Pre-Season Park Tour!

[tsim86]

Love the colors of thos those GL trains!

[Railer]

It's not closed. The only part of the GK that's blocked off is where the play structures were.

Thank's, no one has been clear on that fact. So the path that went thru the "Golden Kingdom" that you viewed the Tiger's at, and had the huge step's for photo's is still there, just the "playland" side is closed off.

[rjholla2003]

Well, I could be wrong. The information was from word-of-mouth and the map showing that path still intact, but when I went through yesterday there was a fence up. That fence however looked temporary for while they were doing some work in the area with heavy machinery. So now after Wade's post, I'm questioning if that fence is actually temporary at all. If they are indeed blocking it all off that way...not a fan. There's no truly elegantly way to block off a section you removed everything to, keep traffic flow, and make it look good in any way.

[Ogolo]

More traffic through the games to get to the brand new ride?

Hopefully they will be adding some lighting if they are working on that section.  It did get rather scary dark in that area.

[B-mac]

It got so dark sometimes that I didn't even know where I was going... Some nice tiki torch-like lights by the pathways would really help.

[jglonek]

I guess I should have paid more attention to the area.

We followed Doc Rives from where the turtles usually are right into the Temple of the Tiger stadium area, and walked around in there and back out. I didn't even think to look at the rest of the area.

But yeah as Wade said those viewing glass areas are blocked off. I'm not sure if that means you can still use the path and can't access those, or if the whole area is closed.

I'll be there at 10:35AM Saturday to let everyone know!

[B-mac]

I'll be in a U-Haul truck down to VA lol. Not enjoying this.

[GAcoaster]

The whole area will be closed.  Basically, the only access to KK is through the Boardwalk now, and that path will only be access  to KK, Safari Discoveries and Splashwater Oasis. I could see if KK has any extended downtime the area will probably just get closed off after 6:30 when Safari Discoveries closes for the day.

Both ends of the path will be blocked off with these fences.

[rjholla2003]

Thanks for the pic Tom. When I took a glance at it from a bad angle, it looked like a temporary fence while they were doing work in there. That's definitely a permanent fence.

[Railer]

Now do you enter the new Animal Viewing area from the "Temple of The Tiger" entrance, and go all the way thru and come out by "Kingdom Traders"?. Or can you enter over by "Kingdom Trader's" somewhere, and come out at "Temple Of The Tiger"? I see myself "cutting thru" alot if possible. That will be a long walk just to get around for my two little girls. I wish they would open it, there was nothing on that path at all, except the "Tiger Glass" and the steps for pictures. You went off that path for all the attraction's. It's a long walk now to go from "Ka", to "Bizarro".

[jglonek]

Have to agree. Needing to walk back to the boardwalk from Ka to get to Toro, RT and Bizarro (and vice versa) sounds awful. I hope this doesn't stay there all season

[GAcoaster]

As it stands now, you will enter and exit Safari Discoveries through the Temple of the Tiger entrance.

Eventually they may add a second entrance/exit at the Kingdom Candy side (formerly Kingdom Traders).

While the pathway being closed is not ideal, it's also something that could be changed quickly and easily if necessary (or if they get enough complaints). Also, the idea of sending people through the Boardwalk to get to and from Ka makes a lot of sense from a business standpoint.  Sending people past the restaurants and games more just means more revenue.  And a lot of the people who come to the park can really use the exercise...  

[WadeJ]

No different than the paint gun building...

[Ogolo]

And probably a little easier to control the morning "walk" to the rides...

[AV Matt]

And less places for the hoodlums to hide and be naughty.

[Railer]

 Well, I don't need the exercise. The Boardwalk will be alot bigger of a "hub" starting this year. It is just a very long dead end now. It would be nice if they made a "cut thru" where the "Royal Elephant's" were, end up right in front of "Rolling Thunder".

[Ogolo]

-The Safari Discoveries is actually pretty nice!  Make sure to see the baby bears before they are no longer baby bears!  This place really has potential. 

-Not having the walkway between El Toro and Ka is NOT fun.  The only reason I can think they did this was because the walk way is very close to the animals in Safari Discoveries.  Having guests on both sides might frighten the animals.

-1 Train Operations on El Toro...but they did redo all the smelly seat, side and lap bar cushions.  And yes still it is still El Strideo...

-I didn't even bother with Ka..The line was backed up.  And after watching operations I can't see how 1 is better than 2.    The queue goes all the way back into the second trains queue in the station.  I'll give it a chance since it was opening day operations.

-Nitro is the champ that it always is!  But Nitro operators please realize that a PA system is not to be yelled/screamed into.

[PcMan]

So that makes twos DEAD-ENDS they have created in the park in the last few years
the other being near the catering pavilions

that stinks

[Bubba Z]

SFA!!! Winning !

[B-mac]

At the rate this is going SFA should get an award right now...

[rjholla2003]

From what I heard, Kingda Ka got better today. It's seems that they just have to get used to the new system since it requires more hustle than before. It's doable, but they have to learn their new pace.