Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[bert425]

https://www.kingsdominion.com/fast-lane-passes

 

get Fast Lane +   

end of March on a Sunday, it's only $65

you probably wont' need it for I305 (it scares folks and never seems to have a line), but you WILL need it for Twisted Timbers.

(and it gives you all the FL rides too. . so that's gonna be your best bet to ride more than just a couple of things in 3  1/2 hours)

[boldikus]

I think on a Sunday in March it will be pretty easy to get the majors done without fast lane in 3 hours. Just head right back to Twisted Timbers and wait however long you have to and then the rest shouldn't be a problem. Maybe hit Backlot next since the line moves slowly. As Bert said I305 doesn't really get long lines except maybe during Haunt, Dominator tends to get lines earlier in the day as its the first coaster anyone passes after entering but after morning rush it dies down. Everything else should be easy - Racer 75 never gets lines and no one can even find Grizzly, and why would you even entertain the idea of riding Anaconda? I honestly would bet that Timbers doesn't even have a long wait on a Sunday afternoon, unless of course its just a freakishly gorgeous day or something.

[coasterbill]

Yup.

This park is really good at being an absolute ghost town in March. Be prepared to by Fastlane but it's available at every shop and not going to sell out so there's literally no reason to buy in advance anyway. Just go and see. If the Timbers line is beyond the merge point, buy Fastlane.

[bert425]

for $65 it's  a no brainer for me. . I'd get FL+

 

[boldikus]

^ If you like wasting money for no reason... sure.

If he was going on Saturday or even all day Sunday it would make sense to me but we've been there on Sundays and its always a ghost town. That early in the season? It definitely will be unless its just a freakishly perfect day weather-wise. But if he is there for three hours and nothing has a wait except for Timbers spending $65 just to skip that line seems pointless.

[bert425]

^ LOL.. I just dropped a lot  of $$ on FL+ for Kings Island during Coasterstock - where we're gonna get a lot of ERT anyways.

I look at it as $65 is not a lot of money for a perk that can guarantee you little wait.  And s/he's never been to the park before. . so better to pay the smallish amount and guarantee a good time.

but I also agree with Bill that it can be purchased in the park at any point if they get there and it looks busy

[AmyUD06]

I thoroughly agree with @bert425here.  Even if you don't need it, or only need it for one ride, parks are always better experiences where you don't have to worry about lines at all.

FL definitely helps on Twisted Timbers, Flight of Fear, Backlot, and Dominator, can help a little at i305, but the most understated use of FL at this park is Avalanche/Reptilian.  With only loading a max of 14 riders per train (often less), this has easily the worst throughput at the park, and any help there is massively needed.

[coasterbill]

I don't think anyone in this conversation disagrees with getting Fastlane. Let me be clear: Yay Fastlane. We love Fastlane. Fastlane at this park is great.

We all think you should be ready to buy it, Boldy and I have just gone to this park a lot in March and know that there's at least a 50% chance that the park will be so dead that every single ride will be a walk-on AND there's no benefit whatsoever to buying it before you get there at Kings Dominion. Actually it's better to buy it at the park anyway since you don't pay a processing fee and you get the added benefit of checking to see if anything is actually beyond the merge points before you buy it.

It's not likes he's going in October. It's late March. If it's 44 degrees and cloudy there will be six people in the park. If it’s 70 and sunny, sure… buy it when you get to the park.

The park agrees with us that it might be a ghost town that day which is why Fastlane starts at $65 and it’s selling for the absolute bare minimum price for all of March.

This is an argument between a bunch of people who agree with eachother. Lol

[boldikus]

3 hours ago, Mike240SX said:

I thoroughly agree with @bert425here.  Even if you don't need it, or only need it for one ride, parks are always better experiences where you don't have to worry about lines at all.

So you'll splurge on fast pass when you absolutely wouldn't even need it but you're too cheap to pay for unlimited data?

Priorities, kids.

[AmyUD06]

47 minutes ago, boldikus said:

So you'll splurge on fast pass when you absolutely wouldn't even need it but you're too cheap to pay for unlimited data?

Priorities, kids.

I never said that I didn't have unlimited data.  I absolutely do.  But thanks for trying.

[boldikus]

Oh you were just whining just to whine then. That checks out.

[AmyUD06]

No, I was just "whining" to provide some perspective.  Not everyone who goes to parks:

-Has a smartphone (we have at least one member here on this forum who doesn't, and it's not always for financial reasons).
-Has an unlimited data plan.
-Has a brand new phone with a battery that can last a full day/wants to carry around a charger.
-Chooses to bring their phone with them in the park (especially a park like SFGAdv with their stupid locker policies on the most major rides).

I have no problem with them offering Flash Pass through the mobile app/web.  For some people, it's great.  And the more people who use it, the less people waiting in the line to pick up the Flash Pass device.

For others, the watch is much more convenient, if not their only option.

Choices.

That's all I was saying; they should offer choices.

There's no need to attack me on a completely separate thread for having an opinion that slightly differs from yours.

 

[CoasterNerd87]

Definitely make your list of must rides for the park, and start at Twisted. The park is absolutely hit and miss in the early season. Is it crowded or empty? Are they only running one train? Is staffing low? What is the weather (this time of year it's common to have all four seasons withing 48 hours).

