Has the Hulk Coaster Met it's Match?

[Immelman]

I took this pic today on Gwazi of the construction going on at Busch Gardens' new Shrei Kra coaster. the 200 foot 45 degree lift hill is just sick. and a 90 degree drop after that...May can't get here soon enough.

 

[WernerW]

Sick, sick, sick, YEAH.

There isn't any date when they open it, right?

Oh, by the way: which BG ride should we address first in the morning when the park opens? I will probably be there 1st week of june.

 

[Immelman]

OK, my pics are gone. ? as far as what ride...Shrei Ka is due sometime in May. no official date. I'd be there at park opening and head straight for it. Kumba would be next and then grab the skyride over to catch Montu, and then on to Gwazi. 4 world class coasters out of the way.

 

[F-L-A]

and then on to Gwazi. 4 world class coasters out of the way.

Wha?! Gwazi, a world class coaster? That thing is horrible. In fact, it's the worst woodie I've ever ridden. After I got off, I felt like I had been hit in the head with a sledgehammer. Wouldn't have wanted to even try the other side if it were open, which it wasn't (and almost never is). And this isn't just my experience. It has a huge reputation now as a structure that would make better fire wood than a roller coaster.

Everything about that park is sliding downhill like an avalanche. Sheikra is just a last ditch effort. And it's also a tad bit early to be calling a coaster that isn't even built yet "world class", isn't it?

 

[robvia]

The anticipation going up the lift hill will be amazing. According to RCDB, Kumba is 143 feet, Montu is 150 feet, so climbing up to 200 feet will be incredible.
As coasters get taller and faster, the previous favorites seem like kiddie rides.

 

[damo]

We're really looking forward to a side trip to Busch Gardens. We haven't ridden their coasters since they weren't really great enough to warrant a special trip. After the new addition, we'll definitely make the effort!

 

[ckj]

BG and US/IOA have some good coasters, but they have a long way to go before they catch
http://www.cedarpoint.com/.

 

[Figment22]

I'm not sure that height alone suggests that Hulk has met its match. Admittedly, I haven't been to BGT in almost 20 years so I haven't ridden the other BG coasters, but Kraken at SWO at 151 feet is certainly no slouch. I like Kraken a lot but it's the LAUNCH on Hulk that makes it stand out above the rest to me. That initial rush is hard to beat and it really carries you through the entire ride, IMO.

Even so, one of these trips, I have to get over to BG Tampa.

 

[Immelman]

here's a link to the pic, I can't get it resized correctly to post : Shei Kra Pic

the fact that it's going to be the biggest dive coaster in the world, with 2 90 degree dives pre-qualifies it as world-class IMHO. The launch on Hulk is my favorite part as well, I'm just wondering out loud what a facefirst 200 foot drop underground is going to do to raise the bar. time will tell.

 

[daywalker]

Well, all I can say is I've ridden Oblivion over here in the UK lots of times, if it wasn't such a short ride it would be my favourite coaster. This new thing at Busch will be somethng special, I'm sure of it, a drop three times the drop of oblivion plus a coaster ide to boot with a second 90 deg drop ought to be awesome. The rush you get from a 90 degree drop is amazing.

 

[PoohBears#1fan]

The rush you get from a 90 degree drop is amazing.

I'll second that! As you say, the only thing wrong with Oblivion is that it's just over far too quickly!

 

[Slacking]

Wha?! Gwazi, a world class coaster? That thing is horrible. In fact, it's the worst woodie I've ever ridden.

That would be Grizzly at Paramount's Great America, imo.

I actually enjoy Gwazi, but I'm a big fan of GCI (company that constructed it)

 

[RC Fan]

Someday I shall have to get myself to Busch Garden. That new coaster sounds great. At this time however, I definitely agree with ckj: Cedar Point is AMAZING! As much as I love the Hulk, I love Millennium Force more.

 

[DOOM1001]

Nobody needs to compare Cedar Point to BGT. I'm from Florida and have been to CP last couple of years and yes It's the greatest coaster park of them all, no one needs to argue that point. But when you hear a Hyper diver coaster with 2 vertical drops is coming and it's a good 3 minute ride unlike the two other dive coasters out there you definitely get excited. BGT is an excellent park with great coasters, and stop talking bad about GWAZI, the loading and unloading is extremely slow but I think the ride is great!

 

[F-L-A]

I'll stop talking bad about it when they burn it down. Nothing wrong about talking bad about a bad ride. As far as BGT is concerned overall, it looks more like a county fair (a poorly run one) than a "theme park" IMO. But I'm used to the Orlando parks, so....

 

[Immelman]

I'll stop talking bad about it when they burn it down. Nothing wrong about talking bad about a bad ride. As far as BGT is concerned overall, it looks more like a county fair (a poorly run one) than a "theme park" IMO. But I'm used to the Orlando parks, so....

we're pretty used to all of the parks down here. we've got AP's to all but Cypress. We actually spend a lot of our lives in the Orlando parks. that being said, BG doesn't have the employee morale per se compared to Disney and UO, but it's not ran by carnies as you imply. the new B&M coaster should be proof of that. as far as Gwazi is concerned, the throughput is horrible, but it's a fun ride.

 

[F-L-A]

Are teenagers who act like they're in a trance and would rather be anywhere but there really that much better than carnies?

 

[Immelman]

what the hell does that mean?

 

[magicmouse2]

F-L-A- Are teenagers who act like they're in a trance and would rather be anywhere but there really that much better than carnies?

Immelman, I think he is referring to the park staff.

- They arent all like that are they? What about Kelly, one of the animal keepers who won 'King of the Jungle'?

 

[F-L-A]

I'm speaking English, aren't I Immelman? Do you work for BGT? Because I can't think of any other reason you'd get defensive when someone calls a crappy park what it is.

And they're not all like that. Only 90% of them.

Here's some lovely thoughts on the park for anyone who was thinking of going:

http://www.westcoaster.net/community/index.php?showtopic=11478&hl=