2024 Main Season Entertainment Gutted

[Mushroom]

Although Cedar Fair has corrected some of the theming that Paramount did, they really haven’t added any attractions to bring back the non-thrill riding crowd.

So, just to be clear, you consider Americana, Charlie Brown’s Wind Up, Flying Ace Balloon Race, Kite Eating Tree, Lighthouse Landing, Linus Launcher, Lucy’s Tugboat, Peanuts 500, Sally’s Sea Plane, Snoopy’s Junction, Snoopy’s Rocket Express, Snoopy’s Space Buggies, Splash Island and Woodstock Whirlybirds to be aimed at the “thrill riding crowd”?

And, to preempt any eyeroll-inducing “those attractions aren’t what I was talking about” rebuttals, consider this: almost every single one of the attractions I listed can be ridden by the entire family. Even if they’re not exactly what you have in mind, it’s absurd to claim Cedar Fair hasn’t added non-thrill attractions to the park.

 

[warfelg]

So, just to be clear, you consider Americana, Charlie Brown’s Wind Up, Flying Ace Balloon Race, Kite Eating Tree, Lighthouse Landing, Linus Launcher, Lucy’s Tugboat, Peanuts 500, Sally’s Sea Plane, Snoopy’s Junction, Snoopy’s Rocket Express, Snoopy’s Space Buggies, Splash Island and Woodstock Whirlybirds to be aimed at the “thrill riding crowd”?

And, to preempt any eyeroll-inducing “those attractions aren’t what I was talking about” rebuttals, consider this: almost every single one of the attractions I listed can be ridden by the entire family. Even if they’re not exactly what you have in mind, it’s absurd to claim Cedar Fair hasn’t added non-thrill attractions to the park.

I’ll add: they’ve also done a good job IMO of keeping up family rides that are either dying breeds or having been replaced (like antique cars) in other parks.

 

[Thriller]

So, just to be clear, you consider Americana, Charlie Brown’s Wind Up, Flying Ace Balloon Race, Kite Eating Tree, Lighthouse Landing, Linus Launcher, Lucy’s Tugboat, Peanuts 500, Sally’s Sea Plane, Snoopy’s Junction, Snoopy’s Rocket Express, Snoopy’s Space Buggies, Splash Island and Woodstock Whirlybirds to be aimed at the “thrill riding crowd”?

And, to preempt any eyeroll-inducing “those attractions aren’t what I was talking about” rebuttals, consider this: almost every single one of the attractions I listed can be ridden by the entire family. Even if they’re not exactly what you have in mind, it’s absurd to claim Cedar Fair hasn’t added non-thrill attractions to the park.

Just about everything you listed as a kiddie ride. Except the Ferris wheel. Which is such a junk model of the ride they can’t even load a fully . So it ends up having a long wait and short cycle.

Plus, every single one of these rides is a carnival level ride. The seems kind of stuff stuff that can be found at any county fair. Plus many of those are spinning rides, and there are people that cannot tolerate spinning. There’s not one spectacular attraction on that list. And quite honestly the only spectacular attraction for non-thrill riders that Kings Dominion has right now is the Eiffel Tower and it sits closed.

There’s also Boo Blasters in the antique cars, but neither one of those are impressive enough to attract non-thrill riders to spend a day at the park. Especially adults don’t tend to want to ride in a car after they’ve ridden in a car to get somewhere.

Quality attractions for the non-thrill crowd include things like the train, monorail, Skyway, dark rides, theaters with live shows, etc. This park had all those things but paramount remove them, and Cedar Fair has done nothing to return them.

Bgw however, has maintained these legacy attractions and is able to attract a different crowd. That’s one reason their schedule is more expanded and they are able to charge higher prices. They are able to attract a crowd with a higher income range. I would gladly pay more to get into Kings Dominion if it was a better all-around experience.

Believe me. I have some direct experience in this area because I have friends that don’t like thrill rides. They liked going to Busch Gardens, but they do not want to come to Kings Dominion because there’s nothing for them to do except look at the beautiful park.

 

[Mushroom]

Just about everything you listed as a kiddie ride. Except the Ferris wheel. Which is such a junk model of the ride they can’t even load a fully . So it ends up having a long wait and short cycle.

