Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[michaellynn4]

I know it's old news at this point, but I still love how the supports are painted to look like bamboo rather than some generic solid color. Really helps the aesthetics.

[Superbatboy]

Looks to be the smaller model Adventureland got.

[thrillseeker4552]

The presentation is very nice! This will be the best looking (and best themed) Free Spin for sure!

I will admit I am a little surprised they went with the small model (which is even *lower* capacity than the Six Flags ones, I think it can only run two or three cars), but it is exciting that the park is adding anything at all after being closed for essentially a year. Good for them.

[Satans Hockey]

The theme is great and I like these rides as long as the line isn't ridiculous. It looks like this ride is in the spot of the crypt so there's still all that space where volcano was. Really curious to see what they eventually end up doing with that. 

[CP_RULES]

I am trying to say something good, but I am so tired of seeing these rides get built. It might as well be a boomerang in my opinion, that actually is slightly more thrilling at least! I am one of the crazy people who liked Green Lantern at SFMM, but that is because it could actually be intense! Good to see investment, sad to see it is another lame free spin. I'd call this one a gut punch, KD deserves better.

[bert425]

depending on how they set it?  it MIGHT be a massively fun spinner. . .   Arashi at Nagashima Spaland blew me away, so it's possible that these ride types can be a LOT of fun.

[RideThroughTime]

I love the name and logo. Very clever and works on several levels. Looking forward to seeing the final theming package for the area.

[thrillseeker4552]

It is also exciting to see Cedar Fair work with S&S. I believe the last time was the Screamin' Swings at CP and VF back in the mid-2000s? Someone correct me if they're worked with them recently.

A Six Flags park is adding a B&M Dive Coaster, and a Cedar Fair park is adding a Free Spin. The world really has turned backwards...

[AmyUD06]

I consider KD my home park (despite SFGAdv, SFA, Dorney, and Hersey being shorter drives away from home), so new stuff is always good.

Honestly, though we've all known about this for over a year, and it's not the rumored B&M wing in Volcano's spot,  I'm glad something is replacing Crypt (and it's somewhat of a nice spiritual successor since both rides are about one thing: flips).  I never rode Crypt (nor do I do any other Top Spins), and probably won't ride this (except maybe to get the credit) - I tried Joker at SFGAdv and determined that these free-spin coasters are not for me, so it's a net neutral in terms of ride counts.  And being the new thing, it'll draw some crowds away from other rides, more and more of which are being removed from Fast Lane (looking at you, Flight of Fear), but it will likely draw more to Avalanche, which is already a capacity nightmare and my number 3 ride at this park, so again...net neutral.

Now just keep the park open past 8 PM next year LOL.

[CP_RULES]

1 hour ago, Mike240SX said:

I consider KD my home park

 I never rode Crypt (nor do I do any other Top Spins), and probably won't ride this

Summarized that for you 

[Lotologist492]

Free Spins are actually a lot of fun.  I have ridden four copies of them at SF parks and theming will really make a difference. 

After having visited KI for the first time a few weeks ago, I plan on visiting this park next summer.  

[KarlaKoaster]

I think they're fun although I agree they're at the risk of saturating the market but it's easy to see why.

I'm actually surprised we haven't seen an out-and-back style version of these (or the Intamin Zacspin), you know, quite a bit taller, goes out one direction, then back in the other with smaller camelbacks arranged under the first (sort of like an Ultra Twister footprint, but longer). I feel this would be a more complete experience, could have plenty of cars running, still have a small footprint and not require any turns.

(PS, with the bamboo supports, does Tumbili count as a hybrid coaster )

[AmyUD06]

9 hours ago, CP_RULES said:

Summarized that for you 

*shrug*  My body doesn't agree with repeated flipping.  Can't help that.

[rachelmadcow]

IKYFL

 

do they even have bamboo in africa?

