Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[cfc]

Just got a text saying that Tempesto soft opened an hour ago. Take that for what it's worth.

[DoinItForTheFame]

First ride video posted by the park.

[cfc]

^ I think they could have made it bit more fun, if his moustache fell off at the last second.

 

Yes, they would've been better off just showing him from the back and in profile.

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

Not sure how I feel about the retrofitted OTSRs...seems kind of funky.

[zachclarke2]

Tempesto is GREAT! Very intense and without a doubt the strongest airtime in the park. The airtime over the first hill in the front row is ridiculous. The line for each individual row moves rather slowly but I imagine the queue out of the station won't be horrible. The ops were hauling. The time it took for a train to come in and then be sent out again was less than a minute on most dispatches. I would definitely prefer the ride just have lapbars but the harnesses are not bad at all.

[cfc]

^So, soft opening confirmed.

[Jman0477]

Tempesto opened about 620pm line was long. Managers told people could not guarantee the ride to remain open and downtime may be possible we waited about 1 hour. Overall a great ride

[tanthonyam]

That's great news!! So it's possible I may get to ride on Friday the 24th.

[thrillseeker4552]

I'm just curious--are these new restrains attached to the lap bar from over-head? It still looks like the lap bar comes down normally, but do the "straps" attach separately? Is it a two-step process? Looks like a great ride, and seems to fit BGW fairly well.

[VACoasterdude]

Has BGW ever done a soft opening before? Is Media Day still scheduled for April 24?

[tanthonyam]

Official opening day is the 25th. Not sure if that is Media Day too.

[VACoasterdude]

There supposedly was a Media Event scheduled for Friday April 17 that was cancelled, thought it was rescheduled to April 24. But maybe BGW has decided not to hold a Media Day? I mean look at how long they took to formally announce the coaster to the GP. Usually TPR and other coaster sites post info about the scheduled Media Day with pictures of the invite and the goodies that came along with the invite, but don't recall seeing anything posted so who knows? Robb? Chuck?

[KingRCT3]

I'm sure he was going to sit ON the OTSR but they edited the video to cut right in time.

 

 

This is going to happen often, I guarantee it...

[Superbatboy]

I'm sure he was going to sit ON the OTSR but they edited the video to cut right in time.

 

 

This is going to happen often, I guarantee it...

[cfc]

There supposedly was a Media Event scheduled for Friday April 17 that was cancelled, thought it was rescheduled to April 24. But maybe BGW has decided not to hold a Media Day? I mean look at how long they took to formally announce the coaster to the GP. Usually TPR and other coaster sites post info about the scheduled Media Day with pictures of the invite and the goodies that came along with the invite, but don't recall seeing anything posted so who knows? Robb? Chuck?

 

Haven't heard anything about an "official" Media Day (they did have a media event in the form of a backstage tour on Passholder Preview Day in March). There is an event on April 24 for winners of a contest to be among the "first 500 . . . to ride Tempesto" (8:00 to 10:00 pm). Perhaps the media will be included for that.

[cfc]

Tempesto did have a soft opening today; unfortunately, I got there a bit too late and missed my chance. (But my thanks to Jeremiah for alerting me via text.) So, here are some photos of the ride with people other than me on it.

 

POV Video by Trevor Bondi:

Behold the main entrance. It looks like one of those crazy loops that stuntmen on bikes used to brave back in early 20th century.

Where there is an entrance, there must be an exit.

A place for your stuff--they were having some issues with them today. The credit card system wasn't hooked up.

The outer queue.

The inner queue.

The station.

One night only? The hell?

And how, actual people actually riding Tempesto.

Holy crap!

The best loops are the non-inverting kind.

Shall we zoom in a bit closer?

"I have seen GOD!"

"Save us Jeebus!"

Hold on to your churros here.

This dude rates a private train? Well, la-dee-da.

"I'm special!"

"So special! I gotta have some of your attention! Give it to me!"

"Sorry, folks--special guy was the last rider today. Come back on Saturday, April 25th."

Edited April 19, 2015 by robbalvey

[robbalvey]

Tempesto is GREAT! Very intense and without a doubt the strongest airtime in the park. The airtime over the first hill in the front row is ridiculous. The line for each individual row moves rather slowly but I imagine the queue out of the station won't be horrible. The ops were hauling. The time it took for a train to come in and then be sent out again was less than a minute on most dispatches. I would definitely prefer the ride just have lapbars but the harnesses are not bad at all.

Sooooooo..... all those pages and pages and pages and pages of bitching and complaining about this ride was all for nothing?!??!

 

I'll be the first one to say it...

 

I TOLD YOU SO!!!

 

I personally think these funky Premier coasters are a GREAT addition to any park!

[RCT3rox]

Man, I really can't wait to ride this on the 25th! I really wish our school's trip wasn't scheduled for the official opening day, crowds are probably going to be crazy. But hey, shorter lines on everything else!

[chadster]

Those colors really go well together, and in the usual Busch fashion the attention appears to be in the details. The entire area looks great. Thanks Chuck.

[KingRCT3]

I have to say the entrance is really really cool!

 

Your captions are comedy gold Chuck, and thanks for sharing the pics!

[cfc]

The ride entrance fits in perfectly with the whole "festival" look of Festa Italia. I thought the strings of lights, like you'd see at an old-time circus, were a nice touch.

[TB305]

Rode Tempesto today and it was a blast in the front row! immense airtime when finishing your ascent before the roll... which was absolutley nuts. I'll have a legal (Got a special card thingy for my gopro from a manager allwoing me to shoot on ride video) POV up in about an hour!

[tanthonyam]

There is an event on April 24 for winners of a contest to be among the "first 500 . . . to ride Tempesto" (8:00 to 10:00 pm). Perhaps the media will be included for that.

 

 

Well they have already started letting people on it, so those first 500 won't feel so special now I guess. So I glad I will be avoiding the 25th and those crowds.

[cfc]

^The media event has been confirmed for April 24.

[Woodie Warrior]

Tempesto looks like a great addition, even if the capacity is going to be a small issue. The forces (both negative and positive) look to be even better than those on the 2-car versions. The theming looks pretty awesome as well. I LOVE the loop around the entrance, and the lights over the plaza are a nice touch.

 

It definitely looks like a nice, solid addition to the BGW. I hope to make it out to the park within a few years.