Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[Masquerade]

11 hours ago, CaptainUnknown said:

^I have some quasi, semi-relevant, grain of salt experience. Last year, I visited the park on Monday, July 5th and Wednesday July 7th. I assume most people got Monday off for the 4th. Quick Queue unlimited sold out Monday. Despite that, I was able to ride every ride in the park that I wanted to with some rerides using only standby lines (Griffon was down for my visits and Pantheon had yet to open). Lines and crowds were about the same levels on Wednesday.

I would likely recommend buying QQ in advance.

QQ is *checks date* $149.99 a person.

ha. Haha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[coasternut79]

14 hours ago, Masquerade said:

QQ is *checks date* $149.99 a person.

ha. Haha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Ridiculous. And you only get 1 ride on Pantheon even on the highest package.  

[coneyislandchris]

^ ^^ Not for nothing, but if you have a Busch Gardens platinum pass, the quick queue ends up being 50% off. Varied success with platinum passes from other SEAS parks, though.

[cfc]

23 hours ago, coasternut79 said:

Ridiculous. And you only get 1 ride on Pantheon even on the highest package.  

This is typical for the first year or two of a new coaster at Busch Gardens. Pantheon will probably become part of the "regular" Quick Queue lineup in time. 

[Skysthelimit]

We had intended to travel from Orlando to Charlotte to visit Carowinds for my birthday weekend. Unfortunately the weather and Spirit airlines had other plans on Saturday evening and $600 later we were rerouted the next morning. Spirit customer service was pathetic and there were practically no seats on any flight out of Orlando on any airline for the next morning except Richmond or Knoxville. Eager to get on Pantheon, we opted for the former and booked the expensive JetBlue flight. 
 

We checked into the Courtyard early and headed to the park on Sunday arriving around noon. Thankfully they still had preferred left for my Platinum Pass and we were quickly in the park. Guest services honored the 50% discount on Quick Queue that I couldn’t seem to buy online so that was appreciated. 
 

We spent 8 hours in the park on Sunday and were gifted and extra 6 hours in the park on Monday due to a delayed flight home on our dear friend Spirit. 
 

Here are some highlights:

- I’ve always preferred this to the Tampa park. I think Tampa might have a slight edge in the coaster line up, but Williamsburg is significantly better in every other area. 
- Sunday was fairly quiet but QQ still came in handy and well worth the $65. We managed to snag a ride on Pantheon fairly quickly first thing both days. We had a ride in car two row 1 and I’m car 4 row 2. Not surprisingly, I preferred towards the back of the train. The ride was about what I expected based on the reviews I had read. First portion is…fine… kind of awkward. The swing launch is fantastic. The backwards ejector airtime isn’t a sensation I’ve felt on any other ride. The top hat and outer bank are fun but are taken a little too slow. The stall was better than I expected and the ending was pretty good. Definitely the best ride in the park but not at the same caliber as Iron Gwazi or Velocicoaster. 
- Alpengiest is my #2 in the park. Unpopular opinion, but I think the cobra roll is outstanding and the ride is a solid 8/10 on the smoothness scale. Objectively, Montu is probably the better coaster but I prefer Alpengiest’s setting. 
- We enjoyed Verbolten and Tempesto for what they are. I don’t particularly care for how Tempesto looks against the skyline and think Tigris fits in better at BGT comparatively. 
- Invadr is very underrated and I prefer to White Lightning. Had some Thunderhead vibes to it minus the straight first drop. 
- Apollo’s Chariot is my least favorite of the B&M hypers but the setting is easily the best. The elements are a tad drawn out and with Mako down the road back home, the airtime particularly in the front is very mild. 
- Loch Ness Monster was one of the coasters that got me hooked as a kid. This and Alpengiest are probably the two most nostalgic rides in the park for me. Still a well-maintained ride with character that has a certain magic about it similar to The Beast. 
- Operations we’re pretty solid given the crowds. I was pleased to see coasters running multiple trains even on Monday. SeaWorld has been guilty of dropping to 1 train on Mako on some weekdays had me concerned we’d have some long lines without QQ on day 2 but that wasn’t the case. 
- Staff was definitely above average. Everyone seemed confident without that deer in the headlights look you get when you ask someone a question. 
- Food was definitely better than Tampa. Some interesting options for the food festival although the matcha Ice Cream made me gag.

Overall we had a wonderful time. As much as I would have enjoyed binging Fury325, I actually think we had a more “full” trip visiting BGW instead. The park looked gorgeous and we had all the rerides we wanted with the exception of Pantheon. It’s such a refreshing change from the manufactured feel of the Orlando parks. 

Thanks for reading! 

[coasternut]

Just to let you know, I was at the park today with my Sea World platinum pass. You need to go to Guest Relations at the front of the park to get your free ticket for their food festival. I was denied the free ticket since I have a Sea World pass. No soup for me....

