Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread

y'all can have Fury.

We'll take it

Ditto! Seriously... I haven't ridden I305, but I'll be shocked if it dethrones Fury from my #1, based on what I've seen of it, and heard about it from others, and what I've experienced on Fury - without even getting a mythical front row ride (thanks Cedar Fair for your Communist seating policies!). But plenty of back row rides on Fury kicked everything that could be kicked on a coaster from my experience, and I305 will have its work cut out for it whenever I get back out to KD! (Hopefully next year!)

I-305 is a child of Millennium Force and Maverick.

I-305 is a child of Millennium Force and Maverick.

Which are two of my favorite coasters, so I'm sure I'll love it! But more than Fury? To my eye, it just looks like Fury "does more", at least vertically, and isn't so much about the fast "twistiness", I-305. While I enjoy that part of Maverick, it's not my favorite part of the coaster. My personal taste on coasters is more about up and down motion, than side to side. But I guess we'll see... Maybe I'll be blown away when I eventually get to ride it!

IMO Fury 325 does offer one of the most complete rides out there. It offers such a variety of elements. Awesome drop, speed, some decent twisty, sideways airtime, and ending airtime. Probably the best ride B&M has ever built. It's truly a best in class ride.

i305 on the other hand... pure speed, blackout inducing positives, crazy laterals, breakneck pacing... so much that it's almost stupid. This on paper loses to Fury 325. But the unrelenting intensity is what sells it for me. I'll admit, when I first saw the design for i305 I thought it was kinda stupid. I thought "a 305 foot tall coaster that just does a bunch of turns... lame." After riding it over the years , I realize that I like my coasters to give me a blackout, or give me lightly sore thighs from airtime. I just lucky that I live within a 3 hour drive from Fury and i305. Cedar Fair blessed the south with two great Giga coasters for us to argue about.

As someone who wasn't blown away by Fury or I-305, they feel different enough to suggest it's like comparing Valravn to Diamondback. They fill different roles for ride experience, even if they seem similar based on numbers.

Why are you guys all of a sudden hating inversions?

 

 

I don't hate inversions. I would just like a little variety. As of right now, NTAG is the only I-Box conversion that doesn't have inversions. It is all about extreme airtime. Something I'd like to see again.

Extreme airtime and kickass inversions can exist on the same coaster.

Their last coaster had no inversions, and hurler is surrounded by non-inverting woodies. Were I KD management I'd ask RMC for as many inversions as possible, run commercials for "most loops on a hybrid coaster/on the east coast" or something.

Just got back from the park, we spent all day today and most of yesterday. Not busy at all on Saturday, and not too busy today either. I have photos to upload but I'm too tired to do it today and probably won't get to it tomorrow either.

In all, got 28 rides on I305, 7 on Dominator, 6 on Volcano, one or two on the rest, and several of the flats. All in all, a GREAT weekend! It was our first time at the park, and we were very impressed with the beauty of the park as well as the great ride selection.

Haven't tried Fury yet, but I305 DEFINITELY blows Millennium Force out of the water! Although, my S.O. is still hanging on to saying he likes MF better for some strange reason. I do still prefer Skyrush as my #1 coaster, but I absolutely loved I305 and couldn't get enough of it! Just wish there wasn't that trim brake and it would be even better. I also did a nerdy thing yesterday and made it so I305 was my #200 coaster. WOO milestones!

Also tried Taste of Virginia both days, and I have some photos of that as well. Some of the food sounded better than we actually felt it was, but there were plenty of good things to eat (and plenty we didn't try). We didn't try any beer or wine, but we did do the liquor flight both days. Yesterday's was a lot better (and stronger) but there were some really tasty concoctions both days and I would recommend it for anyone who likes cocktails.

I'll upload some time this week and maybe say a little bit more about the other rides.

I absolutely hated Skyrush. I-305 was good, but not great. MF is still my #1. Something about the casual speed and duration of forces makes the ride relaxing and exciting at the same time. Like driving down a country road. But Skyrush was just plain painful.

I think the intensity, speed, and airtime are all reasons that I strongly prefer I305 to Fury, MF, Skyrush (or whatever besides Lightning Rod)... But I guess I can see why some babies don't like I305? Whatever

I do still prefer Skyrush as my #1 coaster, but I absolutely loved I305 and couldn't get enough of it! Just wish there wasn't that trim brake and it would be even better.

Happy to hear your TREAT YOSELF weekend turned out well. I305 and Skyrush are perfect compliments to each other on the intensity spectrum. One tries to kill you with positive G force, speed, and whip lash, the other tries to rocket you into a tree while cutting off thigh circulation. I would love to know more about the design process for each coaster. I imagine the design team finishing the layouts saying "maybe this is too much, should we maybe change it?" And then just saying screw it people can handle it. I305 is perfect up until the trim. If they had that trim removed, and added 2 insane Skyrush airtime moments, it would probably be my #1 coaster.