[Garet]

You'd be surprised how many countries can potentially grow bamboo. I think Ethiopia especially grows a lot of it.

 

I love the idea of bamboo themed supports. Reminds me of travelling and seeing all the builders trust their lives to it in Hong Kong.

[prozach626]

On 8/12/2021 at 1:43 PM, CP_RULES said:

I am trying to say something good, but I am so tired of seeing these rides get built. It might as well be a boomerang in my opinion, 

I'm late to the game, but you might be right about this being the modern day boomerang... I don't have a problem with this addition, but I bet people aren't complaining about a wing ridger now.

[DoinItForTheFame]

While I don’t love the addition…. I also don’t hate the addition. I usually enjoy the free spins that I’ve been on. However, I’m surprised they went with the smaller model. 
 

I feel like we all know this isn’t a volcano replacement. It seems like a small addition to hold people over while the park recovers from the loss of revenue after being closed for basically an entire season. Once they recover I bet we will see a large addition to replace volcano!  

[CoasterNerd87]

Got a nice surprise at KD yesterday. They had Windseeker, Apple Zapple, Racer75, and Twisted Timbers open!

[jconsolmagno]

On 8/11/2021 at 10:38 PM, jconsolmagno said:

 

LINK REMOVED

We'll have a report from the official media event later. Please do not post any links to "leaked" information. Thank you,

cfc

Moderator

Was it any different than what I posted? Don't think so! This forum exists as a discussion, not a PR mouthpiece of the park.

[AmyUD06]

5 minutes ago, jconsolmagno said:

Was it any different than what I posted? Don't think so! This forum exists as a discussion, not a PR mouthpiece of the park.

Yeah, and parks often hook up Robb/Elissa/other TPR members with special events.  They're (we're all, really) trying to stay on the good side of park management, so those things continue.  So, don't post leaks, because it tends to annoy park management when their message isn't the one getting out first.  Don't like it?  There's plenty of other park/coaster forums out there at which you might be more welcome.

[jconsolmagno]

1 hour ago, Mike240SX said:

Yeah, and parks often hook up Robb/Elissa/other TPR members with special events.  They're (we're all, really) trying to stay on the good side of park management, so those things continue.  So, don't post leaks, because it tends to annoy park management when their message isn't the one getting out first.  Don't like it?  There's plenty of other park/coaster forums out there at which you might be more welcome.

Mr. Obvious here.

[AmyUD06]

Photo TR:  A quick stop on Monday, September 6th

So, on my way back from SFoG by way of Carowinds, my route took me right by Kings Dominion, and I figured I owed it to the park to stop in for the first time in 2021.  After all, I hadn't been on my #2 steel and #2 hybrid since 2019!

I got to the park a little after noon with a 11:00 opening, and the lot was already pretty decently packed.  Made my way through the front gate and saw a huge line at the redemption center, so ducked into a store to grab my FL wristband, and then made my way over towards the Safari Village construction to check on the progress of Tiki Twirl (yes, I will continue to call it that.  Sue me.).

But first, I definitely forgot how much better shaded this park's International Street area is compared to Kings Island's.

And Woodstock Express got some new paint.

As for Tiki Twirl, has there been any actual construction Progress?

No.  I see you hiding back there, my #3 at this park.  Stay rested.

What they have done though is decorate most of the walls blocking off access to that area of the park.

Hopped on I305, one train wait for row 14.  Still awesome.  Grabbed another shot of poor, sad Avalanche, only made possible by the sadder removal of Volcano....

And continued down Candy Apple Grove, hoping dearly to finally get some delicious mac & cheese from what is possibly my second favorite theme park restaurant ever...

...but it was not to be.

