Project 2022: Pantheon

[Nicole]

Maybe I need to clarify how I see this issue (I am speaking only for myself now). I strongly endorse free speech, so my personal inclination is against censorship. There are limits, however.

There is never any acceptable reason for rudeness. There are, however, valid deviations from a strict interpretation of a thread's subject area.

Especially in a rumor thread, I am personally comfortable with a more free-wheeling discussion. Lighthearted humor, especially when it pertains directly to the thread's topic seems like a desirable diversion. Similarly, a sidebar that only lasts one or two posts is probably fine, especially outside of the more formal News, Attractions, and Special Events fora. We are all here for our enjoyment, after all.

That said, random comments and discussions that add nothing to the thread are best avoided.

Unfortunately, it is judgement call. The good news is that there are three Admins who are here to decide what is appropriate and what isn't.

In this specific case, I can't fathom any objection to a clever joke that is based on the theme of the park and data we think we know about the project. I thought it was brilliant and essentially on-topic.

 

[Adam]

Can we PLEASE stop with the jokes? They’re getting redundant and annoying now. This is a thread for discussing this project, not a meme board.

Yeah, I mean don't you just hate it when people just break the flow of a good conversation in this thread with baseless statements or opinions? Oh, I mean jokes...

 

[GrandpaD]

To get on track (pun intended), regardless of whether it's a launch (my guess) or a giga (maybe that T-Rex?), I'm wondering where the station might be located. It's safe to assume whatever it may be, it's going to be a traffic draw.

I can see, perhaps, crossing the train tracks between Tradewinds and Rapids (although they'd need some work to hide the dumpster and Rapids back stage areas). Do they open the service road next to Cradle (they have to have the road for service and emergency vehicles)? I'd think they'd have to have a circular route to avoid the Drachen Fire dead end. Or do they?

And, taking it further, would they add a few buildings (not a full fledged hamlet at onset) on that side of the tracks for food, rest rooms etc.?

Something else to ponder. (Other than a Leaning Tower of Pisa themed coaster).

 

[warfelg]

To get on track (pun intended), regardless of whether it's a launch (my guess) or a giga (maybe that T-Rex?), I'm wondering where the station might be located. It's safe to assume whatever it may be, it's going to be a traffic draw.

I can see, perhaps, crossing the train tracks between Tradewinds and Rapids (although they'd need some work to hide the dumpster and Rapids back stage areas). Do they open the service road next to Cradle (they have to have the road for service and emergency vehicles)? I'd think they'd have to have a circular route to avoid the Drachen Fire dead end. Or do they?

And, taking it further, would they add a few buildings (not a full fledged hamlet at onset) on that side of the tracks for food, rest rooms etc.?

Something else to ponder. (Other than a Leaning Tower of Pisa themed coaster).

I think using the area between San Marco's and DaVinci's Cradle would be my leading candidate. They could easily move the short backstage road area at that point, and if this is part of expanding a full on new hamlet you can use that to tie to the back side of Festa Italia.

 

[Zachary]

So @kingadam and I were talking and our conversation highlighted a really, really important datapoint in these slides that I should have thought to mention earlier...

If the presentation is real, it's hard to believe that it was created recently.

The slides that talk about theoretical SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Antonio coasters for 2020 list essentially everything about those rides as "TBD." Is it possible that these two SeaWorld coasters are really still in the early conceptual phases of development? Possibly? But I tend to think it's sorta unlikely given typical attraction timetables in Williamsburg.

 

[Shane]

Valid point as I have already heard rumors that SWO may be getting a version of SeaRescue with it's own custom layout.Which I think would actually be a really great fit for Orlando since they don't have any family coasters, just a kiddie coaster and then their 3 B&M's.

If that's true then the data points regarding Madrid could be out of date with the information uncovered in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed plans etc.

 

[GrandpaD]

I think that SeaWorld Orlando coaster might be a replacement for Shamu Express (screamscape posted a rumor ride ops were telling people it was closing) for a more Sesame Street themed family coaster. FWIW, Disney's Slinky Dog coaster is launched. Then again, the TBD might also mean (when they did the presentation) they were still evaluating Oscar's Wacky Taxi (which I've read is a very cool family coaster).

Also, isn't Sesame SA expanding? Could it be another Wacky Taxi? I know SEAS likes those package deals.

 

[warfelg]

Hmmmm.....so @Zachary and @kingadam is the theorizing here that these slides are a few years old and these were just proposals out there for looking down the line that never came to fruition? Wouldn't be the first time for something like that.

Also Zachary thanks for responding to that question on if it's a common thing for SEAS to do internal presentations.

Is there a possibility that this might have been from the lowest of lows financially, and they had this put together for some potential investors as a look at what's to come, and a disgruntled employee or investor that didn't take the chance leaked it as 'revenge'?

 

[..…]

Can we PLEASE stop with the jokes? They’re getting redundant and annoying now. This is a thread for discussing this project, not a meme board.

Awwww, come on. I've had a crappy morning and the Big Ben joke made me smile.

