In 2007 I was excited that Herschend Family Entertainment ( www.hfecorp.com ) took on the responsibility of owning Wild Adventures. Herschend already had two great parks in Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, TN) and Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO). Fast forward eight years later, and the only rollercoaster added to Wild Adv is a relocated (from the defunct Celebration City in Branson, MO) gloried carnival coaster named 'Viking Voyage'.
Wild Adv only has one custom coaster in the wooden coaster 'Cheetah' built in 2000 and the rest of the coasters are all relocated coasters (like Twisted Typhoon FKA Hangman) or clones like 'Boomerang'. Dollywood and Silver Dollar City are constantly adding new coasters (2012 'Wild Eagle' in Dollywood; 2013 'Outlaw Run' in Silver Dollar City; 2014 'Firechaser Express' in Dollywood; All of Dollywood's and SDC's coasters are custom, and I'm aware that those parks have a longer history than Wild Adv. My question is when is Wild Adv gonna get that non-cookie cutter, non-relocated, custom thrilling centerpiece coaster?
Wild Adventures http://rcdb.com/4703.htm
Silver Dollar City http://rcdb.com/4579.htm
Dollywood http://rcdb.com/4593.htm
Not sure. I know they add a ride each year. Since they got bought they added a whole water park so it's not as if they're standing still.
It's a great Park and an amazing value, especially vs going to see the rat.
^^^You're right that Wild Adv value is great, and they have been adequately adding flatrides and waterslides to the park. Unfortunately so has virtually every other park out there, even smaller parks. Look at Holiday World in Indiana, smaller than Wild Adv with a world class waterpark, arguably the best wooden coaster collection on the planet (not to mention adding a brand new wing coaster named Thunderbird this year) and it's adequately adding new flatrides often.
Waterparks are very popular and great for families, so it's very commonplace for theme parks to constantly add on attractions to their waterparks. There are alot of people like me who are 'dry park' people, and are looking mainly for the coasters; The waterpark is a whole new planet that many people like myself have no interest in visiting (like I said, still they are very popular). I've ridden 239 coasters in the US, so I'm very keen concerning the quality of coasters; Lets bring down Wild Adv's coasters:
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Twisted Typhoon: A very typical cheaper made cookie cutter suspended inverting coaster (nicknamed a Hang N Bang) made by the company Vekoma. That type is often known for giving a rough ride (which it does)
Boomerang: An unbearably rough VERY commonplace facsimile shuttle also made by Vekoma. Some of these inverting shuttles are smoother than others, but unfortunately this one is brutally rough.
Cheetah: The only custom coaster in the park. It's a CCI wooden coaster, that's a tad rough but not too bad. It's pretty fun.
Swamp Thing: Again Vekoma, ugh! they call this one a 'Hang N Bang Jr'. It's an okay ride that's more of a family coaster.
Go Bananas!: A commonplace rough (lateral G's) wild mouse made by Maurer AG.
Viking Voyage: A carnival-esque coaster that's basically a fill in for Herschend to say "Hey, we got you guys a 'new' coaster!" The coaster is just okay, but it's a weird fit for Wild Adv with it's wild mouse-like style (and Go Bananas! already there).
Ant Farm Express: A good Vekoma junior coaster (Vekoma is good with kiddie coasters, with very FEW exceptions on the adult coaster side).
Another coaster in the lineup of Dollywood; Lightning Rod for 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFXbryGHMuw. Herschend Family Entertainment's lack of bringing a NEW (not used) coaster to Wild Adventures is starting to get comical, and it's painfully obvious. Even a freaking very small boardwalk park on the Jersey Shore (Playland's Castaway Cove) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hetb9wXsKUk is even getting a very thrilling unique coaster that's most likely better than all of the coasters in Wild Adv.
Now do us all a favor and disassemble the whole park and move it to I-95/295 South! Cha Ching!
