Just a couple of things.
I live 1/2 hour from Kings Dominion in Richmond, VA an just over an hour from BGE. I have been to both KD and Busch Gardens Europe (Formerly BG, Williamsburg; Formerly BG, The Old Country) since they opened in 1974.
I think what makes Busch Gardens Europe so unique is that it has been able to hang on to its theming and atmosphere while removing, adding, expanding, and renovating its rides, shows, and attractions as time goes on. BGE is a well rounded park because of its theming, landscaping, rides, and shows. The park patron gets value for the money spent. In the Pre-paramount days KD and BGE had a friendly competition with each other. For most patrons it was not an either/or proposition to go to one park or the other. Many visited both parks to see if one park had outdone the other in the attractions department for that season. Busch Gardens always had the lead in atmosphere and quality of food over Kings Dominion. But as far as rides and attractions go they ran neck and neck. Some seasons KD was better and other seasons it was BGE.
In the Pre-Paramount days at KD (Taft/KECO), the park was truely themed in each area with a distinct border to each area, whether natural buffer of trees / bushes or buildings and ride attractions. The employees in each section wore different uniforms that related to the area they worked in. The attention to themed detail was evident in signs, shops, restaurants, and queue buildings in each area.
Pre-Paramount Kings Dominion, was a well rounded amusement destination that took 2 days to truely experience all the rides, shows, and attractions (including the safari monorail). Did you know that from the late 70's through the late 80's KD put on average of 9 to 12 different shows during the prime season (Memorial Day to Labor Day)? Plus, KD had 2-4 shows in the spring and fall. The shows were professionally done; with most shows having live bands to accompany the singers and dancers. They had a country music show, a couple of contermporary/pop music shows, a broadway style show, a couple of kids shows, a dolphin/sea lion show, a bird show, roaming characters, and other special events like an air show, concerts, and even a regional country music / bluegrass competition held in the fall.
It was impossible to experience everything in one day. I remember the 2-day ticket was very popular option for patrons. The park had a good reputation for quality rides/attractions and quality shows.
Now lets look at KD at the end of 2006. Yes, Paramount did some good with some new rides and an expanded water park during their ownership.
Lets look at the not so good during the Paramount Years.
The entertainment has been reduced to one kid show, a rock show, character meet & greet, and park patron karaoke during prime season. No shows in the spring or fall. We have lost 3 show amphitheaters during the Paramount reign, The Country Crossroads, Flintstones Follies/Woodlands, and the Safari amphitheaters were torn down. Only one was replaced by the Action theatre motion simulator.
As Paramount tried to make KD a mini version of Universal Studios or MGM Movie Park, Kings Dominion lost its attention to themed area detailing. The themed areas started to run together with no distinct separation. The employees all wear the same uniform in all areas. The new "movie themed" ride attractions were plopped down in a themed area that had no relation to each other. KD and the other parks in the chain were becoming one big advertising billboard. Sometimes I wonder if the management attitude was lets see how much money we can squeeze out of our patrons and give them the minimum value for their money.
Either there was no interest by Paramount/Viacom/CBS to truely invest the cash needed to make the parks into a movie themed park or they realized the investment to truely convert the parks was more than they were willing to spend. In either case, the park started to loose its identity.
Now we are under Cedar Fair. Am I expecting the parks to be what they were pre-Paramount? Well, lets be realistic, I don't see KD, KI, or any of the other former Paramount parks being what they were in 1991 or earlier. The times and demographics won't allow it. You can't reverse the hands of time. Now, looking to the future, can Cedar Fair give each of the former paramount parks a unique identity and make the parks a well rounded amusement/entertainment destination again? Can they clean the parks up, bring back an unique atmoshere to KD, KI, and the other parks? I can only hope.
