Photo TR: BACT Attacks VA for Memorial Day

[DerekRx]

Our original plans for Memorial Day weekend had us heading to Cedar Point and Geauga Lake. However, once Maverick was announced as not being opened, we changed our plans to hit a coaster that was still opening on time, Griffon. Leaving early on Saturday morning, our first stop would be Kings Dominion, since I hadn't yet gotten my Italian Job credit, and we can always enjoy a ride on Volcano. Despite people driving like idiots once they get inside Virginia's borders, we still managed to get to the park before opening. After about 10 minutes of waiting for someone to show up in Guest Relations so I could get my Maxx Pass exchanged for a day ticket (still the stupidest policy for season passes ever, Cedar Fair) we were let loose to mill about until they opened the rest of the park.

 

We didn't stay much past 12, but we weren't planning on it. Kings Dominion is just one of those parks that to me has been on the decline for the past couple of years. Things were a little better, but that may have been just because of the lack of crowds yet. Some coasters still didn't open with the park, the woodies were still in dire need of grease, no crowd control in lines/use of queue switchbacks, and no hustle to dispatch coasters were all the norm. Even though Volcano was running 3 trains, we were under the impression they were only running 1 with how slowly dispatches were. In general, the employees just seemed to be zombies, moving slowly, not smiling, not asking how you were etc. I never really noticed it much until Six Flags started doing it, but it really is a nice gesture. If the employees look less than enthused about being there, chances are the guests won't want to be there either.

 

Not wanting their overpriced bland food, we headed out at lunchtime to continue our adventures, first some beercrawling in Richmond (check the Beer Thread for that stuff) , and then dinner at Pierce's Pitt BBQ in Williamsburg before getting some much needed rest.

The woodies may have gotten worse at Kings Dominion, but they're still better than this!

This place will definitely have to be a traditional stop on future trips

Awesome BBQ and great prices, sure beats Sonic!

Saturday's dinner place, just outside of Williamsburg next to the Great Wolf Lodge.

Can't forget to show a picture of the new trashcan designs

Obligatory shot in the 0.0004 seconds I had between people standing in front of the sign to have their pictures taken

Kings Dominion still has some prettiness left, and trees. Cedar Fair has a ways to go

Ug, I hate to see this area be used for go-carts, they're so lame. They don't even shoot turtle shells like Mario's does!

Meanwhile Grizzly the coaster has a huge wait. Shame it's really rough, in need of grease, and you can't reride with the new Cedar Fair ownership

Either Heath has taken his UFC training to Grizzly, or ABCs new show "Dancing with the Bears" is holding auditions

Yup, Hypersuckit is still there, still working, still has a long line, still rough, and still has the "running into a bunch of trashcans" brake run

Coolest nongyrating gyrodrop ever, even if they were only loading half of the ride early on

Verticle loop AND thru the tree, wow. Simply amazing (of course, we didn't ride the coaster, we're not that dumb!)

Hey look, the Togo Standup is reopened, and not derailing like it's brother in Japan

Volcano enjoys spicy buffalo wings, walks on the beach, and spitting fire. His dislikes include anchovies, body odor, and Barry

Time for the best ride in the park, Volcano, if you couldn't tell from the MEATNORMOUS "VOLCANO" sign in front of it

First ride of the day will be Italian Job, just to get the credit and not have to wait in any sort of line

While waiting for rope drops, Heath and Kim partake in UFC training (or their version of marriage counciling)

We do however find this motley crew. We would have hung out, but we were on a mission to get outta there ASAP!

Arriving to the newly redesigned entrance plaza we find not the normal Saturday morning chaos at Kings Dominion

[californiascreamer1]

Nice pics

 

What is the Italian job like, because it seems kinda dull.

[DerekRx]

We knew it would be crowded at Busch Gardens on Sunday by the fact that the park was opened 8:30am-11pm. As with most parks, getting there early helps out with dodging the crowds, and this day was no exception.

 

I've gotta commend Busch for the way they handled the popularity of Griffon. Unlike most parks that would just drop the rope and let it be a free for all to get to the new coaster, Busch actually had a security guard walk everyone there. Within 15 minutes we were sitting in the front row of the newest B&M Dive Machine. Unlike Montu and Alpengeist, Sheikra and Griffon are very similar. I think I like Sheikra's theming and watersplash area better and the tunneled drop, but Griffon has the better view (James River instead of downtown Tampa and the ghetto surrounding BGA) and airtime. Both are excellent coasters though and great additions to the parks and dive machines in general.

