If I had my way the entire festa Italia area would
Change and loose the carnival theme entirely, I believe I posted elsewhere a concept of turning the hamlet into Olympus. With the elephant run and basketball game turning into a wine garden themed to Dionysus and the whack a hun add other games becoming part of the rock work for the theming to the tempesto retheme.
As far as that, I was thinking where the entrance and exit are it would be the mast broken and some of the tattered sails becoming a banner calling it the Odyssey. Add some fog and lighting packages around the forward launch and a new paint scheme. But I also love Nicole’s idea of just getting rid of it. I have no love for it and even a retheme wouldn’t increase hoe
Often I ride it.
In my concepts I tend to be more blue sky and not very practical sometimes.
I like it! I feel like I've seen that one recently.
Adding to Alpengeist since the video was posted yesterday- I would try and add some small Bavarian village-ey houses throughout the ground portions where possible, and at the end throw up some house facades along the fencing.
Just leaving a rough little mockup I did on google earth for a coaster that would replace the old simulators. Probably would be some kind of spinning coaster, like a mack extreme spinner or a intamin multidimensional. It would be themed to some sort of irish cryptid that I forgot the name of, but it would wind around the trees and around the river, could even go up to the entrance
I have had this idea for a while but I wanted to discuss it now. Seeing the success of time traveler at silver dollar city I think that this would be a perfect fit for BG Maybe it can take up where the old Oktoberfest bridge used to be but make it shrouded in trees to keep the atmosphere. This coaster would feature
95 degree drop
5 inversions
4 ejector air time hills
And a dip hill inversion while spinning
It would offer something fun and unique to rinefeld and would gain a lot of attention I am still trying to think of where to put it
I always thought a spinner would be good in the ireland area, starting where corkscrew hill used to be and winding around that wooded area (idk if they can build around the trees by the river but i’d assume so)
Just leaving a rough little mockup I did on google earth for a coaster that would replace the old simulators. Probably would be some kind of spinning coaster, like a mack extreme spinner or a intamin multidimensional. It would be themed to some sort of irish cryptid that I forgot the name of, but it would wind around the trees and around the river, could even go up to the entrance View attachment 32489
I've had a similar Idea in mind for that area but pushing out under the bridge and back. I would love for it to skirt the water's edge. The ride type I would model it on would be Maverick at cedar point nice and tight to the ground. If not a euro fighter model would really fit the more compact design embean01 drew.
I think a coaster on that side would be great. I'd have to really think about what model I'd want over there... but the absolute main priority, if putting anything there, should be MINIMAL tree removal. At the very least, there should be BIG buffer area between a theoretical ride and the other areas near there, like so:
Absolutely not worth it IMO to ruin the tree density around the entrance/England for a ride. Not that the park needs another (family) coaster, especially after 2025... but its always fun to dream!
I always thought a spinner would be good in the ireland area, starting where corkscrew hill used to be and winding around that wooded area (idk if they can build around the trees by the river but i’d assume so)
I'm pretty sure the simulator building is over a steep slope so the coaster could potentially have the drop out of the station just like Time Traveler.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a VERY small park. It was designed in a way to make it feel bigger than it actually is. Every time a new ride attraction is built, it really damages that illusion.
Finnegan's Flyer is a perfect example of this. Griffon is a huge ride but once in the park, you used to not be able to really see it until you were right up on it. Finnegan's ruined the separation of the English hamlets from the rest of the park. Ireland/Hastings was built in a tight corner to begin with but what AB came up with worked for the time. Today, any small footprint ride in that area really kills what the concept for the park was going for.
The entry area in itself could've been a hamlet in itself, but designers chose to put the entrance to the park in an obscure, secluded place after walking literally down into the dense woods creating an illusion of transportation. The theme park boom in the 60's and 70's were SO good at these subtle but crucial designs, you can see all over the country. A large construction or any roller coaster in the entrance area of BGW would be detrimental in my opinion.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a VERY small park. It was designed in a way to make it feel bigger than it actually is. Every time a new ride attraction is built, it really damages that illusion.
Finnegan's Flyer is a perfect example of this. Griffon is a huge ride but once in the park, you used to not be able to really see it until you were right up on it. Finnegan's ruined the separation of the English hamlets from the rest of the park. Ireland/Hastings was built in a tight corner to begin with but what AB came up with worked for the time. Today, any small footprint ride in that area really kills what the concept for the park was going for.
The entry area in itself could've been a hamlet in itself, but designers chose to put the entrance to the park in an obscure, secluded place after walking literally down into the dense woods creating an illusion of transportation. The theme park boom in the 60's and 70's were SO good at these subtle but crucial designs, you can see all over the country. A large construction or any roller coaster in the entrance area of BGW would be detrimental in my opinion.
Honestly…. I agree. I also love that they used the woods to their advantage when working with the European theme.
I feel like it’s similar to Disney and Universal but on a lesser scale. Which honestly I like more than than just parking and the entrance being immediately there. It’s like a portal to another world even even if Apollo is directly next to the parking lot.
I think a coaster on that side would be great. I'd have to really think about what model I'd want over there... but the absolute main priority, if putting anything there, should be MINIMAL tree removal. At the very least, there should be BIG buffer area between a theoretical ride and the other areas near there, like so: View attachment 32492
Absolutely not worth it IMO to ruin the tree density around the entrance/England for a ride. Not that the park needs another (family) coaster, especially after 2025... but its always fun to dream!
