Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[cfc]

I'm not happy about the decision to add fastlane to the park one bit as this will make waits for the already busy rides even worse.

 

I'm taking a wait-and-see attitude on this, as it depends on which rides have Fast Lane and how the park handles it. Hell, the afternoon lines for Volcano couldn't possibly get any worse.

[coasterfreak101]

I just don't even want to think about the line for Volcano if I have to wait for the Fast Lane people to go ahead of me. And that on top of what's already a miserable line.

[Schotcher]

Sorry, I can't find anything confirming this on the thread, but is Fast Lane confirmed for 2012?

[cfc]

I don't think there is any confirmation yet, but it seems likely. They tried out a version of "Fast Lane" for Haunt mazes last year.

 

I just don't even want to think about the line for Volcano if I have to wait for the Fast Lane people to go ahead of me. And that on top of what's already a miserable line.

 

Hence the rule of always riding Volcano first thing in the morning.

Edited January 21, 2012 by cfc

[triggernel]

Sorry, I can't find anything confirming this on the thread, but is Fast Lane confirmed for 2012?

 

During the last press conference, in the presentation materials they listed Fast Lane as coming to all parks.

Who knows if they mean this year.

[Ed Farmer]

I read on another board that on some rides (the specific ride mentioned was Silver Bullet) the last row was blocked off for Fastlane users. IMO this is absolutely the wrong way to do this. I have nothing against pay-to-cut being implemented at a park, and am willing to wait a little more to accommodate those who chose to fork over the extra money- but as someone who gravitates to the last row on just about every coaster I ride, I think it's horseshit that I won't be able to on certain rides unless I pay up. The correct way to implement pay-to-cuts is to merge the lines near the station, or if you insist on delegating a certain row- do it on every other train.

 

I'm glad this method isn't in use at the two parks I visit most often (SFGAm and Busch Tampa). I seldom spend more than half a day at the park, and make an effort to visit during times that the overflow lots aren't in use. The money I spent on my 2012 passes for both of these parks would essentially wind up becoming a donation, because they would see the inside of my shredder before the entrance plaza.

Edited January 21, 2012 by Ed Farmer

[Intimidator305]

Hence the rule of always riding Volcano first thing in the morning.

 

^^ Agreed. The 10:30 rope drop always ends up with a stampede to Volcano for me. Always get on the first train of the day and can get 1-2 more rides in with less than a 5 minute wait for each, and then it is straight to 305 for a marathon before the crowds gets back there!

Edited January 21, 2012 by Intimidator305

[KDCOASTERFAN]

Sorry, I can't find anything confirming this on the thread, but is Fast Lane confirmed for 2012?

 

Look at the latest update in the cedar fair discussion thread....it was confirmed by Quimmet as coming to all CF parks in 2012....KI was their test market in 2011.

[coasterfreak101]

Hence the rule of always riding Volcano first thing in the morning.

 

Yeah, for sure. Last year I managed to get away each visit with a first-train-out front-row ride in I305, then a back seat ride and a lap on Flight of Fear before I hit Volcano, to only a ten-minute line waiting for me. It was a miracle as far as I'm concerned!

[Coaster_Fanatic]

Sorry, I can't find anything confirming this on the thread, but is Fast Lane confirmed for 2012?

 

Look at the latest update in the cedar fair discussion thread....it was confirmed by Quimmet as coming to all CF parks in 2012....KI was their test market in 2011.

 

I hope this is like Disney's Fast Pass that they only accept the passes at a certain time.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

Sorry, I can't find anything confirming this on the thread, but is Fast Lane confirmed for 2012?

 

Look at the latest update in the cedar fair discussion thread....it was confirmed by Quimmet as coming to all CF parks in 2012....KI was their test market in 2011.

 

I hope this is like Disney's Fast Pass that they only accept the passes at a certain time.

 

I doubt it,my guess is it'll be exactly like SFA's system was where you go up the exit & are assigned a seat & riders waiting in the station don't have access via the station gates.

