The thing about Thunderation is that you're in line while making your walk - you just don't realize it. That makes the actual standing time less, so maybe that's a good thing. It does cut down on the theming elements, though. I love the lines being so short, but they also make us miss much of that theming that everybody's talking about. Even in FitH, we now wait outside the building and don't snake inside at all, where the explanation of the Baldknobbers is located. (While on FitH, it's a great feature to actually have the live dalmation, don't you think?).
It takes away from the ride, in my opinion, for there to be no wait, no set-up, no anticipation. Waiting allows riders to get nervous and excited and then the ride provides a carthartic release. It's part of the ride. I know I'm weird, but the one time I had to wait for Wildfire and had to go through the overflow line upstairs. There are more invention sketches and optical illusions up there to see, and we miss them all when the lines are too short. (While on WF, is the big bubble "aquarium" really supposed to be fed by turning the wheels? If not, shouldn't it be?) I love it when the giant bubble fills the diameter of the tank.)
I think I saw the Buggywheel of Fortune. If it's the same one, it's in the restaurant at the left corner of Main Street. I think it's used to help make a decision about which food to order. It's just not the same, but at least they didn't just trash it. I may be wrong, but I don't think there's one in the old location since Wildfire was introduced.