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Photo TR: Busch Gardens Williamsburg Passholder Preview Day


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Hey Everyone,

 

While West Coast Bash was the big event of the past weekend for most folks here on TPR, there were some like myself who were not able to make it out west to check it out. This weekend, however, I was able to head up to BGW to check out the Passholder Preview Day, and took a lot of pictures throughout the park.

 

The first thing that stuck out to me was that the park seemed like it was becoming "freshened up" so to speak, as there were a lot of small changes and improvements along with the bigger changes like those being done to Oktoberfest. Speaking of the oktoberfest area, the addition of the beer garden/pretzel stand along with Mach Tower makes it seem a lot more full in that area, since the building for the Pretzels and Beer sits right in front of the bridge from the Italy section. In many ways, I feel like the area is really going to be awesome when all is said and done (along with the possible new coaster).

 

Now for the part everyone enjoys the most about PTRs, the pictures! Hope you all enjoy, feel free to leave comments. Thank you for checking it out.

 

-Gary

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Got my pass, in my car, let's roll!

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Before we get out of town, I think a stop for some breakfast is in order.

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This is always a good indicator that you are there.

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Morning testing, cannot wait to ride!

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On the tram, and ready to start the 2011 coaster season!

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As you can see, Passholder Preview Day is a very popular day, although they start to fill in later in the afternoon.

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Perhaps I had just never really taken notice before, but it seemed like they had a lot more flower beds around the park. Certainly helped to give the park a spring feel to it!

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The reason why many people have come to this place today. Lets check it out!

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Almost like WCB, only this is mostly general public, and not a bunch of nerds who can't wait for Physics Day :)

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More flowers

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Beside the stables of Scotland, they now have this shelter for a barn owl, and every so ofton they bring him out for you to take pictures from what I had observed later on in the day

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They also have a hedgehog for you to tough, just don't rub him the wrong way.

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This is always one of the best things about Passholder Day when you get there early.....little to no lines!

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Same with Apollo's Chariot

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A new addition to the tree where the path splits to the three parts of Italy.

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Over in the Italian theater with the Italian resturant, they have a new show this year that I will have to check out later this season.

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Here is what the stage now looks like, but along with the change to the stage, they also made some changes to the guest seating

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They have added these new plastic screens, which I am guessing is to help block the wind for those sitting to their meal and watching the show

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They did make it so they can be opened, so the option is there to allow a breeze through, overall, seems like a good touch.

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Now onto the area with the most drastic changes, Oktoberfest.

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This is what you see upon reaching the other side of the bridge.

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And over here you have the new for 2011 ride, Mach Tower

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I am going to guess the queue will mostly be where Der Katapult's was

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A closer look at what they have so far of the ride. Not much yet, but they will get there.

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Seems to me that this ride isn't getting a lot of attention since they have already announced the plan to add a new roller coaster the next year, but personally, I am really looking forward to this ride as I love drop towers.

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Im not exactly sure what the frame is for, but here is a better look at it.

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A theme park nerd's version of "Porky's"

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A view from another side

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And for those of you who just love dirt, here you go!

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heading over to the other side towards land of the dragons, you can get a "through the trees" view of the construction

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An upclose view of the tower base

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In a couple months, this view is going to be very different!

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The other big addition is the fresh made pretzel stand and beer garden. Personally, I dig the look of it!

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As you can see, it sits pretty close to where Mach Tower will be

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Keep it up guys, you're doing great!

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For thoses who like it in the rear. :)

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So there you have some of the featured additions of 2011, let's see what else is new in the area.

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This year in one of the main Oktoberfest shops, they have the Easter Bunny, and have decorated the nearby area to fit with it

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Inside the shop you can take pictures with the Easter Bunny

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More Easter decorations

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Even more

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They changed the large flower bed in front of the Oktoberfest building, and made what apears to be a small stage.

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Even the stage inside has been updated with the new look. I like it!

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Hey Adam, look what Strawberry Festival item they have at BGW this year.

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A Public Service Announcement to all women.....Just as the maintenance folks of amusement parks check out all of their rides frequently, your doctor would probably recommend that you perform a self-examination, and now, back to our PTR.

