Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[Nrthwnd]

What a nice way to enjoy the holidays (After Thanksgiving).

 

I envy any park (and it's visitors) that does so much wonderful decorating

for this time of year. AND is open, too!

 

Playland(PNE) is closed for the season. We do have a Christmas Market downtown,

and it does have a merry-go-round (carousel?).... but that's it for rides.

 

 

Great photos Stephen. Thanks for sharing the photos. And how's the

newly engaged couple (Nicole & Jeremiah) doing?

[zachclarke2]

Not much progress since last weekend but here's some pictures of the site. It looks like some additional supports are the only change. No more track has been added.

[chargersmichael]

I still don't understand BGW's choice for this coaster. I'm just hoping it turns out well for the park and that capacity won't be that bad. I kind of wish they would invest in a Family Ride similar to FireChaser Express as it seems they are lacking a really good family coaster...not another high thrill coaster. I'm hoping this same thing doesn't happen to BGT.

[RyanTPM]

I still can't understand why they haven't made an announcement yet. It doesn't look like a bad coaster though, even with the capacity issues.

[Firechaser]

I still don't understand BGW's choice for this coaster. I'm just hoping it turns out well for the park and that capacity won't be that bad. I kind of wish they would invest in a Family Ride similar to FireChaser Express as it seems they are lacking a really good family coaster...not another high thrill coaster. I'm hoping this same thing doesn't happen to BGT.

Have You Ever Heard Of Verbolten?

[hey...hey]

I still can't understand why they haven't made an announcement yet. It doesn't look like a bad coaster though, even with the capacity issues.

 

Agreed. It seems like they should have rolled out all the stuff at least a month or two ago.

[Nozzy]

What a nice way to enjoy the holidays (After Thanksgiving).

 

I envy any park (and it's visitors) that does so much wonderful decorating

for this time of year. AND is open, too!

 

Playland(PNE) is closed for the season. We do have a Christmas Market downtown,

and it does have a merry-go-round (carousel?).... but that's it for rides.

 

 

Great photos Stephen. Thanks for sharing the photos. And how's the

newly engaged couple (Nicole & Jeremiah) doing?

 

Thanks Bill! Are you implying that Canadian Thanksgiving doesn't count?

 

It's pretty crazy how these Christmas events are spreading, just saw the report of Magic Mountain now too. We had the drive-thru lights at Great Adventure for a bit but no rides or anything. I miss being somewhat close to Smoky Mountain Christmas, but happy to still have a park to celebrate the season at. Looks like great weather again this weekend for it too!

[Nrthwnd]

Thanks Bill! Are you implying that Canadian Thanksgiving doesn't count?

 

Eh. At that time in October, Playland is already into it's Fright Nights, lol.

Not much holly or ho,ho,ho there.

[Jcoaster]

I'm guessing at this point they are waiting till after Christmas Town to announce it. I'm curious to see how this interesting choice pans out as well.

[DrachenfireOP]

I made a trip down to Christmas Town this past weekend, and it was a blast! Very temperate. I got a few rides in on Verbolten, which was fun. I still liked CT better when Alpengeist was open, but what can you do? What little line there was moved very fast since they had 4 trains running. I definitely think back is the way to go on this coaster, since you actually get some fun little air time here and there, and it really whips you around in the show building!

 

Obviously the pasta coaster is now visible from the pathways, as the supports have risen above the fence. I honestly don't know why they haven't announced it yet, but I've decided to think of it less as a coaster, and more of a flat ride. Sure, it's technically a coaster, but honestly, the niche of the park it fits in for me is a flat ride.

 

Whatever they were doing back on the DF site earlier this year is done, and there's no signs of it. It's just being used as storage for coaster trains/rapids boads, and they're also putting pieces of the flume trough there while they work on the upgrade. It was weird riding the train past the flume and seeing the supports just stick up in the air with no flume on it!

[CoasterLover]

I'm guessing at this point they are waiting till after Christmas Town to announce it. I'm curious to see how this interesting choice pans out as well.

 

In the not too distant past, Six Flags America always announced their new attractions in February/March of the year the attraction opened. Claimed they got more press during that time (as it's usually a slow time of year, especially for theme park news) and it was better for selling season passes. Wonder if Busch Gardens is going to wait that long...

[DarienLaker]

Is Busch Gardens Williamsburg getting a Vekoma coaster?

[Woodie Warrior]

Is Busch Gardens Williamsburg getting a Vekoma coaster?

No. It's a Premier.

[DarienLaker]

I wonder if BGW's new "mystery" coaster is going to be a clone a SFDK's Superman: Ultimate Flight?

[cfc]

^You and thousands of other coaster enthusiasts.

[cfc]

 

And the track is heading up.

[zachclarke2]

Some pictures from today:

Somehow on my stroll to Festa Italia I ended up behind Carl Lum and someone else (I do not know his name but I imagine he is management of some kind).

Another piece of track has been added to what was there the past 2 weeks, plus part of the drop is now in place.

Ride placement in reference to Apollo's entrance. It is not far away.

This is where the track ends.

This is also where the track ends.

[DJeXeL]

Wonder when they're going to make their announcement.....

[zachclarke2]

^As far as we know, it might not even be a coaster.

[markysharky17]

This looks exciting, does that station look like it will have enough room for three cars?

[DarienLaker]

As far as we know, it might not even be a coaster.

 

Are you sure? From the looks of Busch Gradens' mystery ride construction photos, it looks like it's going to a clone of a certain roller coaster at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

[cfc]

As far as we know, it might not even be a coaster.

 

Are you sure? From the looks of Busch Gradens' mystery ride construction photos, it looks like it's going to a clone of a certain roller coaster at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

 

I think he was being facetious.

Edited December 6, 2014 by cfc

[eddie200330]

It's almost like there was no thought process put into this. They just kinda found a small plot of land and decided to plop it down there. Very sore thumbish looking if you ask me.......

[cfc]

^My policy is to reserve judgment until a project is finished. We'll see--there may be other changes in store for Festa Italia we don't know about yet. Besides, it could be kind of cool to watch this ride cycling while you climb Apollo's lift hill,

[DrachenfireOP]

^ I agree on all accounts. I think this is a bit of a non-traditional looking ride from BGW, but we don't know all the details. People are upset because BGW tends to NEVER do anything traditional, and this looks like "just a clone." We don't know what crazy surprise they have in store for this yet, although of course, maybe there isn't one.

 

Even if there is no crazy surprise, and this is just a clone outright, I still won't think it a poor decision until after I've ridden it to judge for myself.

 

I mean, for example, while I love Verbolten, I don't see any reason why it couldn't have gone elsewhere and they could have kept wolf, and between the two, I enjoy wolf more if for no other reason than the night rides. The BS story they fed the public about Wolf always being planned to retire at 25 years was a fabrication. But that said, there are plenty of people who don't mind the swap out, and I'm sure that even if I don't like the pasta coaster, there will be plenty of people who do.

 

^^^^^ Oh, also, it's almost impossible to tell from a wide angle shot from behind, but I think the guy with Carl is Derek Bowie. He was a manager back when I worked there, but I think I've heard that he was promoted to director of park operations about 8 or 10 years ago. He's a very nice man, and cares a lot about the park, so if you ever see him again, you should say hi!