BGE vs. Kings Dominion

[iplf]

On my next trip to the USA, I'll either be visiting Busch Gardens Europe or Kings Dominion.

I'm still not sure which one though! So here's a couple of questions:

 

1) In BGE I obviously wanna do Griffon, Alpengeist and Apollo's Chariot.

Which other rides in this park are worth it? And what kind of ride are they?

Will this park be able to keep me occupied the whole day? Cause from what I see, there are only 12 rides?

 

2) At Kings Dominion, actually only Intimidator305 and Dominator look like a must-do. And maybe Shockwave and Volcano?

Which other rides in this park are worth it? And what kind of ride are they?

 

3) For my trip to Magic Mountain this year, I used coupons. Are there usually coupons available (online) for BGE or KD?

 

4) If you'd have to make a choice, which park would you pick?

 

5) Is it maybe possible to start the day at Kings Dominion and score the most important credits? And then head to Busch Gardens Europe at like 4 PM, to enter the park at 6 PM and be able to do the important rides in the evening? It's more expensive, but I don't really care about it that much.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

(Other 2 parks I'm visiting will be SFGAdv and Cedar Point)

[CreditCrazy]

If this was my trip, I would choose BGW, for the whole day. I want to ride i305 more than anything at BGW, but BGW just looks amazing...with several great rides, where imo i305 at KD is the only one that really stands out.

[alpengeist04]

1. I would definitely ride Loch Ness (classic arrow coaster), Pompeii (splashdown), and DarKastle (dark ride) too.

 

2. Along with I305 and Dominator, I would also make sure to ride Volcano, Avalanche, and FOF. The rest of the coasters are OK, but nothing special in my opinion.

 

3. I'll let the locals answer this one.

 

4.With KD adding I305 and BGW losing Big Bad Wolf, it's a little closer. ...But I would still go with BGW.

 

5.Yes, but it depends on the time of the year, and if you're only hitting the "highlights" in each park.

[robbalvey]

Unless you feel like you really, really, really need to ride Initimidator (sorry not going to use that lazy abbreviation) I would say spend a day at BGW and be sure to get Quick Queue tickets!

 

But you could do KD in the morning and then head over to BGW in the afternoon/evening. With Quick Queue's in hand you should be able to most coasters at BGW in a few hours.

 

--Robb

[FeelTheFORCE]

It all depends on your preferences. If you're a thrill seeker, do Kings Dominion. If you like to kick back and enjoy the atmosphere and scenery, then go to Busch Gardens. Not saying Busch Gardens doesn't have any thrills to offer, just that they are removing a coaster, whereas Kings Dominion is adding one. 5 coasters versus 14.

[robbalvey]

^ I really think the removal of BBW has nothing to do with it. You do realize that if BBW wasn't being removed no one in this thread would even mention it.

 

Everyone would be all "Griffon - Alpengeist - Apollo".... f**k yeah!!!

 

BBW would never even be mentioned.

 

Like I said, do KD in the morning - hit Intimidator, Dominator, and Volcano. Sweep up any other rides with little to no queues, then head over to BGW and get Quick Queues.

 

There really is no better option than this.

 

--Robb

[MattMattMatt]

BGW is the far superior park, even with the loss of BBW and the addition of I305. I guess it all boils down to if you prefer a mediocre park with lot of coasters (some quite good) or a very nice park with a few major rides, most of which are great.

 

And very much disagree with Rob about BBW. It was widely regarded as the best US suspended coaster and was regularly recognized as such. I don't think it's removal has anything to do with it.

[iplf]

^ I really think the removal of BBW has nothing to do with it. You do realize that if BBW wasn't being removed no one in this thread would even mention it.

 

Everyone would be all "Griffon - Alpengeist - Apollo".... f**k yeah!!!

 

BBW would never even be mentioned.

 

Like I said, do KD in the morning - hit Intimidator, Dominator, and Volcano. Sweep up any other rides with little to no queues, then head over to BGW and get Quick Queues.

 

There really is no better option than this.

 

--Robb

 

Must've read over that quick queue system on the website.

It's only 15 USD, so that's a good deal!

 

I might do both parks as you suggest. Be at KD at opening and score some early rides and do the better coasters.

