2016 BGT Coaster Confirmed

[KRAKENvsMANTA]

My guesses/hopes:

B&M Giga for BGT replacing Gwazi in 2015.

B&M WingRider for SWO replacing Clydesdales area in 2016.

This is all assuming/hoping that the Busch parks aren't as financially-burdened as people claim at the moment.

 

[anihilnation]

I am hoping for the same :smiley:

 

[MIAtrix]

I created an account just to participate in this conversation!

I'm all for BGT getting a giga as long as it's more like Intimidator 305 than Millenium Force. I've been on both and I found I-305 to be much more thrilling with most of its course being lower to the ground and full of TWISTIES vs. the smoothness and gracefulness of MF. (Note that I haven't made the trip to ride Leviathan yet so I can't personally comment on the type of ride it gives.) Being spoiled by all of the high quality B&M coasters here in Florida, being smooth and graceful didn't really stand out to me. Plus given the footprint of the area where Gwazi sits, a layout comparable to I-305 probably works better. I just wonder what the theme of the ride would be. We already have enough bird-themed rides, and the cheetah is already taken. I wonder if they would stick to the lion motif if this ride does replace Gwazi.

As for SWO, I'd MUCH rather see them get a B&M megacoaster than a B&M WingRider. I've only been on one WingRider so far (Wild Eagle at Dollywood), but I don't think the ride would stand out enough from Manta and Kraken. While Kraken is an intense multi-looper, and Manta is a graceful coaster that offers a unique riding position, a WingRider is sort of a mix between the two, not as thrilling as Kraken's speed and loops yet also not as unique as Manta's flying prone position and pretzel loop. While Orlando already has its fair share of loopers, the area is severely lacking of coasters that offer airtime. Right now, White Lightning at FunSpot is the only coaster that offers any significant airtime (and I suppose Mummy's launch). This area NEEDS a megacoaster!

My "vision" for SWO would be to have a B&M megacoaster themed to the killer whale (is "Orca" to easy of a name?). The queue could be where the clydesdales used to be, and the track layout could go along the south side of the park near the road and up to the guest parking entrance to the park. That way, the coaster could "tease" guests as they drive into the park the same way that Apollo's Chariot teases guests that drive into BGW. The killer whale would be the perfect theme for a B&M mega since they are known to be "powerful" yet "graceful". And the location of the ride would give adults and bigger kids something to look forward to riding when they are on the side of the park with Shamu's Happy Harbor. Seaworld needs to make this happen. ASAP!

 

[Hatetofly]

^ Please god don't bring that Robb Alvey vocabulary into this forum!! Were trying to stay cult free here, thanks

 

[Stagefrenzy]

^ Please god don't bring that Robb Alvey vocabulary into this forum!! Were trying to stay cult free here, thanks

I dunno we kinda like wizards and large monkey statues, MIAtrix nice thought process but I think BGT and SWO are far enough apart where ride systems don't matter as much as execution. (I'm all for the execution for Gwazi) I'm a young healthy guy but boy O' boy was Gwazi rough the other day. Florida and it's humidity just isn't kind to coasters and especially woodies. I look forward to whatever BGT has planned for the plot formally know as Gwazi. It may be shortsighted but incorporating a stage and coaster would add some nice kinetic energy. I hate to bring up the disaster known as RRR but a similar setup with a real coaster would be amazing as part of summer concert series.

 

[MIAtrix]

^ Please god don't bring that Robb Alvey vocabulary into this forum!! Were trying to stay cult free here, thanks

I was just being facetious. Really, all I want is airtime. Don't care which park gives it to me. I want a coaster in Florida that makes me want to take a day off from work, visit a theme park and marathon ride that sucker all day.

 

[StarTrekGeek]

From hydra at ThemeParkReview:

Also, take this with a grain of salt but, while at Howl-O-Scream on Thursday night I asked one of the ride ops at Gwazi what the fate of the ride was, and he told me they expected to demolish it in the spring (May2014). He also went on to speculate that the replacement would be hyper coaster. So its a stretch I know, but interesting non the less.

