Virginia is for Coaster Lovers Pt 2

[DaveStroem]

I will keep this TR a bit shorter then the last.

We got to the park at 9:30 AM before they opened up the parking lot.

Once they did we were some of the first people in the park and started off riding Dominator front row 2nd train.

Followed by a couple of re-rides and then off to Volcano for the 3rd train front row.

Next was Anaconda followed by Flight of Fear and Backlot Stunt Coaster.

After these we decided to ride Crypt. This is the 3rd different Huss flippers that we have been on this year and by far the best.

Then came a bit of a surprise in a ride called Avalanche. It is a toboggan free rolling coaster that was a ton of fun. It was so smooth that we even convinced my non-riding wife to give it a spin. While she survived, she was still white knuckled the entire ride.

Next was Scooby's Ghoster Coaster and then Space Spinner. This ride is in the Nick area but was a much more grown up ride. KI needs one of these.

It was about time for lunch so we headed of to Johnny's over by Shock Wave where we had cheese steak over french fries. It sounded strange but was mighty tasty.

After lunch we rode the carousel and Americana to give us some time for lunch to settle.

Then it was off to Rebel Yell, Ricochet and Hurler.

I have to add a warning to all you SOB haters, Hurler is 10 times worse then SOB ever was. While I am not one to suggest getting rid of rides because they are rough, but this one needs to go. Worst coaster I have ever been on.

We still needed to ride Shockwave and Grizzly to fill out our Coaster Card and we also took a quick spin on the Flying Eagles.

By this time we were ready for Dinner, but after buying park food I suggested that we leave the park and get some cheaper fast food. So off to Taco Bell we went.

Upon returning to the park we Berserker and Dominator a few more times before heading back for a couple of night rides on Grizzly. It was getting to be 9:30 so we headed to Volcano for a night ride there. We opted for the shortest row to have a chance for another lap. We got to the entrance at 9:55 and got into the queue for the front row. When it was our turn, the rest of the queues were empty and most of the people on the train got off. So we got the last train by ourselves with a few ride ops.

I really enjoyed Kings Dominion almost a little more the Kings Island. Once they get their Giga Coaster the park will be one of the best.

[The Interpreter]

Great trip report with awesome pictures. Looks like Kinzel & Co. lost out on some more nickels, too. I've never found anything to eat inside Kings Dominion that I thought was worth even 1/4 of what they charge for it. Not good, poor service and high price...not a good combination at all. I love the park otherwise, though.

Know, too, that Hurler was smooth as glass and air filled when it opened. It hasn't been either very often since.

[violakat03]

Am I the only one who loved Hurler?!!!

[DaveStroem]

Am I the only one who loved Hurler?!!!

I think so. There was no wait for the front seat. At least on SOB there is almost always a line.

[violakat03]

I went on a completely dead day (even Volcano was walk-on) in May, and I rode Hurler 3 times in a row in the front seat without getting off. It's got some pretty intense lateral g's but was also a lot of fun.

[Brandon]

I can't wait to go to Kings Dominion. I get to go in 2 weeks. Is there enough to do there to spend a day and a half? I've heard a lot of good trip reports about the park, but I've also heard a couple of people say that there is not enough to do there.

[The Interpreter]

It depends on who the people are. Quite literally. Some of us could happily spend a month at Knoebel's. Others would be bored after the first two hours. It's the same at Kings Dominion. It also depends on how busy the park is. Some of us prefer empty parks...others find empty parks dull and lifeless and depressing. Some of us can tolerate a very busy park...others run for somewhere else. And some of us are a mixture of the two polar opposites in each example.

A day and a half? Either of those days a Friday, Saturday or Sunday? Both of them?

And what do you like/not like?

See, it really depends....

[DaveStroem]

Brandon, I think that if you could spend a day and a half at KI, you could easily do the same at KD. We spent the entire day there from opening to close and did not do any of the water park. So if you include that, you'll be golden.

One thing to remember is that the park says that they open at 10:30 but in reality they open at 10:00 with Dominator and then they open the rest of the park at 10:30.

[violakat03]

I could easily spend more than a day and a half at Kings Dominion. There are a lot of re-rideable rides there, and tons of great flats, including many that have disappeared from KI in years past such as the Flying Eagles, antique cars, and TOGO stand-up coaster. I only got a couple rides in on my July 3rd trip because I was with a large group from KDFanSite and we watched a couple of the shows, plus the park was insane packed. I did get a few coasters, but didn't get my two favorites in the park, Volcano and Grizzly, so we're thinking about going again before we come home from Virginia.