Busch Gardens Tampa
Sheikra
May 22nd - May 23rd 2005
Robert Traveled to BGT/SWF/IOA on Sunday May 22nd and Monday May 23rd. Click on each picture to make it big, then back to return here.
It seems like forever since Robert wrote BGT an angry e-mail screaming for a new coaster. He had done this many times, and received a generic response. However, this time Robert told them he was going to stop drinking Budweiser beer, and they responded, saying his fridge would be full of Bud again soon. The e-mail was posted on www.bgtguide.com and then nothing was heard for a couple months until Josh uncovered the plans that proved the e-mail was true. After years of waiting, the day finally came, a new coaster, and what a coaster it is.
This is what you can expect if you arrive on a weekend or summer day. The line starts at the bird aviary, winds down a walkway path, and then you are greeted with 3 huge "S" lines that go 100 yards each. At least you have a great view of the coaster going down the first drop. On Sunday, my wait was 1:45. Some were saying the wait was 3 hours, but the line moves quickly, and you'll get there. Don't listen to these people exaggerating the wait, even the guards had it wrong. On Monday the wait was 60 minutes, then dropped to 30 minutes by the afternoon.
Once inside the building, the wait time is 30 minutes, this is what you see, each bridge is a line for a row of the coaster. A ride op will put you in a line, but if you wait for him to pass and turn his back, you can switch rows. The ride op at the top assigning rows really isn't needed, but I guess they want to keep the line moving for now. It doesn't matter, every seat is a good one.
This is what you see once you go up the stairs. Turn the corner and there's the ride as it heads up the lift hill. A light hangs low enough for people to jump and make it swing. You'll remember this when you visit.
Let's take a ride. Here we are going up the lift, a nice view of Tampa to the left, and then the drop. My Sony V1 has a way to shoot 3 pictures in a row. Here is what it looks like just as the train is released. You can view the temporary canopies to the left of the track that offer shade to those waiting in line. Here they are empty, but on a busy day, you'll wait 1 hour in them and the entire walkway will be full of people. You'll notice other trains heading into the station. To the top middle, you can spot people entering the main building. You can see the back of the facade where you pass under the Sheikra sign, then into the station itself. That huge silo next to the station is where you exit, down a spiral staircase which leads to the picture area. You exit the ride from the same area you entered. Guards stand there making sure no one sneaks into the line. They will also tell you to put your bag in a locker if they see it.
Same pictures as above, just another ride, the sun is shining in this one so they turn out much brighter.
Here's the drop into the tunnel also taken from two different rides. Looks like they have some work to do. On the ride, you can barely see the tunnel anyway, it's all a blur once the coaster starts going down. To the right of the 1st picture, a nice view of the tables where people eat after exiting the smokehouse. The people on the side of the water area do not get wet. The water is thrown forward into the net you see in pictures 2 and 3.
Taken 07/28/05. Two pictures of the tunnel with the mist working.
Sorry, the first picture is out of focus for the splashdown. The train turns to the right and into the station.
Awwwww, it's over. Time to get in line and go again.
Now what you've all been waiting for, the POVs. Right click each link and Save As to your hard drive. Or click the link and it will open with your default Media player.
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/SheikraFrontRow.MPG (36 megs)
What can I say, after waiting an hour and 45 minutes, this was my first ride, and worth the wait. Most of it was a blur. Smooth ride, people screaming, lots of fun.
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/SheikraBackRow.MPG (28 megs)
Some have said the back right row is the best seat in the house, let's find out. This one starts out already at the top of the lift looking at Tampa in the distance. After the splashdown, there is some water that hits the riders in the back row, as the camera gets some water on the lens.
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/SheikraTour.wmv (9 megs)
Matt Hurless took my video, Josh Caudill's videos from CoasterJoe, and made his own version. This one has onride/offride footage with music and is a reduced size.
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/SheikraTour2.wmv (9 megs)
Matt went back, took his time, and made an even better Sheikra video.
