Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[cfc]

A Stroll Through Howl-o-Scream 2019

 

Busch Gardens kicked off Halloween a little early by opening Howl-o-Scream last weekend. This is the 21st year for the park's annual haunt. Much of what they did during last year's event is still in place, but there were some noteworthy changes.

 

For example, the event's old icon Jack, who returned to HOS last season, is playing a bigger role. Like last year, he has his own "No Escape" room--Jack's Twisted Terror. But his old show, Jack Is Back, has returned to Ireland. Yes, get down and boogie with Jack's stilt-walking scarecrows to ABBA and other disco music from the 1970s. It's definitely a family show, and guests seem to love it. There's a photo op with Jack after the show, too.

 

Fiends is no longer playing at the Abbeystone Threatre. Dr. Freakenstein, Igor, and his naughty nurses have instead taken up residence in the Vault: Overtaken maze in Germany. Speaking of mazes, Cornered (also in Germany) is gone, leaving six mazes. Here's how they stack up (from best to worst):

 

Distorted Dimensions--a dimensional vortex has scrambled reality in old Sterling Manor. Bizarre creatures now roam a "Wonderland" version of our reality in search of victims (Germany in the old DarKastle building).

 

Dystopia--a new world order of cyber people have risen after the Apocalypse, and it demands your total obedience. This maze tells a pretty good story, and I like the "cyber monsters." It could use a better finish (Italy, Escape from Pompeii).

 

Lumberhack--an old lumber camp is full of undead woodsmen with chainsaws who hunger for your flesh! This one was pretty weak last year, but now boasts a bit more action (Germany, entrance on the left of the Festhaus).

 

Vault: Overtaken--this one is a mishmash of old HOS mazes and icons from past year. It made sense during the 20th anniversary last year, but seems a bit off (too random) for this year. The stuff with Dr. Freakenstein is the best part--maybe they should've given him the whole maze (Germany, old Drachen Fire Station).

 

Frostbite--this "ice castle" maze has never quite worked, and this is the third time they've redone it a bit. It really needs a strong villain to hold it together, but they did throw in a new big monster this year (Germany, DarKastle building).

 

Circo Sinistro--this creepy circus maze was a bit weak, but it usually gets better as the season grinds on. Last weekend, it was a bit blah and not much happened in the tents (Festa Italia near the Roman Rapids).

 

I was a bit surprised that the Terror-tories (scare zones) were better than some of the mazes this year. There was more activity, and monsters, than in past years.

 

Shall we go in? This will largely be a tour of the Terror-tories, with a look at the shows and the Pantheon construction site. Follow me.

This Grim Reaper gets around. He was on the road to the parking lot one year, and also spent some time in France.

Looks like the Red Skull found a new gig. Hail Hydra!

Sheesh! How careless, leaving your body parts just anywhere.

Ripper Row is not quite open for business.

Is he now?

Oh--there he is!

And he's brought a few fiends, er, friends with him.

All will boogie in Ireland under pain of death!

Night Beats: Revamped is a jukebox show in the Festhaus (mostly 1980s-90s stuff).

The maze formerly known as Cornered.

Get yer HOS merch here!

Aw, aren't they adorable?

Teenagers can use this shirt in lieu of a costume when trying scam Halloween candy.

The path to the Garden of the Souls (Italy).

Here's the soul of an old Italian gondolier. He even speaks to you in Italian.

Another lost soul.

OK, is everybody clear on which way to go?

Welcome to Sideshow Square in Festa Italia.

Not even the park staff is safe from the evil clowns!

"Ya wanna bite of my sucker? It's soooo good!"

Shall we have a look at the Pantheon site before it gets too dark?

The Festa Italia train station was closed for a few weeks, but it's open again. They ripped out all the plants behind this construction wall, though.

They also cut this path in the hill on the other side of the station.

Here's a closer look at it.

A big crane in the sunset.

Lots of dirt . . .

. . . and lots of footers, which look kind of spooky in the dark. More to come.

