Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[coasterbill]

I know, I think it looks great too. People are legitimately insane. I can't wait for the weekend.

 

All I know is if we have to listen to people complain about it running slow on Saturday you can find me at the beer garden drinking that Center of the Universe whatever the f*ck beer.

Edited March 21, 2018 by coasterbill

[RollerManic]

It doesn’t look too bad to me. The first three airtime hills definately look wild already.

 

Just relax. This rode is going to speed up. This isn’t wonder woman.

[Satans Hockey]

Some people aren't happy unless they are complaining about something. I'm not going this weekend but I think it looks absolutely amazing and a total blast to ride.

 

I got the skip the line season pass this year and plan on riding the hell out of it when I go. I'm hoping to get there sometime in April.

Edited March 21, 2018 by Satans Hockey

[CoasterAuditor]

I've been stressing all week whether I'm going to fit on the thing. Probably gonna shoot down after work friday and walk straight to the test seat and if I can't fit well at least Intimidator 305 will welcome me not the worst trade off!

[redfoot12]

I've been stressing all week whether I'm going to fit on the thing. Probably gonna shoot down after work friday and walk straight to the test seat and if I can't fit well at least Intimidator 305 will welcome me not the worst trade off!

Hah!

I'm in the same boat as you. My off-season workout/diet was a bust.

[CoasterAuditor]

Yeah the scale hasn't budged for me in months but at least my waistline is shrinking! If I can get on that would be a solid payoff for a full year in the gym. The only RMC I've ridden is New Texas Giant which to be honest I raised my expectations for it astronomically high so it didn't exactly blow me away (I was expecting El Toro greatness). These more recent RMCs seem a little more aggressive than NTAG is.

[defrocker]

We were planning on going to the park this weekend, but I think weather and other plans are going to get in the way. Oh well, it will be there when I get there, probably early April if nothing else.

 

As to the test footage, I think it only looks "sluggish" after the final inversion, meaning like the last turn of the ride. At that point who cares? It pretty much tears through the rest of the course. Again, this is cold weather testing so it won't be like this forever. Either way, I feel like odds are good that this will become many people's favorite ride in the park.

[coneyislandchris]

I'm already down in the area (because I'm a f***ing idiot who booked a non-refundable room for Wednesday night a month ago) and all the snow that got dropped on the park is in the process of melting. It's thin hoodie weather outside with next to no wind and no clouds. I expect a full train of eager riders is going to make this thing absolutely fly tomorrow. Also, it's impossible to judge a ride based off of footage alone; I learned that lesson the hard way from the Skyrush POV. "That's it? It looks boring" quickly became "OH SHEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIII--" when I rode it the first time.

[boldikus]

The weather for KD this weekend looks fine. Its gonna be sunny and a high of almost 50 Saturday, will be 40 when park opens. We're confident enough that we're coming from pretty far.

[defrocker]

Yeah, weather at the park is looking like standard March weather in VA. That being said, my half of the state has empty shelves in the stores where all of the milk and bread should be since we're expecting another 6" of snow Saturday so my trip will wait a week or two.

[CoasterAuditor]

Geesh I saw one review call TT "slow and lethargic" but I assume this has to do with the fact it was ridden in the mid-40s.

[coasterbill]

... or the fact that they invited a bunch of jaded coaster enthusiasts to the event.

[CoasterAuditor]

^ yeah one reviewer was like "I was expecting Lightning Rod relentlessness" which goes 70 mph vs 54 mph on TT

[Canobie Coaster]

Geesh I saw one review call TT "slow and lethargic" but I assume this has to do with the fact it was ridden in the mid-40s.

 

The one I saw said sluggish but also noted it still had serious ejector airtime. If it's running in about the worst possible conditions for that park and still providing crazy airtime, that says a lot just how incredible this ride is.

[coasterbill]

I'm sure the ride is amazing. I'm looking forward to the TPR review.

[CoasterAuditor]

Yeah I still have no doubt it's going to be one of the best rides at KD

[boldikus]

Loving all the coverage everywhere so far, can't wait to get down there!

 

Any POV's floating around yet?

[Jcoaster]

Geesh I saw one review call TT "slow and lethargic" but I assume this has to do with the fact it was ridden in the mid-40s.

 

Lmao, you gotta love enthusiasts. Ride has been open maybe 180 minutes in late March.

 

Stupidity has no limits my friends.

[coneyislandchris]

Geesh I saw one review call TT "slow and lethargic" but I assume this has to do with the fact it was ridden in the mid-40s.

 

Lmao, you gotta love enthusiasts. Ride has been open maybe 180 minutes in late March.

 

The review in question was from someone that was literally on the FIRST TRAIN OF THE DAY, before noon, when the weather was in the low 40's, and maybe one train had cycled prior to it. I know this because my son and I were ALSO on that first train.

 

"Slow and lethargic" is bullsh*t. It took its time getting back into the station after the last turnaround, but besides that? It was pretty goddamned relentless. Honestly, so far this ride is a collection of RMC's greatest hits. You've got the inverting drop from Storm Chaser, followed by a gigantic overbank that is so much of a goddamned improvement over Hurler's turnaround it's sickening, straight into the trio of hills that provide airtime to a ridiculous degree. I realize this is a hybrid but honestly those three airtime hills in a row felt like ejector I'd expect from a hyper, not a hybrid. And then everything else that follows? A big gigantic mess of bunny hops tossing you out of your seat, half-inversions and full inversions, all like a bucking bronco is daring you to hang on for life. And this was after the FIRST ride of the day.

 

The kiddo and I rode it eight more times during the preview event. It only got better as the weather and wheels got warmer, even with the majority of the invitees choosing to forego additional rides in lieu of "oh hey, free burgers, oh hey, free mac and cheese, oh hey, let me get seconds and thirds". Even with a half-full train this thing was riding great.

 

After we got off the first time, the kiddo turned to me and said "You know what, I give it 100 percent!". Is it a perfect ride? No, probably not. But it's a hell of a lot of fun, up in the top ten percent of coasters I've been on for sure, and one that I'll gladly queue up for every time I visit. They got it right IMO. And anyone complaining about a lack of speed needs to check themselves for real. God, I'm glad I'm not that jaded yet.

[CoasterAuditor]

^Well that review gets me excited!

 

How were the restraints?

[coasterbill]

^^Glad you had fun! Will you still be there tomorrow? Maybe we'll run into you.

[coneyislandchris]

How were the restraints?

Either I've been losing weight or they are the loosest set of RMC restraints yet. And I haven't been sticking to my diet.

 

^^Glad you had fun! Will you still be there tomorrow? Maybe we'll run into you.

I think we'll probably miss each other this time. We're heading to BGW at the crack of open tomorrow to pick up our passes, get a few rides in, and then head back up north in the mid-afternoon. We've got an Easter Egg hunt scheduled with the extended family out in PA on Sunday morning so we're having to cut this trip a little bit shorter than I had originally hoped.

[coasterlvr]

pov looks awesome. can't wait to ride. the three hills is what i'm most excited about.

[coasterbill]

^^ Ah, bummer. Oh well. I'm sure we'll run into you somewhere. You never Knoe...

[robbalvey]

Here's the POV!