Many of you are saying that, despite the disappointing announcement, the Planet Snoopy expansion is a good idea. I disagree.
Planet Snoopy was hugely expanded only three years ago. Only three years ago, the park added eight children's rides. Only three years ago, Planet Snoopy expanded in size by 14 acres.
Last year, a large new children's area was added to Soak City. Not only was a children's area added, but it replaced three adult-oriented speed slides.
As someone who visits the park with smaller children, since 2013 I have never felt that the children's offerings at KD were too few. Nobody has ever told me that there wasn't enough to do in Planet Snoopy. Kings Dominion already has twenty children's rides; to compare, Busch Gardens only identifies fourteen rides as "kidsiderate." It just seems like KD has enough.
What upsets me even more is that there's no need to revitalize the area. Since 2012, the park's new additions have been placed in especially weak or rundown areas, to improve the park's infrastructure. That's why I defended the 2013 expansion of Planet Snoopy: it transformed the backwoods and rundown KidZville area into a beautiful, modern children's area.
2012's addition of Windseeker brought pizzazz (and a swath of brick pavers) to the deserted area left behind by Hypersonic XLC's removal. 2013 revitalized a disgusting children's area. 2014 brought brick pavers, theming, and new landscaping wherever the KD40 celebration touched. 2015 transformed a rundown, aging water park into the fresh and modern Soak City. 2016 purged Candy Apple Grove of its craggly, univiting walkways and brought new amenities and a bright, inviting atmosphere.
What does 2017 bring? Three children's rides in already the most beautiful part of the park?* Unless the park breaks an almost decade-long tradition, Hurler's area will continue to crumble, Old Virginia will continue to become rundown, and the asphalt throughout the park will continue to crack even more, all while lush gardens and brick pavers are being torn up to add these new rides.
*Yes, I called Planet Snoopy the most beautiful part of the park. Even more than on than International Street, I love relaxing near the fountain and gardens of the original Planet Snoopy. I understand that relaxing gardens don't bring in guests like new rides do, but for me, it's a shame that one of the park's nicest areas will go by the wayside.
My Suggestion
I would have been happier if KD did something like Busch Gardens has done for 40 years, and sprinkle these children's rides elsewhere in the park. Why not put Sally's Sea Plane in the empty lot next to The Crypt and theme it to a safari plane? Or put Peanuts 500 in the gaping space next to WindSeeker and give the cars a hot-rod theme to fit the 50's theme of the area? Or put the Kite-Eating Tree in Old Virginia to fit the woodsy theme? Space in all these areas is abundant.
I think this would be a better solution. This way, children could experience the new rides without being corralled in Planet Snoopy, enthusiasts would benefit from new energy being brought to some of the park's most dead areas, and parents could allow children to ride something while other parents and older siblings enjoy bigger rides.
Frankly, I'm not opposed to the rides. I'm opposed to another Planet Snoopy expansion.