I can understand wanting to keep the tree density up. That's why I would want it a coaster there to hug the water. I would love it to see a maverick style ride hugging the water and cutting through the trees like the forest scene in star wars, But I know for safety reasons they would probably need to clear more than most would like.
I think I'm going to start calling this potential expansion plot the Loch Lomond Area (after the body of water it encompasses/borders). Though I know it's a controversial portion of the park to target for major future development, it feels inevitable to me that a good chunk of it will be used eventually. The questions, in my opinion, boil down to how, when and what, not if. Given that Festa Field and Festhaus Park are now taken out of the running, I'd say this area is looking more and more like one of the most obvious destinations for a massive future project.
Personally, I don't care about retaining a tree buffer around the England parking lot. I would much rather a coaster border the parking lot than rob hamlets (or the entry area) of their charm (visually and audibly). My vision for the possible development area looks something like this, with the red area being the core, potential Loch Lomond development area, yellow outlining additional, potential, mitigatable areas depending on development type, design, etc, and blue representing potential ways to access the site from inside BGW (assuming the plot is used for an in-park attraction).
Assuming we are talking about a major coaster here, my preference would be to leave the Killarney Sim Building alone. For a park that is continuously trying to expand their operating season and capitalize more and more on their incredibly popular, colder-weather seasonal events, filling a valuable, versatile building with a weather dependent, indoor/outdoor coaster makes no sense to me. I'd view that as a massive waste of an invaluable resource.
For guest access to a coaster, I'd much prefer any if the other options I've notated in my map above. The three on the right are certain to be the most controversial and I understand the hesitation. I do believe all three could be accomplished tastefully with minimal impact to the vibes of their hamlets though if executed well. I think the biggest obstacle those three options face is actually logistical. There isn't any current service road access around Loch Lomond. If a coaster station went into this area, we'd likely need to see a setup like Voltron at Europa where the maintenance and train storage facilities are at a remote location mid-ride.
Given the difficulties of the three options on the right, my favorite options are the ones on the far left—whether it be relocating Eagle Ridge (easy and may be a good idea regardless) or just building a ride plaza/station area off of the existing pathway next to Castle O'Sullivan. Both of these options offer easy, direct guest access as well as easy maintenance access.
One other thing I'll say about the Loch Lomond site: The north end of the site near the satellite parking lot tram loop was already IDed by the park in the Sesame Place Williamsburg plan as being an area for future expansion. I've always read that as the land being considered for something like a resort or other pre-turnstile area/attraction. I definitely think there's a significant possibility that at least a large chunk of this site will see a coaster one day, but I also believe that non-coaster development opportunities are very likely on the table for it as well.
Given the difficulties of the three options on the right, my favorite options are the ones on the far left—whether it be relocating Eagle Ridge (easy and may be a good idea regardless) or just building a ride plaza/station area off of the existing pathway next to Castle O'Sullivan. Both of these options offer easy, direct guest access as well as easy maintenance access.
This would also impact the kennel in a MAJOR way and as someone that would take their dog with them almost every time I would be really saddened since I don’t know where you would logically place it as a result.
The only place is at the turnaround back there by RPT inside the train loop, but honestly I would hate to have to take care of my dog back there.
This was something that always caused me to favor BGW over KD when I was local. I lived alone, didn’t want to bother people with taking care of her while I was gone for a day, and it created a nice break to go to her and take her for a quick walk.
This would also impact the kennel in a MAJOR way and as someone that would take their dog with them almost every time I would be really saddened since I don’t know where you would logically place it as a result.
The only place is at the turnaround back there by RPT inside the train loop, but honestly I would hate to have to take care of my dog back there.
This was something that always caused me to favor BGW over KD when I was local. I lived alone, didn’t want to bother people with taking care of her while I was gone for a day, and it created a nice break to go to her and take her for a quick walk.
Kings Dominion has a kennel as well. The great thing is that if you are using it, you'll get to park right up front near it - without paying for any parking upgrade.
Kings Dominion has a kennel as well. The great thing is that if you are using it, you'll get to park right up front near it - without paying for any parking upgrade.
Never knew that had one. And I'll be honest I didn't know BGW had one before my first visit. I don't recall what KD's parking fee sign looks like but I recall seeing it on BGW's.
A great way to expand would be to take over the England parking lot (all or most of it). If a parking lot was to go, this one makes the most sense to me. The Kennel can be moved. Parking can easily be fixed by a garage, even if it's only a single level garage.
A great way to expand would be to take over the England parking lot (all or most of it). If a parking lot was to go, this one makes the most sense to me. The Kennel can be moved. Parking can easily be fixed by a garage, even if it's only a single level garage.
This is probably a "great in theory but terrible in execution" idea but have a garage in each area that's architecturally themed to the country it's named for. No expectation to go for immerse theming here - just throw a parking garage in Scotland, make it look like the exterior of the LNM station and you're golden.
I’m going to go ahead and call it now I don’t want an rmc here, I know that’s a hot take especially with rmc’s being the next big thing sense sliced bread. The only rides I want to see in this area are traditional steel track and steel structure with as small of a foot print as possible, an rmc or a woodie and it’s huge footprint, would require way to much timber to be removed. We already feel that importance with project 2025, and that resides in area of the park we haven’t had real access to sense 1998.
This part of the park is a real testament to what makes bgw stand out from six flags or cedar fair parks I’m all for intense rides but not willing to give up beauty and tranquility of this area of the park. This your first impression of the park. Just to shove a coaster in for the sake of shoving a coaster in, there are better sites still available just maybe it not as easily used.
