Even with SWP&E's budget, they could easily surpass Dark Knight over at Gadv.Thomas said:
Curse of DarKastle
- Thread starter Zachary
- Start date
*votes Gartensburg Castle*
Certainly there were better alternatives thrown around before these three. Though I do like the gartens (gardens) and burg (Williamsburg) portmanteau.
Certainly there were better alternatives thrown around before these three. Though I do like the gartens (gardens) and burg (Williamsburg) portmanteau.
The park needs a good communal "space" that is not the Festhaus. FH gets packed more often now that Christmas Town and HoS are bigtime events, and some people need to just sit and cool down from the excitement, DK's building fulfills that need. I think its a great move and closing of a great 13-year chapter.
Honestly the park needs and should put the nearly quarter mil budget to use that was allocated for this ride to other things within the park throughout the season.
BoE VR is a one and done IMHO if it stays stagnate and no updates every couple of years, so was this ride really but was an escape from the heat for many people. The park should be investing in AR over VR/3D.
BoE VR is a one and done IMHO if it stays stagnate and no updates every couple of years, so was this ride really but was an escape from the heat for many people. The park should be investing in AR over VR/3D.
Bring Back Questor 87 said:
A few counters there:
-Festhaus isn’t always as packed as it looks IMO. Most people don’t go to the “back half” and just keep on cramming into the front part of the building.
-If you want to say they need another enclosed space like that I’m not sure having the two right within 100 yards of each other is the greatest thing. Let’s say you have a music in the park, they use DarKastles building; and it’s a packed day in the spring, and abnormally warm. That’s a lot of people trying to go to the same part of the park.
I would think if you wanted to create another indoor dining venue of that magnitude, my two best suggestions would be to create one behind Castle O’Sullivan with an entrance by the eagle habitat, of Project Madrid somehow includes one on the Italy side of the Rhine.
So the news finally made it on to ScreamScape's front page, but it was two days late. I'm qouting it here, not because there is any new information, but because of Lance's thoughts about the ride itself.
A common thread I keep hearing echoed by enthusiasts and industry insiders that are located outside of BGW's local market is just how ground breaking, unique, and special DarkKastle really was. I don't think many BGWFans realize how lucky they were to have had and experienced The Curse of DarKastle, as even I took it for granted. I only wished that I had not decided to skip it the last couple of times I visited the park.
While I am echoing ScreamScape above, I can't help but reiterate this thought as I have read it in so many other places: not just twelve years ago, but even today, for an attraction like DarKastle to open outside of Disney/Universal was completely unheard of and really was the only ride of it's kind at a regional park for more than a decade. To illustrate just how ahead of it's time it was, in the last couple of seasons we are only just now seeing these types of rides open at regional parks like SixFlags and Cedar Fair. Even with the additions of Justice League, Voyage to the Iron Reef, and Wonder Mountain Guardian these ride's scale, scope, and even ride technology are still unable to meet the quality and design of the over decade old DarKastle.
This is really a shame, as I am almost certain that if SeaWorld wasn't in such a financial crisis as it is now, with a little capital, DarKastle could have received the make over it deserved bringing it's visuals in line with the high definition imagery guests have now come to expect on their TVs at home, cellphone in their pocket, and theme park rides. I'm not going to beat the old drum of "it AB still owned the parks..." but I will say if the chain wasn't doing so poorly we would still have this unique treasure.
So I bid you farewell Mad King Ludwig II; farewell to the specter of your father Maximilian II of Bavaria; and the warmest of farewells to your ghostly mother, Marie of Prussia-Queen of Bavaria and even the phantom ballroom guests that most fans never got to see in person. May the breathtaking design and detail of your hallowed castle halls forever be cherished in our memories.
SourceScreamScape.com said:
A common thread I keep hearing echoed by enthusiasts and industry insiders that are located outside of BGW's local market is just how ground breaking, unique, and special DarkKastle really was. I don't think many BGWFans realize how lucky they were to have had and experienced The Curse of DarKastle, as even I took it for granted. I only wished that I had not decided to skip it the last couple of times I visited the park.
