Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

[Jason Maier]

So what do you think King's Dominion will receive (if anything) from California's Great America when it closes?

[AmyUD06]

9 minutes ago, Jason Maier said:

So what do you think King's Dominion will receive (if anything) from California's Great America when it closes?

Coaster wise, Flight Deck is the mostly likely candidate - KD doesn't have an invert.

Flat wise, who knows, but I'm privately hoping for Orbit (the Schwarzkopf Enterprise) and/or Berserker (the Bayern Kurve), but the latter would need a new name.

[anonymouscactus]

Was driving by the park today on the way home from a different excursion so I stopped in for an hour.

Tunbili -- went here first after the park opened (after getting lost a few times) ---- despite only having 3 groups ahead of me, they were only running 1 train. Being the smaller model the ride is REALLY way too short. Got 2 good flips but otherwise I've had better rides on the various Jokers. The op asked me what my favorite ride in the park was, and said I was "basic" for liking i305 the most. Pssh.

INTIMIDATOR - walk on. Jesus Christ how does this ride exist. Usually greying out is fun but I think it was just too damn hot and uncomfortable this time around. And I was also getting lightly misted in the face by the sprayers in the station and residue on the train during the lift/1st drop. After the turn and being fully recovered the ride was fantastic and I still can't believe how intense this thing is. I could only do 1 ride this time around... I'm getting old.

Twisted Timbers - after trying to open the package to the FL+  wristbands (I have all season platinum for Cedar Fair) for 5 minutes because neither me or the shop owner could get it opened (I wasn't going to be nasty and use my teeth) finally she found some scissors as I figured there might be a line by this point (there was not ... 3/4 the trains were empty). Damn this ride is fun, but still a little uncomfortable. Not nearly as bad as some of the other RMCs. I really dig this ride and layout.

That's all I rode in my hour there. Too much walking for things days prior so I was hurting, it was too damn hot, and I wanted to be able to get home by 10pm with an 8-9 hour drive from the area. I was just there in October of last year, so it was really just a "bonus stop" since it was literally off the highway where we were driving.

Not sure why I made a not very exciting trip report, but whatever lol

[Lotologist492]

On 7/3/2022 at 5:52 AM, Mike240SX said:

Sadly, KD doesn't really hold a candle to KI, and I say that as KD being my home park.  I305 and Twisted Timbers are amazing top-tier rides, Reptilian/Avalanche is awesome, and Dominator may be the best floorless, but after that the coaster collection really falls on its face.  Otherwise they pretty much have the same collection of flats.  KD has a little more shade, but KI has the better food options and operations.  Fast Lane/Plus is also nowhere near as effective at KD, and isn't offered on quite a few rides.  Twisted Timbers now has the same stupid locker setup as Steel Vengeance, making FL be much less effective than it used to be.

Crowd's shouldn't be too bad on a non-holiday Monday, but anything is possible in this post-COVID world.

Oh, and I305 absolutely blows Orion out of the water; you will definitely be impressed.

I think you won't be disappointed, but temper your expectations.

As for strategy:

-I highly recommend FL+, even if it is less effective here than KI.  Note that you can redeem your voucher or buy it at almost any gift shop, not just the redemption center up front.  The following strategy involves working around that.
-Dominator and Berzerker (inverting ship) open a half hour before the rest of the park; if you get there at opening and are towards the front of the crowd, you should be able to bang both of these out with minimal waits.
-After that, once the rest of the park opens, start a clockwise circle by heading to Woodstock Express (not on FL, and standing in long lines with a bunch of kids is weird), Tumbili (not on FL) and Reptilian.  Even though the latter is on FL, the capacity on the ride is horrible.
-Next, head to Anaconda.  Not on FL, and not worth any kind of wait.
-Your next destination is Racer 75; not on FL and the line splits at the very start of the queue, unlike Racer at KI.  Might only be running one train on a Monday.
-Next is Apple Zapple; not on FL.
-After that, Grizzly.  Also not on FL, and though it won't get too much of a line all day, still not worth any kind of wait.
-From there, you can do what you want.  I'd suggest reversing the circle, and hitting the rides that you skipped because they were on on FL for the first lap.  By this time, Twisted Timbers has worked through its normal morning jitters and should be running consistently.

If you plan on doing the water park, don't forget to walk all the way to the back of it; there's a whole 'nother section back there that's kinda hidden.

Let me know if you need any further tips.

Awesome advice!  I plan on arriving at open and staying through the operating day so I should be able to punch nearly everything out.  (And yes - I plan on spending some time in the water park too!)  Thanks!

[tndank]

Went to the park (Monday). We had a great time. Park looks good. New section is beautiful. Well done area. I think our longest wait today was about 5 minutes. And once we had to wait 3 trains because we wanted front row. 