NO!!! NO!!! NOOOOO!!!! Dinos for 2016, sigh...While Dollywood, Wild Adventure's sister park is adding a very exciting attraction for 2016, the first ever launched wooden coaster named 'Lightning Rod' http://rcdb.com/13369.htm Wild Adv is adding Dinos, yuppie!!!! SMDH... This dino concept already FAILED at Cedar Fair parks; Guests lost interest in them. Hey, maybe Wild Adv think it's 2012 all over again!!! I'm now convinced that Wild Adv isn't a Herschend park, it can't be with these decisions...
http://www.wildadventures.com/PlanYourVisit/Newfor2016/tabid/834/Default.aspx?icid=Dinosaurs%20Announcement%20R
http://www.screamscape.com/html/wild_adventures.htm
Herschend is a well run company. They are not going to pump good money into a bad product. Wild Adventures just doesn't have good prospects of being a sucessful park. The park is 3 hrs from Atlanta, 2 hours from Jax, and 2 hours from Tallahassee. For a run-of the mill amustment park, it is not hard for people along I-75 (Macon and north) to just go to Six Flags. Most people in FL are within a 2-3 hour drive to Orlando for the best parks in the world.
The current concept as a zoo/amusement park has a tough time drawing Florida residents given Busch Gardens is within a day's drive and provides a world-class zoo with a great selection of coasters and Animal Kingdom is on the verge of a $500 million Avatar themed expansion.
From what I've heard from friends who have visited Wild Adventures: 1) Good- It's cheap and not too bad of a drive 2) the experience is also cheap and not worth the drive.
The cost of a new custom B&M coaster is about $15 million and the cost of a rock Rocky Mountain Wooden coaster can cross $20 million, The economics of this park just don't warrant the investment. Perhaps starting fresh and relocating the park South of the GA border directly along I-75 or I-10 would help a great deal.
Florida really needs a Cedar Point class coaster park, but no way I see Wild Adventures transforming into that any time soon.
Quote from: I-10east on December 17, 2015, 11:38:36 AM
NO!!! NO!!! NOOOOO!!!! Dinos for 2016, sigh...While Dollywood, Wild Adventure's sister park is adding a very exciting attraction for 2016, the first ever launched wooden coaster named 'Lightning Rod' http://rcdb.com/13369.htm Wild Adv is adding Dinos, yuppie!!!! SMDH... This dino concept already FAILED at Cedar Fair parks; Guests lost interest in them. Hey, maybe Wild Adv think it's 2012 all over again!!! I'm now convinced that Wild Adv isn't a Herschend park, it can't be with these decisions...
http://www.wildadventures.com/PlanYourVisit/Newfor2016/tabid/834/Default.aspx?icid=Dinosaurs%20Announcement%20R
http://www.screamscape.com/html/wild_adventures.htm
From that 2nd link you sent:
"(12/16/15) I'm told that Wild Adventures may be planning something BIG for 2016 and will make their announcement all about it sometime today. Could they be ready for a new coaster? Stay tuned for the big announcement."
So maybe a new coaster?
I don't think WA is cheap, I think it's got great rides, is a great value and beats the pants off of going to Orlando & re-financing your house to go see the rat.
Maybe I'm turning in to a grumpy old man though...
Quote from: coredumped on December 17, 2015, 03:28:29 PM
Quote from: I-10east on December 17, 2015, 11:38:36 AM
NO!!! NO!!! NOOOOO!!!! Dinos for 2016, sigh...While Dollywood, Wild Adventure's sister park is adding a very exciting attraction for 2016, the first ever launched wooden coaster named 'Lightning Rod' http://rcdb.com/13369.htm Wild Adv is adding Dinos, yuppie!!!! SMDH... This dino concept already FAILED at Cedar Fair parks; Guests lost interest in them. Hey, maybe Wild Adv think it's 2012 all over again!!! I'm now convinced that Wild Adv isn't a Herschend park, it can't be with these decisions...
http://www.wildadventures.com/PlanYourVisit/Newfor2016/tabid/834/Default.aspx?icid=Dinosaurs%20Announcement%20R
http://www.screamscape.com/html/wild_adventures.htm
From that 2nd link you sent:
"(12/16/15) I'm told that Wild Adventures may be planning something BIG for 2016 and will make their announcement all about it sometime today. Could they be ready for a new coaster? Stay tuned for the big announcement."
So maybe a new coaster?
I don't think WA is cheap, I think it's got great rides, is a great value and beats the pants off of going to Orlando & re-financing your house to go see the rat.
Maybe I'm turning in to a grumpy old man though...
I've never been - but was always curious. Is there enough there for a decent day out (and to justify the drive)?
Adam, I think so. If you go in the summer admission includes the price of the water park (be sure to check their calendar though).
For the little ones they have a very small zoo.
For teens and up they have some decent roller coasters. And the raptor looks lame but it's actually super fun.
