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Kumba at Busch Gardens Tampa closing August 2nd; "Kumba's Revenge" planned

toofpikk said:
There were rumours like 10 years ago that Kumba was on it's way out. It's been one of those lingering OAPs for a while. I felt lucky to ride it a couple years ago - I guess maybe some people see it as one of those forever attractions because it has been around and been reasonably iconic for so long, but you are kind of a fool if this announcement infuriates you unless you've been spited. Sure maybe they could've announced it a month earlier or waited to close it til the end of the season, but it's hardly an attraction that warrants a trip in the same way that arieforce does.
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I respectfully disagree. Haha

But it's all matters of opinion, If I had a chance I'd go reride Kumba rather than ride AF1 for the first time. I love strong positive forces and so far have found the RMCs I've ridden "fine" but overrated for my personal taste.

Kumba is one of my favourites coasters and my favourite in Florida by a country mile (I've not ridden either IG or IOAs new Intamins)

It's been an iconic coaster for many of us, and like Ian it's photos were an huge part of my early enthusasthood. A ride that was exotic and way bigger and better than what we had here.

It was also B&Ms real breakout ride and the start of their legendary run of 90s coasters. Sure the Batman rides were exciting but Kumba came out a year after Drachen Fire and completely reinvented the modern looping coaster. None of these small loops high in the air like Viper and Shockwave, Kumba just put in a massive loop and wrapped it round the lift for added effect, the inversions werent necessarly new but they were huge refinements on what we had before. And it was super smooth.

I'm rambling a bit but Kumba was a statement and a revelation when it opened. And while over the years it's lost some of its lustre I for one will be immensely sad to see it go.
 
As someone who has never ridden AF1 or Kumba, I'm glad I've got a last minute trip booked to ride AF1. And if both closures had been announced at the same time, I'd probably have gone for the trip I have still.

I'm gutted to not get a chance to ride Kumba, but at the same time, it's never had a particularly big for me. Not sure why, as it looks cool and reviews are all positive. But yeah, just never had the 'it' factor to draw me to it...
 
I wish they had announced it two-weeks earlier so I could've extended my ATL trip. I'm glad I got to ride it back in 2022. The zero-g roll into the cobra roll is incredible, it reminds of Fury's treble clef moment with how disorienting it is.

I hate losing any Stengel creations especially B&M and Intamin ones. The 2nd train on Iron Gwazi and Montu both need to be refurbished, and Cheetah Hunt needs a complete overhaul by Intamin. Surely, BGT could've waited announced a proper closure for 2027, while resolving the above issues.
 
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The legend lives on.. Surely this is going to be a retrack?
 
I think it could be a retrack, despite Busch Gardens seemingly advertising to the contrary at present. If they do retrack, I wouldn’t be stunned if they do floorless trains; despite them arguably being somewhat of a pointless gimmick outside of the front row, I think it would be an easy new selling point for a retrack of the ride.

At very least, I think Kumba’s Revenge will have some sort of homage to the original ride even if it isn’t a retrack. If they weren’t wanting to do something nostalgic, I don’t think they’d have bothered keeping the Kumba name alive.
 
Stick a hulk style launch on it, floorless trains and a modified inversion/swooping drop into the old Kumba layout retracked from loop onwards and I'd be pretty happy.

They'd also be able to say most inversions in the Americas as it would tie with Steel Curtain and Avalancha
 
roomraider said:
Stick a hulk style launch on it, floorless trains and a modified inversion/swooping drop into the old Kumba layout retracked from loop onwards and I'd be pretty happy.

They'd also be able to say most inversions in the Americas as it would tie with Steel Curtain and Avalancha
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I kinda like this idea - it'd be a neat way to reclaim that record, although it might be a bit too similar to Hulk. And really, are they just going to do something entirely different?..
 
Something something survey markers
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Source

A couple of these aren't very close to the coaster. Makes you wonder if the new thing is going to have a drastically expanded footprint. There's alot of backstage parking lot they can straddle overtop of.
 
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