chickenking said:
I'm probably gonna be looking at a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday visit during a slow week in either June or August. May try to hook up with some fans for an overnight camp-out or something. I think there is a campground there. Might be fun. I have a big tent. Wanna sit around a fire, roast some dogs & goodies and play the djembe. Then go ride some race cars, train and other things. My silly idea.
I haven't tried the Kings Dominion campground personally, but I have always wanted to, as it gets pretty good online reviews. To echo mwhinva, visiting in July is still probably your best bet since I know you like shows and such, but late June and early August are also possible. The two biggest shows at the park only run during this time frame, unfortunately. With the exception of the week of the 4th, crowds are still pretty decent.
It's worth noting that KD's (much better, though less emphasized) version of Illuminights, Dominion at Dusk, does play all throughout the summer (and a bit earlier, in fact). You definitely should "check it out."
Now, I'm not sure how the number of "Big & Tall" (
) rides compares to the number at BGW. Here are some rides that pretty much anyone of any body size & type can enjoy, or rides that I otherwise feel you and other "BGW-only" folk would enjoy
:
-
Americana, a Ferris wheel
-
Blue Ridge Tollway, an antique car ride through the woods
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Boo Blasters on Boo Hill, an interactive haunted house ride with laser guns to shoot targets
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Carousel, which the park is currently restoring
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Dodgem bumper cars
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Eiffel Tower
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Flying Eagles, a neat flying scooters ride over one of the park's ponds
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Scrambler (think Le Catapult with a safari theme)
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Shenandoah Lumber Co., a very relaxing log flume that I actually think beats Le Scoot
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Triple Spin (think Flying Machine on steroids)
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Wave Swinger
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Anaconda, basically Nessie's ugly sister. Same trains, restraints, etc. as Nessie. *Incredibly rough* looping coaster over the lake
-
White Water Canyon, a fantastic rapids ride that *literally* blows Roman Rapids out of the water
-
Woodstock Express, an awesome "family-friendly" wooden coaster for a certain daughter of yours who tends to tag along with you. It's worth noting that the cars on this ride are ridiculously small.
Course, I don't know your particular body size and I don't want to be creepy by getting too far into that.
There may be some things I've listed that you find you can't do, but I've chosen not to list the coasters (that should be your decision only), most of which can be viewed
here. I guarantee you that there are plenty of things for you to do that I failed to list.
Keep in mind next year begins Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary Celebration, which will hopefully seriously revitalize the park and make it a better and more-rounded experience than we've seen in literally decades. Expect to see the new Flower Clock, new shows, two newly-themed classic park areas, and the park's famous Singing Mushrooms (Google it--yes, you read that correctly.
). If the last time you visited KD was in the 90's or later, then you'll be surprised. Kings Dominion is like a totally different park than it was just five or so years ago, and I'm super excited to see the improvements they make for next year.
There are a few upcharge attractions at Kings Dominion you might want to check out. I've never tried them because they cost extra and they don't really seem worth it to me, but KD does have a nice go-kart track. They also have a walk-through exhibit in the woods called Dinosaurs Alive, a trail filled with animatronics. It's $5 per admittance, but Gold Pass members--starting next year--can visit as much as they want for free. If you take your daughter, you should definitely check that out. I for one love Dinosaurs Alive; it's a great break from the rides.
The restaurants at Kings Dominion range from Chik-Fil-A to Panda Express to country cuisine to seafood to plain ol' theme park grub (pizza, burgers, fries, sandwiches, etc.). You may have heard some bad rumors about KD's food, and yes, they are sometimes true. There is some pretty nasty food at the park. The chain restaurants and the park's bigger restaurants do have some delicious food, though. My personal favorite, called Trail's End Grill, has a free toppings bar for you sandwiches. Be on the lookout for "Boardwalk Fries" stands throughout the park. Those things, with a little vinegar and Old Bay, cannot be missed!!
Navigating the park is every bit as confusing as it is at BGW. The park is divided into five themed areas:
-International Street, the amazing European entry plaza with huge fountains and the Eiffel Tower
-Old Virginia, an old-timey, cracker barrel-style country-themed, wooded area
-Candy Apple Grove, one of the park's original areas making its return next year, with a classic carnival theme--complete with giant candy apple decorations
-Planet Snoopy, the beautiful and sprawling childrens' area that even I (not a little kid
) enjoy; seriously blows Forest of Fun and even Land of the Dragons out of the water.
-Safari Village, the other area to return to the park next year; a tribal, African-themed area with many of the park's larger rides and the iconic Volcano mountain
The park is essentially laid out in the classic "hub and spoke" layout, wherein the entrance area leads to the middle of the park (Candy Apple Grove midway), to which all other areas are connected. However, reaching some areas is hard to get to because of obscure pathways and oddly-placed buildings/landscapes. All you need to do is find a large, iconic ride near what you're looking for and to keep following that.
Don't forget that Kings Dominion also has a built-in waterpark that's free with admission. It's a bit smaller than WCUSA, but it still has some major attractions. There are more body slides than WCUSA has, though. Visiting this area is imperative in the summer months.
I can't say for sure what shows to expect for next year. I've already brought up the fireworks summertime show Dominion at Dusk, which also includes a truly fantastic lights show called Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular, which cannot be missed. It's also nearly confirmed that the BMX bike stunt show "All Wheel Sports" will return for its second season, but other than that I don't know what to expect. I would assume their indoor Broadway-style show would return, as well as their 3D dinosaur film played in their other indoor theater. I don't know what to expect for the other few outdoor shows, though. Regardless, Kings Dominion has tried to step up their entertainment lineup a bit lately.
I noticed that you mentioned riding the train in your above post. Assuming you're talking about Kings Dominion, their train has been gone for decades (thanks, Paramount...). Of course, you may always have fun riding this thing:
I kid, but it's worth warning you that there are no transportation rides at Kings Dominion, despite being comparable to BGW in its large size. They do, however, have a brief aerial monorail ride over part of the Planet Snoopy area, but it only has one stop and is pretty short.
https://www.kingsdominion.com/rides/For-the-Kids/Snoopys-Rocket-Express
I don't really know what else there is to say, other than "happy trails!!" I look forward to possibly seeing you at both KD and BGW next season! Can't wait to see you "check it out" even more!!
