Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

Wow it really is close to Apollo's Chariot!

Is it just me or does this look different from the other Premier launched coasters..?

Oh wow, those colors aren't great. Do we know when they might announce this?

I must be the only one who likes the color scheme.

I don't have an issue with the blue track but the orange supports just don't seem "right" for BGW. They usually come up with better color schemes for their rides and I am surprised they used this for Pasta: The Ride.

I must be the only one who likes the color scheme.

I think it's an interesting color scheme too. The orange supports are a bit out of the ordinary, but I actually like unusual color schemes for the most part. I don't understand why they haven't announced it yet. We all know it is coming, so they have nothing to hide by procrastinating on this announcement .

Well if it's going in the Italian part of the park then the color scheme should be annoying, just like Italians!

Joking aside, I actually like the colors, and I think the ride is a great addition to the park.

I think the color scheme is OK. Festa Italia is the most colorful area of the park, and I imagine there will be some more changes to help the new ride fit in.

This will add some what capacity to the park, but imagine those four hour lines!

Is there any way Robb can set up an automatic word filter for Tempesto. I vote on changing it to "The Pasta Coaster".

I am trying to fit the color scheme with the whole pasta theme. I get the orange. I'm thinking a vodka sauce, mmmn. But the blue track has me stumped. Maybe smurf pasta ? Meatball colored cars maybe? This is going to be fun seeing how it all ends up. OK, Me be quiet now.

This will add some what capacity to the park, but imagine those four hour lines!

 

Is there any way Robb can set up an automatic word filter for Tempesto. I vote on changing it to "The Pasta Coaster".

Well, being as the name (much less the ride) hasn't been "confirmed" by the park yet, that may be jumping the gun.

Hopefully, with the progression on the ride that seems to be going, it will be open by April, as we plan to go to BGW and KD then. It's sortta our early season parks to go to because the crowds are lower and the weather isn't usually too bad for us floridians.

^I wouldn't get your hopes up too high, as BGW tends to open new attractions in May, closer to Memorial Day weekend. But you never know.

Well if it's going in the Italian part of the park then the color scheme should be annoying, just like Italians!

 

Joking aside, I actually like the colors, and I think the ride is a great addition to the park.

Poor Joke to begin with. Anyway, if they wanted a good color scheme why not make it look like the italian flag?

^And then they could have a great them song to play in the loading station. (from back in my childhood) On top of spaghetti, all covered in cheese, I lost my poor meatball, when somebody sneezed, LAAUNCH ! I hope they do have previews in April, if not, looks like another trip. Yipee !

Opening Night of Christmas Town 2014

TPR was invited to check out this year's version of Christmas Town at Busch Gardens on Friday, November 21. And it really felt like Christmas Town that night with temperatures in the low 30s and some pretty wicked wind chill. But, hey, "Jack Frost nipping at your nose," and all that--it just helps set the mood. Well, that and more than eight million Christmas lights.

The entire park, with the rather odd exception of the Sesame Street Forest of Fun, participates in Christmas Town. Holiday Hills in Festa Italia sports "retro" decorations, much like you would've seen in a small town in the 1940s or '50s. Italy glows with silver and gold lights, while Oktoberfest's decorations are more colorful and boisterous. France is, once again, celebrating the "12 Days of Christmas" with white trees and, lavender lights, and penguins (yes, the Antarctic birds are back again). Ireland is, of course, very green. The single most spectacular display is the Polar Pathway by Escape from Pompeii, where you can have your picture taken with a Coca Cola polar bear.

So, what's new at Christmas Town this year? The big attraction is the new show in the Globe Theatre: Scrooge No More, which is the park's take on Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the story: Ebeneezer Scrooge, thanks to the intercession of three different Christmas spirits, transforms from a miserable, miserly misanthrope into a rather giddy, good-heated, "God bless us, everyone" generous gent--all in about 30 minutes (at least at Busch Gardens). Yes, it is a rather fast-moving version of Dickens's story, with an original score. While I don't think you'll be humming the tunes when you leave, the show takes full advantage of the new projection and sound upgrades the park made this year, and even includes a little flying around (I didn't know they'd installed a flying rig, too). Good staging and an energetic cast playing multiple roles make for a good addition to Christmas Town--very enjoyable for families. All of England is pretty much themed to enhance the new show (much as it was for London Rocks and Monster Stomp on Ripper Row earlier this year).

The park's other shows are all holdovers from previous seasons: Deck the Halls in the Festhaus, Gloria in the Abbeystone Theatre, Miracles in the Teatro di San Marco, and O Tannenbaum, the synchronized lights-and-music show in front of the Festhaus.