Oh well indeed.  Had to settle for some Auntie Anne's pretzels, and then took a lap around the water park to grab some images of the new for 2021 stuff:

First off, the permanent food truck circle (only two were open, the bar and pizza):

Next, the kiddie-sized wave pool:

And finally, the new splash-play area, which is honestly probably the biggest one of these I've ever seen:

Made my way back to Twisted Timbers, and found that yes, they have in fact kept running the stupid double-sided locker system like at Steel Vengeance, which merges the Fast Lane and standby queue before them and does not re-separate them.  If all of the queue in the station would be used (it wasn't this day), that means that even FL holders get a 30+ minute wait.  Not cool, Cedar Fair, not cool.  Its not like I didn't just ride another RMC two days ago with zero procedures for loose articles haha.  Due to limited crowds, I did get on the back row with only a one train wait, but I blame that more on the lack of a grouper in the station leading to everyone lining up for the front row and the rows right in the middle.  Still, an incredible, awesome ride.

Oh, and why does a restaurant called "Grain & Grill International Cuisine" serve exclusively Chinese food?

After that, eager to get home, I hit the road for the rest of the drive back to Delaware.  And that about wraps up my Labor Day Weekend trip, and actually catches me completely up on pending trip reports from this year.

Next up is Cedar Point for my first ever Halloweekends experience, September 17 and 18.

[bill_s]

15 hours ago, Mike240SX said:

Oh, and why does a restaurant called "Grain & Grill International Cuisine" serve exclusively Chinese food?

Has anyone told the Naan bread, hummus, Au Gratin potatoes, apple salad with feta cheese, or steak with Chimichurri sauce?   They do have Hoisin pork, but their rice is basmati, maybe they eat that somewhere in China, they do go together wonderfully. 

While I miss Panda Express, the G&G is turning out to be about as good a always-open restaurant, except a bit slower due to the options.

[AmyUD06]

18 minutes ago, bill_s said:

Has anyone told the Naan bread, hummus, Au Gratin potatoes, apple salad with feta cheese, or steak with Chimichurri sauce?   They do have Hoisin pork, but their rice is basmati, maybe they eat that somewhere in China, they do go together wonderfully. 

While I miss Panda Express, the G&G is turning out to be about as good a always-open restaurant, except a bit slower due to the options.

My mistake.  I glanced at the menu and didn't really recognize anything, then when stepped in detected the distinct aroma that Chinese food has, so made a premature assumption.

[cfc]

 

Haunt Has Risen from the Grave
As you can tell from the Evil Boogie Boogie Eyes atop the Eiffel Tower, Haunt has begun at Kings Dominion. Yes, the annual Doswell scare fest is back with a new outdoor maze (and four returning indoor mazes), scare zones old and new, and a lot of techno-dancing and heavy-metal head-banging music--along with the usual assortment of evil clowns, zombies, witches, and other children of the night. 

It’s great to see Haunt back after its COVID hiatus. The event doesn’t seem quite as big as in past years, with fewer mazes and scare zones, but KD did a very good job with what it had.  I think they were wise to stick with the stronger mazes from previous years.

Theme Park Review was invited to be a victim, er, guest at an RIP Party on Friday, October 1, with plenty of good food and drink and a complimentary Fright Lane pass for all the mazes. The latter came in pretty handy, as the lines got a bit long as the shadows of darkness lengthened (the park was open from 7:00 pm-midnight).

So, how do the mazes stack up?

Grimm Woods (next to Grizzly)--This new maze gives us a decidedly non-Disney version of the old standards in which evil comes out triumphant. The twisted takes on fairly tales include Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, and Hansel and Gretel. This one starts out slow as a long walk through the woods but finishes pretty strong. The old Dinosaurs Alive path is ideal for a Haunt maze, and I’m glad they’re using it--lots of spooky lighting and sound effects here.

Blood on the Bayou (behind Windseeker)--This voodoo cannibal maze has excellent sets and a dark, confusing layout (which the scare actors use well). 

Trick or Treat (next to Drop Tower)--Another oldie but goodie, evil witches have made unsuspecting trick-or-treating kids into their minions. I think this maze, and Bayou, were originally featured at Knott’s Scary Farm a few years ago. They worked in California, so why not in Virginia?

