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Another take on a 3d ride with a medival theme that is mildly scary would do the trick,i just miss darkastle.....
 
In looking at a lot of YouTube videos of dark rides, a lot these days are less reliant on physical props while utilizing projection/glasses to put riders "in the scene". There are partial walls to separate scenes, many not even reaching the ceiling.

I only bring this up as a thought that any new dark ride in this facility may not need a lot of permits. I don't recall seeing demolition permits (I'm old, so bear with me as I might have missed it) when DF was closed. Thus, something could sneak in under the radar in this era of SEAS adding a lot each year.

Just a thought. (And I'm still rooting for an interactive shooter that can be easily changed per season)
 
A few days ago I posted an observation of dark rides going with less props and more screens. It seems Disney is taking it even further with was had been termed "Black Box". Basically an empty "warehouse" relying on screen and projection technology. If Disney is developing it, rest assured other 3D/4D forms are as well.

Here's an article from WDW News Today regarding Disney rumors.

 
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To me, the castle exterior limits what can be done with this space conceptually. What if they used this space for a museum of sorts, showcasing BGW throughout the years. Maybe even make it a ride although a walkthrough would be much better in my opinion. Given the positive feedback from the DVD they produced a few years ago and the fact that all of us wish for the BGW of olde, it seems like it would be popular.
 
simple enough to paint the exterior.
Or they could make massive changes to the exterior. But honestly depending on the theme of the ride that wouldn't even be necessary. They could just paint it or leave it.
 
They can leave the castle facade at the front and then put wild mouse back behind it. I fully endorse this.
 
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Bring back Der Katapult, and make it indoor like it once was in Hastings. ;)

Aside from that, preference for interactive shooter.

My concerns on reuse of the ride system dictating the options however are well documented in the closure thread.
 
Sorry for the double post, but separately, a month or so ago, a Twitter friend brought up that in Germany stands the Busch family's mansion, Villa Lilly.

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Imagine if DarKastle's exterior were transformed into the (elaborate and fantasy-influenced) recreation of Villa Lily, and guests were invited inside for a special one-day "Open Haus" by a (quasi-historical) Adolphus Busch to tour the home's fine collection of exquisite German architecture... An Animatronic of Adolphus greets us in a pre-show in a grand foyer, but is called away by a messenger, leaving us with his two pine martens – Otto and Lilly – who open a secret passage into the home's hidden breweries. Boarding trackless, LPS-guided carts, guests are whisked away into the factory.

A sort of spiritual mix of Mystic Manor, Efteling's Symbolica, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the ride turns into a chaotic trip through the musical, bubbling, electric brewery with the pine martens causing trouble at every turn as the vehicles move through the physical sets, spinning and dancing around one another. But order is restored just as Adolphus returns, and – wouldn't ya know it – along the way we accidentally created a bubbly, sweet, frothy, never-before-tasted beverage (let's call it Bubblebier ?) perfect for the whole family... Guests then exist through a Bubblebier Garten where they can try the drink in either regular or frozen varieties.

Anyway, it seems like a brilliant way to re-use DarKastle's physical show building but with an original dark ride that feels German, connected to the park's real history and story, and also doesn't rely on so many multimedia pieces that we know require renewal to stay fresh. Plus it has built-in merchandising (plush pine martens? Bubblebier in mugs and steins? Memorable original characters for the whole family?) and feels like a really fun fit for Oktoberfest.

SeaWorld – into it? Give me a call. Haha!
 
I really like the idea but I would really want another “dark” dark ride. Less family friendly and more of the original spirit of DarKaslte. Maybe some kind of sequel/prequel or something of that nature. I really enjoyed having a sorta (for lack of a better term) “scary” or dark thing year round kinda like the universal house of horrors was a nice idea and it’s also something that wouldn’t over shadow battle for eire due to the fact that is isn’t very childish.
 
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Definitely don't disagree. And a German haunted castle is a perfect way to do that but... they had it... and took it out. Haha.

I guess you could argue that the "dark" side of German lore and legend is somewhat covered in Verbolten just a few feet away, so I actually think it would balance the area well to have something brighter and more light and musical.

Truthfully, a park of Busch Gardens caliber and style seems like it should have AT LEAST three dark rides. Eire and DarKastle would've been a solid two. But having just one (and it being a simulator) feels like really low hanging fruit for a park that otherwise celebrates myths and legends of Europe pretty respectably. Maybe the "dark" dark ride could be a simpler, interactive shooting dark ride in New France themed to Bigfoot or something?
 
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Kiss Night at the Museum ideas goodbye since Disney got that when they bought Fox. Just saw that the other day.
 
The Busch Family now has zero relationship with the parks as well considering they aren't owned by AB anymore. As interesting of an idea as this is, it is really outside of the realm of possibility.
 
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