[Nrthwnd]

^^ Great shots, especially the ones that you wouldn't expect to be taken. 3rd one from the end is a great example.

The train in the bottom of the Lochness track, is another one I like. Thanks for sharing your visit there!

[tndank]

Just an FYI, but I didn't know BGW had a coaster tour on Wed/Sat.  $80 to see some control rooms and maintenance sheds.  You also get to see the drop track in action and stand near it.

 

[redfoot12]

On 3/3/2022 at 9:09 PM, redfoot12 said:

I'm heading to Busch Gardens tomorrow for Pantheon.

Any other Platinum holders going?

So this day actually turned out pretty disappointing. I reached the park that Friday, March 4, got in line for the back for Pantheon, and... got denied

Long story short, I've dropped nearly 30 pounds since and got on last night

Fun ride but only got one ride in. Looking forward to many more!

[coasterbill]

Congratulations!

[redfoot12]

Thanks!

I was so dejected that day I was in no mood to follow up on here.

I actually tried again a month ago but, you know, new launch coasters and their maintenance issues.

[bert425]

congrats!

 

[Masquerade]

Cycling back around: If it's a Saturday on a holiday weekend BUT there's a 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms, is that going to at least slightly decrease crowds or will God's absence be felt?

[cfc]

^I doubt that a "30% chance of isolated thunderstorms" is going to discourage anyone from going on a holiday weekend. I see Quick Queue in your future.

[prozach626]

A 35% chance maybe, but not 30%...

We actually got lucky years ago. It was crazy hot, and a bad Thunderstorm rolled in around 3pm. It lasted for about an hour, and almost completely emptied the park. I mean, there was no one there and everything was walk-on. We rode Le Scoot 5 or 6 times in a row without getting off, until Emily finally had enough... It was a blast.

[Masquerade]

Well there were zero storms but everything was a walk on. On a Saturday. On a July 4th weekend.

Obviously I basked in the non-existent lines (minus like 30 minutes for the water rides), but the last time I saw a major park this empty at this time of year was at Universal Studios FL right before the 2008 crash.

Also caught Pantheon right as it re-opened too. That thing is one HELL of a ride, but it could've been my last ever because one of the operators almost dispached our train with the restraints up.

Oppressive sun, almost lost a few of the guys from lack of hydration. Festhaus continues to be the default food spot (though one of these days I have to try Trapper's). Entered the park at 11a, left at 4:30p (went out to eat seafood immediately after and hit up some bars at VA Beach as part of a Bachelor weekend). Final tally: Griffon x2, Le Scoot, Alpengeist, Verbolten, Escape From Pompeii, Pantheon.

- Biggest Surprise: Pantheon

- Most Brutal & Unrelenting: Alpengeist

- Perennial Favorite: Verbolten

 

 

[cfc]

Maybe everybody went to Water Country, instead.

[anonymouscactus]

16 hours ago, Masquerade said:

it could've been my last ever because one of the operators almost dispached our train with the restraints up.

Unless the ride was in manual mode, I don't think this is possible.

I don't know why everyone thinks 4th of July weekend is always crazy busy just because it's a holiday. Since the end of time since I was a kid I think people have been scared to go because they think it will be crowded. And this year has the added fact of gas prices for those traveling from afar; I only say that because every highway I was on all weekend seemed pretty dead in general. I know there are a ton more factors and this is just an observation by one person. I was at Carowinds on Saturday and it was the same thing. I've been to Dorney (ok bad example) and it SFNE and Darien Lake in the past. Everyone this weekend seemed to be in the waterpark. Cedar Point appeared to be the same based on trip reports and queue times. As was many other major parks. Not empty but very light attendance compared to any normal summer day. I feel like I say this every year.

[haydn12]

Pantheon was more intense than we thought it would be.  We did 2 rides in a row and after the 2nd, I was feeling a little ill which doesn't usually happen to me.

Alpengeist is super rough.  We rode it once and that was it for us.

[prozach626]

11 hours ago, anonymouscactus said:

Unless the ride was in manual mode, I don't think this is possible.

Stop using logic.

[michaellynn4]

It's incredibly unlikely, but theoretically possible. Running the ride in maintenance mode is how the accident on the Smiler occurred at Alton Towers, after all.

[Masquerade]

A re-enactment of exactly what happened on Pantheon 7/2/22 at approximately 4:10pm:

Dispacher - "All clear."

*All restraints go up*

All riders including me - "What the fuck?!"

Dispatcher - "Uh sorry, pressed the wrong button."

 

This was about two cycles after it reopened from maintenance.

[DBru]

^I definitely understand the surprise/shock factor of seeing the restraints pop up after hearing "All clear," but this is still a very different situation than "one of the operators almost dispatched our train with the restraints up."

[cfc]

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[cfc]

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