Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[Coaster Hero]

^Not to mention perhaps the best coaster on the planet. I get it, even that experience you can get used to, but I have a feeling I305 was meant to satisfy us for a while before a new attraction. Be patient. Something is coming within the next 2-3 years, I just don't think this is the year anymore; no confirmed markers or surveying. If that is spotted, then I will change my opinion. If they do get a coaster, I must say that KD needs another B&M in my opinion. If not, at least something comfortable and smooth

 

By the way (I haven't been following this) what makes everyone so certain that CP is getting a coaster this year?

[Password121]

^Just look at one of the webcams on Cedar Point's website. They removed one of their Antique cars and relocated some family rides, not to mentioned demolishing a major theater. They left the area fenced in (almost 10 acres) and g's a dirt field at the moment. I'd expect footers in the next month or so.

[whatabeast]

^All that, a trademark has been filed, and the plans for the coaster allegedly leaked to the press.

 

Even if a B&M at KD in the next couple of years is the best guess, given the CF trend of late, I actually kind of hope the park gets something a little bit more unique. Give CGA the hyper, it needs it more.

[Intimidator305]

I know the last coaster installation was in 2010 (the best coaster in the world, in my opinion), however KD received 3 coasters in FIVE years prior to that. 2006: Backlot Stunt Coaster 2008: Dominator 2010: Intimidator 305 - which means they've received three coasters in the past decade, one of those being a GIGA. Any amusement park in the world would LOVE to have that.

 

Yes, Backlot Stunt Coaster was under Paramount ownership, Dominator was relocated, but Intimidator 305 cost 25 million (which cost more than Behemoth, Diamondback, and Intimidator Carowinds). However, as I mentioned a few pages back, Kings Dominion has been receiving more slightly more money for these off years than other parks AND has tremendously improved the park's atmosphere and aesthetic appeal compared to what it was prior to 2010.

 

Finally, remember Kings Dominion hasn't even opened their 2015 attractions yet, that happens this weekend. They have been rapidly trying to finish a complete revamp and overhaul the entire water park while putting the finishing touches on two new attractions - 2016/2017 doesn't need to start for quite a while. Intimidator 305 (obviously the park's biggest coaster and one of Intamin's biggest tests (with the new lift structure)) didn't even touch a blade of grass until Monday June 1, 2009... so KD's next coaster could likely not start construction until late July/August given the size it'll probably be. Remember, GateKeeper didn't start construction until late summer in northern Ohio. KD is in Virginia, not Ohio or Canada so the winters are much milder for construction and concrete curing.

 

Do I think KD will get a coaster in 2016? I'm not holding my breath as I heard they were denied one for the 40th Celebration, but that means they are on the list for 2016 or 2017. If 2016 isn't a coaster, expect a package to be rolling out to parks like the Windseekers did, I could see KI and KD getting the same thing next season if a coaster isn't coming KD's way.

 

In the meantime, calm down, enjoy how nice of a place the park is now, take a ride on one of the world's best roller coasters, and take a ride on Shockwave just in case it does get removed.

[Superbatboy]

Ugh if only Cedar Fair would venture away from B&M more often, they'd be able to spread more love across more of their parks in the same season. You could almost install THREE RMC rides for the price of one ride like Gatekeeper, Banshee, Leviathan, or Fury.

[bill_s]

P.S. I wonder how KD will try to convince people that its minor improvements and/or small flat rides are some large investment, like they have for the PAST FIVE YEARS!

2011. Minor improvements

2012. Flat rides

2013. Flat rides

2014. Minor improvements

2015. Water rides

2016. Minor improvements

 

It's becoming my view that ALL of that is part of the I305 plan. Surely they knew then that the 40th was coming up. They just chose to put in the coaster first rather than do minor improvements for 5 years first, or do the coaster someplace in the middle.

 

It makes sense. Add a coaster every few years for 35 years. Take a break, then start replacing one every few years -- for up to another 35 years before the next break! Give people a chance to start speculating on replacement, then give them at least another couple years to ride the old ones so they don't complain about losing them before their time. KD reached the enviable position of being full of coasters, where at least for a while they could focus on other details.

[neil009]

With Cedar Fair on their huge B&M snooze fest kick, why is everyone so eager for KD to get a new coaster? Wait a little while for them to start building good rides again.