Dining there is sub part, even for an amusement park, but Valdosta is right outside the gate, so we usually hit it up on our way out of town, or even Lake City.
Sorry, that I'm late.
Quote from: coredumped on December 17, 2015, 03:28:29 PM
From that 2nd link you sent:
"(12/16/15) I'm told that Wild Adventures may be planning something BIG for 2016 and will make their announcement all about it sometime today. Could they be ready for a new coaster? Stay tuned for the big announcement."
^^That news (12/16/15) is outdated rumor mill news. That news that I'm referring to with the Dinos (posted 12/17/15) is currently up to date.
Quote(12/17/15) Wild Adventures made their announcement about their BIG new attraction... and unfortunately it was more of a bust. Instead of a new ride, the park will add a new land filled with giant Dinosaur figures... much like Cedar Fair was doing several years ago by adding various "Dinosaur's Alive" exhibits to several of their parks. The bad news for Cedar Fair was that after the first year or two, the public lost interest in these Dinosaur exhibits and now they sit while only a small trickle of traffic wanders through.
The good news for Wild Adventures is that their new Dinosaurs exhibit is only going to be at the park for the 2016 season, and admission is actually included with 2016 Season Passes as well.
Quote from: Adam White on December 17, 2015, 05:08:28 PM
I've never been - but was always curious. Is there enough there for a decent day out (and to justify the drive)?
I say no, esp if you're/your family are going for the dry park (opposed to the water park). I won't go until they add a decent thrilling coaster. The coasters Boomerang & Twisted Typhoon IMO have passed their service life and they should be retired; They are extremely rough. Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure used to very good, then it quickly got very rough due to the nonstop operating season since '99; They removed and scrapped the track this year to replace it in the future.
Quote from: chipwich on December 17, 2015, 03:19:16 PM
Herschend is a well run company. They are not going to pump good money into a bad product. Wild Adventures just doesn't have good prospects of being a sucessful park. The park is 3 hrs from Atlanta, 2 hours from Jax, and 2 hours from Tallahassee. For a run-of the mill amustment park, it is not hard for people along I-75 (Macon and north) to just go to Six Flags. Most people in FL are within a 2-3 hour drive to Orlando for the best parks in the world.
The current concept as a zoo/amusement park has a tough time drawing Florida residents given Busch Gardens is within a day's drive and provides a world-class zoo with a great selection of coasters and Animal Kingdom is on the verge of a $500 million Avatar themed expansion.
From what I've heard from friends who have visited Wild Adventures: 1) Good- It's cheap and not too bad of a drive 2) the experience is also cheap and not worth the drive.
The cost of a new custom B&M coaster is about $15 million and the cost of a rock Rocky Mountain Wooden coaster can cross $20 million, The economics of this park just don't warrant the investment. Perhaps starting fresh and relocating the park South of the GA border directly along I-75 or I-10 would help a great deal.
Florida really needs a Cedar Point class coaster park, but no way I see Wild Adventures transforming into that any time soon.
Being extremely apathetic concerning adding decent coasters certainly isn't helping Herschend to bring those guests to Wild Adv either. I don't necessarily think that a park being near a metro or being within regional 'competition' that's 3 or more hours away are big factors. Look at Holiday World, it's in the armpit of America (Santa Claus, IN) and some hours drive from certain parks, but it has added great coasters and a great water park relatively recently, and it's doing fine.
Cedar Point coaster class parks are very rare and hard to come by; At this point, even a 'Valleyfair class coaster park' would be a huge improvement, concerning adding new patrons to Wild Adv. The way I see it, Herschend could atleast try to add one just one thrilling coaster there (maybe a Gerstlauer Eurofighter for 9-10 mil) or they can just close the dry park selling off rides and rename the place "Wild Water Adventures" with a water park only. That first option to me would make more sense.
Quote from: coredumped on December 17, 2015, 06:15:25 PM
Adam, I think so. If you go in the summer admission includes the price of the water park (be sure to check their calendar though).
For the little ones they have a very small zoo.
For teens and up they have some decent roller coasters. And the raptor looks lame but it's actually super fun.
Dining there is sub part, even for an amusement park, but Valdosta is right outside the gate, so we usually hit it up on our way out of town, or even Lake City.
Thanks for the info. I-10 mentioned it wouldn't be worth it without the water park and I think I'd want to do that if possible. Might be something to consider for next summer.