... so how was Ashland?

^^ love your description of the two! I totally agree!

^We ended up staying at a Comfort Inn in Ruther Glen which wasn't too bad at all!

Perception of the park: it is a very lovely park with some great theming everywhere. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, and it has a great rounding of coasters as well!

I305: as previously said, I LOVED it. Probably my #2 steel.

Volcano: such a unique and awesome coaster! Our second favorite ride in the park. Both launches were awesome and the rolls up over the volcano were pretty sweet as well!

Dominator: my first two rides on it (when it was colder) it boxed my ears a few times and I did not enjoy it. I gave it another chance the next day (when it was warmer) and it was a LOT better and I can officially say it is my favorite floorless! I also chose to sit in the middle of the row after day 1, so maybe the boxing is an issue with the outside of the rows?

Grizzly: Didn't know what to expect, but I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, since I really don't like CGA Grizzly. There was some good airtime in the back, I was actually out of my seat a lot!

Anaconda: The location over the water really makes this ride for me. The ride itself wasn't the best, but it wasn't awful either.

FoF, Stunt Coaster, Woodstock's Express, all similar to KI. Rebel Yell wasn't amazing. Ricochet, standard forgettable mouse. Avalanche, only my second bobsled (to Disaster Transport) and we enjoyed it, but not worth a long wait.

Taste of Virginia: This was my first time at a theme park food event like this. Some of the food looked and sounded better than it tasted, but it was a nice reprieve from standard park food, and we loved the cocktails! I'm pescatarian (no meat except fish) so there were only a handful of things I could try, and a few of them I learned (after purchase) sneakily had other meat in it. For a full vegetarian, there was probably only a few things to eat. I would have liked to see a salad or vegetable dish, everything was carbs and meat.

On to the pictures I took!

First day, first time at the park ever! The entry plaza is gorgeous, just like the one at KI.

First coaster: Grizzly. I actually liked this one a lot and thought it had some great airtime unlike Grizzly at CGA!

It was overcast a lot of Saturday, which probably helped in creating very light crowds that day!

We had to walk past these multiple times before we actually got to see them sing

Some of the theming in the African section, I loved this area!

Is that a natural horn or are you just happy to see me?

At least we don't have to stare at a webcam for months to see this one...

The "better put your phone in the bins if you ever want to see it again" coaster/ "staring at murky water during slow inversions" coaster.

There were so many waterfalls around the park! I loved them all.

We come in peace!

I seriously had a nightmare about this thing that night

The unfortunately trimmed hill on an amazing A+ coaster!

Crab Mac n' Cheese, Flounder Corn Chowder (which had sneaky ham in the chowder), Seared Oyster Cake with Bacon Aioli (not that great to me. would probably have been better with the aioli, but I don't eat bacon), and Fried Chicken and Creamy Dumplings (D. enjoyed the chicken and I enjoyed the dumplings). The winner of the event hands down was the Crab Mac n' Cheese! We both loved it.

Belmont Distillery. Fruity drink, Whiskey and Coke, Moonshine with apple juice, American Mule (Moscow Mule with Moonshine). These cocktails were not only good, but STRONG! We loved them!

I was beyond excited to get on this, my #200 coaster overall and second ever Giga coaster! The G-forces and whipping transitions are just insane!

Yawning or impersonating the skeleton?

I really enjoyed Crypt! Fire effects weren't working, though.

Ele-selfie

Another pretty waterfall

Dominator at sunset

I took a crap-ton of Dominator photos. It's a really photogenic coaster and there are a lot of great vantage points.

Like Kings Island, Kings Dominion really comes to life at night

Clock flowers actually tell the time!

Until next time, Kings Dominion!

Volcano, The Blast Coaster is a good value

Shenandoah Log Flume was a lot of fun!

Fried Winesap Apple Pie, Shitake Turkey Meatloaf with Country Ham Gravy, Peanut Soup with Crispy Peanut Coated Onions. Out of the three, the pie was the best and the other two were just okay.

Crispy Crab Cakes. Very good, but small for how many tickets they cost.

Boo-Blasters

Best "be really careful not to drop your iPhone" photo.

Hurler being deconstructed

Someone must've really wanted a Magikarp!

Peanut Butter Fudge with Glazed Roasted Pecans

Bell Isle Craft Spirits. American Mule, Citrus drink, Habanero Rasperita, Coffee. They were all tasty but none of them were very strong. They didn't make the drinks in front of us so I kind of feel like they skimped on the alcohol.

Didn't get to ride this. I saw it testing, so I waited. Didn't make it over before the first group was already strapped in, so I waited for the second. Well the first group got stuck for about 10 minutes. I saw the mom of one of the girls stuck crying hysterically. Then they dropped and were all given free exit passes. I SO wish I had been on that first group!

