Highly, highly doubt it. That's never how the tours have worked in the past and, especially since there's a meal component here, there's no way they'd let kids along for free.
Roller Coaster Insider Tour
- Thread starter Zachary
- Start date
Highly, highly doubt it. That's never how the tours have worked in the past and, especially since there's a meal component here, there's no way they'd let kids along for free.
Friendly suggestion here to “go stealth” Wednesday by not asking about leaks or creating an uncomfortable environment for the president or engineer. I know busch has made countless questionable decisions, but I’d hate to see any of the special guests clam up from a pointed question or uncomfortable comment. Thinking long term, the only way we get to have more of these events in the future (and to have a chance at execs accidentally spilling the beans) is by making it a low pressure and fun event for everyone.
Bingo. It's just rude and needlessly aggressive to ask questions the park can't comfortably answer at an event like this. Whenever we've gone to events like this, we always try to be absolute model citizens and I'd encourage everyone else to do the same.
I agree even though I posted the suggestion earlier. I know Kevin used to get bombarded with Pantheon opening questions during Covid so I always made sure to thank him for the special events that they introduced like the animal encounter brunch and Mardi Gras.
Predicts sudden rain storm that will make it to muddy for the event at the last minute.
So Verbolten is now listed as temporarily closed on BGW's website. It shouldn't affect the ability to do a lights-on tour of the building, but I'm hesitant to hope that they are fixing any of the effects for HoS. Hopefully they'll explain any (lack of) improvements on Wednesday
Dude I wish I could've gone but I'm sure the tour was excellent.
The tour was fantastic! Our guides were really knowledgeable; the lights-on and behind the scenes access was phenomenal; and the conversations with Suzy Cheely and Kevin Lembke were really informative. My only complaint at all was the lack of water.
The unique itinerary was really compelling for @Zachary and me. We’ve done coaster tours before, but this offered new components. I really hope the park offers more of these types of tours in the future (and maybe similar animal tours, as well).
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The unique itinerary was really compelling for @Zachary and me. We’ve done coaster tours before, but this offered new components. I really hope the park offers more of these types of tours in the future (and maybe similar animal tours, as well).
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I had a blast! Made a new friend, experienced some awesome stuff, and would definitely do again. Seems like the park agreed and took it being sold out as a very positive sign to do something like this again. My only gripe is that the Q&A with Suzy was done during the start of the day activities for darkoaster. It was pretty distracting/ hard to hear and I wish that part was planned just a little bit better. Overall, though, major props!
Just curious if they are going to fix some of the broken panels or are they going for total darkness
Our tour guide didn't give any substantial details on theming, but did mention that the bass speakers after the drop have been turned back on, and there have been a few minor theming additions to Verbolten made since Darkoaster opened.
Someone asked the president if theming on existing rides is a priority, and his response boiled down to "We have to focus on what makes the park money, but we hear the feedback."
My personal opinion on it all is that management wants to increase theming in ways that don't overblow budget. The Apollo and Verbolten speakers being turned back on are low or no cost ways that make the experience just a little better. When the engineering VP talked about Verbolten, it felt like there were hints towards a little bit more than just track paining. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more cost effective additions to the ride that work on utilizing the existing conditions that are there. Potentially a few well placed curtains or theming elements?
I did notice when I last rode that they did turn the bass speakers on after the drop on Verbolten
Let's combine that with his statement about Burgermeister's Hideaway being a success and looking into similar upcharge experiences. I'm sure may of us would fork over a few extra bucks for "enhanced themeing" on a ride. Verbolten already has two loading areas. Make one the free side and the other the paid "enhanced themeing" side. Newly replaced lighting and sound could activate only for the paid trains. Problem solved!
Either that or we start a Go Fund Me. If they are really that broke I'm sure a few of us would step forward to help pay for some LED lights and curtains in exchange for a better ride experience.
Am I serious or joking? I'm not even sure.
I also want echo what Zachary and Nicole said. The tour was great and informative. I especially appreciate that our tour guides seemed to be very aware of their audience went into more depth then the what I had experienced on other tours. Kevin and Suzy were both great and very informative. I especially appreciated Kevin being as forthcoming as he was it was very insightful to hear some of the business prospective on why things have been done the way they have been. As a side note Kevin was not only asked but fairly rudely pressed by someone not connected with BGWfans about Nessie's retrack. He very polite and professionally didn't answer they first time and when rudely pressed stayed very polite and professional. If you go to something like this please understand there are all sorts of restrictions both from corporate and even legally as a publicly traded company about what and how they can answer and please be respectful of that. It's OK to politely ask but if you get a deflection answer respect it and ask something else not related.
I went to an event with him once and felt he was a great speaker and very quick thinking. Here always had a way to politely answer something, even if the answer didn't really tell you anything.