Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[braztaz]

Crazy, crazy children, an opinion can't be a false statement. BGW and KD are equal distances away from me and I chose to get a season pass to KD because in my opinion, I think it's the better park.

[eddie200330]

Quite honestly I prefer KD's lineup to BGW. At least KD has wood. Dominator is awesome, Shockwave is classic, and call me crazy, but Grizzly kicks ass!

[braztaz]

KD's got i305, which beats any coaster at Busch Gardens. Dominator, Volcano, Flight of Fear are all extremely fun rides while Grizzly and Rebel Yell are classic woodies. Anaconda is like Nessie (a little rougher) and then KD has coasters like Shockwave and Hurler which aren't all that great, but are still worth a shot since the lines usually aren't long.

 

Sure Busch Gardens is the world's most beautiful park, and I love that place, but I easily choose a season pass to KD over Busch.

 

Unlike you, B-RadG, I'm not saying anyone's personal opinion is wrong. I'm just saying what I think as I've been going to these parks for years.

[Skycoastin Steve]

Well, what KD doesn't have in theming it makes up for coasters. I prefer KD over BGW too.

There's a lot more to a park than theming and/or roller coasters. BG has 305 over KD, and that's where it stops.

[coasterfreak101]

^Other way around.

 

I'd easily choose KD over BG. Honestly, I get bored at the latter. And I'd rather ride I305 over anything at BG, and Volcano and Dominator are, to me, fantastic supporting rides to that. Add in Grizzly and even Rebel Yell, and it's a solid lineup.

 

HOWEVER. I CAN EASILY SEE WHY BUSCH GARDENS WOULD BE SOMEONE'S PREFERRED PARK, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. This has been capitalized so that nobody jumps on me for attacking someone with my own opinion. Because that's all it is, an opinion.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

Wow...sometimes I wish they hadn't drained the lake and found somewhere else to put a waterpark. It looks so nice!

 

I agree,they could've put the waterpark on the southside of rebel yell & left the lakeshore alone but alas that's not how things turned out.

[greenspandan]

obviously which park is "better" is totally a matter of opinion. so here's mine:

 

- KD has the greatest and most intense coaster on the planet.

- BGW has 3 phenomenal world-class coasters.

- KD has so many coasters that it's actually a challenge to ride them all in one day, and each one offers something fun and unique.

- BGW is almost inarguably a more beautiful place.

 

it'd be tough for me to choose between the two. either place is a guaranteed awesome time!

[dragonskeep]

Luckily I have no opinion, as I have visited neither park. Therefore my opinion is better than all of yours because I and only I am impartial. I would make a point to hit up both parks and enjoy them equally so my opinion couldn't be stupid. But BG is clearly the better all around park and not as good as it's sister park in Tampa.

[PhantomNick]

Well, we went to BG last summer and fell in love with the place, quite honestly. That park is gorgeous and full of a great assortment of things to do, including some top notch coasters!

 

That said, Kings Dominion in its own right looks great too, as it definitely has a wider assortment of rides and coasters to offer. And we all know Intimidator 305 has firmly put them on the map.

 

All I know is I should be able to find out for myself which park I like better when we head to KD sometime this summer. I am excited beyond belief to get some rides on I305 and see how it stacks up for me.

[cfc]

Come on, all of you. Everyone knows that Go Karts Plus is the greatest park in Virginia!

[Skycoastin Steve]

Just got back from the park. Treated myself to 35 laps on 305 today, didn't do anything else. The last two rides were in freezing cold rain, and I gotta say, while it hurt, it was magnificent!

[palmerleeberry]

from coasterfreak101:

So I was just Google-Imaging for a 30-day roller coaster challenge I'm doing, and I came across some old photos of Rebel Yell (today is "what was your first roller coaster?"). I'm actually blown away at how big Lake Charles used to be - I never realized how much they took away to expand the waterpark. When did that happen? It must've been after King Kobra and before Anaconda, right?

 

In 1990, construction began on the Anaconda and halted as the 1990 season was underway, thus giving its visitors a first-hand glimpse of the upcoming coaster that was being built over Lake Charles. After the season was over, construction resumed.

 

In 1991, as visitors flocked to the park to ride the brand new Anaconda, they also saw half of Lake Charles gone as construction was underway to build Typhoon Lagoon, Kings Dominion's premier water park.

 

In 1992, Typhoon Lagoon opens to the public. The expansion (and name change) would occur years later.

 

I hope that help answers your questions (I should know; I was there when it happened).

 

As for parks removing their lakes to secure more space, Kings Dominion isn't the only one to have done that (does anyone remember the lake at Kings Island that was shrunk down so they could add the Diamondback? Or how about the island and surrounding water at Carowinds where Nighthawk stands today?), but it was the first park to have done so. It's a pity that the Lake Charles is no more; I miss watching the water skiing shows.

 

"And I miss you in bed. Come on and make me happy!"

[KDCOASTERFAN]

from coasterfreak101:

So I was just Google-Imaging for a 30-day roller coaster challenge I'm doing, and I came across some old photos of Rebel Yell (today is "what was your first roller coaster?"). I'm actually blown away at how big Lake Charles used to be - I never realized how much they took away to expand the waterpark. When did that happen? It must've been after King Kobra and before Anaconda, right?

