Kings Dominion tips?

[TombRaiderFTW]

Hey, everyone.

So, originally this summer, our family had plans to go to Canada next week. We would have hit up Canada's Wonderland, but unfortunately, those plans fell through. However, it turns out we'll instead make our way to Kings Dominion for my first visit ever.

Obviously, I am ridiculously excited. (I'm not even going to try to describe it on here, because it would just be a bunch of capitals and exclamation points and random shouts like OH MY GOSH THEY HAVE A CRYPT THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY SUCK.) I've posted on KDFansite to find out how busy it might be next Thursday, and it seems we've more or less lucked out. As long as the weather cooperates, I think it's setting up to be an awesome day, even though the park's got a shortened schedule of 10:30a-8:00p.

The only thing I'm not sure of, though, is how to go about hitting up the rides at the park. The two must-rides at the park are The Crypt and Berzerker, but we'd like to get as much done as possible with what time and/or lines we might have. Anyone got any suggestions on how to take on the park?

[bkroz]

I'm so excited for you! Here's my dauntingly intense advice. Have your notepad ready? Good.

The one thing that really irked me about Kings Dominion weekdays when I was there a few weeks ago was the dreaded one train operation. I went on Thursday and everything except Intimidator was running more than one. The following Tuesday, everything had one. Volcano had two, because I think without two the whole ride might implode from slowness, but Intimidator, Dominator, even Flight of Fear were all running one train. Yes, it was awful. From the times I've been there, I've come to guess that it's common practice for the wooden coasters to run only one train, which is also very frustrating. Intimidator never got longer than a fifteen minute wait when they had more than one train running.

I was also surprised by how Intimidator affected the park's throughput. Intimidator is located exactly where Firehawk would be at Kings Island, spurred off of the Flight of Fear plaza, and as such, I had expected that [b]Flight of Fear[/b] would be incredibly crowded at all times like ours. On both days I went, that wasn't the case. On Thursday (when they had many trains running) Flight of Fear was a walk-on. Theirs is different in that the hanger is taken up by a haunted house and looks terrible. However, their spacecraft still has its 'bass' effect where the whole room seems to vibrate, the strobes still go off on its wings, and the rest of the queue still uses intense theatrical lighting. One of the days I went, it was in pitch black darkness. The other, it had its effect lights just like Kings Island's. I actually prefer the latter, but having it pitch black is unique. It does not stop on the MCBR.

The Crypt is always a walk-on. To me, that's sort of funny. It would appear that the only reason people line up for our Crypt at all is for air conditioning, and the mystery. The ride is nothing if not sub-par, so I have to assume no one's writing home about the ride experience and getting their friends and family excited. Kings Dominion's Crypt had neither of those two things, and is at least twice as fun as Kings Island's, but is always a walk-on. Very strange! (More on The Crypt later.)

Again, the people at KDFansite will be better about this than I, but the only ride to "worry" about the line for is probably Volcano. It's notoriously slow. For my two cents, I say that if the queue is outside of the volcano structure, don't bother. Basically, there are back-and-forth things outside in a hut, and then you enter in the volcano, where you cross a catwalk and proceed down a long, winding ramp to the loading station. It's my understanding after my two days there that at some point during the day, the line will get short enough to be contained within the volcano, so hold out for it. Otherwise, run there at opening. Most people will probably run for it and Intimidator, and Intimidator doesn't have a problem with capacity, so you can pretty much ride it whenever (though I would highly suggest riding it during the day, and at night. I actually preferred my day experience, but riding it at night is a whole other experience).

Definitely check out their wooden coasters, Hurler & Grizzly. El Dorado is worth a spin if you'd never ridden it at Geauga Lake. It's a unique flat because of its size, quite a lot larger than similar Magic Carpet / Rainbow style rides. Their Boo Blasters is all around cool and has the "ending" effects that ours doesn't, plus its always a walk-on due to its obscure location in the back corner of the park. It's also a really cool looking ride building, though you'll instantly be able to tell where the mud-covered Mystery Machine used to be - it's not covered up so well. A pile of sticks, I believe.

I love Dominator, and I always tell my friends how I think it has absolutely perfect pacing. Others disagree, and find it very, very strenuous and quick. I think you'll like it, based on what I know of your favorite rides. I tend to think it will be a walk-on, because it ususally is. I would suggest waiting for the front, because it's a people eater. Assuming it's a walk on, you can either wait 30 seconds for row 5, or 4 minutes for row 1. Why not wait, right?

Speaking of what I know about you (and I know this is a petty, simple thing but consider it): If you decide to hit The Crypt first (which I wager you will ) walk all the way to the Eiffel Tower and turn left, passing through Planet Snoopy. That will give you the chance to pass under the "Congo" archway and see the back of The Crypt rising up ahead of you. It's really a unique experience, especially since you're so excited for it (and rightly so!) Speaking of The Crypt, I highly, highly suggest that, before riding it, you sit out front in the stone amphitheater and watch it. You'll get a good sense of the music, the atmosphere, the setting, etc. The ride was designed for on-lookers, not riders. So when you're on the ride, you can barely hear the music, and you don't necessarily see the "dramatic" rise of the flames as you're lowered towards them, so watching it beforehand (even though it will be hard to restrain yourself) will really help you imagine what's happening around you, and pick up on the soundtrack.