 

After 1 ride on Griffon, we made a loop around the park while everyone else was in line for the new ride. We managed to hit DarKastle, set a reservation at the Brewmasters Club for later, and ride Big Bad Wolf, Loch Ness Monster, Alpengeist, and Apollo's Chariot with almost no waits (like 1-3 train waits). While on Apollo we saw the entire parking toll plaza and interstate exit backed up. We knew rides would be scarce later, so we rode Apollo 3 more times before heading over to Griffon to check out the single rider line before getting lunch.

 

We lucked out and they opened the single rider line just when we got there, so it was a meer 1 train wait before I was off in the back left this time. The single rider line was odd, they'd open it to let like 10 people in, then close it off again until it emptied out, then reopen it for another 10 people. Everyone caught on that you didn't have to wait for an hour, so they'd all hang in the plaza and wait for the line to reopen, it caused lots of confusion with those wanting to get into the regular line. Still, thanks to the single rider line and the excellent crew dispatching like crazy, we managed 4 rides throughout the day without really trying. We even waited thru the whole queue for our final ride, and it wasn't even an hour wait.

This is just one of the lines to BUY tickets at 2pm. Who the heck goes into a park at 2pm!? No wonder people complain about waiting in lines all the time, they're dumb!

After some mid-day merch shopping, it's time to take the skyride back towards the front of the park to drop off the goodies at the car

Trapper's Smokehouse has some pretty good BBQ, much better and cheaper than most of the fastfood at other parks

As Alpengeist goes thru its heartline, Le Scoot says "hey, remember when they were saying I was being taken out for an Aquatrax!?"

little turtle dude just swimming in the Rhine

Griffon's Immelmann says "haha, I'm taller than you, Cobra Roll. and you thought you were so tough against Loch Ness Monster"

And then it goes into its vertical loop later on and even I am saying "um, this loop is too big"

Here goes Alpengeist down the hill. Tttttttttttssssss goes the train as it passes thru the trim brake

These bald eagles say "why are WE called bald eagles, we have more hair than that Cop Rich dude"

BGE is more cultural than BGA, which focuses more on animals, but BGE does have its share of creatures

First someone spilled protein on Big Bad Wolf when we were there, then someone else did so on Apollo. People need to let their breakfast digest before riding!

Apollo is just hard to take pictures of, there aren't many viewing spots for this ride unlike his brothers and cousins

Busch Gardens is just one really nicely landscaped park

Though Big Bad Wolf is still the only one hanging out on the other side of the bridge (well, except for Apollo, but he doesn't want to be seen)

Once again the Rhine line changes with the addition of Griffon

Best thing about Griffon, no lines for anything else for a little bit. Even poor DarKastle is all "hey, remember me, I'm fairly new!"

Each of the three trains has a slightly altered watersplash effect from each other, but none really get people wet, just sort of misty

The trains are wider than the state of Rhode Island! Oh yeah, and this one ain't gots no floor

First ride of the day, Griffon of course.

[DerekRx]

Of course, the hotter and more crowded the day got, the more we just wanted to chill out, and fortunately BGE is one of the best parks for that. From Grogan's Pub to the Festhaus and other good restaurants and shows, it's easy to fill up a full day at the park. And then there's also our idea of fun when it's too crowded to wait in line for our taste...

With three trains running and dispatches happening quickly, the line never went above an hour. Awesome job Busch Gardens!

Finally, let's head back to Griffon to close out our visit

Coaster + Nudity = Coasterporn!

and all that remains of Drachen Fire. Rumor has it they're saving the station for the next coaster, either a Balder clone, an Aquatrax, a B&M Flyer, or a combination of all three of them!

The new and improved skyline of Busch Gardens Europe

These ain't no Chip and Dale, these be the Clydesdales

Lucky us, the train had no wait. All aboard!

$2.50 and lots of fun later, Apollo still had a line. Good thing we got our fill earlier in the day

and soon we have synchronized soakings!

Chuck and Larry get more money for more victims

Best use of a quarter ever since I got that Magic 8 Ball to help me make important decisions

But we can have lots of fun soaking the riders!

