Again, my opinion, but it being separate enhances the experience to me. On days I have 0 desire to be in the dry park I don’t have to deal with it at all. At KD I hated wanting to do mostly water park and having to carry my water park stuff through the park and the crowds.
Kings Dominion Season Passes
- Thread starter I305Evan
- Start date
A BGW pass doesn't just automatically get you WCUSA—it requires an extra cost that typically adds $40-ish dollars to an Unlimited membership.
At currently listed retail prices:
- KD w/ Water Park Gold: $120
- BGW Only Unlimited: $261
- BGW w/ Water Park Unlimited: $300
Given the quality of Kings Dominion's special events (all of which I prefer to their BGW equivalents sans Food & Wine), the absurd deals that are the meal and drink plans at KD for even semi-frequent visitors, and the lighter crowds on all but the absolute worst days at KD, I definitely think KD is the vastly, vastly superior value. The delta is honestly so enormous that I can't fathom anyone actually coming to a different conclusion right now.
Not saying KD is the right choice for everyone of course—but it is, 100%, the better value.
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That's a wash for me, public water parks gross me out.
One other thing to consider for many of us, Kings Dominion offers a year-round military discount on gold passes, and bush gardens only has one free day a year, but no discount on passes (unless they've changed policy in the past few years)
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I must have misread the OP’s wordage to the level.
But that’s why I said it’s my opinion. Because basically I hate the Soak City setup. Despise it. IMO Water parks should be their own gate.
I don't disagree here, and think there's definitely modifications that can be done to create that with the existing KD setup. I'm guessing they just don't see a need to do it given it'd be kind of expensive and the revenue projections probably doesn't show much if any ROI.
Kings Dominion is open 106 days less than Busch Gardens this year.
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But everyone is correct, Kings Dominion is significantly cheaper. If you break it down the KD pass is $0.74 per operational day and Busch Gardens is $0.97 per operational day. Makes sense now that they had to gut their entertainment budget to try and cover some of this new coaster.
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But everyone is correct, Kings Dominion is significantly cheaper. If you break it down the KD pass is $0.74 per operational day and Busch Gardens is $0.97 per operational day. Makes sense now that they had to gut their entertainment budget to try and cover some of this new coaster.
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I remember reading a log time ago that big new capital investments don't affect Local park budgets, they come from a corporate pot of funds.
Directly speaking that is correct. But that doesn't stop corporate from cutting what they are budgeting for a park to off set what they are spending on that capital investment.
2025 Kings Dominion Season Pass prices were released yesterday. $95.00 for Gold Pass and $89.00 for the All-Park Passport Add-on. Wow! For $184.00 you can have access to all of the Cedar Fair parks for the next 16 months and all Six Flags parks for 2025! This is stupid cheap!
For reference; On Tuesday (7/30) the cost of a Gold Pass w/Gold All-Park Passport was $230.00 ($120.00 and $110.00 respectively) and was only for the remainder of 2024 and did not include the Six Flags parks.
For reference; On Tuesday (7/30) the cost of a Gold Pass w/Gold All-Park Passport was $230.00 ($120.00 and $110.00 respectively) and was only for the remainder of 2024 and did not include the Six Flags parks.
I am told to except a significant increase in proces after the early purchase phase end tonight if it's not extended I highly recommend purchasing or renewing today if you are interested.
I really hope that's true. Gold Pass prices are just way, way too low right now given the regional market and the quality KD is delivering. $95 for a Gold Pass that gets the rest of 2024, all of 2025, all seasonal events, AND the water park is legitimately an absolutely insane deal—to the point where I honestly feel like I'm taking advantage of KD. 
Question for those more in the loop. I decided to upgrade to the Prestige for next year with it being the 50th. I know if you buy 2025 passes right now, it also gives you the rest of 2024. Will it upgrade my gold this year to Prestige or do the new benefits like Preferred parking and 15% off, (and most importantly the lounge) go in to affect Jan 1st?
Any pass upgrades and/or addons you buy for 2025 go into effect immediately (unless otherwise noted—only thing I can think of is Six Flags park access for the All Parks Passport).
Last year when I went from Gold to Prestige I believe I had to go to guest services to get the new Prestige pass printed. Don't know if that will change the display in the app or not? But yeah, you should be entitled to the benefits immediately.
Last year mine continued to say platinum on the app but scanned in with all the benefits after I upgraded with no issues.
This is something that I would like KD to charge more and invest more in the park. $95 is a price that was there pre Covid and there's been a lot of inflation since.I really hope that's true. Gold Pass prices are just way, way too low right now given the regional market and the quality KD is delivering. $95 for a Gold Pass that gets the rest of 2024, all of 2025, all seasonal events, AND the water park is legitimately an absolutely insane deal—to the point where I honestly feel like I'm taking advantage of KD.
Well went ahead and got a Gold Pass for KD. As someone with enough extra cash to buy one membership/pass to either KD or BGW the value for that price really can’t be beat.