They'll try their best. It's a screamin swing after all, "fitting in" means eye candy more than anything
Project 2019: Finnegan's Flyer (S&S Screamin' Swing)
- Thread starter Adam
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The shape is the standard shape for all Screamin' Swings if I'm seeing it right. I think they just didn't think twice and took the attraction as is, only adding things to it to create theming, instead of changing components.
I guess my point it that BGW didn’t become a true theme park by installing off-the-shelf attractions, without any decorations/modifications to fit the hamlet or a story line.
In other words, BGW should not be installing a Screamin Swing that looks like every other one. It should have been “personalized” for the park.
In other words, BGW should not be installing a Screamin Swing that looks like every other one. It should have been “personalized” for the park.
I agree with you entirely. I'm not happy about it. I'm just saying I think that's what happened. And I don't like it.
They couldn't even give it a deck that tied in with the actual architecture of the hamlet, I can't be surprised they aren't themeing the ride itself to fit into the hamlet too.
If you go by the press release rendering (which was pretty basic) nthe top arch structure is a light brown. The base is a dark brown. They show the swings orange and green (if memory serves me right). The renderings didn't really show the deck that well. I'd hope they get a little more "themey" when they do the actually build. As far as the ride itself, I'm assuming any theming artwork/paint is done on site to avoid shipping mishaps. But, then again, stencils on a Lowe's wooden fence seemed to work for them at Invadr.
its a giant swing set, what do you expect it to be themed to other than some irish-y colors painted
*points at Dollywood's Barnstormer*
You make up a story that justifies the ride, or, alternatively, you put the ride somewhere else where you can explain it.
You make up a story that justifies the ride, or, alternatively, you put the ride somewhere else where you can explain it.
I personally think this is very easy to do. BGW creative just seems either disinterested or doesn't care.
Could easily do a story that the Giants Causeway legends were true, and the giants have come back to swing their mighty hammers that created the causeway. Are you brave enough to ride the hammer of the giants?
Then the theming becomes easy. Make the seats and arms look like hammers, the arch look like the legs of a giant, and the deck have the look of the causeway itself.
This. ^^^ Finn McCool & the Giant's Causeway. It's the perfect theme. I mentioned that a while back.
I'm expecting something rather pedestrian however. And I hope they don't do dueling orange and green that someone just mentioned..but I don't want to reopen that can of worms....
I'm expecting something rather pedestrian however. And I hope they don't do dueling orange and green that someone just mentioned..but I don't want to reopen that can of worms....
Their original press release mentioned "dueling", which was subsequently removed after @Zachary called them out on that "story". Recently, they mentioned it again in Twitter...once. Maybe someday people in BGW social media will get their story straight.
In their renderings it does show one swing orange and the other green.
Why the heck does this (or many others) need a "story"? Theming, yes, as BGW is a theme park and it should fit the area. But this is not the type of ride that needs some nonsensical "story" for riders to enjoy it. It's just a giant swing.
I don't think it needs a full story, but I'd like some sort of simple explanation for why there's a giant metal swing in a quaint Irish village. Sort of like how San Marco's flats fit the area with the idea of them being inventions by Leonardo da Vinci.
Barnstormer at Dollywood simply makes it clear you're piloting a crop duster on a farm. Why can't BGW just say Finnegan is attempting to test out some sort of mystical flying machine or something like that?
Barnstormer at Dollywood simply makes it clear you're piloting a crop duster on a farm. Why can't BGW just say Finnegan is attempting to test out some sort of mystical flying machine or something like that?
Where does themeing end and a story begin?
That's the beauty of Finn McCool. You can simply say it's two giants dueling, give them names, the end. Maybe paint or scale model the Giant's Causeway...
If you care to research the story behind it, you may, but the park doesn't need to recreate or explain the story to just theme to two giants dueling. Many will just ride it and think "fun giant-themed ride." It may be < 1% of the guests (I would say probably much higher at BGW), but I guarantee some will look up what the story is about and gain some deeper appreciation for the culture celebrated in the hamlet. Which should be at least a secondary or tertiary motivation of the park, or otherwise forget anything cultural and compete directly with Cedar Fair.
Sure, some made up stereotypical guy name Finnegan creating a flying machine could be used too, but I expect more from BGW. (And didn't we do that with da Vinci? And that's actually a real story--there's no Finnegan Irish aviation pioneer). Orange and green dueling is just politically tone deaf, and just in time for who knows what happens in Ireland post-Brexit.
The themeing is really a mute point of sorts though, as they've already picked the name, and there isn't a whole lot other than superficial stuff they can do with it now. Pass the green beer and lucky charms.
That's the beauty of Finn McCool. You can simply say it's two giants dueling, give them names, the end. Maybe paint or scale model the Giant's Causeway...
If you care to research the story behind it, you may, but the park doesn't need to recreate or explain the story to just theme to two giants dueling. Many will just ride it and think "fun giant-themed ride." It may be < 1% of the guests (I would say probably much higher at BGW), but I guarantee some will look up what the story is about and gain some deeper appreciation for the culture celebrated in the hamlet. Which should be at least a secondary or tertiary motivation of the park, or otherwise forget anything cultural and compete directly with Cedar Fair.
Sure, some made up stereotypical guy name Finnegan creating a flying machine could be used too, but I expect more from BGW. (And didn't we do that with da Vinci? And that's actually a real story--there's no Finnegan Irish aviation pioneer). Orange and green dueling is just politically tone deaf, and just in time for who knows what happens in Ireland post-Brexit.
The themeing is really a mute point of sorts though, as they've already picked the name, and there isn't a whole lot other than superficial stuff they can do with it now. Pass the green beer and lucky charms.
BGW is a theme park, not a decorated amusement park or a “themed amusement park” (whatever that is). My impression is that for it to be a true theme park, there needs to be a central cohesive idea tying all of BGW together.
On its surface, that means everything needs to fit into the European hamlet in which it is built (or randomly Canadian, for whatever reason). For a long time, however, BGW also maintained a consistent time period in each area. We have, of course, seen the erosion of that concept. Additionally, each major attraction seemed to be themed to a specific myth associated with the nationality of its country.
While the more recent additions have failed to follow this model (whether out of ignorance, indifference, or active intent), I think many people still prefer that the rides follow all three aspects of BGW’s complex theming concept.
As has been discussed at length previously in other threads (see London Rocks, for example), for many people, the charm that sets BGW apart from so many other regional parks is derived from its beautiful and complex theming. The notion that people can enjoy a ride without its being linked to mythological monster/god/etc is absolutely true. That is why people like amusement parks. That also isn’t what BGW is meant to be. While a Screamin Swing is fun regardless of the paint color and station design; BGW itself isn’t as lovely, when there is a random contraption dominating a path with no apparent links to either its environment or the park’s concept as a whole.
I think this problem is exacerbated by the fact that Finnegan’s Flyer is perceived as having been built at the expense of an important section of foliage. The Gardens are just as much a part of BGW’s identity as it’s theme. If they are going to clear that much natural beauty for a giant flat, they seem almost obligated to replace it with well-conceived and integrated theming.
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