Chuck's Busch Gardens Williamsburg Thread

Looks like I know what time of year I will be visiting BGW next.

Thanks for the photos, Chuck!

That looks great Chuck, thanks so much for sharing.

Now two of my favorite parks have Food and Wine festivals. I need to visit both ... and soon.

Another great trip report. Visiting tomorrow - can't wait!

Looks pretty cool. For you Chuck you can go back and try some of the things you missed another day.

^That's the plan for tonight.

Chuck Finally Gets to Illuminights 2013

It's been awhile since I added anything to this thread, but I was pretty busy in June and July, spending a week with my parents, having a great time in Japan with TPR, and hanging out in the Smokies with an old friend--not to mention visiting Cedar Point. So, I finally hit my home park again last Friday night (August 2) to check out this year's version of Illuminights.

They've reworked Illuminights a bit for 2013. Instead of four "mini-shows," there are two--"Killarney Kommotion" in Ireland and "Gardino Magico" in Italy. These shows are put on Thursday through Sunday starting in the early evening, leading up to the big fireworks finale at 9:30 pm (the park closes at 10:00 pm). No "giant coo-coo clock" or "chicken dance" show for Germany this year (although there is a giant stand selling light-up "bling" in front of the Festhaus). No acrobats or parade for France, but there is a dessert buffet ($15.00 for adults and $9.00 for kids) at the Bistro 205 that also provides a private viewing area for the fireworks. It looks like the crepe-and-coffee stand they opened for the Food and Wine Festival is a permanent feature, by the way.

"Killarney Kommotion" is essentially one of the "dance party" shows the park likes to put on from time to time--the setting is a scaffolding that's been set up for a "renovation" of the Abbeystone Theatre. There's a mix of recorded and live music, and you'll hear a lot pop hits mixed in (such as "Call Me Maybe" and "Bad Romance"). It reminds me of the "Jack Is Back" show they used to put on for Howl-o-Scream in the spot, only on a larger scale. I'm not a "show person," but the crowd there seemed to like it, and the performers are very energetic.

"Gardino Magico" is, essentially, two acrobats (a man and a woman) working a pole in Da Vinci's Garden, all to "new age" music. Again, I'm not into park shows, but the performers are very good.

As for the fireworks, hey, things blow up and there's music--works for me.

Illuminights runs through August 11. Let's have a look.

Nothing says "Fireworks" like a giant frog . . .

. . . and a fly in a bow tie.

Welcome to commotion with a "k"!

I think she drank at bit too much at Grogan's. How else could she have found herself in such a predicament?

Here's the band. I think they play "live" to a playback (at least for some songs).

OK, this is the weirdest construction site I've ever seen.

You're doing it wrong.

I'm not surprised that they haven't made much progress on this renovation job.

Yes, they used "Call Me Maybe." And, yes, they used this joke. When will this song finally die?

What's better than one chick working a hoop?

How about two chicks working a hoop?

And, boom, it's over. "Killarney Kommotion" is spent.

So, Europe in the Air is closed for HOS prep. Well, that's probably for the best.

No acrobats or jugglers in France this year--but you can score a lot of dessert.

Careful--Alpengeist can give you a nasty pinch.

Twilight means giant bugs--you have been warned.

Mothra strikes!

Welcome to "Gardino Magico."

This looks like a "G-rated" version of shows they put on at "gentleman's clubs" that are advertised on billboards throughout the South.

After all the "naughty nurses" flak on the park's Facebook page during HOS last year, this has raised nary an eyebrow.

This gardener dude shows up . . .

. . . and even he starts working that pole. Where's the outrage?

OK, we've entered a really weird area now.

I'm sure there's a whole chapter in the "Kama Sutra" devoted to this position.

I like this picture because it looks like the woman has sprouted an illuminated tail.

Boom! That's "Gardino Magico."

They're selling this in what was the Greek food stand by Escape from Pompeii. Might have to try one of those cones one day.

Let's look at what puts the "illumination" in Illuminights. But please don't climb on the turtle.

Sorry--no crock of gold at the end of this rainbow.

One more "Killarney Kommotion" show to go that evening.

I'm shocked that some crazed Frenchman hasn't killed and cooked this snail yet.

Photobombed by Griffon.

By mid-September, this bridge will be covered with the TWINE OF TERROR for HOS.

No outdoor show for Germany, but they do get some purty lights. And, hey, it's after 9:00 pm, yet you can still get food and beer! What a concept!

Just a reminder that this is "Illuminights." Thank you.

Back to Da Vinci's Garden to watch things explode.

And explode, they do.

Hum some Irish music here.

This looks disturbingly like a giant pollen spore--or like part of V'ger in "Star Trek: The Motion Sickness."

"Something, something, something, Kenny G-type sax solo . . .

. . . GARDENS TONIGHT! Thank you!"

