certifiedcoastergeek

Awesome TR! When I visited San Diego 2 years ago, I was pleasantly surprised by Manta. It's definitely in my top 15 coasters and may be one of the most underrated coasters that I've been on! The theming is out of this world and the coaster itself has some intense but smooth turns, not too forceful but not forceless. The best part is probably the unexpected second launch. This ride is (what I assume to be) a mini-Maverick, although I've never been on Maverick ; the first half is focused on airtime, dips, and banked turns, while the second half is focused on quicker transitions and tight turns. Here's a POV I found from TPR for more information: One of the (few) things that SeaWorld does well at its parks is installing really good family multi-launch coasters (Verbolten, Cheetah Hunt, Manta).

I've relapsed on my no-speculation policy... OMG INTAMIN B&M RMC S&S ZIERER MACK CHANCE GRIZZLY-HURLER-SHOCKWAVE-ANACONDA COMBINATION GIGA DIVE EUROFIGHTER FRISBEE DISKO STRATA POLER WING INVERTED FLYING TOPPER HYBRID HYPER NEW ENTRANCE EIFFEL TOWER FLYBY COMING IN 2016 TO KD WHO NEEDS CEDAR POINT OR THE $120M CEDAR FAIR BUDGET CLOSE EVERYTHING AND SPEND IT ALL ON KD THE BEST PARK IN THE UNIVERSE. Sarcasm level: definitely none... In the meantime, you can read the above all-caps text like this kid:

*hate comments incoming in t-minus ten minutes*

I can certify (no pun intended) that the price is indeed the cheapest at which you can purchase tickets. Crowds will be moderate because of the holiday - it's not a "Military Day" (active/former service members get free admission), but the 4th and 5th are. However, you should get moderate crowds nonetheless - although likely not enough to be forced into purchasing Fast Lane, however, if you read the instructions that I wrote. ^ Best of luck!

Nice! I hated that motor as well, but I found Fury to be a tad bit rough and Thunder Road to be pretty smooth. Which side of Thunder Road did you ride on? Just curious...

Expect moderate crowds. You won't need Fast Lane, but if you choose to go that route to maximize rides, spend the extra $10 on Fast Lane Plus so that you can get unlimited rides on Volcano and Intimidator 305 as well. Pack food in a cooler if you can (pavilions are provided just outside the front gate), or buy an "all-day meal deal". Pack water in a bag to carry around (this is allowed) and don't worry about $$$ for lockerz unless you will visit the water park (Soak City), because free article binz are provided on all coasters and 90% of all other rides (except for maybe the carousel). Arrive at least 30 minutes before regular opening at 10 AM, and wait by the early entry gate, which is to the right of the Dominator pavilion (first left off of International Street, then a right at Berserker, the Looping Starship). DO NOT ride Dominator first, even though it opens at 10; the early morning is when lines are longest. Instead, high-tail it on down to Volcano as soon as the early entry barrier is lifted and get a ride on that before lines get ridiculous (I've seen >3 hrs on some weekdays). Next, hit Intimidator 305 and Flight of Fear (unless you've been on Kings Island's, which is an exact clone), ride Anaconda, Backlot Stunt Coaster, and Avalanche (if you want to) and work your way towards Rebel Yell, riding Drop Tower on the way, then ride the stuff in the Grove and Old Virginia sections. Ride Intimidator again later in the day, and make Dominator your last ride of the day (this is when lines will be shortest). This is a lot to process, but I hope it helps! PRO TIP: Don't buy Preferred Parking - buy parking online and save $5 because the lot is so close to the park as it is, and if you arrive around 10 it will be a very short walk to the gate. PRO TIP: Eat lunch and dinner at around 11 AM and 4 PM, respectively; this will let you take full advantage of thinner mealtime lines throughout the park. PRO TIP: Think twice before riding Anaconda, Shockwave, and Hurler. If you can't tolerate rough rides, AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS. PRO TIP: If you can, ride Boo Blasters - a fun shooting dark ride and air conditioned, which is great on a hot day. Plus, it's tucked away, so 9/10 times it's a walk-on, especially on a weekday (this is in contrast to Carowinds, where its clone is immensely popular). PRO TIP: If you will buy ride photos, just get the $30 unlimited photo email package and get unlimited photos during the day on (I think this is the complete list): Intimidator 305, Volcano, Dominator, Ricochet, Boo Blasters, Woodstock Express, and Shenandoah Lumber Company. PRO TIP: If you don't want to get drenched to the bone and/or electronic devices ruined, AVOID White Water Canyon and Shenandoah Lumber Company (hint: hidden fire hoses)

The only "flops" in terms of large capital investments that did not produce an equally impressive return were Hypersonic XLC and Shockwave. Neither of these were added under Cedar Fair. Cedar Fair is starting to recognize how to repair the PKD image of an asphalt teen park by gradual beautification and minor upgrades and improvements. Like it or not, Kings Dominion's ride lineup is the best in the state. Now, it's the park's turn to play catch-up to Busch Gardens in terms of family appeal. (In the meantime, it's Busch Gardens' turn to play catch-up in terms of rides, with additions like Verbolten and Tempesto.) What does this mean? In an effort to directly combat Busch Gardens' tourist appeal, Cedar Fair is, and will continue spacing out large thrill ride and/or coaster investments, at least for the next ten to fifteen years. Back in the Paramount days, a new coaster was added every two to four years. Does this mean that KD will get the Geauga Lake treatment? No. Does it mean that Cedar Fair sees any less potential in the park? No. They see potential in different areas. Honestly, I think too many people on this thread complain that 2016 isn't the year of the coaster (my former self included). However, if you look at the long run, you'll be thankful that Cedar Fair isn't making the park Paramount 2.0 with no attention paid to park appearance. In 2016 or 2017, I think that Kings Dominion will get a large thrill ride or family ride (like a Giant Frisbee, Disko "coaster", or a Triotech), with the other year used for general improvements. In 2018, the park will definitely receive that GCI, RMC topper Hurler, B&M launched wing hypercoaster, or whatever else you guys have dreamt up recently. Is this a bad thing? No. What does this mean? This means that Cedar Fair will make the park look and feel much cleaner and nicer overall, so that if and when the next large, newsworthy attraction hits the park that those first-time and infrequent visitors will be compelled to come back sooner rather than later (which is what Busch Gardens does well), which is the potential that the chain sees in the park. In the meantime, sit up straight, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride.

