Thought of just now by me when thinking of ways to revamp Da Vinci’s Garden. Here are my very scattered thoughts, the first of which will piss off a lot of you:
LEAN INTO TEMPESTO
"But O Great Pantsmith, why would we double down on the biggest thematic mistake and roller coaster placement maybe in BGW history?" BECAUSE the sunk cost fallacy says that BGW will not remove nor retheme this thing, AND either way it's actually easier than one may think to spruce up the rest of Festa and make Tempesto fit, current name and theme and all.
STEP 1: NEW FLAT RIDE
Like I said, this started as a way to fix DaVinci's garden. My mind went to a Gerstlauer Sky Fly, which I'm sure has been suggested before. Then, I thought, rather than fuck up Da VInci's Garden's whole symmetry thing with a big ass ride, maybe it could go in Festa? To Google Earth we go.
In keeping with my annoying "nobody-asked" pounding the table for more Hansa Park shit in the U.S., here's that park's Sky Fly, with a rough perimeter measurement. I have the lengths of the first two legs (23m) memorized so I can more or less recreate this as a rudimentary way of fitting one of these into Festa.
Now, here's where I'd place it in Festa (with a much wider view):
Bye-bye arcade, you will not be missed. Now, you say, "Great idea, my favorite member of ParkFans Message Board Mr. Pantsmith, but how will you theme such a ride?" And to that I say:
EXACTLY LIKE TEMPESTO
The ride is named Acrobata (Italian for "Acrobat"), themed to Tempesto's sister, a stunt pilot and the other half of their traveling act. Giving Tempesto a buddy makes it feel more at home and worthy of being there. The brother-sister rivalry also makes for good merch and a fun little character story in Festa. I would have the exit to Tempesto now curve with the entrance, and place the Acrobata queue entrance directly to its right, with an overarching double entrance sign over all three paths. REALLY lean into these two being a package deal. Switchbacks over by Tempesto's launch, followed by a front-wrapping queue similar to the once seen in Hansa, and an exit to the restrooms, and boom, Acrobata. Throw some 20s stunt pilot theming on there and you're done. Maybe push it into the path more so it's not on top of Tempesto, not sure about the clearances there.
Now, for the interesting part.
STEP 2: RETHEMING FESTA ITALIA
Festa, in this timeline, is not a celebration of Marco Polo's return, it's a late 1910s-early 1920s Italian carnival, with a subtle steampunk-y vibe to it. Now, I know this not necessarily historically accurate, BUT, it is not a problematic time period to be drawing from in Italian history (i.e. pre-fascist), and it's Busch Gardens, who cares about historical accuracy? What it does is give BGW a vibe it doesn't really have yet. It also transitions well from Da Vinci's Garden doing a kind of period-appropriate mechanical vibe, before Festa catapults guest to the future. I would ideally want this done with a retheme of Pantheon that makes it something closer to San Marco (see: this awesome concept by @AIR ), but even if it had to stay in Festa, just theme it to 1920s explorers finding the ruins of a temple and upsetting the gods. I'd still prefer the former for Pantheon, because I have a stretch addition for this master plan that needs that second concept.
Individual rethemes are pretty easy. Trade Wind is now a contraption that is supposed to "take you on the journey of Marco Polo", as a nod to the old theme. Same applies to Turkish Delight. No need to get fancy, here. Really lean into the "step right up" of it all. A lot can stay somewhat untouched. Just add more bronze, some gears, keep the colorful buildings, even keep the games (a rare suggestion from me). Quick note, Roman Rapids may not really fit in this vision. Assume it'll get some other upgrade/replacement to be described later (hint hint).
There's a giant purple elephant in the room, I know. Let's talk about Apollo.
STEP 3: RETHEMING APOLLO'S CHARIOT
How mad would you be if I said I think BGW should theme Apollo's Chariot to a man-made contraption rather than his actual chariot? Please hold your tomatoes.
I love when a ride is themed to a contraption. It's everywhere in European parks, because it works. Schwur des Kärnan, Voltron, Furius Baco, even Taron is themed to a magic battering ram. Apollo's Chariot being a gear and steam powered contraption that takes you into the sky is kinda lame compared to its old theme, but it's feasible to do. You don't have to add stonework, rockwork, columns, and temple facades to every building in Festa. Theming Apollo to an old temple would just make it more out of place, because we know BGW won't fix Festa how it could/should. So yeah, carnival, world's fair, invention, steampunk theme, BUT, A TWIST...
