Balancing the thrill
by Eric Sandigo & Brian Szaks
Every summer brings about an array of exciting new attractions, including this year’s amazing SheiKra dive coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Being the only dive coaster in North America, much effort has been made to give this coaster its due credit. Unlike the other two dive coasters in the world, SheiKra not only dives straight down, but also features an Immelman, a second drop, and an incredible water feature defining it as a one-of-a-kind coaster.
While SheiKra balances its riders over the edge of its first terrifying drop, it also is a symbol of the balance that the park has strived to create not only with this individual attraction, but with the park as a whole.
Balancing the Fun
Spectators and little ones who do not quite make the height requirement can enjoy the refreshing mist of the splashy finale created by the 30 foot “rooster tail” during the coaster’s water portion. They can also explore the ruins of the remote African civilization that the ride soars around, over, and through. That is one of the elements behind the “Grandma Rose Theory” of Dan Brown, executive vice president and general manager of the park. “Can my grandma have as much fun on the ground watching the ride as my kids can on it?” asks Dan. Ensuring a great experience for everyone on and off an attraction is a theory that holds true to most of the recent additions to the park.
For instance, on the nearby Tanganyika Tidal Wave, guests are not discouraged from coming up the exit to experience the “bridge splash” that can be found on modern chute the chutes. “We want everyone to have fun,” says Dan. With protective glass covering a portion of the bridge, guests can enjoy the surprise of seeing the giant wave of water without having to wear it. Integrating attractions with the surrounding midways has become second nature for Busch Entertainment Corporation and Mark Rose, vice president of design and engineering for Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Most of the attractions in the park now run over, under or around major midways or minor paths. As Kumba roars around the Congo Bridge, Rhino Rally has a near collision with the attraction’s entry plaza, while the Land Rovers float along a river on an unlikely raft. Designs like this also allow a sneak peak of what’s to come and help build up the anticipation, drawing guests further into the park.
Balancing the Park While Sheikra may lure thrill seekers with its 90° plummet, the immense structure represents the trend of a fresh new variety of seasonal offerings throughout the industry. According to Dan Brown, SheiKra symbolizes a particular “balance” in Busch Entertainment Corporations’ formula. As a general rule, BEC follows a rotating trend of ride, show, and animal habitats when considering new additions to their parks.
There is a small percentage of the general public that can enjoy every thrill ride, every show, every slow attraction, and every animal habitat. That is why it is important to balance a park’s offerings.
After the park closed down its long running and popular ice skating show, a new show of Broadway-production caliber called KaTonga was created. In an attempt to capture a broader audience, the show features live singing, dancing, and puppets to tell colorful stories that appeal to all ages. Directly across from the Moroccan Palace Theatre that houses the production, the Myombe Reserve allows guests of all ages to come face to face with Great Apes from Africa. Then, nearly steps away is the third side of the balance triangle: Montu, which lures thrill seekers with dizzying heights, amazing inversions, and high speed thrills.
Balancing the Illusion
Although Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a theme park, the term “theme” is quickly on its way out. Guests are no longer placed into a theme or themed land; they are immersed in a “realm.” A realm consists of smells, sounds, sights, textures, and even tastes. A realm completely surrounds guests and transports them away from every day reality. That is the new goal of Busch Gardens as they attempt to recreate areas within the park.
Being balanced over the edge of Sheikra in one of its eight seat cars is a thrilling adventure. The excitement of the drop, the adrenaline rush of being dangled facing straight down, the thrilling second drop into the mist filled ruins, and the refreshing splashdown finale all come together to create a great experience. But the experience of balance does not end there, nor will it so long as BEC continues to incorporate “balance” within all of their parks offerings.