Mothra says, "Good night."

"Big Ben" continues to twinkle as guests depart.

Good night from Illuminights--you have until next Sunday (August 11). After that, it's time to get ready for Howl-o-Scream.

Come for the fireworks. But stay for the pole dancing! My kinda theme park!

^Somehow, I knew you'd be the first one to respond, Guy. Call it a hunch.

Am I that transparent?

^In the most amusing way possible, Guy.

Illuminights to me seemed quite weaker this year than it has in past seasons, but it still does the job of keeping families in the park until close.

I'm interested to see the HOS maze going into Europe in the Air since they closed it down before June even ended for construction.

Thanks for the report.

Thanks for the report Chuck. Hoping to get back to BGW next year since we are hoping to go to DC.

I just LOVE BGW! I really want to go back soon! Thanks for the update

Illuminights to me seemed quite weaker this year than it has in past seasons, but it still does the job of keeping families in the park until close.

 

I'm interested to see the HOS maze going into Europe in the Air since they closed it down before June even ended for construction.

 

Thanks for the report.

They scaled back Illuminights this year because they put more concerts on the park schdule and added the Food and Wine Festival (personally, I prefer Food and Wine). The Europe in the Air building has hosted HOS mazes for a few years now (I imagine it'll be "13: Your Number's Up" again).

I'm not a fan of Europe in the Air, so its closing didn't bother me. They're rediong the Old Globe Theatre, so no more Pirates 4D, either.

I don't mind the Illuminights cutbacks, as I'd rather them have another well-done festival too. I could see Food and Wine being quite popular in a few years down the road.

I was just thinking there might be a new maze in Europe in the Air because it closed so early this season compared to previous seasons (if memory serves me correctly). And yes, there is no big loss with Europe in the Air and Pirates 4D gone as they are both weak attractions in a park like BGW. I'm interested to see what the Globe Theatre looks like in 2014.

^According to Screamscape, there might be a new maze in Italy to replace Fear Fair (possibiy with a pirate theme). There's nothing about it on the HOS Web site yet, but the other mazes from last year are returning.

Thanks for the report! Looks like a well put together event!

BGW Gettin' Ready for Howl-o-Scream

Howl-o-Scream 2013 starts on Friday, September 13, so I wandered over to the park on Sunday, August 25, to see how preparations were coming along. I ended up staying longer than anticipated, thanks to bumping into Karl and Scottish Steve, who have been hitting parks all over the place lately--greetings, gents! Perfect weather didn't hurt, either--couldn't have asked for a better day. Steve from the Japan trip was also hanging out at the park that day.

But what about HOS? Well, the park has been busy getting ready, so I have a few things to show you. Shall we?

Scary Scottish pumpkins! I'm surprise Scottish Steve made it this far.

Festa Italia will be home to a ghostly pirate "terror-tory" and maze this year. As we all know bamboo = horror; therefore, Gilligan's Island is the most horrifying creation to ever spring from the mind of man.

OK, this isn't strictly HOS related, but the dude in the middle does have a bit of a "zombie" thing going on.

DaVinci's Garden is looking way too pretty for Halloween, but they have removed the stripper pole.

You know, I think they may be pushing the pirate stuff this year.

It's just a hunch.

Yep--never heard that one before.

The funk from these pirate bloomers was so potent that it killed this rat.

Are these the "three Ps" of piracy?

They're setting up Casket Club in front of the Festhaus.

I imagine this will be of interest to some of you.

This guy has been waiting for his drink a long time.

Fiendish wiring in Ireland.

Naughty nurses were hanging out here last year.

Noted.

So they finally got around to boarding up Europe in the Air. (It's the home of 13: Your Number's Up.)

Pumpkins . . . and sheep!

This is all I could see of Cut Throat Cove, the new pirate maze, from the train. That's all for now.

Who doesn't love a little pirate theming? Hopefully I can get down there and check it out in person. Now if only they could serve the grilled Greek honey cheese during Howl-O-Scream...

I'm not sure, but I think I like to plunder and pluck.........

^I wonder if this caused problems for Disney when they were developing the Pirates of the Caribbean ride?

"We pillage and plunder and rifle and pluck!

"Drink up me hearties, yo ho!

"We kidnap and ravage and don't give a . . . . now wait just one doggone minute there!"

^I wonder if this caused problems for Disney when they were developing the Pirates of the Caribbean ride?

 

"We pillage and plunder and rifle and pluck!

"Drink up me hearties, yo ho!

"We kidnap and ravage and don't give a . . . . now wait just one doggone minute there!"

I dunno...they like their little hidden inuendos....

Thanks for the update! Can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Thanks for the update! Can't wait to see how it all turns out.

See for yourself here: http://themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1356344#p1356344

I was at the BGW Halloween event a few years ago and really liked it. Have to try and get to it again this year.

dt