Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[rcdude]

Interesting. I've been expecting Kings Dominion to receive a B&M as their next coaster, though a wing coaster seems like a better fit for the park given it's proximity to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I think it's too early to read too much into this, but given that each park has a unique image and the others with new mystery coasters have been rumored to be getting major new coasters in the next few years (though not necessarily 2016), it may end up being a hint. Will Kings Dominion get a new B&M next year? I honestly doubt it, simply because there are a couple other Cedar Fair parks with more significant evidence of a big 2016 project and Cedar Fair isn't known to buy a lot of major coasters in one year. Will Kings Dominion get a big new B&M coaster in 2017/2018? I'd take that bet.

[ferk60]

The hyper seen is also on World's of Fun's background.

Oh well... likely debunked then

Anyway, I think that most of us can agree that KD is due for a coaster of some sort, even though it's still speculation at this point. The Hypersonic station is still there, but the right side of International Street and Old Virginia definitely need some 40th/41st/42nd anniversary love.

Most likely for next year (reply if you'd make some tweaks to this list):

1. B&M hyper - replaces Hurler and/or Grizzly - no-brainer, great fit, B&M hyper/Intamin giga 1-2 punch, only detractor is that every other CF park has gone hyper, then giga

2. B&M invert - think Banshee, but maybe 200 ft+ - but Alpengeist is <100 miles away

3. Large flat/family ride - replaces Shockwave, skyride possibly rebuilt - ugh but likely at some point, might happen in 2017 because of 2013 Planet Snoopy expansion

4. Intamin Impulse - replaces Shockwave - a better twist (no pun intended) on #3

5. Triotech 4D dark ride/roller coaster hybrid - built into existing Volcano in space left over by Haunted River + other previous ride

6.B&M giga - replaces Hurler, Grizzly, Action Theater, Log Flume, and Halloween corn maze (CornStalkers), with remodeled International Street and queue to right of fountains (sounds ridiculous but might not be a terrible fit). KD probably wants this, but CF wouldn't be likely to approve because of Fury (and two gigas while KI has 0 wouldn't fly, either).

7. Intamin strata or other Accelerator - replaces Hurler and/or Grizzly - makes sense because Hypersonic station is still there, could be done with the space, back to Launch Capital of world, but CF probably doesn't want to take the spotlight off of TTD, so a smaller Accelerator is more likely

 

You brought up some good options here is Kings Dominion's problem, they already have so many unique combo coasters

 

1. B&M hyper is safe but that is also 100 miles away like like the B&M invert and they have a pretty good unique launch inverted coaster

2. Answered above

3. Strong possibility, not a coaster but I understand

4.Is not a major coaster, there hasn't been one installed in a while and they would not have to remove shockwave

5. That Volcano space is full of beams, can't put a ride in there but a building could be built behind the volcano mountain and give the illusion that you are still in the volcano through the dark ride experience.

6. Answered in 1

7. Interesting

 

**What about a winged coaster?

[ferk60]

 

 

 

It is very confusing on so many levels brand identity and the sign is small. Grizzly got the short end of the stick with signage. I am a regular at KD and I still forget where the entrance is for Grizzly b/c it is tied to an attraction I have no interest in ever going through.

[certifiedcoastergeek]

The hyper seen is also on World's of Fun's background.

Oh well... likely debunked then

Anyway, I think that most of us can agree that KD is due for a coaster of some sort, even though it's still speculation at this point. The Hypersonic station is still there, but the right side of International Street and Old Virginia definitely need some 40th/41st/42nd anniversary love.

