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Let the Good Times Roll: Mardi Gras Celebration at Busch Gardens It's cold and gloomy outside my window today, so it's a good thing that I chose yesterday to check out Busch Gardens' version of Mardi Gras. This is the latest in a line of "reservations-required" events and, in my opinion, the best one so far--at least when the weather cooperates. The first weekend was freezing and snowy, but January 6 was sunny with temperatures in the 50s--perfect weather to hang out at the park; ride Alpengeist, InvadR, Verbolten, and some other rides; and enjoy some Cajun-type food and New Orleans-inspired entertainment. I also had the bonus of hanging with Bill and Brit that day (they drove all the way down from New York State). Great to meet you two at last! The park made a smooth transition from their "Winter Celebration" decor. Out with Frosty the Snowman in France, and in with a big court jester. All the red-and-green Christmas lights were switched to Mardi Gras purple and gold, and there was plenty of entertainment, such as a jazz band, motley-bedecked drummers, and stilt walkers. This is the liveliest that the park has been since the COVID restrictions began. They also drew a good-sized crowd, and the three open coasters had the longest lines I've seen in a while, but the crews handled them pretty well. There were some hiccups. They were a bit short staffed, especially in food service. I wanted to try the gumbo at the grill in front of the Smokehouse, but they ran out at 1:30 and had to prepare some more. I ended up having the Mardi Gras Frites (fires with Andouille sausage in a Cajun sauce), and those were pretty good. Grogan's Grill in Ireland had a long line all day (the pub was slammed early on, too). I wanted to try the grill's Cajun Hush Puppies, but they ran short. The Creamy Cajun Meatballs at the pub were a good substitute, though. The line for beignets at the funnel-cake shop in Germany was long, as well. Alpengeist had the longest wait of the day, due to one-train operations (which is unusual for this park). Not that the line deterred Bill, TPR's number-one Alpengeist fan. But toward the end of the evening, the line had thinned considerably, and we enjoyed a "mini-ERT session" on the coaster. Alpengeist was also running better than it was a month earlier (maybe that's why the other train is in the shop). All in all, a fun day at Busch Gardens. I think they could expand on their Mardi Gras Celebration after the pandemic is sorted out. Here's a look at how the good times were rollin'. Remember--plastic Halloween "costume masks" do nothing against COVID! Let the good times roll, folks. What? No Union Jacks hanging in England? The Queen shall hear of this outrage! This is what they call "Mardi Gras" in Ireland. True story. Castle O'Sullivan is decked out in traditional Killarney Gras beads. In your face, New Orleans! Bow before the party gods, peasants! You must now bite the heads off living crawfish in tribute. "I don't want to work! I just want to bang on the drum all . . . wait a minute . . . this is my work." You intrigue me, sir. They were good. "We have come for your children!" Does a band wearing masks indicate a band full of bandits? They had some unusual animals, too, "Y'all came to see me? Why I'm so flattered it just tickles me half to death." The owl thinks he's far more adorable than any ol' cat. Somehow, I survived a super nova at Busch Gardens. "Hey, Castle O'Sullivan! Top this!" They've crossed cats with llamas! You might say they're the "cat's pallamas"! (I stole this line from someone else.) Er, Festhaus juggler? Do you and the stage want to be alone? Hmm--I wonder where I'll find Bill and Brit? Aha! We snagged multiple consecutive rides at end of the evening, I begged off the last train of the night because I felt a bit ill. (Yep--getting older.) Mardi Gras clown says, "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here." (This was an evil clown at Hall-o-Scream, but he's very versatile.) Nice lighting on the path from France to Ireland. After a few brandies, the Queen approved of England's Mardi Gras decorations. Happy Mardi Gras from Busch Gardens--and thanks for reading.

