AdventureExpresser Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Just returned from Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens, visited the parks last Thursday and Friday. Was at Kings Dominion on Thursday and I have to say, people actually think it is still a Paramount Park, and I can see why, Paramount is still all over the park, on the signs, on the souveniers, even still on my campground receipt. The park was not crowded this day, making it an enjoyable day. Had to start things off with Tombraider:Firefall. This ride is absolutely wonderful, lots and lots of flips, love the interaction of the ride with the crowd that watches the show. This is how the Tombraider at Kings Island should have been built, the music really makes this show along with the fountains, fire, and water blasts. Next was Volcano, the longest line in the park everytime, but as usual this is a ride that I have to do over and over, so much fun, and I actually bought the on ride video and it is really made good. I for one Love the Hypersonic, and rode it over and over, but I did notice on a new T-shirt they were selling, that said Fear the Four (Anaconda, FOF, Volcano, Grizzly) the Hyper was missing, does this mean they finally sold that coaster, if they did that will be a disappointment, beacause that is one unique ride and still say the take off on that ride is more powerful that the TTD, you are at 82 miles per hour in 1.5 seconds. As for the show at the Paramount theater, I was not impressed, looked like what I would see a bunch of High school juniors doing, and as for the food the prices were sky high, I went back and forth to the camper for food all day. Busch Gardens, what can I say, Unbelievable, Exciting, One Awesome Day. These people really know how to put on a show and actually make you feel like you in another world for one day. The Griffon is now one of my favorite coasters ever, I was in the Front seat on the outer edge for the first ride, and never have I had such a feeling as when we completely stopped hanging over that first hill looking straight down, what a rush, the water element on this coaster makes it the most beautiful coaster you will ever watch. The Emerald Beat show at the Abbey Theater was top notch, could actually compare to as good as Riverdance, Pet shennanigans was very good and I was so impressed that the animal performers came from shelters. Apollo's Chariot, another one of the best, was a walk up and get on, so of course this was about a 10 time ride that day. Food was excellent, shows were awesome, the rides are top notch, and the park is absolutely beautiful. Wish many times over we could have a Busch park near us, they are so well rounded on how they put on a show, I think they are the experts in the amusement industry. They get my nod for best park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I've said it many times before.... Busch gardens are the example of what a Theme Park should be. Six Flags, Disney and Cedar Fair could learn a lot from how they do things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dvo Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I took this trip four years ago, hitting those 2 parks in two days. I agree with you on all counts (obviously except for Griffon seeing as though it wasn't there). Busch Gardens Europe is easily the most beautiful park I've been in. I even take it over Magic Kingdom at WDW. And Apollo's Chariot was easily the best B&M Hyper I've been on. Great ride. I also think that Hypersonic's blast is more intense than TTD's, but only because the launch time is so short! Hypersonic gets to 2/3 the speed of TTD in probably 1/3 of the track length. It really is madness. I really need to see those two parks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeLorean Rider Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I've said it many times before.... Busch gardens are the example of what a Theme Park should be. Six Flags, Disney and Cedar Fair could learn a lot from how they do things. I hardly think that Disney needs to use Busch Gardens as an example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dvo Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 ^Also agreed. Disney is without question leading the pack (even if I do think BGE is more beautiful). Look at attendance numbers for Disney Parks. They blow everyone else out of the water. And that's on a per-day basis, not just because they operate 365 days a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjkjkj Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 That's because Disney is over hyped, I think they are anyways. I mean yeah, they are excellent parks and all but, just because a park is a Disney park, everyone always seems to put it at the top of their list as " the best park ever created!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welchce Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 That's because Disney is over hyped, I think they are anyways. I mean yeah, they are excellent parks and all but, just because a park is a Disney park, everyone always seems to put it at the top of their list as " the best park ever created!" Actually most people out in CA think that California Adventure was a mistake. And Disney seems to agree since they are setting around a $1.2 billion budget to add new rides and "fix" the park over the next several years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dvo Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I don't think that's true at all. When people go to Disney, they expect to have a fantastic time. That's because Disney has made that reputation for themselves with years of pleasing their guests. The parks are good because Disney developed them very well. Not because they have the Disney name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeLorean Rider Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 And People DO have a fantastic time at Disney World. I myself am going to Disney World this september for 6 days because of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welchce Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 And People DO have a fantastic time at Disney World. I myself am going to Disney World this september for 6 days because of this. And I with 7 of my friends are planning on going next Dec because of this. This doesn't mean I don't wish I could go to KD or Busch Gardens, because I do, but I am (heck most people are) more likely to fly to one general area to go to 4 parks then to drive to one place for one park and then another place for another park (unless I could find some people to go with me ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dvo Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I really want to get to WDW again. I just graduated from Bradley University as a Mechanical Engineer, and I got to work for Walt Disney World on my senior project. It was a fantastic experience. Now I just want to see the results Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 And People DO have a fantastic time at Disney World. I myself am going to Disney World this september for 6 days because of this. Enjoy, as someone that doesn't care if he ever goes to Disney's Plastic Kingdom, again; I'll take Busch Gardens any day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welchce Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Very cool stuff. I'm at UC in Electrical and Computer Engineering and I'm kinda hoping I can co-op at Disney my senior year. I think it would be a blast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeLorean Rider Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 It's very difficult, UC does not consider the College Program to be a Co-Op, but in order to get into the Disney Professional Internship, you have to do the college program first. Somewhere along the lines you gotta take off school to do the college program to even be considered for anything further. I believe MarketingExpress can vouch for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureExpresser Posted August 7, 2007 Author Share Posted August 7, 2007 I didn't mean to start an argument about Disney, and I agree that Disney is awesome, but the one thing Busch has to put it over the top as a WELL Rounded Theme Park is its Thrill Rides, and I would put Curse of Darkastle up against other high technology rides, and Escape from Pompeii has taken the old boring boat ride and turned it into an amazing technological ride, I know others will argue about Disney and Universal being better but remember these are movie studios and Busch Gardens isn't , so I think they for not having that going for them, they are just as much as a front leader for the amusement industry as Disney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarketingExpress Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 It's very difficult, UC does not consider the College Program to be a Co-Op, but in order to get into the Disney Professional Internship, you have to do the college program first. Somewhere along the lines you gotta take off school to do the college program to even be considered for anything further. I believe MarketingExpress can vouch for this. Extremely difficult especially being a UC student since UC is on the quarter system. Disney's college programs run for 6 month periods starting in January and July This doesn't even include the complex and highly competitive interview process that you have to go through. I would say that the entire process from the information session to your last day is at least a year long. Doesn't sound like much, but it is a lot of planning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welchce Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Alright, thank you for your insight. I'll be sure to remember this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjkjkj Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I mean don't get me wrong, I really do like Disney, a lot actually, I just don't think they are the absolute best park. But they are Awesome parks, that are themed amazingly, and all around great parks. Anyways sounds like you had a good time, At the parks. and you really enjoyed yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyKay07 Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I do agree about their Tomb Raider. It was really exciting and fun. I went to KD two years ago, and I enjoyed it. We also rode Hypersonic, and I was really scared, but I liked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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