Project 2016: Delirium & Candy Apple Grove Renovations

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RE: Project 2016

In the meantime while we all patiently wait for more leaked information, I visited the park yesterday for the last time until Halloween Haunt arrives. I snapped some unedited bad iPhone quality photos of some areas we'll likely be seeing some major changes in next season.

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Orange gate added to the entrance. According to the leaked plans the midway's width will almost double here.

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Hopefully this corridor will be freshened up and more inviting next season leading to the new attraction(s).

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I expect this area to be freshened up and more of an access-way next season.

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This is the area where a brick patio for seating will be installed next season according to the leaked plans.
 
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RE: Project 2016

Restroom upgrades? It's about time. All of their restrooms feel like a trip back to the 50's. Since this is the main hub of the park, I am seriously more excited about the restrooms until more ride details are revealed.
 
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RE: Project 2016

The full site plans for what Kings Dominion has in store for Candy Apple Grove in 2016 are attached below. I've gone through and highlighted the notable additions and upgrades in blue so the blueprints are a bit easier to read.


 

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RE: Project 2016

I think we may be seeing the real effects of Caro becoming the regional flagship park for Cedar Fair. I don't think we can expect to get the big ticket items as regularly.

I am personally happy that KD is getting as much money as it is for upgrades and refurbishment.
 
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RE: Project 2016

I am a fan for any new coaster and do think kd is due for one but fixing up the park and putting in more flats is definately not a bad thing. They really have cleaned up the park the last few years and now is looking great. 2016 will come with more rides to enjoy but we can just wait for 2017 which will probably hold a big attraction.
 
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RE: Project 2016

Well, Kings Dominion has quite a bit of outdated infrastructure, mainly food establishments and restrooms. A good chunk of the 2016 plans relate to upgrading 2 restaurants and greatly expanding one food/snack stand.

As far as the new building goes, I follow along with Zachary's logic as far as it being for another restaurant and too small for a "Harmony Hall" food/show venue.

Same with it being another Haunt building as that land would be considered prime real estate. I would think the park would want to utilize the building all season instead of 6-7 weeks a year.

The only thing I could think of was if Cedar Fair wanted to add another "Sweet Spot" candy/confectionery place like what was put in at Cedar Point and Kings Island this year.

The proposed ride site.

Well, if that was going to be the Slingshot up-charge attraction location, then I assume Kings Dominion will not be marketing any new attraction for 2016.

At best, I could see this as being a medium sized flat ride "Packaged" with a Candy Apple Grove "makeover". Sort of what they did with "Soak City" this year. Course, there would be no name change to the area and just one potential flat ride.

The source of the Shockwave removal rumor felt confident about the park adding a Slingshot pay-per attraction for 2016. It could go somewhere outside of the plans shown to Zachary. If it goes in CAG, then it could replace the Sky-Flyer free fall. Course, it frees up a ton of land if that happens. The Slingshot takes up a small footprint since the ride line of motion is vertical.

So, if these plans are the extent of the Kings Dominion capital expenditures for 2016, Then Nicole is hitting the nail on the head as far as where KD falls on the Cedar Fair park totem pole. All hail Carowinds as the master of this region!

Then again, did Zachary's source divulge all the 2016 plans for Kings Dominion? (Or am I in 100% denial). XP
 
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RE: Project 2016

Am I the only one that thinks CF saw more potential in Carowinds because they compared the return on each Intimidator coaster and saw Carowinds get more reward?

I'd put the blame on KD marketing, if that is the case. I live just 2 hours away in prime BGW/KD area and saw literally no ads, news reports or anything at all. I didn't know it existed until a friend invited me to KD for the first time in July, 2010 (Pre-enthusiast days). It also had nothing really to market, it was the smallest of all the gigas and the only marekting terms I saw really were "baddest" and "meanest" and other unquantifiable words while watching the teaser video for it.

If you compare that to Carowinds marketing, everyone in NC/SC knew about it because it was the tallest, fastest, and longest in its region, and there were ads and promotions everywhere.

Practically no one in Virginia Beach has ever been to KD, all they know about it is that its an amusement park thats farther away than BGW. They have no idea about any of the coasters at all.

I think if KD had gotten the world's tallest giga coaster like Carowinds got this year, it would have brought in much more attention than I305 did. Also, Carowinds marketing killed it this year with Fury 325, seriously.

I think because of I305's marketing (or lack of marketability in general, world's smallest of the 300+ group!), it never got the return that I232 did, and that's why CF chose Carowinds for further expansion.

Disclaimer: I'm not saying I305 is a bad ride, not even close. It's my #2 Behind Skyrush + Fury 325. I just think that its shorther height (when compared to other gigas) gave it nothing to advertise really, which is a shame!
 
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RE: Project 2016

TrevorBondi said:
Practically no one in Virginia Beach has ever been to KD, all they know about it is that its an amusement park thats farther away than BGW. They have no idea about any of the coasters at all.
Click to expand...

Where did you get this data? I would like to see the stats they say this, having lived in Virginia Beach for 40 years minus college and 2 years over seas. I can honestly say I for one have been to KD. Several times just this year.
 
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RE: Project 2016

For what it is worth, I grew up in Virginia Beach and went to both BGW and KD.  I now live in Northern Virginia and I have seen KD marketing up here.