Did the Dolphin tour for free with our new Plat passes today. Schedule first thing, they fill up fast. Got to touch and give them some commands in a back area setting. Enjoyed it. We bought the Sea Lion tour weeks ago b/c the wife did not want to miss it. Timing was going to be close....so SeaWorld offered to golf cart us between them. Why not? Thanks to the park for going out of their way and helping us out today. Lines were fairly short. Non existent with our $7.50 quick queue. They have photographer at the Sea Lion tour. $30 to get those on your annual photo pass. However, being a member, we could print them for half price. Got 3 printed out for $5 instead of paying $30 for the 5 or 6 photos he took digitally. One more tidbit...Steel Eel opens at 10. Great White, WB, and Stingray open at 11.

Update: Opened gates about 940 this morning. Rides started at 1030. Nothing opened early. I think most everything has run at some point. Pandemonium was running. Boomerang is running. Log flume was at least testing. Nobody here today. Longest wait for anytin has been WW at about 10 minutes. It's been awesome.

It was great hanging out with you yesterday! Yeah, anyone on the fence about this event needs to go. Go and support them so they bring it back (just make sure it’s a bit over 42 degrees). We had a great time and I kept having to remind myself that it was February 6th. We weren’t sure we’d be able to fill a day with just 3 operating coasters but honestly, I wish the day were longer. We almost didn’t go this weekend. We just got back from Orlando on Tuesday morning (we got covid tests, chill) and it seemed kind of stupid to drive 7 hours to go to a half-closed park and on the way drive within 50 feet of an indoor park in Jersey that’s six hours closer and (all things considered) much cheaper but we love BGW and it’s pretty unprecedented for a park this far north to totally do away with the off-season so we wanted to be a part of it and support it. After going there though, I feel like it was well worth it. It didn’t feel like a weekend at a half-closed BGW, it just felt like a weekend at BGW. Alpengeist and Verbolten are great, InvadR and the swing are a blast and in general I just love the vibe of the park and their insane alcohol selection. Also, they didn’t half-ass this Mardi Gras event at all. I’m pretty impressed with how quickly they turned around the last event and got ready for this one. Hopefully they bring this back. I feel like it will only get better once they can run more indoor entertainment and run the indoor ride.

and that's exactly why I recommend SFFT on Sundays. . Texans LOVE their church. . . this park always seems to be dead on Sunday mornings, regardless if it gets crowded later in the day. glad you had such a quiet day! I'm hoping ours is just as goon next Sunday.

Two more inversion are completed and the construction is soon finished.

I am getting equally nervous about that. I too realize it could change in the coming week but just checked they are now saying 51 for Sat when we will be at SW and 47 with some wind for our SFFT day and same for SFOT with some possible rain/snow showers. Hoping it eases a bit. I will feel I am cursed if we get on a plane to trek to parks during a pandemic and then they close things down or close all together for weather. Trying not to hate the weather Gods when I saw that it is in the 70's this weekend. I should probably just not look at it again until we are a few days out. There have been a dozen different forecasts for how cold and if or if not we will get significant snow here mid to late week.

If the emails from the park are legit, then using the word 'retiring' doesn't sound like an RMC conversion to me. Also, it's Valdosta, GA and I just can't picture them getting an RMC!!

Looks like you got the same reply at the same time.

Totally get that. But I'm also a bit.. "Annoyed".. that the "unique" status of Taron is touched. I really like it, but what I liked most about it was the fact, that the whole combination of area, coaster, theming was completely unique. Worldwide. Now, this has been scratched somehow. And to be able to see the coaster as a whole piece ist somehow odd. One of the best things about Taron is, that you are never able to see more than half of the coaster at once. So this differs from Raptor and Orochi/Monster.

They said “opening in 2021” on the last construction video, so that’s encouraging! I was so shocked by the videos of the original raptors, I can’t imagine what this will be like. The single row trains alone are intimidating, you have to face that drop all by yourself

Out of curiosity I emailed the park asking about the status of Cheetah. The email I got back said the ride was being retired to make way for future expansion. That's a bummer the park is losing their one custom coaster.