General Improvements/Changes for 2013

[I305Evan]

If you have already read the last post, I would suggest that you read/ look at it again. I've updated some sections such as the WindSeeker section.

Link to the Post

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I just updated the Planet Snoopy section of the post.

 

[mwhinva]

More small improvements have been going on at the park. KDFansite's Facebook page has several pictures added over the last week showing the following:

1) Some work going on in the parking lot (handicap parking area near the employee lot received new sealant and paint). They had a picture of one section of the lot blocked off with traffic cones. No work was visible. Maybe they are trying to put sealant down on the good sections of the lot. Though a good portion of the lot sections need repaving. Maybe KD could do that over several years (like a 1/4 of the lot each year, for 4 years).

2) New statue of Charlie Brown in Planet Snoopy (fiberglass - not the topiary ones).

3) New paint on the east side of the Arcade building (that faces the Drop Tower). Two shades of a teal blue in a large diamond pattern.

4) Eiffel Tower has received new paint around the base of the elevator housing and the stairwell to the 50 ft observation platform. The new paint only goes up 8-10 feet. I am scratching my head on this one. Why KD would start this while they are in daily operation mode? My guess would be they are trying to paint those areas closest to where the patrons come in contact with the structure. Maybe this is a foreshadowing of the tower being completely re-painted when the park goes back to weekend operations this fall or this coming off-season. If the park does what I think they might do for 2014, International Street, around and under the Eiffel Tower, is going to look wonderful with the tower being painted and new brick pavers around and underneath the tower.

5) A picture of the Peanuts amphitheater stage with the ramps for the stunt show being built.

 

[I305Evan]

Yeah, I've only been able to go to the park once so far this year. I don't know when I will be able to go, but when I do, I will go and get good quality pictures of these said changes. I don't know when I will be able to head to the park next, sadly.

The park is still focusing on the front of the park. I hope that even though they are focusing on the front because of Planet Snoopy that over the off season, then they will bring some of that love to the Grove area. It's in desperate need of pavers as that area is open.

 

[mwhinva]

I agree, the Grove area needs something. It looks tired and, even with new paint on the existing buildings, it still feels outdated.

Kings Dominion needs to look at putting new facades on all the buildings to give them a fresh look. Most of the restaurants, arcade / game areas have the same basic external decorations from the 1970's. If the park would put a few 100 thousand dollars into refreshing the buildings and adding pavers to the whole area, it would really bring a fresh, updated look to the area.

I also hope that KD will upgrade the Grove stage to a full show venue. A small amphitheater, that could seat about 250 people, with shade structures and actual tiered seating. The stage should be oriented toward the wooded area between the Rock Shop and the Ferris wheel. There is plenty of room to put a 3-4 tier semi-circle of seating facing the stage (they might have to remove a couple of the existing landscape islands to do this; but, they could replant along the back and sides of the new seating area). There is plenty of room to do this and still leave pathways behind the seating area / back of the stage so people can get to Hurler, Riccohet, and Windseeker.

 

[b.mac]

The pathway in the area where Hypersonic once stood is unnaturally large for even high traffic areas in more active parks. In terms of scale it's almost as large as the plaza between the KD sign and the entrance gates. Turning it into a small ampitheatre would make great use of that space and allow Got Country to actually use the crowds they've been generating on weekends.

That's another thing I want to bring up. I haven't seen many of KD's new shows this year but for an amusement park Got Country has gathered a pretty large crowd of people for where it's placed (one of the lower traffic areas in KD). The people performing there have energy and amazingly they play their own music, no covers, and they get people's attention when they play. Even though the old Wayne's World area now reeks of a crappy 50's DooWop theme, the show really was able to gather a crowd and keep them there throughout the entire performance.

 

[Mushroom]

Having been to the park just yesterday, I noticed a few more changes that have been added since the start of the season:

-In Planet Snoopy, along with the "actual-size" fiberglass Charlie Brown statue that's hanging out between Great Pumpkin Coaster and the monorail (as mwhinva posted), similar statues can be found of Lucy (near Lucy's Tugboat and Boo Blasters), Snoopy's doghouse, and Woodstock camped out in a bird's nest beneath the monorail.

-Also in Planet Snoopy, enormous comic strip backdrops have been added to the backside of the backdrops for Linus Launcher, Great Pumpkin Coaster, etc. This is really nice because it looked really tacky seeing a blank black backside to the panels while riding something else, but now you're completely immersed into the comics and everything is cheerier and not empty-looking.

