Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[coasterbill]

It was great hanging out with you yesterday!

Yeah, anyone on the fence about this event needs to go. Go and support them so they bring it back (just make sure it’s a bit over 42 degrees).

We had a great time and I kept having to remind myself that it was February 6th. We weren’t sure we’d be able to fill a day with just 3 operating coasters but honestly, I wish the day were longer. 

We almost didn’t go this weekend. We just got back from Orlando on Tuesday morning (we got covid tests, chill) and it seemed kind of stupid to drive 7 hours to go to a half-closed park and on the way drive within 50 feet of an indoor park in Jersey that’s six hours closer and (all things considered) much cheaper but we love BGW and it’s pretty unprecedented for a park this far north to totally do away with the off-season so we wanted to be a part of it and support it.

After going there though, I feel like it was well worth it. It didn’t feel like a weekend at a half-closed BGW, it just felt like a weekend at BGW. Alpengeist and Verbolten are great, InvadR and the swing are a blast and in general I just love the vibe of the park and their insane alcohol selection.  

Also, they didn’t half-ass this Mardi Gras event at all. I’m pretty impressed with how quickly they turned around the last event and got ready for this one.

Hopefully they bring this back. I feel like it will only get better once they can run more indoor entertainment and run the indoor ride.

[SharkTums]

I'm really impressed with how Busch has handled the pandemic and Virginia restrictions. I hope that they can bring more staff back and improve operations to make it slightly less frustrating. 

[anonymouscactus]

I'm always into sampling the wide array of food these different parks do for their special events. I would probably go for many of the food offerings since I'm a fatty. During their food and wine, granted I only went twice, but even parks like Epcot and Seaworld there were never any lines for the booths. I would hate to get a tasting card and then wait in lines exclusively for food all day and not be able to get on any rides. I wouldn't mind having only those small sampling of rides open if the day was a little longer, (especially with 30-45 min waits for the rides) but hopefully a visit in March or April I will get my fix in one way or another with the longer hours and hopefully less restrictions.

Thanks for photos!

[JJLehto]

Any updates/insider rumblings/ideally not rampant speculation on how Pantheon is looking? Any hope of April/May? 
Kudos to yall that still coaster on in the cold. I just can't bring myself to do it XD 

[coasterbill]

It was actually about 60 degrees. Just a gorgeous day...

That said, riding coasters in the cold is an absolute blast.

Pantheon looks great but the closest view we got was from Germany so I’m not sure how far along it is.

[cfc]

3 hours ago, JJLehto said:

Any updates/insider rumblings/ideally not rampant speculation on how Pantheon is looking? Any hope of April/May? 
Kudos to yall that still coaster on in the cold. I just can't bring myself to do it XD 

The park is still saying "spring 2021" for Pantheon. 

[JJLehto]

13 hours ago, coasterbill said:

It was actually about 60 degrees. Just a gorgeous day...

That said, riding coasters in the cold is an absolute blast.

Pantheon looks great but the closest view we got was from Germany so I’m not sure how far along it is.

Thanks yall. And oof....you're a true champion man. Admire the dedication and I feel like in younger days I'd be with ya but I just can't now lol Maybe the 4 years in FL, much as I hated the heat and humidity, rekt me and handling cold ha 

[coasterbill]

lol honestly 35 degrees at a park (if the rides are open) sounds incredible, you can dress for that. An Orlando park in July? There's just nothing you can do.

[SharkTums]

1 hour ago, coasterbill said:

lol honestly 35 degrees at a park (if the rides are open) sounds incredible, you can dress for that. An Orlando park in July? There's just nothing you can do.

I've always had the motto: "You can always put more on, you can only take so much off!"

So give me a park in the cold any day over extreme heat and humidity!

[cfc]

15 hours ago, coasterbill said:

 

Pantheon looks great but the closest view we got was from Germany so I’m not sure how far along it is.

You can get a good look at Pantheon from the Verbolten bridge, and the layout looks great (especially where it drops toward the Rhine River). 

[Haymaker]

5 hours ago, coasterbill said:

lol honestly 35 degrees at a park (if the rides are open) sounds incredible, you can dress for that. An Orlando park in July? There's just nothing you can do.

Hell, Hersheypark or BGW in July is stifling. Ive never experienced a more miserably hot day than 99° on a Saturday concert night in July at Hershey. The wave pool (and the pools at Water Country on the same trip) were like swimming in piss.

[prozach626]

It will be cool when Pantheon finally opens, because all of the trees will have grown up around it.

[Nrthwnd]

On 2/8/2021 at 6:25 PM, prozach626 said:

It will be cool when Pantheon finally opens, because all of the trees will have grown up through it.

Fixed.

[coasterbill]

The March event that we were all hoping was the park's full reopening is now listed as a limited capacity event.

That's too bad, but maybe they'll at least expand a little.

[JJLehto]

On 2/8/2021 at 10:50 AM, coasterbill said:

lol honestly 35 degrees at a park (if the rides are open) sounds incredible, you can dress for that. An Orlando park in July? There's just nothing you can do.

Precisely why I avoid parks in July (and when I went to Hershey this last July I was reminded why) though I am sensitive to heat. Orlando?? Man I felt like I was dying 8 months of the year in Tallahassee, and there it actually had some relief from the oppressive heat and humidity lol 
 

[Satans Hockey]

I didn't get charged for January so looked into it more, I never get membership emails from Busch despite being subscribed and having the correct email address but apparently they sent this email out and since I kept my payments going the entire time I'm getting 12 free months.

I do appreciate it from Busch since I haven't been able to attend during all this and highly doubt we'll be attending this year either so at least it feels like I'm not totally wasting money and still able to support the parks a bit but I really don't agree with them kicking in the free months now since it's not like anything has returned to remotely normal yet in terms of being able to visit the parks.