[Password121]

Right, because Banshee and Fury are just SO bad

[TB305]

With Cedar Fair on their huge B&M snooze fest kick, why is everyone so eager for KD to get a new coaster? Wait a little while for them to start building good rides again.

You act like Banshee and Fury 325 are a snoozefest. Ride them first before you bash them

[neil009]

^I would take I305 over Fury and Volcano over Banshee. Pretty much anything from B&M would be a step down from what they already have. To me a wing coaster would not add anything to their current lineup, I don't really go by the "want a new ride just for the sake of being new" mentality.

 

Note that I'm saying this because to me KD already has a spectacularly solid line up. They can afford to wait until CF hops on the RMC train. If it's Dorney we're talking about, sure, bring on the wing coasters.

[TB305]

^I would take I305 over Fury and Volcano over Banshee. Pretty much anything from B&M would be a step down from what they already have. To me a wing coaster would not add anything to their current lineup, I don't really go by the "want a new ride just for the sake of being new" mentality.

 

Note that I'm saying this because to me KD already has a spectacularly solid line up. They can afford to wait until CF hops on the RMC train. If it's Dorney we're talking about, sure, bring on the wing coasters.

And yet, have you ridden them? I've ridden both I305 and F325 (KD is my home park) and I would rather ride Fury over Intimidator. Just my opinion though. Fury had a much more cohesive, thoughtful, and complete ride experience in my opinion, and that first drop was absolutely amazing.

[Intimidator305]

I too would take Intimidator 305 over Fury and Volcano over Banshee any day. I believe Banshee and Fury show signs that B&M is attempting to bring back that Kumba/Montu kick to their rides, but they aren't top 5 material for me.

 

With that said, I would greatly appreciate one more B&M at Kings Dominion that compliments Dominator nicely. A smooth, not-so-intense B&M would be a perfect addition for the park as their first coaster since Intimidator 305 (especially if replacing a ride like Shockwave). Trust me, I'd prefer an Intamin, BUT I believe a B&M would be better for the park and to round out the park's line-up so for the well being of the park, I hope the next ride is a B&M.

[cfc]

If we can hold off speculating about what we hope Kings Dominion might be getting in the future, let's take a look at what they got this year.

 

Soak City Media Day

 

I'm sure many of you have taken advantage of Water Works, KD's water park, which is part of regular park admission. Well, you can't go to "Water Works" anymore--because it's been rebranded as Soak City, complete with a new play area, slide-tower complex, cabanas, and food offerings.

 

Here's a set of "Fun Facts" the park provided:

 

Soak City is Kings Dominion’s all-inclusive waterpark featuring 20-acres of wet and wild fun for the entire family. Admission to Soak City is included in the regular park admission ticket or with a Season Pass – two parks for the price of one!

 

NEW - Hurricane Heights is a mega-slide tower standing 65 feet tall and housing 6 total slides including the following:

 

Paradise Plunge: thrill-seekers will step into one of three chambers and wait anxiously for the floor to drop out from underneath their feet, sending them in a high-speed, almost vertical free fall through a series of loops and s-curves in a translucent flume

 

Aqua Blast: riders are sent twisting and spiraling through an enclosed chute featuring four intense 360-degree loops across 449 feet of slide before they’re dropped out into a pool of water

 

Thunder Falls: a wet and wild adventure awaits guests as they climb onto a raft before being launched down a series of intense drops and turns

 

NEW - Splash Island is a splash pad geared towards younger guests and their families. Little ones can let their imaginations run wild as they get soaked underneath large cascading flowers, take a trip down a slide, or pump and direct water that shoots out from one of the many splash pad creatures.

 

NEW – Beach Party Cabana is a deluxe VIP party cabana featuring Wi-Fi, television, personal wait staff, and plush lounge chairs.

 

NEW – Oasis Marketplace sits adjacent to Splash Island and offers a variety of healthy snacks and beverages.

 

NEW – Fonda’s Fiesta features a menu designed by our Executive Chef serving up fish tacos, southwest chicken wraps, churro cupcakes, and more.

 

NEW – Surfer Joe’s features a menu inspired by our Executive Chef serving up a variety of po’ boy subs, nachos, and more.