Edited September 20, 2019 by cfc

[Nrthwnd]

Great "startup stroll" through this event, Chuck! And I would rather see t-shirts like that on some of the local teens who pass by on The Night for candy. They don't even try, at times. A Haunt Shirt would definitely improve things, heh.

 

And nothing like (somewhat) fresh dirt to bring a smile to a coaster fan.

 

Looking forward to continuation of the same good stuff from ya.

[cfc]

Let's stroll through the Terror-tories as it gets dark, shall we?

The sun sets on the Rhine River, and HOS takes on even more terror . . .

. . . with some cuteness.

Looks like trouble brewing on Ripper Row.

Yep--the Ripper has been busted! Or has he?

I like the lighting in Ireland.

Jack has redecorated in his own fashion.

This is the Control Bar, where you can trigger scares at various places in the park at the touch of a button--for a fee, of course.

One must be careful when walking from Ireland to France.

There are werewolves . . .

. . . and the Dreaded Blue Fog of Doom.

France is the home of the Fool's Court.

"Why aren't you laughing? I'm a fool!"

This is a scare-and-party zone.

This fool is ready to party with you . . . to the death!

Angry Viking spirits haunt Axe Alley in New France.

Nice job parking the boat, Sven!

Er, I hope this isn't "Sven."

"Oh, Sven is gonna have your head--bet on it!"

They have some flexible bloodsuckers in Vampire Point (Germany).

I like the little projection show on the "No Escape" rooms building.

Hey, no smoking over there! Ya wanna burn the place down?

The Garden of the Souls path is creepier after dark.

Ghostly bride and groom.

Time to head out.

Be sure to come back on October 2 for Monster Stomp on Ripper Row . . .

. . . er, or not. Thanks for reading.

[jedimaster1227]

I've always been curious as to how Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Howl-O-Scream compared to the one in Tampa... Your report is getting me thinking about how I could plan a trip to check it out. Thanks for sharing!

[coasterbill]

Tampa's event is significantly better in my mind but Williamsburg puts on a very, very good event for a regional park.

[cfc]

Tampa's event is significantly better in my mind but Williamsburg puts on a very, very good event for a regional park.

 

It's not an "upcharge" event in Williamsburg (unless you spring for Quick Queue, of course), so it doesn't have the scale of the Tampa version. But it adds a fun dimension to a fall day at the park.

[boldikus]

Track pieces for Pantheon has begun to arrive onsite at Busch Gardens Williamsburg! The park has shared this first look on its social media channels:

 

 

 

And a couple I took through a fence on Sunday when we were down at the park. You can see it very well from Apollos lift, and even a little bit through the trees from the Verbolten bridge.

 

Edited October 3, 2019 by jedimaster1227

[coasterbill]

I wonder if the new track has been swarmed by wasps yet...

[PKI Jizzman]

So excited to watch this coaster grow!

 

I wonder if the new track has been swarmed by wasps yet...

 

With how in touch they are with animals of all sorts I'm surprised they haven't treated Griffon with some sort of repellent this time each year. That has to exist right? And they're wasps. Wasps bad, bees good.

[thrillseeker4552]

Brand new, fresh gold Intamin track really is a nice sight to see.

[chschris1]

I am really excited for this coaster too! Not gonna lie though I kinda miss the old Intamin track.

[chschris1]

Edit: Double Post

[boldikus]

I wonder if the new track has been swarmed by wasps yet...

With how in touch they are with animals of all sorts I'm surprised they haven't treated Griffon with some sort of repellent this time each year. That has to exist right? And they're wasps. Wasps bad, bees good.

 

We missed Griffon by like two trains on Sunday. Probably around noon we went to ride it, were @ the ride plaza taking photos of it/putting our crap in a locker when the ride went down for the day due to the wasps. We ran over to Alpengeist and then Apollo as Bill read online its a problem on those too. We made it on both but were literally rolling through a swarm of wasps at the top of each lift. Apollo was much worse than Alpengeist but still terrifying in both instances. I can't imagine the slow roll around the top and then being held there on Griffon with that many wasps flying around.