Most likely for next year (reply if you'd make some tweaks to this list):

1. B&M hyper - replaces Hurler and/or Grizzly - no-brainer, great fit, B&M hyper/Intamin giga 1-2 punch, only detractor is that every other CF park has gone hyper, then giga

2. B&M invert - think Banshee, but maybe 200 ft+ - but Alpengeist is <100 miles away

3. Large flat/family ride - replaces Shockwave, skyride possibly rebuilt - ugh but likely at some point, might happen in 2017 because of 2013 Planet Snoopy expansion

4. Intamin Impulse - replaces Shockwave - a better twist (no pun intended) on #3

5. Triotech 4D dark ride/roller coaster hybrid - built into existing Volcano in space left over by Haunted River + other previous ride

6.B&M giga - replaces Hurler, Grizzly, Action Theater, Log Flume, and Halloween corn maze (CornStalkers), with remodeled International Street and queue to right of fountains (sounds ridiculous but might not be a terrible fit). KD probably wants this, but CF wouldn't be likely to approve because of Fury (and two gigas while KI has 0 wouldn't fly, either).

7. Intamin strata or other Accelerator - replaces Hurler and/or Grizzly - makes sense because Hypersonic station is still there, could be done with the space, back to Launch Capital of world, but CF probably doesn't want to take the spotlight off of TTD, so a smaller Accelerator is more likely

 

You brought up some good options here is Kings Dominion's problem, they already have so many unique combo coasters

 

1. B&M hyper is safe but that is also 100 miles away like like the B&M invert and they have a pretty good unique launch inverted coaster

2. Answered above

3. Strong possibility, not a coaster but I understand

4.Is not a major coaster, there hasn't been one installed in a while and they would not have to remove shockwave

5. That Volcano space is full of beams, can't put a ride in there but a building could be built behind the volcano mountain and give the illusion that you are still in the volcano through the dark ride experience.

6. Answered in 1

7. Interesting

 

**What about a winged coaster?

CF stated at the opening of GateKeeper that there were no new B&M Wing Coasters planned at that time for its parks, and those things usually take 4-5 years to plan. However, I could definitely see an Intamin launched Wing Rider, given KD's longtime Intamin-friendly history.

[The Geek Mojo]

I would like to point out that Cedar Fair announced that they wouldn't be adding any Triotech dark rides in 2016. So that leaves me to believe that Cedar Fair may buy two big coasters (possibly B&M) in 2016. It's pretty evident that Cedar Point is getting one (possibly a dive coaster), and my guess the other one will be going to either Kings Dominion or Canada's Wonderland. Seeing how Canada's Wonderland cleared some space by getting rid of skyrider, it may be them getting one. Maybe 2017 will be the year for KD. This will give them time to get rid of Shockwave also.

[livai]

but what sense does it make when there is already a intimidator 305 ??

already have a mega hyper and a b & m in the same park and meaningless (Carowinds and canada wonderland) but two hyper and just be silly

 

 

and there are those who think that cedar fair and better than six flags

[loop-de-loop]

but what sense does it make when there is already a intimidator 305 ??

already have a mega hyper and a b & m in the same park and meaningless (Carowinds and canada wonderland) but two hyper and just be silly

 

 

and there are those who think that cedar fair and better than six flags

I see you've learned a lot from English class.

 

If you were serious about that question, it has been discussed many times in both the CW thread and Carowinds thread so you can find the answer there. But looking at your signature I think you've already made up your mind.

[cfc]

but what sense does it make when there is already a intimidator 305 ??

already have a mega hyper and a b & m in the same park and meaningless (Carowinds and canada wonderland) but two hyper and just be silly

 

 

and there are those who think that cedar fair and better than six flags

I see you've learned a lot from English class.

 

If you were serious about that question, it has been discussed many times in both the CW thread and Carowinds thread so you can find the answer there. But looking at your signature I think you've already made up your mind.

 

A couple of things: 1) Loop-de-loop, please leave the moderating to the moderators. The member whose grammar you're criticizing is from Italy (based on his IP), and I doubt that English is a first language for him. 2) To answer your question, livai, I rode Fury 325 last Sunday (TR to come later), and it's a much better ride than Carowinds' Intimidator (which has been trimmed to death), so I think Fury enhances the appeal of the park. (That being said, Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion is much better than both of them). I have no objection to a park having multiple "big coasters."

