The park doesn't seem to care if attractions fit the theme of the hamlet, so why should we?
Perfect, Timeless BGW: Birds and Wolves and Fairs, Oh My! (Post #42)
- Thread starter Zachary
- Start date
*gasp* I LOVE nostalgic BGW. Although I have to admit I don't remember much at all about Hastings. I remember Wizard Works, which is essentially the same thing as whatever it is now (Pot o Gold?) and I have vague memories of Questor and really liking it. But apart from that I don't have much of a grasp on it. I really adore Killarney though so that's got my vote. Wisteria, sweet tea vodka (once upon a time), wandering sheep (once upon a time), Celtic Fyre..... such a great hamlet. Oh but then there's the Enchanted Laboratory! Can I have both? I enjoy cake and eating it too.
+1 Killarney <3
+1 Killarney <3
My vote would have to go to Killarny because its what i grew up on as a kid and all the memories that have of Corkscrew Hill, Celtic Thunder and the pure enchantment i felt as a kid lead me to no better opition but Killarny.
I have to vote Hastings because it contained The Enchanted Laboratory (my favorite attraction in BGW history).
Hastings was not... exploitative of the Irish culture. Frankly it surprises me to this day that the beer isn't green in Killarney.
While it is true that Hastings wasn't exploitative of Irish culture (because it was themed to England), exploitation is quite literally the basis of the entirety of BGW since its incarnation.
Also, I would argue that Killarney is actually a more accurate presentation of Irish culture than Hastings was of feudalistic England. Nothing says pre-Renaissance Europe like a glass-enclosed cheeseburger restaurant, a show themed to TV, and a coin-fed arcade!
Seriously—I think people would really appreciate Killarney a lot more if they were able to walk through Hastings again... ?
Many people never realized that there was a show in Castle O'Sullivan, even when there was one. That said, I think most people I have talked to prefer The Enchanted Laboratory (ELAB) slightly over Secrets of Castle O'Sullivan (SOCO). I'm the other way around, but I don't care much about what's in there as long as it's not Elmo.
Hastings took more liberty with how they carried their theme. An old western saloon (The Battlements) and a generic funhouse (Turvey Manor) had nothing to do with medieval times or even England in any century. The Magic Lantern Theater also took this approach. It was kind of like the Festa Italia of its time. It was there to be fun- not to fit a theme, or even to look pretty. At least it had some buildings that were more than tents, aside from Tournament Tables.
I would say, therefore, that anything from Ireland fits in Hastings just as much as a show about television or a cruise ship. Both were well-liked but had no reason to be there aside from being fun. I do think that Questor or Catapult could (barely) fit in Ireland with their more ambiguous themes. Ambiguity is the reason that Questor came out in Williamsburg as well as Tampa. Still, my vote for that building goes to Corkscrew Hill for consistency, and since it was a good ride.
Hastings took more liberty with how they carried their theme. An old western saloon (The Battlements) and a generic funhouse (Turvey Manor) had nothing to do with medieval times or even England in any century. The Magic Lantern Theater also took this approach. It was kind of like the Festa Italia of its time. It was there to be fun- not to fit a theme, or even to look pretty. At least it had some buildings that were more than tents, aside from Tournament Tables.
I would say, therefore, that anything from Ireland fits in Hastings just as much as a show about television or a cruise ship. Both were well-liked but had no reason to be there aside from being fun. I do think that Questor or Catapult could (barely) fit in Ireland with their more ambiguous themes. Ambiguity is the reason that Questor came out in Williamsburg as well as Tampa. Still, my vote for that building goes to Corkscrew Hill for consistency, and since it was a good ride.
I voted Killarney. I just want to say that I think this is a really fun idea and I hope that everyone enjoys participating in something that is just intended for smiles and nostalgia.
I voted Killarney, but like @Zachary put in a post, I would like to see certain elements stay from when the change first happened.
I dunno how unique this is, but I moved here from outside the area, but was in the park two times before that. I was here in 1997 on my way to OBX, again in 2003 on a school trip, and currently live in RVA but keep a BGW Pass/Membership (Starting in 2016). Those time spans meant in those visits I got distinctly "different" BGW experiences from the original "Olde Country" to the current "Whatever works".
I did not care much for Hastings in '97. Maybe it was because I was 13 and Hastings was "boring". Maybe it was because at that point it was a little run down. But something I can definitively say is that if it weren't for photographic evidence, I would have 100% forgotten about Hastings.
Killarney in '03 was like a smack in the face. All the new bright colors. Coming out of quaint Heatherdowns it was just POW! But Corkscrew Hill was a great use of the simulator.
Killarney in '16 was better. I dunno if BGW repainted or just let it fade but it's no longer in your face. The food is better, CF is more enjoyable. I wish they could find something to do with CoS though. I think in my "perfect" BGW there would be something there.