There is, of course, plenty of holiday fare to choose from at the park's restaurants. The park treated us to Santa's Fireside Feast in Castle O'Sullivan in Ireland, which featured a very nice turkey dinner, as well as a chance to have your photo taken with the "Right Jolly Old Elf." Santa also tells the story of "Twas the Night Before Christmas," and Mrs. Claus and her elves work the room to make sure all their guests are happy (and that they've saved room for some very good cookies). One odd thing: the only beverage available was water, from what I could tell. I don't recall seeing a single soft drink there. You can get a steak sandwich, as well as turkey, at the Festhaus. Dickens' Tavern (or Squire's Grill) in England offers clam chowder and carved ham. The park also offers a buffet in heated tents in the Black Forest picnic area behind the Festhaus, as well as Dasher's Diner in Holiday Hills. There are traditional Christmas goodies everywhere, and a good selection of adult beverages, such as egg nog at Grogan's, spiced wine in Germany, and an intriguing gingerbread IPA (which I still need to check out) in England. You can also purchase a souvenir mug, which you can refill with hot chocolate for only 99 cents.

Verbolten is the only coaster that runs during Christmas Town, and you can also ride the sky way (called the "Flight of Lights"), the train, and most of the park's flat rides. Mach Tower operates in "elevator mode" as "Nacht Tower."

Here's a look at how Busch Gardens celebrates the Holiday Season.

The ever-festive bag check area.

The park is also working with the US Marines' "Toys for Tots" program this year. I'll be sure to bring something to donate when I visit the park again.

I wonder if the creepy "Cursed" guy from Howl-o-Scream had to decorate this tree. His cell was here just a month ago.

England is all dolled up for "Scrooge No More."

Here's a bit of "repurposing": This creepy pub from Howl-o-Scream is now the equally creepy offices of Scrooge & Marley for Christmas Town.

These wreaths are new for this season.

This is one of many photo-op spots in the park.

"Dickens Tavern: Serving the Public since 1843. Have some ham. You know you want it."

Here's where they were serving the gingerbread IPA, as well as other Christmasy concoctions.

The highland cows wish you "Happy Christmas."

Coca Cola is sponsoring the Polar Pathway this year.

Careful--you just might end up on You Tube.

The soccer game has been replaced with snowballs.

There was a brief lighting ceremony at the Festhaus to kick off Christmas Town.

Park president Carl Lum said a few words, . . .

. . . which were hard to hear because of this helicopter.

A switch was thrown, streamers went up . . . then nothing happened until, I guess, someone plugged in the extension cord. But all the lights came on, and Christmas Town was officially open!

Festive gaming and gambols, anyone?

Who could turn down a Minion for Christmas? They really are taking over, aren't they?

Mistletoe Marketplace is also open for all your Christmas craft needs. DarKastle is closed, but I'm sure King Ludwig charges these vendors a pretty hefty rent.

From Germany . . .

. . . to the North Pole. (You can visit Santa here, too.)

This drummer in the Christmas store in Germany is almost as creepy at the animated snowman in Holiday Hills.

Need a nativity scene? What size? Busch Gardens has you covered.

This tree is decorated all year long.

My, what big balls you have.

You can purchase a Christmas Town ornament for each country represented at the park this year . . .

. . . or just a plain Christmas Town one, if you prefer.

Heading out of Germany.

"One of these days, sweet vengeance will be mine! Mine, I tell you! For now, I shall saw this candy cane--patiently."

"On the [fill-in-the ordinal] day of Christmas . . ."

What the heck am I gonna do with "9 ladies dancing"?

Of course, I'd rather have them ladies than 10 leaping "lords."

The penguins were very excited that night.

Well, except for these guys, who had just been fed.

Need gift ideas? Just check out this tree. More to come.

Even more festiveness!

Hmm--I do believe we're heading into Ireland.

Time for dinner--in a nice, heated room.

"Ho, ho, ho . . . no! What did Santa just step in?"

Kris Kringle has a good-sized entourage.

"Well, I tell you, that dog was this freakin' big! I barely made it up that chimney alive!"

Taking a "selfie," er, I mean "elfie."

All kidding aside, Santa is great. He does an excellent job with "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

We had great priority seats for the new show--right in the center.

"Toys? Peddling? Why, I have no idea what you're talking about, officer."

Everybody on the streets of Olde London Towne is having a great time . . .

