Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[cfc]

Starting any construction in Oktoberfest during Christmas Town would be pretty tricky, but not impossible--curious to see how the park handles it.

Edited November 6, 2010 by cfc

[Lenaapple1974]

DCody - I enjoyed your review of the coasters! I am also among those who think Alpengeist is not all I heard it to be. I went into it expecting so much, and was pretty disappointed! My problem is this... B:TR is my home invert. When I rode Mamba, to me, that blew B:TR away. I expected Alp. to be along those lines, and it was not. Griffon was definitely the surprise coaster for me, and we rode it 3x in a row, once in each row! I LOVEEED IT!

 

I cannot wait to see how the new coaster will eventually shape up, and how it will be situated, and named. Yippie BG!

[Vigil]

^^^The only thing is that didn't the park say that it was going to be a multi-launch roller coaster and the only wingwalker now has one hydraulic launch. It kinda leads me to believe that it will be similar to Cheetah Hunt, though I hope not. Has anybody ridden Furius Baco? How is it?

[jray21]

OK, so I was a bridesmaid in Virginia last weekend and managed to make it out to BGW for the first time. This required a bit of subterfuge; I had to sneak into town and skip some wedding-related events for my scant 3 hours of Busch-tastic fun. (Try explaining to the average bride that you blew off her her cocktail party for INTERLOCKING LOOPS, OMFG.)

 

Amy and I tried to do the same thing last year, but it was my brothers wedding, so I wasn't able to pull it off. Anything would have been better than his wedding.

 

Next, we hiked over and up to Loch Ness Monster. I LOVE THIS COASTER. Now, I know some of you young whippersnappers don't get it, but for those of us who grew up in the '70s and '80s, the forceful, rattly whoosh of an Arrow *defines* a steel coaster. A lot of Arrows suck these days-- Loch Ness Monster is not one of them. I felt like I was a kid again, riding the coolest, scariest new "upside-down" coaster at the park. I'm glad I didn't know about that spooky-A$$ tunnel in advance; it seemed to go on forever and it had that awesome/terrible tunnel-y smell. This was also one of the most beautiful and beautifully-situated coasters I've ridden. Well done, Ron Toomer.

 

I haven't ridden Loch Ness since 1988! I totally agree that the rattles and shakes are what it was all about. Demon, at CGA, was my first looping coaster and all the shaking and bashing was a huge part of the 'I Survived' reason you bragged to your friends about. It added a great level of fear because you thought you may actually die. But now that I'm getting 'older,' I can sure feel the bumps and shakes a little more than I want to!

[Saldek]

So has anybody heard anything regarding construction? Have they done anything for the new stuff in 2011 yet or are they going to wait until after Christmas Town to start. On a completely different note, I hope the new coaster is a wingwalker (chances of that happening slim to none, but still.)

 

They are probably setting up Christmastown right now.

 

If they are doing any construction for the 2011 attractions it'll probably be minimal. I wouldn't be surprised to see Katapult removed since that's where Mach Tower is going and it is not on the Christmastown list of attractions open for the event as it was last year. I wouldn't expect much or any construction on the Oktoberfest revamp since that is a very busy area for Christmastown with the shows and vendors there.

[braztaz]

I hope next year they'll operate Mach Tower during Christmastown. It would be an amazing view!

[chadster]

^ probably would be a good view, probably cold too. Hey, here's an idea, TPR sock hats.

[A.J.]

^^^The only thing is that didn't the park say that it was going to be a multi-launch roller coaster and the only wingwalker now has one hydraulic launch. It kinda leads me to believe that it will be similar to Cheetah Hunt, though I hope not.

 

Big Bad Wolf was Busch Gardens Williamsburg's least intense roller coaster, right? It only makes sense to construct a ride of similar intensity so that the same people who would ride BBW would ride the new coaster.

[CardCraze]

Big Bad Wolf was Busch Gardens Williamsburg's least intense roller coaster, right? It only makes sense to construct a ride of similar intensity so that the same people who would ride BBW would ride the new coaster.

 

Not necessarily. The park will build what it feels can attract the most guests. Busch Gardens recently added the "Sesame Street Forest of Fun" which appealed to little ones and families.

 

So, if they feel a "family coaster" with a height requirement of around 42" is what will attract the most guests to the park, than yes, a coaster of similar intensity will replace BBW. However, I don't really see a coaster with multiple launch sequences being a family friendly ride like BBW was.

[braztaz]

^IBacklot Stunt Coaster at KD has multiple launches, and it's directed to the younger crowd.

 

Sure, BGW added Sesame Street, but I think they need a ride aimed for the mild thrill seekers, one's that are too old for Sesame Street and too afraid of Nessy.

[CardCraze]

Maybe it's the enthusiast in me speaking, but is it possible to be scared of Nessie, but not of multiple launches?

 

Anyways, I see what you mean by the "mild thrillseekers" but BGW has traditionally had its coasters geared towards bigger thrillseekers, so when you had BBW there, it served as somewhat of a buffer coaster.

