The few years leading up to FoF being built it was really going downhill quickly. Once FoF was built and open, they stopped caring about Land of the Dragons.
Land of the Dragons (Germany)
- Thread starter Zachary
- Start date
Busch Gardens wouldn't be Busch Gardens without Land of the Dragons. So, no, the best the thing they could do is restore what's there. They would replace it with something completely ridiculous and everyone would start complaining about it. What's that Cinderella song? Don't Know What You Got (Til It's Gone)?
I really hope Land of the Dragons gets some TLC. I wonder if they are relocating Splashus Maximus.
Yeah, last year when Holiday Hills debuted, they built a huge wall on one side to try and cover up most of the game as possible as well as using the billboards and surrounding Christmas trees. This year, because there was no pressure on Holiday Hills to be absolutely perfect, they skipped building the wall.
I am very curious to see how Splashus Maximus fits in with the 2015 plans.
I am very curious to see how Splashus Maximus fits in with the 2015 plans.
I don't know if anyone else has seen this yet but
https://www.facebook.com/events/484438128329385/permalink/484438131662718/
Busch Gardens has made an event to celebrate Land of the Dragons turning 20
https://www.facebook.com/events/484438128329385/permalink/484438131662718/
Busch Gardens has made an event to celebrate Land of the Dragons turning 20
Yay! I will need pictures!
They want us to hashtag, #LODremake. Hmmmm.
I imagine the slide down the center of the tree house will make its triumphant return.
Some paint and general repairs is much more needed over a slide. However, I think it might be possible. But wow, 20 years, I forgot how old LOD was. And it's still one of the best kid's play areas around!
I can confirm that a large scale Land of the Dragons rehab is taking place this year. I'm actually a bit annoyed that I forgot to say something about it sooner. 
Full netting replacement, all new paint, etc. is all on the table from what I can gather. Should look pretty nice next year.
Full netting replacement, all new paint, etc. is all on the table from what I can gather. Should look pretty nice next year.
I wish they would put a show back on the stage there, that would make it perfect.
So I'm far from being the most positive about BGW on the site, but this news has made me really happy. Really, really happy. Like, probably happier than I should be about a children's area revamp. But really, this is something I've been hoping for for such a long time.
I have brought up on numerous occasions how Land of the Dragons means a lot to me; how so many of my childhood memories revolve around this area. I just remember being amazed by this beautiful, magical little area where it seemed like the dragons really had come to life. The disrepair it has fallen into has made me so sad; to hear that the park is looking to bringing Land of the Dragons back to at least a fraction of what it was is enough to make me do a happy dance.
I guess 2014 will be the year of revisiting the past, with Kings Dominion's 40th anniversary park revitalization and now this. I love how the Facebook event refers to this as the opportunity to "come celebrate childhood memories." Now, if only BGW had this kind of attitude going on toward their England section...
I have to wonder what exactly we can expect to see next year. New netting as Zachary brought up is very much needed. Last I visited during Howl-O-Scream this season, many of the ropes were frayed, frilly, dirty, and had some strange reinforced tape patching it up all over the place. Secondly, new paint. I know this will really brighten up the area, returning that happy, whimsical, and magical feel and less of the rundown feel we've come to see. I sure hope all of the dragons are repainted as well. I also have to hope that the Porky the Paper Eater-style dragon gets fixed, it's an amazing little detail. In addition, fixing up the Brook (which I'm wondering if the park was hinting at) so all the water features work would be amazing. Also, the two metal slides they have in the back desperately need to go; there is no slickness, so I often see little ones coming off with bruised bums after having to push themselves all the way down. Finally, many of the rooms in the treehouse are empty as the various effects and touches have been removed over the years. Fixing the periscope and perhaps re-enabling the "roaring" sound effects would be amazing. I could very well have a heart attack if the dragon breathed smoke again.
Obviously this won't happen, but I so wish to see a show on the old stage. The little musical play area in its place is nice, but the stage was made for a show. Ah, well... one can dream.
It's funny that just today I was talking about how great Land of the Dragons once was and how far it has fallen lately, how all the park's attention to the younger ones has been diverted- ahem, elsewhere. I'm not expecting anything astronomical, but even the fact that the park is willing to show some love to this forgotten, enchanted land is enough for me to still love the park. Kudos to Busch Gardens for going through with this! I can promise you, BGW, that you will not be disappointed with the reaction it gets you.
I have brought up on numerous occasions how Land of the Dragons means a lot to me; how so many of my childhood memories revolve around this area. I just remember being amazed by this beautiful, magical little area where it seemed like the dragons really had come to life. The disrepair it has fallen into has made me so sad; to hear that the park is looking to bringing Land of the Dragons back to at least a fraction of what it was is enough to make me do a happy dance.
I guess 2014 will be the year of revisiting the past, with Kings Dominion's 40th anniversary park revitalization and now this. I love how the Facebook event refers to this as the opportunity to "come celebrate childhood memories." Now, if only BGW had this kind of attitude going on toward their England section...
