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Busch Gardens had one week of Christmas Town under its belt by the time I got around to visiting on Friday, December 4. I'd heard (and read on TPR) about the massive crowds on opening weekend after Thanksgiving, but I figured that wouldn't be such as issue last Friday night; so, off I went with my friend Carola to see what BGW had concocted for Christmas. I was right about the crowds. The park wasn't slammed, but there were enough people to make the place lively. Overall, we both liked what BGW had done; it was pretty much what I'd expected. The park itself looked beautiful all decked out in an assortment of lights. They also ramped up their food offerings with an assortment of holiday fare, such as Cornish game hen with sweet potatoes and cornbread stuffing at Gorgan's (pretty good); smoked turkey and ham dinners and beef-barley soup at the Trapper's Smokehouse (along with the usual ribs); and even prime rib at the Festhaus (hmm--may have to check that out when I take my parents and nieces there in a couple of weeks). Annie's Cafe (Ireland) and Festhaus Kaffe were offering Starbucks coffee and an assortment of desserts, too. Food service was a bit slow, however. There are heated seating areas for their outdoor restaurants, too. Carola and I were there from just 5:30 until closing at 10:00, so we didn't catch everything, but we did see a performance of Rejoice. A few things about this show impressed me: the live orchestra was quite good, as were the singers, and the lighting and projection effects were pretty well done. However, once you get past the impressive opening number, the rest of the show is pretty much just a bunch of guys in sparkly monk's robes (and two women in formal wear) walking around and singing. One bit cracked both of us up. One monk sang solo, while the others stood behind him holding mirrors, which reflected rays of light over his head. So far, so good, until they turned the mirrors up and reflected light in their faces, making them look like fiends in a horror movie. (The robes weren't creepy enough?) The show was a bit too reverential for its own good, we thought, but the audience seemed to enjoy it. Then there were the penguins in the Grand Palace Theatre in France. The little walkthrough was cute enough, but I'm glad we didn't have to wait more than five minutes to check out two penguins in a tank (there were five penguins in two tanks that night). You do get fairly close to them, and at least you don't have the stink of the penguin attraction at Sea World to deal with. We took a fun, but brisk ride on Griffon, too--temps stayed in the low 50s, and the ride ran all night. I think BGW did a pretty good job the first time out of the gate. Note that I'm a passholder who only had to pay $10 (and got free parking). Those without passes pay around $20 for admission (plus parking). I think this is more of a "locals" thing this season, rather than something you need to make a special trip to see. But if Christmas Town proves popular (so far, it seems to be a hit), I'm sure park will expand it, just as they did Howl-o-Scream. Here's a look at Christmas Town 2009. Behold! An inverted Hidden Mickey! In France! More to come. "Penguins! Penguins everywhere! I shall go mad, I tell you--mad!" "Thou hast chosen the way of the two penguins! From this day forth, thou shalt be known as 'He Who Chooses Two Penguins.'" CHOOSE THY FATE! "Penguin Recon to Base! Recon to base! Charlie has us pinned down! Requesting airstrike, over!" Voila! Instant penguin habitat! Step 4: Line your dank stonework with more shiny fabric and hang up some icecicles. Step 3: Turn the entrance of your "Catacombs" into an igloo. Step 3: Replace your macabre graveyard set with white trees with purty blue and purple lights. (Make sure that scareactors have been sent home for the evening.) Step 2: Cover your creepy, dank gray crypt walls with shiny white fabric. How to turn a Howl-o-Scream maze into a Christmas Attraction. Step 1: Move the entrance to the other side of the building and give it a new name. Let's see--three or four layers of clothes, boots, gloves. Yep. Carola is all set to ride Griffon in the raging blizzard we encountered in France! Look! Snow! Red, evil snow! (Yes, they had faux snow in Germany and France. I took one flake in the eye.) Aye, it be a long walk to France. At least ye don't have to contend with goblins and trolls on this path, like ye do during Howl-o-Scream. This sums up the Christmas Town offerings. You can have dinner with Santa in this building; during the summer, you can have breakfast or lunch with Elmo. Ot you could just get a churro. Up to you. This guy has wind. Boy, does he ever have wind. Ya gotta have the wind to blow the pipes. "Begorrah! We be elves, not leprechauns." Whew! That was a close one! I could tell that that the suspense was killing you. Only those who are meek of spirit can survive the razor-sharp Snowflakes of Savage Fury and enter Ireland! "Now, Wilbur-r-r-r, this is really quite humiliatin'. St. Louis can't come soon enough, as far as I'm concerned." Even the Clydesdales had their halls decked. These trees are in tribute to Elvis--The King! All must have a Blue Christmas! Ebeneezer Scrooge would balk at paying the electric bill here. Everybody nice and oriented now? Good. Wait! Where's Italy! MY God! They've taken out Italy! Why those dirty . . . oh, it's just not open for Christmas Town. What a relief. Looks like Carola and I made it! Phew! Only those who are pure of heart can survive the razor-sharp Snowflakes of Searing Doom and enter Christmas Town. Welcome to what BGW, I'm sure, hopes will become a Williamsburg tradition: Christmas Town.

Sea World is offering more in addition to the Polar Express Experience this Christmas. Other "new shows and seasonal favorites" are on tap, as well. Here's some info on other holiday events at the park: Here are some pics provided by Sea World Orlando. Shamu Christmas . . . Miracles A Sesame Street Christmas Clyde and Seamore's Countdown to Christmas Winter Wonderland on Ice

I hate to be the bomb in the cherry pie here, but that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I could see if it were turned into a super AquaTrax, but no track work/trims/anything was done to SROS to make it Bizarro. It was purely cosmetic, and the new trains were added to replace the aging/restraint modded ones, and to add the audio. The coaster experience is exactly the same, and the overall experience is just more interactive. To take it off your #1 spot because you hadn't rode it this year is like me saying I have to take El Toro off my #1 wood list because it rained every single moment of every single day of the park operating season this year, and I've never been on it in the rain. Even THAT would make it a more different experience than putting a few paper cut outs around it. You know, there are so many other ways you could've phrased this, such as: "I hate to be the bomb in the cherry pie here, but I disagree." You have one opinion, he has another--there's no reason to be insulting.

^^I was once like you--a poor, deluded hater of beer. Then I had some Anchor Steam, and my eyes were opened! Huzzah! Not that I swill beer constantly. I just learned to enjoy good beer.

^Yes, Dave is very wise. Sorry to hear that you were so ill in San Diego. I also have a knack for picking up stray cold viruses on TPR trips. The Flowrider looks like fun, although I'd probably end up in traction after attempting it.

Same here--very little spinning, yet absolute insanity!

The one, the only Batmobile--accept no substitute! I was wandering around Gatlinburg with my friends Brian and Sandy last Sunday, and we passed the Guinness attraction (along with lots of other touristy stuff). Brian and I were hoping for a rousing round of Black Light Golf, but these plans were vetoed by his sleepy wife (after a big meal at Calhoun's).

^Insane will probably rank pretty high for me, too--and I didn't expect to like it at all when I first heard about this ride.

^They're called "robes," laddie.

The dude in the middle looks like he's there for Howl-o-Scream.

^Shades of Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach.

Based on the output of Cinecitta over the years, this could either be the best or the worst movie-based theme park of all time. Tributes to all the actors who played Hercules in the 1950s and '60s, dark rides through the worlds of Mario Bava and Dario Argento, shooters themed to spaghetti westerns . . . this could be epic!

^I came across it in the first post of this very thread: http://themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=177018#177018. Please review previous posts.

Excuse me, but what exactly does this mean?

That settles it: "Happy Magic Sea Worlds of Discovery . . . and Entertainment."

How about "Sea Worlds of Discovery"? I thought they'd go with "Worlds of Discovery" too, but I can see the logic of getting Sea World in there.

Hell, why not? Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci got to name America, why can't you christen an unnamed kiddie coaster "Laser Snake Horse on Fire"?

I'm still shocked that no other park has picked up this awesome concept.

Thanks for sharing the pics, Mike--that "little" coaster is kind of freaky looking. A night ride would be great.

I understand that people like to defend their home parks or favorite parks vigorously. But the tone of some of our members in this thread has been out of line. Present you case politely, then let it go. No flame wars, please. Thank you.

This could be the ultimate casting for any SyFy movie.

Like you honestly believe it's THAT easy to get a job in this economy....believe me, if it WERE that easy, do you think I'd be wasting my time at Knott's, where the thing I've noticed most prevalent in managment is to ignore people who do their jobs well and promote those who kiss the most A$$? Please. I make minimum wage....but that doesn't mean I'm stupid. ~Zen Then why are you making it even harder on yourself?

Here's another interesting article with information on the history of the suspended coaster: http://www.coasterglobe.com/features/history-suspended/. I remember reading about Messerschmitt's suspended coaster (and how it failed because of safety concerns) back when I was in high school.

My only complaint about Rockit was the "whiplash" effect, too--other than that, I really liked it.

Hmm--considering that Angelina and her old man haven't gotten along in years, I doubt this will lead to much of anything, Mike.