Kings Dominion 9/17/01- All Eleven!

 
This was my fourth visit to KD this year, and it never fails to please me. It wasn't that crowded, and XLC was running! I went with a friend, and we originally intended to hit Hypersonic XLC first, but we got there at 10:15, and the Berserker was the only ride that was open. We rode it a couple times (note to PKD: get some different restraints! ouch!), and then headed for XLC. We got there, and a line had already formed outside the queuing area. An attendant said that they were still testing it, because it had derailed earlier, and it wouldn't be open for another hour at the least, so we did Hurler, which was a walk on. This woodie is my personal favorite. Not the tallest or the fastest, but one of the best. Then we were heading to Grizzly, but Rebel Yell was closer, so we rode it backwards. Yet another walk on. After this, XLC was still doing nothing, so we trekked over to Volcano to grab some Express Passes. Much to our dismay, they had stopped issuing them last week. But we really wanted to ride it, so we got in line. It was only about a 10-minute wait, which surprised me a lot. Volcano is a great ride, and I think KD would be smart to build an Intamin hyper sometime in the near future.

In line for Volcano, a guy had told us that Flight of Fear was a walk on, so after Volcano, we hurried over there. We got in two walk on rides before a) a line started to form, and b) we realized that XLC might be running. So we were heading that way, when we saw Anaconda. I can never say no to any Arrow coaster, so we hopped on (another walk on, in fact there was no one at all in line!), and rode in the front car. It was little bumpy, but still a great corkscrew coaster. We saw that XLC was still “testing”, so we got in line (wait, what line?) for Shockwave. I only rode it because my friend never had before. This is hands down the worst roller coaster I have ever ridden. I had only ridden it twice before, but that was enough for me. I would even take a boomerang over the Shockwave! Anyhow, there was one redeeming quality. As we descended down the first hill, I saw a train running on Hypersonic and was more anxious than ever for the ride to end. When we got off, we ran to XLC, and discovered that the queuing area would be opening in a couple minutes, but the line to start queuing was all the way to the Rebel Yell entrance! We got in line, though, and when they opened the queue, we actually got pretty close to the station. It was about a 15-minute wait, but they were running all three trains! This was my second Hypersonic ride, and it is SO much better the second time. An unmatched thrill.

We ate lunch after XLC, even though it was 2:30 already, and went to the Grizzly. Another walk on. We rode it twice, once in front, once in back, and it was awesome. The twisting first drop is my second favorite woodie drop, second only to ROAR. After taming the Grizzly, we played some games in the arcades and some of the basket games and stuff, and won a bunch of stuffed animals. At this point we decided to make a point to ride every single coaster in the park. There were only three left that we hadn’t done. But first, we rode Rebel Yell forwards again. We hauled ourselves back over to the Congo again to ride Avalanche. It was (gasp) not a walk on! We waited for 3 minutes, and then got in the U.S.A. car. But the seating arrangement wasn’t exactly comfortable, on account of the fact that they make you sit bobsled style, and we are both guys. But, it was a pretty cool ride. My first bobsled coaster. We then only had Scooby-Doo and Taxi Jam left, so we went and did those two (both walk ons), and we had done it! All eleven coasters! We went and rode Anaconda again, but got major whiplash, so we just rode Wave Swinger, Berserker, and Space Surfer for the rest of the day. Another great PKD adventure.

 

so what day did you go?

on sunday the 16th

I went both Saturday and Sunday. Two more rides on Hypersonic to make it 11 total and 5 more on Hurler for 41 total!

sweet! what do u think KD should add to make it the "perfect park"? I think, judgung by volcano's popularity it should add an intamin hyper.

A hyper indeed would be a great addition to pkd but i dont think they will get one soon because they dont even have a B and M yet. They really need to get one.Do you think you will go to pkd any more this year? I plan on going atleast 2 more times!!

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coasters5 said:
"A hyper indeed would be a great addition to pkd but i dont think they will get one soon because they dont even have a B and M yet."

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As if a B&M is a requirement for having a hyper. If I'm not mistaken, Dorney got along quite well with their hyper (Steel Force) and no B&M before Talon. And ValleyFair (Wild Thing) and WoF (Mamba) are still B&M less. Even closer to PKD, SFA has an Intamin hyper and no B&M.

I'd gladly take a hyper coaster over a B&M, unless of course that B&M was Montu or Kraken.
lata,
jeremy
--who supposes aB&M hyper would solveall the problems.

there really isnt that much room either is there?, I mean maybe a hyper twister next to rebel yell and then a turn around helix by anacondas lift but i seriouslly doubt pkd getting a hypercoaster. they always seem to build extremely short coasters.

I think if they could maybe buy that land behind rebel yell and anaconda and pipeline peak, they could build a decent hyper. if not, though, a B&M would be great!

well to my knowledge pkd owns 365 acres which is a lot so they probablly have the room for a hyper its just will they get one. But, can u imagine a B and M Floorless in the water where anaconda is. that would be awesome 2 coasters right in the water together, but who knows. also, how do you find other buzzers profiles?

PKD is getting a Wild Mouse in 2002, so no hyper yet, but a B&M or Intamin hyper in 2003 would be cool.

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i really would be okay if the desmantled anaconda and built a B&M stand up in it's place, then sold shockwave and built flat rides.

Anaconda is in really bad shape. you can feel it jump the track on the turns and the mid course breaks are on really high, it hurts! I really do not mind pkd keeping anaconda just do something to make it a little less painful. pkdstar when do you plan on going next? we should meet up.

I was there Sunday also. It was a great day at the park. It's been a few years since my last visit. Flight of Fear is amazing with the new restraints.Volcano is very cool. I just don't understand why the one major drop ends on the brake run. This ride could and should be so much longer. Hyperonic XLC, I don't think anything could be more perfect. I'm sure future models will be longer and offer more elements and air, but this first model is truly AWESOME.
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Hypersonic..... indeed.

*** This post was edited by rod on 9/21/2001. ***

i'm not really sure when i'll be going again. is it possible for pkd to do the lap-bar thing with anaconda that they did with FoF? That would make it a lot smoother. but seriously, they really need to sell the shockwave. maybe they could put in some sort of tower ride.

PKDStar, only Primer rides are getting the lap-bar treatment right now(ie. FoF, Chiller). Anaconda was built by Arrow. Though I whis Drachen Fire would get some lap-bars and re-open...
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I've got laser eyes, and I know what you're thinking. It comes to no surprise, the Christmas lights are blinking.

i know! i was there this spring, and on the hill lift for big bad wolf, i noted that they were running a red train on DF. I really wish it would re-open, it looks cool