40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

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Connor, those effects were working last season I believe.

movielike, Really? I love the new merchandise for this season! I have already purchased two shirts.
 
Sorry Evan! When I meant by they changed the que I wasn't specific enough. The room with the UFO now has the lights turned off. They also added Four (It may have been more.) aliens. Most of them are just regular aliens but at least one was wearing a spacesuit. They were also holding some device that looked like a metal detector. The best part about it was that they added black lights so they really popped out when you walked in. The line didn't even start until the second room inside the UFO because people were so scared. Really jazzed up the usual experience.
 
I have to say, Anaconda was doing a ton better yesterday. While it's a far cry from a "smooth" ride, and it could still easily be considered rough, it is nowhere near as bad as it used to be. Last year, riding Anaconda was downright painful, while this year was just bumpy. New, padded restraints could really help here if that would be an option. I rode in the front seat (usually a rough spot on Arrows) and was pleasantly surprised. The fresh paint adds a ton of life to the ride.

Also, as Evan said, this is a minor thing, but the water blasters go off too early. On the bright side, I now what it feels like to be splashed in the face with water while riding a roller coaster... and what the water in Lake Charles tastes like. :p
 
Ride in the middle, it was bearable all of last year compared to the front where a sledgehammer seemed like a safer option.
 
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Yep, I noticed the "looking towards the future" part. I was just expecting a review of the stuff from the past. Clue(s) leading up to 2015?

Course, the coaster fanatics would, as expected, be hollering for another coaster. Certainly a possibility.

BUT, I would not rule out something else.
 
Party Rocker said:
I has been heavily implied. Also, from posts right after yours it seems many people believe that many people can only afford one or the other, making it simply put that it has to be one or the other.
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It has been heavily implied because the reality is, few people are going to get season passes to two different parks.

Party Rocker said:
While I do agree times are not as great as they could be, I do not believe it is still economically as tough as it has been either. In fact, I believe the economy is going up, while it is still not doing too great, it is still pressing upward. With that said, I still do not think that it always has to be a choice of one or the other and for me at least, I get the vibe that many people view it as that, even if they can afford both. I look at myself as an example, honestly I can not buy both passes. I should be saving as much as I can; however, I still buy useless things everyday that I do not need and can live without. It is my belief many people buy useless things every day that they do not need and can live without happily, like going to a fast food restaurant for example. When it comes down to it, each park offers pass that, would equal up to $46 per month (a Platinum Pass at each). I can think of $50 I have spent that I could have put towards those passes instead.

Keep in mind, I am only referring to single adults/couples. Not families, I do believe for a family it can be rough. Essentially looking at prices with it being about $50 per person, a family of four could end up paying $200 for Platinum Passes at both parks.
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Wow.

1. Just because the economy is growing, doesn't mean it's in the best interest of enthusiasts to go to 2 parks, seasonally. Even if they can afford it.

2. While it's easy to say, all anyone has to do is XYZ with their finances and bam, you save hundreds of rollercoaster dollars a month. The reality is, when I sit down with my bank statements and bills monthly, the thought of going to a myriad of theme parks is the furthest thing from my mind.

3. Your family clause is somewhat of a non-issue. Different lifestyles. Different choices. Different priorities. Just because someone isn't burdened with raising a family, doesn't mean they have free range to go jet-setting across the Mid-Atlantic. I don't have kids, however I have a full time career, and a full time band (I manage and create music in), which literally sucks up my entire schedule. You know what is more precious to me than a few bucks in my pocket? Time.

Party Rocker said:
That said, there is also the fact that many people purchase things inside the park they do not need. I don't want to go off and say that yes everything you guys buy are or are not necessary to living; however, I remember some people saying they buy over $100 per visit easily. Well, that $100 can be put towards a pass to both parks. Honestly, it wouldn't be that much of a trouble because that can mean just reduce one visit, or spend less each visit overall.
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What if someone enjoys spending money on things they "do not need"? I mean, we all go to these parks for an experience. Maybe some people enjoy the exchange of money for goods and services that only a theme park can offer. Also, given this line of reasoning, why even go to a theme park at all? Does anyone really need to go to Busch Gardens or Kings Dominion?

Party Rocker said:
What I am really trying to get at is that there are people who can afford passes to both parks and I'd bet there are more of them than most of you realize; however, I do realize times aren't easy for everyone and some people do have to make that choice of one or the other. I just thought I'd ask about it because every keeps implying (maybe not intentionally) that it is an ultimatum that it must be one or the other.
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It has been heavily implied because the reality is, few people are going to get season passes to two different parks. See above for more detail.
 
