BGW Behind The Screams Tour June 12, 2009 Photo TR

[bpmitchell]

Today I went on the 1st Behind The Screams tour at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The tour exceeded my expectations for it being the 1st time the park has put on a tour like this. I joined 3 other enthusiasts and we toured the Loch Ness Monster, Griffon, Alpengeist, and Big Bad Wolf. We got some ERT rides on Loch Ness, Griffon, and Alpengeist and got to tour the maintenance bays of the rides minus the Big Bad Wolf which we received a limited tour of the control room. After the tour we received 2 quick queue passes good for the rest of the day on any ride which came in handy for Alpengeist and Apollo's Chariot when the lines got longer later in the day. This is the 1st portion of the TR, I have tons of video footage that will be up later tonight along with more photos.

 

This 1st set of photos are courtesy of the Busch Gardens photographer, you receive a CD with photos of your tour which is included in your tour package. Package prices are as followed: 74.99 regular and this does not include park admission which is required, 67.46 for season pass holders which is 10 percent off the regular price. I prefer that if you are on a budget that you plan accordingly before you make plans to attend this event. It is worth the price that you pay, but plan accordingly if you are on a budget, that is what I am going to say.

 

Photos:

 

 

The top of Griffon

 

 

Another photo from the top

 

 

The group for the tour

 

 

Hi from the top of Griffon

 

 

Tour of The Loch Ness Monster

 

 

Going up the elevator lift to the top of Griffon

 

 

ERT time on Loch Ness Monster in the front seat

 

 

Tour under the lift hill system for Loch Ness Monster

 

 

On the way to Griffon to tour

 

 

The group from 205 ft up in the sky on Griffon

 

 

Going up on the elevator lift

 

 

Tour inside the maintenance bay

 

 

Group after the tour

 

 

Time for some ERT on Griffon in the front row

 

 

Going up the lift

 

 

After the 1st drop

 

 

Griffon ERT is awesome!

 

 

More of us

 

 

Alpengeist ERT was also on our tour schedule front row ERT

 

 

Two thumbs up for ERT

 

 

Bathroom break time

 

 

Time to tour The Big Bad Wolf, sadly though no ERT rides

 

 

We get to tour the control room

 

 

Time for the Alpengeist maintenance bay tour

 

 

For all the coaster nerds, this is a B&M wheel which will fit perfectly in a home gym near you

 

 

The group finishing up the tour

 

 

That's me next to one of the Alpengeist trains

 

More photos to come & video, stay tuned!

 

-Brian-

[BuschSchoe]

Great photos!

I think thats great that Busch Gardens is doing tours now and thats pretty awesome that they take you to the top of Griffon.

 

Thank you for sharing.

[bpmitchell]

I would like to see them expand the tour into more ride areas. I would like a tour of darkcastle inside and a walkthrough like what Robb had on last yr's east coast trip. That would be awesome! Today's tour was great for it being the 1st time they put something together like this. More photos on the way and video of Griffon's control system and operation.

[almightyfire]

this is probably the best park i have visited to date. it is running neck and neck with holiday world. if they would take the coasters at hw and move to busch gardens then that would be an ultimate park. busch gardens needs more rides and they sure need a voyage there. they have the terrain and it is a very gorgeous and well run park.

[Electerik]

Thanks for this TR. I'm really interested in that tour.

[griffon]

Awesome report man, I especially like the shot with the Alpengeist wheel and also that you were rockin the FMP shirt.

 

I'm wondering if any other parks will take note of this and offer something similar. You can't help but think that a place like Cedar Point could make of money off of a tour like this