Had a dozen rides on TT and I305 each. Both still tons of fun. Rode all the others once or twice.  Grizzly could be great again but it needs some TLC. Still no effects on Backlot which makes me laugh at that point.  I still like Reptilian and had to do a few laps on that as well.

My only complaints is they only had 1 side of the racer going. Wife and I wanted to duel. Dead park so I understand. And the line was basically a walk on all day there. 

[AmyUD06]

1 hour ago, tndank said:

Went to the park (Monday). We had a great time. Park looks good. New section is beautiful. Well done area. I think our longest wait today was about 5 minutes. And once we had to wait 3 trains because we wanted front row. 

Had a dozen rides on TT and I305 each. Both still tons of fun. Rode all the others once or twice.  Grizzly could be great again but it needs some TLC. Still no effects on Backlot which makes me laugh at that point.  I still like Reptilian and had to do a few laps on that as well.

My only complaints is they only had 1 side of the racer going. Wife and I wanted to duel. Dead park so I understand. And the line was basically a walk on all day there. 

Glad you had a good time!

I can't remember the last time I've seen Racer running both sides, even when the park is busy.

[tndank]

No timesaver.

[gardyloo!]

Random question, but does anyone know how many Gs I305 pulls during the first turn?

[boldikus]

5 hours ago, gardyloo! said:

Random question, but does anyone know how many Gs I305 pulls during the first turn?

[AmyUD06]

7 hours ago, gardyloo! said:

Random question, but does anyone know how many Gs I305 pulls during the first turn?

 

1 hour ago, boldikus said:

"Too many" pushaw...and it's still less than it did in the first year before they reprofiled the first turn.

Anyway, according to the Wikipedia page its 4.3g.  Coasterpedia lists 4.5g.  So somewhere in there.

[VegasBaby]

I've never blacked out on a coaster, but the closest I've come is the first turn on I305 and the final helix on Goliath at SFMM.  Both are reported to pull 4.5g, so I definitely grey out a little on those. 

[southpuddle]

Greying out is generally what people are experiencing when they say they “blacked out” on a coaster.

[coasterbill]

Oooooooh. I've been doing it all wrong then. My bad.

[AmyUD06]

Just posted my Trip Report from Haunt Opening Weekend.  Check it out!

[boldikus]

So uhhhhh this photo is making the rounds this morning. Anyone got any info?

Fire? It doesn't look burned/charred. Collapse? Structurally compromised? RMC? Hit by a small aircraft? Eaten by a large animal? 

[AmyUD06]

1 hour ago, boldikus said:

So uhhhhh this photo is making the rounds this morning. Anyone got any info?

 

Fire? It doesn't look burned/charred. Collapse? Structurally compromised? RMC? Hit by a small aircraft? Eaten by a large animal? 

If there is any justice in the world, it was struck with a wrecking ball.

[CoasterNerd87]

Another angle of the Grizzly construction. Photo credit goes to Mike Sturg. 

[VF15]

Kings Dominion joining Carowinds in going year-round for 2023.

https://rvahub.com/2022/10/18/kings-dominion-expanding-to-year-round-operations-in-2023/

[pianojohn]

As someone who worked at BGW for years, I know that Jan/Feb/March can be cold and rainy. I don't think it would be much fun visiting these parks when it's so cold outside.
When I lived in Japan in 2001, I'd often visit parks on the weekends when the temps were in the 30s and there was snow on the ground. Fun? Eh...not really.

[coasterbill]

People like different things. I'd much rather go to a park when it's 35 (if coasters are running) than go to any Orlando park in the summer. You can dress for cold.

[Zand]

This is much more exciting news than a new standup coaster haha...definitely taking advantage of this.

[SharkTums]

1 hour ago, coasterbill said:

People like different things. I'd much rather go to a park when it's 35 (if coasters are running) than go to any Orlando park in the summer. You can dress for cold.

Exactly. I've always had the mantra "You can put more layers on, you can only take so many off!"

[AmyUD06]

I'm with Elissa on this; you can always bundle up for the cold, but there's no escaping sweltering heat.

I'm very curious what the ride lineup is going to look like during these winter months, especially given CF's reluctance to operate rides outside of manufacturer recommendations.  Last Winterfest they shut down Dominator when it hit 40 degrees.

[thrillseeker4552]

This is excellent news, and actually a little surprising (the writing has been on the wall for Carowinds for years). I guess with BGW year-round and putting in coaster after coaster, maybe Kings Dominion is waking up!

Even if their headliners are down for maintenance and/or weather, the park being open with some rides is better than closed altogether.

[anonymouscactus]

Can't bundle up for the cold when you barely fit the restraints, tho.... had to take off my jacket for some holiday in the park rides at SFGADV when it was sub 30 degrees... that was .. uh.. cold... but I realize that's my problem and not everyone else's

Curious what the ride lineup will look like.