Photo TR: Josh's 2014 Park Adventures

JRice92 · April 15, 2015

Long overdue, I have a few trip reports from 2014 I've been meaning to post. 2014 was a great year for me doubling my credit count from 42 to somewhere in the 86 by the time the year was over. It's not all about the credits but I was luck to ride some really awesome new (to me) coasters last year. First up we have Kings Dominion.

My sister & I traveled to Virginia for nearly a week in June last year to visit Kings Dominion & Busch Gardens Williamsburg. We spent Monday evening, Tuesday & Thursday at Kings Dominion and Wednesday at Busch Gardens. Why did we spend so much time at Kings Dominion? I had super high expectations for I305 and wanted to get a second opinion, also Busch was only offering the coaster tour on Wednesday & Saturday that week. So it worked out.

This was my first time at Kings Dominion and I really liked the park. We spent most of our time on rides and a small portion of one day in the water park. We ended up going at the perfect time of year because half of the coasters were walk on's and the headliners (except for volcano) were station waits. The water park was fun but if definitely needed more to do. This years water park expansion was a great move for them. International Street when entering the park looks phenomenal with a lot more landscaping at trees than at Kings Island. Small touches like the singing mushrooms & the re-themed Candy Apple Grove looked really nice. Overall the park had a great atmosphere with for the most part very friendly employees. Kings Dominion is very high on my list of parks I'd like to visit again.

I was able to get in all the rides I wanted but Windseeker it was down the entire two and a half days I was at the park. Here's some ride reviews.

Anaconda: At this point for me it's just another arrow looper, didn't love it but I didn't hate it. The layout gets weird after the MCBR but nothing really stands out here.

Avalanche: I thought this one was really fun and unique. There should have been more of these built cause this one's great for the whole family. Worth a ride on every visit.

Backlot Stunt Coaster: This was a big surprise for me, I had always skipped the Kings Island version because I used to go "Well that doesn't look very big, so I'll just skip it" but I was credit hunting and boy was I wrong. This little coaster packs a punch in it's small size. It's a must ride, now if they could just get all the effects working.

Flight of Fear: I knew what to expect riding Kings Island's version but this one had two distinct differences. First it's a lot smoother, second the MCBR doesn't grab as hard as KI's version. The best part is the launch throught the cobra roll. It really disorients you in a good way.

Grizzly: If you can find the entrance, this is a coaster all about laterals and it was a lot of fun.

Hurler: While yes this coaster is pretty rough, I really liked the layout of it and took a re-ride on it.

Rebel Yell: This ended up being my favorite of the wooden coasters here. Just sit on a non-wheel seat and enjoy the airtime while racing.

Ricochet: This was first mouse of the non-spinning variety and didn't find it too much fun. I just prefer spinning wild mice.

Shockwave: My only other stand-up was Mantis and this was my first Togo ever. I didn't find it uncomfortable, but the layout was just "meh" and some transition were kind of awkward.

Volcano: This is one really unique ride, the one surprise this ride had was between the first and second launch the train banks really fast for the turn around behind the volcano and I love those quick transitions. While traveling the course it may not be going terribly fast but it's a ton of fun. I couldn't help but go "wheeeeee" during each heartline roll. On our last day at the park there were shooting fire balls out the top when a train would blast up and it looked great.

Dominator: This was an old friend of mine. I remember my first ever ride at age 7 and the brand new Six Flags Ohio at the time. Back then it was my first B&M and my first "big" coaster. The swooping first drop is great and the ride is still as smooth as ever and I like the layout a lot. My only other floorless to compare is Kraken and while that's for sure the better ride for me, Dominator holds it's place as a special coaster from my childhood.

Intimidator 305 This. Coaster. Is. Absolutely. Amazing. Where do I even begin do describe this magnificent piece of machinery. I have a new love of positive G's because of this ride. It's all out intense and I loved every second of it. First the lift, you don't have time to build anticipation because you arrive at the top so fast you don't have time to think about it. Then the drop, 85 degrees from 305 feet is so awesome, ejector air in the back of the train. Then the first turn, POSITIVE G'S TO THE EXTREME and I love them. Partially lost my vision for a few seconds on all but one of the TWENTY-SIX times I rode this coaster in the few days I was there. Then the airtime hill, long, sustained ejector air in every seat of the entire train! Then the fast transitions, prior to I305 Maverick was my number one because I LOVE those incredibly fast transitions and I loved them even more in the super long trains. Then the last two airtime hills deliver some floater air and a couple fast transitions to round out the course. WOW. that was a ride. Then on top of all of that. On our last full day my sister slept in and I used my platinum pass for early entry and headed straight to the back of the park. I was lucky enough to score the first ride of the day being the only person on the entire train! New #1 and I'm not sure Intamin will build one to beat it. This coaster is INTENSE AND FORCEFULL and that's what makes a near perfect coaster for me.

Not onto the pictures.

Oh boy, my only though before boarding for the first time. "Please don't snap Intamin cable"

You pull some awesome high G's right here

The 1 ride we took on anaconda, nobody was ever in line.

On Day 2 this was our view from inside our hotel room.

And we arrive.

Thanks to TPR members we headed straight for Volcano first.

And we were greeted with an empty queue

I really like the colors of the train and supports in the station.

Let's go for a Top Spin!

Sometimes you would actually get splashed by some water.

Over to the bobsled

Cool theme, and a fun ride.

Then some morning rides on I305

So twisty, the colors look great over the grass

Station shot.

Volcano finishing up it's course

more twisty

This lift and drop reminds me of Phantom's Revenge

Hey I found the GM of the park and got a picture with her!

