Katapult Goes Country

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I, sadly, agree. I think the park has seen its prime and unfortunately, I missed it.

Note: KD's scrambler is now much better themed than ours.
 
Now as it seems BGW is trying to make it better but it is unintenionally making it a bit worse, they need to return the park as it was in the "Golden Years". After the removal of BBW everything is going down hill....BGW is dying right before us and we need to fight it or just give up!
 
I'm not going to argue what should have stayed or what should be replaced, but from a marketing point you can't put a commercial on TV with Lemans raceway and expect people to pay attention. Now you put a brand new rollercoaster on the commercial and people will stop to look. Just like the 2012 coaster, it's going to be something to make people stop and go hey lets go to Busch Gardens and ride that, it will bring people to the park. Illuminights is one for me, I didn't think it was all that but it keeps a lot of people in the park that would have left. It really cuts down on the no line coaster rides. I think they should have done something to have both Griffon and Lemans. They still have all the cars, they could still put it in somewhere in the future, maybe a new country.
 
I understand the importance and significance of Le Mans but I'm kinda too young to miss it too much, then again I don't like the Griffon either, but considering I wasn't too attached to Le Mans in the first place, it's removal didn't affect me too much.

Oktoberfest and The Wolf on the other hand were two of the greatest things in BGW in my opinion. I spent most of my time in Oktoberfest than anywhere else. Eating at Das Festhaus, riding the Wolf, Der Katapult, and the bumper cars, browsing the cute shops, and all around just enjoying the environment.

Removing the Big Bad Wolf changed BGW forever for me and moving Der Katapult for a stupid drop tower was just another slap in my face after the Wolf was gone, re-theming Oktoberfest the way it is becoming is beating me while I'm down... I know I'm going to probably hate the 2012 coaster so basically that will be the final nail in Okoberfest's coffin to me.

I'm not trying to be this mopey and negative about it but I'm coming to the conclusion that Oktoberfest (and the entire park) that I have come to know and love since I was a kid is gone... and it's never coming back...

... auf Wiedersehen Oktoberfest...
 
I don't mind Griffon, I rather like it. It's a solid addition to the park's coaster collection, the ride that is.

The issue I have is location.... Why there, why remove a fan favorite for it? They have plenty of land, and I'm sure there were other locations proposed. Heck, they stuffed Alpie' in between LeScoot and Germany like it was always there! That is, in my opinion, the best bit of site based coaster design I have ever seen. --and yes, that includes when they added Nessie--
Griffon was/is a great coaster. Sure, it's an act short of a full ride but what is there is well done. What a shame they distroyed LeMans for it.

I bet those cars were a bear to maintain as well, (kinda like BBW).

I sence a thread shift....
 
I'll going to be in the new Octoberfest this weekend for the first time.
I hope I can come back and say, "I like it", or at least that "I don't hate it". Sadly though, if the "Clockenspiel" or what ever they called that hideous bit or euro'tainment that bastardized the Festhouse last year is the future, I'm going to be one sad and most likely former pass holder come 2012. Coaster or no coaster.

If I just want a bunch of thrill rides I'll visit the darkside. KD does a fine job of packing in crap thrills, forsaking theme and grandeur.

Hey BG, thrill rides don't make you great. See the park as a whole. You won't gain marketshare by forgetting what got you here.

Busch is an experience, not just a collection of hyperthrills. A park needs pacing just like a good movie. It can't be all thrill all the time.

Oh, and one more thing. Stop painting stuff with crayola's colorway. Maybe you need a new art director over there. Don't change things just to change them, have purpose and dare I say "story" to back it up. If you keep painting everything so garishly to "stand out" then soon nothing stand out.

Pacing I say, pacing...

I'm rambling now, G'night...
 
Wow, several times I've felt I'm too negative and killjoy about the changes in the park in the last 3-4 years for this board, like I'm being too critical and resistant to anything new and out of step with what most fans of the park like, but you guys are sounding just like me, Oldtimer and Swiftman and ArrowWolf and all. Especially the comments about the golden age being gone and not coming back. Starting with 2008, the park just hasn't been the same for me. This "LE" Katapult (is it "C" or "K"?) looks lame right now but surely they will do more than paint it red and plop it on a concrete pad ???!!! Even the new Busch can't be that bad surely?

