Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[Vonni]

Shockwave update:

Visited KD for an hour tonight. No flags or markers under or directly around the Shockwave (the supports evidently were repainted recently, though . HOWEVER, the Action Theater was closed (IDK why) and a fair number of unmarked red and orange flags were observed at the base of a number of trees by the kiddie flat behind the Shockwave, the "Flying Ace". Let the flat-for-flat tradeoff speculation commence (although they might be utility markers).

 

I wonder if Shockwave is getting it's supports re-painted because going to get bought by a smaller park, like SkyRider did.

 

 

 

I really doubt CF would put out the time and money to paint a ride that is going to be sold to another park. That just does not seem logical.

[DonkeysWaffles]

Has anyone noticed the tree clearings in the back of the park like I did?

[certifiedcoastergeek]

Has anyone noticed the tree clearings in the back of the park like I did?

A. WHERE? Star Wars cough I mean Coaster Drought Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Coaster? Probably not... but still cool!

B. I took a closer look @ the flags behind Shockwave on Sunday and they aren't gas or other utility markers, but rather "John Deere Landscaping" flags. Why in the middle of a forest?

Personally, I'm hoping that it's for this kind of landscaping...

The Shockwave eats dirt once and for all.

[Tee1999]

Has anyone noticed the tree clearings in the back of the park like I did?

A. WHERE? Star Wars cough I mean Coaster Drought Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Coaster? Probably not... but still cool!

B. I took a closer look @ the flags behind Shockwave on Sunday and they aren't gas or other utility markers, but rather "John Deere Landscaping" flags. Why in the middle of a forest?

Personally, I'm hoping that it's for this kind of landscaping...

[attachment=0]TrostleFarmTreeClearing082010_02.jpg[/attachment]

This park is confusing man lol...

[DonkeysWaffles]

Has anyone noticed the tree clearings in the back of the park like I did?

A. WHERE? Star Wars cough I mean Coaster Drought Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Coaster? Probably not... but still cool!

B. I took a closer look @ the flags behind Shockwave on Sunday and they aren't gas or other utility markers, but rather "John Deere Landscaping" flags. Why in the middle of a forest?

Personally, I'm hoping that it's for this kind of landscaping...

[attachment=0]TrostleFarmTreeClearing082010_02.jpg[/attachment]

 

I have no idea what it means, but it appears that trees are being cleared in Old Virginia. My hope is that it's for a flat ride in 2016 (if not that inverted 4th dimension launched wooden looping stratacoaster we want), but who knows. I want a record breaking S&S giant swing so badly at KD.

[DonkeysWaffles]

Has anyone noticed the tree clearings in the back of the park like I did?

A. WHERE? Star Wars cough I mean Coaster Drought Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Coaster? Probably not... but still cool!

B. I took a closer look @ the flags behind Shockwave on Sunday and they aren't gas or other utility markers, but rather "John Deere Landscaping" flags. Why in the middle of a forest?

Personally, I'm hoping that it's for this kind of landscaping...

[attachment=0]TrostleFarmTreeClearing082010_02.jpg[/attachment]

 

But I swear to god, if we actually end up getting a coaster in 2016, I will fall sick of a heart attack!

[GCI Wooden]

But I swear to god, if we actually end up getting a coaster in 2016, I will fall sick of a heart attack!

I would too, just because of how unnecessary a coaster seems at this point.

[DonkeysWaffles]

But I swear to god, if we actually end up getting a coaster in 2016, I will fall sick of a heart attack!

I would too, just because of how unnecessary a coaster seems at this point.

Why is a coaster unnecessary? We haven't gotten one for 6 years. It's not like we're talking about SFMM.

[DonkeysWaffles]

But I swear to god, if we actually end up getting a coaster in 2016, I will fall sick of a heart attack!

I would too, just because of how unnecessary a coaster seems at this point.

 

Kings Dominion did a lot to make the park nicer after I305:

 

2011- Minor park improvements

2012- Windseeker (family-friendly ride)

2013- Planet Snoopy

2014- 40th anniversary (major improvements and additions to the park's overall appearance)

2015- Soak City (huge improvement to an aging waterpark).

