Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (BGT Discussion Thread)

[thrillseeker4552]

Yeah, for those of you that have BGT has your home park (or live in Florida in general), I am extremely jealous. What an amazing looking ride to an already stellar coaster lineup.

[Canobie Coaster]

The layout looked a bit different than I expected, and that's not a bad thing!  I expected it to have more camelbacks/bunny hills mixed in, but this ride just keeps throwing one crazy banked element after another.

[coastercrazy216]

I may be in the minority here, but I feel like we are starting to see a lot of similarities between the RMC roller coasters. Personally, my favorite RMC is still NTAG and I was a huge fan of Twisted Timbers. I loved the three airtime hills on Twisted Timbers that felt more like El Toro than an RMC. I watched an NTAG pov last night just to see the differences 10 years makes. It is both impressive and crazy how much RMC has been able to push the boundaries. We all know that NTAG has great ejector airtime, but it definitely feels more drawn out. Like I said, I am probably in the minority, but I hope future RMC's focus less on the over banking in the second half of rides and more on sustained airtime. 

[Invertalon]

1 hour ago, coastercrazy216 said:

I may be in the minority here, but I feel like we are starting to see a lot of similarities between the RMC roller coasters. 

It's been that way since the beginning, they are pretty consistent on their 'style'. Surely, they love their barrel rolls and outward banks. 

For that reason, it's hard for me to get excited for RMC's honestly. Once you been on a few, they all are pretty much similar in the elements utilized (much like people claim with B&M's for example) and the pacing/forces. Not much changes ride to ride in that regard. All fun rides though, don't get me wrong. 

I am also surprised for as 'extreme' as they are, they have not pushed into some more unique elements aside from 500 ways to enter or exit a barrel roll. I love the dive loop on SFGAm's Goliath for example, wish they did more larger element stuff. Or longer, sustained airtime moments like that first bunny hill on Storm Chaser (compared to the abrupt ejector hills). 

I personally think Iron Gwazi looks to be one of the stronger ones layout wise, as the elements are a bit more drawn out and not rapid-fire succession one after another. Steel Vengeance has such a strong first half, but the second half just ruins it for me. This doesn't look like it will have that issue, the ending sequence looks really solid. 

[thrillseeker4552]

I also tend to agree with the sentiment that many RMCs feel similar. However, I have not ridden Steel Vengeance and, obviously, not Iron Gwazi - those could be different animals. But based on my experiences with the smaller-to-medium RMCs (Twisted Timbers, Twisted Cyclone, Wicked Cyclone, Joker, Twisted Colossus), they tend to feel quite similar in style.

Based on POVs, I think I would prefer Iron Gwazi over Steel Vengeance. Despite it being shorter, it looks to have a less-repetitive layout. Back-to-back, repetitive ejector pops really don't do much for me. Instead this one just has wacky, awesome elements. That outer-bank over the station looks wild. And that diving roll.... dang.

But like always, all judgement reserved until riding. I am still more drawn to VelociCoaster personally. But a Florida trip within the next few years is on my radar now more than ever.

[IanKgtr]

That speed coming through the zero-g roll ... and the speed in general ... can't wait to ride it in 2078 when Sea World Entertainment finally gets a handle on their 2+ billion in debt!

[KIEnthusiast]

Might be unpopular opinion, but it LOOKS like it isn't that unique. It does kinda make me mad that this is the tallest "hybrid" coaster------but the lift hill is all-steel!

[bert425]

21 hours ago, tanthonyam said:

What's a Hakugei???

 

[KBrylczyk]

Holy crap you nerds are a tough crowd.  It looks like a coaster that will make me hoot and holler the entire time I'm on it while simultaneously trying to throw my fat ass as far from the train as possible.  I'm so damn sold.

[bert425]

47 minutes ago, KIEnthusiast said:

Might be unpopular opinion, but it LOOKS like it isn't that unique. It does kinda make me mad that this is the tallest "hybrid" coaster------but the lift hill is all-steel!

 

(but hell, it's your opinion, and you're welcome to it - but I think most all would disagree.  As do you, since you note your opinion "might be unpopular")

 

[prozach626]

21 hours ago, boldikus said:

Looks great! Can't wait.

Also, guys remember: don't rush to judgement over a POV. We've been down that road many times before and the ones who complain a new coaster looks slow, etc are usually wrong.

Steel Vengeance is better than Iron Gwazi according to youtubers who haven't ridden either of the two.

[SharkTums]

I actually agree with many of you talking about how the RMC's are all very similar.  And that's fine. There's nothing wrong with building a ton of very similar kick ass rides when most people who ride one will never even know of the other ones.  I've been comparing them to the B&M inverts of the 90's.  They're all awesome, intense rides, but they all have the same elements just in slightly different orders. I would also love to see some more unique elements in the future from them, but for now I'm quite content with their offerings. 

[grsupercity]

2 hours ago, KIEnthusiast said:

Might be unpopular opinion, but it LOOKS like it isn't that unique. It does kinda make me mad that this is the tallest "hybrid" coaster------but the lift hill is all-steel!