-Snoopy's Junction, the train, originally had nothing around it but a lamp post and a grass field. They recently added some trees in the middle of the track and put a big comic strip along the side fence, which is about Snoopy in the desert. This ride seems to have taken on a desert-y theme, because this comic is also accompanied by huge comic cut-outs of cacti. I'm not gonna lie, for some reason I really like the visual appeal of this train ride, and it's the best replacement they could have used for the inevitable removal of Yogi's Cave. I can't wait to see how it looks all forested in in a few years.

-In some of the best news of all, lots of the effects for Boo Blasters on Boo Hill have returned after being gone for who knows how long! Unfortunately, I didn't see the fog wall with Boocifer on it working, but the outside queue effects were all there! The waterfall was running, there was some fog, water bubbles were rising up from the "swamp," and the gator under the bridge had water swirling as if it were thrashing to escape, and unless I was hearing things, I could have sworn some eerie music was dimly playing -- all things I haven't seen together since it was still Scooby Doo! On the inside, aside from the fog wall still not working (though it was noticeable as to where it was supposed to be), everything else was working so that one could actually notice the storyline. The TV/Tombstone at the beginning played Boocifer's menacing welcome, he appeared to warn you to leave throughout the ride, and two ghosts even had some dialogue about the Scare Tonic and such to enhance the story. It was very exciting!

-Fire on the Crypt has returned, something I haven't seen for a while

-In the main entrance plaza in Planet Snoopy, three larger-than-life "topiaries" (made out of fake plastic leaves, BTW ) depicting the likes of Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Linus (similar to the Snoopy and Woodstock topiaries in the middle of Planet Snoopy) have been added to the grassy area between the Snoopy fountain, entrance path, and International Street. Stunning! Also, more landscaping has been added in the little landscaping island near the fountain, and little pictures of the faces of all of the Peanuts characters with their names were on little signs among the landscaping. Very nice, and it reminds me a bit of how it was with the Nickelodeon characters centuries ago.

-The little creeks/rivers/streams that flow through the park have had rockwork and landscaping added around them, including the addition of a little waterfall in Planet Snoopy, making for a really pretty flow of water.

-The waterfall between Outer Hanks and Boo Blasters has been turned back on (it may have been working last year, but I always so it without any water flowing then)

I'll see if I can remember anything else. I was going to take plenty of pictures for everyone to show you what I was talking about, but when I went to take a picture when I arrived, TA-DA! My camera battery had "magically" died. :dodgy: Hopefully I can get back to take some pictures, sorry I don't have them now...

Also, if my updates seem too focused on Planet Snoopy, a mod can feel free to move this post. Finally, with this, I'm looking back and realizing I've now been to KD more than BG this year...what is happening to me?!?

EDIT: Also, sorry this is so long! :blush:

 

[I305Evan]

And that moment when I realize that I (The KDFans Manager) has only been to the park once this year.


Anyways, it's nice to see KD still adding to make Planet Snoopy even better and bringing Boo Blasters on Boo Hill back to it's former glory. And I have to say, waterfalls are one my favorite things to see at the park so i'm very excited for when I get back to park and see them all running again.

I'm also very happy to see that Snoopy's Junction finally has something to look at while you are riding. It was just a figure 8 train ride then you were done and all you got to look at was a fresh cut field of grass.

As for The Crpyt, the fire typically runs in the summer months from what i've noticed. The same with the water jets also. Volcano is not always shooting fire if you are ever watching it towards the beginning/end of the season.

Thanks for this update!

 

[I305Evan]

They didn't seem to have done a good job when they painted the fountains at the beginning of the year.

 

[mwhinva]

I thought the front of the fountains looked darker than normal the last time I was at the park (2 1/2 weeks ago). Can't tell if it is the paint worn off the bottom or algae growing on the bottom.

Could be they did not use the right type of paint. Maybe a better marine grade of paint will keep it from fading or to resist algae growth. Not sure if the park needs to treat the water for algae. Usually, algae growth will give the water a funky smell. I never smelt anything weird while walking through the area. You would think you would since the fountain jets are throwing the water up in the air.

Unless something has changed in the plans for 2014, the fountains are to get a makeover for next year. Maybe the pumps, piping, and water jets will get replaced and/or upgraded in addition to the fountain lighting.

If all or most of that occurs for next year, then I would think the fountain pool would get torn up somewhat and would need to be re-painted once all the patching/relining was done.