 

It only makes sense that the final part of their 40th anniversary is a new coaster. If not that, then an S&S giant swing would be a very thrilling but family friendly attraction.

[coasterbill]

I'd be shocked if they ever buy another S&S Giant Swing after the unbelievable amount of problems they've had with Skyhawk.

[DonkeysWaffles]

I'd be shocked if they ever buy another S&S Giant Swing after the unbelievable amount of problems they've had with Skyhawk.

 

Then perhaps a giant frisbee? Apparently HUSS uses OTS lap bars on their rides now. A frisbee with those restraints would create for some insane airtime.

[coasterbill]

I'd say that's much more likely and I really hope it's true. Those are excellent rides. I'm still not basing that on anything other than an enthusiast pipe dream though.

[DonkeysWaffles]

I'd say that's much more likely and I really hope it's true. Those are excellent rides. I'm still not basing that on anything other than an enthusiast pipe dream though.

 

Hopefully the tree clearings and markings mean that something is coming.

[BeansproutMidget]

Speaking of HUSS, I saw on Screamscape this morning that they are remaking their Enterprise models (I love those things). I looked at some model pictures and it looks pretty sweet. I'd love for one of these to get installed at KD in the next few years (especially since they used to have an original Enterprise ride). But, that'll never happen...one can dream...

[DonkeysWaffles]

Speaking of HUSS, I saw on Screamscape this morning that they are remaking their Enterprise models (I love those things). I looked at some model pictures and it looks pretty sweet. I'd love for one of these to get installed at KD in the next few years (especially since they used to have an original Enterprise ride). But, that'll never happen...one can dream...

 

Enterprise rides just make me nauseous. I'd much rather have a frisbee.

[BeansproutMidget]

Don't get me wrong, I love HUSS frisbees as well.

[DonkeysWaffles]

So, here's what I think is going to happen in the future (in chronological order):

 

2015: Shockwave closes/removed, giant frisbee announced for 2016, markers and clearings for 2017

 

2016: Giant frisbee opens (in Shockwaves's spot), SlingShot also unexpectedly opens, permit for 2017 coaster shows up, teasers show up, go-carts/possibly BR tollway close/removed, new B&M launched wingrider announced for 2017, construction begins

 

2017: Coaster opens, Grizzly get new enterance, Action Theater closes, TrioTech dark ride announced to go inside former theater

 

2018: TrioTech opens, Anaconda gets new trains, Planet Snoopy expansion announced

 

2019: PS expansion opens

 

2020: Nothing new, but Hurler closes, and RMC conversion announced for 2021

[coasterfreak101]

^With how big they've been on bringing some history back into the park - including reverting The Grove back to Candy Apple Grove already - I wouldn't be surprised at all if they bought themselves a new model of the old Apple Turnover. Now, if we could just get King Kobra back...

[DonkeysWaffles]

^Actually, with how big they've been on bringing some history back into the park - including reverting The Grove back to Candy Apple Grove already - I wouldn't be surprised at all if they bought themselves a new model of the old Apple Turnover. Now, if we could just get King Kobra back...

 

Ehh, I'd rather get a brand new launch coaster than bringing back an old one. But Apple Turnover would be nice to bring back, even though I'm not a fan of enterprises.

[prozach626]

I posted something in the BGW thread. I'm hoping for a little advise. Thanks, guys:

 

Hey guys. Next week I'm knocking two parks off of my bucket list, being KD and BGW. I'm trying to decide which park to visit first. My original plan was for my wife and I to go to KD on Tuesday and ride the long awaited I305. We were going to take a day off to check out the Williamsburg area or maybe drive to Virginia beach, before going to BGW the following day.

