Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[boldikus]

49 minutes ago, CoasterAuditor said:

and there is certainly a smell of cow poop as you cross the bridge

[bg12345]

Hello!

 

I was hoping to attend the park (first time, but have been to BGT) this upcoming weekend. However, I noticed that a decent number of the roller coasters (Alpengeist, Griffon, Tempesto) are listed as "temporarily closed" on the park website. Does anyone know if this is accurate and if there is any timeframe for when they might open?

 

Many thanks for any help

[coasterbill]

It's accurate. They open the coasters for the season when they feel like it. There's absolutely no real schedule.

[disownedpear]

Looks like they've recently announced on the website that Alpengeist and Tempesto will open this weekend. So all coasters except for Griffon by the 25th!

[prozach626]

I went to a homicide training/seminar last week. Long story short, one of the incidents involved parents pushing their deceased infant through the park in a stroller, knowing he was dead. True story.

Enjoy your next visit. Cheers.

[AmyUD06]

7 minutes ago, prozach626 said:

I went to a homicide training/seminar last week. Long story short, one of the incidents involved parents pushing their deceased infant through the park in a stroller, knowing he was dead. True story.

Enjoy your next visit. Cheers.

Dude...just...wow.  I've heard and seen the same (or worse), but there's still never any words.

[njcoasterguy34]

Just when you think you've seen/heard it all...

[teacherkim]

On 3/17/2022 at 6:25 PM, njcoasterguy34 said:

Just when you think you've seen/heard it all...

Oh that isn't even close to seeing it all, you should talk to the guidance counselors and school resource officers that have to make home visits to students in rough neighborhoods. 

[Invertalon]

Be at the park in a few weeks, somewhat hoping the height limit goes bye bye or gets modified by then... As it stands, no chance for me with it's current silly limit of 6'3"...

Why is it that a brand new ride opens with such a stupid height limit? I am 6'6" and have been turned away from only one single ride in my entire life (Green Lantern at SFMM!). Been close on a few, but never denied. Even KIDDY COASTERS!

I could ride Taron, Velocioaster and other similar rides without issue... But this one, nope.

Really dumb. Oh well... Don't look nearly as good as the others, anyway   But honestly, there is no reason why Intamin could not design this thing in such a way that allows for people that are in the mid 6ft range to ride a modern day adult attraction.

[boldikus]

It's 6'4, not 6'3, not that that helps you at all.

And unless they alter the supports under the first drop (that create that wicked little headchopper moment), they are not modifying the max height requirement for this thing.

[Haymaker]

2 hours ago, Invertalon said:

Be at the park in a few weeks, somewhat hoping the height limit goes bye bye or gets modified by then... As it stands, no chance for me with it's current silly limit of 6'3"...

Why is it that a brand new ride opens with such a stupid height limit? I am 6'6" and have been turned away from only one single ride in my entire life (Green Lantern at SFMM!). Been close on a few, but never denied. Even KIDDY COASTERS!

I could ride Taron, Velocioaster and other similar rides without issue... But this one, nope.

Really dumb. Oh well... Don't look nearly as good as the others, anyway   But honestly, there is no reason why Intamin could not design this thing in such a way that allows for people that are in the mid 6ft range to ride a modern day adult attraction.

Id try it anyway, let them tell you youre too tall

[Invertalon]

Oops, thanks for the correction! And yeah, still plan to try... Cant hurt!

But the fact that Intamin has a height limit due to that support, which could have been designed to be non-issue, is just so... Intamin.

[anonymouscactus]

7 hours ago, Invertalon said:

I am 6'6" and have been turned away from only one single ride in my entire life (Green Lantern at SFMM!).

Lucky.

Edited March 25, 2022 by anonymouscactus
Full disclosure I've never been on the ride, but know enough about it...

[Invertalon]

Yeah... I'm sure! Given how much I hate the S&S freespins, I really don't mind missing out.

[grsupercity]

21 hours ago, Invertalon said:

Be at the park in a few weeks, somewhat hoping the height limit goes bye bye or gets modified by then... As it stands, no chance for me with it's current silly limit of 6'3"...

Why is it that a brand new ride opens with such a stupid height limit? I am 6'6" and have been turned away from only one single ride in my entire life (Green Lantern at SFMM!). Been close on a few, but never denied. Even KIDDY COASTERS!

I could ride Taron, Velocioaster and other similar rides without issue... But this one, nope.

Really dumb. Oh well... Don't look nearly as good as the others, anyway   But honestly, there is no reason why Intamin could not design this thing in such a way that allows for people that are in the mid 6ft range to ride a modern day adult attraction.

Don't some inverts and SLC's have a height limit of 6 foot 6?

[bill_s]

I noticed the new recorded ride spiels at SFA last year for Superman and JJ stated height not as a minimum, but as a range "to 76 inches" or 6'4". Though it didn't affect me, I was surprised. Could become widespread. The limit may not relate to, and preceded Pantheon's head-chopper support. 

[thrillseeker4552]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but does the 50% off QQ for Platinum holders apply to all parks? I have a Florida Platinum pass and am going to BGW in 2 weeks and wondering if my 50% off QQ applies there. I know the parking, admission, and retail discounts apply there but my single-use daily QQ ticket does not apply, so this was a gray area. Thanks for any info!

[KBrylczyk]

23 hours ago, Haymaker said:

Id try it anyway, let them tell you youre too tall

Yeah, go ahead and try to sneak one past them.  Get your bell rung by cold steel at 70mph. Have a blast!  I'm sure ICON Park would be ok with this plan, why not Busch?

