Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[Intimidator305]

And as someone who has been on every hyper coaster east of the Mississippi I can confidentially say that the 'floater' air on Intimidator 305's final two hills (even the trimmed hill) is better than some of these 'floater' airtime hypers.

[DonkeysWaffles]

Or possibly a good ejector airtime machine (*cough RMC *cough).

[JamminJ]

No wonder why valleyfair, Michigan adventure, and worlds of fun have are at the low tier, its because cedar fair doesn't wanna experiment each park. They do have potential, its just cedar fair is playing favorites.

 

Or they don't have the market to sustain growth? Sure the first year or two you'll see big jumps in attendance, but what about after?

[DonkeysWaffles]

No wonder why valleyfair, Michigan adventure, and worlds of fun have are at the low tier, its because cedar fair doesn't wanna experiment each park. They do have potential, its just cedar fair is playing favorites.

 

Or they don't have the market to sustain growth? Sure the first year or two you'll see big jumps in attendance, but what about after?

 

Kings Dominion is well visited enough though.

[JamminJ]

Did I mention Kings Dominion? No I did not. I would assume that Cedar Fair has been happy with Kings Dominion's attendance, and therefore not needed to make a huge capital investment to keep attendance afloat. The whole business about "playing favorites" is idiotic. Kings Dominion was pretty well stacked when it came to rides while parks like Carowinds and Canada's Wonderland were well behind for their market potential a few years ago. Now I'd say they are all closer to being on equal footing.

[FSUFanChris]

And as someone who has been on every hyper coaster east of the Mississippi I can confidentially say that the 'floater' air on Intimidator 305's final two hills (even the trimmed hill) is better than some of these 'floater' airtime hypers.

Now you're just trolling.

[Intimidator305]

^ Just stating my opinion. Especially when you ride ones like Intimidator down at Carowinds when the ride has been trimmed to death and doesn't necessarily 'get going' until it warms up. Many times during (most obvious in the early spring and fall) these rides simply go over the hills without much air at all.

 

And to be honest on the whole ejector/floater debate, to the GP they are both nothing but your "butt coming out of the seat".

[Fooz]

Oh my gosh parks do not need two types of airtime.

[FSUFanChris]

^ Just stating my opinion. Especially when you ride ones like Intimidator down at Carowinds when the ride has been trimmed to death and doesn't necessarily 'get going' until it warms up. Many times during (most obvious in the early spring and fall) these rides simply go over the hills without much air at all.

You think i305 has better floater air than i232? This isn't about which is the better ride (i305, imo).

[Intimidator305]

^ I232 is hit or miss with its airtime so I really can't say. Years ago, I sometimes would get a good ride on 232 but haven't in a long time due to those trims. So lately, yes I'd argue 305's floater air is better than 232's in the fact that it has 2 good floater hills when 232 crawls over most of its hills.

[ernierocker]

I thought we fixed the bickering in this thread by getting rid of whats his name.

 

[Intimidator305]

I wouldn't call this bickering... I think it's refreshing to see and participate in discussion about something other than the ordinary "it's not fair KD isn't getting a coaster" conversation.

 

On the topic of new additions though, I've seen the rumor of August 20th possibly being the announcement date. Don't mark my words, but it's something to consider and keep an eye on. KD is known for oddball out of nowhere announcements, so there's a chance it could pop up unannounced.

[FSUFanChris]

No bickering. More like, discussing.

[ernierocker]

Maybe I just wanted an excuse to post that classic SNL video.

[bill_s]

I don't see any KD-no-airtime complainers mentioning the park just lost a bunch with Shockwave. I guess you actually would have to ride it. I saw the Darkwave for the first time last night and was sad a moment. Then went back to my ride.

 

* * *

 

The ideas that KD will put another coaster in even further from a bathroom than I305 is extremely unlikely. It looks like to me the boundaries of the park have been established in a way that does not require a transportation system. It certainly doesn't appear that I305 was added with any thought to putting something else over there. They knew the clock was running down on too many coasters. There's is maybe a possibility of moving one in the process of replacement, but I can't see space available that's better than where they already are.

 

1. What will KD lose with Shockwave? It was boring, painful, and had horrible operations.

 

2. KD does need an airtime machine.

 

3. Why would they start to clear a big portion of land if they are not using it for an eventual coaster? Unless they are bringing back the safari.

 

I doubt they are putting a coaster in Shockwave's spot, unless it's a junior invert.

 

1a) reading comprehension, I said one thing we're losing is airtime in the post which you replied to.

1b) don't interpret this as "bring back Shockwave" but we don't know yet if anything better will replace it. As I liked the ride, while almost any new coaster would be an improvement, I can't think of any other kind of ride that wouldn't be a let down.

1c) I'm just really sick of coaster hate, that someone would get emotional satisfaction from seeing a ride close or be torn down, without any consideration of people that like it, that it still helps your park visit by occupying people, and just being an expression of being unappreciative and jaded.

 

2) KD has a lot of airtime in many different forms. It gained one of the rarest kinds with I305, extreme ejector, but has been whittling away at airtime elsewhere with the braking of Hurler and closing of Shockwave. It could be argued it doesn't need extended floater air or an airtime specialist, or with that much air it's only one step from having all types represented.