 

My initial reasoning for this is because my not-so-enthusiast wife enjoys parks/coasters only a fraction of what I do. Two parks in three days is a little much to keep her interest and not burn her out. I wanted to get as many laps in on I305 the first day and really explore KI's sister park, since KI is our favorite park. I originally planned on going to BGW on our last day, because I think she will enjoy it more, especially after going coaster nuts at KD. BGW will mostly be reserved for casual riding in between drinking good beer and eating good food. This will also be our "cheat day," since we're big health/fitness junkies. I have a feeling she'll enjoy BGW a lot more than KI since we can just relax and take it easy at our own pace, where as I'm more goal oriented at KD.

 

I thought I had it planned perfectly until I started to think about it and read a few TPR side conversations. I'm concerned that with my first park being KD that I305 is going to make me enjoy any of the great coasters at BGW less than what I normally would. Some people say I305 makes them kind of numb to other experiences. I really wanted to stick to my original plan, but not if it's going to make BGW almost obsolete. I'd love to end our trip with a more pleasurable (park)experience for my wife, but not if it means the potential for ruining our trip to BGW in general.

 

Does anyone have any insight on this? Maybe the one day off will help or am I just thinking too much into it? Any advice is appreciated, as these are a couple of my most anticipated parks and I'd like to get maximum enjoyment out of them.

 

Thanks.

[certifiedcoastergeek]

So, here's what I think is going to happen in the future (in chronological order):

 

2015: Shockwave closes/removed, giant frisbee announced for 2016, markers and clearings for 2017

 

2016: Giant frisbee opens (in Shockwaves's spot), SlingShot also unexpectedly opens, permit for 2017 coaster shows up, teasers show up, go-carts/possibly BR tollway close/removed, new B&M launched wingrider announced for 2017, construction begins

 

2017: Coaster opens, Grizzly get new enterance, Action Theater closes, TrioTech dark ride announced to go inside former theater

 

2018: TrioTech opens, Anaconda gets new trains, Planet Snoopy expansion announced

 

2019: PS expansion opens

 

2020: Nothing new, but Hurler closes, and RMC conversion announced for 2021

I didn't want to speculate for the next ten years, but I think that it's only fair that I do so, since some of these are slightly inaccurate:

2015: Land clearing continues near Shockwave and behind Old Virginia, nothing officially announced for 2016

2016: SlingShot opens next to Shockwave, Old Virginia land clearing continues, new coaster announced for 2017

2017: New coaster opens, nothing officially announced for 2018

2018: Minor improvements, Action Theater closes, Triotech dark ride announced for 2019

2019: Triotech dark ride opens, Shockwave, Flying Ace, and Peanuts Showplace close, new theater and Planet Snoopy expansion announced for 2020

2020: New theater and Planet Snoopy expansion open, Hurler closes, new waterslide complexes announced for 2021

2021: New slide complexes open, land clearing in and behind remaining unused Hurler space continues, new coaster announced for 2022

2022: New coaster opens, nothing officially announced for 2023

2023: Minor improvements, Ricochet closes, flat ride and 50th anniversary celebration announced for 2024

2024: Frisbee/Enterprise reopens, minor 50th anniversary improvements, Backlot Stunt Coaster closes, Lake Charles expansion and second year of 50th anniversary announced for 2025

2025: 50th anniversary improvements continue, Anaconda closes, new flying/wing coaster over Lake Charles announced for 2026

Just to recap what I think that the next ten years might look like:

+Two new coasters (with a third in development)

+Triotech dark ride

+Planet Snoopy upgrades

+Soak City upgrades

+Lake Charles partially restored

+One or two new flat rides

+Cosmetic improvements

-Five coasters close

-Action Theater closes

By 2025, Kings Dominion might be down to a "shocking" *credit whores cry everytime* 11 coasters, with number 12 on the way. The park would become the dominant regional destination with a very solid, quality-over-quantity coaster lineup, bolstered by park icons like Volcano, the Blast Coaster and Intimidator 305, as well as Dominator and two newer, innovative (or cloned ), household-name coasters (with a third on its way). With the restoration of Lake Charles and expansions of Soak City and Planet Snoopy, the park would definitely look better than ever for the 50th anniversary.

But the moral of the story?

