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Let's start with whether a visit to Paramounts Kings Dominion is right for you. Recently, many people have complained that the park can be dirty. That the food is way overpriced. Others have claimed that its workers are rude, and that it's not family-friendly (i.e., people wearing crass t-shirts and spouting even crasser language). Others rave about the park, its cleanliness and fantastic rides. What's the truth? It depends. Recognize that even the best theme park can get dirty on occasion, and that some people show appallingly poor taste in their language and fashion choices. (Although you'd probably run into similar individuals at your local mall.) High-octane roller coaster lovers are probably more willing to overlook such "trash." But if you're not one of them (not trash--a roller coaster lover), and you have a young family, Busch Gardens Williamsburg might be the more family-friendly choice for you. One thing I will say is that the prices increases for 2008 have been much steeper at Kings Dominion than they have at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I was really shocked. A family of four buying front gate admission tickets at KD will have to pay almost $30 more this year just to get in. That's why my discount ticket info is so crucial for 2008, so keep reading below. But first, here's a really cool YouTube video of the park's coaster, Volcano, taken from a front row seat. It's awesome! (Click, wait a sec, then click again.) Getting Discount TicketsAs I discussed on my main page on the park, your easiest ongoing option for getting discount Paramounts Kings Dominion tickets is to buy 3-day advance tickets online on the park's website. They can save you as much as $14 per adult ticket. For adults, you'll pay $39.95 per ticket, versus $51.95 if you buy your ticket at the box office. But remember, you'll have to buy them at least 3 days before you visit. Junior/Senior tickets (for kids and seniors) are the same price regardless of whether you buy them in advance or not. (Note: Advance tickets are only available in season, so you'll have to wait until the park opens in March.) ***New for 2008: The Pay Once-Visit Twice Ticket - Two visits for only $51.95 (ages 3+)
Get a HUGE discount for a little extra effort! Richmond's Landmark Theater--in conjunction with the Parks & Rec Department--sells Paramounts Kings Dominion discount tickets:
There is a $2 per ticket handling fee. I last checked their prices in March, 2008, so they should be current, but you may want to check their website here. The box office is located at 6 N. Laurel Street in Richmond. Hours are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (804) 646-4213 or (804) 646-4214. (They also offer discounts to Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens Williamsburg.) Other Parks & Rec departments offering similar deals include Prince George County (call 804-733-2646 for details) and Albemarle County. Albemarle County also offers even deeper discounts. You can get adult tickets for $27 per ticket on KD Teen Days (the last week in June through the first week in July) and KD Park and Recreation Days (offered the last week in July through the first week in August). Call 434-296-5844 for details. Check out local hotels Local hotels sometimes offer Kings Dominion package deals which can save you money. The Embassy Suites in Richmond, the Virginia Crossings Resort in Glen Allen, and the Days Inn in Ruther Glen are three hotels which offer park packages (the first two are a bit of a drive from the park, but the Days Inn is only 5 miles away). When booking a local hotel, do your research. For example, we've heard a slew of poor reviews about how dirty the Best Western Kings Quarters is...not worth the money, shady characters, etc. (We'll be adding hotel reviews later. Until then, check at sites like www.tripadvisor.com for recommendations.)
Other Money-Saving Ideas and Tips
Want to go again and again?Paramounts Kings Dominion also offers a variety of season passes which are actually pretty good deals. And in 2008, all include free season parking. The cheapest prices are available if you buy four or more tickets. For the best season pass prices at Paramounts Kings Dominion, click here.
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