Something odd regarding AAT

[TheStig]

Okay so on sunday I ran up to BGT for the day to catch up on some coaster riding (I haden't ridden a coaster in nearly a month! OMG I know!). So as I walked to Montu, I noticed this sign above Ackbars Adventure Tours. It was kind of supicious that a ride that was closed earlier this year now has a sponsor. So is something going to take it's place? And what do you think it might be?

 

ColinC

Fujifilm?

[CoasterFanatic]

Is it safe to make fun of Muslims again?

[SharkTums]

hahaha, 'something brewing' at BGT...hahaha!

[TheStig]

^Wow I didn't even know I punned there! But yeah....brewing....

 

Colin"Maybe a beer workshop thing like at Epcot?"C

[CoasterCrazy]

Doesn't BGW have a beer work shop?

[socalMAN123]

Everything at BGT is sponsored by something! Well, I don't think it's something new, probably just a rehab.

---Brent 8)

[Slacking]

3rd Dementia which was the haunted house that occupied Akbar's building this year for HOS was sponsored by FujiFilm. I'm thinking they jsut enver bothered taking the sign down.

[Erik Johnson]

Okay so on sunday I ran up to BGT for the day to catch up on some coaster riding (I haden't ridden a coaster in nearly a month! OMG I know!). So as I walked to Montu, I noticed this sign above Ackbars Adventure Tours. It was kind of supicious that a ride that was closed earlier this year now has a sponsor. So is something going to take it's place? And what do you think it might be?

 

ColinC

 

Dang it, while I did not post a photo TR. We were at BGT again all that that Sunday. Oh well, sorry I did not see you. I loved the 5 minute wait for SheiKra that day.

[Homer]

Akbar's is not coming back...

 

Akbar opened in 1998 as a family attraction in Egypt as a retheme from the Questor film. Sometime in 2002, the ride barely operated and only operated about twice a year in 2003.

 

It last operated around Dec. 2004/Jan. 2005. Main reason is for maintenance, since the ride constantly broke down the days it last operated.

 

The reason behind the closure was due to maintainence. But, the ride would still operate today if it weren't for a legal issue. At one time, Busch considered grabbing mechanical parts from Wild Arctic to modify on Akbar's. One problem though, Akbar's pods were done by another company. In Florida, its illegal to modify the ride using other parts (as a safety issue). The company that made Akbar's went out of business, so they couldn't get another part. So, Busch decided to let the thing rot. Tis' a shame, probably the best family show/ride there...

 

EDIT, heres a quote from FloridaThrills member Jes. I think it explains everything clearer than my post:

1)The Wild Artic Ride was built by SimEx. If they could have used the parts from SimEx, why wouldn't they have just kept the ride running with foreign parts?

 

2)It is "illegal", if you will, to use outside parts from a different manufacturer without the modification being approved by the original manufacturer, in accordance with the ASTM, American Societey for Testing & Materials. This self adopted code is used by nearly everyone in the Amusement Park industry. I would be very surprised if Busch Gardens would be caught violating an ASTM rule.

[TheStig]

Erik, man how did we not run into each other?!?! It was dead the whole day! Maybe next time though, which will be over winter break for me.

 

As for AAT, I don't think that the sign was left over from HOS. I went up about 3 weeks ago and there was no sign there. I wish they would put in a drop tower of some sort in it's place as it COULD fit, but with the Clydsdale (sp?) exibit attached to the same building, it doesnt seem reasonable. Oh well, we shal wait and see.

 

Colin C

[Slacking]

I went to BGT the Friday after Thanksgiving (almost 2 weeks ago), and the Fujifilm sign was there then.

 

I do think that if it was for HOS it should have been taken down by now, but like I said Fujifilm sponsored the house that was in that location, so I'm only trying to use a bit of logic.