While I am echoing ScreamScape above, I can't help but reiterate this thought as I have read it in so many other places: not just twelve years ago, but even today, for an attraction like DarKastle to open outside of Disney/Universal was completely unheard of and really was the only ride of it's kind at a regional park for more than a decade. To illustrate just how ahead of it's time it was, in the last couple of seasons we are only just now seeing these types of rides open at regional parks like SixFlags and Cedar Fair. Even with the additions of Justice League, Voyage to the Iron Reef, and Wonder Mountain Guardian these ride's scale, scope, and even ride technology are still unable to meet the quality and design of the over decade old DarKastle.
This is really a shame, as I am almost certain that if SeaWorld wasn't in such a financial crisis as it is now, with a little capital, DarKastle could have received the make over it deserved bringing it's visuals in line with the high definition imagery guests have now come to expect on their TVs at home, cellphone in their pocket, and theme park rides. I'm not going to beat the old drum of "it AB still owned the parks..." but I will say if the chain wasn't doing so poorly we would still have this unique treasure.
So I bid you farewell Mad King Ludwig II; farewell to the specter of your father Maximilian II of Bavaria; and the warmest of farewells to your ghostly mother, Marie of Prussia-Queen of Bavaria and even the phantom ballroom guests that most fans never got to see in person. May the breathtaking design and detail of your hallowed castle halls forever be cherished in our memories.
That was nice Shane. 
I feel I shouldn't dwell on the negative so much and look forward to the future and give the park's newest additions a chance because what I just read on Facebook is quite extreme. Some are downright cancelling their pass membership and/or claiming to never set foot in the park ever again because of this; while I am disheartened for DarKastle's untimely closure, I am not going to stop going to the park because of a ride's closure. Sure we lost a wonderful dark ride but for goodness sakes, there is so much more to the park than just that one ride.
Seriously GP. Calm. The. Hell. Down.
I feel I shouldn't dwell on the negative so much and look forward to the future and give the park's newest additions a chance because what I just read on Facebook is quite extreme. Some are downright cancelling their pass membership and/or claiming to never set foot in the park ever again because of this; while I am disheartened for DarKastle's untimely closure, I am not going to stop going to the park because of a ride's closure. Sure we lost a wonderful dark ride but for goodness sakes, there is so much more to the park than just that one ride.
Seriously GP. Calm. The. Hell. Down.
Just realized: The park has very little for those under 48" now. DarKastle was the only major attraction with a 42" minimum left. Battle for Eire is probably going to be much better with VR, and most of the VR rides I see have age minimums, if they aren't already on a ride with a 54" minimum.
Maybe Kings Dominion weren't fools to go with the Planet Snoopy expansion and pre-K passes after all.
Maybe Kings Dominion weren't fools to go with the Planet Snoopy expansion and pre-K passes after all.
SLC Headache said:
And most other VR rides had a higher minimum to begin with seeing they are mostly roller coasters.
The upcoming Battle for Eire might be for those under 48" and I am praying to the high heavens that it will fill the hole in my heart for DarKastle; and if the videos and concept art are anything to go by, we might get exactly that. The best part about it, is that Falcon's Creative Group is in charge of the VR ride and they are the same company that made Curse of DarKastle so they know what they're doing.
I, personally, don't think it makes much sense to compare whatever ends up in the NotSimpsons ride with NotSpiderman. For me at least, they are fundamentally different experiences and attractions.
At best BfE will be a stadium seated VR experience. I am not condemning that idea. In fact, I like it a lot better than VR on a roller coaster (not a high bar, I admit). I'm not sure it will measure up to the Void either, however.