 

In 1990, construction began on the Anaconda and halted as the 1990 season was underway, thus giving its visitors a first-hand glimpse of the upcoming coaster that was being built over Lake Charles. After the season was over, construction resumed.

 

In 1991, as visitors flocked to the park to ride the brand new Anaconda, they also saw half of Lake Charles gone as construction was underway to build Typhoon Lagoon, Kings Dominion's premier water park.

 

In 1992, Typhoon Lagoon opens to the public. The expansion (and name change) would occur years later.

 

I hope that help answers your questions (I should know; I was there when it happened).

 

As for parks removing their lakes to secure more space, Kings Dominion isn't the only one to have done that (does anyone remember the lake at Kings Island that was shrunk down so they could add the Diamondback? Or how about the island and surrounding water at Carowinds where Nighthawk stands today?), but it was the first park to have done so. It's a pity that the Lake Charles is no more; I miss watching the water skiing shows.

 

"And I miss you in bed. Come on and make me happy!"

 

 

Actually the waterpark first opened as Hurricane Reef in 92,not typhoon lagoon.

[Geauga Dog]

Two things...

 

What hurts BG more are the neighbors. Everything has to be approved. KD doesn't seem to have this issue.

 

Where BG excels at is theming their rides into their respective areas. At KD it's just plop the ride wherever we can fit it. Nothing says Congo like I-305 or Flight of Fear.

[braztaz]

Just got back from the park. Weather called for thunderstorms all day so that kept the crowds away. And it turned out it was sunny all day, but started storming at about 6:30 which is when basically everyone decided to leave.

 

Intimidator305 x12

Volcano x2

Drop Tower x2

BUMPER CARS x2

Dominator x1

Rebel Yell x1

Ricochet x1

Backlot Stunt Coaster x1

 

Barely any lines all day. None of the switchbacks were used on Volcano, or any other ride really. i305 was a walk on, none of the rides suffered downtime, basically a perfect day.

 

Oh, and my blackouts on i305 were INSANELY strong. And I was eating the whole day, too. The worst was when I didn't get my vision back until right after the bottom of the second hill. My three friends agreed, too, so it's not just my body being weird...

[Skycoastin Steve]

^Last weekend, I was almost completely blacking out in the back of the silver train. I'm not sure why it was just the silver train, although it might have had something to do with the pretty heavy vibrations going on in the back of that train. It was to the point where I had tunnel vision and about 90% of my vision was blurred, and my entire body was tingling (very similar to when a body part falls asleep, but my entire body did that). It was freaky as hell, but I enjoyed it!

[Gerstlauer1]

Wow, greyouts...

 

I have had those too many times!

Both on Piraten, (Intamin Mega Lite)

And Vertigo, a flat ride at Tivoli Gardens.

 

I don't like it, i really don't like it. And in my opinion this should not be relevant on a good coaster...

[KDCOASTERFAN]

^Last weekend, I was almost completely blacking out in the back of the silver train. I'm not sure why it was just the silver train, although it might have had something to do with the pretty heavy vibrations going on in the back of that train. It was to the point where I had tunnel vision and about 90% of my vision was blurred, and my entire body was tingling (very similar to when a body part falls asleep, but my entire body did that). It was freaky as hell, but I enjoyed it!

 

Had the same problem when I rode in the back during my last visit so I think I'll stick to the front or middle for the time being.Was gonna go on saturday but something's come up so looks like I'll have to wait a week....at least grizzly should be up & running by then.

[coasterfreak101]

Yeah, one train is vibrating quite a bit more than the other one.

 

How's the clanging noise coming out of the station? When I was there a month ago, neither train was making it for the first time in forever!

[Skycoastin Steve]

^Silver train still does it about every other cycle, and I think I might have heard it happen to the red train once or twice.

[braztaz]

I love greying out, and I think my more intense rides were on the silver train which did have a bit of a rattle, but it wasn't too noticeable.

 

And I have to say, going over the second hill while still not being able to see was a weird thing to experience! Today was the first time I had to take a break from the ride solely because I was worn out from it.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

I love greying out, and I think my more intense rides were on the silver train which did have a bit of a rattle, but it wasn't too noticeable.

 

And I have to say, going over the second hill while still not being able to see was a weird thing to experience! Today was the first time I had to take a break from the ride solely because I was worn out from it.

 

For some reason I can't shake the feeling that we'll be looking at yet another reprofiling in an effort to keep the G's under control as well as to reduce wheel wear during the 2011/2012 offseason.

[dragonskeep]

^Last weekend, I was almost completely blacking out in the back of the silver train. I'm not sure why it was just the silver train, although it might have had something to do with the pretty heavy vibrations going on in the back of that train. It was to the point where I had tunnel vision and about 90% of my vision was blurred, and my entire body was tingling (very similar to when a body part falls asleep, but my entire body did that). It was freaky as hell, but I enjoyed it!

 

I think this would officially freak me out. I guess the ride is still very intense then.

[Fooz]

I've tried a couple of things to help the grey-outs, and food doesn't seem to help. Drinking lots of water (especially when it is hot out!) helps a LOT! I never lost all of my vision when i was fully hydrated. I'm no doctor though...

[braztaz]

I used to flex my stomach and it wouldn't be as bad.I haven't tried it recently, though.