Busch Gardens Williamsburg announces new drop tower, hints at roller coaster

Teasers will appear at:

www.buschgardens.com/bignews

After more than 30 years, we're updating the look and feel of the iconic Oktoberfest area. The restuaurants, games and everything in between will be new for visitors in 2011.

Does this worry anyone else? I saw the pictures of the supposedly temporary facade of the Festhaus done up earlier this year, but I'm a bit concerned the entire area may get a similar makeover, at least color-wise (I'm assuming the giant cuckoo clock will be gone). I'm hopeful it will be done tastefully, as the 'look and feel' of Busch Gardens is the last thing I would ever think of updating.

The 2012 rollercoaster seems very similar to the rollercoaster being built at Busch Gardens Tampa. I hope that I am wrong, they need somethig more unique!

How does it seem similar when the only thing we know is that it's a multiple launch coaster? (and I don't think BGT's is 'multiple' launched, is it?)

^I was under the impression, mistaken or otherwise, that the BGT coaster has 2 launches...thus far, I see no airtime hills (the issue that concerns ME most at present, LOL).

Let's say it is similar to BGT's coaster, for argument's sake. Why does a park in VA need something more unique than one in FL?

Does this worry anyone else?

I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt. It was the section that felt the most "dated" (except for the little shopping lane) so there is room for improvement. For example, it seems to rely more on painted flats than more textured or architecturally interesting surfaces, etc.

Yeah, I have been giving them the benefit of the doubt since day one, and I really haven't seen anything yet from Blackstone that indicates they're heading in a undesirable direction with regards to park improvements. I think the fact that they're concentrating on just this section and not the whole park (like I had originally thought, before seeing ridem's link) gives me hope.

I'm probably getting ahead of myself in predicting, based on Oktoberfest, that other, unnecessary updates might be coming to other sections down the road.

Vater said:
Let's say it is similar to BGT's coaster, for argument's sake. Why does a park in VA need something more unique than one in FL?

If two parks in Texas 11 miles apart can have the Same Exact coaster, I'd say no one is going to notice if BGT and BGW get similiar coasters.

The phrase "more unique" sets my inner English teacher on edge, LOL. If the two are different, fine. If they're the same, fine too. Just so BGW doesn't get the BETTER version again... ;)

:) - Just to be clear that my ;) above was genuine....

More unique? But, count me in as one who doesn't care if there are similar rides at parks in different states. Not sure I would want the same coaster experience at IOA that I could get at Universal Studios Florida...but otherwise I'm fine.

But, I will search high and low for the uniquest coaster. :-)

Oh great... a year of speculation of what the new coaster will be.... and when it is announced and it doesn't match everyone's perconceived ideas, it will be declared a dud even before it is built.

Heck, I think they've declared it a dud already, if reactions to the one at BGT is any indication, and this one is similar ;).

rollergator said:
^I was under the impression, mistaken or otherwise, that the BGT coaster has 2 launches...thus far, I see no airtime hills (the issue that concerns ME most at present, LOL).

I had a thought that this could be a comeback by S&S Rides in the Thrust Air Coaster Market. Seems possible

wahoo skipper said:
Not sure I would want the same coaster experience at IOA that I could get at Universal Studios Florida...but otherwise I'm fine.

Clint already mentioned Great White/Goliath in San Antonio today, but this one *is* even better - Flight of the Hippogriff/Flying Unicorn and Woody Woodpecker... :)

Dumbo, Aladdin and the Astro Orbiter all in the same park. ;)

Aladdin tilts. Totally different experience. ;)

Primeval Whirl. I win ;).

Aren't those mirror images of each other? That makes their experiences 180 degrees apart from each other. Can't be more different than that.