Upstop's Trip Report Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens

[upstop]

My first tpr...excuse the wordiness.

My coaster buddy M&M Productions and I left my house at 4 am on 6/28 for our first time back to KD and BGW in over 7 years. The last time we went both of us were disappointed by the fact that we didn't fit on anything...more on this later.

We arrived at our hotel in Ashland at 11:00 am....surprisingly fast in my opinion.

Now a word about the hotel...Bad bad bad hotel...We stayed at Motel 6 in Ashland. The room was stinking and the light switch did not work. There were shorts in about all of the plugs and at night there was zero path lighting or stairwell lighting. It was not a safe atmosphere at all. We did not receive any maid service and I had to ask for towels after hours. The lobby was locked and the attendant was on the phone when I went into the enclosure. I told him we had no maid service and needed towels. He went into the back room....a half hour later he came out with one towel and a hand towel. I would have left, but the fees were non refundable...now I know why. Won't be staying there again.

Anyways, on day one, we arrived at the park around 11:30. That weekend was KD's a festival like Spirit Song (it wasn't Joyfest). We expected a crowd and it was crowded. So we walked around for a while and decided to ride Ricochet . The last time we were there we couldn't get the restraints down two clicks...voila! We were able to get them set. The ride was rather fun. So we tried our luck with the Hurler. No problem there and we both fit, however, the quick hard banking to the right reset my spine and I thought I would be in pain all day, but that quickly went away...needless to say we didn't ride that one again. We then rode Rebel Yell. It is similar to The Racer but noticeably smaller....but it was very smooth. After riding this we headed over to Drop Tower. Here they have a test seat. We were both disappointed that we could not get the restraint locked. So we counted Volcano out as another ride we couldn't ride. So we walked dejectedly to Bad Apple (our version is Shake Rattle and Roll). Fun ride. It seemed a longer cycle but the operator was hysterical. When the ride was over he said push up on your lap bars...of course they were pushing and he was giving them a hard time by telling them try over and over. Eventually he released the locks everyone on the ride and in the line was giggling and having fun.

We decided to have lunch so we check several places and prices are identical with King's Island. We finally settled for a cheeseburger at the Hungry Hippo in Safari Village. It was a burger bar with fixins. I was rather good. Plus there was unlimited drinks too. We stepped out and M&M said "Let's ride I305....Now, none of you know this but I, Upstop, am actually terrified of heights...ironic eh? I had just eaten this meal and now I was being asked to drop 305 feet. I was going to get over my fear with this trip but was not expecting to do this right off The Bat....so I reluctantly said "ok", but only if we can ride somewhere near the front....(this is an actual habit of mine when riding new-to-me coasters). So we came around the corner and lo and behold...there was a test seat. Secretly I was hoping that I wouldn't fit...I know, crazy right? I fit...so true to my word to ride I entered the line with M&M. Believe it or not, even with the crowd we walked right to the platform. We took our place in the second seat (front seat was around a half hour wait). So we were sitting there in the second seat and then "Gentlemen start your engines" and off we went up the super fast and super steep lift hill. I felt the hamburger rising and falling in my throat as we went up the hill. then we crested...down we went. I305 is one of the most exhilarating rides I've ever ridden. The only thing that was a drawback was that in the directional transitions, you are thrown into the air and to the right. Both times I slammed my collar bone on the restrain. I'm still bruised a week later. Other than that, I highly recommend this ride for speed junkies (94 mph)...It's fast fast fast!

After this we headed towards Avalanche, and as we were passing Volcano, we noticed that Avalanche was temporarily down. We started to turn away when I noticed and told M&M..."hey, volcano now has a test seat...lets just settle this and give it a test." M&M was reluctant and didn't want to be let down again so I said "I'll go first". I fit....YAY!!! I told him to get on the test seat and he said "I won't fit" He got on the seat and by pushing it down a quarter of an inch he fit. We were like two little kids ready to do cartwheels. We rushed up the ramp and into the cave...and...the queue was full. As we waited, some people became impatient and left the line complaining it was too long. The entire queue is about half of Diamondbacks upper queue. I looked at M&M and said "They think these lines are long, they should try Kings Island". In the end the ride launch was incredible! If only KI had something like this...wowwy! After riding this we decided to head over to Boo Hill. What a neat ride. I like the laser beams better. At least you can see where you are aiming. I won...with two guns...LOL. We then headed over to Dominator. This was a tight fit for both of us. The tightest at KD, but what an exciting ride...a little rough but very speedy. We took a water break and went to the cooler in the car. It was beginning to get dark so we went back into the park to end the day. As we were walking near the tower, I mentioned "Hey, since we fit on Volcano, do you think we can fit on Drop Tower?" I convinced M&M that hey, if we have to do the walk of shame, so be it...I don't know anybody there..let's give it a try. WE FIT! The test seat is way off what is on the ride. Once I was locked in I thought, well here goes nothing. I just rode a roller coaster 305 feet high. there is no reason I can't drop 272 feet. I have to say it is a very different experience. I have ridden the Drop Tower at KI in the past. At KD it seems much, much faster. I'm guessing because it carries more weight and has less drag on it. We walked up the central walkway to look at Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular. I like how they used ground lighting to shine up into the trees instead of Christmas lights. It was really nice. After this we decided to call it a day and went back to the roach motel.

