Intimidator 305 opens at Kings Dominion

DaveStroem said:The point of the SRL is to max capacity on the ride not as a benefit for lonely coaster enthusiast.

Don't judge, Dave. I go to the parks by myself all the time. It doesn't mean I'm "lonely."

Well Carrie, I am glad that you are not in the lonely category. We have come across many bizarro coaster enthusiast in our travels. Just yesterday one ACEhole tried to latch on to our group.

LOL I always hate it when that happens. I brought my wife to a CoasterMania! one year before we were married, and really had to explain that one.

I'm not even sure she had seen a blue satin patch jacket before then. :)

I'm planning to go to KD this summer, so is it worth it? Compared to MF is I305 better or worse?

If you're basing your entire trip on whether or not one ride will make it all worth it, it probably won't.

Coaster Crazed said:
I'm planning to go to KD this summer, so is it worth it? Compared to MF is I305 better or worse?

If you have to ask, stay home.

I'm glad that the animations didn't really capture the full essence. I'm actually thinking about an emergency trip down there this weekend, weather depending. Based on the reports that have come in thus far I'd say that there may be some modifications to slow the ride down to better suit GP tolerances, so I'd rather ride sooner than later. It seems as though most people who've ridden have said that the front is much better than the back. Anyone willing to confirm?

Too intense for the GP? Is MF too intense for the GP? If not then what's the difference? Someone who has ridden both please enlighten me.

I feel the front is better for everything except the first hill. Back seat over the first hill is great airtime. I felt the airtime was better in front for everything else. By the time the back of the train was going over the hills, the airtime was not as good and in some cases, later in the ride, not there. I experienced the greying-out in front and back.

Carrie M. said:

DaveStroem said:The point of the SRL is to max capacity on the ride not as a benefit for lonely coaster enthusiast.

Don't judge, Dave. I go to the parks by myself all the time. It doesn't mean I'm "lonely."

I wish we were in the same area Carrie. All my friends are either married with kids, not coaster fans or just have no interest at all. My cousin is the only person that, if he can find the time will come with me to a park. Heres me all by myself rolling around Canada's Wonderland to get a few laps in on Behemoth. But I'm not a lonely soul, I'm "cool". :)

I'm lucky enough to have grown my own enthusiast. Now if I could just get my daughter to ride something with inversions (and maybe brave a few scary dark rides), she'd be the perfect park companion.

DaveStroem said:
I am not kidding when I say that. I am not speaking from a roughness stand point but from a ride that is to intense for the public.

More intense than Top Thrill Dragster or Kingda Ka?

I don't find a lot of difference front to back, though as with Maverick, the quick transitions are less violent toward the back.

Jeff Bachiochi said:
Too intense for the GP? Is MF too intense for the GP? If not then what's the difference? Someone who has ridden both please enlighten me.

Millennium Force doesn't make you grey out, whereas I305 may on the first turn. Also, the transitions on I305 are much less gradual (which is an understatement). You get a much more 'out-of-control' feeling than on MF.

That said, I can't say whether or not it's too intense for the 'GP'. I consider myself 'GP' for all intents and purposes, and I don't find it 'too intense.' My tolerance level for intensity is much lower than it was when I was younger. I can't marathon I305, but then again I can't really marathon much of anything anymore.

If you hate the restraints, well, you're not going to enjoy the ride I would imagine. I guess I'm short enough that the restraints don't bother me in the least...

About the SRL, I didn't really pay attention to how KD was handling it opening day, but they were asking how many were in your party in the regular queue. I did notice the SRL was long most of the day, but if you were in the regular queue you would have noticed that the crew was rocking it...I305 is a people eater, and the crew assisted with that. Shortest wait of any coaster of the day (including Grizzly, where the queue was entirely inside the station all day).

MF is more about the floater air. There's no float on 305, it's jack you out of your seat air, and it's relatively brief.

Funny how Alton Towers claims that we are only going to be allowed one ride per visit, and that will need to sign a waiver I think for 13. Oops wrong topic :)

But really in all honesty, some of you are making this ride sound that intense. Sounds like a good time to me!

Jeff: Right now, probably second best among steel to me.

Vater: I305 is the best steel coaster in the world IMO.

Drat. I was planning on driving right past it on my way to/from Williamsburg. Now, I have to rethink.

Some people, myself included, experience gray-out during MF's first turn, Vater.

I do too, and I'm sure I've been on it a hundred times. But this is weird, because as you go around that turn, it's true tunnel vision, with the "opening" getting smaller and smaller as you go. But if you're gonna go, don't go just because of this ride. I think it's a pretty solid looking park these days, especially if they are operating it well. What a difference from nine years ago. I hear Dominator is smoother for some reason since being re-lo'd as well.

It definitely is Jeff. The last year at Geauga Lake, Dominator was ridding rough. It was more noticeable the farther back you sat. I espically like sitting in the back. You get a nice pop of air coming out of the MCBR. I enjoyed being able to ride it again. Even though the park only had 1 train opperation on everything except I-305.