Edited April 28, 2015 by cfc

[certifiedcoastergeek]

... I rode Fury 325 last Sunday (TR to come later), and it's a much better ride that Carowinds' Intimidator (which has been trimmed to death), so I think Fury enhances the appeal of the park. (That being said, Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion is much better than both of them). I have no objection to a park having multiple "big coasters."

Finally, someone who agrees - I have been on Fury and I305 and concur that although Fury is fun, I305 is far superior (and yes, I've ridden both in every single row).

Even so, I'm still convinced that 2016 is the Year of the Coaster at KD. CW obtained both WMG and Leviathan after I305, so it's definitely KD's turn to get some love. Watch out for a large B&M at CW for 2017.

[Brassinthegrass]

I dunno... if we want to go with the sneaky landscapes on the websites, CW looks spot on with what they have. KD has a purple hill and a red hill, neither of which exists as KD right now....

 

I would LOVE to see a new entrance at KD, but the question would be whether it would include a coaster with it... I don't really see them building anything on the west side of the entrance since it has all the back of house stuff there. the only thing that could happen would be if its a really fast launch ride with a station by Dominators interlocking loops...

[certifiedcoastergeek]

I dunno... if we want to go with the sneaky landscapes on the websites, CW looks spot on with what they have. KD has a purple hill and a red hill, neither of which exists as KD right now....

 

I would LOVE to see a new entrance at KD, but the question would be whether it would include a coaster with it... I don't really see them building anything on the west side of the entrance since it has all the back of house stuff there. the only thing that could happen would be if its a really fast launch ride with a station by Dominators interlocking loops...

 

A new entrance is definitely needed, but I'm pretty sure that by removing CornStalkers and the Action Theater/No Vacancy, you can easily place a large roller coaster wrapping around Old Virginia, since there is still plenty of room between the existing rides (Log Flume, White Water Canyon, etc) and the maintenance/employee facilities. However, this would likely require the removal of the Grizzly and possibly the Hurler, depending on the size of the coaster. Anyone who has visited the park can bear witness to the severe unbalanced foot traffic, which is primarily concentrated in the Planet Snoopy/Safari Village east corner of the park, which could be fixed with a new entrance and a large coaster just beyond it.

[VACoasterdude]

I was at KD over the weekend. No land clearing going and according to one park official I casually spoke with, no new coasters on the horizon (he wouldn't lie would he?)

 

I would expect Cedar Point and some other CF park to get a new coaster long before KD. With the Planet Snoopy expansion last year, and the Water Works/Soak City expansion this year, I think we will only see minor improvements and maybe a new flat ride the next two years with a new major coaster announced for the 2018 season!

[certifiedcoastergeek]

I was at KD over the weekend. No land clearing going and according to one park official I casually spoke with, no new coasters on the horizon (he wouldn't lie would he?)

 

I would expect Cedar Point and some other CF park to get a new coaster long before KD. With the Planet Snoopy expansion last year, and the Water Works/Soak City expansion this year, I think we will only see minor improvements and maybe a new flat ride the next two years with a new major coaster announced for the 2018 season!

 

Which park official did you speak with and what is his department? He would have every reason to keep secrets, it's probably part of his contract, so I wouldn't assume anything. Remember, clearing for I305 didn't start until June, and they denied the coaster's existence even with the track occupying the parking lot!

[VACoasterdude]

Which park official did you speak with and what is his department? He would have every reason to keep secrets, it's probably part of his contract, so I wouldn't assume anything. Remember, clearing for I305 didn't start until June, and they denied the coaster's existence even with the track occupying the parking lot!

 

Younger guy, I think his name tag said Brian, although I am not sure and did not write it down. (It was not the Dipping Dots guy!) He said they were hoping for a new coaster to celebrate the 40th Anniversary, but Cedar Fair made that investment at Carowinds and expanded Soak City at KD (which they definitely needed). He doesn't expect another major investment from Cedar Fair for a few years as there are other parks that have moved to the top of the list.