I have to wonder what exactly we can expect to see next year. New netting as Zachary brought up is very much needed. Last I visited during Howl-O-Scream this season, many of the ropes were frayed, frilly, dirty, and had some strange reinforced tape patching it up all over the place. Secondly, new paint. I know this will really brighten up the area, returning that happy, whimsical, and magical feel and less of the rundown feel we've come to see. I sure hope all of the dragons are repainted as well. I also have to hope that the Porky the Paper Eater-style dragon gets fixed, it's an amazing little detail. In addition, fixing up the Brook (which I'm wondering if the park was hinting at) so all the water features work would be amazing. Also, the two metal slides they have in the back desperately need to go; there is no slickness, so I often see little ones coming off with bruised bums after having to push themselves all the way down. Finally, many of the rooms in the treehouse are empty as the various effects and touches have been removed over the years. Fixing the periscope and perhaps re-enabling the "roaring" sound effects would be amazing. I could very well have a heart attack if the dragon breathed smoke again.
Obviously this won't happen, but I so wish to see a show on the old stage. The little musical play area in its place is nice, but the stage was made for a show. Ah, well... one can dream.
It's funny that just today I was talking about how great Land of the Dragons once was and how far it has fallen lately, how all the park's attention to the younger ones has been diverted- ahem, elsewhere. I'm not expecting anything astronomical, but even the fact that the park is willing to show some love to this forgotten, enchanted land is enough for me to still love the park. Kudos to Busch Gardens for going through with this! I can promise you, BGW, that you will not be disappointed with the reaction it gets you.
Now I have a strange (and futile) desire for the park to purchase one of these. Then everything would be perfect. *sniff, sniff*
Then everything would be perfect. *sniff, sniff*
The theme is very flexible, the "North Pole" theme is simply one of the company's many basic models. From the land's opening in 1994 to 2008 (the last year before Forest of Fun came into the scene) there was a flume called Riffle Rapids that ran under the treehouse and had a small drop. It was very well worked into the surrounding area, with rocks and foliage. It honestly tied the area together more, instead of all the rides being on one long strip of land. It also, as a water feature, made the area much prettier.
Pictures of the ride online are very elusive, but here is one.
The flume in FoF is actually, more or less, the same flume as the old LotD flume. Presumably the parts/boats/plumbing were moved to FoF to save money and the old flume chute was covered with dirt. The one in FoF is definitely cute, with its water features and all, and the fact that the drop was removed is good in that it allows adults to ride with their children. But still, I feel as though the rides were meant to serve different purposes, to it made me sad when I discovered Riffle Rapids' removal. (I know, I know... getting sad over a kiddie ride...)
Notice I said it would be "futile". Obviously the park would never do this, and I suppose I don't really see a need for them to do so. However, it would just bring back so many memories for me. I just thought I'd share, that's all.
Pictures of the ride online are very elusive, but here is one.
The flume in FoF is actually, more or less, the same flume as the old LotD flume. Presumably the parts/boats/plumbing were moved to FoF to save money and the old flume chute was covered with dirt. The one in FoF is definitely cute, with its water features and all, and the fact that the drop was removed is good in that it allows adults to ride with their children. But still, I feel as though the rides were meant to serve different purposes, to it made me sad when I discovered Riffle Rapids' removal. (I know, I know... getting sad over a kiddie ride...)
Notice I said it would be "futile". Obviously the park would never do this, and I suppose I don't really see a need for them to do so. However, it would just bring back so many memories for me. I just thought I'd share, that's all.
Riffle Rapids was always one of those rides as a kid that made me feel like a grown up, because I could ride it by myself. It was a ride a fun ride just for me. Sure there's there's Chug-a-Dug and Bug-a-Dug, the Balloons and half of the little paragliders in San Marco, the kiddie swings and bumper cars in Oktoberfest, and the Little Clydesdales in Scotland.
But Riffle Rapids was a small flume with a hill and everything, that made me feel more of a big kid than any of those other rides. I'd ride it as many times as possible when I was there. Sure we'd have to manually shift ourselves forward so the flume would catch on the lift, but that was part of the fun for me.
It was also part of the fun for me, to make up little stories of riding on a swimming dragon's back and then suddenly there was this island hill blocking our path, that my dragon had to climb up to the top of and then penguin slide down it, back into the water.
And if I wasn't on the ride, then I was standing on the bridge above the ride watching other kids float around on the flume.
The FoF one just isn't the same. It's not secluded in small gardens, you don't go under a bridge (twice), there's no small hill. If I was a kid still, I would probably find it very boring, it doesn't let me have the same sort of thrill. It's not a ride that would let me feel like a big kid in a little kid's body.
It's nice that they allow adults on it now, because of the lack of hill. I know growing up with Riffle Rapids many adults tried to ride with their child, but couldn't. (and naturally some would get really upset.) But that's about the only redeeming quality. :/
But Riffle Rapids was a small flume with a hill and everything, that made me feel more of a big kid than any of those other rides. I'd ride it as many times as possible when I was there. Sure we'd have to manually shift ourselves forward so the flume would catch on the lift, but that was part of the fun for me.
It was also part of the fun for me, to make up little stories of riding on a swimming dragon's back and then suddenly there was this island hill blocking our path, that my dragon had to climb up to the top of and then penguin slide down it, back into the water.
And if I wasn't on the ride, then I was standing on the bridge above the ride watching other kids float around on the flume.
The FoF one just isn't the same. It's not secluded in small gardens, you don't go under a bridge (twice), there's no small hill. If I was a kid still, I would probably find it very boring, it doesn't let me have the same sort of thrill. It's not a ride that would let me feel like a big kid in a little kid's body.
It's nice that they allow adults on it now, because of the lack of hill. I know growing up with Riffle Rapids many adults tried to ride with their child, but couldn't. (and naturally some would get really upset.) But that's about the only redeeming quality. :/