Now that my trip to Kings Dominion is complete, it is time to rank all their roller coasters from the worst to the best. On the trip I missed 3 rides, however they won't make much impact on the rankings as two of them have clones that I have been on and the other is a kiddie coaster. Even though Kings Dominion comes off as a top heavy park, I found myself surprisingly enjoying many of their mid tier attractions, and there definitely will be a hot take or two within this list.
13: Great Pumpkin Coaster - This kiddie coaster is identical to its counterpart over at Kings Island, and like the one at Kings Island, I am not allowed to (nor do I really want to) ride it. This is a pretty small attraction, even for a kiddie coaster, but I doubt its the worst kiddie coaster out there.
12: Anaconda - 3/10 - I've ridden a good few Arrow looping coasters now, and Anaconda is definitely one of the weaker ones. The layout is unique, I'll give it that, but the ride is just about as janky and rough as a coaster could possibly be, making almost all of the inversions uncomfortable, and any other turn just arguably even worse. I will say though the drop under the water is kind of neat.
11. Woodstock Express - 4/10 - This ride is identical to the one at Kings Island, and once again is a solid intermediate ride between a basic Kiddie coaster and a more intense attraction. That said the ride doesn't exactly do anything notable and if one had to choose between this and one of the park's more exciting rides, I'd see no reason to choose Woodstock Express.
10 - Grizzly - 5/10 - I really expected to hate this rougher woodie going in, but I found myself pleasantly surprised (somewhat). While I wouldn't call it anything great, it was a ride that had a fun out-of-control feeling and a few decent airtime and lateral moments. Of course it was a fairly rough ride, but I've definitely ridden worse, and I didn't get off with a headache. I wouldn't call this a good coaster, but it certainly can be a good time if you set your expectations right.
9 - Apple Zapple - 6/10 - Ok now I know it is a Wild Mouse and many would not consider this a good ride, but I guess to each their own. In my eyes, this is about as good as a wild mouse could be, but I'm also confident that half the reason I enjoy it so much is because of the funny name. I will give it credit though as this particular model of Wild Mouse does have a large drop, which does add mild thrill. Past that this is just a good time, and a ride that I definitely remember fondly, even if it is a pretty standard park attraction.
8 - Racer 75 - 6/10 - This is the same ride as the one at Kings Island, however I consider 75 to be the superior version. Now of course I could've just had more reasonable expectations for this, but I found it to be a bit smoother and a bit faster than its counterpart. I wouldn't call this a standout by any stretch, but Racer 75 is a solid, old fashioned wooden coaster with smooth transitions and a few decent moments of light airtime. Definitely worth checking out.
7 - Backlot Stunt Coaster - 6/10 - This is another ride that both Kings Dominion and Kings Island share, and I appreciate that as it is a good attraction, especially for those looking for an intermediate thrill ride. Like its counterpart, this Stunt Coaster has some near theming, cool effects and a pretty decent launch at the start. Its nothing to write home about, but I always can enjoy a ride on the Backlot Stunt Coaster.
6 - Reptilian - 6/10 - Reptilian is one of only a few bobsled style roller coasters remaining in America, and it certainly is a treat. I enjoy the new theming of the ride and its place in the new Jungle Expedition area of the park, as well as the unique rider setup. The best way I could describe the feeling of riding Reptilian is to look at it like a tube water slide without the water. It might not provide much in the way of airtime or forces, but it makes up for it by just being a good time with some light thrills. Considering how rare bobsled coasters are, Reptilian is definitely worth a ride.
5 - Tumbili - 6/10 - Since Tumbili is significantly smaller than the other S&S Free spin rides I have ridden, I do find it to be slightly inferior. That being said, I really do enjoy this model of coaster, and I find it to be a treat at any park. The rides are smooth, have great restraints, and are very unpredictable with their inversions. I do really like the theming of Tumbili, as well as the area the ride has been placed in, I just wish that the ride was one of the larger free spin models to make it more of a noteworthy experience. Overall, Tumbili is an out-of-control spinning experience and a great addition to Kings Dominion's lineup.
4 - Dominator - 7/10 - Even though I like B&M loopers, I'm never going to enjoy inversion-based coasters nearly as much as airtime or launch based rides. Dominator is one of the better loopers I've been on, with some great inversions including a standout loop and a surprisingly decent cobra roll. I also found the other portions of the track that weren't inverting to be decent as well and add a little more depth to the experience. The ride is also very smooth and doesn't really cause much in the way of headbanging, which is a huge plus. If this ride included some better inversions such as a zero g roll instead of the interlocking corkscrews, I'd honestly consider even giving this an 8/10, as there is a lot to enjoy about Dominator, whether it is the unique layout, smooth ride experience or decent intensity. As it is, Dominator is a solid floorless coaster that fits in well in the park's lineup.
3 - Flight of Fear - 7/10 - I greatly preferred this over Kings Island's version of the ride, and I'm not exactly sure why. Perhaps I just caught the Kings Island version of Flight of Fear on bad days, but I found this version to be much smoother and more thrilling. The launch on Flight of Fear is always a treat, and the inversions are neat too, especially in the dark making them more unpredictable. The theming of course is also a highlight of this ride, although I wish that the actually ride incorporated more theming, rather than the theming being limited to the queue. Overall, Flight of Fear is a solid launch coaster with good restraints, a smooth layout and a thrilling experience in the dark.
2 - Intimidator 305 - 9/10 - On paper Intimidator 305 is one of the best roller coasters on the planet. The ride is fast paced with an amazing layout and a variety of forces. The issue for me is that the ride is almost too intense. While I have it in my top 15, the ride is help back for me by how much of a toll the ride takes on my body. Plus I find the intensity so much that I305 lacks the fun factor that my number one pick on this last has. However, I still respect and enjoy how brutal this coaster is. From the legendary first drop, to the insane ejector airtime, to the exhilarating bends in the track, there is just nothing quite as thrilling as I305 out there. Even though it isn't my favorite coaster, I305 is still a legendary ride in my book, as there are few other rides out there that match its breakneck speed and intensity.
1 - Twisted Timbers - 10/10 - RMC does it again! Twisted Timbers, just like Steel Vengeance, is a perfect ride. While I'd still argue I prefer SteVe to Timbers, the latter still packs a punch and has an incredible layout. This is the kind of coaster that leaves you smiling every time you hit the breaks, with the perfect blend of fun and intensity. Sure some of those twisted airtime moments hurt your thighs, but it is all part of the fun. The triple camel-back element is one of the best sequences of airtime out there, an the barrel roll first drop is such a unique sensation. Every element on this ride is flawlessly executed and the pacing is on point. This is a coaster I want to ride all day and I honestly makes the price of admission worth it on its own. Twisted Timbers is the perfect balance of comfort, excitement, intensity placed in a perfect layout with a perfect variety of exhilarating elements.
There definitely can be some argument to be made that Kings Dominion has a better lineup than Kings Island, especially if the park builds the replacement to their defunct Volcano coaster (RIP) soon. Even though there are really only 2 true standout rides, both of those rides are worth the price of admission alone, and the rest of the lineup includes a number of decent supports that each offer a good time if nothing else. I was pleasantly surprised on my visit to Kings Dominion, and my opinions of their coasters reflect that feeling.
Ride Tiers:
World Class Rides: Twisted Timbers; Intimidator 305
Must Rides/Classics: N/A
Solid Rides: Apple Zapple; Racer 75; Reptilian; Backlot Stunt Coaster; Tumbili; Dominator; Flight of Fear
Mid-Tier Rides: Grizzly
Weaker Rides: Anaconda; Woodstock Express
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