 

Then drive to BGW, get the quick queue pass and enjoy the late afternoon and evening at this park.

 

About the KD-coasters:

 

Is this a realistic list of coasters to do? Best ones one top, and divided into batches:

 

Intimidator

Dominator

Avalanche (I just love bob coasters)

Back Lot Stunt

Flight Of Fear

Shockwave

Volcano

 

Hurler (looks like a lot of airtime?)

Anaconda

Grizzly

Ricochet

 

Rebel Yell

Scooby Doo

Taxi Jam

 

 

 

Just hope I'll have enough money for both parks, hehe!

[FeelTheFORCE]

^^^ I was just saying what I think. While both parks are great parks, and there's no doubt BGE is the better quality park, I'd still prefer KD for the quantity of coasters. Like I said, it all depends on preference, and whether the person prefers amusement parks or theme parks.

[cfc]

And don't forget Curse of DarKastle--KD doesn't have anything comparable to that.

 

I think Robb's suggestion is a good one. If you drive down from Great Adventure, you'll be passing by KD, anyway.

[technfxrick]

^ I really think the removal of BBW has nothing to do with it. You do realize that if BBW wasn't being removed no one in this thread would even mention it.

 

Everyone would be all "Griffon - Alpengeist - Apollo".... f**k yeah!!!

 

BBW would never even be mentioned.

 

Like I said, do KD in the morning - hit Intimidator, Dominator, and Volcano. Sweep up any other rides with little to no queues, then head over to BGW and get Quick Queues.

 

There really is no better option than this.

 

--Robb

 

Must've read over that quick queue system on the website.

It's only 15 USD, so that's a good deal!

 

I might do both parks as you suggest. Be at KD at opening and score some early rides and do the better coasters.

 

Then drive to BGW, get the quick queue pass and enjoy the late afternoon and evening at this park.

 

About the KD-coasters:

 

Is this a realistic list of coasters to do? Best ones one top, and divided into batches:

 

Intimidator

Dominator

Avalanche (I just love bob coasters)

Back Lot Stunt

Flight Of Fear

Shockwave

Volcano

 

Hurler (looks like a lot of airtime?)

Anaconda

Grizzly

Ricochet

 

Rebel Yell

Scooby Doo

Taxi Jam

 

 

 

Just hope I'll have enough money for both parks, hehe!

 

Bump up grizzly over Hurler, Hurler is just painful and grizzly got retracked this year so is actually running quite nicely. Same thing goes for volcano over shockwave, shockwave also not that great of a ride anymore.

 

KD is my home park and this is how i would do the park to make the most use of time.

 

Dominator

Volcano

Avalanche (usually opens later in the day)

FOF

Anaconda

BLSC

Shockwave

Grizzly

Rebel Yell

Riccochet

[redfoot12]

Robb's suggestion will probably work and at this point the coaster priority list is splitting hairs. My 5 must-rides at KD would be Intimidator, Volcano, Dominator, Flight of Fear, and Grizzly.

[netdvn]

1) In BGE I obviously wanna do Griffon, Alpengeist and Apollo's Chariot.

Which other rides in this park are worth it? And what kind of ride are they?

Will this park be able to keep me occupied the whole day? Cause from what I see, there are only 12 rides?

Aside from Loch Ness, the water rides, and DarKastle, there aren't many other unique rides that BGW has compared to KD.

 

2) At Kings Dominion, actually only Intimidator305 and Dominator look like a must-do. And maybe Shockwave and Volcano?

Which other rides in this park are worth it? And what kind of ride are they?

You've got Grizzly, Rebel Yell, Drop Zone, and Crypt. KD has more rides in general so if you go to KD for rides, you should spend a whole day there.

 

3) For my trip to Magic Mountain this year, I used coupons. Are there usually coupons available (online) for BGE or KD?

Both parks should have coupons both online and in fast food joints/supermarkest.

 

4) If you'd have to make a choice, which park would you pick?

Personally I would visit KD because BGW is my homepark and I've pretty much done it millions of times. However if you're more of a theming/atmosphere person I would suggest BGW. If you're a rides person, I would suggest KD.

 

5) Is it maybe possible to start the day at Kings Dominion and score the most important credits? And then head to Busch Gardens Europe at like 4 PM, to enter the park at 6 PM and be able to do the important rides in the evening? It's more expensive, but I don't really care about it that much.