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/BuschGardensParkofSteel.wmv (9 megs)
Matt made a video that combines everything for BGT. He used the onride videos, off ride videos from Josh Caudill and Normand Snook, pictures from myself and Orlando Rocks, music from AC/DC and Modest Mouse. This one turned out really nice and is something you'd find on a TV show.
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/Kumba.wmv (9 megs)
Matt makes a video of Kumba all by itself using footage my video and offride footage from Normand Snook. Pictures are used courtesy of RCDB.
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/Kumba2.wmv (9 megs)
This is basically the same video, just has a complete POV which includes the ending of the ride.
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/Montu.wmv (9 megs)
Here's Matts version of the Montu video, again using footage from myself, Normand Snook, with pictures from RCDB.
I lost my keys on the ride, but lucky for me, had a spare taped to the inside bumper of my car with duct tape. Make sure you tie your keys to a shoe lace, or put them in a pocket with a Velcro strap. Same goes for cell phones and money in your pockets. The seats are reclined, and when you go up the lift, you are practically laying flat on your back. If you lose something, you can't get it back until after the park closes, and at the time of writing this, the area under the ride is still a construction zone. I called BGT two days later, they found my keys and mailed them to me for free.
Having dodged the little mishap with my keys, I headed to the smoke house to celebrate. It's served cafeteria style, and you can see the menu up above.
Yum, there's all kinds of nice treats behind the glass displays.
This is what I enjoyed, half rack with fries, baked mac and cheese, and a tall Bud. BGT told me in the e-mail reply, that I'd be drinking Bud again, and they were right. Here's to you BGT for a great ride. Now let's do something like this for BGW. The above pictures are taken from where I was sitting. In picture 2, birdies are waiting for any handouts. In picture 3, you can see the splash down from the wood deck where people eat. In pictures 4 thru 7, I'm sitting, eating my food, and this is what I'm looking at. The view and sounds you hear are amazing, this is an atmosphere for the coaster fan if there ever was one. To the left, I could always hear Sheikra, whether it be a train going up the lift, over the drop, over the 2nd drop, or thru the splashdown. To the right, was the Tidalwave crashing down into the water.
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/SheikraFromSmokeHouse.MPG (9 megs)
The above video is what it looks like when sitting at the smoke house. The ride starts at the 2nd drop, goes thru the splash down, and back into the station. Bring some extra money and have lunch at the smokehouse, it's worth it. Listen to that quiet B&M roar, sounds good doesn't it?
A few pictures of the kids playing in the splash area. People standing in line also get splashed just after the candy crossing. In these pictures, the line is short and no one is waiting this far back. But on a weekend, the line goes in front of the building you see, and the water reaches that far. You can move out of the way if you don't want to get splashed. It actually feels good on a hot day.
I'd also like to send out thanks to www.johnnyupsidedown.com for his hard work on bringing us construction updates (clap, clap, clap). And Josh for getting the inside scoop on the plans and his latest video. http://www.coasterjoe.com (clap, clap, clap). And a job well done to www.bgtguide.com for their news updates and support of the ride (clap, clap, clap).
After riding Sheikra, it was time to go on the other coasters. Below are POVs of each.
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/KumbaFrontRow.MPG (29 megs)
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/MontuFrontRow.MPG (23 megs)
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/MontuBackRow.MPG (22 megs)
Next up, a visit to SWF to ride Kracken.
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/KrackenFrontRow.MPG (29 megs)
http://www.quatraine3.com/videos2005/JourneyToAtlantis.MPG (121 megs).
A full POV on Journey to Atlantis at SWF. Many of the effects are not working, and I've since found out why. The electronics, being in a wet building, tend to wear out quickly, and fixing them costs too much money. That's why the San Diego version is more of an outdoor roller coaster, than an indoor dark ride.
Those wishing to use my pictures or videos may do so. Please give me a credit using NoGodForMe or my real name Robert Viands.
End of Report. Thanks for reading.
Email me at nogodforme@bellsouth.net.