DK, however, was more of a classic dark ride that was enhanced with screens. The real sets and moving ride vehicle produced a fundamentally different attraction than standard simulators. Has it been surpassed by Spiderman/Spiderman Meets the Transformers/Spiderman Goes to Gringotts/etc? Yes. That doesn't mean it isn't fundamentally different than Simposons/Late Night With the Simpsons/etc.
Just because BfE will be more modern technology does not mean it will be either an equivalent or better experience, and I don't think it makes sense to say one can fill the gap left by the other.
Also, Flight of Passage makes all of them obsolete, including Kong/Kong Goes Fast and Furious/etc.
At best BfE will be a stadium seated VR experience. I am not condemning that idea. In fact, I like it a lot better than VR on a roller coaster (not a high bar, I admit). I'm not sure it will measure up to the Void either, however.
DK, however, was more of a classic dark ride that was enhanced with screens. The real sets and moving ride vehicle produced a fundamentally different attraction than standard simulators. Has it been surpassed by Spiderman/Spiderman Meets the Transformers/Spiderman Goes to Gringotts/etc? Yes. That doesn't mean it isn't fundamentally different than Simposons/Late Night With the Simpsons/etc.
Just because BfE will be more modern technology does not mean it will be either an equivalent or better experience, and I don't think it makes sense to say one can fill the gap left by the other.
Also, Flight of Passage makes all of them obsolete, including Kong/Kong Goes Fast and Furious/etc.
Bring Back Questor 87 said:
How are they supposed to use it as "communal space" during HOS and CMT when FrostBite and Santa's Workshop is in there?
acrossdapark said:
All rides are basically built one and done, with little variation like flat rides and coasters. That is the nature of the ride, that people like it so much they keep riding it, not that it's new or different each year.
VR is a hot topic right now, you can't fault them for capitalizing on that. It's pretty hard to invest in AR when it has very limited to no application to actually riding rides.
The focus should be to design and create better rides, not trying to find the next trend. I mean better overall theming, storytelling, designs, etc. BfE seems to fit that perfectly. Like DK, it looks to be extremely detailed and themed with good storytelling.
I hope they don't gut the labyrinth if the castle gets rethemed. I always thought it was a cool addition that made the castle feel more real. Put some benches in there and it would make for a nice quiet place to relax.
I appreciate how nostalgic people are for this ride, BBW, and many others. I am sad whenever any ride closes especially when there is no replacement.
That preamble out, I recognize that this is not a popular opinion, but much like BBW before it, DK had run its course. The ride system was failing, even on its best days on the best carriage it was still actually kind of boring. I only rode it because it was a thing with my friends, and of course the puns. I don't care how, one of a kind, or amazing the ride was when it opened, if it has not been maintained or has not really translated well over time, then it is frankly not honoring a ride to keep it going after it is past the point a park can keep it running at its best.
Now in the interest of full disclosure, VR, 3D, Spidermen, and Simpson rides, bore the living crap out of me. I don't know why, if it is ocular in nature, inner ear, or just being pretentious unless I am with friends who want to go on them, I never ride. (Shuttle Sim at KSC being the only acceptation. Because it is so different and NASA)
That preamble out, I recognize that this is not a popular opinion, but much like BBW before it, DK had run its course. The ride system was failing, even on its best days on the best carriage it was still actually kind of boring. I only rode it because it was a thing with my friends, and of course the puns. I don't care how, one of a kind, or amazing the ride was when it opened, if it has not been maintained or has not really translated well over time, then it is frankly not honoring a ride to keep it going after it is past the point a park can keep it running at its best.
Now in the interest of full disclosure, VR, 3D, Spidermen, and Simpson rides, bore the living crap out of me. I don't know why, if it is ocular in nature, inner ear, or just being pretentious unless I am with friends who want to go on them, I never ride. (Shuttle Sim at KSC being the only acceptation. Because it is so different and NASA)
I stand behind the idea that if AB still owned the park, DK would still be open, and fully functioning. The maintenance budget just isn't there anymore for it. You see the same thing with Verbolten.