[BaMiTsPaT]

I have a question for all you KD locals. I am thinking about heading up to the park sunday april 15. Are sundays usually busy at KD?

[cfc]

Sunday is when I usually go the park. The crowds are pretty manageable in April.

[Homeboy23]

^ Speaking of Sundays, for anyone who can sneek away on Mother's day, GO!. I have been the past two years and each time in the middle of the day there was less than a 10 minute wait to a walk-on for Volcano. That it self should speak for how empty the park is that day.

[Intimidator305]

I have a question for all you KD locals. I am thinking about heading up to the park sunday april 15. Are sundays usually busy at KD?

 

April Sundays are some of the least crowded days to go to KD by my experiences... It's a great time to go too as it usually isn't hot yet!

[BaMiTsPaT]

Thank you for your quick responses! I am so excited to go to KD in April because I have only lived in NC for a year and am already tired of Carowinds. It just doesn't have much variety and frankly Intimidator is on par with Afterburn.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

Thank you for your quick responses! I am so excited to go to KD in April because I have only lived in NC for a year and am already tired of Carowinds. It just doesn't have much variety and frankly Intimidator is on par with Afterburn.

 

I thought carowinds had some pretty decent coasters & I sure wouldn't mind having afterburn there in trade for volcano.

[BaMiTsPaT]

^Afterburn is good, but apart from it and Intimidator there is nothing really worth making the drive there for. The rest of the coasters are sub-par IMO

[kunpc1]

I've been to King's Dominion a few times now. I think it's a really nice park. It's a shame that Volcano has the capacity issues it does. It's a fun ride (even if it is short) When it ran with 3 trains, was capacity any better than it is now? Would banning loose articles improve intervals?

 

Hopefully WindSeeker helps increase foot traffic on that side of the park. The last few times I've been, most attractions on that side have been a walk-on (or close to it). The light package should help draw people over there after sunset as well.

[Intimidator305]

Yeah, the whole area has been dead since Hypersonic XLC left at the end of the 2007 season and Windseeker should draw the crowds back over to that end of the Grove once again. Xtreme SkyFlyer towers over that area now and it isn't even 2/3 of Windseeker's height, so this will really get guests' attention. The lighting package is going to go great with the lights and look of Juke Box Diner at night (which is right next to Windseeker).

 

Finally, just having 4 structures in the park over 300 feet tall is just pretty impressive and good marketing for the park!

[KDCOASTERFAN]

Yeah, the whole area has been dead since Hypersonic XLC left at the end of the 2007 season and Windseeker should draw the crowds back over to that end of the Grove once again. Xtreme SkyFlyer towers over that area now and it isn't even 2/3 of Windseeker's height, so this will really get guests' attention. The lighting package is going to go great with the lights and look of Juke Box Diner at night (which is right next to Windseeker).

 

Finally, just having 4 structures in the park over 300 feet tall is just pretty impressive and good marketing for the park!

 

I wonder how soon after that the park may choose to go over 400 feet?

[Skycoastin Steve]

^I'm thinking a 400 foot B&M invert.

[Intimidator305]

^ Nooo! Don't get him going on ANOTHER "KD needs a B&M invert" rant again...

[KDCOASTERFAN]

^ Nooo! Don't get him going on ANOTHER "KD needs a B&M invert" rant again...

 

I think the park could use a decent launcher along the lines of TTD but perhaps not as tall as 400 feet given the problems TTD has had so something in the range of 350 ft may do & yes the park does need a new invert with better capacity than volcano.

 

How many tower sections do the other windseekers have total? I'm gonna have to look at pics of CP's or KI's to guage the progress of construction time remaining for KD's.

[Intimidator305]

According to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WindSeeker:

 

Windseeker's structure has 8 total sections. Canada's Wonderland's took 16 days of vertical construction. Cedar Point's took 15 days of vertical construction. Kings Island's took 11 days of vertical construction. Knott's took 21 days of vertical construction.

 

Then once that's completed the UFO's only take a day or so...