But oh, another thing, as far as the general atmosphere of Oktoberfest, not just because of the former presence of the BBW but also because of all the wrought iron arches and lamps and so forth that area always was a favorite of mine -- very quaintly beautiful, I always thought. Back when we had beautiful complimentary hard plastic passes mine was Germany/Oktoberfest for just that reason, because it was my favorite country. I am afraid the bright KOLORS of the new beer garden area, if they are like what happened to the Festhaus, will not be appealing at all. But I'm going this weekend, though unfortunately it looks like it may be rain. 'Course the rain may fit my mood after I see the so-called progress. First time in probably 8-9 years we haven't gone to Preview Day -- we just couldn't be bothered to make it work around some other things we had to do.

Agree, Oldtimer, our Platinum Passes may become single day tickets/fun cards or some similar. Not quite to that point, but we're talking about dropping them, anyway.
 
I'm not yet to the point of dropping my pass next year, but if the park keeps up like it is, 3 or 4 years from now? Who knows. A switch has been hit- something has changed- someone needs to fix it and fast.
 
I haven't been yet, but I have seen pictures. And I don't think it looks that bad. And while it was sad to see the BBW go, the new coaster sounds like it is gonna be great! And Im also excited for Mach Tower!
 
spencer said:
I haven't been yet, but I have seen pictures. And I don't think it looks that bad. And while it was sad to see the BBW go, the new coaster sounds like it is gonna be great! And Im also excited for Mach Tower!
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It's not about how great the additions will or will not be, it's about the loss of what was already great.

I may need to change my tag line, after this but....

Ireland was a good example of plussing. I miss Hastings, but Ireland is well done and exciting. (this assumes the day glow overlay is gone).
 
oldtimer said:
It's not about how great the additions will or will not be, it's about the loss of what was already great.

I may need to change my tag line, after this but....

Ireland was a good example of plussing. I miss Hastings, but Ireland is well done and exciting. (this assumes the day glow overlay is gone).
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All I will say is it is happening at more than just Busch. Those of you who have read my past posts in other threads can get where I am going with that.
 
Back in the 80's and 90's we would only go to BG once every few years. There just wasn't enough to keep us coming back, especially for the price. Now with the addition of Ireland, the improvements to Italy, the addition of Griffon and Illuminights, has inspired us to purchase annual passes for the past five years. I think NOW is a great time at BG.

Do I miss some of the older, retired attractions...sure I do. But I do enjoy many of the improvements, changes and additions. Do I embrace all the new additons...no, but not all are targeted at us, and that's OK.
 
Celticdog said:
Back in the 80's and 90's we would only go to BG once every few years. There just wasn't enough to keep us coming back, especially for the price. Now with the addition of Ireland, the improvements to Italy, the addition of Griffon and Illuminights, has inspired us to purchase annual passes for the past five years. I think NOW is a great time at BG.

Do I miss some of the older, retired attractions...sure I do. But I do enjoy many of the improvements, changes and additions. Do I embrace all the new additons...no, but not all are targeted at us, and that's OK.
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Well said.
 
It sounds to me as though a lot of you guys are afraid of change. The park can't perpetually stay the way it was a couple years ago; it needs to add new thrills and attractions to keep people returning. Most people I know love Busch, and love seeing the way that it evolves year after year (myself included). You guys need to just lighten up and look at the positive changes coming to Busch...the park doesn't exist just to please you alone.


Anyways, I will hold off judgement until it is all complete. The only complaint I have is the lack of trees, more of those would solve my only qualm with Busch at the moment.
 
I wouldn't say I'm afraid of change, I'd say that what I like is apparently different than what you like. Themeing and atmosphere is what made/makes Busch Gardens Williamsburg different. Without it, it might as well be sold to Six Flags. Would Apollo's Chariot be ranked anywhere near where it is today without the natural beauty around it? No. What about Alpengeist? Nope. The park seems like it's heading down a slippery slop into oblivion (or Six Flags- I don't know which is worse) and that, in my mind, is a very bad thing.

Also, am I the only one who saw those terrible looking tent things in Oktoberfest?! They don't fit at all.
 
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