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Will Intimidator top Millennium Force as the Best Giga Coaster in America?

Kings Dominion: Let's hear your thoughts.

From Dan M
Posted August 20, 2009 at 2:32 PM
What do you think?


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From David Graham
Posted August 20, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Too early to really say, but looks great in the video...

From James Rao
Posted August 20, 2009 at 5:37 PM
It is a little shorter, right? So, it won't top it, for sure. But it will be a force to be reckoned with in its own right!

From Dan M
Posted August 20, 2009 at 5:49 PM
I don't think it's shorter, its listed as being 3 minutes on the website and I believe that is about as long as Millennium. Regardless, I'll get down to Richmond to see it next year. It's only two hours more than Dorney, Hershey, or Six Flags from my house. I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun and I already do think that Kings Dominion is a pretty good coaster park.

From James Rao
Posted August 20, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Sorry, MF is TALLER. 310 vs 305 feet. The drops seem to be the same, though, @ 300 feet. So, probably a wash.

MF will be the favorite though, cause it was first. ;)

I will also hit KD next summer (when I make my annual pilgrimage to Annandale, VA to visit friends). Look for my trip report then!

From Steve Pint
Posted August 20, 2009 at 6:18 PM
It better not be because when I visit CP next year for the first time, I don't want to be caught thinking there could be a better giga out there!

From steve lee
Posted August 20, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Dan, never EVER believe Cedar Fair when it comes to ride times. They claim Maverick is 2 and a half minutes long, but the park's own official POV clocks in at 1:20.

Apparently, in the world of Cedar Fair, waiting to get back in the station and unload is vital ride time...

From David Kirby
Posted August 23, 2009 at 11:45 PM
The seeming lack of hills after the initial drop is a bit disappointing. Any idea why they would have a layout like this?

From Derek Potter
Posted August 24, 2009 at 5:04 AM
The lack of hills would have me question that statement. The design is pretty low aside from the lift hill, which will make skimming the ground seem like 150mph rather than 90. It will be a little different than the long sweeping hills and curves of Millennium Force. It could be, but I'm such a Cedar Point homer for Millennium Force. I'm sure Intimidator will be a fantastic ride.

From Adam Nodjomian
Posted August 24, 2009 at 9:09 AM
Maybe limited space means lower and less hills on Intimidator as well as more truns to keep a more compact shape.

From Corbin Sanders
Posted August 25, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Well Cedar Point does attract more thrill seekers, while Kings dominion stretches to be more family friendly rides, so they could not make this ride too intense, otherwise it would scare off potential local customers. Just take a look at dominator lol.

From steve lee
Posted August 25, 2009 at 8:27 PM
No offense intended, Corbin, but how do you make a 300 foot drop NOT intense?

From Eli Katzman
Posted August 26, 2009 at 4:32 AM
steve, fast lift hill? :D

From Corbin Sanders
Posted September 6, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Good point, but after that good ol' 300 foot drop, it does nothing but super-banked turns, there is only a couple of airtime hills, Personally I am more excited about the B&M Intimidator than the Intamin.

From steve lee
Posted September 6, 2009 at 9:59 PM
Corbin, can I take a step back to something you said earlier? "Just take a look at dominator lol."

Where were you going with that? Is Dominator not a popular attraction? I haven't been to KD since Dominator was brought in, so I really don't know what the general public attitude towards this coaster is.

I'm not trying to bust your balls or anything - I just don't know what you were saying with that.

From Christy Shuman
Posted September 7, 2009 at 4:43 AM
Yeah Steve, Corbin where were you going with that? Because Dominator as of right now is the best coaster at KD. To be sure you were NOT bashing dominator.

From Eli Katzman
Posted September 8, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Christy, I know this is kinda off topic, but I think I remember from previous articles, you said that the back was the best on dominator. When I went recently, I got 4 rides, 3 of which in the very back. It's "fun", but not really up to my expectations. I really wanted to get the front, but it broke down before I was able to... So if the back is better, than I think that volcano is the best by far at KD...

From Brandon S
Posted September 8, 2009 at 4:22 PM
^On Dominator, though I didn't try the back, I would think that the best seat would be the front because, well, it is a floorless coaster and isn't that supposed to be the purpose of the ride? You know, so that it looks like you can touch the track with your feet, and so your closer.

From steve lee
Posted September 8, 2009 at 6:07 PM
The forces are certainly better in the back, but I have to agree with Brandon - the whole point of the floorless thing revolved around the front row of the train. It's like Dueling Dragons - of course the back row gives the best ride, but the real show is in the front.

From Eli Katzman
Posted September 10, 2009 at 2:52 PM
yeah, I was thinking that. Def. on Hydra, the front was better, but the back had better forces and negative g's.

From Peter Stephens
Posted October 9, 2009 at 7:11 PM
The answer is...

UNQUESTIONABLY! I-305 is unlike anything that has preceeded it. State-of-the-art.

