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DarKoaster Media Day: Ludwig Returns Remember when DarKastle “echoed with terror” and the fiendish laughter of Mad King Ludwig? Those good old days are back with DarKoaster, Busch Gardens’ new launched family coaster, which still delivers the goods for more seasoned thrill seekers. The park showed off their new coaster/dark ride combo during a media event on Thursday, May 18. It officially opened to the public today. While the original Curse of DarKastle was a big dark ride using 3D projections and physical effects, DarKoaster is a twisting, disorienting indoor roller coaster with plenty of surprises of its own--a good “sequel,” you might say. A company called “Dark Tours” is conducting a paranormal investigation of the infamous DarKastle when, of course, something goes horribly wrong--a sudden freak blizzard. The only way to escape the tempest is via snowmobile. Although this is a “family friendly” ride, the launches are intense enough to be fun, and the layout of the track is very disorienting, thanks to the pounding music and sound effects, creepy surprises, and utter darkness. Even though you’re launched over the same track twice, each circuit has a different series of special effects. The ride’s maximum speed is around 35 mph, but it seems faster. Some of the effects are best seen from the backseat. As you may remember from the old Curse of DarKastle days, no one loves a party more than King Ludwig. So, bundle up, hitch the team up to your Golden Sleigh, and head over to DarKastle. Ludwig is waiting for you. Here’s a look at the media day and VIP reception--and an off-ride video of DarKoaster, which was shot and provided by the park. My thanks to Busch Gardens Williamsburg for inviting Theme Park Review to this event. RH_0010S03 Theme Park Review.MP4 “Do come in. I insist!” You might want a little liquid courage from BarKastle first. You can stow your gear in a locker here. It’s also the exit and gift shop. There’s some retro merch, too. Looks like Ludwig has been sprucing up the place a bit. “Join us . . . join us . . . we have beer . . . we have booze . . .” “Who let in all this rabble? They'll drink all my beer!” “They better save some beer for me!” Aw, man, my uncle’s house was once “possessed by the paranormal. The exorcism was pretty nasty. This is one of a number of callbacks to the original ride--and it sets up the paranormal-investigation angle. Dark Tours--for all your paranormal ski-weekend needs. As you may have guessed from earlier captions, DarKoaster has its own beer! Virginia Beer Company (VBC), a Williamsburg brewery, whipped up a nice Schwartzbier--”DarKoaster Black Lager.” Based on the park’s history, it seems odd that it took them this long to come up with a themed brew. The VBC rep said they’d been talking with the park about doing something for a few years, and DarKoaster was the perfect opportunity. These are available at BarKastle. The beer will be on tap at the Brauhaus, too. Black Lager is quite good--a nice, malty brew. Which is scarier--the ride or this huge owl? Park president Kevin Lembke thanks everyone for coming--and Ludwig for not killing us . . . yet. The portrait of Ludwig bears careful watching. There’s also some radio chatter than ties in to other parts of Busch Gardens. They’re using the original DarKastle station for DarKoaster, too. It's been modified, of course. “Frost Bite” was the name of the first Howl-o-Scream maze in this building after the original ride closed. Wolves are also very dear to the heart of Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Well, I survived the storm. Will this group be so lucky? Good luck, folks! (Photo provided by Busch Gardens.) You're gonna need it! (Photo provided by Busch Gardens.)

I think the main thing against it is capacity, but the ride itself is fun. Waits are topping three hours this weekend (or so I hear), but, my goodness--a new coaster is drawing a huge crowd? Go figure. Their last ride was the intense Pantheon, so it made sense to build a family coaster. But some people just like to complain.

^ I'd be TOTALLY in. . if they rethemed it to "Tron". .and you're "inside the Grid" during your stay.

Holy shit. That looks way better than expected. Well done WoF. Quality POV, as well.