Thoughts?

 

[Felipe]

From hydra at ThemeParkReview:



Thoughts?

That would be great!

 

[sierrak5]

B&M or Intamin, I don't care, just give us an airtime machine!

 

[AK-Jake]

From hydra at ThemeParkReview:



Thoughts?

I love it! Not holding my breath on it just yet, but it's a great idea!

 

[Cheezbat]

MIAtrix, I'm going to have to disagree with you on the Intamin gigas...I'd much rather have something like Millennium Force over 305. I found 305 to be somewhat painful, I nearly blacked out, and miss the hills that MF has.
In my opinion, while newer, Intimidator 305 is inferior to Millennium Force.

Now as for the Wingrider thing, while I could see one going to Sea World, I'm starting to think it would make more sense at Busch and build some more family rides and a rapid ride at Sea World instead.

 

[El Erico]

I noted the other day to my friends as we walked right on past Gwazi that they needed to put the wrecking ball to that thing, but my friends disagreed. I guess they haven't been on it lately.

 

[knokout1]

I've heard people mention a Top Thrill Dragster style ride a few times...

 

[bobwadd]

I have been able to confirm that Gwazi will be demo'd in the spring of 2014. Still working on info for it's replacement.

 

[Hockeyman55]

Well we now know that BGT isn't afraid to build anything with some serious height to it so that is a good sign if they are looking into something with some height to it.

 

[StarTrekGeek]

Well we now know that BGT isn't afraid to build anything with some serious height to it so that is a good sign if they are looking into something with some height to it.

After Falcon's Fury, I'm expecting whatever will replace Gwazi to have a ridiculous height, hopefully 300 ft! :happy:

 

[anihilnation]

I have been able to confirm that Gwazi will be demo'd in the spring of 2014. Still working on info for it's replacement.

So Summer 2015 we might see a new coaster open?

 

[bobwadd]

So Summer 2015 we might see a new coaster open?

Information on it's replacement is still sketchy at best.

 

[RickyinFL]

Okay I'm behind but...

Gwazi is an extremely rough ride. You know that feeling when you're being vibrated and bumped around so long that you become numb/tickly? Thats how your body feels after riding. It was hysterical to me as I didn't remember it being so rough and this is with the new RV!! Fun for a moment, but after doing it twice I regretted it and felt way too tossed around.

Ugh the Sea World parks & Entertainment's battle with dark rides... such a shame. Journey to Atlantis... the (lack of) story doesn't make sense and then it turns into a rollercoaster out of nowhere. Catches many families off guard, they were expecting splash mountain. Anarctica is so sad too. Did that the other day, reeked of frozen fish from the queue. And don't even get me started on ride loading inefficiencies. The turn-around for the RVs on Gwazi is embarrassingly awful. Seat belts, checking each one, all TMs give thumbs up, then lap bars, checking them all and thumbs up etc. Should be 1 step. And Anartica just has capacity issues and is also disappointing. You wait hours for a non-random trackless ride (total waste of trackless technology, there's only room for 1 possible path) then you finally get to the penguins and its so cold you only stay for 45 seconds.

I still think Busch Gardens could use more 'bridge' rides that bridge the intensity between sesame street and Kumba. Cheetah Hunt is nice, but they could use a great dark ride. My fear is that it will be a flop so their track record makes me agree with the thread and say an airtime machine would do them good. I also love this Maverick idea, the transitions are amazing. RIP Gwazi!!!

 

[bobwadd]

As most of you know the Tiger side of Gwazi has been closed for a while now. One reason for this was to have a supply of parts for the Lion side. Even with this extreme measure parts are becoming scarce.

Like I stated above, Gwazi is slated to be demo'd in the spring of next year. Remember, this was a Anheuser-Busch pet project and Blackstone does not support pet projects.

One more thing . . .