Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[esvadjWhat would donkeys be like on the moon?]

I am looking forward to it. I got the $5 dollar pass member tickets good for opening night, so I will be there the 27th as well.

[printersdevil78Nuthin' better than a naked donkey!]

One small bit of new information (I think): My girlfriend called guest relations to check on the possibility of a children's price (there isn't one--everyone pays full price). However, they told her that season passholders can purchase guest passes at $5 off the standard rate, along with the half-price passholder tickets the press release mentions.

Just thought I would pass it along.

Robert Bauman, who was the Burgermeister in BGW's Festhaus from 1975-2002, died recently at the age of 95 (obituary here). He had previously served in U.S. Army and saw action in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam before retiring as a lt. colonel.

Mr. Bauman was a popular figure at the park and spent his days singing traditional German songs in the Festhaus--while decked out in lederhosen and swinging a beer stein, of course.

[pkdcoasterAll I want is a chainlift!]

sad news but he lived a nice long life.

I remember my cousins grandfather and him were good friends.

They would talk all day while we would ride the rides.

Festhaus has never felt the same since he left and to my knowledge BGW has never tried to replace him.

JEFF

^He definitely added a lot to the Festhaus's atmosphere, and he was always happy to chat with guests. I rather doubt they could find a good replacement for him.

BGW is going to hold a Christmas Town Q&A session on Facebook on Thursday, November 12, 2:00 to 2:30 pm: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=311678275014&ref=mf. I presume this is Eastern Standard Time.

You have to "RSVP" and post your questions on BGW's Wall. Scott Gasparich, the park's vice president of entertainment, will answer the posted questions.

[bpmitchellDoes Jeff Johnson count this donkey as a credit?]

I will be attending the opening night for the christmastown. Just hopefully the weather holds up and we don't have any rain like we did during halloween season.

BGW has released a few more details about the new shows for Christmas Town (including a Sesame Street show in the Old Globe Theatre):

NEW SHOWS ANNOUNCED FOR CHRISTMAS TOWN: A BUSCH GARDENS CELEBRATION

Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration opens Nov. 27

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Nov. 13, 2009) – Music and cheer will fill the air this holiday season at Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration. Brand new shows will come to life in the streets and theatres in ways never before seen at Busch Gardens. Guests will hear classic Christmas songs performed by a diverse array of musical styles, from live Victorian-era carolers to a modern twist on Gregorian chants.

In the England section of the park families can gather in the Globe Theatre for the world-wide premiere of “A Sesame Street Christmas,” where Abby Cadabby learns the meaning of Christmas. Sesame Street residents spread holiday cheer as they share their fondest memories of favorite Christmas traditions. Through high-energy song and dance Sesame Street celebrates cookies, stockings, cards, Santa, snow, gift giving, and most important of all – friends and family.

Guests can join the townspeople of Killarney, situated in the Ireland section of the park, as they celebrate Christmas full of heart and playful surprises. They’ll be serenaded under the stars while Irish musicians play traditional Celtic Christmas classics. Guests can enter a transformed Abbey Stone Theatre for “Rejoice,” an emotional Christmas performance told through moving imagery, choral harmonies and a full, live orchestra. This production will deliver heart-felt classics in an age-old form of Gregorian music with a modern, contemporary flair that will be brand new to American audiences.

In Germany, Christmas memories come alive as friends and family celebrate the magic of the season. Live singers, dancers and musicians perform the classic sounds of the season in “Deck the Halls” at Das Festhaus. Gathered in the decked-out dining hall, guests will sing and dance along to everyone’s holiday favorites.

Throughout the night, guests can enjoy our spectacular lightshow “O Tannenbaum,” featuring our iconic 45-foot, light-animated Christmas tree. Introduced by community choirs, “O Tannenbaum” celebrates the lighting of the Christmas Town tree. Guests will be immersed by the dazzling sights and sounds of the booming symphonic score destined to become a Christmas Town tradition.

Christmas Town opens at Busch Gardens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4 - 9 p.m. beginning Nov. 27. The park will open each evening Dec. 18-27, excluding Christmas Day. Some sections of the park will remain closed for the season, and some rides and attractions are weather dependent.

Christmas Town admission tickets are available for $19.95. Guests with active Busch Gardens passes save 50 percent on Christmas Town tickets as well as free parking and in-park discounts.

Event details are available on the new Christmas Town Web site at http://www.christmastown.com.

[printersdevil78Nuthin' better than a naked donkey!]

Everything I see about Christmas Town makes me more excited for our visit in two weeks. I may have just missed it before, but it looks like the menus for individual lands are up on the interactive map page of the Chrsitmas Town website. Lots of turkey! (I'll stick to the German sausages, thank you very much.)

^I was having trouble with their Web site yesterday, but I have been curious about the menu, myself. Turkey works for me.