My 12-year-old is super into roller coasters. It was either last year or the year before when he finally hit the height requirement to be able to ride Superman at Six Flags, and he hasn't looked back. He absolutely loves Disney's theming, and is dying to get down to see Galaxy's Edge, but he's also perfectly happy to spend the day going from thrill ride to thrill ride at a regular amusement park, too. We typically get down to Orlando every year or so (though this year is a bit out of whack). Now he's talking about wanting to go to Sea World for his next Orlando trip because it has the biggest coasters. He is still a fan of Disney and Universal, but he likes other experiences, too.
Sometimes teens/preteens can have as much (or more) fun at the thrill-type parks. I realize we're on a site dedicated to Disney and Universal, but there's a huge market out there for people who prefer big, fast, adrenaline rushes to the intricate theming that are the hallmarks of Disney and Universal. Right now, as far as my kid is concerned, the faster it spins, the higher it goes, the steeper it drops - the more fun it is.
So, go and enjoy BG on its own merits, and resist the temptation to compare it to Disney. It's not meant to be a Disney imitation - it's different in a good way that just makes it its own thing.