The story of this version of Apollo's Chariot would have the real, no shit sun god take control of the contraption during your ride--essentially doing a classic Icarus/man's hubris/the gods were real! type thing in 1920s Italy. How is this accomplished? Lift hill music, of course. Have the ride start normally, and then the voice of Apollo appear over the speakers, essentially hijacking your vehicle and taking you much higher than designed. Keeps Apollo central to the story, and adds a sense of danger and adventure. Lean into the carnival theming, add some mechanical stuff, etc. Also definitely add some queue signage advertising the "planned" ride, being clear it only takes you maybe 50 feet in the air. But make that seem like a big deal to really make the actual coaster height seem massive. It could also be fun to put up some flyers from protest groups, maybe a group of weirdos who still believe in the gods in the 1920s and see this circus attraction as an affront to Apollo (foreshadowing). Not much else needs to be done. No indoor parts of the queue, no darkride section, no massive station overhaul. Keep Apollo about the ride, but make it fit in.
Additional current Festa issue this change fixes: having both Tempesto and Apollo be essentially circus attractions makes their placement directly on top of one-another more thematically okay, even if it still ruins Apollo's majesty.
And now for my final change...
STEP 4: ROMAN RAPIDS RETHEME/REPLACEMENT (STRETCH)
Remember that theme about 1920s explorers coming across an old temple I suggested for Pantheon? Yeah I want that on Roman Rapids. Also, in true Pantsmith recommendation fashion, make that shit indoors (partially). Explorers find an old temple of Neptune, which they explore in boats. Bing bang boom, easy. Maybe I'll come back to this thread later with a more fleshed out idea here, but it's midnight and I've been typing for an hour instead of sleeping, which is bad. All I have now are two potential building footprint options:
Option 1 (Preferred):
Option 2 (Backup in case the grade is funky close to the riverbank):
Either are doable, and I do worry about the Adventure Express ending happening here with the boats entering a temple and going up a lift then just being done, but I think this automatically improves Roman Rapids. Those of you with more knowledge of the ride and the area, let me know if this is even possible.
Alternatively, you could place a Mack Water coaster here with similar indoor sections and a visible drop and splashdown that actually attracts guests to that area. I would reserve that for if Pompeii has to go, too. Two birds, one stone. Either is a stretch but could be a massive win for the park.
SO, that's my plan to fix Festa Italia with one addition and a pretty light retheme, though I think the area truly becomes GREAT with the rapids/water coaster idea implemented. Ample opportunities for cool scare zones and houses here, too. I'd post my LinkedIn so BGW could contact me if I wouldn't also be doxxing myself to strangers. Goodnight, feel free to suggest changes or additions.
LEAN INTO TEMPESTO
"But O Great Pantsmith, why would we double down on the biggest thematic mistake and roller coaster placement maybe in BGW history?" BECAUSE the sunk cost fallacy says that BGW will not remove nor retheme this thing, AND either way it's actually easier than one may think to spruce up the rest of Festa and make Tempesto fit, current name and theme and all.
STEP 1: NEW FLAT RIDE
Like I said, this started as a way to fix DaVinci's garden. My mind went to a Gerstlauer Sky Fly, which I'm sure has been suggested before. Then, I thought, rather than fuck up Da VInci's Garden's whole symmetry thing with a big ass ride, maybe it could go in Festa? To Google Earth we go.
In keeping with my annoying "nobody-asked" pounding the table for more Hansa Park shit in the U.S., here's that park's Sky Fly, with a rough perimeter measurement. I have the lengths of the first two legs (23m) memorized so I can more or less recreate this as a rudimentary way of fitting one of these into Festa.
Now, here's where I'd place it in Festa (with a much wider view):
Bye-bye arcade, you will not be missed. Now, you say, "Great idea, my favorite member of ParkFans Message Board Mr. Pantsmith, but how will you theme such a ride?" And to that I say:
EXACTLY LIKE TEMPESTO
The ride is named Acrobata (Italian for "Acrobat"), themed to Tempesto's sister, a stunt pilot and the other half of their traveling act. Giving Tempesto a buddy makes it feel more at home and worthy of being there. The brother-sister rivalry also makes for good merch and a fun little character story in Festa. I would have the exit to Tempesto now curve with the entrance, and place the Acrobata queue entrance directly to its right, with an overarching double entrance sign over all three paths. REALLY lean into these two being a package deal. Switchbacks over by Tempesto's launch, followed by a front-wrapping queue similar to the once seen in Hansa, and an exit to the restrooms, and boom, Acrobata. Throw some 20s stunt pilot theming on there and you're done. Maybe push it into the path more so it's not on top of Tempesto, not sure about the clearances there.
Now, for the interesting part.
