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Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

P. 767: WinterFest Media Night Report

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I just got told to stop snapping the flyers so much. Yes, the Kings Dominion flyers. Her exact words were "Okay if you ride again, can you NOT make the ride bounce on its cords? I stop the ride every time you do that."

 

I didn't think it was possible based on the last 6 years of riding KD's previously crappy flyers, but I was bouncing pretty good. The only flyers that have given me trouble are at Lake Compounce.

Edited by Oryp
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^Oddly enough, the Togo stand-ups in Japan tend to be better.

 

It must be those world's slowest lifts. Maybe these things are designed to drag through their courses?

 

 

A Hurler/Grizzly hybrid would arguably be the best ride in the park, even outdoing I305.

A topper track only conversion of the two would be amazing indeed.

 

No I meant an RMC hybrid. Both aren't that great anyways. It could be the longest hybrid on earth or something like that.

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No I meant an RMC hybrid. Both aren't that great anyways. It could be the longest hybrid on earth or something like that.

 

Good luck getting the GP's attention with that type of marketing.

They'll probably think it's a car.

 

 

I'm still waiting for a topper-track only conversion.

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No I meant an RMC hybrid. Both aren't that great anyways. It could be the longest hybrid on earth or something like that.

 

Good luck getting the GP's attention with that type of marketing.

They'll probably think it's a car.

 

 

I'm still waiting for a topper-track only conversion.

 

It would still be pretty bad if it was only topper track. Now if it was completely new topper track (like Outlaw Run), then that would be cool.

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So, I was on the KD front page. Then, I found something.

 

It appears the park is having a Coaster Campout as well. Its from August 20th to 21st, and it appears to be similar to Cedar Point's. It is right on the front page of the website, as well as under their Special Events tab if anyone wants to check it out...(I couldn't get the link to work.. )

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I'm going to Kings Dominion for my first visit ever on September 5 which is a Saturday. Since I live in NJ this will be my only visit this season. Should I go ahead and splurge on FastLane or are the lines like those at Dorney Park?

 

When I visited on a Saturday last month, the park was massively crowded. After waiting in Dominator's non-moving line for ten minutes I bounced and snatched up a Fast Lane Plus, and didn't look back. Well worth the purchase. That being said, if you're visiting in September, it's entirely possible it may be less crowded, so I have to second everyone else in saying wait until you get there, gauge how the crowds look, and if it seems like it's going to be too much waiting, then yes, definitely pick one up.

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hit the park on Monday. Not too crowded. Had a blast. observations:

 

- all coasters running very well! i305 remains the best ride on the planet.

 

- said my goodbyes to Shockwave. that first drop and loop are underrated! i won't speak ill of the doomed today.

 

- that 50s diner, i forget what it's called now, used to be Stan Mikita's ... was offering 3 different beers. Coors Light, Bud Light, and Miller Light. like, why bother? that's like offering three different brands of bottled water. other places in the park have stuff like Yuengling or even Old Bust Head (local craft brewery). cart a keg over there, KD! it's not so much that the beers are crappy (i get wanting a light crisp lager) but offering 3 near-identical beers with no variety is no bueno.

 

- also some condiment weirdness at that place. i had to ask where the ketchup was. they had hidden the ketchup in giant yellow mustard containers. alright. also asked for salt (for the completely unsalted french fries) and they acted like it was the strangest, most exotic request they'd ever heard. they had none. they had lots of pepper packets, though. hey, i get that these are kids with summer jobs, not professional restauranteurs. it's fine. they do a pretty good job. i just thought it was funny that a request for salt baffled the employees of a burger and fries joint.

 

- some of the ops for flat rides, particularly in the kids section, were working at a pace i can only describe as GLACIAL. i walked to the other side of the park, rode i305, flight of fear, and Volcano, walked back, and my kids had only ridden 2 kiddie rides in that time (snoopy nests, and the mini train). and it's not like there were long lines - it was a Monday. there had only been one or two cycle of riders in front of them for both rides. these rides were doing like one cycle every 15 minutes it seemed. maybe less. Sadly, we got out of line of Flying Eagles for the same reason. a shame, because it's one of my daughter's favorites. there were only about 2-3 cycles worth in front of us in line, but it looked like it was going to take a good 45 minutes.

