Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[pkdcoaster]

Well I finally remembered my camera while passing through Williamsburg today. Griffon is coming along nicely as you can see, the MCBR is complete as well as the 2nd drop.

It looks like they just inserted a piece of the brake while we were passing and there is only one piece missing on the approach to the MCBR.

 

It seems like this will be all you can see from the train but maybe I will be able to see the 2nd Immelman soon while the leaves are off the trees.

 

Enjoy the pics (forgive the clarity, I was hanging out a train going 80mph )

 

JEFF

from the overflow lots

sadly from this angle the 2nd drop does not look 90* =(

yea yea...through the trees

Here you can clearly see them inserting a piece of the MCBR

close up of previous pic

She has already claimed her spot in BGE's skyline

[DATman]

^There's probably a lot to the drop that is hidden by the trees. I mean Sheikra's 2nd drop is into a tunnel, so I'd assume the same will be for Griffon.

[cfc]

I'd say those are pretty good pics for zipping by on a train, Jeff--thanks. I've been driving down Rt. 60 to check out Busch's progress myself, but I never have my camera with me. You can get a pretty good view of Griffon as you cruise past the France parking lot.

[yankees15]

Thanks for the pictures! I'm really following the construction on this ride closely. I can't wait to ride it this year. Hopefully.

[lexington]

The drop looks tempting. It actually looks vertical from that view.

[Jayjay719]

Thanks for the pictures! It's looking awesome. I went on Sheikra, and I loved it. I can't wait until Griffon!

[fergusonat]

Amazing photographs, thanks for posting!!!

[DarkStitch626]

It looks very well blended into the park sky line . I cant wait for the trains to show up.

[Alexander Nagel]

New pics from the air taken 1-31-07

 

http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/new2007gf.html

 

interesting supports right before the mcbr, i'm guessing they are for the cable cars to pass under.

[Nayrb]

I'm off to the tour of Griffon, pictures will be on BGEscape.com this afternoon

[cfc]

^Don't forget your gloves and snow shovel--we could get an inch or two this morning before it turns into rain this afternoon.

[Nayrb]

Feb 1st Hard Hat Tour

 

Well it was a cold day indeed, snowed lightly a couple times while we were there. It was a great day as we got to talk to Walter Bolliger and Larry Giles about Griffon. Learned a ton of little details about the ride:

1st Immelman is 146 feet tall.

2nd Immelman is 100 feet tall.

There will be a "slight" negative G on the hop going into the water splash. Their word was "slight".

All 3 trains will have a different water splash unique to that train.

And a few other things were explained such as why so many trees were removed (for irrigation issues and new trees will be planted etc). And they are getting ready to plant all the trees and shrubs "After all this is Busch Gardens."

 

Good times, and I can't wait for Media Day!

[yankees15]

^Thanks for the great photo's!

 

Did Mr. Bolliger say how big the first drop is? The press release didn't say how big the drop is just how tall the first hill was. IMO that drop looks about 215 deet cause it goes into that little trench. Anyway, this ride is going to be awesome!

[SharkTums]

Only 3 trains?

 

Oh...didn't know that.

[Johnny Upsidedown]

Feb 1st Hard Hat Tour

 

Well it was a cold day indeed, snowed lightly a couple times while we were there. It was a great day as we got to talk to Walter Bolliger and Larry Giles about Griffon. Learned a ton of little details about the ride:

1st Immelman is 146 feet tall.

2nd Immelman is 100 feet tall.

There will be a "slight" negative G on the hop going into the water splash. Their word was "slight".

All 3 trains will have a different water splash unique to that train.

And a few other things were explained such as why so many trees were removed (for irrigation issues and new trees will be planted etc). And they are getting ready to plant all the trees and shrubs "After all this is Busch Gardens."

 

Good times, and I can't wait for Media Day!

 

Thanks for the insite on the ride stats. Nice photos looks like it was rather cold though.

J.

[lexington]

I think 3 trains is enough considering each train can sit 30 people. Normally, B&M train sits 32 so it's fairly close.

[cfc]

I love how Griffon looks in relation to the rest of Aquitaine--thanks for the pictures. The different spalsh effects were news to me, too.

[MARK]

I reckon the huge size of the track gives the illusion that it's smaller than it really is.

[pkdcoaster]

Only 3 trains?

 

Oh...didn't know that.

 

No need to buy any more when 90% of the time they are gonna be running 2.

 

Thanks for the great pic updates guys!

 

JEFF

[cfc]

^Well, at least that's one more than PKD usually runs on their woodies.

[redfoot12]

This is getting me pretty excited for this spring. Thanks!

[alpengeist04]

Wow, those supports do go every which way.

 

...anyway, great pics and thanks for the update.

[BeemerBoy]

Maybe the local "Griffonites" can help with this one. I don't remember hearing or reading about it anywhere (and wasn't about to reread this entire thread), but was there ever any mention about the color choice? Considering all the red tape, and hoops Busch has to jump through to please the bordering residents, I was wondering if the light blue was chosen in a feable attempt to blend a little more with the sky due to it's height, and the sightlines it has?

 

To me, the colors are the only lame part of the ride. The ride will still be great nonetheless, but I was just curious.

[Nayrb]

^That would be a good question that no one has asked, nor has it been mentioned by anyone at the park.

 

I would have guessed if they were able to choose the colors I would have expected gold and tan, but since Williamsburg was a little more strict about color choices we've been stuck with the dual-blue. Must admit I wasn't totally sold on the blue colors at first, but with the "thought process" of it representing the sky and the golden train being the actual griffon it works out. Not to mention when seeing it in person it does look very nice in the area.

[cfc]

I rather like the colors, myself (not sure why they were chosen). Then again, I drive a blue car and live in a blue house, so maybe I'm a bit biased.