King's Dominion - 10/08/23

Completely trying to close the park, and having people line up within it, but in an ad hoc que for an hour from Great Pumpkin to Haunt, is the craziest use of staffing and resources I have ever seen in a regional park.

Obviously, there is a big shift in crowd makeup, but the tix selling bump from splitting it can't be that big, to cover the crazy logistics mess?

Jungle Expedition is right behind the Boardwalk for me in execution, and after just coming from BGW, I hope it's maintained better than the rest of the park leads me to believe it will.

Ops were definitely the slowest I have seen this year, although some crews were pretty good. But man Twisted Timbers and Dominator were truly the worst I have seen in ages at a CF Park and make people bitching about CP seem crazy. I get they can't put 4 ops on a platform like CP, but a 3rd to handle Fast Lane/Handicap/Child Swap would do wonders. Was not too surprised though cause the ops I had at Hershey last year were about the same, and the biggest letdown from that trip. And BGW was only slightly better, esp compared to how they used to run.

I305 and Dominator in terms of paint and cleanliness looked straight out of a neglected SF park. The love given to Grizzly was noticed, but only 1 train operation and the outside of the car was filthy. International Street looked good and obviously, old trees were welcome, but surprised the gate and booths did not get upgraded like the rest of CF parks considering its relative pecking order in the chain. Old Va looks decent too just has nothing in it.

The bathrooms in pretty good shape and upkeep, and the trash non non-existent so not completely SF level, but def lacks the polish CP and KI have gotten the past 5 years. The trees and foliage are great,prob the best in all of CF (have not been to WoF in ages) but considering its in the south, and BGW is down the road, CP an KI have way more flowers and beds.

Also, no Winseeker, Drop Tower, or Eiffel Tower so you couldn't look around at all.

Food options are amazingly better than BGW, but also the staff is also left to deal with running out of things and poor planning, esp compared to the new CP restaurants, in terms of Oct crowds.

Planet Snoopy obv ride count near KI, but a much better setting and feel, and felt really pretty well maintained,

The Reptilian refresh was amazing, and it was much snappier than I thought it was going to be. But while riding it you get a good look at I305 and its battered state. Also why the supports are not black or charcoal to match Dales's car is beyond me, cause the yellow shows everything.

Basically a mixed bag as expected, and definitely feels like KI's neglected stepbrother, but man it has potential.

And they seem to be trying to get most of it in shape, but what has not received attention stands out so much.

I also hope CF figures out a way to retheme all the Backlot's and FoF, and here I think could find a way to be semi jungle themed.

Sounds miserable. At least it didn't rain.

Carowinds does the same thing with the hour closedown and herding customers like cattle.

It’s a bad business decision regardless of any revenue it makes or expense saved by closing rides for an hour Not one customer can possibly enjoy this. Giving customers a bad experience, even for a hour, is not good for business.

KD and Carowinds are two of the poorest, run parks in the chain. As far as things they do to customers. It’s a shame because they are nice parks

Who said his name three times??!?

Universal does the same thing. They close off areas of the park and you wait there until the day guests are gone and HHN is ready. Not sure how Knott’s handles it but they close for the day and reopen at night. Those are both completely separate tickets though. None of the season pass options get you in.

Those are both completely separate tickets though. None of the season pass options get you in.

I knew Universal did, but there haunt is on another level. Plus they have the staff to manage it well.

The number of people who where tix only not passes was crazy, esp considering the pass pricing at KD & CW.

Some Cedar Fair parks try to do what the Florida parks do without the infrastructure to do it. Their unsuccessful winter operations last year are another example.

Who says their winter operations were unsuccessful?

Show me on the slider where success was measured.

With a link to the peer reviewed study on success

Sounds like a headline for the clickbait thread

Yeah, I was looking at BGWs Jan- March compared to KD & CW and it was interesting.

Obviously, BGW has a whole calendar of themed events and a known ride-opening list, and what is not.

Hell in June or so KD didn't have their Oct schedule up yet.

I just hope after all the time and effort put into Jungle Ex, Aeronautica and the Fury Mess, maintenance and upkeep get proper attention in the off-season.

I also find it interesting there were no smaller cap-ex announcements from CF, but sometimes those get pushed to the first quarter.

BrettV:

Who says their winter operations were unsuccessful?

Says the announcements by KD and Carowinds that they will open in March for 2024. LOL

It was clear from online posts and reporting from winter operations last year that it was a complete failure. As well as the fact those parks aren’t designed for winter operations unless they have Christmas lights up