[Coastard69]

I can't imagine the slow roll around the top and then being held there on Griffon with that many wasps flying around.

 

This is why Six Flags doesn't own dive coasters

[Masquerade]

I wonder if the new track has been swarmed by wasps yet...

 

This will never not be funny

[FocalRanger]

When I went for Howl O Scream back in 2017 I encountered the wasps on Mach Tower but that was it. That's insane it has become such an issue. If anything it definitely added to the thrill of the ride that day!

[Haymaker]

Project 2021: 355 ft giga?

 

https://wydaily.com/local-news/2019/08/07/supposed-leaked-documents-give-insight-into-busch-gardens-possible-plans-for-355-foot-attraction/

 

Documents obtained by a fan group of Busch Gardens Williamsburg indicate there could be another roller coaster — possibly a giga coaster — on the way in 2021.

 

A group of coaster enthusiasts who, in the past, have predicted other rides based on documentary evidence, believe the leaked documents to be authentic.

 

A Busch Gardens spokeswoman said the park would not comment on its procedures on how to handle confidential information, including whether the park tries to find the source of the leak.

 

 

A request for confirmation on whether the documents are authentic was not immediately returned Wednesday.

 

The fan group has not published the documents themselves, but instead released an article with recreations of the plans.

 

The group believes Project 2021, which obtained a 355-foot height waiver in June from the James City County Board of Supervisors, will be a roller coaster that uses the former station building for coaster Drachen Fire.

 

Drachen Fire was shut down in 1998 and later disassembled.

 

“… we’ve seen something that strikes us as legitimately extraordinary,” the group administrator wrote in the article.

 

In the article, the administrator wrote the document would be the best fake “the industry has ever seen,” if it turns out to be a sham.

 

If the ride is a coaster, it could be an “absolutely monstrous giga coaster” because of its 355-foot height waiver. The documents show trains will have four cars each in a two-by-two formation, according to the group.

 

Busch Gardens officials have previously said the coaster will be spirelike at the top and be about 10 feet wide at its highest point.

 

“Putting all of this information together, assuming this document is to be believed, it seems that we could be looking at a speed-focused, launched giga coaster of some sort debuting in Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Festhaus Park area sometime in or around 2021,”

 

They closed the article by imploring readers to remember park plans and rides can change during development.

[RollerManic]

A giga so soon after Pantheon? I will be believe it when we see it but this is Seaworld after all and their investments have been crazy lately (and I absolutely love it).

[DoinItForTheFame]

Maybe that with that height it could be for the Star Flyer/Windseeker they are trying to build (we think,) that got declined. Maybe they made “changes” for it to be accepted this time?

[DILinator]

This is actually really old news now. There's updated info released by the same site that leaked that info, and it's all very legit, and very clearly for a roller coaster. It's possible that the 355 foot height waiver won't be the full and total height of the coaster, but it also seems very likely the highest part of the coaster will be close to that height, and has been described as "looking like a knife blade" from the closest nearby community. In other words, it's very possible it's just a top hat element like Red Force, but with more to it than that, and TTD and KK have.

 

Personally, I'm hoping for the tallest traditional lift hill giga, but honestly, suspect that's not what it'll end up being. Either way, it's going to be an awesome addition, and yes, SEAS parks are absolutely KILLING it right now!

[DoinItForTheFame]

... It will be interesting to see what comes of this.

Edited October 12, 2019 by DoinItForTheFame

[DILinator]

^It definitely will be!

Edited October 16, 2019 by DILinator

[cfc]

Yes, everybody settle down, please. The height waiver has been knocking around for a while and is a matter of public record. The link posted earlier is from a local e-newspaper reporting on the rumor, so we're allowing it.

[coasterbill]

Everyone knows that I'm skeptical of everything and always try to bring people down to earth but the track record of this source is impossible to ignore. It's pretty exciting stuff...

Edited October 11, 2019 by coasterbill

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Literally any ride that requires a 355 foot height waver sounds fun to me!