Plus, every single one of these rides is a carnival level ride. The seems kind of stuff stuff that can be found at any county fair. Plus many of those are spinning rides, and there are people that cannot tolerate spinning. There’s not one spectacular attraction on that list. And quite honestly the only spectacular attraction for non-thrill riders that Kings Dominion has right now is the Eiffel Tower and it sits closed.

There’s also Boo Blasters in the antique cars, but neither one of those are impressive enough to attract non-thrill riders to spend a day at the park. Especially adults don’t tend to want to ride in a car after they’ve ridden in a car to get somewhere.

Quality attractions for the non-thrill crowd include things like the train, monorail, Skyway, dark rides, theaters with live shows, etc. This park had all those things but paramount remove them, and Cedar Fair has done nothing to return them.

Bgw however, has maintained these legacy attractions and is able to attract a different crowd. That’s one reason their schedule is more expanded and they are able to charge higher prices. They are able to attract a crowd with a higher income range. I would gladly pay more to get into Kings Dominion if it was a better all-around experience.

Believe me. I have some direct experience in this area because I have friends that don’t like thrill rides. They liked going to Busch Gardens, but they do not want to come to Kings Dominion because there’s nothing for them to do except look at the beautiful park.

Sorry, just to make sure I understand you correctly. You originally said that Cedar Fair hasn’t added any rides that appeal to non-thrill seekers. You now claim the rides I listed are “kiddie” rides (I’d argue they’re actually “family” rides since almost all of them are designed with no maximum height limit so the whole family can ride together). So, by your logic, those kiddie rides must be aimed at thrill seekers?

You also commend BGW for maintaining their classic family rides like the train, skyride, and river cruise. I also commend them for that. But while KD has lost their skyride and train, only KD has kept their dark ride and antique cars. BGW ripped theirs out. It feels a bit like your outrage is selective.

 

[Thriller]

Sorry, just to make sure I understand you correctly. You originally said that Cedar Fair hasn’t added any rides that appeal to non-thrill seekers. You now claim the rides I listed are “kiddie” rides (I’d argue they’re actually “family” rides since almost all of them are designed with no maximum height limit so the whole family can ride together). So, by your logic, those kiddie rides must be aimed at thrill seekers?

You also commend BGW for maintaining their classic family rides like the train, skyride, and river cruise. I also commend them for that. But while KD has lost their skyride and train, only KD has kept their dark ride and antique cars. BGW ripped theirs out. It feels a bit like your outrage is selective.

Adding a bunch of cheap Zamperla kiddie rides does absolutely NOTHING to undo the damage that Paramount did to the park on removing almost all of the major non thrill attractions and several theaters. Those kiddie rides are not going to bring back the people that enjoyed the removed attractions and theaters.

In fact, Cedar Fair ownership has done more damage to the segment by cutting all live entertainment this year


Good for KD for retaining their antique cars, but that’s really a kiddie ride as well. Most green adults don’t find driving a car on a rail entertaining when they already can drive a car on the road.

BGW would benefit from a non thrill dark ride. Darkastke did not fall into that category as it spun like a flat ride. But BGW still has enough shows and enough non thrill ADULT rides to keep a non-thrill rider entertained for a day. Kings Dominion does not.

There is absolutely nothing for a non thrill rider to do at KD currently that’s memorable or impressive other than to look at the beautiful park.

 

[warfelg]

There is absolutely nothing for a non thrill rider to do at KD currently that’s memorable or impressive

 

[bwick29]

There is absolutely nothing for a non thrill rider to do at KD currently that’s memorable or impressive other than to look at the beautiful park.

Baloney. Barb's pickle margarita is both impressive and memorable.

So is the bougie lounge tbh. Some other things I'd recommend are:

• Crack a fresh brew and encourage (or heckle) the basketball game players.
• Suck up the drops on Shenandoah Lumber Co. because it's so rare to have a beautiful meandering flume through a forest.
• I'm still not sure that I call WWC a thrill ride either...
• Watch the people who agreed to ride the skycoaster.... but hate riding skycoasters.
• It's surely memorable to be fleeced for a slice of pizza at Victoria's. Impressively low value too!
• Eat. KD has some of the best amusement park food outside of Tennessee/Florida. I recommend anything you can dip in Grain & Grill's chimichurri, brisket at the bbq joint, and the whole chicken at outpost.
• The Eiffel Tower is somewhat memorable if open... I guess?
• Boo Blasters is such a memorable ride too. Go get a new PB.

All jokes aside, you aren't wrong that they could do better, but saying nothing exists is a bit unfair.