 

- the water park was great! my son was juuuust tall enough to ride his first water slides.

 

- daughter rode Ricochet for the first time. loved it!

 

- both rode log flume for the first time. loved that too!

 

overall a great day at the park. can't wait to go back.

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Made my first ever visit to the park today and had a fantastic time. It was a pretty quiet day so we managed to get plenty of rides in. Arrived at the park for opening and managed to get 21 rides in, 8 laps on i305, 4 on Dominator, 2 on Volcano and one lap on all the other coasters except for Ricochet. I305 was running one train but only had a 5 minute queue to give some idea of how quiet the park was.

 

I305 was amazing, easily the best coaster I have ever ridden. Those fast turns where you get whipped from one side to another were brilliant. Can't wait to try out Fury 325 on Friday to see how they compare. Dominator and Volcano were also both great rides. There were some really awful coasters at this park too, Shockwave, Anaconda, Grizzly and Hurler were all terrible, thank god Shockwave is getting torn down!

 

I had no idea this was such a beautiful looking park either, loads of trees everywhere was great to see. All in all, a brilliant first visit to Kings Dominion, hope to make it back someday!

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Made my first ever visit to the park today and had a fantastic time. It was a pretty quiet day so we managed to get plenty of rides in. Arrived at the park for opening and managed to get 21 rides in, 8 laps on i305, 4 on Dominator, 2 on Volcano and one lap on all the other coasters except for Ricochet. I305 was running one train but only had a 5 minute queue to give some idea of how quiet the park was.

 

I305 was amazing, easily the best coaster I have ever ridden. Those fast turns where you get whipped from one side to another were brilliant. Can't wait to try out Fury 325 on Friday to see how they compare. Dominator and Volcano were also both great rides. There were some really awful coasters at this park too, Shockwave, Anaconda, Grizzly and Hurler were all terrible, thank god Shockwave is getting torn down!

 

I had no idea this was such a beautiful looking park either, loads of trees everywhere was great to see. All in all, a brilliant first visit to Kings Dominion, hope to make it back someday!

 

Glad you had a great first visit to Kings Dominion! Kings Dominion is truly a beautiful park, but its beautifulness is way underated due to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, the world's most beautiful theme park being only about an hour away. I'm happy Shockwave is leaving and agree that both Shockwave and Hurler are awful coasters, but I think Andaconda and Grizzly are okay and not bad.

Please post back once you've ridden Fury 325 to tell us how you think it compares to I305.

I'm sure a a lot of us would be interested in your opinion!

Edited by Bmanscool
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I rather like Grizzly personally. I find that rough old wooden coasters is half the charm of them. The reason I hate Mean Streak is because it's rough AND boring. Grizzly I find fun though!

 

If they did topper track for Hurler, but left the same layout, I'd be down. I like the layout because it's kinda different from most woodies, but it has not aged well at all, that's for sure.

 

As I've said before, my gripe with Shockwave is the capacity. If it loaded faster I wouldn't mind it. I also like Anaconda, though it is from the dying breed of coaster you need to be taught "how to ride," which is definitely falling out of favor.

 

Then again, considering there are people complaining that rides like Alpengeist and Rougarou are too rough, I'm convinced that if we got rid of any coasters less rough than Banshee, people would be out complaining how rough Banshee is...

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I rather like Grizzly personally. I find that rough old wooden coasters is half the charm of them. The reason I hate Mean Streak is because it's rough AND boring. Grizzly I find fun though!

 

If they did topper track for Hurler, but left the same layout, I'd be down. I like the layout because it's kinda different from most woodies, but it has not aged well at all, that's for sure.

 

As I've said before, my gripe with Shockwave is the capacity. If it loaded faster I wouldn't mind it. I also like Anaconda, though it is from the dying breed of coaster you need to be taught "how to ride," which is definitely falling out of favor.

 

Then again, considering there are people complaining that rides like Alpengeist and Rougarou are too rough, I'm convinced that if we got rid of any coasters less rough than Banshee, people would be out complaining how rough Banshee is...

