- Thread starter Lord Robert
- Start date
It sure sounded that way. End of service life was even mentioned.
I don’t know what the design service life of the original Reflectone platform duo was, but they have had a nice long run.
Sometimes, despite upgrades and enhancements and refurbs along the way, it’s just time.
Though given recent park spending trends, I do wonder if maybe this is less of an absolute end-of-life situation, and more of a costs-too-much-anymore situation and/or a we’re-just-done-with-this-now situation.
Maybe all three?
Sometimes, despite upgrades and enhancements and refurbs along the way, it’s just time.
Though given recent park spending trends, I do wonder if maybe this is less of an absolute end-of-life situation, and more of a costs-too-much-anymore situation and/or a we’re-just-done-with-this-now situation.
Maybe all three?
I'd be willing to bet that it's the latter two.
It's my understanding that they've been very problematic to maintain for a very long time now. Back when Europe in the Air was still around, it was already costing the park a shit ton of money to keep them operational. That's part of why I was caught off guard with Battle for Eire—there was a lot of thinking internally that the sims were unlikely to operate again after EitA closed due to their continued maintenance issues and the difficulty associated with sourcing parts. All of the sim issues back then are likely even more true now. Not to mention all the new issues Eire's VR system brought to the table.
This news makes BfE sound like some quite irresponsible spending.
With entertainment being kicked out of
With DarKoaster getting built though, I think my thought for the space would be shut down; as doing an indoor custom Mack Spinning coaster in what was the ride platforms area would be out. I'm thinking something akin to LaffTrak but themed to the "Otherworld" so the theming elements they spent time and money on can stay, the reshow rooms can stay, the ride itself is just redone.
I probably should have been more clear he said "rides of that style and generation are NEARING the of their service life" The question that we don't really have an answer to is how shut down period has effected the ride system. If that needs extensive work and maybe custom parts after being shut down for so long does it really make sense to expend that time and capital if it's services life only has a handful of years left on it?
He specifically said at this time there are no plans beyond Howl-O-Scream and special event space that obviously could and probably will change in the future but there are no plans right now according to him.
Very fair enough and thank you for the clarification. Maybe BfE was to be a short term (5-6 year) stop gap for them to get some more things in Killarney/Ireland to keep traffic there while that ride was going to be stripped and rebuilt to something new?
They wouldn't have invested the money, time, and (however little) effort into a ground up story, VR equipment implementation, and the brilliant addition of a TV running loud BGW ads (many of you know how I feel about these TVs placed throughout the park) in those otherwise pleasant queue hallways.
Just thinking out loud here...Now there would be a good size space for a member lounge. Or they could expand Grogan's Pub into a multi-level place.
Another thought on this is Eire was a test bed of sorts the money dropped into it would look better if tge tech were recycled for other rides that didn't necessarily need that same simulator platform while it seems doubtful that will occur it's worth keeping in mind when judging the money spent.
What if they moved away from the traditional model of how they have been doing VR? Hershey has pretty cool VR arcade section that is modeled more like a group arcade game. It is an extra fee to play, but it could help cut the overhead and those that don't care for VR don't really pay into it. I'm just guessing, but I would have to believe that 4-8 VR sets with smaller individual platforms have to be cheaper to build, maintain, and potentially even operate if one is down than a small moving theater. Also, pass holders might get some free plays as a part of their rewards like Beerfest, Food and Wine ,etc.
That being said I never got to experience Corkscrew Hill and my wife still says its the best thing they have ever had there. Maybe they will retrofit it for the 50th anniversary to tug at some long time members nostalgia?
That being said I never got to experience Corkscrew Hill and my wife still says its the best thing they have ever had there. Maybe they will retrofit it for the 50th anniversary to tug at some long time members nostalgia?
I thought they've used the service life justification for closure, so it's unlikely any new show will be using the same ride system in that building?
Granted, it's an old system by a defunct manufacturer that probably used donated parts from a similar system that got closed in Tampa, so between low capacity/low ridership and costs to keep it open it just wasn't worth it?
Granted, it's an old system by a defunct manufacturer that probably used donated parts from a similar system that got closed in Tampa, so between low capacity/low ridership and costs to keep it open it just wasn't worth it?
Kevin said the ride vehicles were NEARING the end of their service life when asked about the ride during the ACE event. That leaves some wiggle room but J wouldn't except to see anything use them again based on his comments.
As much as I think that kind of ride experience is worth it, unless BGW somehow gets a good deal on a replacement system (either the new Intamin concept or scoring a really good deal on ATLAS modules) this building is probably a HoS maze/storage space until it can be redeveloped.
Could see them using it for Santa’s Workshop this year at CT since Darkastle is out
Maybe - challenge is that while the queue is nice (maybe not Christmas-y but a decent corridor for the purpose), the space with the antechambers and ride vehicles is fairly restrictive
Speaking of control rooms and simulators. I hope Sam (the small spider that was abandoned by HOS and left in the questor building at BGT) is doing well. He was chilling in the control room, and he’s probably still there. We threatened to move him to the offices and they locked the building off for TM access