 

In retrospect, that could be a wise marketing move for BGW, if it does turn out to be family oriented. Looking at the park right now you have Sesame Street for the younger thrill seekers, and three coasters for the older thrill seekers. Nessie stands out because 48" doesn't classify a coaster as family friendly, but yet, I would not call it an "extremely thrilling coaster".

 

So, yeah, right now you have a few flats, and a few 3-D movies for the moderate thrillseekers, but no coaster. Especially with Mach Tower next year, Busch Gardens is going to need another "buffer coaster" for those who have outgrown Sesame Street, but haven't quite reached the point of the other coasters.

[Saldek]

BGW just filed a permit to the James City County Planning Commission for the 2012 coaster.

 

http://first.jccegov.com/CaseTrak/searchdetail.aspx?caseid=61740

[eddie200330]

BGW just filed a permit to the James City County Planning Commission for the 2012 coaster.

 

http://first.jccegov.com/CaseTrak/searchdetail.aspx?caseid=61740

 

What part of that permit said coaster? I am confused. The only thing I read was 25,000 sq. ft event building.....

[Saldek]

^Well all the construction permits for the 2011 attraction and additions has been submitted and this new one does say on the former site of the Big Bad Wolf. The park did announce that a new coaster will go on the same exact spot that BBW occupied.

[eddie200330]

A 25,000 sq. ft. building, that wouldn't necessarily mean an indoor coaster would it??

[The_Mad_Hatter]

/\I was thinking of an event building Festhaus nearby

[eddie200330]

/\I was thinking of an event building Festhaus nearby

 

This is what was printed in the permit, also notice the spelling errors????

 

" Construct a new attraction on the site of the reently removed Big Bad Wolf roller coaster attraction to include a 25,300 square foot event building."

[redfoot12]

I'm not familiar with these types of things but this seems a little lean on information. Is this more of a preliminary permit?

[let1gre]

Rumor time!

 

How about an Intamin launchie that starts with a short dark ride section, à la Saw The Ride at Thorpe? (Yes, I'm aware that's a Gerstlauer, but it's a similar idea)

[SKULLY]

A nice dark ride section prior to a launch would be awesome. Or better yet, a dark ride portion prior to launch with the coaster making multiple passes through the building which would reveal more dark ride scenes. And while I'm at it, how about filling it with wolves and drachens. Now for the real world, I wonder if there really is any relation to the coaster. I can't imagine that it would be another live show or restaurant with the Festhaus there so I can only hope that it will be some sort of dark portion of the coaster or another attraction in itself. But what do I know?

[The_Mad_Hatter]

That certainly would make up for the loss of BBW! I'd imagine a longer version of the Blue Fire pre-launch, if this is true.

[Saldek]

From the VA Gazette with some interesting info:

 

'Launch' coaster stands 8 stories

By Cortney Langley

Modified: Sunday, November 28, 2010

Originally Published:

Saturday, November 27, 2010 9:16 AM EST

 

 

JAMES CITY — Fresh documents detail a high-speed “launch” coaster that Busch Gardens plans to ramp up in 2012 in lieu of the Big Bad Wolf.

 

Park execs filed height waivers and special use permits this week with the county. Based on the drawings, it appears much of the ride will be indoors.

 

A 26,000-square-foot building will stand eight stories, and a “themed bridge” will extend 95 feet above the existing grade.

 

The vertical coaster was one of five new attractions announced in September. They include a drop tower ride next year, and new tube ride at Water Country USA. The launch coaster was minimally described at the time.

 

Electromagnetic coasters can take riders to 120 mph in four seconds. The extreme speeds produce sufficient G forces to press riders into their seats. The coasters can brake from 60 mph to a full stop in less than 75 feet. Coaster fanatics call the stop “eyeballs out” for the riders.

 

Busch Gardens plans to float a balloon Dec. 8, to gauge the visibility of the bridge to Kingsmill and Grove.

 

Source

[redfoot12]

Interesting, but I take what papers like this say with a grain of salt. I for one don't like the thought of a building going being built in that area for a coaster. Part of the lure of BBW was the woodsy setting.

[Skycoastin Steve]

For anyone that has gone to Christmas Town before, what kind of crowds does it usually have? Is it similar to Halloween in that you should always avoid going on Saturdays and Fridays/Sundays are mildly crowded? Thanks.

[CoasterLover]

Well, Manta was built with a large animal exhibit incorporated, Cheetah Hunt is being built with a large animal exhibit incorporated, would almost seem to make sense that they MIGHT have some sort of animal exhibit associated with Busch Gardens Williamsburg's new attraction. Granted Sea World and BGT are much more animal centered parks, but could still happen. I mean, you make a dark ride centered around some sort of nocturnal animal and have the queue wandering around an indoor, dark forest with the animals all around you. Depending on the animal, between the queue, the additional walk through animal exhibit, the backstage animal care areas, the gift shop, and the station, it could easily add up to 25,000 sq feet without containing any ride at all...