From steve lee
Posted October 9, 2009 at 8:01 PM
I guess I missed a memo. Apart from an even dumber name, I-305 is different from MF how?

From Nick Markham
Posted October 9, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Height, layout, track type. These are all different from Millennium Force. Though I still can't say it will be better than MF until I ride it for myself. But it looks very nice!

From Peter Stephens
Posted October 9, 2009 at 9:06 PM
steve, Yep, you missed the memo. First you will want to look at the renderings. Upon studying them you will begin to realize that I-305 is unlike ANYTHING else. It is as much a work of art as it is a ride. The double-spine track is new and drastically superior to anything else. Incredibly strong and precisely manufactured spans of steel reduce the number of supports. The lift-hill structure and first crest on I-305 are nearly self-supporting. This is a quantum leap in roller-coaster technology. (Compare the lift and first drop on MF to I-305. MF is basically a bunch of 18th century-style truss structures - quite plain, even unattractive, with massive vertical AND horizontal bracing.) The I-305 track will be smoother and faster allowing greater forces (+/-/lateral) without discomfort. This will be the essence of the future of the super-coaster. The speed will likely be greater than MF because of these factors and due to the liklihood of a faster lift hill providing a faster initial speed to build upon. Note: The GM of KD is now quoted as saying "93 plus" MPH. Airtime and other high-force changes in direction were designed recently on the latest computer program versus fifteen years ago on whatever was common at that time. The uninformed critics of this coaster simply do not understand the height/speed/directional-change combination I-305 will possess, nor do they yet comprehend her elegance. Among gravity coasters, I-305 will be PEERLESS. Any true ride warrior has to be excited to see the "next level" attained before their eyes!!!

From Eli Katzman
Posted October 11, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Snap, peter, you're confident in those predictions. But wouldn't the shoulder restraints make it feel like it's not as fast as MF instead of the other way around?

From Peter Stephens
Posted October 11, 2009 at 8:42 PM
The OTSR's for I-305 are unknown, at the moment. There are promises of OTSR's that do not provide the opportunity for ear-banging, at least. At best, they are supposed to be un-noticeable - we'll see! The misconception is that OTSR's somehow reduce the airtime sensation. A lap restraint (like the very good ones on Apollo's Chariot and it's clones) may be the most comfortable or the most modern but the sensation of airtime is an INTERNAL HUMAN sensation. Traversing a crest vertical curve will provide the sensation regardless of the restraint. You don't come out of your seat on AC. In fact, you are held down rather snuggly. But you feel that ejector sensation. The same will be true (HOPEFULLY) for whatever restraints are provided on I-305. Time will tell - we will see you there Eli - U R A Ride WARRIOR!!!

From Eli Katzman
Posted October 12, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Well, actually, just a "sneek peak" on my tr for SFGAdv, I really thought that Nitro had much more zero-g than ejector seat airtime hills. I would much rather have ES!

From Mary Ann Nowak
Posted August 29, 2010 at 10:00 AM
I know this was an old discussion board post, but I was able to ride Intimidator 305 last weekend.
While it is a great ride in my mind it doesn't touch Millenium Force as far as an experience.
Millenium is still #1.

From Bradley Keith
Posted August 30, 2010 at 2:58 PM
I can't really say because I've only been on MF, but right off the bat, from what I've heard, the trim brakes really take it down some. Plus, MF has lap bars. Nothing against Intamin's over the shoulders, but it provides a smoother ride because of the elements on I305.

From Becky Conat
Posted September 2, 2010 at 12:16 PM
Peter, Have you rode MF?


MF is one of my favorites rides and it probably always will be, but I am excited to see it has some competition and would be more then willing to check out KD (which I have never been to before).

From jeff hansen
Posted September 4, 2010 at 9:26 AM
all i can say, if you've been on MF, Then you know the Answer
The Answer is NO

From Mike Gallagher
Posted September 4, 2010 at 9:43 AM
I've been on both. Millennium Force is a graceful swan. I-305 (in its April form) is a vicious hawk. There's room in the zoo that is my #1 steel spot for both, and until I ride I-305 again, I consider them tied in my book. They are two vastly different rides, and comparing the two is like comparing grapes to bananas (apples to oranges is sooo cliche...)

From Erin B
Posted September 4, 2010 at 9:59 AM
I can't believe I never posted a response in this thread.

I personally think I305 blows MilF out of the water. I guess I just don't understand all of this love for MilF. I've ridden it countless times & I just find it to be, well, kind of boring. Sure, it goes really high & it goes really fast but it's kind of lacking elsewhere. Airtime [crazy floater or a nice pop of ejector air] is what I'm looking for in a coaster & I feel like MilF doesn't deliver much of that. On the other hand, I305 delivered crazy intensity & some fun little pops of air. It had my friends & me coming back for more throughout our day at KD, and I would definitely say it's the most intense steel coaster I've been on. Not my favorite steel coaster, but definitely the most intense.

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