First time in line for Backlot Stunt Coaster

and we could see Shockwave in the distance

Coming out of the tunnel was fun.

Looks ok, doesn't ride ok.

Another station shot.

The drop tower was fun, but it doesn't spin like Kings Islands's

Hey I recognize this! It was from my original home park!

Blue side of Rebel Yell

Red side of Rebel Yell

Hurler was up next.

and we lucked out on lines.

After searching we finally found the Grizzly entrance!

The singing mushrooms but we never got to hear them sing.

Of course you have to take a picture with snoopy!

Here's a picture of Dominator I took from a completely original angle

same with Volcano

and I305 too.

This right here, is probably my favorite part of the ride.

Coasters in the trees.

The returned floral clock.

Back around the park to Dominator

And you can see some of the trains colors have changed over time.

And back for some more I305

And keep riding through the night.

Gotta take a picture at the front of the park!

See you later Kings Dominion!

Edited April 20, 2015 by JRice92

OrlandoGuy · April 15, 2015

Great report so far! Kings Dominion is my favorite Cedar Fair park that isn't Cedar Point. Can't wait to see more updates

boldikus · April 15, 2015

Awesome report, good photos. Dying to visit this park.

ThemeParkJunkie51290 · April 16, 2015

Love it! Hopefully I'll get there next year!

bert425 · April 16, 2015

Great trip report.

too funny that I book a June trip to BGW and KD,and suddenly a few Trip Reports show up.

we're doing the opposite of you tho, with two full days as BGW (we want to do all the shows and take our time there), and only one sorta full day at KD (on the way to Washington DC we're stopping there for 4-5 hours).

hopefully we'll be able to get in everything I want to do. . . we DID consider doing a coaster tour at BGW, but decided that since we're going to do shows, as well as the riverboat, we'll just take our time in lines

JRice92 · April 16, 2015

^Thanks! I only saw one show when I was at Busch Gardens but it was fantastic! You'll enjoy your time there a lot since you won't be rushed to get everything in. Kings Dominion is completely do-able in a partial day, now of course I was credit hunting but we rode all the coasters in the park in just under 3 hours. We just spent most of the time on I305, Volcano, & Dominator.

bert425 · April 16, 2015

^Thanks! I only saw one show when I was at Busch Gardens but it was fantastic! You'll enjoy your time there a lot since you won't be rushed to get everything in. Kings Dominion is completely do-able in a partial day, now of course I was credit hunting but we rode all the coasters in the park in just under 3 hours. We just spent most of the time on I305, Volcano, & Dominator.

good to hear!

we're hitting it on Friday 6/19, so the park is open daily by that point, but this is the first day they are open until 10pm

BeansproutMidget · April 16, 2015

Nice pictures! The one of I305 Is definately my favorite.

I'm not the only person who's first 'big' coaster was Dominator either!

DJeXeL · April 16, 2015

I:305 is a sexy beast. Great report, thanks for sharing.

Did you make Robb proud by yelling "twisssstyyyy!!!!" ?

cfc · April 20, 2015

Anaconda: . . . The layout gets weird after the MCBR but nothing really stands out here.

I think the designer was seriously drunk when he designed that section. It is one of the most screwed-up transitional sections anywhere.

JRice92 · April 20, 2015

Part 2: Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Also for the first time Busch Gardens was an amazing park! Absolutely beautiful landscaping and theming throughout the park. I was really surprised how much of an immersive experience this park has. It's a great mix between great theme's like Disney and big thrill's like Cedar Fair & Six Flags. For anyone that loves seeing behind the scene's the coaster tour is a must. You'll see from the pictures great stuff you wouldn't see on a normal visit. We had an awesome day at the park, and now with Tempesto I'd love to make a return trip here in the future!

Scorecard:

Loch Ness Monster: 2

Alpengeist: 5

Griffon: 5

Verbolten: 5

Grover's Alpine Express: 1

Apollo's Chariot: 8

Loch Ness Monster: One of the smoothest Arrow coasters I've been on, and the interlocking loops are really cool. This is my second favorite Arrow looper behind KI's Vortex.

Alpengeist: This was good, but with the other coasters in the park I didn't find it to be to be anything special. The theme was pretty cool.

Griffon: This was my first dive coaster. Great view in the front seat, great airtime in the back. It's a solid ride.

Verbolten: The surprise of my visit. On our first ride I didn't tell my sister about the drop track inside the building, so that was great watching her reaction. I really liked this coaster, the show building was awesome, and we got to see all 3 variations of the show that play across our rides.

Apollo's Chariot: My favorite ride at the park. My only B&M hyper before this was Diamondback and I think this blew Diamondback out the water. The first drop in the back seat is great because of the pre-drop. and the setting of the coaster surrounded by tree's really rounded it out for me. This was also my sisters favorite coaster of the entire KD/Busch trip. I could ride this all day long.

Here we are, way before the park opens for the coaster tour.

Great view of Apollo's Chariot at the entrance.

With the preferred parking upgrade with the coaster tour we just had a short walk in.

Entering the park you get immersed into great European theme.

The color's here are great.

What's England without your big clock.

First stop was Loch Ness Monster

And here's the maintenance bay.

Some train pieces.

The Far side of the bay.

Inside the track

This hatch took you under the track in the station.

spare parts

more spare parts.

They told us any red parts we saw were spares from BBW.

Wheels!

Restraints!

While we were in the bay a maintenance worker came in with a wheel that he had literally just taken off the train because it was worn out, not that arrow coasters have flat wheels (not curved in) when they're new.