I dunno how unique this is, but I moved here from outside the area, but was in the park two times before that. I was here in 1997 on my way to OBX, again in 2003 on a school trip, and currently live in RVA but keep a BGW Pass/Membership (Starting in 2016). Those time spans meant in those visits I got distinctly "different" BGW experiences from the original "Olde Country" to the current "Whatever works".
I did not care much for Hastings in '97. Maybe it was because I was 13 and Hastings was "boring". Maybe it was because at that point it was a little run down. But something I can definitively say is that if it weren't for photographic evidence, I would have 100% forgotten about Hastings.
Killarney in '03 was like a smack in the face. All the new bright colors. Coming out of quaint Heatherdowns it was just POW! But Corkscrew Hill was a great use of the simulator.
Killarney in '16 was better. I dunno if BGW repainted or just let it fade but it's no longer in your face. The food is better, CF is more enjoyable. I wish they could find something to do with CoS though. I think in my "perfect" BGW there would be something there.
While I do remember a little bit about Hastings (Questor) there's not much else besides that. That is why I went with Killarney. I will say I miss the Secrets of COS show and wish it would make a return.
Personally I've always thought of 1998-2003 (or thereabouts) as a golden age for BGW. So I'd have to agree with a lot of what's being said here.
Yes, it has been slightly more than a week since the last poll started... Moving forward, expect the schedule of this thread to be consistently inconsistent. My goal is to leave roughly a week discussion and voting but that will differ based on how vibrate the discussion is and when I get around to it. ?
Anyway, the results of the Hastings vs. Killarney poll are below. Needless to say, Killarney took this round with a very comfortable margin of victory.
Threadneedle Faire vs. Jack Hanna Trail (North Side)
Our next vote will continue to layout the overarching structure of the park by deciding if we want Threadneedle Faire or the north side of Jack Hanna Trail (namely Wolf Haven and Eagle Ridge). The area in question is outlined in red in the map below.
Some of you are likely wondering why I'm splitting Jack Hanna Trail into two seperate areas. My reasoning is that half of Jack Hanna Trail could easily exist without the other half. In other words, if we decided that we want the south side of Jack Hanna Trail (Lorikeet Glen, and possibly even the Conservation Station and Cabanas) instead of the Eagle One Monorail but also want Threadneedle Faire instead of the north end of Jack Hanna Trail (Wolf Haven, Wolf Valley, and Eagle Ridge) we can do that.
Anyway, let the voting begin!
PS: I've updated the first post in the thread. My hope is that it will act as a nice guidebook to the thread as a whole for people who may show up later down the line.
Anyway, the results of the Hastings vs. Killarney poll are below. Needless to say, Killarney took this round with a very comfortable margin of victory.
Threadneedle Faire vs. Jack Hanna Trail (North Side)
Our next vote will continue to layout the overarching structure of the park by deciding if we want Threadneedle Faire or the north side of Jack Hanna Trail (namely Wolf Haven and Eagle Ridge). The area in question is outlined in red in the map below.
Some of you are likely wondering why I'm splitting Jack Hanna Trail into two seperate areas. My reasoning is that half of Jack Hanna Trail could easily exist without the other half. In other words, if we decided that we want the south side of Jack Hanna Trail (Lorikeet Glen, and possibly even the Conservation Station and Cabanas) instead of the Eagle One Monorail but also want Threadneedle Faire instead of the north end of Jack Hanna Trail (Wolf Haven, Wolf Valley, and Eagle Ridge) we can do that.
Anyway, let the voting begin!
PS: I've updated the first post in the thread. My hope is that it will act as a nice guidebook to the thread as a whole for people who may show up later down the line.
So, we are essentially deciding between the wolves and Threadneedle Faire? Will there be an option else to recreate Wolf Haven and Wolf Valley?
I would highlight the importance of the animal rescue and education activities to the overall corporate mission. I think there is a discussion to be had about preserving all aspects of BGW, including their organizational values and priorities.
I would highlight the importance of the animal rescue and education activities to the overall corporate mission. I think there is a discussion to be had about preserving all aspects of BGW, including their organizational values and priorities.
This only includes actual elements of the park that existed at some point in the park's history. Unless wolves were housed in another area of the park at some point (legitimately possible considering the poorly-documented bear and monkey exhibits BGW had throughout its history), no Wolf Valley means no wolves.
This exercise is meant to be sort of uncomfortable—replacing various aspects of a park is a difficult process. Clearly BGW believed that investing in Jack Hanna Trail (and hence, their conservation mission) was a worthwhile use of the land. I do think a fair number of people disagree with that position though.
We would need a photo to be able to recreate it, so if nobody has images we can't even really consider it