[anonymouscactus]

This reminds me of the story I used to scare the $#_$ out of my friend when I was a kid. Nightmare at Phantom Cave at Darien Lake, since you can't see the ride I told him you have to listen when I say to DUCK otherwise your head will get chopped off. He didn't believe me. Not 5 minutes later, no joke, guy comes out of the exit door with a wheelchair with some sort of neck brace. Never seen someone so freaked out as that moment, and what were the odds of this actually happening. Almost as good as "see that mist on the mind eraser? That's acid. That's why people are screaming" line.

I was such a lovely child.

That *is* a really shitty height requirement, I will agree with that, but there has to be a reason it's there; like it or not. They aren't doing it just to piss people off for no reason. Please don't argue with the ops when you're too tall.

[Invertalon]

No, I will not be arguing with no ride ops... You kidding me? I simply will try to get in line and if they deny me, then I move on and move on with life. While I like coasters, I am not some credit whore who will get all upset and throw a tantrum because I couldn't get on a ride. Plenty of other great things to do in the park and this won't make or break my trip/visit by any means. 

And no, I doubt my "bell" will get rung at 70mph by being 1" over the max height (also note, people hold their height differently... So while some may be 'short' enough to ride, may have longer arms and/or torso than I, therefor, their bell can be easily as rung while still being 'legal' to ride).  

 

[Haymaker]

3 hours ago, KBrylczyk said:

Yeah, go ahead and try to sneak one past them.  Get your bell rung by cold steel at 70mph. Have a blast!  I'm sure ICON Park would be ok with this plan, why not Busch?

Highly doubt thats why theres a limit. Ride of Steel (also an Intamin) has one listed because they might not fit in the restraints, which is something that will get a green light or red light. 

[Garet]

 

All Lotte World's big Intamin rides are set at 190cm maximum height and T Express is set at 195cm.

[JJLehto]

So it's settled I will be going Good Friday weekend, probably Friday the 15th itself. Taking a gamble, not sure how many people get this day off....tbh this is the first job I've ever had where I do and not sure I did for school etc so I'm hoping it will be not jammed. 

Not sure if anyone has any experience with this situation, but if anyone has been to this park on Good Friday lemme know lol Just to be safe I'll look into fast pass. 

[disownedpear]

How's this place with weather? Pretty cold today, SFA closed down entirely. 

[cfc]

What Have the Roman Gods Wrought? Some Thoughts on and Photos of Pantheon

Sing to me, o muse, of Busch Gardens Williamsburg and its tribute to the majesty of the Roman gods!
Swift Mercury of the winged feet!
Minerva, whose wisdom and beauty shamed the rosy fingered dawn!
Neptune, master of the wine dark sea!
Pluto, the sinister lord of the Underworld!
And Mighty Jupiter, father of the gods and the most powerful of all!

OK, my knowledge of classical poetry is a bit rusty, so I think I'll stick to regular old prose now.

Pantheon, Busch Gardens' new multi-launch coaster, opened to the public on Friday, March 25. Well, "officially" opened following a few weekends of previews for Busch Gardens member passholders. I rode it three times during those preview days--front, middle, and back. The verdict: It's a very good ride that's finally brought some nice Intamin ejector air to the Williamsburg park. Here are a few thoughts:

1.  For me, the backseat is the best place to ride most coasters, and Pantheon is no exception. The ejector airtime is more pronounced, and when you go backward up that spike (excuse me, "Neptune's Trident"), it's  pretty hair raising looking straight down.
2. That being said, the front seat offers a great ride too--especially when it comes to the hangtime through the inversions.
3.  The initial launch into an inversion is a great beginning, and the weird outward-banked bit just before the brake run is a good finish. 
4.  I like the outward-banked turn near over the banks of the Rhine River, too. I wish the Rhine River Cruise was operating, as you can get some good views of Pantheon from down there.
5.  The station is rather small for such a big coaster. The queue is a bit odd, too.
6.  The ride is susceptible to windy conditions; that is, they'll suspend operations during gusty days until things die down.

Although this isn't a "top 10" ride for me, it could find a place in my "top 25." My first ride was in a middle seat during a cold day, and the coaster seemed a bit sluggish. But when I rode it on a warmer day in the back and front seats, I thought, "This is more like it."

Let's have a look at Pantheon.  

This rather threatening sign shows you the way to Pantheon in Festa Italia.

Those who would ride Pantheon must get past this imposing iron monster! (Fortunately, that's pretty easy to do.)

Here's what you'll be getting yourself into. You can put your bags in the lockers on the left. There is a wire basket on the station for smaller loose objects. I think you can wear glasses on Pantheon as long as you have sport straps for them (they've been getting stricter about  glasses on coasters this year.)

After you leave the station, Winged Mercury gives you a nice launch through this inversion, which I think has something to do with Minerva.

Perhaps Minerva, in her wisdom, is preparing you for what's to come.

Come on, Mercury! You can do it!!
Oops! Big raspberry from Jupiter, try again.

Fortunately, Neptune is there to help with his trident.

Jupiter says, "Greetings, mortal fools!"

Yep--nice pop of air in the back seat here, as the train just makes it over the hill.

Pantheon:  Hi, Tempesto!
Tempesto: Back at ya, new kid!

Here's part of what Pluto has in store for you after your initial plunge.

"Nice view . . . aghh! What the hell?"

You can get a good view of this element from the bridge between Italy and Germany.

It's such a weird (but cool) feeling as you lean toward the river.

Tempesto: Hi, Loch Ness Monster.
Loch Ness Monster: Best returns of the day to ye, laddie--as long as ye show proper respect to your elders."

Verbolten: Ach! don't mind him, Pantheon. Those old Arrow coasters are always grouchy.

Congratulations, mortals! Your quest is at an end!

And that's a wrap from Pantheon. Get out to Virginia and ride it, lest your cowardice anger the gods! Thanks for reading.