Also, as you undoubtedly know, their Crypt is floorless, so you either face the midway, or face the stone temple backdrop. It's a tough call as to which you'd like to do. Sitting facing Volcano (the midway) is very fun, because all of the gathered onlookers watch you in amazement, and you just feel pretty cool. That side puts a lot of stress on your head, and feels the most like Kings Island's when it did nine flips. Sitting facing the temple doesn't really allow you to feel as cool, and it puts a lot of pressure on your lower half (which, for the men, means feeling exactly what you used to feel during Tomb Raider's hangtime). However, it affords you nice views of the water fountains, which actually get close to your face on that side.

Check out their Drop Zone, which is taller than ours (or perhaps I should say, "falls farther"), and has a much higher throughput since it does not rotate on the way up.

Backlot Stunt Coaster there is sort of falling apart, but why not ride it? It has a splashdown, so you can just pretend that there are flames, music, a moving helicopter, sound effects, fog, exploding barrels, and MINI Coopers and you might feel like you're back on The Italian Job! ... Or something.

Anaconda has its good days and bad days. There are some days when it truly makes me feel like giving up on roller coasters all together. On my latest trip, I would've ridden it 100 times before I'd ride Vortex.

I had always cited Shockwave as my example that not all standing coasters were that awful. Either it's aging or I am, and I'm only nineteen so I tend to think it's the one with the issue, because it really jerks you around. Don't pass it up though. I would never tell anyone to pass a ride without trying it - always try that which you are capable of trying and you may fall in love.

Another thing to do if you have an extra half hour is to walk through their Planet Snoopy and Kidzville. This sounds very stupid, but the kid's Pharaoh's Fury made me want to cry it was so adorable. Please do yourself a favor and walk through Treasure Cave. I hear is used to be Yogi, and is a shell of its former self, but again, I went through with a friend and we couldn't get over how "cool" it was. It just is. If it weren't for the cartoony pirate music playing, I would've been scared senseless.

Kings Dominion is a fantastic park and I have no doubt that you'll love it! PLEASE take pictures, even if you can only manage to get a shot of the Triangle of Light carved into the ground in front of the Crypt's sign. Or the giant 40 foot one on the bottom of the gondola... (but somehow, we can't keep a goddess with light-up eyes ) There will be fantastic, gleeful moments when you feel like you're in Kings Island's evil twin. Embrace those moments!

[luff]

Congratulations TombRaiderFTW, and great advice goody.

I had an unexpected first trip to Kings Dominion last Sunday. Here are some additional comments to the awesome advice already given here.

Volcano. This was my longest wait for the day. 1 hr 20 minutes, while all the other waits were less than 15 minutes. They only had one train running when I entered the line. On a summer weekend? The dozens of ThemeParkReview crew cheered when they finally added a second train. Still a very fun ride.

Dominator. Not my favorite, I got quite a bit of head banging.

Shockwave. I had assumed that this ride was almost identical to the King Cobra. The first half is the same, but the last half is different. Good ride, that didn't seem to jerk me around.

Also don't forget the Rebel Yell. I have ridden The Racers so much, that I could really enjoy the slight differences.

I also enjoyed the Avalanche, a nice Mack bobsled ride.

The park is FULL of trees, even the two kids areas. Hope you have a great time there.

[StalkerChick]

if you get there for ERT try to head for Dominator first, it tends to start early and then go behind the tower to the gate by the tiques as it'll be less crowded (if it even is) and you can headoff left to 305 if you want to beat the crowd then hit volcano, and avalanche. Those seemed to be the longest wait rides.

I'm not a fan of this park at all... but they do have great rides~ and Pam is awesome! but I know i don't complain about KI rides being down and rude employees after being to KD. good luck! oh and if your looking for a place to stay the best western right there in the parking lot is a pretty decent hotel, and has a pass discount and you can walk across the parking lot

[PhantomTheater]

oh and if your looking for a place to stay the best western right there in the parking lot is a pretty decent hotel, and has a pass discount and you can walk across the parking lot

I would NOT recommend that hotel, it was disgusting. I'm not the only one here who feels this way as well.

[DaveStroem]

oh and if your looking for a place to stay the best western right there in the parking lot is a pretty decent hotel, and has a pass discount and you can walk across the parking lot

I would NOT recommend that hotel, it was disgusting. I'm not the only one here who feels this way as well.

It was fine when we were there earlier this year. During the season it is a bit pricey for what it is. The HoJo's one exit south was a real bargain at $50 a night last weekend.

Luff, we were there for the TPR bash too. Had a great time, even got a Zen ride on Volcano.

[luff]

I was just working in the area and got a day off. It was a complete coincidence that the TPR bash was going on too.

[TombRaiderFTW]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I'm grateful! Now, I just have to fight the urge to ride The Crypt all day... hahaha.

If anyone has anything else to add, I'm still all ears!

[bkroz]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I'm grateful! Now, I just have to fight the urge to ride The Crypt all day... hahaha.

If anyone has anything else to add, I'm still all ears!

About two spins on The Crypt and you'll probably be done for the day. Haha. I especially love the subtle differences even in the "theme." Our Crypt sign is mossy green and brown and jungle-y, where their's is gold & black. It's the sort of detail I feel like only you and I could appreciate. Haha!

[bkroz]

Another thing to look for is the obnoxious similarities between our park and theirs. For example, keep an eye out for Stunt Crew Grill. They have it. An almost exact blueprint. And externally, it's exactly the same shape. Like, exactly. The question is, does our Stunt Crew Grill just look like a thatched-roof jungle expedition outpost? Or the other way around?

(P.S. It's the first one)