It completely depends on the crowds. You might be able to hit up both parks in a single day if you're only riding coasters. I would suggest following Robb's advice if you're willing to do that.

[pkdcoaster]

If you are starting in VA (not coming from CP or SFgrtadv)

 

I would do BGE in the morning. For some reasons the crowds do not show up until noonish.

few weeks ago arriving at 10 we got 1 ride on grover, 6 rides on Apollo, 2 on BBW, 3 on Alp and 3 on Griffon before 1pm.

 

KD has a twilight reduced admission (I don't think BGE does) KD is also open later sun-thur in the summer season.

This would be my advice if you are really into getting the most thrill rides in for your buck. BGE first half of the day and KD in the evening. It is only a 1 hour drive between them.

 

Both have a few outstanding coasters. I would definitely hit both.

 

JEFF

[CreditCrazy]

^ That is good advice. If you follow that plan, you can ride what you want at BGW and know you rode what you wanted to. Once you're happy with your ride-count, head to KD. Maybe you'll have a great time at BGW and stay all day.

[Electerik]

You do realize that if BBW wasn't being removed no one in this thread would even mention it. Everyone would be all "Griffon - Alpengeist - Apollo".... f**k yeah!!! BBW would never even be mentioned.

 

While I totally understand what you're getting at here, I most certainly would mention it. In fact, I would rank BGW's coasters thusly:

 

Apollo's Chariot

Big Bad Wolf

Griffon

Alpengeist

Loch Ness Monster

 

But as disappointed in BBW's removal as I am, I would still choose Busch Gardens over King's Dominion.

 

Different people are into different things. But I spent 3.5 days at BGW last year and wasn't bored for a second of it.

[Homeboy23]

You've got Grizzly, Rebel Yell, Drop Zone, and Crypt. KD has more rides in general so if you go to KD for rides, you should spend a whole day there.

 

If done right you will only need a couple of hours there. Get there right at opening hit Intimidator first, then Volcano and FoF. After that everything else will be a walk on or near it.

[picknyourseat]

Unless you feel like you really, really, really need to ride Initimidator (sorry not going to use that lazy abbreviation) I would say spend a day at BGW and be sure to get Quick Queue tickets!

 

I think that Quick Queue is a life saver and an excellent value.

 

We went to BGW on a Saturday night and only had 4 hours and got on everything and even had time for a couple of re-rides

[The Bebes]

On the Bebes recent Theme Park Tour, only Dominator & Berserker were open when the park opened. Congo section didn't open til 11am and Avalanche didnt open til Noon. Frusterating. Since EVERYONE that is at the park when it opens is FORCED to choose Dominator, it is crowded to start the day, then becomes a very short wait/ walk on.

 

1. Volcano is good / unique. Also tends to keep a line when others don't, so I'd hit this first.

1b. Intimidator will be somewhere over here in this area and should be a top priority as well.

2. Anaconda, in my opinion, is one of the lamest Arrow looper I've ridden. If it's a walk-on, grab the credit, but I wouldn't wait for it.

3. BLSC is a clone, if you've ridden the one at KI, don't bother.

4. Avalance was quite fun with two people per car, but rickety with only one.

5. Flight of Fear (also a clone) is a nice idoor LSM spaghetti bowl and better than the one at KI. It is near Anaconda and also opens late and is hard to notice.

6. Rebel Yell is OK. Historic old woodie.

7. Riccochet is a standard Wild Mouse with bad capacity. Don't bother unless you can grab a walk-on

8. Hurler was also OK.

9. Grizzly is the best of the three woodies, but nothing special.

10. Shockwave - rather fun and different than other stand-ups, but can be jolting.

11. Dominator - a very good floorless. It is right near the entrance and yo can hit it on your way out, after the crowds have left it.

 

Don't bother with Scooby Doo and Taxi Jam unless you're whoring it up.

Get your a$$ to BGE and enjoy the rest of the day. Alpengeist, Apollo, and Griffon are all great. Lock Ness is neat, but not as great a ride as the others. DO NOT skip DarKastle!!! VERY cool dark ride.

 

Hope this helps!!!! You can learn more in our Theme Park Tours trip reports by following the link below.