Nope, we won't be riding the Roman Rapids, the line is too long

Then it's onward to the Italy area of the park, but since Apollo has a full queue, we'll find other ways to occupy our time

even a lactose intollerant guy like me can't pass up Busch's ice cream on a hot day

and while we're here, let's catch the show. It reminds me of Oktoberfest, only I'm not totally smashed and passed out...yet

Then it's on to the Festhaus for more cool air and the Brewmaster's Club

Time to stop off at Griffon again, this time with the Griffon Knight keeping the beast at bay. Hooray for single rider line and like 2 minute waits!

These big bad wolves you could ride if you tried hard enough, but you probably wouldn't fare well.

Skip Jack Amber for everyone! Not a bad beer for Anheuser Busch!

Back into the park during the hottest time of the day, why not enjoy a nice relaxing visit in the Irish Pub

[BarryH]

Great PTR!

 

You mean I like Volcano, but Volcano doesn't like me? Boo!

[Divv3k]

Awesome as always Derek, I always love reading your TRs!

 

Did you find that the floorless aspect made much difference on the dive machine?

[Carnage]

After about 10 minutes of waiting for someone to show up in Guest Relations so I could get my Maxx Pass exchanged for a day ticket (still the stupidest policy for season passes ever, Cedar Fair) we were let loose to mill about until they opened the rest of the park.

 

Was that because of the Dorney pass being non-Paramount?

 

My CW Maxx pass scanned at the gate at KD.

[cfc]

Actually, Derek, the Drachen Fire station is going to be the home of the first inverted Aquatrax Eurofighter.

[DerekRx]

^^^Believe it or not, the floorless aspect actually does make a difference, at least in the front row as you hang over the edge of the holding chain. In the back, not so much; you sit so high that they could put alligators, old chewing gum, or broken bottles of Budweiser below your feet and you wouldn't notice unless you looked down.

 

It was cool in the front thru the whole ride, but the only real place I was like "wow, this is kinda cool" is on the holding brake. The rest of the ride and going over the water didn't do anything, except the end is so far out that it does kinda feel like you're flying. Fortunately, your chances of getting the front row is 1/3rd, as opposed to the other floorless coasters. However, the line was significantly longer for the front. Many times the ops would be yelling for people to fill in rows 2 and 3, but that may also be partially a product of a bad station design.

 

^^I would assume so, I know the other people behind me at guest relations were from other original Cedar Fair parks too, like WOF and CP. All those passes still have our pictures on them, unlike the Cedaramount park season passes.

[redfoot12]

Despite people driving like idiots once they get inside Virginia's borders...

 

That is so true about us. I'm one of the worst offenders.

 

Looks like you guys had a great time. I've just resigned myself to the fact that KD will never measure up to my memories from the 80's and early 90's. I love Volcano but the park needs a new signature attraction. There did look to be some activity out where the Safari monorail used to run (I was looking over in that area while going up Anaconda's lift hill)...

 

Derek, you got me excited at the thought of a Balder clone where Drachen Fire used to be. Not fair. Are the Intamin pre-fabs loud? I know noise was one of the reasons cited for not constructing a woodie in the past.

[eskater132]

Nice TR, it actually makes me want to go to BGW!

[sfne2005]

^^Intamin prefabs are quiet with the exception of the "farting" noises it produces over the hills...though its not terribly loud.

 

Is that a Griffon tattoo I spy on Heath's shoulder? Must be a big fan of the ride

[DerekRx]

I wouldn't think an Intamin woodie would be anywhere near as loud as Busch's B&Ms (since they're not filled with sand). Besides the farting noise the trains make getting all that airtime, the only other loud sounds you hear is all the screaming from the riders, something that every amusement park ride has to deal with. Balder's in the middle of a city, like right next to the motorway, and I never saw people outside protesting it's noise level. Plus if they went with an El Toro-like cable lift, that eliminates the noisey anti-rollbacks found on all traditional woodies. I say bring it! (like that'll ever happen)

[Rugged One]

Is that a Griffon tattoo I spy on Heath's shoulder? Must be a big fan of the ride

 

Actually, it's a dragon Rich. I really liked Griffon but not enough to get a tatoo of it.

[cfc]

^Ah ha! Another one of those closet Drachen Fire fans!

[DerekRx]

The funny thing is, BGE actually DID have those temporary rub-on tattooes that they were selling in a few of the gift shops of the coaster logos and such. They went all out for merchandise with Griffon, nd LNM and BBW both have new stuff, though both Alpengeist and Apollo stuff is hard to find anymore. And sadly, no pins of Griffon, or any of the other coasters anymore at least not yet this season.