After Twisted, I would plan for Tumbili (if it's on your list) or either Flight of Fear and I305. If you plan on entering Dominator's line at least 15 minutes before close, you should be able to get in. I would only plan on buying FL+ if the park is busy, or you don't want to give up time to stop what you're doing to go get one. Check the app as soon as you get there to see what their wait times are. Should give you a good enough idea if you need one when you walk in.

[Hilltopper39]

I've never even been to KD but last year on our trip to Carowinds I watched the Fast Lane prices from the day the calendar came and about a few weeks before our trip and they changed pricing for several days for the rest of the season. For that day (a Saturday) at CW it went from like $80 to I think around $110 to $120? I'm not saying that will happen with KD, and $40 doesn't exactly break the bank or anything, but for $65 I'd go ahead and lock it in.

[TheFurious325]

2 hours ago, Hilltopper39 said:

I've never even been to KD but last year on our trip to Carowinds I watched the Fast Lane prices from the day the calendar came and about a few weeks before our trip and they changed pricing for several days for the rest of the season. For that day (a Saturday) at CW it went from like $80 to I think around $110 to $120? I'm not saying that will happen with KD, and $40 doesn't exactly break the bank or anything, but for $65 I'd go ahead and lock it in.

KD is my home park, and the only two times I've seen long lines were an October Saturday and the Saturday before Easter. The park is generally pretty quiet, but if you wanna maximize rides $65 for a fast line won't really be a regret.

[PKI Jizzman]

Headed there Friday of Easter weekend! Yeah not buying FL until I get there if needed. I really only want to ride flume, TT, i305, Drop Zone.

 

Sorry Apple Zapple.

[bert425]

5 minutes ago, PKI Jizzman said:

Headed there Friday of Easter weekend! Yeah not buying FL until I get there if needed. I really only want to ride flume, TT, i305, Drop Zone.

 

Sorry Apple Zapple.

HAHAHA. . I actually like how they run Apple Zapple. . .despite the silly name, it's one of the few Wild Mouse I bother to ride

[TheFurious325]

It used to be Ricochet until they themed the area to Hanover Hills Orchard, so I guess Apple Zapple is the best they could come up with XD. I do enjoy the ride, though. One of the smoother Wild Mouse out there.

[bill_s]

Kd is relatively great park for crowds, but there still can be substantial lines at times. I've never gotten FL in hundreds of visits, but there are definitely rides I just skip some days. Last year, FoF was crazy. That and Reptilian will be the ones to rope drop. Also, ride Dominator before official opening or wait until much later. 

[boldikus]

Welp, today was opening day. Tumbili operated for about 20 minutes before it closed for weather, followed by the park @ 1pm. For those of you who find the free-spins to be too intense, rest assured KD put trims on both drops. No, I'm not joking. Video is floating around if you do some searching.

[swfan1988]

Lol,  At least the theming looks better than Pantheon's...where's the "Corporate hates our park" crowd when you need 'em...

 

[Lightning Rod]

I’m going to Kings Dominion weekend in April 8-9. Friday and Saturday I was also wondering about fast lane plus. How are the crowds on weekends in April and can you get by without fast lane plus? Also can you wear Fanny packs and put your cell phones in a Fanny pack around your waist going through the medal detector or can you carry your cell phone and put it in your cargo pants? Will they allow that on Twisted Timbers or do you have to use locker free? Is Twisted Timbers the only ride there were you required to use locker for cell phones? I’m also going to Busch Gardens Williamsburg on Monday Tuesday. 

[thrillseeker4552]

1 hour ago, boldikus said:

Welp, today was opening day. Tumbili operated for about 20 minutes before it closed for weather, followed by the park @ 1pm. For those of you who find the free-spins to be too intense, rest assured KD put trims on both drops. No, I'm not joking. Video is floating around if you do some searching.

I mean, to be fair, all Free Spins have trims in those locations.

The ride was also running in freezing temperatures and empty in some cases. I don't think it will be quite as slow under normal conditions versus what we're seeing now.

[CoasterNerd87]

7 hours ago, Lightning Rod said:

I’m going to Kings Dominion weekend in April 8-9. Friday and Saturday I was also wondering about fast lane plus. How are the crowds on weekends in April and can you get by without fast lane plus? Also can you wear Fanny packs and put your cell phones in a Fanny pack around your waist going through the medal detector or can you carry your cell phone and put it in your cargo pants? Will they allow that on Twisted Timbers or do you have to use locker free? Is Twisted Timbers the only ride there were you required to use locker for cell phones? I’m also going to Busch Gardens Williamsburg on Monday Tuesday. 

They don't allow fanny packs on their coasters. Absolutely no cell phones allowed on Twisted, and here you do get a small free locker (big enough for your phone, keys, and wallet). 305 and Flight of Fear do not have a place in the station for loose articles.

The week you are planning on going is Spring Break in VA. Expect it to be crowded, more so on Saturday. Considering you will be going two days, you'll be able to ride everything without FL. If you want to ride everything multiple times,you'll want to get FL+.

[boldikus]

9 hours ago, thrillseeker4552 said:

I mean, to be fair, all Free Spins have trims in those locations.

The ride was also running in freezing temperatures and empty in some cases. I don't think it will be quite as slow under normal conditions versus what we're seeing now.

Today I learned all free spins have trims in those locations.