Condemned (Action Theater)--A haunted hotel provides the scares in this one. Not sure you’d want to book your next vacation here, though, as the staff seems a bit, well, “off.” It’s a decent maze with pretty elaborate sets.

Corn Stalkers (International Street)--This is the oldest maze of the bunch, and even though it’s a bit long in the tooth, it’s still fun. Watch out for the bungee guy!

I dare you to look at these photos from KD’s Haunt!

“Hey, Ma! Load up the kids in the Death Wagon! We’re goin’ to Doswell, Virginny for Haunt.”

 

This Jack O'Lantern told me that KD has been doing Haunt for 20 years. I see no reason to doubt him, but . . . why was he talking to me? Get out of my head!

First things first--dinner and drinks. This is also the site of the Masquerade scare zone.

The park out a great spread of all sorts of food. I went for the beef, of course.

The Redrum IPA comes directly from the Center of the Universe, which is conveniently located in Ashland, Virginia. Those aliens make good beer.

Great cookies for dessert, too. I had a shortbread ghost and a gingerbread witch’s house, but these masks looked good.

Haunt kicks off with Blood Reign, a show where Queen Majesty (easy name to remember, I guess) welcomes guests to her “Bloody Ball.”

This is where all the classy monsters hang out.

“Oh, very well, peasant. You may take our picture--but it will cost you your liver.”

As I cross the bridge into Old Virginia, I am filled with foreboding. I don’t understand why.

I reserved a room via the hotel website, but they never sent me a confirmation.

Perhaps that’s just as well.

If you’re looking for sliders and stilt-walking scarecrows, Pumpkin Eater is the scare zone for you.

There’s old Peter Pumpkin Eater himself.  His biggest fear is being made into a lousy pumpkin-spice ale by a mass-market brewery. 

“No need to be so hasty,/'Cause you’re lookin’ might tasty,/So I’m gonna eat your brain.”

These post-apocalyptic dancers raised quite a ruckus, so that’s what they named the show The Ruckus. I guess.

This is the front of the Trick or Treat house. But it’s used as the exit, as the main entrance is on the left side of the building. Don’t ask me why.

You can’t have any sort of haunted event without an evil circus. I think this is in the Constitution.

This circus has a fortune teller and a Subway. Classy, eh?

“I’ll have a turkey sub on whole wheat . . .”
“I’m not the Subway clerk, sir. besides, all Subway sandwiches taste the same no matter what they’re made of.”

“Yeah, you and I got the opposite problem. All the guys are too short for me.”

Burnette the Barker and his Band of Homeless Guys. Buy him a $15 cocktail, and he might end up in the backseat of your car.

Welcome to Uprising . . .

 . . . where the zombies are revolting!

“You can say that again.”

Join the Zombie Uprising! They promise all the brains you can eat!

Snoopy and the Great Pumpkin team up to quell the Zombie Uprising.

“Yes-s-s-s, kiddies, join us during the day for family-friendly fun! We have music and candy and brains and spleens . . .”

“Country roads . . . take me home.”

It’s always good to see the ol’ homestead again. Why, I can smell Grandma’s soup a-simmerin’ on the stove. Yessir, Grandpa should be mighty tasty tonight.

Grimm Woods is the anti-attraction in which you enter through the gift shop, which is closed, as is Grizzly. I'm sorry Grizzly fans (I imagine there are a couple).

Blood on the Bayou’s façade looks a wee bit like a redressing of the old Zombie High School entrance. 

Welcome to the Post-Apocalyptic Cemetery of Haunts Past.

The steampunks have joined the Borg, and the Zombie High students graduated by eating everybody else. 

Time to head out. At least that's what this guy told me . . . or did he? It's all a blur.

All in all, a fun evening. Thanks for inviting TPR, Kings Dominion! Happy Haunting!