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I never said everyone should get passes to both parks. In fact, my idea of having passes to both parks is specific to people who have the money and have the desire. Clearly not everyone has the desire or ability. I was just pointing out the option of having two passes is still an option for some; whereas, everyone makes it seem like it is never an option for anyone. There are some people who do have passes to both parks. It is a possible option for some. Do not assume I address everyone.
 
Party Rocker- you seem to be pulling this supposed conflict out of nowhere- no one has said anything like what you're suggesting people are claiming. Just move on.
 
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Something that was not addressed that I was hoping would have been, was the asphalt. The only area replaced with pavers this off-season was the pathway around the Singing Mushrooms. I only have two main gripes about KD, and unfortunately neither of them was addressed: the asphalt and the music.

While the areas with pavers look beautiful, about 2/3 of Candy Apple Grove and Safari Village are still covered in asphalt. The asphalt still looks very cheap, and gets pretty nasty in the warmer months. Worst of all, there are some majorly cracked areas that give the surrounding area a very neglected look, particularly around the Grove Stage and the main entrance to Safari Village. I hope this gets tended to sooner rather than later.

Secondly, the music still needs to change in Candy Apple Grove. Music plays an enormous role in the feel and experience of the area. If the park wants Candy Apple Grove to have the charm it once had, themed to an old-fashioned midway from the early 1900's, then the modern pop music needs to go. They already play pop music in Planet Snoopy (which is fitting), so there is really no need for more pop music. The immersion is totally lost when Maroon 5 is screeching away right in the middle of a classic midway. As I suggested earlier, playing some 1920's jazz would add whimsy, charm, and theme to the whole area. Hopefully that would tie everything together nicely.

Anyway, that's how I would improve. Everything else is absolutely amazing. What was done this year is second to none. Words can't really even describe it.
 
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In my opinion they shouldn't be playing pop in the kids area. They we're playing One Direction at blasting levels of volume. What's the music in Old Virginia like this year?
 
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I really hope that one day all the asphalt will be replaced. Truthfully, I want it out of Old Virginia too. Asphalt is ugly, when I'm in an amusement park I don't want to feel like I'm walking down a highway or road. I absolutely love the pavers they have been putting in lately, in-fact I would say that they look a heck of a lot better than BGW's aggregate. Once KD replaces all the asphalt I believe they will be a step above BGW, in terms of walkways.
 
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As I stated earlier, I was a little disappointed that more of the asphalt was not replaced for 2014. I thought Kings Dominion would have followed Kings Island's lead and would have replaced ALL the asphalt in Candy Apple Grove this year as KI did for their Coney Island area in, I believe, 2012.

Course, given all the work done around the park this year, I assume the 2014 budget for park refurbishment was exhausted. As stated before, Cedar Fair is keeping a tight reign on money across the park chain. For an "off year", KD appears to have received funds way above what the other parks, that are not getting a new attraction for 2014, are receiving.

If they have to take "Baby Steps" concerning the asphalt removal and replacement with paving bricks, I hope they would start with the area around and under the Eiffel Tower. That would finish International Street as far as no more asphalt for that area.

The next concentrated area for brick paving brick is the area around the Carousel and the short paths leading to it. Maybe even do the outer path starting from the side of the Dinner Bell restaurant; past the Shock-Wave helix; past the center walkway and the front of the Country Kitchen restaurant; past the vine tunnel and end it somewhere past the restroom building.

That would not leave too much left as far as Candy Apple Grove is concerned. I am not sure if they eventually plan to make the area around the Grove Stage into a permanent small amphitheater with seating. If they get the money to do that, then I don't see anything happening with the asphalt around there until a decision is made as to whether or not they build a entertainment facility there.
 
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Canada's Wonderland totally replaced all of its asphalt with pavers, as in the entire park. Went to Carowinds and they haven't done any path replacement at all. The only place with Pavers is around Intimadator and in the main entrance plaza. Caro's boardwalk section have some pressed concrete that kinda looks like wood boards but for the most part the whole park is asphalt. It would seem that Cedar Fair is giving the parks a lot more decision making control over things like that.
 
I feel though as if there shouldn't be pavers EVERYWHERE because than you realize it's just a paver filled park. If you look at Magic Kingdom for example all of the areas have different styled pavement. Dumbo area has peanuts,animal tracks, and places where wheels went into the mud. The area around Little Mermaid is tropical and rocky. Each area an amusment park should be themed to it's surroundings, not to the rest of the park. The only problem with this is it can be mighty expensive sometime.
 
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Well a lot of those were put down during the Paramount era. If I'm thinking correctly all the pavers that Cedar Fair has put down, are the same. I really, really love those pavers though.
 
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SEE, I TOLD YOU GUYS PARAMOUNT TRIED! ( Sorry about that!) Anyways, I wonder what we're getting for the round two 2015 celebration. I could see Hurler leaving...
 
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