Busch Gardens Williamsburg 2025

And another take: Drachen Fire was amazing back then. A little rough at times, but it was my favorite coaster for quite a while and was really bummed when it closed. Keep in mind B&M was a relative newcomer when DF was built, so Arrow loopers were the coveted coasters in all the big parks.

Touchdown:

and it was boring. Same for most Arrow multi loopers.

Orient Express was IMO the best Arrow Looper of all times. Yes, it was jerky, but it was a fun, unique ride. Specifically made for that terrain and park.

BGW is home to the greatest classic (Ron Toomer Era) Arrow Looper of all time, Dollywood is home to the greatest Arrow Looper period (assuming X doesn’t count.)

Give me Nessie’s multiple river drops and indoor helix any day over the Orient Express. I’ve also had the privilege of riding back in the day when it ran with three train ops and the trains went through the loops simultaneously with another train.

I tend to agree about Tennessee Tornado, I just wish they plussed the landscaping just a bit more… and it had some props or buildings to match the station theming… then it would be really great. Up there with Loch Ness in the arrow pantheon! ;)

Big Bad Wolf It Is

BBW: TWR

Or "Bebwetter" in my household.

It would have been Wolf Hawk if Cedar Fair had bought the chain.

Was rather surprised to see the name being BBW again. Although in a world of lazily named rides, this is actually probably one of the better ones, because of how loved the original was.

And that could be a downfall. The name just invites comparison and I doubt there are many that will call this new incarnation the better one.

It couldn't be any worse than Billy Mumphrey's downfall.

I mean, it's not exactly the same name (it's the "revenge"), so it's clearly a sequel. And who in their right mind ever expects the sequel to be just as good or better than the original? I suppose it happens every once in awhile (Rocky, Star Wars), but usually it's just Jaws 2. Or whatever the hell the Exorcist 2 was supposed to be.

In all seriousness, this ride sounds like quite a bit of fun, akin to Big Bear Mountain at Dollywood.

I suppose some roller coaster nerds among us will criticize it for being inferior, but I think it's geared towards people like my children, the oldest of which was only 1 year old when Big Bad Wolf was removed so that Jeff could get the world's coolest doorstop. She's now looking at colleges.

^ I had to control my unbridled enthusiasm for the Billy Mumphrey reference. :)

As for The Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf's Revenge, seems like there's a few too many "the's"...

Zambezi Zinger is a good case study. Most people in these markets don’t know or care about the differences in ride manufacturer, ride length, etc. Only passionate fans who buy passes regardless notice these details. To everyone else it’s a red roller coaster in the back of the park.

In fact I’d go as far to say this is a brilliant idea from a merchandising perspective. Nostalgia sells.

The Godfather Part II says hold my Negroni Sbagliato.

OhioStater:

And who in their right mind ever expects the sequel to be just as good or better than the original?

So you’re saying they basically named it: “Big Bad Wolf, But Not As Good”?

Medium, Slightly Agitated Wolf?

OhioStater:

Rocky

I thought Rocky II was better when I was a kid, then as an adult I realized I was wrong.

Anyway, a better example is Star Trek II. In fact most of the sequels were better than the original.

Spider-Man 2 (the one with Doc Ock) is consider by many to be the very best superhero movie of all time, me included.

For real? I found it completely forgettable.

LostKause:

Spider-Man 2

The what now?

Spiderman movies ranked:

• Into the Spiderverse
• Across the Spiderverse
• Spiderman (2002)
• Doing laundry
• Hitting yourself on the thumb with a hammer repeatedly
• All the others
• RRR

A not insignificant percentage of the park's core demographic (outside of nerdom) won't have ridden the OG BBW. It closed 15 years ago, realistically few people will have ridden it at age 5 or younger. I.e. if you were born in 2004 or later, you probably didn't ride BBW.

Sure it'll be fine. I am still curious why it makes sense to pay B&M for one of these rides, instead of Vekoma, which must be cheaper and for my money, are more fun.