Spiderman competition UPDATE!!!

[F-L-A]

I would have exxpected some new additions to the technology instead of an exact duplication of the 3 year old (?) spiderman tech.

Spider-Man opened in 1999.

 

[Johnfish]

Ooops!! I guess its 6 year old technology. Oh well ... I did like the ride I just wasnt as impressed with it as I thought I would be. I think it will be one of those rides that will get old after several repeat rides. We were in universal for only 2 days last year but after riding spiderman several times it got to be the same thing over and over. Its a great ride but loses its thrill factor after awile Thats why I think BGW should have spent the money on a roller coaster. Roller coasters have more than just visual sensations. Even though dark castle has some motion elements they are not extreme and it relies on the visual for much of its thrill factor. Same goes for spiderman. I think universal got it right with the mummy, both visual and somewhat extreme motion (more extreme than motion simulator) will make that ride hold up to repeated rides.


John

 

[Slacking]

Hey Slacking...

Hope you have a great time. Take my advice and hit darkastle first thing in the morning. We got there at 9:30 for 10 am opening. They let us go as far as the loch ness monster. That had a short line so we rode it and by then they had the gate open to go to germany. Go down the hill under loch ness and up past dragon land. Bare to the left and dark kastle is right there. After dark castle we went right to alpengist and there was no wait. It was my sons first time and he was a bit nervous. But he really loved it. We got right back in line and did front row. Front row is the best just like dueling dragons. Alpengiest is great but I love Fabios wild ride or as its better known Apollos chariot. This coaster has some of the most awesome air time I have every experienced.

Have a great time!!!

John

John, thanks for the tips!

I'll be making a sidetrip to BGW while driving from FL to NY since admission is free with my Platinum Passport from BGT.

I haven't decided how/when I'm going to hit the park yet. I'll either hit it in an afternoon and see how much I can get done (open until 10pm), hit it at opening, or maybe even a combination of both, we'll have to see how my schedule works out.

 

[spewey]

"Raining birds"? Am I the only one that got that?

My wife and I took our annual trip to BGW last month - for those that haven't been it truly is one of the world's very best theme parks - and, as usual, had a blast. We splurged and stayed at the Kingsmill, which we loved - a top notch golf/tennis/spa resort. With our package we could get "first in park" priveleges, a half hour before the general public, and a FOTL pass for DarKastle. Given our penchant for late nights and adult beverages we did not make the 8:45AM shuttle, but did use those passes ... and thank goodness for them. The line was at least two hours long every time we went by (disclaimer - Memorial Day weekend). With the passes, we were in in under five minutes.

As far as the ride goes - we loved it. I think it's folly to allow comparisons to other rides to lessen your enjoyment - I judge for what it is (I'm not saying DON'T compare - that's pretty impossible - but I'm not one for "That wasn't as good as Apollo's Chariot, so it stinks"). I'm a sucker for dark rides - any dark rides, even the cheesy, "Torture Chamber of Dr. Frightmarestein" carny-type ride-throughs that you pretty much have to go to Britain (or Pennslyvania) to find - and this one delivered. Cool effects, decent story, a few thrills, and, judging from the reactions of everyone we rode with, it's gonna be a hit. Is it as good as Spiderman? Maybe not, but what is?

As far as coasters go, sure, I'd love BGW to add another top-notch one, but, hey, I think they're doing a pretty good job attracting the family-type crowds they're after. If it's a bunch of coasters you want, King's Dominion is an hour away. I know - we drive past there every year on our way to Busch Gardens ...

 

[damo]

At least it wasn't raining birds.

Haven't encountered that yet and hope I never do.

 

[Slacking]

Haven't encountered that yet and hope I never do.

Fabio hopes he'll never encounter that again too.

 

[Universal FReak]

Thanks John. It sounds like how I had expected. It doesn't seem to impressive and I saw a video on Theme Park Insider. It looks a lot like spiderman and the spinning parts are very much the same. Anyway it looks like a good ride, but no one tops spiderman!

 

[Johnfish]

Hey spewey....
I have to agree with you ... maybe I wasnt being fair to darkastle... It is a truly enjoyable ride but with all the hype I was expecting a little more. I think if they had taken the same story and applied it to a mummy style ride it would have been incredible. The only real complaint I had was I felt that either the pacing was off or the volume of the voices was too low. I felt like alot was happening and i wasnt getting all of the story.

My son and I were supposed to be going to Kings Dominion on thursday but after our trip to BGw this week end he ask to go back there instead. He cant wait to ride alpengiest (his new favorite coaster next to dueling dragons) So its back to BGW on thursday!!! I am going to ride darkasle again and keep an open mind with out all the expectations from the hype. I ll let everyone know how it went on friday..