. . . until Dickens's version of "Buzz Killington" shows up.

Scrooge could totally snicker snag on Cratchit from up there.

"Oh, I'm gonna 'bah humbug' you people so bad . . ."

The Ghost of Christmas Past is rather spunky--like Carol Kane in "Scrooged."

Scrooge watches in horror as he realizes that younger Scrooge is so not going to score that night.

Still, he does get to do some Dickensian line dancing.

The Ghost of Christmas Present in his traditional garb.

This picture is a bit blurry, but it gives you an idea of how they use projections to show Scrooge's passage through time and space.

Scrooge meets the Cratchits.

"God bless us, everyone!"

"Pull my bony finger, Scrooge!" (I loved the little puppet raven on the shoulder of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.)

Wow! Scrooge is a better human being now! Who saw that coming?

The "Scrooge No More" was a very popular dance craze in 1843.

"Well, time to give the Cratchits a collective heart attack."

"This kid is heavier than he looks."

And that's "Scrooge No More." It's very enjoyable, and a good addition to Christmas Town.

Let's check out some more holiday decorations, shall we?

After listening to the carolers, of course.

Coca Cola is the proud sponsor of the Polar Pathway.

"I will hide behind this tree. Then I will pounce."

I wonder if Coke is getting the electric bill for this display?

The burning tree is back in Italy.

I rather like Holiday Hills, as it reminds me of how my hometown was decorated when I was a kid.

Of course, we didn't have a teacup ride or a Himalaya . . .

. . . but we did have giant, frightening Santa heads.

"Ho, ho . . .darn! Where'd I put my cell phone?"

The good people of Coca Cola strike again!

There's just something about those huge, old-fashioned Christmas lights . . . as long as they don't start a fire.

Time to head home and warm up with a hot shower.

Good night from Christmas Town! That's all--thanks for reading.

^ Loving those pictures!

So I'm planning my first trip down to Busch Gardens - this May - and I was curious if they still sold the Statix models? I saw on the iterwebs some pictures of the Griffon model and the Alpengeist model... Are there any others? I just want to know about how much they would run for down there if they even still sell them, I got the two Cedar Point models for $14 each on a Cyber Monday sale! But they were selling the Gatekeeper one for almost $30 so I have no idea what they would cost in a SeaWorld park... Thanks guys!

^I think they're still selling the model coaster trains for around $30, but I'm not positive.

Coasterdynamix has been out of the park for several years now. Not sure what's going on with the company but they very rarely have anything in stock, and when they do it's all gone extremely fast. Either Busch didn't renew their order for the trains or CD discontinued their shipments to the park, but regardless they are not there anymore. The only ones I've seen recently in any parks are the I305 trains at KD, and I believe Cedar Point still carries them for Millennium and Maverick (Dragster, Raptor, and Gatekeeper have all been discontinued to my knowledge). Jack from Coasterdynamix has a forum account on here but I'm doubtful he'll see this post or respond.

^Come to think of it, I haven't noticed the train models at BGW for a while, either (but have seen them at KD).

Meanwhile, getting back to Christmas Town, who else is planning to go this year? I'm definitely heading back to try that gingerbread IPA at the bar in England and to sample more of their holiday fare.

^Come to think of it, I haven't noticed the train models at BGW for a while, either (but have seen them at KD).

 

Meanwhile, getting back to Christmas Town, who else is planning to go this year? I'm definitely heading back to try that gingerbread IPA at the bar in England and to sample more of their holiday fare.

As nice as you made that seasonal temperature sound for Friday night, I think I'll be going this afternoon/evening to take advantage of the un-winter-like 60 degree day! I need to verify if the excellent holiday dessert pretzels and fresh fried donuts have made their return! Of course, if I really am looking for my dreams to be fulfilled, could they possibly make a cinnamon sugar pretzel wrapped bacon...

^The donuts are definitely back, but I'm not sure about the pretzels--another good reason to return.

First of all, thanks for the update as always Chuck.

I love how BGW takes the worst looking area of the park and makes it the best looking Christmas area of the park during ChristmasTown. I'm talking about Holiday Hills of course.

Also, I'm not so sure how I feel about the hanging garland around England's clock during the day (looks cheap), but at night I like the use of white lights on the clock and in the area much more than the colored lights.

 

Also, I'm not so sure how I feel about the hanging garland around England's clock during the day (looks cheap), but at night I like the use of white lights on the clock and in the area much more than the colored lights.

I've found that most Christmas decorations look like crap during the day, when you can see all those wires. But at night, they look good.