Day two began with an early arrival at the park. We parked in row G3 right next to the kennel. We hit all of the rides from the previous day and decided to hit attractions that we didn't make. We rode the Crypt...wow it was intense. I think I was in the restraint more than the seat on this one. We rode Avalanche, a strange but fun rollercoaster. We also rode Flight of Fear, same as ours except they have a permanent haunt in the building queue line. We went across the park and rode Shenandoah Lumber Company. At the exit, I spent a couple of dollars soaking riders...fun! We then went to Dinosaurs Alive (got to love the platinum pass). At one point we were looking around and didn't even notice the giant dinosaur we just walked under...it was well hidden. We then rode Grizzly....what a fun ride! I remember it being so rough but it looks like a lot has been replaced with new lumber. We again rode Rebel Yell. Then we rode Drop Tower again. There was a guy in front of M&M who was talking smack to his friends who all chickened out and left the line...but when the carriage started up he freaked out. I couldn't help but laugh...We hadn't even passed the breaks and he was so worked up. I thought he was going to pass out. We rode I305 from the front car...it's interesting to have air injected into your nose from moving so fast. I felt it go deep into my lungs. We then spent some time on the tower and then had a chicken sandwich followed by a blue ice cream...funny thing...it's not blueberry...it's just blue....go figure. We rode BLSC and then Anaconda. BTW, BLSC still has the splashdown and sprays when the car passes the drop, but most of the other effects are minimal....no flames here either.

Later on as it was getting dark we rode the Scrambler and headed to I305. The line had grown to a full queue but still took about 20 minutes to get on the ride. We rode in the back car. Wow what a different ride at night...there are no lights anywhere! It was very exciting...I cannot wait to get my weight down to where I can fit on Millennium. It was almost closing time so we decided to try Volcano one last time. There were only four queues in the main house. When we were rounding the final queue, the fireworks went off. Volcano paused during the fireworks so we only got to see over the queue fence. However, since this was our last ride at KD for this year, we rode from the front....WOO HOO!!!!! (somewhere near the turn around a skunk got spooked and sprayed....and it was strong) it is totally different at night, flying through the dark and up through the Volcano...and then it was over....

Day three. We travelled to Williamsburg. As we were arriving at the motel, the local news on the radio talked of a bomb scare that temporarily closed down the England area on Sunday...we were hoping that this wouldn't affect our visit for that Monday and it didn't. At Busch Gardens Williamsburg our platinum pass got us premium parking! We parked right outside of the main gate and entered. The first thing we did was to go to the London Rocks show. Wow...Busch Gardens can really put on a show. There was actually a standing ovation at the end of the performance plus they used textured projection for set changes...it was like psychedelic, man....then we headed to Apollo's Chariot. It's very scenic....sorry guys. I like it better than Diamondback. We then headed over the bridge to Verbolten...what a neatly themed ride and it was very fun. We rode it many times and we only got the Spirit theme once, and then pretty much evenly for wolves and storm. The drop is surprisingly scary in the dark. Word of warning, if you ride in the very back, prepare for whiplash as you drop over the small hill and are launched out of the second tunnel. We then rode Mach Tower. It has a loud drop, but since it is on a hill side, you appear to be much higher than you really are. It's a fun drop, but you slow down about half way down the tower. By now it was lunch time so we went to Festhouse. I was so excited to have my favorite sandwich...The Alpine....I was shocked to see the Alpine was not on the menu...Then I noticed the Mile High sandwich...It was the same thing with a different name...I guess they didn't renew the copyright for the name. We then rode Dark Castle. It is one of the best of it's type for simulator/dark rides. The little splash of water at the end is welcome for a very hot day, but exiting the building, you could feel the heat streaming into the door...just like opening an oven. We then rode Alpengheist. M&M was in the large seat and I buckled into the seat next to him. The attendant came by and pushed down the restraint and then asked me to exit to wait for the next train and put me in the large seat. I got the seat locked so I'm not sure why this happened. It was a bit rougher than I remembered. Onwards to Griffon. What a rush! I love that ride. We took an airconditioning break and rode Europe in the Air. It was nice for a break. Next we went to Loch Ness Monster, It was a tight fit for two big guys, but it was very enjoyable. We finally finished the day by riding Escape from Pompeii then we did several cycles on Apollo's Chariot.

