Kings Dominion Day 1

Wake up!!! Wake up!!!  That’s what I kept telling myself on Monday morning at 6 a.m.  Isn’t this vacation?  Shouldn’t I be able to sleep in?  Oh wait, I’m on vacation with my boys, not my BFF, Jamie!

Yep, Monday was an early day.  We had to get everyone showered & loaded up to depart by 7 a.m.  (That was the “plan”.)  We were headed to Kings Dominion – Virginia’s Premier Themed Amusement Park.  Hooray!!  Depending on traffic, the trip should have taken around 2 ½ hours.  The park opened at 10:30 a.m.  We wanted to be there when the gates opened. 

The largest drop ride in North America, a 305-foot tower of thrills that promises daring riders a 272-foot descent at 72 mph!

I may have a selective memory, but if I recall correctly, I wasn’t the cause for the departure delay.  I’m not sure which one of my 5 travel companions was the cause, but I am certain it wasn’t me.  We woke up the boys, they got ready.  Funny how depending on their ages the length of time to get ready varies (I used to think that only happened if you had girls).  I must admit the older boys are slightly “metro”.  Eww, I hate to admit that.  They borrow my eye liner, hair dryer & hair spray (again, I used to think that would only happen if I had girls).  We chowed down on bowls of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch – yummy!!  Have I mentioned that Erica & Lenny rock!!

Everyone piled in their respective seats with their pillows & blankets and off we went.  We had to stop for gas & ice for the cooler and then we were off.  It was nearly 8 a.m. when we finally left Clarksburg.  Since we passed Kings Dominion on the way into MD, we knew where we were going.  I finished putting on my make up in-transit (that’s how I didn’t become the cause for the departure delay).  Then I worked on entries for the blog.

On the drive (while the boys were asleep), Teddy said when we got to the park he planned on coordinating which rides everyone wanted to ride.  And if the older boys wanted to go off on their own, he was going to let them; as long as they checked in once in a while.  Then we would plan to meet in a couple hours at a designated area.  He said the younger boys would have to stay with him.  I had to breathe and count to 10 before I opened my mouth.   I wanted to say, “Have you lost your frickin’ mind?”  I refrained from saying exactly what I was thinking.  Instead I said, “I’m not so sure that would be a good idea.  I would rather we all stick together, especially since we have never been to this park before.  Besides, we were going to rent the wheelchair for Justin.  I’d rather not let him roam free with the wheelchair.”

He responded with, “Oh yeah!  You’re right.  We’ll all stick together.”  I love it when I win; I mean I love it when we agree!  J

We arrived at Kings Dominion around 11 a.m. – not bad.  The boys were pretty excited.  They could see the huge rides, especially the roller coasters that towered over the park.  We went to guest services and rented a wheel chair for Justin.   Not only would it be for him to ride/rest in between rides, it would also give me a place to sit while I was performing my duties as photographer / bag holder!  Let me tell you, renting that wheel chair was the best $15 I’ve ever spent (not counting any of my scrapbooking purchases)!!

Kings Dominion’s bragging rights begin with THE BEST roller coaster collection on the entire East Coast - we're talking thirteen of the wildest scream machines you'll find anywhere!

So, that being said, we approached the 1^st roller coaster – the DOMINATOR!!!  Wow, if that’s not intimidating to the non-coaster riders and a huge challenge to the coaster riders.  “Soar to new heights on Dominator.  This innovative 4,210-foot steel coaster will be the longest floorless coaster in the world.  Fly through gut-wrenching loops, rolls and corkscrews at speeds up to 65 mph!!”  Tommy sat out this 1^st ride with me-I don’t blame him.   What happened next is the reason I put myself in these situations.   (Situation meaning: tagging along on a trip that is of no interest to me.)  The excitement and joy in their faces when they got off the ride was priceless.  Let me see if I can describe it so you can feel like you were there. . .

“Oh man that was so cool!” 

“That was frickin’ awesome.”

“Let’s go again!”

“Come on Tommy go with us.  It’s not as paid as it looks.”

The joy in their faces is the reason for this trip.  I don’t mean to get all mushy on you guys, but I willingly sacrifice a lot for the sake of my family’s happiness.  I know that these times are the times the boys will remember when they’re older and are reminiscing with their children.

The previous Public Service Announcement was brought to you by “Dorks R Us”.  Now back to our Kings Dominion vacation. . . .

Next ride was the Scooby Doo and the Haunted Mansion ride.  I’m sure I could have survived this ride, but I had about 15 work e-mails that I wanted to read instead.   So, I parked the wheelchair in the shade, parked my butt in the wheelchair and played on my Blackberry. 

Then it was on to the VOLCANO!!  It’s the only coaster in the world to shoot you straight out a raging volcano!  Suspended from a steel track, you’ll fly in and out of the rumbling mountain at speeds over 70 mph.  Then rocket 155 feet out of the top of the crater into a series of heart stopping inversions before a final 80-foot plummet.    Holy crap, I am looking up these liners for the rides on their website.  If I had read this before we went, I might have tried harder to change the itinerary of the trip.  My babies got on these dangerous rides and the LOVE them!!

 

 

They lived thru the Volcano.  As a matter of fact, they even talked Tommy into going on it later in the day.  He was very brave!

