40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

[mwhinva]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

KD is quickly becoming better than BGW, the park should be terrified at this point.

Well, that comment seems a little bit "over the top" for me. But, it could be a wake up call to BGW to seriously look at the direction they are going in and maybe slow down the "change for changes sake" momentum.

Many of you have not been too happy with the loss of certain park traditions and overall quality at BGW. Kings Dominion's actions for 2014/2015 might nudge them into reviewing what they have been doing lately.

 

[Mushroom]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

I love the use of the original logo. I love that they're bringing back what Congo is/was supposed to be. I love that the Grove won't be just an asphalt ride corral anymore. I love everything about this. I wouldn't go so far as to say the park is/will be better than Busch Gardens yet, but I'd be starting to get a little nervous if I were BGW. Kings Dominion will have a soul once again!! Busch Gardens had better have some golden bullet up their sleeves when their 40th comes (maybe the firing of a certain high-up? Eh, eh?).

Now I'm starting to wonder if I should have waited until next year to take my grandparents to KD...

I think this pretty much supports my theory that Kings Dominion is looking to return to the "theme park" identity and become a better park. Can't wait!

 

[Zachary]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

I don't think anyone is saying KD is close to passing BGW just yet, but the course Kings Dominion is plotting right now puts them in a much, much better place than Busch Gardens Williamsburg a decade down the road and, in the end, that's what matters.

Charm is what Busch Gardens has forgotten. Charm has been the goal with Kings Dominion's changes over the last few years.

 

[mwhinva]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

Ah, isn't it nice not having Paramount around anymore?

I just shake my head when people respond that the park was so much better under Paramount. I just want to B-slap them when I hear that!

Then they complain: "Why did you take out the train?", "Why did you take out the sky-ride cable cars?", Why are there hardly any shows and why are they not the quality of BGW's?", "Why did you take out this or that?".

You can thank Paramount for all of that.

Movie-themed rides plopped all over the park without regard to the themeing of the area it was in.

Rides were installed with low capacity and poor reliability.

A park chain entertainment division, that produced such a great variety of high quality shows, decimated by Paramount. Went 10-12 shows during prime summer season to maybe 3 low quality shows. Lost 3 performance venues during that time as well.

Cedar Fair has its own shortcomings; but, they have made the park a better experience than what it was was those last 2-3 years under paramount. Plus, the majority of the CF corporate management is new over the last 2 years, including CEO Matt Quimet. Cedar Fair is trying to restore what the park was in its heyday and I hope they can re-capture a good deal of the essence of what Kings Dominion was before Paramount took over at the beginning of 1993. Will it be exactly the same? Of course not; but, I hope Cedar Fair can improve the parks overall image.

 

[Shane]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

My post was not sarcastic, it was genuine.

I hated it when the park's were owned by Paramount. Paramount did not take care of their parks, they became asphalt play grounds with movie rides sprinkled in sections of the park where they do not fit. The only thing I wish I had gotten to experience under Paramount was Kings Island's version of Tomb Raider. That would have been amazing. Otherwise I am so much happier with the Cedar Fair ownership.

 

[Reece]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

I can't fathom what will happen to Backlot Stunt Coaster. They didn't mention anywhere in the press release, yet they're conducting a re-theme of the area that it's in and it has no place there.

https://www.kingsdominion.com/rides/Thrill-Rides/Backlot-Stunt-Coaster
I'd say we get our final rides in and wait for this page to disappear.

 

[Zachary]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

I can't imagine Backlot would be removed. It is a very interesting problem though.

 

[mwhinva]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

I don't think anyone is saying KD is close to passing BGW just yet, but the course Kings Dominion is plotting right now puts them in a much, much better place than Busch Gardens Williamsburg a decade down the road and, in the end, that's what matters.

Charm is what Busch Gardens has forgotten. Charm has been the goal with Kings Dominion's changes over the last few years.

I think this whole effort for the 2014/2015 40th anniversary celebration is to hopefully lay the foundation for the future. The kids area underwent its remodeling this year. The Grove and Congo areas get a makeover in 2014. (My guess is that the Grove pathways will be all brick pavers for 2014 - Rebel Yell to finally be painted?). International Street gets a fountain makeover and maybe some minor sprucing up and/or paint for the buildings (Eiffel tower repainted?). There could be a slim chance of a former flat ride making a comeback in the Grove or Congo areas. Just a little too early to make a definitive yea/nay at this point.

The actual 40th anniversary of the park will be in May 2015. Notice that nothing was mentioned about Old Virginia for 2014? I am getting a hunch that area will be the recipient of a major ride attraction for the actual 40th anniversary in 2015 along with a refurbishment. Maybe the Eiffel tower will be repainted for 2015 instead of 2014?

 

[Hoopla]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

Well, now my concept of BGW going back to its "roots" for its 40th is dead! I wonder what BGW will to do catch up. BGW better get some traction, or they could be loosing a lot of recognition.

 

[Haberdasher1973]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

Well, now my concept of BGW going back to its "roots" for its 40th is dead!

