Project 2022: Pantheon

[FoozMuz]

Twisted timbers is a (millions of dollars cheaper) ride on a field of gravel with a prop car, plastic sphere, tractor, and bushel of apples. Invadr has more going on even.

This ride is expensive and in an area the park wasnt designed to accommodate. This is how the budget goes.

 

[madmax]

first world problems: the thread

 

[Crunchewy]

Twisted Timbers theming is minimal, though what's there is nice. Better than I was expecting for KD. But I'll solidly go in the camp that is way more excited for BGW's nearly themeless addition vs KDs coming nicely themed Free Spin, but I've always been an amusement park guy. Theming is cool and appreciated, but it's just a nice bonus. Not really critical to my enjoyment. Pantheon looks like an awesome and unique coaster, and that's more than good enough for me.

 

[Logang]

You are all missing the point that Busch Gardens has been a theme park since 1975. Based on what they call "theming" now seems empty compared to zones of the past (and some still currently).

 

[Coaster Takes]

I can't get over the ramshackle shack of a station.

Drachen Fire and Griffon were unthemed I guess, and InvadR lost theming with the loss of the lead car sculptures, but their stations still look nice.

Recently watched TPR's POV on SFFT's Wonder Woman, even that station had some effort put into it. Granted, SFFT is supposed to be a nicer Six Flags park, but it's still a Six Flags park.

Yeah, that's my biggest gripe. All of BGW's coasters except for the 2 soon to be 3 in Festa (noticing a trend here) have structurally unique and well designed architecture styles.

Griffon's might not be themed, but it's probably my favorite looking station in the park. Alpengeist's compliments the surrounding buildings perfectly, and resembles what an average parkgoer would see as a German lodge. Loch Ness's is just a straight up castle. InvadR has a standard yet good looking log cabin that matches the surrounding area. Verbolten's is well, Verbolten's. Drachen Fire's just looks good.

Pantheon's station is just tan supports with a blue elementary school roof. Apollo's is a tent. Tempesto's is a colored box.

 

[Twisted_Airtime]

first world problems: the thread

Basically, theres people here complaining about stuff that's a Pet peeve at most when we could be like Michigan's Adventure and not got a new ride since the 90s

 

[SLC Headache]

I can let theming slip in Festa since it's supposed to be a fairground in Italy. Apollo and Tempesto at least live up to that minimal standard.

There's also the poster paintings on Apollo's maintenance shed.

 

[Coaster Takes]

I can let theming slip in Festa since it's supposed to be a fairground in Italy. Apollo and Tempesto at least live up to that minimal standard.

There's also the poster paintings on Apollo's maintenance shed.

True, but I was just referring to the stations specifically.

 

[Thomas]

Calling Nessie's station a castle is high praise for what is realistically just some cinder blocks with a basic metal roof.

 

[Nicole]

So. Pantheon...

 

[Coaster Takes]

I tried my best to gas it up. It looks out of place but it was built in 1978 so it gets a pass. /s

 

[Logang]

I imagine this coaster is going to get some serious lines. From who's seen it in person, how much space did they make for extended queues? Or is it possible some lines could extend to/past the new bridge?

 

[FoozMuz]

From what the plans show, and with no evidence to the contrary as of yet, the line is hilariously short. Even if it spills well over the new bridge it may not be all that much of a wait.

 

[Mushroom]

I dont get the impression that BGW is falling behind kd in any way..

Would you rather have the mini free spin and 5 million dollars of themeing around it?

Remember when what set BGW apart was its focus on theming and details instead of huge, unthemed thrill machines?

 

[FoozMuz]

I remember when their last major themed infrastructure project was in 1980, and their most extensively themed ride since 1995 was was deemed a financial failure and removed.

 

[SLC Headache]

I dont get the impression that BGW is falling behind kd in any way..

Would you rather have the mini free spin and 5 million dollars of themeing around it?

True, we can always add theming later. A free spin will always remain a free spin.

I remember when their last major themed infrastructure project was in 1980, and their most extensively themed ride since 1995 was was deemed a financial failure and removed.

Wait, what park and ride is this again?

 

[CoasterMac]

I imagine this coaster is going to get some serious lines. From who's seen it in person, how much space did they make for extended queues? Or is it possible some lines could extend to/past the new bridge?

As @FoozMuz said, "hilariously short". The actual dedicated queue seems about the same as Apollo's queue after the main cattlepen part, it's just a straight shot to the station. It baffles me that there's not even a small set of switchback queues in there. Definitely expect queues to extend to/over the bridge.

 

[Mushroom]

I remember when their last major themed infrastructure project was in 1980, and their most extensively themed ride since 1995 was was deemed a financial failure and removed.

To be honest, I'm not sure what you're talking about with those dates. What about Verbolten, Killarney, InvadR, etc.?

You said yourself that Twisted Timbers' theming is not super extensive, and it probably wasn't too costly for the park. Like you said, it's mostly just some little props scattered throughout the queue. And yet, it works. It tells a story. When I walk through Timbers' queue, I understand the ride's setting and my role in the story. Just from those few props and signs, I'm aware that I'm supposed to be touring the ruins of an orchard that was mysteriously destroyed.

The fact that Twisted Timbers' theme works, despite not having particularly expensive or in-depth theming, shows that parks don't need to spend millions of dollars to theme a ride. Just a little bit of creativity is all that's necessary to spark guests' imaginations.

The problem is that Pantheon doesn't even try. Nothing to spark the imagination or to make the ride anything more than a hunk of steel with a ramshackle metal skeleton of a station. There is literally nothing.

 

[Crunchewy]

To be honest, I'm not sure what you're talking about with those dates. What about Verbolten, Killarney, InvadR, etc.?

You said yourself that Twisted Timbers' theming is not super extensive, and it probably wasn't too costly for the park. Like you said, it's mostly just some little props scattered throughout the queue. And yet, it works. It tells a story. When I walk through Timbers' queue, I understand the ride's setting and my role in the story. Just from those few props and signs, I'm aware that I'm supposed to be touring the ruins of an orchard that was mysteriously destroyed.

The fact that Twisted Timbers' theme works, despite not having particularly expensive or in-depth theming, shows that parks don't need to spend millions of dollars to theme a ride. Just a little bit of creativity is all that's necessary to spark guests' imaginations.

The problem is that Pantheon doesn't even try. Nothing to spark the imagination or to make the ride anything more than a hunk of steel with a ramshackle metal skeleton of a station. There is literally nothing.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but why couldn't they add Twisted Timbers level of theming to it before it opens? Did it take a long time to install the theming for Twisted Timbers?

 

[Mushroom]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but why couldn't they add Twisted Timbers level of theming to it before it opens? Did it take a long time to install the theming for Twisted Timbers?

I'd be happy if they do - but reportedly there are no plans for anything of the sort. I'd love to be proven wrong, though.

I was actually thinking of writing up a brief concept with ideas for how they could theme Pantheon without spending a lot of money, Twisted Timbers-style. Maybe I'll do that...