Theming? Isn't this conversation about DarKoaster? Are we talking about the same DarKoaster??
DarKoaster
- Thread starter Nicole
- Start date
If we're talkin about DarKoaster, then the conversation needs to be moved to that thread.
Agreed, but that's what we had been talking about, and I just... theming? On that ride?
Context is now lost on my post. I wasn't really talking about darkoaster per say, but saying how silly everyone is crying about the name of the new ride. I was referring to theming of the yet to be named 2025 ride.
I know, I was just kidding because we referenced DarKoaster and how the name doesn't really fit and how the GP cares about theming. Honestly, knowing SEAS, the theming of the new ride will be mid at best anyways. And since it's a family coaster, the main draw will be nostalgia for BBW, not the name, theme, or thrill
This ride continues to impress me. Even though enthusiast will say it's not worth the wait; it feels very rewarding that it launches you through twice. I always enjoy the theme of the building and the anticipation of getting on the train. The ride in my opinion would be a lot better if the theme of the storm could slightly adjust to the time of year we are in. It would make the ride a lot more immersive.
The ride is great! It just needs to get some new theming elements so some parts aren't in total darkness and lose the nickname "Spirit Halloween Verbolten". They need the credit they deserve for fitting a whole roller coaster in a limited space.
"Some elements aren't in total darkness"?
The ride seems pretty dark to me. It's a pretty quick ride, so the elements would have to be very snappy. I always thought the ride could benefit from loud thunder cracks. The first launch would be the best spot and maybe some fog could appear when you go around the course again.
The ride would benefit a lot from a lighting change when you hit the switch for a second loop. Like if the first loop was just lit enough that you could see forest/grounds with snow and everything, then when you go through the relaunch for a second loop, accent LED's, black light, and other effects (sounds) come in that make it look really different. Then it can come to make a good story where the relaunch area is maybe the crypt or the spot where Ludvig fell to his death and you going through it woke the spirit (hence the change).
Given the issues with this and VBolts long standing argument, United Parks/BGW should establish a department that's responsible for the on ride entertainment with it's own budget that has a combination of artists to design, builders to make, and maintenance guys to repair. And that's their only role. I feel like this could go a LONG way to making the rides across the park get more and better theme love.
Given the issues with this and VBolts long standing argument, United Parks/BGW should establish a department that's responsible for the on ride entertainment with it's own budget that has a combination of artists to design, builders to make, and maintenance guys to repair. And that's their only role. I feel like this could go a LONG way to making the rides across the park get more and better theme love.
This would work. I really enjoy the queue theme inside the castle. It's a good representation of an up to date research team that is investigating an old castle that was dormant until recently. Its better than KD's Flight of Fear, where the whe anticipation in line is aliens and then the ride experience doesn't even show any. Bit of a shame for a ride that has used an alien them since 1996.
DarKoaster and Verbolten persuade me each time to drive by KD and visit BGW. Maybe the park feels it's too much overhaul to keep up with for a short ride experience.
Do you think it would be easier to use the theme curtains concept that Verbolten use to have? Or is maintenance the reason why the curtains got damaged and never replaced?
According to Wikipedia, it gets 600 riders per hour, but that is so unrealistic. Maybe if they ran it on only 1 lap with fast dispatches they could hit that, but with 2 laps the ride time alone is like 90 seconds. Meaning that even if they dispatched when the previous train hit the waiting brakes every single time (they don't), by my math, they would only get like 450 riders per hour. I think the capacity is probably more like 200 riders per hour in reality... But to answer your question, that's why. The capacity is just absolutely atrocious.
When I've timed dispatches in the past, even when trains are moving quickly with two train ops, it seems to manage about 350pph. Add any station delays and things start to drop.
The line for this coaster, unless a major train redesign happens, will always be glacial. The capacity is just way, way too low for the attendance BGW sees, the market the coaster targets, and its popularity.
The line for this coaster, unless a major train redesign happens, will always be glacial. The capacity is just way, way too low for the attendance BGW sees, the market the coaster targets, and its popularity.
Yeah if the wait time posted is “>15” it’s on to Alpengeist or time for mid visit beer at the festhaus whichever way I’m going when it comes to DarKoaster. Only if I’m there for like 6+ hours will I consider just BURNING time in that line.
The 3 hours I waited at the member preview I found myself longing for a ride on Alpengeist as I heard it go up its lift soon after that ride I’d already been in line over an hour for. Too bad the park was closed for over an hour when I got off the ride.
The 3 hours I waited at the member preview I found myself longing for a ride on Alpengeist as I heard it go up its lift soon after that ride I’d already been in line over an hour for. Too bad the park was closed for over an hour when I got off the ride.
Though maybe theoretically possible, three train operations would likely do absolutely nothing for capacity. Even with reasonably fast operations, you hardly ever see DarKoaster dispatch before the previous train has parked on the final block before the station—and when it does happen, it's a matter of a few seconds of a gap.
BGW and Intamin have already added multi-move to DarKoaster too so time really can't be gained with more efficient block programming either. DarKoaster's capacity problem really is just that they made it a straddle. The restrictions imposed by the existing station area necessitated a train length. Despite the small station, they still picked a train design with probably one of the worst guests per linear foot of train length in the industry.
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Zamperla Volare train: Am I a joke to you?
Yes. In every way possible.
I always thought Darkoaster would be awesome with mini spinning trains. Like 3 cars in a train seating 4 riders each. It only ups capacity by 2 guests per train but the ride experience would be cool. You could even make them golden sleighs again. With the current layout, they'd have to be free spinning everywhere but waiting and station though.
If you could fit 5 cars, it would be 20 riders and cut a queue redo as well.
If you could fit 5 cars, it would be 20 riders and cut a queue redo as well.
They literally picked the worst possible train design for this attraction. A non-straddle coaster could have easily packed in more than the paltry 10 riders that DarKoaster’s trains can hold.
I still think the best short-term solution is a single rider line. They would need to modify the queue in some way to squeeze it in, but every time I ride DarKoaster I see around 2 or 3 empty seats on every train. Empty seats like that don’t have a big impact on higher capacity coasters, but at DarKoaster just 3 empty seats means a reduction of the ride’s capacity by a whopping 30 percent.
The trains are so small that every single empty seat is a huge blow to the ride’s capacity. A single rider line would help this tremendously.
I still think the best short-term solution is a single rider line. They would need to modify the queue in some way to squeeze it in, but every time I ride DarKoaster I see around 2 or 3 empty seats on every train. Empty seats like that don’t have a big impact on higher capacity coasters, but at DarKoaster just 3 empty seats means a reduction of the ride’s capacity by a whopping 30 percent.
The trains are so small that every single empty seat is a huge blow to the ride’s capacity. A single rider line would help this tremendously.