KD's Next Coaster: When, where, and what?

We're in the middle of 2012, and Kings Dominion, while they are not overdue just yet, will soon be due for a new coaster. 2013 is rumored to be a Planet Snoopy expansion, while Volcano's station may get a redo, so it looks like no coaster next year (which is fine for now). However in 2014, it will be 4 years since Intimidator 305 opened (dang, that moved fast!). So this leaves the question: will KD open their next coaster in 2014 or possibly even a year later? It certainly seems possible for a 2014 coaster to be built, but probably no later than 2015.

Where will it go? Apparently reports have Shockwave being removed by the end of the season (from this morning):

Park News - (7/17/12) According to a post at CoasterCrewNetwork , the time may have come to remove Shockwave . To be honest, I’m surprised this Togo Stand-Up coaster has lasted this long as it’s sister ride (King Cobra) at Kings Island was removed years ago. If true, the only remaining Togo Stand-Up coaster in North America would be the SkyRider at Canada’s Wonderland which will likely find itself on the chopping block before too long as well.

The Dippin Dots guy told me today that Shockwave is on its way out the door. Now this is not throw some of my normal channles so I don't know if its true or not.

Later in the day, however, reports show Shockwave staying. Actually, IMO, removing Shockwave (despite the lack of lines) is a stupid idea, especially if they were putting up a new coaster (and I actually enjoy this ride. Unlike other stand-ups, this has awesome airtime. It also has great forces. If you ask me, take out Anaconda). Last season, the park repainted the ride (green and blue) and removing it so soon would mean all that money for the repaint would go to waste. Also, this ride doesn't take up the biggest space in the park... maybe an Intamin Impulse or something like Superman: Ultimate Flight (in SFDK) can fit good (though that can still be cool)... but I think the maximum that can fit in the area is probably a GCI Wooden Coaster (involving the end of Flying Ace and Snoopy's Splash Dance). Then again, SFGAm surprised me by plopping a Wing Coaster (X-Flight) in the old Splashwater Falls plot, so maybe this can happen here to. Still, I'd rather see Anaconda bite the dust, way before Shockwave.

However, let's evaluate the sections of the park. Congo has the most coasters in the park (Intimidator 305, Flight of Fear, Volcano, Backlot Stunt Coaster, and Anaconda) so no need for a coaster in that section (if they take out Anaconda, though, that will open up a large plot. Maybe a Wing or Flying Coaster that interacts with the lake). Maybe Old Virginia, possibly squeezing a coaster by White Water Canyon, and having it sneakily travel behind Dinosaurs ALIVE, Grizzly, and Hurler, and go back through the old Hypersonic lot. Or the Grove, where they can plot one taking over the rest of the old Hypersonic lot and the plot behind Hurler (of course, keeping the trees).

Another possibility is relocating the part of the water park before Rebel Yell with the rest of the water park (possibly an entrance by Hurler and Ricochet). That would open up a decent plot of land, and an even bigger plot would open if Anaconda gets torn out. However, I'd rather they not knock down Anaconda for a coaster there, as much as I dislike Anaconda. I'd want to see something else take Anaconda's space, possibly interacting with the lake.

What will it be? My gut tells me they want a "big" coaster again, so it can be a few possibilities. An Intamin Blitz can do wonders. I think a B&M would be perfect though, as there is only one (Dominator). A Wing Coaster would be an awesome addition, a Flying Coaster (though I think they should save one for Anaconda's replacement), or even a Hypercoaster (traveling from White Water Canyon to the back of Grizzly and Hurler). The difference with Canada's Wonderland installing Leviathan while they have Behemoth is that one has mostly airtime (Behemoth, just airtime hills) and the other has mostly speed (Leviathan, speed curves). I305 has mostly speed (mostly speed curves with airtime hills) and this hyper can have mostly airtime (just airtime hills). Though I think a Wing Coaster has a huge possibility (let's see how Cedar Point's 2013 Wing Coaster will go)!

I'm sure wherever the next coaster will go, the park will make as much necessary space as possible. Look at what Six Flags Great America did! They squeezed in a Wing Coaster in a plot that was home to a small shoot-the-chutes ride, and it still looks to pack a punch!

For now, we shall wait and see what happens next year... But 2014 should be an interesting year!