Spain at Busch Gardens Europe?
Busch Gardens Williamsburg: What Would You Add?
From Alex Clark
Posted August 15, 2008 at 10:42 AM
I'd like to see Spain in the old Drachen Fire spot and maybe they could add an accelerator coaster and a drop tower and maybe even a shoot 'em up ride. What would you add?
What were you thinking the accelerator coaster would be named after? And the drop tower?
From J Whetzel
Posted August 15, 2008 at 1:37 PM
They could put a coaster in the Spain section themed after something to do with bulls. A wooden one with a ton of airtime and sharp turns would be a good fit I think. Or as the OP stated, an accelerator coaster themed after a bullfight where there's a red flag before a hill that moves out of the way as you get to it. I like the idea of the wooden one best personally.
A wooden twister would be fit the bill for a "bull" theme. Or perhaps an indoor "bull" coaster? Something like Rockin' Roller Coaster, except you would enter a Spanish alley (the guests would play the bull).
A drop tower isn't likely due to height restrictions imposed by the county on behalf of Kingsmill residents. (They aren't really fond of rollercoaster noise either!) But, I like the idea of a woodie with a bullfighting theme. Call it "Matador" maybe? "Lancer"? Probably run into opposition from the animal rights folks. (Everybody has issues these days!!!) BGE needs a wooden coaster. A flyer or a launched ride would be a good addition, as well.
How about a Intamin Launch can be named Matador after bull fighters. Even though I doubt we will see a Intamin coaster at BGE.
Yeah, I also doubt we'll see some intamin magic... and yes, I think they need a woodie, too. Look at BGA compared to BGE: They both have a wonderful invert, and amazing vertical drop coaster, and 2 other amazing coasters (Kumba [looping sit-down from B&M] and AC [hyper sit-down from B&M]). All 6 are from B&M. BGA has scorpian (or something) and chetah chase, which used to be a wild mouse at BGE, while BGE has BBW and LNM. Both parks are pretty close in the coaster department, except BGA has one HUGE thing- a dueling GCI twister coaster. THAT'S WHAT BGE NEEDS TO RULE BGA!!! (In my opinion.) Instead of just a twister woodie, we need one like Gwazi or Lightning Racer. Does anybody else think different?
^ Dude BGe already owns BGA easily.
From J Whetzel
Posted August 15, 2008 at 7:04 PM
I agree Eli. They could definitely use a good wooden coaster. Along the bullfighting theme, an inverted dueling coaster (such as dueling dragons) would work nice too, because with those the cars can be headed straight for each other giving the riders the illusion that they are going to hit. One side could be the matador and the other the bull. Either way, wooden or steel, they could have a great coaster with a good theme.
Justin, I'm talking in the coaster department.
J, they won't make something like dueling dragons at BGE. They alread have a B&M invert, so they won't buy another one. Thanks for agreeing with me, though.
One thing that BGE could really use IMO is a drop tower. A coaster would be nice but we just got Griffon so meantime, why not a drop tower like at KD or KI.
BGE will never get a drop tower unless they paint it sky blue. It is because of the Kingsmill residents. The same reason why the chances we get a woodie is against us. It is just to noisy.
No, I've seen a few Woodies that aren't that loud... if we get a GCI dueler/racer, maybe they can cut down the speed for the noise. Some GCI coasters are loud, others are in the middle.
Maybe the coaster could be named El Diablo...
From James Rao
Posted August 16, 2008 at 10:57 AM
The only variation of a drop tower ride that I have ever thought was worth its salt was the Tower of Terror in DHS in Orlando. If BGE could do something similar...with all the theming and immersion, then it could work....as long as they get past the height restrictions mentioned by other posters.
And a tricked out GCI wooden coaster would be excellent as well. Think of it winding through the trees like The Raven at Holiday World. Wow!
Height restrictions? at BGE? I didnt know about that. I mean they have a 210foot coaster, the height restrictions cant be that bad. Oh and the drop tower at KD is not loud at all. All you hear is the wind of it racing downward. Alpengeist and griffon is alot louder than that.
Curiosity-what drop towers have you been on James?
^ Apollo's Chariot is not 210 feet tall. It is only 170. Griffon is 205 feet tall. But it is painted sky blue to blend in.
From James Rao
Posted August 16, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Christy, I have been on both the Demon Drop at CP, and in 2003 or 2004 I rode the Drop Tower at KD (although it was called something else then). Additionally, I have ridden numerous space shot type rides, and all those attractions that give you two seconds of weightless thrill before it is all over. They are okay rides, but other than the Tower of Terror, they just seem to be too short of a thrill for generally long waits.
And I am pretty sure the first drop on AC is over 200 feet, Justin. I remember waiting in line and the video telling about the ride kept saying it over and over: "210 foot drop" or something like that.
But that is all neither here nor there. Since it is Busch Gardens I expect whatever they do with that area of the park it will be beautifully landscaped and well themed. A simple drop tower, or generic wooden coaster will never do. They better dress it up somehow, else I will be very disappointed!! =)
Wow, justin, you are messed up in the head! When was the last time you were on Griffon or AC? You could clearly see that both coasters are about even (5 feet off, really). It doesn't work with alpie, because your view to AC is blocked by Griffon. Like Jason said, AC is 210, and Griffon is 205. Where did you get the info that AC is 170? Oh, and sky blue is LIGHT blue (of what I know...).