Quote from: I-10east on December 20, 2015, 12:09:53 AM
Quote from: Adam White on December 17, 2015, 05:08:28 PM
I've never been - but was always curious. Is there enough there for a decent day out (and to justify the drive)?
I say no, esp if you're/your family are going for the dry park (opposed to the water park). I won't go until they add a decent thrilling coaster. The coasters Boomerang & Twisted Typhoon IMO have passed their service life and they should be retired; They are extremely rough. Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure used to very good, then it quickly got very rough due to the nonstop operating season since '99; They removed and scrapped the track this year to replace it in the future.
Thanks I-10. Are you saying they got rid of the Hulk at Islands of Adventure? That ride was great! I hadn't been to that park until January 2011. I don't know why it took me so long. But I loved the Hulk. I was hoping to get to ride it again someday. Will probably go back for the Harry Potter stuff anyway.
^The Hulk will be back Adam! It's just temporarily down for refurbishment. I believe Fall 2016 is the date I heard for the reopening.
I'm one of those who've never been to WA. If I'm making that drive, I get more value driving back home to Central Florida. Hit a park on the cheap and get a Sunday dinner out of mom!
Quote from: KenFSU on December 20, 2015, 11:43:03 AM
^The Hulk will be back Adam! It's just temporarily down for refurbishment. I believe Fall 2016 is the date I heard for the reopening.
Excellent!
Central Florida has cheap parks? Isn't just parking at the rat now something like $22?
When I lived in central Florida, sea world was always the best value, but still more than WA.
"Hometown discount". Thousands work at various parks down there. Thus, I've never paid to get into a Disney park. Even, when Legoland opened, I was able to take advantage of a few great deals. The last one I paid to go to was Sea World. However, two of my tickets were free.
Quote from: Adam White on December 20, 2015, 03:56:20 AM
Thanks for the info. I-10 mentioned it wouldn't be worth it without the water park and I think I'd want to do that if possible. Might be something to consider for next summer.
Fair enough. I like to say if you haven't been to a particular place that you're thinking about visiting, try it for yourself atleast once. I was just saying that opinion from my perspective, as I been there multiple times.
Quote from: Adam White on December 20, 2015, 03:58:05 AM
Thanks I-10. Are you saying they got rid of the Hulk at Islands of Adventure? That ride was great! I hadn't been to that park until January 2011. I don't know why it took me so long. But I loved the Hulk. I was hoping to get to ride it again someday. Will probably go back for the Harry Potter stuff anyway.
Quote from: KenFSU on December 20, 2015, 11:43:03 AM
^The Hulk will be back Adam! It's just temporarily down for refurbishment. I believe Fall 2016 is the date I heard for the reopening.
Yeah, it will be back in 2016 which technically is an entire different coaster than the former "Incredible Hulk". IMO the word 'replacement' is more suitable than 'refurbishment' as all of the coaster track has came down. It will be interesting to see it the name 2016 name will be tweaked with, like ie a hypothetical "Hulk's Revenge".
I used to really love the two inverts at IOA when they was known as Dueling Dragons (now Dragon Challenge; with the Harry Potter theme). They used to duel in synchronization, but due to some people getting hurt by loose objects they stopped dueling them. Now they run the coasters 'staggered' opposed to in synchronization. If I had to guess, I bet it was that some bad ass kids was throwing stuff at the opposing trains, SMH..Always think the worst case scenario when people are involved with anything.
QuoteUniversal Orlando said this week it has decided to permanently end the practice of launching the two coasters simultaneously. The resort now bills the attraction as a "high-speed chase between two coasters."
That decision follows an internal investigation into two summer accidents in which riders were apparently struck by loose objects while aboard the attraction. One was gruesome: A 52-year-old Puerto Rico man suffered a lacerated right eye and ultimately had to have the eyeball removed, according to his lawyer.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-10-19/travel/os-universal-dragon-challenge-20111018_1_roller-coasters-wizarding-world-theme-parks
Quote from: I-10east on December 21, 2015, 08:23:36 AM
Quote from: Adam White on December 20, 2015, 03:56:20 AM
Thanks for the info. I-10 mentioned it wouldn't be worth it without the water park and I think I'd want to do that if possible. Might be something to consider for next summer.
Fair enough. I like to say if you haven't been to a particular place that you're thinking about visiting, try it for yourself atleast once. I was just saying that opinion from my perspective, as I been there multiple times.
No, I appreciate it. I will likely go at some point - though will try to keep my expectations in check.