I was bored and made this Hurler track replica (sort of, about as accurate as the game allows). I was able to fine-tune the drop height, train type and car number, top speed and general layout, but there's no station and some elements (like the overbanked turn that goes through the lift hill) had to be improvised as best as possible (it ain't NoLimits, and my NL1 disappeared from my computer for some reason, not that I ever figured out how to play). Other than that, I would like some constructive criticism! (Another note: Due to RCT3's strange block-brake system, I was forced to start the POV at the top of the chain hill, unless you all wanted to wait one-and-a-half minutes for Train 2 to complete the circuit ) (Also, I intentionally moused over to show the "switch-track" briefly near the end.) [youtu_be] [/youtu_be]

This is it... Relive the Arrow terror...

Has anyone else ridden the virtual original Steel Phantom on the roller coaster simulator at the Carnegie Science Center's SportsWorks next to Rivers Casino and Heinz Field? It plays an enhanced 3D HD POV of the ride and it's not rough like the real version! (Plus, it's free with museum admission.) I always visit the museum for that reason whenever I make my biennial two-day Kennywood trip.

And just by posting about it, you could say you are complaining about other people complaining about other people complaining. COMPLAINT-CEPTION LEAKED FOOTAGE

LOL correction though: Shockwave/Anaconda/Hurler 30 times in a row

This scored almost as high on the amusement park stupidity meter as Six Flags calling those Larson Super Loops coasters. Can we really trust a sketchy ride manufacturer like Zamperla to tell us what is a coaster and what isn't? I betcha even ACE doesn't consider it to be a coaster *inserts cow ACE meme here*

Sorry, meant to edit and accidentally hit quote. Duplicate post...

Alpengeist and Verbolten at BGW Afterburn at Carowinds Veklonas Both Hurlers GhostRider at KBF Space Mountain at WDWMK What do these rides have in common? I find them to be very or at least noticeably rough for some reason while many others do not. This likely has to do with my 5'11", 130 lbs. frame which enables me to feel every bump and jolt on coasters (which is why I love buttersmooth coasters like B&M hyper/gigas and almost every Intamin). (And no, I don't hate B&M inverts - I LOVED Silver Bullet at KBF, definitely worth the two-hour wait time and incredibly smooth although the helix was briefly nauseating.)

The ghetto rep is given by those that haven't been here in years. I'm guilty. I was saying the same until I went back in 2012. Very family friendly. Give it a try. Thanks! Also, how crowded will the park be on a Saturday in July (just curious)? Would I be able to ride the unique rides (Superman, etc.) if I arrived around 4 and stayed until 7-8? I've been on Flight of Fear (the Joker's Jinx template), far too many wild mouse coasters, and on enough B&M standups to swear them off for life.

Is this park safe to take nieces/nephews ages 9-14? (Just wondering, owing to the park's generally "ghetto" rep.)

One question... if you seemingly love the world's best coaster so much, then why do you diss it so?

First- Steel: Vapor Trail - Sesame Place Wood: Jack Rabbit - Kennywood Inverting: Loch Ness Monster - Busch Gardens Williamsburg Intamin: Volcano: The Blast Coaster - Kings Dominion B&M: Dominator - Kings Dominion RMC: I wish 200'+: Intimidator 305 - Kings Dominion Favorite- Steel: Intimidator 305 - Kings Dominion Wood: Thunder Road - Carowinds (R.I.P.) Inverting: Griffon - Busch Gardens Williamsburg Intamin: Intimidator 305 - Kings Dominion B&M: Intimidator - Carowinds (better than Fury IMO and yes I've ridden Fury) RMC: I wish 200'+: Intimidator 305 - Kings Dominion Credit to @chickenbowl for this cool design

In all seriousness, however, if Cedar Point intends to continue to add one per week, you can expect an announcement (or an announcement about an announcement) on the sign on or around August 11 if Pipe Scream is not counted as a coaster, and on or around August 18 if it is.

^LOL My thoughts exactly... Even better if "Pipe Scream 2.0" is the new announcement, aka adding another Disko to that portion of the park.

^ I literally just said above that I'm done complaining about 2016. Realistically, I'd like to see a Giant Frisbee, since it would be a great fit.

The Screamer. The Amputator. The Morphinator. The Block(head) Brakes Operator. The LineKiller. Professional Knee Remover. The "Stop this ****cking Ride-inator (see YouTube video, note that there is cursing) The Kevin Wardidator. So many evil, twisted names for this ride... none of them are funny... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYohlpFYhvI This was a terrible accident (thoughts + prayers to the victims and families) and IMO this ride needs a serious overhaul or just flat-out removal. The fact that this ride is capable of such a malfunction scares the crap out of me.