 

Either way, airtime is an example of the "funny math" that occurs when comparing KD with other parks, that might even be helped (in some people's minds only) by closing some coasters, and definitely by replacing some. The airtime at BGW is easier to calculate and more obvious, but no way is the total greater than KD with over twice the coasters.

 

3)I don't know why they're clearing land but I can see only one way a coaster's going back there: if the entrance can be located within the current borders. For example, a launch coaster with the bulk of it further away, like FoF's layout. Even then, probably would call for the removal of Anaconda (more ride replacement).

 

I think the reason we're going so long between coasters is this shift towards coaster replacement, both inevitable and desirable. That and I305 being such a big one, advanced probably 1-2 years early, and the park really needing other improvements, not yet complete but getting there.

[DonkeysWaffles]

I don't see any KD-no-airtime complainers mentioning the park just lost a bunch with Shockwave. I guess you actually would have to ride it. I saw the Darkwave for the first time last night and was sad a moment. Then went back to my ride.

 

* * *

 

The ideas that KD will put another coaster in even further from a bathroom than I305 is extremely unlikely. It looks like to me the boundaries of the park have been established in a way that does not require a transportation system. It certainly doesn't appear that I305 was added with any thought to putting something else over there. They knew the clock was running down on too many coasters. There's is maybe a possibility of moving one in the process of replacement, but I can't see space available that's better than where they already are.

 

1. What will KD lose with Shockwave? It was boring, painful, and had horrible operations.

 

2. KD does need an airtime machine.

 

3. Why would they start to clear a big portion of land if they are not using it for an eventual coaster? Unless they are bringing back the safari.

 

I doubt they are putting a coaster in Shockwave's spot, unless it's a junior invert.

 

1a) reading comprehension, I said one thing we're losing is airtime in the post which you replied to.

1b) don't interpret this as "bring back Shockwave" but we don't know yet if anything better will replace it. As I liked the ride, while almost any new coaster would be an improvement, I can't think of any other kind of ride that wouldn't be a let down.

1c) I'm just really sick of coaster hate, that someone would get emotional satisfaction from seeing a ride close or be torn down, without any consideration of people that like it, that it still helps your park visit by occupying people, and just being an expression of being unappreciative and jaded.

 

2) KD has a lot of airtime in many different forms. It gained one of the rarest kinds with I305, extreme ejector, but has been whittling away at airtime elsewhere with the braking of Hurler and closing of Shockwave. It could be argued it doesn't need extended floater air or an airtime specialist, or with that much air it's only one step from having all types represented.

 

Either way, airtime is an example of the "funny math" that occurs when comparing KD with other parks, that might even be helped (in some people's minds only) by closing some coasters, and definitely by replacing some. The airtime at BGW is easier to calculate and more obvious, but no way is the total greater than KD with over twice the coasters.

 

3)I don't know why they're clearing land but I can see only one way a coaster's going back there: if the entrance can be located within the current borders. For example, a launch coaster with the bulk of it further away, like FoF's layout. Even then, probably would call for the removal of Anaconda (more ride replacement).

 

I think the reason we're going so long between coasters is this shift towards coaster replacement, both inevitable and desirable. That and I305 being such a big one, advanced probably 1-2 years early, and the park really needing other improvements, not yet complete but getting there.

 

Shockwave had airtime? That's news to me, because I and thousands of other people never felt anything (but pain) on those hills. Also we can hate on a coaster however we want. Nearly everybody' thinks that Shockwave was a piece of crap.

[DILinator]

^Even though I didn't care for Shockwave, and am not at all sad it's being removed (except for the fact I hate to ever see any coasters removed - other than maybe GASM at GAdv and SoB), I still remember commenting to my wife after getting off that it had airtime, and how shocking that was for a stand-up coaster! I do think it was on the rough/painful side though.

[BeansproutMidget]

^ I second the airtime that was on Shockwave. I always rode in the last row, and on the first hill, you got some pretty great airtime. And, even a little on that second hill.

 

But, that's just me.

[DrachenfireOP]

^ yeah back row on shockwave was fun for just that reason. You even got a very tiny amount on the bunny hills on a warm day. Also that loop was pretty awesome. I never had headbanding on any standup, and always make sure to position the seat to avoid nut crunching, so I never minded anything but the load time. That said, I'm excited for whatever is coming to replace it!

[DonkeysWaffles]

Now that I think of it, B:SC has very underrated airtime. There are times where it will eject you out of your seat.

Edited August 12, 2015 by DonkeysWaffles

[TB305]

Now that I think of it, B:ST has very underrated airtime. There are times where it will eject you out of your seat.

B:ST...?

[cwgator]

^Backlot Stunt Coaster

[Tee1999]

I don't see a lot of people on the crypt... the looks are probably deceiving but the ride sure does wear you out

[TB305]

^Backlot Stunt Coaster

Why would he abbreviate it like that? Also I couldn't tell because B:SC only has about 2 seconds of airtime total.

[DonkeysWaffles]

^Backlot Stunt Coaster

Why would he abbreviate it like that? Also I couldn't tell because B:SC only has about 2 seconds of airtime total.

 

Meant to say B: SC