Cedar Fair hasn't given up on the park. Rather, the company's "master plan" for the park seems to be to build a large, world-class coaster, then to wait four to seven years while upgrading everything else around the park before building the next one, to entice infrequent and casual guests to return sooner with a healthy atmosphere, rather than with the (everything but) Paramount "The new ride is cool, but I have no reason to come back until they build another one" mindset.

[smallpox]

Speaking of HUSS, I saw on Screamscape this morning that they are remaking their Enterprise models (I love those things). I looked at some model pictures and it looks pretty sweet. I'd love for one of these to get installed at KD in the next few years (especially since they used to have an original Enterprise ride). But, that'll never happen...one can dream...

 

The Apple Turnover was my first and favorite thrill ride!!

[coasterbill]

^^We're speculating until 2025 now? Cool... Why stop there?

 

2026: General improvements, new parking lot that can accommodate flying cars is added given the increase in the popularity of flying cars.

 

2027: Snoopy's moon expedition ride added, the ride will take guests to the moon because that's all the rage in 2027. This ride will open a few years after Moon Force opens at Cedar Point but Cedar Point's version goes 5 feet higher into space, enthusiasts speculate that the Kings Dominion ride intentionally goes 5 feet lower into space as to not break Cedar Point's records. Complaining ensues.

 

2028: Hurler gets new wood on the lift hill which really annoys enthusiasts who are complaining about why they haven't done a Rocky Mountain conversion yet, they speculate that the new wood on the lift hill means that they're stuck with the ride for awhile... they're right.

 

2029: Dinosaurs alive updated with actual dinosaurs who are really alive because by 2029 the technology is in place to have Dinosaurs that are alive. Despite the fact that Kings Dominion has ACTUAL FREAKING DINOSAURS now which is awesome, enthusiasts complain that they would have rather seen a Hurler RMC conversion.

 

2030: The moon ride is re-skinned as Space Ghosts for Haunt but the park is forced to change the name of the ride after it's deemed offensive due to the recent outbreak of space terrorism on Mars (which by now is inhabited by the way, mostly by hipsters and the previously noted space terrorists).

 

2031: Flight of Fear closes because it's kind of dumb to have a space themed ride when they actually have a ride that actually goes to space now. Enthusiasts complain that while they understand the move they kind of like the ride as it's nostalgic and Kings Dominion hast lost it's charm over the years, plus if the park were to remove a coaster it should really be Hurler. Hurler is not removed, enthusiasts continue to complain.

 

What do you guys think?

[DonkeysWaffles]

So, here's what I think is going to happen in the future (in chronological order):

 

2015: Shockwave closes/removed, giant frisbee announced for 2016, markers and clearings for 2017

 

2016: Giant frisbee opens (in Shockwaves's spot), SlingShot also unexpectedly opens, permit for 2017 coaster shows up, teasers show up, go-carts/possibly BR tollway close/removed, new B&M launched wingrider announced for 2017, construction begins

 

2017: Coaster opens, Grizzly get new enterance, Action Theater closes, TrioTech dark ride announced to go inside former theater

 

2018: TrioTech opens, Anaconda gets new trains, Planet Snoopy expansion announced

 

2019: PS expansion opens

 

2020: Nothing new, but Hurler closes, and RMC conversion announced for 2021

I didn't want to speculate for the next ten years, but I think that it's only fair that I do so, since some of these are slightly inaccurate:

2015: Land clearing continues near Shockwave and behind Old Virginia, nothing officially announced for 2016

2016: SlingShot opens next to Shockwave, Old Virginia land clearing continues, new coaster announced for 2017

2017: New coaster opens, nothing officially announced for 2018

2018: Minor improvements, Action Theater closes, Triotech dark ride announced for 2019

2019: Triotech dark ride opens, Shockwave, Flying Ace, and Peanuts Showplace close, new theater and Planet Snoopy expansion announced for 2020

2020: New theater and Planet Snoopy expansion open, Hurler closes, new waterslide complexes announced for 2021

2021: New slide complexes open, land clearing in and behind remaining unused Hurler space continues, new coaster announced for 2022

