I respect your opinion, but to be honest, there haven't been many significant changes I can think of in the past several years that I do like. I am, however, in the minority in that I was not overwhelmingly sad to see the Wolf go, and Verbolten was a suitable replacement. As for the rest of the Oktoberfest renovation, it isn't poorly done, but I don't much like it. I just feel that for the most part, many of the renovations have taken the things that made BGW so magical and have not replaced that magic appropriately. This new makeover seems no different to me.
Banbury Cross Retheme Coming in 2014
- Thread starter Zachary
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I can understand that, but it is very hard to replace something that was so loved and most people will remain nostalgic for what once was. It is something that is hard to do with renovating or expanding. You can't replace magic so easily. But you can create new magic.
Aside from Verbolten, the park has failed to show that they can "modernize" while maintaining the same level of quality that people are used to for the main season.
It's insulting to throw something different at people and assume they will somehow force themselves to enjoy it.
It's insulting to throw something different at people and assume they will somehow force themselves to enjoy it.
Pretzel Kaiser said:
I get it. But just a few more points from my perspective.
Verbolten was a huge undertaking, pulled off spectacularly. I wouldn't dismiss it so quickly. I understand people find it much easier to point out faults than celebrate improvements but in my eyes, Verbolten made me ask, 'Big Bad who?' It's just that good. And don't get me wrong, I don't like some of the changes either (Oktoberfest stage!) but that's the way the ball bounces and makes me appreciate my memories a little more.
Secondly, Banbury in it's current state is a black eye: could be worse, could be a lot nicer - definitely in need of something. So, if a company is already going to do an overhaul, why not try something different? If it sucks, it sucks but the preemptive, sky-is-falling attitude is beyond me.
Banbury is still one of the nicest locations in the park. It's also iconic as hell, to the point where people may only visit once or twice a year see this as a bad decision.
As far as the preemptive hate, this has been brought up many times, but the park's recent track record of modernization has been crap. They are making things cheap on a creative level to appeal to the lowest common denominator, something that should be above the park.
As far as the preemptive hate, this has been brought up many times, but the park's recent track record of modernization has been crap. They are making things cheap on a creative level to appeal to the lowest common denominator, something that should be above the park.
RE: Squire’s Grille
I'm sorry, but some dark, evil part of me wants this to happen. I'm picturing all the fancy wall hangings being painted over with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr and sparkling yellow submarines hanging from the ceiling. Oh, and a ton of horrendously cheesy names for the otherwise bland and generic food they serve.
JuniorBGWfan28 said:
I'm sorry, but some dark, evil part of me wants this to happen. I'm picturing all the fancy wall hangings being painted over with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr and sparkling yellow submarines hanging from the ceiling. Oh, and a ton of horrendously cheesy names for the otherwise bland and generic food they serve.
[split] Squire’s Grille
Are we sure the renovation includes renaming the restaurants and shops as well? I mean they just renovated the Emporium not even a year ago.
Are we sure the renovation includes renaming the restaurants and shops as well? I mean they just renovated the Emporium not even a year ago.
Zachary said:
"Can I get a Yellow Submarine sandwich with extra Sgt. Peppers and a Strawberry Shortcake Forever? No, wait, make that a Here Comes the Sundae."
Zachary said:
If this does happen you know the park doesn't have that kind of creativity. They'll probably just put rainbow peace and flower signs hanging on the wall. Even though I'm kind've liking your concept.
Party Rocker said:
A while ago, on this forum, someone started a thread called "Change Haters Thread". I think it's a very good thread to read through. I like many things that the park has done recently, including the sheep, Celtic Fyre, and other things. Now that BGW is basically being ignored by SEAS, I don't think they can properly pull off a "modernized" theme. I truly do love the park, and I continue to hope for a sign of improvement. Sadly, it will take a lot of time,effort, and even small "sacrifices" to make those improvements.
I totally missed this post when it was originally posted so...
The difference is that Entertainment didn't update the Emporium. It is my understanding that the Merchandise department has full control over shop design and theming- the Merchandise VP (sorry- don't recall his name off the top of my head!) is fully responsible for the fantastic shop renovations we saw take place in both Banbury Cross and Aquitaine this year. Entertainment had no say in either of them at all. In stark contrast, Entertainment has full control over what happens in Banbury Cross next year. Scott couldn't touch the Emporium. Scott is the only one with control over Banbury's future.
Alpenghöst said:
The difference is that Entertainment didn't update the Emporium. It is my understanding that the Merchandise department has full control over shop design and theming- the Merchandise VP (sorry- don't recall his name off the top of my head!) is fully responsible for the fantastic shop renovations we saw take place in both Banbury Cross and Aquitaine this year. Entertainment had no say in either of them at all. In stark contrast, Entertainment has full control over what happens in Banbury Cross next year. Scott couldn't touch the Emporium. Scott is the only one with control over Banbury's future.
Zachary said:
Never in my life have I not been eagerly anticipating the opening day of BGW. Never have I... That's all I can say about this project at this point.
You could say that The Beatles "fad" technically died when the band disbanded 30-40 years ago. The fact that the band is still influential today goes to show that their music isn't really a "fad" at all.
That being said, if you really wanna get technical, the Globe Theater and Big Ben clock (although the real Big Ben is definitely different from the Busch version) are both located in London, not Banbury.
It's my understanding that the clock tower in Banbury Cross BGW was never intended to be a replica of Big Ben in London, but just a clock tower at the end of the English village to set some sort of icon. See, these villages were designed not to just represent its respective country as a whole, but to serve as a living village from that respective country. It's subtle, which is what makes it charming. This is why there is no Eiffel Tower in Aquitaine--it's not supposed to be France all at once, just a quaint French village. This, right from the start, is what is going to make this retheme a failure. Scott has failed to recognize, as has been stated before, what has made the park so special to visitors, which in turn brought in more people/money. Banbury Cross won't be a bustling, charming old Elizabethan-era English village, with court jesters and knights and Shakespeare. It will be a way to cram a nearly-modern fad and the feel of an entire country into something that was never designed to be so.netdvn said:
Okay. Why does this man think making the following changes is a "good" idea?
Photo by Chickenking from the Squire's Grille thread.
Attachments
Banbury Cross does exist and is about 60 some miles from London in Oxfordshire.
Piazza San Marco is the principal public square of Venice.
Aquitaine is one of the 27 regions of France.
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland.
Piazza San Marco is the principal public square of Venice.
Aquitaine is one of the 27 regions of France.
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland.