carolinacaniac

The pause at the top of the first drop definatly added to the anticipation. The speed was constant through the block brake where the ride was slown down a lot, but the speed picked back up after the second drop. The floorless train definatly add to the effect of the pause on the top. There were moments of floater air on the bunny hills toward the end. Overall, I really liked the ride! Definatly a winner for BGE

This past weekend, I went to my friend Mike's place in Hampton, VA with My friends Matt, Chris, and Mike's Brother-in-law Charles. One of the parts of this weekend getaway I looked most forward to was our day at Busch Gardens. When I found out that Griffon would be open, I was even more excited about the trip. Mike and his wife Sandy were very gracious in allowing the four of us and a couple others to stay at their place for the weekend. For our day at Busch, it was a good day, but I think I would have liked for it to go a little differently. For one thing, we had a group of Nine, most of them being smokers, and we ended up stopping about once every half-hour or so for them to take a smoke break. I think Charles, Sandy and I were the only Non-smokers, and the other six were. I don't have a problem with them smoking since it is their choice, but it seemed like we lost a LOT of time to it, and if lines were shorter, maybe I would have taken a spin on a nearby ride, but since it was Saturday, I really couldn't do that. Another thing was that since this was all planned by Mike, we did the park in his way, which was to go on each coaster once, and that was about it. The only re-ride was on Apollo's Chariot at night. I personally like to get as many rides and re-rides as I can, but what can you do? The last thing I wish we did differently was to kind of have a better plan for visiting. Instead of going to one area of the park and riding what we wanted there, we kind of went from one side of the park for a certain ride, then to the other for another ride then back. At one point, we went from Escape from Pompeii to Scotland, and Hopped on the Skyride to France so we could walk over to Alpengeist, but we all decided that we wanted to eat dinner first. I would have been fine finding something near by since we would be going on Alpengeist and Griffon after eating, so where did we go to eat? Italy Now that I got the downside overwith, I will share the good things about the day. First the weather was wonderful. Sunny and around the low 70's. I still love the park, for the coasters are all high quality and the themeing is wonderful. Griffon was wicked awesome!!!! We got to ride in the front row, and all I can say is that the pause before the first drop was a blast! This easily became my new favorite coaster at Busch Gardens. We also had an awesome second ride on Apollo, because they don't light much of the ride up at night, it was really dark, and made a good ride even better! The ride count for the day went as such: Loch Ness Monster: 1 Curse of DarKastle: 1 (First Time Riding) Big Bad Wolf: 1 Apollo's Chariot: 2 Escape from Pompeii: 1 Sky Ride: 1 (Scotland to France) Train: 1 (France to Italy) Alpengiest: 1 Griffon: 1 (Coaster # 129 for me!) So the slow and easy day with longer lines and frequent smoke breaks did not provide for much riding, but it was a good day out with friends, and definatly makes me look forward to coming back soon! Now for your viewing pleasure, my pictures! Took this on the way to a second ride on Apollo. Thanks for checking it out, hope you all enjoyed! Coaster #129 for me, and a great one it was, I just wanted to let it know how much I loved it! From directly underneath the first drop Down the first drop it goes! It's time to take a ride! I didn't realize how fast this puppy goes! The first Immelmann of Griffon People waiting to go "WEEEEEE!" Griffon's lift hill, which I would learn later is really steep! Three in One coaster picture from Sky Ride Little Horse following Mommy Horse Griffon, making riders comptenplate what it is that they chose to do "Skloosh!!!" goes the boat Escape from Pompeii Just about nailed me there! Matt trying to attack me! He got close quite a few times Taking aim at Matt at Splashis Maximus Mike and I stomping grapes! Walking through Italy Signature Bridge Picture I didn't think we would see any celebrities, but we spotted Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus on Vacation. I wish I could work one day a year!! The wolves of DarKastle First time on Curse of DarKastle. A fun ride, but it is no Spiderman! Smoke Break for Mike and Chris Big Bad Wolf going down the first drop Alpengeist in the distance Big Bad Wolf is a true swinger! Lunchtime at the Festhaus. Never been in here before Busch Gardens' dynamic duo Loch Ness Monster at the Bottom of the second loop Alpenguiest, a great Invert First Ride of the day, Loch Ness Monster And there it is through Nessie's Lift Hill As you can tell, they want everyone to know about their new ride For a moment I thought I couldn't get enough pictures of Apollo Here we have Chris and Charles in the back, and Mike covering Sandy's face in the front But Apollo is another good reason to be here! Off in the distance is one BIG reason for coming today....... GRIFFON! Welcom to Busch Gardens Apollo greets us as we enter the parking lot While in Traffic, I saw this billboard, thinking "I would rather be in line for that!"

I still think it will be a fun ride, but I may be in the minority. It seems like a lot of people are putting all of their stock into one company in a way, believing that the heartline roll would be the only thing worth while on the ride. I think that the first drop could have some good air since the train goes up at a quicker speed than Millennium does. I am gonna wait to see how this ride is before deciding that getting rid of the roll killed it.

Wow, a whole train full of aviators!!!!! so were they giving those away or was it a sort of group gag kind of thing?

Sorry about that Robb, I didn't mean to make it sound like you ment standing on all rides. I would never even think of standing on a ride that doesn't allow for it (whether because of rules or just plain common sence). Sorry again for the mistake

I don't recall the Griffon being of Greek Mythology (what was said on the news video Wes posted a link to), but I have been knwon to be wrong before. I still can't wait till tomarrow! It may be a busy day since it is Saturday, but that is fine with me, I still like the park a lot and can't wait to ride Griffon! 200th post, woot woot!

^ But instead of Marty Mouse it would have either been Charlie Brown or Snoopy. Still, that would be great!!!! Villain may actually not be too bad with the new wood. But as said before, the 50's area kind of looks depressing, But I still hope that they can make this park a good regional park.

I remember a few years ago they were actually going to try and build a park in Lakeland down near Tacoma, but that crashed and burned pretty quickly

Robb, Standing Up is COOL!!!!!!!!!!! I thought that was really funny when you said that, it just seemed really random in a video about Kristen taking her first true ride, and Robb tells us all that it is cool to stand on rides!

Just saw on Screamscape that is it going to be open this weekend!!! I can't wait to ride it (so long as it doesn't break *knock on wood*). I will have to make sure to take some pictures of it to share with everyone

My friends and I are going on Saturday, since they had it soft-open two days ago, I hope they have it soft-open saturday, but I won't hold it against the park if it isn't. Definstly looks like it will be a blast!

Adventureland definatly looks like a great place to visit. I didn't really think it would look as nice as it does, but I have been known to be wrong before. Nice Report Ron

Looks like I have an even better reason to make another visit to Waldameer. I really liked their log ride and Steel Dragon. Comet wasn't much, even the scooby doo trio at the former paramount parks have some good speed and a little airtime. Comet didn't really have either. RF2 however looks like it will be loaded with air.

I don't think it really rattled more than any other woddie I have ridden (besides El Toro), but that could have just been my own perception, and maybe you rode in a row besides the front? The two rides I had on it at the TPR meet were in the front. Would be interesting to see how this ride would do with MF trains though, but I like it just fine the way it is.

How would you describe Goliath at SFOG? Chrome Themed?? New Age? It deosn't seem to fit with even SFMM's tropical theme for Goliath

Great TR you have there. I am jelous that you got the Joker Credit as it still elludes me to this day. I take it you were not a big fan of Roar? I personally thought it is one of the best I have been on.

Welcome to the review! As others have said, there is nothing wrong with having your opinion, even if it is not the same as others. I personally have not been to either Holiday World or Kentucky Kingdom, so I can't really agree or disagree with what you say. But you should never feel like you can't say what you feel because it will go against the grain.

Definatly a great looking coaster. Nice Video you have there Robb. I wish I had the chance to visit this year, but it will have to wait for another time. I wonder if it fly even better when it warms up on a hot day.

This place is looking like a winner if you ask me! Anyone thinking about trying to go for Opening Day? I would be interested in away, but at the same time I think I would wait until they are open daily so that the lines may be smaller. I found this link to the discover Myrtle Beach website from Screamscape, and it has pictures showing that parts of Led Zeppelin on site. Looks like there are a few pieces of track was well as the storage track, some supports and the lift stair case. http://www.discovermyrtlebeach.com/news/hardrockcoasterconstruction.cfm

6-7 G's sounds nuts, I guess the RCT ride screen for Maverick rated the ride as such: Excitement: 3.54 Intensity: 10.56 Nausia: 9.34

Wow, this game is screwed up big time, But addictive!!!!!! Definately a European Credit

My home parks would be Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens. Carowinds would be a stretch, but could kind of be since it is in the same state, but it is still four hours away. I would have to say that I really love these parks, but my favorite is Cedar Point. Wow, how could you rate fun forest above others Although I am hoping to stop by and get they credit I have yet to get (Windstorm) while over in the area in July when I take Melissa on a tour of Seattle.

It almost sounds like people care more about Renegade than you Robb I'd go, but Minnesota is too far away for me to go on short notice. Hope you all have fun though!

The fact that they put off the inspection makes me wonder if they have done the same for other rides? I would hope that isn't the case, but who knows. I do hope though that the park at least will be open for everyone who is on the Japan trip.

Can't really argue with that, since the last time I went we spent about half of our day their at the water park, took a ride on Wild Thing, then decided to go right back to the water park. But since they added some new stuff since I was there last, I will probably spend more time in the rides part of the park.