 

And how was Hurricane Heights, the park's new tower complex from Whitewater? The Paradise Plunge was quite intense and disorienting and knocked me for quite a loop! Maybe I'm getting old, but I preferred the tamer tube slides. My favorite was the Thunder Falls slide with the double-down drop. I was catapulted off my tube as soon as I hit the pool, which was pretty refreshing. Hurricane Heights is located on the other side of Rebel Yell, near Tidal Wave Bay.

 

The new cabana set-up is nice, and we enjoyed the lunch they provided that day, which included coconut shrimp, "Aqua Blast Burgers" (BBQed sliders with a slice of pineapple on top), tasty fried potatoes, and pina colada cupcakes. The potatoes and cupcakes will also be part of Soak City's regular food offerings, but I don't know about the shrimp or the little burgers. It was all pretty good--a step above KD's usual fare.

 

Here's a look at what to expect at Soak City.

Goodbye Water Works. Hello Soak City!

Snoopy and Charlie Brown are very excited.

Snoopy is ready to go sliding now!

But I guess Charlie Brown just prefers baseball.

There was a brief ceremony, which included some remarks from the park's general manager and VP, Pat George: "We’re excited to finally open the gates of Soak City for our guests to enjoy all the improvements made over the past several months. We are dedicated to providing the best summer experience for families to create memories that will last a lifetime.”

Looks like Soak City bought some advertising space from Backlot Stunt Coaster.

Need to cool off? Here's a nice spot.

Hmm--I guess there's a good reason for calling it "Splash Island." The park's lazy river circles the new play area.

Hurricane Heights offers six ways for you to get wet. You have to walk under Rebel Yell (and cry "more, more, more") to get there.

Sign photo for Larry.

Here's a closer look at the complex. It does offer fun for the whole family (provided they're at least 48" tall). The tube slides are fun for anyone, and the trapdoor slides at the top offer a bigger, more intense thrill. By the way, the two blue tube slides are Thunder Falls, while Aqua Blast is the purple one. These slides also have some lighting effects inside--a nice touch.

Looks like the lifeguard is grooving to the sounds of . . .

. . . the Beach Bumz.

Let's see . . . they drop the floor out from under you there . . .

. . . and you end up here . . .

. . . courtesy of this company.

You displace a fair amount of water when you hit the bottom.

Tidal wave!

Oh, there is a person in there somewhere.

This tube slide with the double down was my favorite (the one next to it was fun, too).

Shall we have some lunch in our cabana?

Here's some of the spread. I liked the ginger beer, and the cupcakes had mandarin-orange slices in the middle (very nice).

Here are some of the cabanas. They surround the Tidal Wave Bay wave pool.

You can get some nice views of Intimidator 305 from Tidal Wave Bay and Hurricane Heights.

But beware of Anacondas attacking from the trees!

One last look at someone getting very wet on Thunder Falls.

And here's a look at the Eiffel Tower being very patriotic for Memorial Day Weekend. Thanks for reading.

[Intimidator305]

This was a much needed addition and the last area that needed a general spruce up since Cedar Fair took over. I was there two weeks ago and peeked inside Soak City and by looking at these photos at the finished product it was a job well done by the park. WaterWorks felt dated in some parts and now the water park is brightly colored and looking fresh with a new name. I'm also happy that they have dealt with the congestion on the north side of the water park and installed the new pathway. Congrats to KD and Cedar Fair on a job well done.

 

Thanks as always Chuck for the great photo TR!

[Coaster Hero]

Thank you for posting that picture of I305's crest in the side view. I've never seen a picture of it so perfect,so I've had a hard time recreating it in N2!

[TyRush]

Thank you for posting that picture of I305's crest in the side view. I've never seen a picture of it so perfect,so I've had a hard time recreating it in N2!

They did just recreate it for us in the last update you know!

[DCSportsAndCoasters]

Looks really good! Definitely an improvement over that wasteland known as WaterWorks!

 

Also, take note Carowinds, Great America, etc. You don't need to tear down a coaster just for a water park expansion.

[ferk60]

Thanks for the Soak City update. I have never really been to the water park part of Kings Dominion. I am not really a water park guy so unless the water park is in my way I never really see it but it looks nice. Great pictures...

 

On a side note if we can't speculate about the future of Kings Dominion on Theme Park Review then where do we go! I know you were joking btw and so am I.

