Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[cfc]

^Agreed--what's the point of blowing a lot of cash reinventing an ad campaign for a similar ride? Griffon is going to stand on its own quite well, I think--it's looking great.

[fergusonat]

^Wow, how could you possibly not enjoy such an amazing park

[apolloman]

Seriously, this park is basically flawless.

[cfc]

I have been going to BGW (E?) for quite a while and never really enjoyed the park. However, I'm hoping Griffon will change my opinion. From everything I've seen, it looks amazing. Sheikra is one of my favorite coasters, and I know this one will be just as good, if not better. May 25 can't get here fast enough.

 

What I can't figure is why you keep going back when you don't enjoy the park. Well, at least you're keeping an open mind.

[fergusonat]

^True

 

Well, we have some amazing news out of good ol' Willyburg! We have confirmation from members of the Coaster Crew that Griffon initiated testing today! With any luck, we will be getting video of testing sometime in the next few days

[kissorkill2night]

OHHH MY GOSHHHH!!!

Hopefully they'll be testing on Saturday when the first crowds spend the 1st official day at the park!

 

i want to see some pics and vids if this happens!!!

[rbcoasterfreak]

Well you may have to wait until Sunday night but I will without a doubt, get some and post them probably Sunday night, I will probably have them added to BGEscape's Gallery if Ferg is cool with me sending him some! Only 3 days!

[T Money77]

Why did you go back if you didn't like it? That doesn't make any sense. There is really no reason not to like it.

[cfc]

^^Ah, the old "family vacation" scenario, eh? Well, that makes sense. I've been to both parks, and I would give the edge to Tampa overall (even more so, if they put in something along the lines of DarKastle). But BGE is a "seasonal" park that plays to a different audience, whereas BGA has to compete a bit with the big boys in Orlando to get noticed.

 

Both are excellent parks with plenty to offer--and I think Griffon will be an excellent addition to Euroburg.

[T Money77]

Well said.

[cfc]

I ambled over to the park for opening day--very pleasant, unlike the freezing passholder preview day (and the ribs from the Smokehouse were awesome). Not much to report, but here are two "detail" shots of Griffon (plus a bonus pic that I think is kinda funny).

As for the sign, very well put.

A lousy shot of the same bridge, taken from the train.

One of the contractors left a gate open in the construction wall, so I took a shot of the bridge (and main entrance, I think). Nice rockwork, eh?

[fergusonat]

^Not much to report, eh? Lemme guess...you left before 5:30

 

Well you'll be kicking yourself for it now

 

TESTING has been documented. They ran Griffon from around 5:30 until closing. Last ride on Alpengeist we got to see Griffon running through the Immelmann and future watersplash area as we went up the lift. The trains look amazing!!!

[cfc]

^D'oh! Yeah, I left around 2:00 pm.

[Eric_Smith]

To bad that I live in MI. I will probably(sp?) go there when I'm older though.(I am only 14! )

[alpengeist04]

Now those are the best pics I've seen all off-season. Thanks, ferg.

[DATman]

I still think the train colors make no sense. They look like they belong on Sheikra and not Griffon.

[apolloman]

I believe those trains are so brightly colored to distinguish how large they are to the onlooking public. I love those colors myself.

[kissorkill2night]

gah!!!

AMAZINGGG

dklfjadskljfk;lasjfk;lajs

[DATman]

^^I would've assumed that the trains are the birds themselves. Sheikra's trains have some of the bird's colors on them. A griffon is usually darker colors, with greys and maybe blues (like th track), so why would they have a bright red and yellow train on a coaster that is named after a dark and mysterious bird?

[fergusonat]

I think gray/blue would be boring...I'm pretty sure apolloman has the right idea: BGE wanted to have those trains as shocking and beautiful as possible. And don't forget, Griffons also have gold/tan in them, which is what the yellow likely refers to

[coastermaniac1]

Testing Videos:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybea38oRC-w

 

[matteocrepaldi]

It looks really fast in those immelmans!

 

One day I'm going to ride it!!!

[Eric_Smith]

Can someone post the vids here because i am not allowed to go to youtube.

[coastermaniac1]

Can someone post the vids here because i am not allowed to go to youtube.

 

There is a video on BGEscape:

 

http://www.bgescape.com/index.php?page=videos

[Top Thrill Dragster]

Is it me, or dose that thing looks like it is hauling some major A$$.