 

-The Bebes

[All Clear]

If you want to ride as many coasters as possible, I would take Robb's advice and hit both parks. Last summer, on a weekday, I rode all of the coasters at KD (except Shockwave because I might want kids someday) by lunchtime. The addition of Intimidator will add some time, as well as how they are staggering the opening times of various rides. I haven't been this year, so I don't know how badly that wrecks a morning.

 

Either way, you could be on your way to Busch by mid afternoon, I would think. So why not stop off at Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Que for lunch? It's delicious.

 

If you just want a nice day at a park, go to Busch Gardens. You can enjoy a full day there even if you don't ride anything.

[snowboard83]

^ I really think the removal of BBW has nothing to do with it. You do realize that if BBW wasn't being removed no one in this thread would even mention it.

 

Everyone would be all "Griffon - Alpengeist - Apollo".... f**k yeah!!!

 

BBW would never even be mentioned.

 

Like I said, do KD in the morning - hit Intimidator, Dominator, and Volcano. Sweep up any other rides with little to no queues, then head over to BGW and get Quick Queues.

 

There really is no better option than this.

 

--Robb

 

While Robb is correct that even without the BBW BGE is the better park, it def will be a noticable hole in the parks collection. BBW's night rides were epic, and were similar to those of The Beast, although indeed shorter. I know many that would mention BBW, even if it weren't being removed. (NO offense Robb ) Its just that i have witnessed chanting in the BBW station "KEEP THE WOLF" to show how truly loved the ride is, and how important it is to the aura of the germany section of my home park.

 

-Alpengeist is incredible. Best in the park IMO.

-Big Bad Wolf had an incredible out of control feeling, rarely experienced on other rides, on a rare species of ride. May it R.I.P.

-I've never really "gotten" Apollo, it has some days that it runs better than others, especially very hot days. Cold days it can be SLOW.

-DarKastle is great.

-Griffon, is FUN, not incredibly intense, but smooth, fun, etc.

-Loch Ness...Interesting Arrow, no doubt, but is a great ride even if it is...awkward.

-Corkscrew Hill, avg simulator.

-Pompeii, GREAT, even with a few events that dont happen the way they should anymore (like the statue.)

-NOTE: BGE Flats need serious updating!

-BGE is very scenic as others have said, take time to take it in, the Skyride is one of a kind, and very cool. The train is similar.

 

-Great shops at BGE as well.

-Great Shows.

 

KD

 

-Grizzly, very good, but VERY rough/painful even with the work they did on it early this year. You may end up hating it...or loving it.

-Hurler, fair. It is like a woman her time of the month, it has its heavy (pain) days and its light (pain) days

-Shockwave...Painful fun. (noticing any pattern to KD's rides yet?)

-Rebel yell...kinda boring unless it is running fast, very little air...and yes, can bring some pain as well.

-Scooby Doo, fun junior coaster, very small train. 1 train op. Very long wait on busy days.

-Volcano, GREAT but short, and a disappointing ending

-Dominator, One of the best floorless coasters out there! Long (for a KD coaster) and fast.

-Anaconda, interestingly weird, not a great coaster at all but has its moments.

-Intimadator...hopefully great. WARNING will be short, hope the 1 min ride (including lift) is worth the 5 hr wait it will likely attract ! lol.

-Log Flume, sucks.

-Rapids ride, good.

-simulator, sucks.

-Flight of Fear (as Bebes said) better than KI's

 

-better flats collection than BGE, But still not that great.

-Large included waterpark.

 

If you decide to do both parks in one day, watch traffic. It can be horrible at times. Fri, sat, is not recommended going East down Interstate 64 toward Busch Gardens (tourist traffic), Sun is not recommended for West down 64 (tourists going home from beach, williamsburg). If you try to do both parks on the same day, you may spend a fair amount of time in traffic if you go on those days.

 

Hope this helps!

[iplf]

Seriously, everyone, thank you SO much!

 

I'll take everything into consideration and plan it out nicely. I will book my trip so that I'll only do the themeparks on Monday-Thursday, which already should be an advantage.

 

But once again, thank you!

 

In the future you'll prolly see a couple of other threads from me, asking for help.

I hope the response will be as good as this one!

 

If anyone needs any information about Belgian themeparks, just let me know!