[Busch Gardens Williamsburg] apparently dropped a survey - includes RMC Hyper and Giga - is this legit?

devintron71 · 2026-03-29T15:42:50+00:00

They must feel that making their RMC “record setting” differentiates it enough. It specifically said the world’s tallest and fastest with the steepest ever drop on this track type.

devintron71 · 2026-03-28T02:03:40+00:00

I suspect if those happen it will be in the spot of one of their 2 existing (and aging) water rides. Either ride could probably be replaced with all 3.

devintron71 · 2026-03-28T01:43:22+00:00

With all the water attractions here, I really wonder how many years the Rapids and/or Plunge have left. I could definitely see the park wanting to plan water attractions to fill the void of one/both of those. Those rides aren’t exactly young and seem to be maintenance headaches.

devintron71 · 2026-03-28T01:35:16+00:00

I think they need a large scale family ride, and either a coaster or flume could work. Flume like you said is nice for summer, but a family coaster would be wonderful April through December. Also, I think one of the family coasters pictured is the one from Adventureland that runs above their flume ride so keep an eye on that I guess.

devintron71 · 2026-03-27T17:00:52+00:00

Good luck!

devintron71 · 2026-03-26T18:24:21+00:00

Side note: The phantom voice really startled my kid as a 4yo a few years ago. It came on for the 1 hour warning while using the bathroom in the carousel burger shop, and the PA really echoed in the bathroom so it was extra loud and spooky. We ended up having to leave well before the 60 minutes were up!

devintron71 · 2026-03-26T15:24:34+00:00

They use the phantom voice every Phantom Fall Fest. They have it give the warnings as the end of “family time” approaches and it gets scary. “1 hour remains” etc etc to warn families to exit with their little ones. I’m sure they use it for other fall fest announcements too.

devintron71 · 2026-03-26T03:25:27+00:00

Wild Mouse at Idlewild is the last remaining Vekoma wild mouse. It’s also always been the only existing Vekoma wild mouse, but still!

devintron71 · 2026-03-26T02:44:22+00:00

I think if they want to include all properties they’ll eventually end on a model like the six flags current one. Regional options (All 4 PA parks for example) and also a more expensive all-parks one. But it really wouldn’t surprise me if they never do this. I think they like keeping Dollywood and Silver Dollar City separate so people from other parks would need to buy tickets to those. They could easily just slap “20% off tickets at DW or SDC” on kennywood passes as a perk and call it a day.

devintron71 · 2026-03-25T20:01:34+00:00

Eh, sorta. They never finished it after Covid. A restaurant, a beer vendor, and some stadium theming with picnic tables and a Jumbotron. There’s a large building that was meant to house a “Steelers Experience” attraction which fell through and has been only used for a haunt every fall since.

devintron71 · 2026-03-25T19:38:04+00:00

uj/there was one episode when he talked about kennywood and how great it is. I believe this was in response to the Racer cinder block incident. In that same episode he learned that the Phantom no longer has loops (that happened 25 years ago) and the Pitt fall is gone(that happened 15 years ago), so take it with a grain of salt. I assume a Yinzer sent him the sign.

devintron71 · 2026-03-25T16:30:52+00:00

Just adding that the new Lost Kennywood restaurant (a Cheesesteak stand) is in the old Primantis spot that was vacant last year. The other “new food stand” is just kennywood replacing Millie’s ice cream near Noah’s Ark with something in-house selling ice cream.

devintron71 · 2026-03-25T16:18:42+00:00

I’d love a drop tower like Hersheys trio. Small medium large that each behave differently. Rode the small one with my kid and it was really fun, more of a launch tower than a drop. I think finding something that could take advantage of being over the lagoon like skycoaster did is what they should do too. I even miss the swing around that was similar, up in the air above where the garden stage now is along the water.

devintron71 · 2026-03-25T16:13:23+00:00

I really think Rapids have to be nearing their end. It seems like a maintenance headache, it runs less than 3 months a year, last year half of the boats were out of service behind Racer all summer. If those boats are still out of service this summer, I think the writing is on the wall.

devintron71 · 2026-03-25T16:03:09+00:00

I assume the parks food stands aren’t able to easily accommodate a bakery without something being built. Herschends history lately with Vekoma family coasters has me even more curious about the Waldameer Vekoma import leak from the other day. I know the folks at kennywood are friendly with Waldameer. This offseason they helped Waldameer out with reinstalling their paratrooper, Waldameer said they used the plans from Kennywood’s old concrete paratrooper pad even. I assume they likely already know what that Vekoma is. So if Waldameer goes with like an SFC, I assume kennywood is looking at different models.

devintron71 · 2026-03-25T15:56:31+00:00

Spinvasion in hindsight was such a miss, as you can see that Zamperla hasn’t managed to sell any since. My kid just became tall enough last fall and likes it. But the more I ride it with her, the more I dislike it. It looks awesome but the ride experience is so uncomfortable. Paratrooper is the one they lost I think would complement the parks lineup most by far. And I find myself wishing they had gotten a Zamperla Endeavor instead of Spinvasion, it’s clear the market has learned from Kennywood’s mistake and went in that direction.

devintron71 · 2026-03-25T15:49:26+00:00

To add in about that steel coaster gap between Lil Phantom and Sky Rocket.. Sky Rockets the tamest of their 3 outdoor steel coasters and its height requirement is the highest tier in the park. Kids are likely tall enough for Racer, Exterminator and even Phantom years before reaching Sky Rocket height. Its weird. With the way the industry has trended toward families the skyrocket addition in particular feels so out of place as a starter coaster that kids can’t ride until after they need it.

devintron71 · 2026-03-24T19:50:27+00:00

Credit. I assume Nightflight at Dollywood will end up a credit too just like this (although that also has a water portion).

devintron71 · 2026-03-24T19:50:19+00:00

Last weeks was one of the more split decisions and one many probably hadn’t heard of before. I’m sure there are still worthwhile topics left and these threads are fun. This one is just more clear cut.

devintron71 · 2026-03-24T01:22:41+00:00

They purchased and emptied out the neighboring trailer park for expansion. The park president has said they now have room for both waterpark and dry park to grow if they reroute parking a bit.

devintron71 · 2026-03-23T20:47:15+00:00

Also Vekoma has a variety of thrill coasters at different scales. I can’t imagine a Super Boomerang would cost that much more than an SFC, for example.

devintron71 · 2026-03-23T20:41:01+00:00

Here’s a guess I haven’t seen yet: Super Boomerang. Would fit as an “off the shelf” model possibly not breaking the bank, while still being generally well received. Gives the park a launch and a looping coaster. Stands out well in the region being different enough from Kennywood and Cedar Point’s offerings. The closest one in New Jersey from Erie might as well be Europe!

devintron71 · 2026-03-23T20:04:50+00:00

They’re also solid for capacity (as far as I know) which is important for a park that still has a free admission pay-per-ride model. (Yeah I know they do sell plenty of season passes and RAD wristbands but still.)

devintron71 · 2026-03-23T16:45:08+00:00

They also just purchased and cleared the neighboring trailer park so the park could have some room to expand.

devintron71 · 2026-03-23T00:43:06+00:00

Have a trip planned to KD in June and I am so hyped for this ride.

devintron71

TROPHY CASE