Day four we arrived at the park at the crack of dawn and rode everything twice. We added the Turkish Delight, Trade Winds, Le Scoot, and Le Catapult. We also rode Davinci's Cradle...a very interesting ride, Davinci's Flying Machine and The Battering Ram. We rode the train from Italy to Canada and the skyride from Germany to Scottland. We ate at the La Cucina all you can eat pizza buffet for $12.99. Overall, Busch Gardens is is the most beautiful park next to Disneyland.

Now that M&M and I have platinum passes for Busch, there is a reason to go to HalloScreams in Tampa this year...Yay I can't wait.

Right now however, I came home from Virginia with a cold that knocked me out all day yesterday and part of today. I hope to get over this soon so I can enjoy me some KI....LOL

Peace out ya'll.

[LoraX]

Thank you for posting this. As you know, we are at KD today. My experience was similar on Hurler (the chiropractor.) My neck got adjusted and I have to say my neck feels better than it has on a long time. I had expected pain though.

Hope you're feeling better.

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[upstop]

Yes that first turn is a doozy. I was on the outside and a couple of inches more to my left was the guiderail. I felt that if I had looked down at that moment I could have seen the wheels...LOL. I hope you had a wonderful time.

Thank you for the kind words!

BTW, My fever broke last night! Onward to recovery...Yay!

[LoraX]

I love Kings Dominion. We spent almost all day there today. To bad you all weren't here at the same time as us. Glad you're feeling better.

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[upstop]

Kings Dominion is a wonderful park. I particularly like the shade. Not too many parks have as many trees. The one thing I noticed was the lack of a breeze while we were there. We seemed to be the only two sweating...LOL. I looked like I got off of a water ride most of the time I was there...hehehehe.

Yes it is too bad we didn't meet up. I think we would have had a blast.

I'm back on my diet now and walking for 8 hours straight for 4 days straight and (unfortunately/fortunately...not sure which) being sick...I lost 8 pounds....I call it the Theme Park Exercise and Diet Program...lol

I'm hoping to have lost a bunch more by mid August and would really like to meet you and everyone else here. So keep me informed of any August meetups if anything comes up

I feel blessed to have "virtually" talked to you! Have a safe trip home Lora!!!

[LoraX]

I have lost 14 pounds since April. I have 75 more to go. I am not so worried about losing fast. I want it to stay off.

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[zombieninja]

The Hurler... so... much... pain...

You just had to mention the food at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Now I'm hungry.

(Fixed a major misspelling of Busch. Oops)

[LoraX]

The Hurler really is painful.

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[upstop]

Is it me or does it appear to be the mirror image of Thunder Run at KK?

[LoraX]

From what I can remember I think they are a mirror image or close to it. I do not recall Thunder Run being as rough as Hurler. Of course I was several years younger last time I rode Thunder Run.

[APE]

If you don't mind me asking how big are you and your buddy or at least how big were you at the time of the trip. I don't fit on Drop Tower or Wicked Twister I'm wondering if I'll have the same fate for Volcano or any of the other rides. Those rides mentioned are the only ones I haven't been able to fit on. I still can ride TTD and MF at Cedar Point. If you don't want to answer here feel free to private message me.

[upstop]

At that time I weighed 254, 40 inch waist (with Dunlap) and I fit on everything. I'm a bit bigger in the chest but fit comfortably. On Volcano, the ride attendant had to push down about an inch. On Drop Tower they pushed down about an inch but both were comfortable in the chest area. I305, I was able to lock myself in comfortably.

My friend is smaller in the waist but larger in the chest and was able to fit on everything too.

I also fit on TTD and MF last summer as well.

I don't fit on KIs Drop Tower or Wicked Twister as of last summer either.

Heck I'd give Dominion a try. I was pleasantly surprised that their Drop Tower was so loose on me since the test seat was impossible to lock and totally surprised that with one finger my friend was able to lock me into the test seat of Volcano.

Somewhere on the site, Lorax took a picture of me last summer and posted that and I'm significantly larger that the others in the group.

[LoraX]

[upstop]

There I is....

[APE]

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[upstop]

You should fit fine on all of the rides at KD and Busch...the only ride I had trouble on there was Alpengeist. Even though I was able to lock in, they moved me to the big boy seat.