John

 

[Slacking]

Uh Oh..... look out! I have decided to add Sesame Place to my itinerary, lol!

 

[spewey]

Johnfish - may I assume you've been to King's Dominion? I really try not to run it down, as I have enjoyed my trips there - unlike many I know. It does have several kick-but coasters, it's just that, overall, the experience it delivers is not as, um, enjoyable as BGW.

As far as Sesame Place goes ... I've never been ... but I do know that Pennslyvania has the greatest collection of historic/classic/unique/one-of-a-kind roller coasters and rides in the world. In fact, there are more of those babies in Pennslyvania than the rest of the United States combined, by a wide margin ...

 

[Slacking]

Johnfish - may I assume you've been to King's Dominion? I really try not to run it down, as I have enjoyed my trips there - unlike many I know. It does have several kick-but coasters, it's just that, overall, the experience it delivers is not as, um, enjoyable as BGW.

As far as Sesame Place goes ... I've never been ... but I do know that Pennslyvania has the greatest collection of historic/classic/unique/one-of-a-kind roller coasters and rides in the world. In fact, there are more of those babies in Pennslyvania than the rest of the United States combined, by a wide margin ...

Haven't been to either park since 1996, but I've always enjoyed BGW much more than PKD.

My Sesame Place experience will be very short. Ride Vapor Trail, and then walk around the park, and the finish my drive to NY. BUT, I have been to other parks in PA (Dorney, Hershey, Knoebels, Kennywood), and I LOVE the aprks and coasters there. In fact, Hershey Park is my favorite amusement park.

 

[Johnfish]

Kings dominion is great fun. This year is the first time we visited there and my son and I love all of the coasters. But BGW is my favorite theme park (outside of disney us/ioa) The park is so beautiful just in themeing and landscaping alone. My son and I have season passes to both (we live 40mins from PKD and 70mins from BGW) but I definitely prefer BGW. I felt the same way about sea world san antonio and six flags fiesta when I visited both last year. Six flags had some great coasters and more rides than sea world but sea world beat it hands down for themeing and landscaping and of course all the animal shows were great. I havent been to sesame place since my son was 5 or 6. (he is 16 now) We had a great time though. I loved all the water slides etc.


John

 

[Johnfish]

Well I got to ride darkastle again yesterday. It was definitely better the second time. This is becoming one of my favorite attractions. It is much better than corkscrewhill. I think it is definitely on par with spiderman and the theming is great. I rode in the back of the sleigh this time and the dialog was much easier to hear. This made the story much easier to follow and it made a lot more sense. Any questions let me know...

John

 

[Slacking]

Sunday and/or Monday I'll be at BGW, can't wait!

 

[Johnfish]

Have a great time Slacking!!!! My DS and I had a great time yesterday, lines were short and the weather was great.

John

 

[Slacking]

How long was the wait for DarKastle yesterday?

Long lines aren't an issue for me, I'll wait however long I need to for the 3 big attractions I haven't ridden yet (Alpie, Fabio's Wild Ride, and Kastle) because thats what I'm coming to the park to enjoy (and I have a soft spot for Pompeii) and its free anyway, so I have no right to complain.

Johnfish- bizarre question of the day for you. Down in VA, do you have any idea if they're selling the new coke soda "Vault" I know that VA is a test state, and I can't wait to get my hands on this as it is supposedly a very similar formula to Surge, my favorite (dearly departed) soda of all time.)

 

[Johnfish]

Hi Slacking,

The darkastle ride line wasnt too bad yesterday. Originally I wasnt going to ride it because my 16 yo son thinks its kinda boring. He is definatley more into coasters. The cue winds around inside a court yard. Yesterday it was half way throught the court yard and stopped just before the statue of the wolves. The wait was about 30 minutes. If it is winding around outside the courtyard and into the park its probably about an hour or more. We hardly waited for any of the other rides. we did loch ness monster twice in a row and that was front row (the best seat imho) the big bad wolf was just a couple minute wait as was alpengiest and we rode fabios wild ride 3 times with almost no wait. I suspect if you are going monday the crowds will be a little bit bigger as all the Va schools will be out. I am fortunate as I work a shift that gives me days off during the week. THis is great for visiting the parks. So we usually go on a week day and find it very managable during the summer.

As for the soda I have not seen it yet but I havent been looking. I will keep my eye out for it.

John

PS. if you dont mind waiting try to get front seat for all the coasters. It is well worth the wait especially for Alpengiest and Apollos Chariot. Also lets here a review once you get home. Have a great time!!

 

[Slacking]

Thanks for the tips John, I appreciate it. There's a chance that I will be going both Sunday afternoon/evening and Monday morning at opening, so that should give me plenty of time to do what I want.

I would post a report, but once I leave for NY this evening, I won't have internet access until I return in August.