I believe if you look through the old Caro threads, I believe you will find extensive discussions about Charlotte actively reaching out to Cedar Fair, offering marketing money.  I am pretty sure that is why they got Fury and became the new southeast flagship.
 
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RE: Project 2016

Zimmy said:
TrevorBondi said:
Practically no one in Virginia Beach has ever been to KD, all they know about it is that its an amusement park thats farther away than BGW. They have no idea about any of the coasters at all.
Click to expand...

Where did you get this data?  I would like to see the stats they say this, having lived in Virginia Beach for 40 years minus college and 2 years over seas.  I can honestly say I for one have been to KD.  Several times just this year.
Click to expand...

....Its a generalization. Almost no one goes to KD from VB, I live here too....
 
RE: Project 2016

Zimmy said:
TrevorBondi said:
Practically no one in Virginia Beach has ever been to KD, all they know about it is that its an amusement park thats farther away than BGW. They have no idea about any of the coasters at all.
Click to expand...

Where did you get this data?  I would like to see the stats they say this, having lived in Virginia Beach for 40 years minus college and 2 years over seas.  I can honestly say I for one have been to KD.  Several times just this year.
Click to expand...

....Its a generalization. Almost no one goes to KD from VB, I live here too....
 
RE: Project 2016

Nicole said:
For what it is worth, I grew up in Virginia Beach and went to both BGW and KD.  I now live in Northern Virginia and I have seen KD marketing up here.

I believe if you look through the old Caro threads, I believe you will find extensive discussions about Charlotte actively reaching out to Cedar Fair, offering marketing money.  I am pretty sure that is why they got Fury and became the new southeast flagship.
Click to expand...

I think the monetary incentive for Cedar Fair was from both the past and the last couple years. They got a financial tax break from the Charlotte metro area governments. Then Cedar Fair started the 3 year accelerated growth plan for Carowinds.

Last year was a new water slide tower, Harmony Hall, and new car entrance toll booths in the fall. This year was a totally new park entrance and parking lot; Fury 325; and a bigger budget for their new food related events "Taste of the Carolina's" and their version of the "BBQ & Brews".

Next year is the water related attraction(s) and possible separate Water Park entrance for 2016. That should finish the 3 year accelerated additions. Course, that is not to say that Carowinds will be taking the 2017 season off. They could be getting their B&M stand-up coaster converted to a floor-less. Also, they could end up with a dark ride attraction in 2017 or 2018.

When comparing Kings Dominion to Carowinds, the first 5-6 years of Cedar Fair ownership were skewed heavily toward KD. The last 2-3 years, under Matt Ouimet's leadership, the focus has been to up-size parks who have the greatest potential for growth and related earnings. I've stated before that Carowinds was undersized for the potential market region it serves. If they "Grow the park, they will come", mentality was evident under the current Cedar Fair management.

I don't think Cedar Fair is neglecting Kings Dominion. We have been getting small to medium sized improvements almost every year since they took over. A good number of the other parks are not even getting that much in a 2-3 year period.

My own guess is that Kings Dominion will be getting a major coaster of some type/style in 2017. After that, I see the potential for a Dark Ride, more flat rides, and even another expansion of the water park over the next 3-4 years.
 
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RE: Project 2016

I have to be honest, I'm not very excited by these plans. This is a plot of land in the middle of the park, so hopefully this proposed ride is iconic and a nice backdrop for Candy Apple Grove. I'm hoping this proposed ride proves me wrong.

With decent sized grassy areas proposed on each side of the ride, it leads me to believe that the ride contains some type of swinging from side to side (think Frisbee, Screamin' Swing, Pirate Ship, Berserker) or contains a wider footprint the higher it is off the ground (Slingshot).

Reasons to have hope that this isn't a Slingshot are:
1.) The plan appears to have a queue line... these are up charge attractions that don't have too much of a wait and I've never seen one in a park with a queue.
2.) Larger area proposed than the average Slingshot.
3.) No proposed building in front of the proposed ride. A building is needed for the Slingshots for ticket sales and on-ride video/photo sales.
4.) They are doubling the width of the midway in front of the ride. Yes, people-watching riders on Slingshots is fun, but I want to believe that this will be for traffic heading towards the new ride. A Slingshot would not really need a wider midway than Shockwave did.

As for the building, I'm clueless. This is an awful location for the building as it is in a hidden location. See my images from page 2... Unless this is something set to be really popular, it isn't going to get any foot traffic that it would need to be successful. Also, it seems like it was placed for convenience - they're placing it perfectly in line with Shockwave's exit path so no new pavers are needed.

With all of these renovations to CAG, could we see something new in SlaughterHouse's prime real estate location next season, so this proposed building will be a new Haunt building for 2016? I like the idea that Zach had about a museum, but I'd rather see that in a place in the park that gets a lot of foot traffic and I doubt the park would spend money on a brand new building - it definitely seems like they'd repurpose an old building for that.

It's odd to see the park building a new building to be honest. All of Cedar Fair's recent 'buildings' have only been Halloween Haunt buildings or amenities in water park expansions. I cannot even think of the last building built by Cedar Fair that wasn't Harmony Hall, which this obviously isn't due to its size.

With Kings Island's announcement unexpectedly happening tomorrow, maybe KD's announcement will unexpectedly happen Thursday as rumored.

Anyways, enough rambling, here's the updated satellite view. Thanks once again for sharing Zach!

kd2016final.jpg
 
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