Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[cfc]

The mushrooms were singing earlier this season, but you had to be there at the right time (the show is very brief). But maybe they were turned off for Haunt.

 

While I'm glad you had a "good" experience on Anaconda, I still hate that ride.

[DJeXeL]

And by "Good" he meant he got a headache as opposed to a concussion......

[coasterbill]

No, and that's the crazy thing... I mean it was smoother than Volcano. And I don't consider Volcano rough. It was really... really smooth. Like I said I just got off the ride confused about why I liked it so much. I'm sure it's a combination of my height and the seat we sat in but for whatever reason I loved it.

[DJeXeL]

Understood. To be fair, Anaconda is a hell of a lot better than Vortex @KI!

[redfoot12]

I usually skip Ananconda but my niece wanted to go on it back in June. I was surprised at how relatively comfortable it was compared to rides on it in the past.

[Propeller Factory]

I loooooooove dominator it's so great my fav part is the turn after the loop like the speed and the head choppers it's one of my fav coasters there.

[mike541x]

I usually skip Ananconda but my niece wanted to go on it back in June. I was surprised at how relatively comfortable it was compared to rides on it in the past.

 

I think Anaconda received new wheels for the season. When I rode it earlier this year, I also thought it was running better than usual. It's not the best ride in the park, but I always ride it on every visit. And at least it's still better than Shockwave!

[nicman]

Is Dominator dangerous? Because I remember someone died after going on it.

[DJeXeL]

The lady that died had a brain aneurysm and died after being transported to the hospital. No operational issues were discovered with Dominator.

[CPmillenia94]

Kings Dominion is kind of an underrated park in general I would say. The ride lineup is one of my favorites of any park, since each ride has something completely unique to offer. I get most excited to go there over almost any other park other than maybe cedar point.

[coasterbill]

Kings Dominion is kind of an underrated park in general I would say. The ride lineup is one of my favorites of any park, since each ride has something completely unique to offer. I get most excited to go there over almost any other park other than maybe cedar point.

 

I love the diversity of KD's lineup. After I305, Volcano, Flight of Fear and Dominator there's a pretty big drop off in coaster quality unless you're a glutton for punishment like me and like Anaconda. That being said the supporting coasters are still a lot of fun. I've always been a fan of Backlot, Grizzly is running great, the mouse and Rebel Yell are good little rides and who doesn't enjoy Avalanche? The only coasters that suck are Hurler and Shockwave and even those are sort of okay.

 

I also really enjoy the flume (is there a flume anywhere with a nicer natural location?), Windseeker, Drop Tower (this one is really good), the Flyers which are very snappable, the Crypt, Berserker, Bad Apple and a Boo Blasters where the pointers and targets actually work. The Eiffel Tower of course is very nice as well.

 

I actually think this park is a lot nicer than Kings Island as there are a lot more trees (especially around Old Virginia and the main entrance area) and the coaster lineup is better too though it's close and certainty debatable. I'm a big fan of Kings Dominion and agree that it's very underrated.

Edited October 28, 2014 by coasterbill

[GwaziBSRider1]

I'll throw my hat into this ring as well. I've always preferred KD over KI, but for some reason, I go to KI much more often than KD. Cedar Fair has put a lot of love into this park and it shows. I will always applaud whoever decided to scrap that atrociously awful HyperSonic. One of these days, I really need to get back and experience some of my all-time favorites (I-305, Volcano, Dominator, and Grizzly).

[whatabeast]

Between KD and KI... I'd have to say they're pretty equal in my eyes. One of my friends put it this way, and I think it describes both parks pretty well: "They might not have the best rides in the world, but everything here is fun. You go to Cedar point and there are 8 or 9 really fun ones, and then the rest of them suck. That's not the case here."

 

I do like the significantly shorter lines at KD, though. Always a plus.

[coasterbill]

Between KD and KI... I'd have to say they're pretty equal in my eyes. One of my friends put it this way, and I think it describes both parks pretty well: "They might not have the best rides in the world, but everything here is fun. You go to Cedar point and there are 8 or 9 really fun ones, and then the rest of them suck. That's not the case here."

 

I do like the significantly shorter lines at KD, though. Always a plus.

 

I don't know that I agree with this... I actually think you're short changing both parks a little. I305 (any time) and the Beast at night are easily some of the best rides in the world. Both parks also have some crappy coasters though (Vortex, Hurler and Shockwave). I actually don't think Cedar Point (since you brought it up) has any crappy coasters as of a few weeks ago except for maybe Corkscrew but I hate mentioning that since kids seem to love it and it looks amazing over the midway so I never want them to remove it.

[Password121]

Between KD and KI... I'd have to say they're pretty equal in my eyes. One of my friends put it this way, and I think it describes both parks pretty well: "They might not have the best rides in the world, but everything here is fun. You go to Cedar point and there are 8 or 9 really fun ones, and then the rest of them suck. That's not the case here."

 

I do like the significantly shorter lines at KD, though. Always a plus.

I really like KD, don't get me wrong, but I'm not sure I completely agree with that quote.

I haven't been to KI, so I can only speak for KD and Cedar Point, but KD does have one of the best rides in the world (I-305), some good supporting coasters (Volcano, Dominator, FoF, Grizzly), and then a bunch of average, some mediocre coasters.

 

In my experience, that is not the case at all with Cedar Point. You have your world-class rides (MF and Maverick), the very, very good supporting coaster (Raptor, GateKeeper, Dragster), and the better "other" coasters (WT, Rougarou?), but none of CP's coasters "suck" in any sense of the word, other than maybe Mean Streak on a bad day.

 

Just my opinion. I see what you're saying though, and I really do like KD.