I just wish parks would give an option of opting out, I'd opt out of 2021 and have my pass carry over to 2022. For example, I would have renewed my Universal Orlando passes with the discount for paying in full if it activated whenever I went again. They would have had my money and made some interest but instead I just let it expire and don't know when we'll be back down there at this point. I doubt I'll be renewing our Cedar Fair passes for the same reason. It is what it is. 

[coasterbill]

We have more information on the Busch Gardens Saint Patrick's Day event...

BUSCH GARDENS® ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION

Why limit St. Patrick’s Day to one day when you can celebrate all month long? Irish spirit, luck and festivity fill Killarney village at Busch Gardens® St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, an ALL-NEW limited-capacity special event on select dates from March 5-28, 2021.

MEMBER DAY is March 13 and is exclusively for active Basic, Unlimited, Premier & Platinum Members. Reservations required.

Stroll through all ten of the park’s decorated villages, with nineteen of your favorite rides and coasters, authentic live entertainment, family-friendly activities, classic pub fare and a St. Patrick’s Day staple-- green beer. Celebrate twenty years of Irish dance at Busch Gardens in Das Festhaus, with a tribute performance honoring Irish Thunder, Emerald Beat and Celtic Fyre®. Younger guests can enjoy a themed scavenger hunt, snapping a photo with Clancy the Leprechaun, and saying hello to their favorite Sesame Street® friends in Sesame Street® Forest of Fun™.

Join us for Busch Gardens St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, a limited-capacity special event experience. Reservations required.

Ireland Village Celebration – Ireland comes to life for St. Patrick’s Day in a true Irish celebration complete with music, merriment and some of Killarney’s most iconic characters. Snap a photo with festive stilt walkers and townsfolk, sip on an Irish stout and rejoice in wishing good fortune for all!

Celtic Celebration: a busch gardens tribute to irish dance – Celebrating 20 years of Irish dance at Busch Gardens, this tribute on Das Festhaus stage honors favorite performances through the years such as Irish Thunder, Emerald Beat and Celtic Fyre. Sing along to classic tunes celebrating Irish tradition and immerse yourself in the thunderous sound of step dance.

Emerald Ensemble – Sláinte! Prepare to be serenaded by this interactive group of strolling vocalists singing contemporary songs with a unique Irish twist. You won’t be able to resist clapping along to these charming performers! 

St. Paddy's Dj – Your favorite Irish jig band is back in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day Celebration! Sing along to traditional folk tunes such as Danny Boy and The Wild Rover as you sip on your favorite pub fare.

local Irish Dance Schools – Support Virginia’s Irish Dance Schools as they show off their amazing local talent on Saturdays in San Marco Theatre.

Ride Lineup:

NEW! Griffon*

NEW! Apollo's Chariot*

NEW! The Little Balloons*

NEW! Battering Ram

NEW! Flying Machine

NEW! DaVinci's Cradle

NEW! Turkish Delight

NEW! The Trade Wind

Verbolten*

InvadR*

Finnegan's Flyer™

Busch Gardens Railway

Le Catapult

Kinder Karussel

Der Roto Baron

Der Wirbelwind

Prince Elmo's Spire

Oscar's Whirly Worm

Grover's Alpine Express

*Please note that colder temperatures or inclement weather conditions may impact ride operations during the event.

Visit the park's website for more information.

 

[coasterbill]

So, the main takeaway is that Griffon and Apollo's Chariot will be open along with the flat rides in Italy BUT Alpengeist will be closing.

The Alpengeist thing is a bit of a shame but not a huge deal, We'll probably still go as we have no doubt that the event will be great and I mean... is there a better drinking park anywhere for Saint Patrick's Day? No, no there is not.

(Also, apologies to the person who I just told that there was no reason to double post ever. I just want to keep the opinion post different than the press-releasy post but this won't matter for most people. I do fully acknowledge what a hypocritical douche I'm being though so sorry. lol)

[Hilltopper39]

1 hour ago, coasterbill said:

So, the main takeaway is that Griffon and Apollo's Chariot will be open along with the flat rides in Italy BUT Alpengeist will be closing.

The Alpengeist thing is a bit of a shame but not a huge deal, We'll probably still go as we have no doubt that the event will be great and I mean... is there a better drinking park anywhere for Saint Patrick's Day? No, no there is not.

(Also, apologies to the person who I just told that there was no reason to double post ever. I just want to keep the opinion post different than the press-releasy post but this won't matter for most people. I do fully acknowledge what a hypocritical douche I'm being though so sorry. lol)

https://taytopark.ie/ 

[coastersandhockey]

Hi all, I have planned a trip to BGW in March 20th and 21st. Just out of curiosity does anyone know if Busch Gardens is still at a 1000 person capacity limit? And also whats the story with covid rules? I imagine by this point in the pandemic most people who go to amusement parks have figured out how to wear a mask and social distance but who knows... lol. Thanks in advance! 

[mulfdog]

As of tomorrow they can operate at 50% capacity.  We are heading to BGW just after March 28th.  With it being spring break week I’m curious if they will have an expanded offering of rides.

[Haymaker]

47 minutes ago, mulfdog said:

As of tomorrow they can operate at 50% capacity.  We are heading to BGW just after March 28th.  With it being spring break week I’m curious if they will have an expanded offering of rides.

The ride lineup is literally posted 4 posts above yours. 

[anonymouscactus]

I think they are implying that the ride lineup was based on a smaller capacity, and if the capacity is increasing now, will they make more rides available from what is currently published?

[mulfdog]

18 minutes ago, Haymaker said:

The ride lineup is literally posted 4 posts above yours. 

Which literally ends on March 28th.  We are going AFTER March 28th.

[boldikus]