Elizabeth M.
Yelp
Having grown up in Chicago and fighting the enormous crowds of Six Flags, I love enjoying a day at Kings Dominion! The wait times have always been reasonable, even for rides like Intimidator. There are all sorts of rides and events for everyone, whether you are with your family or out for a solo day of adventure.
We purchased Gold passes with the meal/drink pre-pandemic. They are honoring those passes in full for this year, including a $50 Pass Perks reward on our cards. We were able to get a reservation for the opening of Passholders' Day through the online system, since they are currently still limiting the number of patrons in the park.
The arrival morning was a bit chaotic, since it was unclear what time the parking gates, park, and rides were actually open. (This was not communicated via emails, their website, or social media. Some people left their cars and walked up to the parking gates to ask.) Once the parking gates opened, two lines were letting cars zip through, but the left-hand lane was scanning every single pass. There wasn't any communication about this, which was very frustrating for those of us in the left lane. Cars were trying to merge into the other lanes, which created a dangerous traffic situation.
Once we parked, we had to go to the Guest Services line to get a special pass, since I was in a leg cast and wheelchair. It took a bit of time, but once we were done, we had to go all the way back into the huge lines that had formed while we worked with Guest Services. (In past visits, I know those in wheelchairs have been allowed through the side gate instead.) As we waited in line, many people asked employees about the mask policy, as this also had not been clarified on social media or through email.
The semi-chaos outside the park gates evaporated once we were inside. Since it was Passholders' Day, they had some special tables set up with giveaways, like enamel pins, food samples, and caricature drawings. The employees inside the park were very friendly and welcoming.
We tried the new Grain & Grill restaurant and really liked it. A sign on the wall shows where some of the local ingredients have been purchased. I had the shrimp skewer with mixed veggies. I loved the naan and hummus on the side. I do wish they would have asked if I wanted sauce on the shrimp skewer, since it was kind of spicy and messy, so I probably would have opted for it on the side. They have a nice beer garden outside. It was easy to use the meal and drink plan here. I would definitely go back to the restaurant for future visits, since I love having fresh and healthier options.
We enjoyed a few rides while we visited. Because I had limited mobility during this trip, we had to push my wheelchair to the exit ramp of the attractions. (I only went on rides that were rated "1" or "2" for movement, like the Ferris Wheel.) All the employees were great about communicating when I could get on the rides and where we should put my wheelchair.
Of course, a trip for us would be incomplete without a funnel cake. We opted for vanilla ice cream for chocolate sauce. After missing out of this tasty treat last year, it was a perfect way to end our visit!
Overall, some of the pre-coordination outside the gate could have been a bit better, especially through questions on social media and via email. However, I know the staff members had a lot to deal with for this day, especially with the closure of the park last year. I really appreciated that they were able to accommodate my limited mobility status so I could still enjoy the day at the park. I look forward to many more visits this summer, especially once I can go back on the bigger coasters!