The FLIGHT OF FEAR – Linear induction magnets propel you into almost total darkness.  You’ll fly through a cobra roll, a sidewinder, a corkscrew and dozens of terrifying twist and turns.  It is two and a half minutes of sheer pulse-pounding fear!

Pulse-pounding fear?  That doesn’t sound awesome.  It sounds absolutely terrifying!  I just don’t understand their desire to freak themselves out.  Tommy & Alex sat this one out with me.  When Joey, Justin & Teddy came out, they were like, “Oh man, you have to go with us.”

“It was awesome; not scary at all.”

“Come on you two go on it with us.”

Now keep in mind they (Joey, Justin & Teddy), made it sound harmless.  I even tried to help them convince Alex & Tommy to try it.  I believe my words were, “Come on guys, Dad is even saying it’s not too bad.  He wouldn’t try to talk you into something if it was REALLY scary.”

They talked Alex into it.  Joey took him on the ride, while the rest of us waited.   When they walked away, Teddy turned to me with his eyes WIDE open and a mischievous look on his face and said, “That was freaky & pretty scary.  It’s dark and you can’t really see what’s going to happen.”

Nice, I’m thinking Alex was going to come out and say that Teddy and I lied to him.  Teddy, on the other hand, was certain Alex would walk out with a grin on his face; not traumatized at all.  Teddy was right.   They actually rode it a couple more times later in the day and Tommy went on it too.

Joey & Teddy went on every ride they could.  Justin joined them 90% of the time.  His knee was bothering him a little.  I think a couple of the rides kicked his butt and he wasn’t feeling so well.  The knee was just an easy cover-up.  Alex rode a few more than Tommy would ride.   Tommy and I spent quite a bit of time together waiting while the others rode.  At some point, I told Tommy that I completely understood his fear of the rides.  I told him that I have always been afraid of roller coasters.  I assured him it was ok to not like big, intimidating rides. 

Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but shortly after that conversation, he conquered his fear and rode several of the rides that he previously swore he wouldn’t ride.  Hmm, that must be some sort of child psychology.  Make the boy realize he has something in common with his Step-Mom.   That can’t be cool to an 11 yr. old.

The other rides were:

ANACONDA - Get wrapped in the coils of this awesome coaster and prepare for the 144 foot drop into the depths of the Anaconda.  The Anaconda was the first looping coaster in the world that showcased an underwater theme.

 

SHOCK WAVE - ie. your shoes tight and get ready for the ride of your life as the Shockwave takes you through a 360-degree horizontal loop, where you’re essentially parallel to the ground.  Did we mention you’re standing up the whole time?

DROP TOWER – The largest drop ride in North America, a 305-foot tower of thrills that promises daring riders a 272-foot descent at 72 mph!  This adrenaline-pumping adventure simulates the sensation of skydiving.

REBEL YELL - RICOCHET – THE CRYPT – SPONGEBOB 3-D

Something I realized on this trip to Kings Dominion is that Teddy’s big mouth sometimes does come in handy.  He would holler and wave from the tops of the rides so I would know when to zoom in and take a picture.  Grazie Teddy!  (Psst. . .  Imagine a day in my life with the man that can holler from the top of a 200 ft. ride that’s 50 ft. away in a park with a bunch of people and park sounds and you can hear him clear as day!!!!)

THE FLYING EAGLE – When we walked up to this ride, it didn’t look too scary.  I contemplated riding it.  I mean how bad could it be?  You sit in a bird-shaped plane and the plane spins around.  I could do that no problem!!!  The 4 guys (except Tommy) were already in line when I finally decided to be brave.   Since the planes were 2-seaters, the guys said they had already chosen their partner so I was going to have to ride by myself.  I wasn’t going to ride if I had to go by myself.  Then Teddy gave up his spot so he could take pictures of me on the ride.

Justin was my pilot.  What a mistake!  Once he figured out how to work the wing rudder thing, I was in trouble!  He had us twisting and turning.  It felt like we were going to hit the trees.  Let me just say that if that ride had been 2 minutes longer (it was probably only 2 minutes to start with), I would have thrown up on Justin.  It was fun, but not fun enough to ride again.

The other rides I partook were:  The Cotton Candy, The Funnel Cake & The Caramel Apple.  They were awesome.  The best part is they didn’t cause a stomach ache, nausea, a headache or FEAR!!  I love “fair food” but I have a love/hate relationship for the rides.

I’m sure it all goes back to the time that my friend, Kim Kies, went with my family to Valley Fair (Minnesota).  Back in the day, when I was about 13 or 14, I still had a little bit of adventure and quest for fear left in me.  Kim really wanted to ride The Corkscrew.  She had to talk me into it, but I finally agreed.  I don’t think I will ever forget how terrified I was.  I kept my eyes closed the majority of the time.  Kim kept screaming for me to open my eyes.  She insisted that it was so much cooler to experience the ride with your eyes open.  Succumbing to her insistence, I opened my eyes. 

I was even more freaked out then.  When I opened my eyes, we were upside down over water.  That was it for my eyes being open.  I didn’t open them again until the ride stopped.  And I will never ever ride a roller coaster again!!!

Ok, the 80’s flashback is over. . . . The boys rode several of the rides more than once.  I passed the time riding work-related e-mails (while sitting comfortably in the wheelchair) and shopping in the gift shops.   We closed down the park at 8 p.m. and headed back to Lenny’s in Maryland.