 

Why is there so much B&M hate going on on the board recently. They make RELIABLE, high capacity, thrilling coasters. What all that being said I love a good twisty **In my Rob voice** Intamin coaster. I look at them as equals both with their strenghens and weaknesses. I think it is all but confirmed that KD is getting a Winged Coaster and B&M is the only one doing them well so.... deal with it people.

[OrlandoGuy]

^No way man, B&M sucks Intamin RULEZZZ!!!!! If its not a TOP 5 OMFG ROLLER COASTER WITH SICK EJECTOR AIR then dont even bother, I will not only not ride it, I will AVOID LOOKING AT IT AT ALL COSTS and then I will TRASH IT AS MUCH AS I CAN without even riding it. I will cancel my Cedar Fair Passport if they put in another B&M snoozefest!!!!!! I pay to ride roller coasters, not take napzzz!!!!! Also, since EVERY RIDE I EVEN BOTHER WITH has to be a Top 5 ride, my Top 5 is about 20 roller coasters long but that just shows my dedication to counting credits and spending WAY too much time ranking them!!!

 

All hail Intamin!!!! I havent even heard the announcement for KD's new coaster but I can already tell it's just another forceless B&M, YAWN, lemme go do it with a SICK PIC of a naked Intamin

[DCSportsAndCoasters]

Thanks for the Soak City update. I have never really been to the water park part of Kings Dominion. I am not really a water park guy so unless the water park is in my way I never really see it but it looks nice. Great pictures...

 

On a side note if we can't speculate about the future of Kings Dominion on Theme Park Review then where do we go! I know you were joking btw and so am I.

 

Why is there so much B&M hate going on on the board recently. They make RELIABLE, high capacity, thrilling coasters. What all that being said I love a good twisty **In my Rob voice** Intamin coaster. I look at them as equals both with their strenghens and weaknesses. I think it is all but confirmed that KD is getting a Winged Coaster and B&M is the only one doing them well so.... deal with it people.

 

And it's not like B&M has never made intense coasters; just ride Fury 325.

 

With all that said, I believe we are getting a B&M hyper next year. The KD homage shows a coaster that the park currently does not have; a hyper. No other Cedar Fair website does this. I actually think that the VALRAVN name could actually be for this hype and not for Cedar Point like some believe, because CF usually does a cycle when it comes to their major parks getting a new coaster.

[Canobie Coaster]

The new water park addition looks fantastic. I loved the same slide complex at Dorney last year and it was a big hit among guests. I prefer the trap door slides that have one long drop, but the aqua loop ones were almost as good with their intensity and direction changes. Unfortunately, due to time I missed the Thunder Falls equivalent, but those drops looked really thrilling. I wasn't impressed with the Aqua Blast equivalent. I just didn't get the constrictor slide, but maybe that's just me. Off ride it looks cool, but during the ride you don't really notice the tighter turn due to the slow speeds.

[Philrad71]

Thanks for the report, Chuck...the water park upgrade was much needed - it looks a lot nicer now.

 

I agree about not being a fan of the speed slides. As I age, I am just not a fan of getting tons of water up my nose or a massive wedgie from all of the speed. Put me in a tube or raft anytime though!

[Meteornotes]

Well, the water park certainly looks a lot nicer. Good job, KD!

 

dt

[PKI Jizzman]

I honestly didn't know KD had a waterpark. Never saw any pictures of it! I really hope Kings Island gets a similar addition..

[cfc]

The new water park addition looks fantastic. I loved the same slide complex at Dorney last year and it was a big hit among guests. I prefer the trap door slides that have one long drop, but the aqua loop ones were almost as good with their intensity and direction changes. Unfortunately, due to time I missed the Thunder Falls equivalent, but those drops looked really thrilling. I wasn't impressed with the Aqua Blast equivalent. I just didn't get the constrictor slide, but maybe that's just me. Off ride it looks cool, but during the ride you don't really notice the tighter turn due to the slow speeds.

 

Aqua Blast is the longest of the three tube sildes, and it "meanders" a bit--which is why it would be perfect for skittish kids. There were two little girls who kept dithering about riding Paradise Plunge and kept me from riding for about 10 minutes (when one of them took the drop, while the other bowed out).