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For this month, if you have a season pass, you can save big on merchandise such as.....

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...this beer stien.......

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...or a hat to go yodeling!....

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maybe even a new clock!

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Onward to New France!

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Not sure if anyone has a picture like this anywhere.

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They added this sign to make it easier to find Le Scoot

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One of the other changes is the changing of location and nationality of the scrambler. It is now in the area behind Trapper's Smokehouse.

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They say it should be ready in the next couple weeks.

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For those of you who get chubbies looking at the undersides of rides.

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Or, perhaps you enjoy some good plywood!

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Queue shelter.

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Still one of the best coasters on the East Coast in my opinion

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As you can see, the lines started to grow as the day went on.

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And thus, I decided it was a good time to head home, so that brings us to the end of this PTR.

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Thanks for checking it out! Hope to hear from you guys about how it was!

 

-Gary

Edited by ernierocker
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Great TR! Even though I live halfway across the country BGW is my favorite park and I'm always ready to see what's new when it opens each season. The screens at the San Marco restaurant look like they'll be great for diners but real atmosphere killers for people walking past the theater.

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^ The new Pretzel and Beer Shop probably won't be open for a another 2 or three weeks. BG claims though that it should be open by this weekend so we'll see.

 

I'll be there next Sunday and would love for it to be open!

 

Great TR. Really looking forward to going back!

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Thanks for the shout out! They also sell them outside of Voyagers at SeaWorld Orlando.

 

Anytime!

 

Great TR! Even though I live halfway across the country BGW is my favorite park and I'm always ready to see what's new when it opens each season. The screens at the San Marco restaurant look like they'll be great for diners but real atmosphere killers for people walking past the theater.

 

It looks like they are able to be zipped open and rolled up so that it can be opened up, so perhaps on hotter days when they want more air flow. Seems to me that those walking by are most likely on their way to something else anyway, but it does kind of change the way you can kind of casually watch for a moment while heading one way or the other.

 

It wasn't clear from your Photo TR, is the pretzel place open yet?

 

And Germans don't yodel.

 

thanks for the update

 

As was mentioned earlier, they said it should be open in the next few weeks. It looked like the building was pretty well done, and perhaps all that is needed is interior items.

 

With regards to the yodeling, I must have gotten it mixed up with a neighboring country, so I'll go with plan B....in case I get called upon to be in a German Festival Dance

 

Thanks to everyone so far for the comments and checking it out, certainly will welcome more!

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Great TR! Even though I live halfway across the country BGW is my favorite park and I'm always ready to see what's new when it opens each season. The screens at the San Marco restaurant look like they'll be great for diners but real atmosphere killers for people walking past the theater.

 

It looks like they are able to be zipped open and rolled up so that it can be opened up, so perhaps on hotter days when they want more air flow. Seems to me that those walking by are most likely on their way to something else anyway, but it does kind of change the way you can kind of casually watch for a moment while heading one way or the other.

 

Those plastic shields on the theater in Italy were added late last season--they may have been there for Howl-O-Scream and were definitely there for Christmastown. My guess would be that maybe they'll take them down once it gets into HOT season there in VA, but they left them up for early Spring......

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Great TR! Even though I live halfway across the country BGW is my favorite park and I'm always ready to see what's new when it opens each season. The screens at the San Marco restaurant look like they'll be great for diners but real atmosphere killers for people walking past the theater.

 

It looks like they are able to be zipped open and rolled up so that it can be opened up, so perhaps on hotter days when they want more air flow. Seems to me that those walking by are most likely on their way to something else anyway, but it does kind of change the way you can kind of casually watch for a moment while heading one way or the other.

 

Those plastic shields on the theater in Italy were added late last season--they may have been there for Howl-O-Scream and were definitely there for Christmastown. My guess would be that maybe they'll take them down once it gets into HOT season there in VA, but they left them up for early Spring......

 

I’m pretty sure they are going to keep it enclosed all year. They will just open the windows up during the hotter months. Makes the transition from normal operation to fall/christmastown operation much easier.

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