Tips for KD and BGW Visits: June 25-28

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New England Coaster Rep

New England Coaster Rep

Nov 24, 2011
13
1
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Connecticut, USA
Hi everyone. For the first time ever, I’ll be going to Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens. I’ve never to either park before so I could really use some advice.

Kings Dominion

I’ve never been before so I could really use some advice. What is the best route to navigate the park? What order should I do for the rides? What rides have the longest lines when? I’ll be getting the Fast Lane Pass, which may factor into things.

Busch Gardens Europe

I’ve never been before so I could really use some advice. What is the best route to navigate the park? What order should I do for the rides? What rides have the longest lines when?

I plan on getting the Quick Queue Unlimited Plus. Also, how is the Roller Coaster Insider tour? Should I do that? Is it worth going to Water Country USA waterpark or should I just stick to the amusement park?

Thanks for any advice. I really appreciate it.
 
First ride should be Volcano, then I305, then flight of fear. Then I would go to anaconda, then Backlot Stunt coaster. If you can be there when the gates open, and knock those rides out first, your day will pretty much be a "ride whatever you want at your leisure" day... If not, you will be stuck in 1-2 hours rides to ride those rides later in the day. Seriously, do not stop, do not do anything but head as fast as you can to those rides and get that half of the park done. If you do it right, you should be done before lunch time.

For Busch be there when it first opens. Be one of the first people in line to get into the park. If you are not, you will be sorry. Verbolten first. The 2-3 hour wait it will have will kill your day. After Verbolten, I'd grab a pretzel then head to DarK Castle... But if you are getting the Quick Queue Just do the park in whatever order you like.
 
Griffon (Busch Gardens) has killer waits later on in the day.

Also, hit Dominator at Kings Dominion early, as well. Have a fun trip.
 
Dominator and Griffon are people eaters. Max wait I've gotten for either was an hour.
 
Youhow2 said:
For Busch be there when it first opens. Be one of the first people in line to get into the park. If you are not, you will be sorry. Verbolten first. The 2-3 hour wait it will have will kill your day. After Verbolten, I'd grab a pretzel then head to DarK Castle... But if you are getting the Quick Queue Just do the park in whatever order you like.
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Will opening times for the hamlets change with the opening of Verbolten? If not, Germany/Oktoberfest are usually last to open...
 
Never I repeat NEVER hit dominator first because if you go anytime after lunch time you will walk straight up to the station building maybe a little farther back. Volcano and FoF ride first. Well if your getting fastpass you might not need to but still do that.
 
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Haberdasher1973 said:
Will opening times for the hamlets change with the opening of Verbolten? If not, Germany/Oktoberfest are usually last to open...
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Doesn't matter. You'll want to be waiting for the ride.
 
V-bolt's wait time shouldn't exceed 45-60 minutes in late July let alone 2-3 hours unless you're visiting on a weekend (and even Sunday shouldn't be THAT bad) or the ride experiences technical difficulties.

BGW should be done counterclockwise starting with LNM and finishing with Apollo/Pompeii. That way you'll be able to score rerides in with some of the bigger rides without much wait. Last time I played in the park, I managed to do most of the major rides sans water rides (because I had some electronics on me) by noon including rerides by following that plan.

If you plan on using QQ, just ride the rides at your leisure and don't worry too much about lines (except for Mach and Verbolten). Otherwise as long as you follow each country's opening schedule waits shouldn't be too bad.
 
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I have only been to Water Country USA one time, but I will go every time from now on. It gets hot there in Summer and only frosted lemonade and water rides can alleviate that problem.
 
the first thing I'm going to say is try to get to both parks when they open so you ca ride the major rides first..

Busch Gardens:
ride lochness first (thats what I always do) then hit Griffon, the Alpengeist, get something to eat then hit Apollo, and ride mach tower if you would like. then you can go re-ride all the rides you want. Griffon and Alpengeist's line can get really long in the afternoon depending on what kind of day it is..

Kings Dominion:
the first ride you want to hit is Volcanoe that line is ALWAYS long and hit Intimidator and flight of fear while your at it. then for all the other rides you waits shouldn't be as long as those.
 
QuickQueue has changed a bit this year but I'm pretty sure I have it sorted out.

Loch Ness Monster: No QuickQueue.
Apollo's Chariot: Enter at the exit and you'll be put into the second row- may have to wait 1 or 2 trains max unless it's an exceptionally busy day.
Verbolten*, Alpengeist, and Griffon: Enter at the normal entrance and you will be taken down a path that leads directly into the station where you'll be inserted into the rest of the crowd. Wait will depend on the row you pick.

Seeing that you'll be there in the middle of the week in July, I wouldn't count on the crowds being large enough to justify buying a QuickQueue pass (especially since the Plus is between $50 or $60 now). I honestly would skip it and spend your money on something else. If you're there when they open (30 minutes prior to posted opening normally) and head straight to Verbolten and get it over with, you shouldn't have any problem with lines the rest of the day. If you do, you can always go and grab a QuickQueue in-park. Also, if you do the coaster tour (you should!) they give you a pass good for a ride on each of the coasters (except Verbolten most-likely).

PS: Anywhere with a soda machine has free water. If you're coming to Virginia in July, you'll want it. ;)

* Unconfirmed as it hasn't opened yet. That's just what I could gather from the queue layout.
 
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Shafor, is it like that this year? It looked like they changed it. On preview day the second row wasn't roped off, they had opened up the path going from the entrance to the station, and I'm almost positive that I saw a QQ sign at the entrance.
 
Swiftman said:
Shafor, is it like that this year? It looked like they changed it. On preview day the second row wasn't roped off, they had opened up the path going from the entrance to the station, and I'm almost positive that I saw a QQ sign at the entrance.
Click to expand...

Hmm, not sure. You are correct about the second row. I do know that. When we were at the RAP line there yesterday, the were letting people with QQ wristbands go through the exit. Maybe the employee wasn't aware of a change? Maybe they be just being nice and honoring it there instead of making them walk around? Who knows... But there was a group of 4 adults with QQ that went on right in front of us yesterday. I can confirm that. ;)
 
Just throwing this out there, but Volcano has been rumored to be receiving a major station overhaul this summer to incorporate Fastpass guests better (as we all know, the ride has terrible capacity and there were problems with implementing FP on the ride early in the season), which means it may be down for the time being.

Both parks are pretty good with capacity outside of Volcano/FOF so FP would really only benefit wait-wise if you're visiting on a busy day. If you're going on a weekday, you might as well save your money for other stuff.
 
^^The last time I rode Alpengiest, they were doing QQ like they do on Griffon. They took people down another path and they chose what row to wait for.
 
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