I wouldn't really like a drop tower, because I can't take 'em. I love watching Drop Zone, but I always wimp out whenever I feel like going on it... Anyway, when I'm at the top of "the big 3 at BGE", I like looking at the view, and being basically the tallest things around. The drop tower, however, would be taller than the others (most likely), so it would block the view. Anybody else hate drop towers?
From J Whetzel
Posted August 16, 2008 at 6:41 PM
I'm with you Eli. I don't like drop towers either. They are OK for amusement parks where the focus is mainly on rides. But for theme parks where the focus is on theme along with ride quality, drop towers just cannot cut it I don't think. Aside from Disney's Tower of Terror, it's hard to have a good theme for a drop tower.
Actually justin is kind of right guys. AC's height is 170ft, but the drop is 210ft. BTW wouldnt a launch coaster be too loud as well as a drop tower Justin?
From James Rao
Posted August 17, 2008 at 6:50 AM
Gotcha. If you measure from the ground to the top of the lift hill it is 170 feet, but the drop actually goes below that level to the water line, making it a 210 ft drop. Sounds good to me!
^Yep, BGE/B&M cleverly finished AC's first drop below level ground so the drop is longer than the above-ground height.
Agree with James on the drop towers. Lot of buildup for about 2 seconds of ride -- it's over before you know it. Not worth the wait time, but that's just me.
Rather see a coaster for a new country. A woodie would be good, as many have said, but a bullfight-themed woodie sounds like an attempt to copy El Toro to me. I'd rather BGE get a launch coaster, though they seem to put such a premium on ride reliability (which is great) that I don't know if they'd go that route. But not every launch coaster has to be TTD or Kingda Ka. I really, really like Italian Job/Backlot Stunt Coaster at KD. Yah, I know, that's lame to the thrill-seekers, but it's just pure and simple fun. So a non-record-breaker in terms of height could still make a very fun coaster if well themed. With a bullfight setup, you could have more than one launch to race past the bull, duck in and out with the bull, etc.
In my dreams a Spain land would add some lovely Andalusian horses to join the Clydesdales. They could perform musical freestyle shows under saddle OR have one of those Cirque-type or dream-like avant-garde shows with dancers and horses performing together.
And there could be a flamenco show, also highlighting other latin dances, tied in with a restaurant as with Viva Italia and This is Oktoberfest.
And is it time for BGE to have something like Soarin'? What about Soarin' over Spain (of course you wouldn't really use that name), where you could soar over castles and the various topographical features of the country, like the grasslands and the hill country and so forth, as well as the cities. Oh, and doesn't Spain have the bull chase through the city streets, where the men run ahead of the rampaging bulls? That would be fun for this kind of simulator ride. Make an exciting finish after a dreamy tour of the countryside!
I think you guys are right, I must've gotten my facts wrong. Sorry, Justin, for thinking I was SO right, I was just in a bad mood. I just took what BGE's site says, but that is just stating how much you drop, not the height you start from. Thanks for correcting me.
From James Rao
Posted August 17, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Soarin' Over Spain...excellent idea. Granted the name would have to be different, but unless Disney has some sort of patent on the ride mechanism, BGE would be the perfect place for a ride similar to Soarin'.
And honestly, every land at BGE should have at least one coaster, so in addition to Soarin' Over Spain, a new coaster is a must. And maybe a Spider-Man/DarKastle-type ride based on the adventures of Don Quixote would be kind of fun?
Just, please, no more carnival games!
James, I also wish to have a coaster in every country, but some of 'em are pretty jam-packed, like England. It's right there, when you walk in, and there's no extra space until you enter another country.
It's ok guys. The terrain helps AC's drop reach over 200 feet. I knew what I was talking about. After all it is my favorite ride ever. But as for the new Spain area. Intamin Launches are too loud. Plus BGE does not really have a good realtionship with Intamin. Drop towers are also out of the question. It just dosen't fit the BGE criteria, also they are too tall. I think a small intense Intamin plug and play would be possible since, they are generally quiet, and re-liable. So BGE may work with Intamin on that one. Right now im typing this from my hotel in D.C. Im going to KD on tuesday and should post a TR that night so stay tuned!
I hope you have fun! If you didn't know, Justin, hit Dominator, Volcano, Flight of Fear, and the Crypt. Others are great or okay, but these are DEFINATE. Too bad you missed Rebel yell backwards. If you can't find FoF, look to the right of Volcano on the map. If you know you're going to ride Volcano a second time, make sure you get the front. After you get the front, it's not as much fun unless you get the front again. Remeber that, but don't miss it!
I will be sure not too. Im pumped for Dominator though.
Oh, me too! I might go Saturday with a friend. I'd also love to ride my second favorite coaster again in the front, too (Volcano).
My TR is now up for those of you interested.
Mine will be up Saturday if I go Friday...
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