 

[Nicole]

Hmmmm.....so @Zachary and @kingadam is the theorizing here that these slides are a few years old and these were just proposals out there for looking down the line that never came to fruition? Wouldn't be the first time for something like that.

Also Zachary thanks for responding to that question on if it's a common thing for SEAS to do internal presentations.

Is there a possibility that this might have been from the lowest of lows financially, and they had this put together for some potential investors as a look at what's to come, and a disgruntled employee or investor that didn't take the chance leaked it as 'revenge'?

While there are a wide range of possible explanations for the "leak," it is worth remembering that there are several things in the pictures that could easily give away the identity of the source. It is difficult to imagine why someone would be that careless, if sharing the slide deck weren't officially-sanctioned.

I am just making the point; I am not advocating any position or explanation.

 

[warfelg]

While there are a wide range of possible explanations for the "leak," it is worth remembering that there are several things in the pictures that could easily give away the identity of the source. It is difficult to imagine why someone would be that careless, if sharing the slide deck weren't officially-sanctioned.

I am just making the point; I am not advocating any position or explanation.

Fair enough. I think I've said it but it feels like a bit of funny business for this 'leak' to happen. Especially since (and I won't even to pretend like I've seen them) it seems that there's some specific data points but there's no point of what it's referring to, at least what's been made public.

 

[Shane]

I think that SeaWorld Orlando coaster might be a replacement for Shamu Express (screamscape posted a rumor ride ops were telling people it was closing) for a more Sesame Street themed family coaster. FWIW, Disney's Slinky Dog coaster is launched. Then again, the TBD might also mean (when they did the presentation) they were still evaluating Oscar's Wacky Taxi (which I've read is a very cool family coaster).

I'm pretty sure ScreamScape is mistaken, from what I've heard Shamu Express was closed in order to receive new Fiberglass shells on the train to retheme it to Sesame Street and that it wasn't going anywhere. I'm almost certain that the slides are referencing a totally different coaster project unrelated to Sesame Street.

 

[warfelg]

I'm pretty sure ScreamScape is mistaken, from what I've heard Shamu Express was closed in order to receive new Fiberglass shells on the train to retheme it to Sesame Street and that it wasn't going anywhere. I'm almost certain that the slides are referencing a totally different coaster project unrelated to Sesame Street.

I have very VERY limited “sourcing” but this is one of the few things I’ve heard of, and it sounds like the plan is to strip the shells, make new ones, and put them back on the track with a new paint job.

 

[..…]

Maybe SEAS employees following this thread created this "leak" specifically to make bets on where it would take the conversation and which members would make which speculations? If so, I just earned points for the SEAS employee who bet "conspiracy theory." You're welcome, SEAS employee.

 

[GrandpaD]

I'm trying to get some dates in my head. If the slides are, in fact, earlier "ideas" SEAS was considering I'd assume they would have been presented prior to mid-year. I'm thinking they'd have a pretty solid determination of what they were going to do before filing the height waiver and, especially, the RPA. These were filed sometime in August. Unless, of course, they've filed addendums we've not seen.

 

[Adam]

I'm trying to get some dates in my head. If the slides are, in fact, earlier "ideas" SEAS was considering I'd assume they would have been presented prior to mid-year. I'm thinking they'd have a pretty solid determination of what they were going to do before filing the height waiver and, especially, the RPA. These were filed sometime in August. Unless, of course, they've filed addendums we've not seen.

The height waiver was actually filed last June (2017), so the slides could have been from before that even.

 

[halfabee]

Speaking only for myself... it is interesting to me that this ostensible leak, of odd provenance and curious circumstance, has happened during the same capital-improvement epoch that also saw the park supplement a document with a map depicting a large and nonexistent RPT-style open air theater in Festa field. Presumably a remnant of concepts past; plausibly either deniable as an oversight or allowable as a shortcut for its specific purpose.

Were I a chain or park executive interested in throwing sharp-eyed snoopers into intrigued and chattering self-doubt, into what deep well would I, just maybe, repeatedly dip my bucket to lift out suitable material?

?

 

[Shane]

I've discussed this with @Nicole and decided it would be best to branch discussion for each of the separate rumored attractions featured in the recent Wild Gravity Travels and Behind the Thrills "leaks" into their own discussions in an attempt to not derail conversation regarding Busch Gardens Williamsburg's rumored "Project: Madrid."

If you have no idea what I am talking about, I suggest reading this excellent recap of the insanity that is this leak from OrlandoWeekly.com. It really covers everything you need to know about all of this mess. Just make sure if you want to comment on something specific about one of the rumored attractions that you go to the thread specific to that project.

The Projects:

• Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Project Madrid
• Busch Gardens Tampa: Project: RMC Gwazi
• SeaWorld Orlando: Project: Coaster?
• SeaWorld San Antonio: Project: Wood Coaster?
• SeaWorld San Deigo: Project: Skywarp

While it might be difficult to separate these topics since they're so deeply intertwined due to the manner this rumor started, but I'm going to take a moment to recap and summarize rumors related to each individual project.

 

[luseendesi]

• Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Project: RMC Gwazi

Just a note: this should probably read Busch Gardens Tampa?

 

[Shane]

I was already in the process of fixing that.