 

Alpengeist is brutal. It needs those vest restraints BADLY. I've never head anyone say Rougarou is rough, just a slight rattle at the end like Dominator.

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We found Grizzly to be the best wooden in the park, not brutally rough at all. Can't be that sensitive.

 

I had zero head banging on Anaconda, I still don't get why people call this ride rough.

 

Shockwave wasn't that bad, I was positioned well and I found it to be better than Green Lantern and Apocalypse.

 

I will agree that Hurler has some rough spots.

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^ Anaconda can really suck in some cars if you aren't bracing at all, ESPECIALLY the transition between the two helixs. However, much like the snap onto the brake run of Alpengeist or Raptor, or going into any other weird Arrow transition, if you just hold on for a moment, or stick your neck out (or both) you'll be fine.

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I rather like Grizzly personally. I find that rough old wooden coasters is half the charm of them. The reason I hate Mean Streak is because it's rough AND boring. Grizzly I find fun though!

 

If they did topper track for Hurler, but left the same layout, I'd be down. I like the layout because it's kinda different from most woodies, but it has not aged well at all, that's for sure.

 

As I've said before, my gripe with Shockwave is the capacity. If it loaded faster I wouldn't mind it. I also like Anaconda, though it is from the dying breed of coaster you need to be taught "how to ride," which is definitely falling out of favor.

 

Then again, considering there are people complaining that rides like Alpengeist and Rougarou are too rough, I'm convinced that if we got rid of any coasters less rough than Banshee, people would be out complaining how rough Banshee is...

 

Alpengeist is brutal. It needs those vest restraints BADLY. I've never head anyone say Rougarou is rough, just a slight rattle at the end like Dominator.

 

I think alpenguist is extremely smooth except for the cobra roll, and I thought rougarou was smooth but boring. I think dominator is extremely smooth too.

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^ not on many, the reach envelope is small on many, since the horse collars are designed to keep your arms down. Actually Arrows used to have smaller harnesses that were less restrictive, and were changed so that people couldn't put their hands out anymore since the cars go way closer to structure and obstacles than more modern coasters.

 

Here's what the old harnesses looked like.

 

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^^-- I can't think of anywhere on Anaconda that would be a problem. Except maybe Arrow's smaller coasters, the reach envelope is usually huge. Touching the wheels could be a problem maybe. I was concussed once so hard on it I was affected for 3 days. I'm now very careful about riding it but still do. They did seem to improve it for 2014. I saw new paint on the "spot" and of course there's more new paint now. I don't know what else they could have done, but it does really help. Otherwise I'd say get rid of ASAP, for their own sake!

 

I rather like Grizzly personally. I find that rough old wooden coasters is half the charm of them. The reason I hate Mean Streak is because it's rough AND boring. Grizzly I find fun though!

 

If they did topper track for Hurler, but left the same layout, I'd be down. I like the layout because it's kinda different from most woodies, but it has not aged well at all, that's for sure.

 

As I've said before, my gripe with Shockwave is the capacity. If it loaded faster I wouldn't mind it. I also like Anaconda, though it is from the dying breed of coaster you need to be taught "how to ride," which is definitely falling out of favor.

 

Then again, considering there are people complaining that rides like Alpengeist and Rougarou are too rough, I'm convinced that if we got rid of any coasters less rough than Banshee, people would be out complaining how rough Banshee is...

 

Yeah man! And Hurler has that problem now of being rough AND boring (not even that rough, but what else is there to notice except that what a tragedy?). Thunder Run, considered an inspiration for Hurler's layout, got topper track and one reviewer described it as now one of the best wood coasters. Sure, no inversions etc., but what's wrong with a coaster restored to run as good or better than the day it opened? I'd miss the jackhammer first curve but am intrigued by how it would ride if smooth and fast too. Maybe even with a little tricky RMC twisty bits it would come across as the mini-wood-I305. And you have to remember the difference between a straight Topper track job and a full I-Box conversion is like a Hyundai vs. Ferrari pricewise. They could go on to other major improvements in only 1-2 years rather than 5.

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