STEP 2: RETHEMING FESTA ITALIA
Festa, in this timeline, is not a celebration of Marco Polo's return, it's a late 1910s-early 1920s Italian carnival, with a subtle steampunk-y vibe to it. Now, I know this not necessarily historically accurate, BUT, it is not a problematic time period to be drawing from in Italian history (i.e. pre-fascist), and it's Busch Gardens, who cares about historical accuracy? What it does is give BGW a vibe it doesn't really have yet. It also transitions well from Da Vinci's Garden doing a kind of period-appropriate mechanical vibe, before Festa catapults guest to the future. I would ideally want this done with a retheme of Pantheon that makes it something closer to San Marco (see: this awesome concept by @AIR ), but even if it had to stay in Festa, just theme it to 1920s explorers finding the ruins of a temple and upsetting the gods. I'd still prefer the former for Pantheon, because I have a stretch addition for this master plan that needs that second concept.
Individual rethemes are pretty easy. Trade Wind is now a contraption that is supposed to "take you on the journey of Marco Polo", as a nod to the old theme. Same applies to Turkish Delight. No need to get fancy, here. Really lean into the "step right up" of it all. A lot can stay somewhat untouched. Just add more bronze, some gears, keep the colorful buildings, even keep the games (a rare suggestion from me). Quick note, Roman Rapids may not really fit in this vision. Assume it'll get some other upgrade/replacement to be described later (hint hint).
There's a giant purple elephant in the room, I know. Let's talk about Apollo.
STEP 3: RETHEMING APOLLO'S CHARIOT
How mad would you be if I said I think BGW should theme Apollo's Chariot to a man-made contraption rather than his actual chariot? Please hold your tomatoes.
I love when a ride is themed to a contraption. It's everywhere in European parks, because it works. Schwur des Kärnan, Voltron, Furius Baco, even Taron is themed to a magic battering ram. Apollo's Chariot being a gear and steam powered contraption that takes you into the sky is kinda lame compared to its old theme, but it's feasible to do. You don't have to add stonework, rockwork, columns, and temple facades to every building in Festa. Theming Apollo to an old temple would just make it more out of place, because we know BGW won't fix Festa how it could/should. So yeah, carnival, world's fair, invention, steampunk theme, BUT, A TWIST...
The story of this version of Apollo's Chariot would have the real, no shit sun god take control of the contraption during your ride--essentially doing a classic Icarus/man's hubris/the gods were real! type thing in 1920s Italy. How is this accomplished? Lift hill music, of course. Have the ride start normally, and then the voice of Apollo appear over the speakers, essentially hijacking your vehicle and taking you much higher than designed. Keeps Apollo central to the story, and adds a sense of danger and adventure. Lean into the carnival theming, add some mechanical stuff, etc. Also definitely add some queue signage advertising the "planned" ride, being clear it only takes you maybe 50 feet in the air. But make that seem like a big deal to really make the actual coaster height seem massive. It could also be fun to put up some flyers from protest groups, maybe a group of weirdos who still believe in the gods in the 1920s and see this circus attraction as an affront to Apollo (foreshadowing). Not much else needs to be done. No indoor parts of the queue, no darkride section, no massive station overhaul. Keep Apollo about the ride, but make it fit in.
Additional current Festa issue this change fixes: having both Tempesto and Apollo be essentially circus attractions makes their placement directly on top of one-another more thematically okay, even if it still ruins Apollo's majesty.
And now for my final change...
STEP 4: ROMAN RAPIDS RETHEME/REPLACEMENT (STRETCH)
Remember that theme about 1920s explorers coming across an old temple I suggested for Pantheon? Yeah I want that on Roman Rapids. Also, in true Pantsmith recommendation fashion, make that shit indoors (partially). Explorers find an old temple of Neptune, which they explore in boats. Bing bang boom, easy. Maybe I'll come back to this thread later with a more fleshed out idea here, but it's midnight and I've been typing for an hour instead of sleeping, which is bad. All I have now are two potential building footprint options:
Option 1 (Preferred):
Option 2 (Backup in case the grade is funky close to the riverbank):
Either are doable, and I do worry about the Adventure Express ending happening here with the boats entering a temple and going up a lift then just being done, but I think this automatically improves Roman Rapids. Those of you with more knowledge of the ride and the area, let me know if this is even possible.
Alternatively, you could place a Mack Water coaster here with similar indoor sections and a visible drop and splashdown that actually attracts guests to that area. I would reserve that for if Pompeii has to go, too. Two birds, one stone. Either is a stretch but could be a massive win for the park.
SO, that's my plan to fix Festa Italia with one addition and a pretty light retheme, though I think the area truly becomes GREAT with the rapids/water coaster idea implemented. Ample opportunities for cool scare zones and houses here, too. I'd post my LinkedIn so BGW could contact me if I wouldn't also be doxxing myself to strangers. Goodnight, feel free to suggest changes or additions.
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