all of that. On our last full day my sister slept in and I used my platinum pass for early entry and headed straight to the back of the park. I was lucky enough to score the first ride of the day being the only person on the entire train! New #1 and I'm not sure Intamin will build one to beat it. This coaster is INTENSE AND FORCEFULL and that's what makes a near perfect coaster for me. Not onto the pictures. Oh boy, my only though before boarding for the first time. "Please don't snap Intamin cable" You pull some awesome high G's right here The 1 ride we took on anaconda, nobody was ever in line. On Day 2 this was our view from inside our hotel room. And we arrive. Thanks to TPR members we headed straight for Volcano first. And we were greeted with an empty queue I really like the colors of the train and supports in the station. Let's go for a Top Spin! Sometimes you would actually get splashed by some water. Over to the bobsled Cool theme, and a fun ride. Then some morning rides on I305 So twisty, the colors look great over the grass Station shot. Volcano finishing up it's course more twisty This lift and drop reminds me of Phantom's Revenge Hey I found the GM of the park and got a picture with her! First time in line for Backlot Stunt Coaster and we could see Shockwave in the distance Coming out of the tunnel was fun. Looks ok, doesn't ride ok. Another station shot. The drop tower was fun, but it doesn't spin like Kings Islands's Hey I recognize this! It was from my original home park! Blue side of Rebel Yell Red side of Rebel Yell Hurler was up next. and we lucked out on lines. After searching we finally found the Grizzly entrance! The singing mushrooms but we never got to hear them sing. Of course you have to take a picture with snoopy! Here's a picture of Dominator I took from a completely original angle same with Volcano and I305 too. This right here, is probably my favorite part of the ride. Coasters in the trees. The returned floral clock. Back around the park to Dominator And you can see some of the trains colors have changed over time. And back for some more I305 And keep riding through the night. Gotta take a picture at the front of the park! See you later Kings Dominion!

I stayed there last year, it didn't look AS good as the pictures, but it wasn't bad. For how close it is to the park, it was worth the money.

I only have 3 under my belt. 1. Cedar Point 2. Kings Island 3. Kings Dominion I consider Kings Island to be nearly on par with Cedar Point, the operations are phenomenal there and I really like the atmosphere. Kings Dominion is still a close 3rd because I305 is my #1 and the park looks amazing, however operations weren't AS good (When you're competing with CP & KI it's pretty hard to keep up) and while it looked good the overall atmosphere didn't feel as nice. Still a really great park. Next one I want to knock out is Carowinds!

Batman is looking great! Fiesta Texas is looking great! This park just hopped higher on parks I'd love to visit list with that last update.

I cannot wait to hop on this ride. It looks like it's going to be one of those coasters that's just pure fun. Some of these reviews are getting me so pumped!

It also really annoyes me how the media portrays these incidents. A GP friend of mine posted a link to a news article on this commeting "This is why I don't do rides, they're so dangerous!!" Ugh, well that'll just mean shorter lines for us.

^I like that shirt a lot. I'm just more and more impressed with the ride as the finishing touches are put up on it. I'm going to the park on June 29th so I have a ways to go until I get to ride Fury 325!

This is excellent news to hear! Not the greatest news for Herschend, but I believe with Manby at the face of the company Sea World Parks & Entertainment will achieve great success!

It seems that Wicked Cyclone is coming along really nice. I plan to visit the park on June 20th I just hope it opens on time so I can ride!

I went to this every year when I was younger. Haven't been now in maybe 10ish years but I have great memories of going, however at the same time nothing really stands out for me to want to go back.

That was a really great report! That day was so much fun, I spotted myself in one of your pictures. It was well worth being up all day for.

The SFMM thread has made it's way over here!

That speed on the turnaround vs. the first test looks amazing. And oh the roar!

From USA Today this morning. Can't even get the name right.

I'd have to disagree with that statement, I got 39 rides on Banshee last year and felt that magnetic trim every time. It's very VERY VERY slight, but its placement going downhill helps hide the that it's there. These new magnetic trims on B&M coasters just aren't as obvious since they don't make any sound and are incredibly smooth.

So excited to see this coaster testing! I went to the webcam and audibly cheered out loud when I saw a train go over the hill! I cannot wait to ride this coaster!

Batman: Knight Flight (Dominator) at Six Flags Ohio.

During early entry I've hit Maverick, Millennium, Raptor, Gatekeeper in that order and was in line for Dragster by 9:50. Millennium is the biggest wait during early entry but on most of my visits if it was the first or second ride I did the wait was no more than 10 minutes. Good to know for my June trip! I can't wait to finally visit Cedar Point. Are Millennium and Maverick more front seat or back seat rides? I plan on trying both but want some recommendations for our first ride the evening before. As with what someone else said, 1-2 On millennium force is great. My preference is the front half of the train for more airtime. But really everybody I know has a different favorite spot on Millennium Force. For Maverick, My preference is the back seat all the way, I find it to be the most intense & unforgiving in the back seat, and that's why I love it.

During early entry I've hit Maverick, Millennium, Raptor, Gatekeeper in that order and was in line for Dragster by 9:50. Millennium is the biggest wait during early entry but on most of my visits if it was the first or second ride I did the wait was no more than 10 minutes.

1. Do you have your videos set to auto-play on your: a. desktop computer and/or b. mobile device? (or if you don't know, just tell us if the videos auto-play or not in your newsfeed.) Yes 2. Do you regularly "share" content from Facebook "page" (like the TPR page) to your own personal Facebook page? And have you shared something from the TPR page? On an occasion here and there I'll share something onto my page. 3. What kind of content are you most likely to share? (Videos, Photos, News Stories, etc?) Photos & Videos are what I share the most. 4. How long on average do you watch a video posted to Facebook for? Do you watch the entire video? First 30 seconds? Until you get bored? Usually the first 30 seconds or until I get bored. If I'm just scrolling through my news feed it's rare I'll watch an entire video. 5. How important are "video thumbnails" to you? (the image you see with the > Play icon before you click to watch a video) Not important at all. 6. What do you like/dislike about Facebook? What features do you use the most and which ones annoy you? I like that I can keep track of a lot of news in one place. 7. Is there anything that TPR does or doesn't do on Facebook that you think we should be doing more/less of? For me personally I'd like to see more theme park news, and I think the amount of POV's shared on TPR's page is just the right amount.

^Yup, Since all the troubles last year the owner of those rides has had them for sale since. Here's a picture I took sometime in August last year. It was already being dismantled.

This, I know when I go to the park I have my enthusiast goggles on and want to see two train operations. However on my visit last year MULTIPLE times in multiple lines I head the GP complain about how slow operations were. And I can saw without a doubt they were by far the slowest operations of any park I visited last year. I think just and improvement on operations & guest services could help this park a lot.

Wow those lights look fantastic! I cannot wait to see this place in person.

I know that it's still rumor at this point that the dorms will come down, but I think the dorms going down down, perimeter road re-routed, & midway going from Blue Streak to the bleacher area may be spot on for multi-year expansion. With that interview posted a few pages back saying we shouldn't expect anything happening in the Goodtime theater area "too soon" I think this is a very real possibility for the park layout changing. Especially now that the Blue Streak "Dead End" is temporally more of a dead end than before. Connecting it to the other areas of the park would help it flow better.