After I found a way to avoid the headbanging, I LOVED this ride! It's my new favorite floorless coaster

He looked like this in every single Volcano photo we had!

Rare hands-up photo of me. It hurt too much to keep my hands up during the ride, the G-forces were too intense!

We made sure to weigh down the boat so the guy in the front got really wet.

We really made use of my FunPix pass

D. tried to force me to keep my hands up

Excellent photos and report! Love the park and can't wait to get back! Your photos are not helping.

... and the Shenandoah Lumber Company fan club keeps on growing.

Great photos!

Great report and extra points for food and booze photos!

I didn't know that they served liquor drinks at this festival...that actually got me more excited than the food & coasters! I agree that the food looks kinda meh...like the spring bloom fest last year, none of the food was OMFG delicious and I wondered if that was why they ditched it and went with a different branding this season.

Gotta say that the meatloaf looks a little....nasty though. I thought it was banana bread at first. lol

And yeah...I agree that I-305 kicks total ass. I didn't care for the gray-out that I had on the first turn on the year it opened, but really enjoy it a lot more after the re-profile. Such a complete coaster, but I have yet to ride it at night...I need to remedy that in the future.

^ OMG that thing @ night. Good god.

Great report and extra points for food and booze photos!

 

I didn't know that they served liquor drinks at this festival...that actually got me more excited than the food & coasters! I agree that the food looks kinda meh...like the spring bloom fest last year, none of the food was OMFG delicious and I wondered if that was why they ditched it and went with a different branding this season.

 

Gotta say that the meatloaf looks a little....nasty though. I thought it was banana bread at first. lol

 

And yeah...I agree that I-305 kicks total A$$. I didn't care for the gray-out that I had on the first turn on the year it opened, but really enjoy it a lot more after the re-profile. Such a complete coaster, but I have yet to ride it at night...I need to remedy that in the future.

Yes! It's 9 tokens ($12) for a cocktail flight of whichever company is showcasing that weekend. Next weekend is "Copper Creek Distillery."

I obviously didn't try the meatloaf, but D. said it was cold and not good. He didn't even finish it. I ate the mushrooms from the top and they were fine.

I305 at night was my favorite!! Simply amazing! I'd love to be there during Haunt and ride it when the park is open even later!

The funny thing, all I heard the kids talking about in line (and even in other areas in the park) was how they blacked out on I305 or wanted to black out. Apparently, blacking out on I305 is all the rage these days.

Great report and extra points for food and booze photos!....

Totally agree with this comment. And the night shots look great!

So is it safe to assume that the RMC will be the 2nd best coaster in the park? Because I know a lot of people still love Volcano and/or Dominator as the second wheel to I305.

Anyways great photos! Glad you enjoyed yourself.

^^-- it won't be the 2nd largest or 3rd tallest coaster in the park, so it wouldn't be expected to be everyone's 1st or 2nd. Or maybe it will be the new extreme and you can then go ride I305 to relax.

As to I305, now I've ridden Skyrush (more later), I don't even know if I call I305 "extreme ejector" anymore, it's merely authentic ejector, which is more than most parks have, plus you're moving a lot faster too, especially compared to most of it on El Toro which is also extreme, just not Skyrush. Skyrush shows I305 could have been a lot more extreme, and yet maybe just as well as is. If the trim was taken off the ejections could be the strongest on the ride, but then the twisties would be vicious, so really just a little less trim would be fine. Maybe they figure it balances the extremeness a bit, once you're going to brake just do it. I do think it's been running slower some, one ride a few weeks ago it seemed the trim barely hit... In conclusion, again I find it hard to really rank things they're all unique and have their own to offer. I305 feels a lot larger than Skyrush, not as much El Toro.

I305 is a great ride, but Skyrush murders it in the fun department IMO

I never understood why people find I305's airtime to be "extreme ejector". It was good ejector air, but nothing more, and not really spectacularly intense. El Toro eats I305 for breakfast in the airtime intensity department.

However I won't even attempt to debate that I305's positive-g's are a class of their own. I havent been on Skyrush, so to me, nothing closes remotely close to I305. In fact, I found the positive-gs uncomfortable and detracting from the ride. Positive-g's aren't really my thing to begin with.

I'm pretty sure the RMC will be my favorite as their work so far has been more my style. If the ride feels complete, it lol edge out Volcano, just because Volcano feels like it ends prematurely, and I wasn't too impressed by I305, so there isn't too much completion there.

Skyrush murders it in the "my legs hurt so bad I'm going to sit down and eat ice cream" department.

(RMC Hurler) won't be the 2nd largest or 3rd tallest coaster in the park, so it wouldn't be expected to be everyone's 1st or 2nd.

While I can't speak for the GP, I present to you...

The Cedar Point coaster that enthusiasts swooned over before Mean Streak closed.