Goliath at SFGAM was advertising fasted wooden coaster when built and its lift hill is steel 

[dankeykang]

Iron Gwazi may be similar to Steel Vengeance in terms of height and speed, but I'm hoping the shorter length and lack of a MCBR will allow it to maintain its speed throughout and really provide that "out of control" feeling similar to Lightning Rod, Outlaw Run, or even Storm Chaser at times.  Should be a really fun ride.    

[KIEnthusiast]

Why is B&M bad for offering similar rides, but RMC good for offering similar rides???

[abovethesink]

Is anyone else unable to really get much from POVs? I mean I can obviously tell what is happening and where I might feel what sensation, but every single POV I watch gives me the impression that the ride will be significantly slower and less impactful than I actually get. I am not a good candidate for them as a marketing tool, I guess.

[coneyislandchris]

40 minutes ago, abovethesink said:

Is anyone else unable to really get much from POVs? I mean I can obviously tell what is happening and where I might feel what sensation, but every single POV I watch gives me the impression that the ride will be significantly slower and less impactful than I actually get. I am not a good candidate for them as a marketing tool, I guess.

I kind of tend to agree with this somewhat. I've underrated my expectations for rides in the past based off their POVs, but after seeing the POV for Skyrush and then riding it in person, I've learned not to put too much stock in what Youtube shows. I have no doubt this will be an awesome ride like almost every RMC ever built, and can't wait to form my own judgment after riding it once it opens.

[Invertalon]

18 hours ago, abovethesink said:

Is anyone else unable to really get much from POVs? I mean I can obviously tell what is happening and where I might feel what sensation, but every single POV I watch gives me the impression that the ride will be significantly slower and less impactful than I actually get. I am not a good candidate for them as a marketing tool, I guess.

I never really have an issue watching a POV, having an expectation and the ride meeting said expectation. As in, it is rare a ride is vastly different than I expect from watching the POV. For example, Steel Vengeance was actually a bit "worse" than I expected, while a ride like Silverstar was better than expected. Was it Drastic? Absolutely not. They met the expectation plus or minus some small fun points. 

Being on enough rides, you kind of just know what B&M's, GCI's, RMC's and so on will feel like. It's rare that a ride does something totally unexpected from what I think a specific element or transition will 'feel' like. This is also the reason it's very rare for me to be 'blown away' by rides anymore, because of the great POV's and animations taking away any unknowns like in the past before the YouTube era. An exception for me as of late was Taron at Phantasialand. I knew it would be an epic ride, but in person with the theming, amazing trains, etc... It just made that 'experience' better. 

These days, the things that will catch me off guard will be theming and small details that make up the experience, not so much the ride itself per say. If that makes sense.

[anonymouscactus]

If it takes away from the experience and the surprise for you then why watch them?

[Invertalon]

1 minute ago, anonymouscactus said:

If it takes away from the experience and the surprise for you then why watch them?

For me, it really doesn't take away anything from my enjoyment of said ride and doesn't bother me one bit to know what to expect. I just enjoy the rides for what they are. It's cool when things are unexpected and whatnot, but it won't make or break how much I enjoy a ride, especially beyond the first lap. Watching a POV ahead of time ruins nothing for me, but I absolutely get an idea of what to expect given the manufacturer, the elements used, trains utilized, etc... 


 

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

18 hours ago, abovethesink said:

Is anyone else unable to really get much from POVs? I mean I can obviously tell what is happening and where I might feel what sensation, but every single POV I watch gives me the impression that the ride will be significantly slower and less impactful than I actually get. I am not a good candidate for them as a marketing tool, I guess.

Same for me!! I don't understand how people can watch a POV and solidly predict how forceful the ride is going to feel. Most of the time, I underestimate a coaster based on the POV. 

That being said, Iron Gwazi looks AMAZING from the POV and I can't wait to ride it in person! I will do anything to be there next year to ride it!

[prozach626]

22 hours ago, KIEnthusiast said:

Why is B&M bad for offering similar rides, but RMC good for offering similar rides???

For the same reason Togo was bad for offering similar rides, but B&M is good for offering similar rides.

[TrippinBillie]

Just wondering if anyone knows if there's anything pre-hill?  Original Gwazi had a cool drop and mini tunnel cross-over.  I was curious if they did anything with mini bunny hills or that tunnel as a nod to the original?

[BintamiM]

22 hours ago, TrippinBillie said:

Just wondering if anyone knows if there's anything pre-hill?  Original Gwazi had a cool drop and mini tunnel cross-over.  I was curious if they did anything with mini bunny hills or that tunnel as a nod to the original?

No there is not. 

[Jew]

On 11/13/2020 at 2:06 PM, KIEnthusiast said:

Why is B&M bad for offering similar rides, but RMC good for offering similar rides???

New B&M’s are fun, but nothing spectacular.  RMC’s are non stop airtime and forces.