Paramount theme parks?

[Lesley]

Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with Paramount's Carowinds or King's Dominion. I'm considering visiting one or both....living in SC but will be traveling to PA later this summer with my kids and it might make a nice stop midway. I am actually considering a season pass so we could visit Carowinds a couple of times along with the possible Kings Dominion visit.

Any thoughts or input would be appreciated...particularly experiences. I grew up near Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom and will still visit those on occasion....but last time I was at a Six Flags I swore I'd never go again (and I even got in free!)...I guess that sort of sums up my amusement park experience/opinions for the sake of comparison.

Thanks!

 

[Lesley]

bumping....

 

[Fizban257]

I haven't been to Kings Dominion in a couple of years, but it is a very nice park. It's no WDW, but is bigger, cleaner, and nicer than the Six Flags I last went to (Six Flags America in MD). There is a small "coaster" there called the Avalanche which is a bobsled style ride. I like it because for most of the ride your car is actually free within the chute like a real bobsled. We used to go to King's Dominion a lot when I was a kid and I rode my first roller coaster there (the Rebel Yell). If you grew up around Dorney and liked the park, you won't be disappointed with King's Dominion. BTW, my DW grew up near Dorney too -- in Nazareth, PA!

 

[katerkat]

I would say it's fairly Dorney-esque, though it's been a while since I went to Dorney! I last visited King's Dominion about two years ago -- whenever the new coaster that goes straight up then straight down opened. Didn't get to ride it because it was closed that day. :blue: It's your basic, fun large amusement park. Fairly clean, good variety of rides. I think there's characters but I didn't care much about them. Better than Six Flags, or at least the one in NJ that I grew up with! I think there were some good shows. Is KD the one with the comic book ride? That was a good one!

 

[Fizban257]

Originally posted by katerkat
I think there's characters but I didn't care much about them. /B]

As a Paramount property, they have Star Trek characters, plus Scooby Doo and the old Hanna Barbara cartoon characters. I went to KD years ago with my ex-wife (we were still married then) and this female Klingon walked quietly up behind her and then just stood there -- scared the c**** out of her when she turned around. Hours later we were back in the same area and the same female Klingon recognized us and did it again! It was even funnier watching her jump the second time!

 

[Lesley]

Thanks everyone! Not sure what we're going to decide to do....but these parks do seem like a good option. But then again...when we get our Disney AP's maybe it will seem like a better choice to spend the $280 (Paramount season pass for a family of 4 cost) or whatever on accomdations in FL rather than heading north!

Ah, decisions, decisions.....it sure is nice having options...

I was looking at the websites and it looks like one of the parks has a Scooby Doo ride sort of like Buzz Lightyear....the kids would love that!