[DJeXeL]

I actually don't think Cedar Point (since you brought it up) has any crappy coasters as of a few weeks ago except for maybe Corkscrew but I hate mentioning that since kids seem to love it and it looks amazing over the midway so I never want them to remove it.

 

Agreed. I just love it for the fact that it runs 3 trains!

[cfc]

Hmm--I would say that Cedar Point has more than just one "crappy coaster." Not a fan of Corkscrew, Mean Streak, or Gemini.

 

But, to get this back on topic, I don't think CP has anything quite as "crappy" as KD's Anaconda.

Edited October 28, 2014 by cfc

[CPmillenia94]

^Umm.. corkscrew, mean streak, and gemini are all crappier imo

[whatabeast]

Well I mean, yeah, I305, volcano, beast and banshee are all among my favorites for sure, and Cedar Point's best rides are better than those. With the exception of I305. But when it gets to the "crappier" coasters and you make comparisons, flight deck is way better than iron dragon, racer and rebel yell are way better than Blue Streak, Grizzly is way better than mean streak (Hurler though... let's just not talk about that), Dominator is about to be way better than Rogarou, Vortex (and I'm assuming Anaconda, but I haven't been on it) is better than Corkscrew, Volcano is better than Wicked Twister... Cedar Point has more world class roller coasters than either of them, yes, but when it comes to the sheer number of rides that I actually want to go on when I get to the park? KD and KI win that.

[Propeller Factory]

I feel like I'm the only one here but I don't like grizzly it's rough and boring I like hurler better

[coasterbill]

^Umm.. corkscrew, mean streak, and gemini are all crappier imo

 

I don't get this Gemeni hate... I think Gemeni is a really solid ride when it's racing. It won't make any top 20 or even top 100 lists but it's fun.

[vacoaster09]

I feel like I'm the only one here but I don't like grizzly it's rough and boring I like hurler better

 

I too had a hate for Grizzly as it was always super rough and hurt a lot however, this season when I rode which was Friday Oct 10th, the ride was running absolutely amazing. Considerably smoother and delivered such a good ride I had to ride twice to make sure I was not delusional. I rode in the front and once in the back. It was so much better.

 

As for the wooden coaster at KD that I still despise... that accolade still goes to Hurler.

[prozach626]

So... next June I'm going to be 30 and my wife has awarded me a special trip. Here's what I have come up with so far:

 

Option 1: I305 has been on my wish list since it opened and BGW seems like a solid park.

King's Dominion (1 day)

Busch Gardens Williamsburg (1 day)

 

Option 2: We've been to Cedar Point before and had a great time. However, that was years ago when Maverick (edited) opened.

Cedar Point (2 days staying at Breakers)

 

Option 3:

Hershey Park (1 day)

SF Great Adventure or another NE park (1 day)

 

 

I really want to go to KD, but I wanted to see what you guys would say about my other options. Everything is about 12 hours away from me except for Cedar Point, which is 8 hours.

Edited October 29, 2014 by prozach626

[ejot]

Wow that is a tough choice! I would choose the Hershey/GAd trip but that's just based on personal coaster preference - Skyrush over I305, Nitro over AC, and I probably enjoy ElToro and Lightning Racer over the rest of the KD/BGW collection except perhaps Volcano. The Point is great of course but I'd prefer the two-park experience. But they are three sweet trips so you really can't go wrong. I'm also (alone, it seems) hugely excited for Laff Trakk so that is biasing my choice as well.

 

Did you mean Maverick? We were just wee tots @ Magnum's opening.

[Password121]

So... next June I'm going to be 30 and my wife has awarded me a special trip. Here's what I have come up with so far:

 

Option 1: I305 has been on my wish list since it opened and BGW seems like a solid park.

King's Dominion (1 day)

Busch Gardens Williamsburg (1 day)

 

Option 2: We've been to Cedar Point before and had a great time. However, that was years ago when Magnum opened.

Cedar Point (2 days staying at Breakers)

 

Option 3:

Hershey Park (1 day)

SF Great Adventure or another NE park (1 day)

 

 

I really want to go to KD, but I wanted to see what you guys would say about my other options. Everything is about 12 hours away from me except for Cedar Point, which is 8 hours.

If it were me, I would be most interested in options two or three. Obviously it is up to you and your priorities, but two and three look most appealing to me.

 

Don't get me wrong, KD and BGw are both very solid parks. I've been to both a few times. However, outside of I-305, KD doesn't have much in terms of truly memorable experiences. I can't say for BGW has it's been quite a few years, but the three B&M's are very good, but still, nothing incredible.

 

I've been to CP a total of three days in my life, and if you haven't been since Magnum just opened, I would certainly advise going back. Millennium Force (many would say otherwise, but I think it is outstanding at night) and Maverick are two of the best coasters in the world. Period.

If you haven't ridden one of the Intamin rocket coasters, Dragtser is probably the better of the two, and is certainly worth riding. Same to be said for Raptor, GateKeeper, and possibly Rougarou. You're not going to be disappointed by Cedar Point.

 

As for Gadv/Hershey, I've been to Gadv upwards of a dozen times in 2014. El Toro is worth a long trip alone, and is my favorite coaster, above I-305. On top of this, you have an old school B&M hyper and the talles t coaster and drop tower combo. Gadv is a great day with low crowds or a flash pass.

 

I haven't been to Hershey, but it is on my list of nearby parks to go to. Skyrush looks incredible- comparable to I-305, I would assume. The other Intamins and Great Bear all look very good.

 

At the end of the day, do what interests you most. If it were me, I'd be hard pressed between two and three. Set your priorities straight, maybe list which coasters you want to ride most and see which place offers the best combination. Have an awesome trip, Im super jealous!