2022: New coaster opens, nothing officially announced for 2023

2023: Minor improvements, Ricochet closes, flat ride and 50th anniversary celebration announced for 2024

2024: Frisbee/Enterprise reopens, minor 50th anniversary improvements, Backlot Stunt Coaster closes, Lake Charles expansion and second year of 50th anniversary announced for 2025

2025: 50th anniversary improvements continue, Anaconda closes, new flying/wing coaster over Lake Charles announced for 2026

Just to recap what I think that the next ten years might look like:

+Two new coasters (with a third in development)

+Triotech dark ride

+Planet Snoopy upgrades

+Soak City upgrades

+Lake Charles partially restored

+One or two new flat rides

+Cosmetic improvements

-Five coasters close

-Action Theater closes

By 2025, Kings Dominion might be down to a "shocking" *credit whores cry everytime* 11 coasters, with number 12 on the way. The park would become the dominant regional destination with a very solid, quality-over-quantity coaster lineup, bolstered by park icons like Volcano, the Blast Coaster and Intimidator 305, as well as Dominator and two newer, innovative (or cloned ), household-name coasters (with a third on its way). With the restoration of Lake Charles and expansions of Soak City and Planet Snoopy, the park would definitely look better than ever for the 50th anniversary.

But the moral of the story?

Cedar Fair hasn't given up on the park. Rather, the company's "master plan" for the park seems to be to build a large, world-class coaster, then to wait four to seven years while upgrading everything else around the park before building the next one, to entice infrequent and casual guests to return sooner with a healthy atmosphere, rather than with the (everything but) Paramount "The new ride is cool, but I have no reason to come back until they build another one" mindset.

 

There's no way that 5 coasters are going to close in 10 years, especially Ricochet and Backlot Stunt Coaster. The only two I see closing are Shockwave and Hurler.

[certifiedcoastergeek]

^^We're speculating until 2025 now? Cool... Why stop there?

 

2026: General improvements, new parking lot that can accommodate flying cars is added given the increase in the popularity of flying cars.

 

2027: Snoopy's moon expedition ride added, the ride will take guests to the moon because that's all the rage in 2027. This ride will open a few years after Moon Force opens at Cedar Point but Cedar Point's version goes 5 feet higher into space, enthusiasts speculate that the Kings Dominion ride intentionally goes 5 feet lower into space as to not break Cedar Point's records. Complaining ensues.

 

2028: Hurler gets new wood on the lift hill which really annoys enthusiasts who are complaining about why they haven't done a Rocky Mountain conversion yet, they speculate that the new wood on the lift hill means that they're stuck with the ride for awhile... they're right.

 

2029: Dinosaurs alive updated with actual dinosaurs who are really alive because by 2029 the technology is in place to have Dinosaurs that are alive. Despite the fact that Kings Dominion has ACTUAL FREAKING DINOSAURS now which is awesome, enthusiasts complain that they would have rather seen a Hurler RMC conversion.

 

2030: The moon ride is re-skinned as Space Ghosts for Haunt but the park is forced to change the name of the ride after it's deemed offensive due to the recent outbreak of space terrorism on Mars (which by now is inhabited by the way, mostly by hipsters and the previously noted space terrorists).

 

2031: Flight of Fear closes because it's kind of dumb to have a space themed ride when they actually have a ride that actually goes to space now. Enthusiasts complain that while they understand the move they kind of like the ride as it's nostalgic and Kings Dominion hast lost it's charm over the years, plus if the park were to remove a coaster it should really be Hurler. Hurler is not removed, enthusiasts continue to complain.

 

What do you guys think?

Well that escalated quickly

JURASSIC WORLD 2 LEAKED FOOTAGE CONFIRMED

2029: Dinosaurs alive updated with actual dinosaurs who are really alive because by 2029 the technology is in place to have Dinosaurs that are alive. Despite the fact that Kings Dominion has ACTUAL FREAKING DINOSAURS now which is awesome, enthusiasts complain that they would have rather seen a Hurler RMC conversion.