Apparently we're going to miss the opening, because one of my Co-workers went last weekend and said it was open on a trial 'preview' basis... To anyone there. Hmmm...

He also said there was a sign up in front of the ride that said official opening day is May 26th.

I could have sworn people from DCMM, RCM, and/or Central Virginia Minis had contacted King's Dominion about helping to open the ride... Kind of like the huge event Ohio's King's Dominon had about a year ago.

Unless they're planning on celebrating later on in the summer? Meh!

 

from what I got out of the thread in their forum, KD is going to have a MINI day later in the summer since this is a HUGE weekend for them, they didn't want an invasion! Or something like that.

 

If they're planning on doing anything like the King's Island event it won't be the actual openning. Instead it will be a day where they just do a special event with MINI owners.

As with the event at KI, the ride had already been open for a while and plenty of people had already ridden it. They just put together an event where there was a continental breakfast by the ride before hand and we got the first rides of the day. Along with other "exclusive" ride time after the park had closed.

 

Wasn't there a parade through the park?

 

I spoke to some of the Richmond folks at the Dragon about this. KD gave them a big run around about when the opening would be. They would not give us notice of the date and everytime they called, whoever they talked to the last time was not "available" to help anymore. They were kind of thininkg that RCD, DCMM and other clubs interested would just pick a day this summer, once it is open, and converge.

Of course, if it is open now, we need to do that!

 

I e-mailed PKD (again) asking about the opening of IJ ride and the desire of local MINI groups to participate in something similar to the successful Cin' event. I rec'd this reply:


****************************

Thank you for your email to Paramount's Kings Dominion. The grand opening of the Italian Job Turbo Coaster will take place on Saturday, May 27, however the park is planing to host a MINI event later in the summer. You can contact me at susan.storey@paramountparks.com for further information as we plan the event.


Have a great day.

Susan Storey, APR
Public Relations Manager
***************************************

I read this to say - thank's, but no thanks......

The current intel on the 'event' is they will be a stop on MINI across USA, but participation by local clubs is not desired.

I'm going to Busch Gardens this weekend instead.....

 

=\ they sound like a buncha jerks to me. so I think it would be best not to consult them and just plan a day for mini's to take over their parking lot.

 

This really bites! I really wanted to be part of a special MINI only day with the club to celebrate the new ride.

 

Nope, there were a couple cars placed throughout the park though.

 

Going to head that way today.. if its open which i dont think it is ill let you know later. The ride is just something for me to do on my day off =)

 

From what I undestand the MINIS Take the States Rally is stopping at KD on the leg between Charlottesville and DC

 

This is the Italian Job ride in Ohio's kings island them park right? Yeah I went on that ride last year, you guys aren't missing much. The coolest part of the ride is waiting in line, they give you a bunch of info about the movie and our cars on little tv screens and signs. My favorite was the fake Eifel tower they have there. pretty nifty!

 

same ride yes but different park... this one is in Doswell, VA. Oh did stop by.. they have test riders and Press today and possibly tomorrow.

 

i'm going there next monday with my girl friend.

I would have just went to Sixflags instead of KD if they did not have the mini ride..

 

At Paramount Canada's Wonderland in Toronto, Canada they got the MINI ride last year. LOVED IT. I wish they had some sort of special day like what you guys are talking about. Maybe they did and I just didn't know about it...!

 

Yeah, but I heard that we are going to be on our own for that? Anyone have any info yet as too if KD is going to do something for us that day?

 

The neighbor's kid went last weekend. She wanted to ride it but was qouted a 4 hour wait. They passed on it.

 

4 hours?

Is the ride itself 10 mins long? or the usual done in 30 seconds?

 

If it's anthing like the one in Ohio (it's probably the same thing) I think it's about a minute long. Maybe a little longer because there are a couple places where the ride stops.

 

pretty disappointing ride with no thrill.

I have forgiven them jsut because it was MINI..

 

Technically it's not a thrill ride. It was built as more of a "family oriented roller coaster". In other words, not too scary, not too lame. If you go into it expecting it to be something like Alpengeist, Volcano, Anaconda, Loch Ness Monster, etc., you'll be sorely disappointed.