cfc Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) Well, I finally ambled up to Kings Dominion for a "real" visit this year, instead of a media event, mainly to process my Cedar Fair pass last Sunday. The weather was perfect--a bit cloudy, but the sun would peek out from time to time, which beat the rain in Williamsburg that day. And being as I am a sucker for walk-through attractions, I actually ponied up the extra five bucks to check out the "largest animatronic dinosaur park in the Mid-Atlantic." Hmm--possibly the only animatronic dinosaur park in the Mid-Atlantic: Dinosaurs Alive (DA). DA is located next to Grizzly in the "Old Virginia" section, and the park did a pretty good job building the winding path among the trees and the motion-activated, snarling and roaring remnants of Earth's prehistoric past. It took me about an hour to wander around the path, checking out the various information signs and taking in the big plastic dinos. All in all, I think it's a nice attraction for families, and the five-dollar upcharge is fairly reasonable. But I do wonder how it's going hold up during its first blazing hot and humid Virginia summer. As for Windseeker, it's a pleasant enough "chair swing on steroids," although I think the Star Flyers, with their somewhat-less-substantial-looking seats and chains, are more thrilling rides. Music accompanies your ride, too--I got some "new age" jazz stuff, but I heard Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" while I waited in line. Crowds were pretty light that day, and I get to KD fairly often, so Fast Lane wasn't necessary (although I would definitely purchase it on a busy day). Let's have a look. Dinosaur statues: They're cheaper than security guards. Everybody have fun tonight. Everybody Yang Chuan tonight. (I'm sorry.) That's just wrong. But first things first. Our objective. Hmm--I don't remember that little fence from last year. I guess they got tired of people stomping a path through the grass. I was lucky enough to score the front seat, thanks to hitting Volcano first. Aw, look at the cute wittle baby volcano. Well, I guess I'll ride Intimidator multiple times . . . . . . if I really have to. Still one of the best steel coasters anywhere. This moth in I305's exit was the size of a small bat! Fixed. Hmm--will there be a Haunt maze in Flight of Fear's queue this year? Stay tuned! Here's Virginia's oldest launched "family" coaster. If you're here before noon on a weekday, be prepared for disappointment. Yes, Stunt Coaster has fire, but Verbolten is still the better of the two rides. Alas, poor Treasure Cave! I knew it, Horatio. A place of infinite jest--and welcome air conditioning. This is Windseeker. It goes up about 300 feet, twirls around, then comes back down. That's about it. It's a very pleasant ride. The seats are comfy, too. The old Grizzly Arcade (which is a Haunt maze in October), is the entrance and gift shop for Dinosaurs Alive. Yes, KD has learned the lessons of Disney and Universal--you enter and exit via the shop. The entrance to Grizzly is on the left, while DA is on the right. But what about those dinos? Are they OUR dinos? More to come. Edited May 23, 2012 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) "Our ancestors never heard the sounds, nor saw the sights of this Primeval World . . ." [Damn! Disney lawyers just slipped me a "cease-and-desist" order!] Let's take a realxing stoll among a bunch of howling, snarling, roaring reptiles, shall we? But I must warn you. One dinosaur is nicknamed "Irritator" for good reason. [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=KD_Dinos_AliveWS_095_4xxy[/coastertube] Dadburn dinos trackin' up my nice, new concrete! DA rates its own trash cans--a high honor in a Cedar Fair park. A new Hammer film: When Dinosaurs and Go Karts Ruled the Earth! "Er, little help here? I do have a vicious predator on my back, you know! Toss me a frickin' bone here, you stupid mammals!" KD did a pretty nice job with this area. Not our dino! Note to self: Never head-butt a Carnotaurus. Yo Gabba Gabba! "Yep--I would kill for some nice fish! Really, I would kill you for fish, if you had any!" Yep--"Irritator." He's talking smack to people, asking for change, bummin' smokes . . . This is one bitter lizard. You see. I told you. "Yes, that's right! I, a mere herbivore, have tricked you savage predators into miring yourselves in this bog! Let's see who evolves now! Hah!" You know, I never trusted that stupid deer. My. That's a big one. Look, Adam! It's a rare Princess Amidalasaur! You can get some "through the trees" shots of Grizzly back here. Dinosaurs Alive--IN 3D! Aw, isn't that nice? Daddy T Rex is teaching his sonny boy how to stalk prey and rend flesh. Uh, ow! "You see big lizards! Now you ride Grizzly! GRR!" "Thanks for spending your hard-earned five bucks for Dinosaurs Alive, mate! G'day!" "Got Donald Sutherland! Spared no expense!" "In Times Square now, people do the polka! Dominance! Submission! Radios appear!" (That was for the Blue Oyster Cult fans out there--and that's all. Thanks for reading!) Edited May 23, 2012 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattnz Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Great update Chuck, I've been intrigued to see a Dinosaurs Alive TR. Looks like a pretty good attraction. Maybe they should re-name Grizzly 'Dinoconda' like that 4D coaster in China! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Dinosaur Alive looks extremely well done, still not sure I'd go see it without a kid in tow, but it looks good. Thanks for the update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 ^You're lucky that I have no shame, then. I'm just a sucker for walk-through attractions, and Dinosaurs Alive is a bit ususual for Cedar Fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gisco Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Nice report. I would go through DA without a kid but with a $5 up charge it is something I would probably only do once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I love dinosaurs, so I'd totally check this out if I was at the park. dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatle11 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 At least the Stunt Coaster there still has the fire. Looking forward to East Coast Bash! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 ^The helicopter is, let's say, "erratic" over the course of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intimidator305 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Nice photo TR, Chuck. I really like the way the Windseeker and Dinosaurs Alive areas turned out. Windseeker really fills in that spot in the southern part of the Grove that has felt empty since XLC left. The circular design of brick pavers around the ride also helps break up the asphalt that used to be there. Dinosaurs Alive's Dinostore certainly looks better than the old Grizzly Arcade and the new entrance plaza for Grizzly and DA really looks nice. I personally like how all 3 of KD's upcharge attractions are all next to each other (Xtreme SkyFlyer, Thunder Raceway, and Dinosaurs Alive). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDCOASTERFAN Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Nice photo TR, Chuck. I really like the way the Windseeker and Dinosaurs Alive areas turned out. Windseeker really fills in that spot in the southern part of the Grove that has felt empty since XLC left. The circular design of brick pavers around the ride also helps break up the asphalt that used to be there. Dinosaurs Alive's Dinostore certainly looks better than the old Grizzly Arcade and the new entrance plaza for Grizzly and DA really looks nice. I personally like how all 3 of KD's upcharge attractions are all next to each other (Xtreme SkyFlyer, Thunder Raceway, and Dinosaurs Alive). I love the new look of the DA/Grizzly plaza,it adds a much needed facelift to that area & a shorter walk to the ride station as a result. Just curious,since you did the walk through of DA Chuck how far back toward WWC does the path go? Perhaps there might still be some remaining land over there that they can build uopn in the future....if it weren't for the $5.00 fee I'd consider going through it a few times & might be actually tempted to try it on my next trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6flagsbrad Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 The new additions look great. The dinosaurs just don't seem very realistic at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 ^^The DA path goes up to the far end of Grizzly before it doubles back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDCOASTERFAN Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 ^^The DA path goes up to the far end of Grizzly before it doubles back. Ohh? so it looks like they didn't use as much of the land back there as I thought....that leaves some room for a possible ride back therein the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishBuckeye Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 nice TR. Never been to KD but I might make it someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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