[certifiedcoastergeek]

Which park official did you speak with and what is his department? He would have every reason to keep secrets, it's probably part of his contract, so I wouldn't assume anything. Remember, clearing for I305 didn't start until June, and they denied the coaster's existence even with the track occupying the parking lot!

 

Younger guy, I think his name tag said Brian, although I am not sure and did not write it down. (It was not the Dipping Dots guy!) He said they were hoping for a new coaster to celebrate the 40th Anniversary, but Cedar Fair made that investment at Carowinds and expanded Soak City at KD (which they definitely needed). He doesn't expect another major investment from Cedar Fair for a few years as there are other parks that have moved to the top of the list.

I understand this, but that's public knowledge. Also, he said to celebrate the 40th, not one following it. I have a hard time believing that Valleyfair and WoF can take priority over KD.

[certifiedcoastergeek]

Guys (and gals), you won't believe this (once again, please credit my account for this discovery):

Cedar Fair just updated their previously ugly and outdated website with a larger version of the original image that I found earlier which showed a B&M hyper or Giga in the background of an image on KD's website.

The following image, which I just found, shows more of the hyper/gigacoaster's airtime hills.

Speculation or not, this does not appear to be a mistake of any kind (I apologize if the picture is low-quality).

I'll put the link to the image in my profile, in accordance with the Terms of Service, but seriously, WOW.

Also, Grizzly and Shockwave are shown in more detail (the drawing is from a higher angle than the one on the KD website).

WOW. This is Teaser #2, and we're still in April. Look at the left side now.

[cfc]

^And they're converting Drop Tower to one of the older Intamin models?

 

I wouldn't put much stock in this photo.

[certifiedcoastergeek]

Guys (and gals), you won't believe this (once again, please credit my account for this discovery):

Cedar Fair just updated their previously ugly and outdated website with a larger version of the original image that I found earlier which showed a B&M hyper or Giga in the background of an image on KD's website.

The following image, which I just found, shows more of the hyper/gigacoaster's airtime hills.

Speculation or not, this does not appear to be a mistake of any kind (I apologize if the picture is low-quality).

I'll put the link to the image in my profile, in accordance with the Terms of Service, but seriously, WOW.

Also, Grizzly and Shockwave are shown in more detail (the drawing is from a higher angle than the one on the KD website).

^And they're converting Drop Tower to one of the older Intamin models?

 

I wouldn't put much stock in this photo.

Yes, but every other ride at every other park (except for another suspicious large B&M at WoF, which is incidentally also due for a new coaster) is accurate to that park's current offerings. The Intamin drop is a minor error (let's be realistic, who visits a park for its drop tower?); "accidentally" placing a huge B&M with at least 4 or 5 airtime hills shown and a completely unique color scheme is no mistake - in fact, it has about the same level of detail as the depiction of Fury 325 in Carowinds' picture - if you'd permit me to display the link where I obtained these photos in this thread, it would be greatly appreciated; however, I have also put the link in my profile as my website.

[certifiedcoastergeek]

Guys (and gals), you won't believe this (once again, please credit my account for this discovery):

Cedar Fair just updated their previously ugly and outdated website with a larger version of the original image that I found earlier which showed a B&M hyper or Giga in the background of an image on KD's website.

The following image, which I just found, shows more of the hyper/gigacoaster's airtime hills.

Speculation or not, this does not appear to be a mistake of any kind (I apologize if the picture is low-quality).

I'll put the link to the image in my profile, in accordance with the Terms of Service, but seriously, WOW.

Also, Grizzly and Shockwave are shown in more detail (the drawing is from a higher angle than the one on the KD website).

^And they're converting Drop Tower to one of the older Intamin models?

 

I wouldn't put much stock in this photo.