As long as Gasparich remains, BGW won't be heading in that direction - I think we all pretty much know that.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

My first visit to Kings Dominion was this year. I liked it, my Mom has been to Kings Dominion ever since it opened. I loved listening to her stories about it, and how good it was, way back when. But then she said it got worse, and worse when she started to get older. She also has been going to BGW ever since it has opened, she used to say that BGW has done noting but improve. But now she's sad at what path it has started to go down. It has gotten so bad she just slumps around the park now and keeps on talking about what used to be, and asks me "What happened here? It used to be so nice. What have they done?"

I say kudos to Kings Dominion, for looking back on their past, and bringing back what made the park so special. Unlike BGW who now just says "The more we change the better we'll get." I'm not saying don't change, I'm just saying, keep the things that are popular, and if they do ever start getting not popular, then get rid of it, and replace it with something they will like. I am very excited to see what they'll do with Anaconda. If Anaconda does get new trains that would be awesome, I just hope they actually look like Arrow looper trains. I would love to see what they'll do with Volcano, even though I'm not expecting much. And could this mean that Rebel yell will get a desperately needed paint job, and Anaconda will hopefully get one too?

 

[Shane]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

The actual 40th anniversary of the park will be in May 2015. Notice that nothing was mentioned about Old Virginia for 2014? I am getting a hunch that area will be the recipient of a major ride attraction for the actual 40th anniversary in 2015 along with a refurbishment. Maybe the Eiffel tower will be repainted for 2015 instead of 2014?

BGW and KD did open the same year...

 

[Mushroom]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

BGW and KD did open the same year... [1975]

My guess would be that they're getting a "head start" on the celebration so it lasts more than a year, like Disney did, or they're taking into account that parts of the park technically opened in 1974 for the preview, even though it wasn't their grand opening. Just how I took it.

 

[netdvn]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

Just saw that beautiful anniversary logo. Why the hell didn't Cedar Fair give Kings Island and Worlds of Fun cool stuff like what Six Flags did for their 50th and what KD is doing for their 40th? I recall both parks getting waterpark stuff that wasn't even special and a crappy logo.

seems like Kings Dominion is going the Six Flags 50th route and it's looking good.

 

[Haberdasher1973]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

BGW and KD did open the same year... [1975]

My guess would be that they're getting a "head start" on the celebration so it lasts more than a year, like Disney did, or they're taking into account that parts of the park technically opened in 1974 for the preview, even though it wasn't their grand opening. Just how I took it.

2014 will be their fortieth operating season.

 

[mwhinva]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

My post was not sarcastic, it was genuine.

I hated it when the park's were owned by Paramount. Paramount did not take care of their parks, they became asphalt play grounds with movie rides sprinkled in sections of the park where they do not fit. The only thing I wish I had gotten to experience under Paramount was Kings Island's version of Tomb Raider. That would have been amazing. Otherwise I am so much happier with the Cedar Fair ownership.

Oh, trust me, I did not take your comment as being sarcastic. You were being totally honest. What I was relating to were all the comments on social media sites about Paramount being the best thing ever. Either those people have short memories or they are too young to remember Kings Dominion before 1993.

 

[I305Evan]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

New post is up! http://kdfans.com/ For what it is worth. The post header image is simply amazing.

I will also be adding some images into the post shortly.

 

[I305Evan]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

Images have now been added to that post. Thanks to our friends over at KD Golden Years!

 

[Reece]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

New Facebook header confirms that this event will go in to 2015. That makes a lot more sense

Can you say NEW COASTER?

 

[mwhinva]

RE: Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration & Park Revitalization

Boy, there have been some vicious comments on Kings Dominion's Facebook page concerning the "Marketing Ploy" of the 40th anniversary celebration.

"They are misleading everyone to thinking that all former rides and animal safari are coming back!"

"Bringing 'The Singing Mushrooms' back is out of context of what the park is now!"

Then you get this one person that brings up all this general negative stuff (metal detectors, thugs in the park, blah blah). Yet never states when the last time they have set foot in the park.

I respect someone's criticism's when they have visited the park recently and state their reasons for their dislikes based on their experience at the park.

Course, it came down to, "I prefer to go to BGW".

Well, I think BGW is a very unique and beautiful park. I would love to be there now. But, if you dislike the Kings Dominion so much, why bother writing a "book" on their Facebook site when you have not set foot in it and don't plan to?

I just don't understand how negative folks can be about this and the park has not done a dang thing yet.

The important thing for me is the hope of bringing some of the old themeing/atmosphere back to many areas of the park that have become so generic. I certainly don't think every defunct ride is coming back and there is not the space for the animal safari to come back (Not to mention the year round cost of food/medical/housing for the animals and zoological staff - I don't think Cedar Fair is getting back into the zoo business).

I don't see them pulling up every ride that does not fit the theme of the area. Its like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. Not gonna happen. Maybe rides like the Stunt Coaster could get some sort of re-theme to better fit the area. Safari ride gone out-of-control?

I would rather see Kings Dominion take couple years of overhauling the existing areas: bringing a theme back to each area and trying to bring the rides/attractions/shops/restaurants in the area under that thematic umbrella. Will the themeing be to the Nth degree as Busch? Pretty sure it won't be. But, if they can approach the themeing in the Pre-Paramount years. i would be happy.

Pant. Pant. OK, my blood pressure is back down. Have a great Hal-o-Scream this weekend!!!