WaterWorks Transforms into Soak City for 2015

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RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

The lazy river, Tornado, and Surf City Splash House of all things always have icy cold water. In contrast, the enclosed Pipeline Peak slides feel stuffier than a sauna. All the other attractions also float around the "uncomfortably warm" mark, especially Baja Bends where the exposed trough constantly soaks in the sunlight.
 
RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

I just realized that it's called Splash Island because it's in the middle of the lazy river.
 
RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

Now would be the perfect time to put in a water park entrance in between Ricochet and Hurler. Not only would it get foot traffic back there and make the front of the water park less congested, but would also make the watermark a full loop.
 
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RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

I spent quite a few hours in the waterpark yesterday and rode some of the slides. As stated above, the kids areas are quite cool, and the other slides are anti-refreshing as far as water temps go. One double tube slide I went on was absolutely sauna-fied and unpleasant. I'm happier about the new restroom/changing complex than the new slides. The men's room in the back portion of the waterpark has 2 stalls!! I mean really? What were they thinking? This will be so much better next year. That 2nd entrance is a great idea too. I hope the park thinks so.
 
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RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

Mazakman said:
I spent quite a few hours in the waterpark yesterday and rode some of the slides. As stated above, the kids areas are quite cool, and the other slides are anti-refreshing as far as water temps go. One double tube slide I went on was absolutely sauna-fied and unpleasant. I'm happier about the new restroom/changing complex than the new slides. The men's room in the back portion of the waterpark has 2 stalls!! I mean really? What were they thinking? This will be so much better next year. That 2nd entrance is a great idea too. I hope the park thinks so.
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Some slide complexes have their own self-contained water reservoir, like Pipeline Peak. Since those slides have the run outs instead of a splash pool, there is a smaller volume of water that circulates though the attraction; therefore the water warms up fairly quickly.

The older slide complexes north of the Rebel Yell share the same water reservoir, part of that being the lazy river. The main pump-filtration building is right alongside the Rebel Yell and behind the Shoot-the-curl slide tower. Most of the current/former slides drained into the lazy river and that water drained into the hidden water reservoir; going through the filtration building described above. The main drain for the Lazy River is just past the entrance running along side the outer edge for 25-30 feet. The drain stops a few feet before you float under the Shoot-the-curl slides.
 
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RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

I want to make some comments about this whole "second entrance" thing.

This is one of those things that people have been asking for for years, and it makes a ton of sense. Kings Island added a second entrance to their water park in 2012 that can be accessed from the parking lot. Obviously, this wouldn't be possible in WaterWorks, but it's just proof that an effort was made to make the water park more accessible in one of Kings Dominion's closest sister parks.

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That gate is used as an employee entrance for lifeguards who work in the back end of WaterWorks, or "WaterWorks South Side" as it's called. If they were to turn that into a midway, lifeguards could still use it & maintenance could park behind a gate and walk across the midway to Ricochet & Rebel Yell. The only problem with this is that it would probably be a long and empty pathway into the water park, but it could be a long term goal to put a few slide towers along it.

I'm 100% certain that the park has no intention of doing this because it wasn't mentioned in the press release, so don't get your hopes up. It might be that it's not in the budget, or maybe they have some valid reason why they don't want to do it. Still cool to think about it.
 
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RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

The park posted a new shot of the slide complex, as well as the individual attraction logos. I have to say, the logos look pretty neat. (Still holding my breath about the slide itself, though.)
[facebook=https://www.facebook.com/kingsdominionva/photos/a.180141141874.131348.32237381874/10152255071156875/?type=1]
 
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RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

I saw that too Joe. I just hope this complex has a water chiller installed!
 
RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

I'm put off by the fact that there's not a name for the actual tower like Pipeline Peak. Hopefully they come up with one
 
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RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

I'm still wondering if the tropical-sounding names are any indication of an eventual water park re-theme. It just seems strange when the area's supposed "theme" is pipeworks.
 
RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

Joe said:
I'm still wondering if the tropical-sounding names are any indication of an eventual water park re-theme. It just seems strange when the area's supposed "theme" is pipeworks.
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No way. They're just generic waterslide names. If "theming" the area only consists of renaming all the slides, I don't think anyone really cares. Just build better slides!
 
RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

If I am correct, KD is the only former Paramount park that didn't have a water park re-theme during the Cedar Fair buyout. All the other ones became Boomerang Bay or Soak City (the latter not being much in the way of themes, either). My thing is that WaterWorks is such a generic experience. Not that a water park needs much of a theme, but subtle renames, new signage, music changes, etc. could really freshen up the area.

I'd still love a return to Hurricane Reef, but it doesn't seem like that is happening.
 
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RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

I like the logos, and the tower and slides look nice too.
 
RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

Joe said:
If I am correct, KD is the only former Paramount park that didn't have a water park re-theme during the Cedar Fair buyout. All the other ones became Boomerang Bay or Soak City (the latter not being much in the way of themes, either). My thing is that WaterWorks is such a generic experience. Not that a water park needs much of a theme, but subtle renames, new signage, music changes, etc. could really freshen up the area.
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Kings Island is the only former Paramount park that received a conversion to Soak City. All the other water parks still have their Paramount-era names.

KD and Carowinds are the only Paramount parks that received rethemes. KD's Hurricane Reef to Water Works and Carowinds water park to Boomerang Bay.
 
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RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

netdvn said:
Joe said:
If I am correct, KD is the only former Paramount park that didn't have a water park re-theme during the Cedar Fair buyout. All the other ones became Boomerang Bay or Soak City (the latter not being much in the way of themes, either). My thing is that WaterWorks is such a generic experience. Not that a water park needs much of a theme, but subtle renames, new signage, music changes, etc. could really freshen up the area.
Click to expand...

Kings Island is the only former Paramount park that received a conversion to Soak City. All the other water parks still have their Paramount-era names.

KD and Carowinds are the only Paramount parks that received rethemes. KD's Hurricane Reef to Water Works and Carowinds water park to Boomerang Bay.
Click to expand...

I believe Kings Island's water park was originally called Water Works before it was rethemed to Boomerang Bay also
 
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RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

^ Correct.

Wonderland's water park has been named "SplashWorks" since it opened in 1992 and California's Great America has been named "Boomerang Bay" since it opened in 2004.
 
RE: Major WaterWorks Expansion for 2015

There are new photos on the park's website showing new discoveries about the WaterWorks additions for next season. https://www.kingsdominion.com/what-s-new/2015-waterworks-expansion

- Shoot the Curl is leaving the park as rumored and getting replaced with new seating with umbrellas since Splash Island will occupy the whole other side of the "island" in the middle of the lazy river.
- The new Splash Island seems quite large and seems like it'll be a hit. Plus, according to the plan, they'll be putting shade structures over the whole area which will be nice for the younger kids
- New restrooms, food, cabanas, and sand volleyball courts will be added around Tidal Wave Bay.
- A new bathhouse will be located across from Pipeline Peak so the one up front won't be nearly as crowded.
- MORE new restrooms will be located in front of Zoom Flume.

This addition/expansion seems equivalent to the 2012 Kings Island water park transformation, which did very well for the park.
 
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