Yes, but every other ride at every other park (except for another suspicious large B&M at WoF, which is incidentally also due for a new coaster) is accurate to that park's current offerings. The Intamin drop is a minor error (let's be realistic, who visits a park for its drop tower?); "accidentally" placing a huge B&M with at least 4 or 5 airtime hills shown and a completely unique color scheme is no mistake - in fact, it has about the same level of detail as the depiction of Fury 325 in Carowinds' picture - if you'd permit me to display the link where I obtained these photos in this thread, it would be greatly appreciated; however, I have also put the link in my profile as my website.

A couple of tidbits that I forgot to add - the hidden coaster in the WoF image is shown in significantly less detail than the KD image and is noticeably missing elements beyond the original image, and the coaster in the KD image appears to be a much taller hyper or giga than the WoF hyper.

Here's Worlds of Fun...

... and here's Kings Dominion. There are numerous differences between the mysterious left-side coasters.

[scbt]

I think everyone is reading into this WAAAAY too much. These look like simple cut and paste pieces of promo artwork. The wooden coasters in both are identical, the foreground to both of the pictures are identical, the hypercoaster in the KD picture appears to be a scaled up image of the same hypercoaster in the WoF picture. These are not super secret easter eggs, they're just cutting corners in regards to artwork.

[ThemeParkJunkie51290]

Well, since some people are saying these new pictures aren't hinting at a new coaster for 2016, what WOULD YOU like to see for the 2016 season? Me personally, I would like to see a record breaking coaster at Kings Dominion. I'm not saying a "simple" record breaker, but something that's going to blow people minds! I know one in particular: FIRST HYPER/GIGA COASTER WITH AN INVERSION!

[bill_s]

^^-- Steel Phantom had inversions and they took them out. But those were tacked on at the end. I'd like to see an inversion over 200' OR a zero-G corkscrew at high speed instead of as a low-speed element (think I305's second hill except going upside down, or even lower, faster and more stretched-out than that). I'd also like to see a post-RMC approach to element design and use of simulation to craft new shapes and sensations.

 

I also think KD could use some kind of "extreme family coaster", while not my first choice overall it could include some good things. I'd like to see a coaster with interesting interaction with complex terrain with tunnels and ravines. As KD is basically flat, this would have to be a manufactured terrain, but could be worth it. (Thinking about it, it would have been cooler to use the mountain to have a coaster wrapping around its surface as if it were a real mountain, but as it's not a real mountain it would have been too much for too little to support it.)

[TyRush]

I think an Intamin strata coaster would be great, replace XLC and add to the skyline. Why would they add anothe giga if they have the best one in the world

[ferk60]

Ok we can all agree It is King Dominion's time for a coaster but if Cedar Fair is adding a Triotech ride in 2016 there is a strong chance that is going to King Dominion because

 

1. They have a strong coaster line up

2. CP is getting a coaster, KB and CWW already have one, and Carowinds just got Fury.

3. It is also time that KD got a big marketable attraction family attraction and they are not deep on the family ride aspect.

 

I still want them to get a coaster though. After reading the board I'd be cool with the following options that seem realistic

 

1. A wing rider- they don't have one, it would diversify their line up

2. A B&M hyper- I'd love something more than out and back, I'd like to see a hyper twister

3. Intamin blitz coaster - Something like Maverick at KD would great. I305 is kinda an off spring of Maverick with those close to the ground moves. Maybe a combo of Maverick and Storm Runner would be great

 

I DON'T think or want want them to take out

 

1. Shockwave- its a classic, one of my first roller coaster and Isn't it the first stand up coaster ever?

2. Hurler-- this coaster sucks but I'd rather them RMC it up than tear it down.

 

Thoughts.

[The Geek Mojo]

They'll probably get a launched wing coaster in 2017. And since the skyscraper in Orlando is going to have the tallest inversion with all other kind of record breakers, I don't see hypers or gigas trying to incorporate an inversion anytime soon.