Photo TR: Busch Gardens Europe - Preview Day in the cold 3/17/07

[T Money77I Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

Hey Griffon. I was the other guy when you were getting on apollo who had problems with the bag if you remember me. We didn't pay for a fluffy, fluffy bunny filled with medicine and goo though we just left them on the side. At the other rides they let us leave them in the front entrance of the ride but on apollo they wouldn't.

[griffonA griffon? How deliciously absurd!]

^ yea Apollo was the first ride they actually wouldn't let me through with my bag, so I kinda just wanted to see what they would say to me.

For what it's worth, here's my input on the new bag policy: First, I've always had a great deal of respect for the park, and that won't change just because of one new rule. Their reasoning behind it is to keep lines moving faster, and keep associates more focused on their jobs rather than having to deal with everyone else's belongings. In theory it should speed things up, which would be a great benefit to all of us.

The main issue I think is that this is a regional park. I would expect a policy like this in places like Universal and Disney where most guests will only visit once a year, and the lines are always long so it really does help everything move faster. But at BGW you can tell that a large percentage of their business is based on the local population. There are nerds like me who will visit the park 15-20 times a year, and even show up when it's snowing! Although I'm not a professional by any stretch of the imagination, the pictures I take still promote publicity and advertise the park, which in my opinion they should be thanking me for, rather than inconveniencing me for trying. But, I'm just one person and I realize I don't represent the millions of people who visit the park each year.

All that said, I will find a way around it. I mentioned to my buddies in the park that if I have to dig a secret hole in the ground behind a bush at the entrance of each ride, I will do that and hide my bag there each time .

Actually I probably won't go that far. But it does prove that there are other options to consider.

[DRACHEN_FIRE_FAN-BOYI know more about donkeys than women!]

yeah this rule is crap though, theoretically it should work, but it won't. People are still gonna bring their bags, I know I will. Im not paying $5 for water, so Im gonna bring in my own, and Im not gonna keep my camera in my pocket...... Im gonna do what I always did and walk across to the exit put them in a semi-secure spot. Honestly people shouldn't be snatching bags, that's just stupid. Im a long-time customer of the park, and it might change if this rule becomes an inconvenience. Im not paying to use a fluffy, fluffy bunny filled with medicine and goo, and the employees shouldn't have to worry about people's crap. Like I said if this rule becomes an inconvenience im gonna tell Busch Gardens to kiss my

[spaceace12Cubs/Colts Fan]

I ran into this rule at Sheikra, annoying, but it was only 50 cents for a fluffy, fluffy bunny filled with medicine and goo and I rode as many coasters in that area as I could before openign it up again.

[griffonA griffon? How deliciously absurd!]

^^no need to go that far . I seriously don't think the park sat around this winter and said "lets annoy as many people as we can this year!" I see where they're just trying to make things efficient. Most people carry around all kinds of crap they don't need and take 20 minutes littering their articles all over the exit side of the station before getting on the train...and they are the ones who will get the most irate about it.

On a side note, I really feel bad for the operators this year who will have to be at the entrance(s) to the rides.

[T Money77I Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

I agree with what Griffon is saying. We should all just meet up at the park together and all take our bags together on the ride.

[DRACHEN_FIRE_FAN-BOYI know more about donkeys than women!]

do you mean like ride with our stuff, or just make a point to the Opps/Staff that "we want to take our bags on rides if we need to!"

[T Money77I Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

Just make a point that we want to take our bags in line with us and not have to get a fluffy, fluffy bunny filled with medicine and goo everytime.

[DRACHEN_FIRE_FAN-BOYI know more about donkeys than women!]

I don't know if any of you know this but, don't bother going to BGE for Griffon until the 25th of May. kinda disappointed it is so ready to open.... look at it... it screams "HEY I'M READY FOR PEOPLE NOW!"

sad day for all of us wanting to go on Griffon. I know that most of us were expecting the worse when it came to the date of public opening (it's not as bad as I thought it would be), but it's still sad to hear

[carolinacaniac"Excuse me, miss, may I pound my large rooster into your donkey?"]

Yeah, that is sad especially since the Track has been done for about a month now! I wonder if there may be a chance that it will open early? I was planning on going with friends on the 19th of May, so maybe they could just open it a week early (I wish)