Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

Meanwhile, back at Water Country USA, construction (or, at least, ground clearing) has started for Vanish Point, the park's new slides.


YouTube Videolink


This video was posted on the park's Facebook page. It looks like Vanish Point is going to be installed somewhere in the vicinity of Big Daddy Falls and Aquazoid, as near as I can tell.

[Tunaboy407I Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

It looks like its going right next to Meltdown between the queue for meltdown and the actual slide itself.

[KDcoasterMANFluffy, Fluffy, Donkeys Filled With Medicine and Goo!]

Screamscape sources are sorting through the news articles and permit applications BGW has submitted for the big 2012 coaster project. The new permits call for a new large 26,000 sqft ‘event building’ that will be 80 feet “above the existing grade” along with a themed bridge 95 feet above the grade. The new ride will make use of the former Big Bad Wolf station building as well. The former BBW ravine area will be “flattened” and a balloon test will be held on Dec 8th to show off how the new building and bridge will look from outside the park limits. With a building this big, it seems almost a given that the ride will feature some kind of indoor segment, which would be a nice addition if done well.

link

First I had heard of them flattening the BBW ravine...

^^After watching the video again, I think you're right about the location of Vanish Point.

^I recall someone asking John Reilly about a potential "dark ride" section for the new coaster, but he neither confirmed nor denied it.

[A.J.Counts I305 as 32 credits...]

This is great. I've been wanting to try out a trap-door slide for years, but I never was able to get down to Wet'n'Wild.

[jedimaster1227Open Up Happiness]

Busch Gardens Williamsburg has sent us a great press release including photos and video regarding the return of their successful Christmas Town event.

Get ready for evenings filled with warm holiday memories when Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration opens Friday. Walk among two million twinkling Christmas lights, explore one-of-a-kind shops, feast on culinary treats and marvel at the spectacle of Christmas Town's signature shows.

New for 2010, explore Italy's Christmas traditions featuring Italian culinary favorites, Busch Gardens' exclusive capodimonte gifts and a new entertainment production that will leave guests with a feeling of peace on earth.

"The addition of Italy to Busch Gardens' Christmas Town lineup expands the park's transformation into a holiday wonderland," said Busch Gardens' President Carl Lum. "Guests can now walk a complete loop around the park and experience all of Busch Gardens' holiday offerings while they are surrounded by the beautiful sights and delicious aromas of Christmas."

Christmas Town begins in England as a bustling city scene comes to life with Dickens-style carolers amid traditional greenery, red bows and candlelit windows at every shop and restaurant. New this year, guests can experience Christmas Town while relaxing 80 feet in the air aboard one of Busch Gardens' high-flying gondolas. Flight of Lights offers breathtaking views of all of Christmas Town's themed villages and showcases Busch Gardens' holiday decorations."

Travel back to simpler times and leave the city lights behind while exploring the Scottish countryside where sheep and horses roam under a star-filled wintery sky. Then step into Ireland as the village of Killarney transforms into a dazzling holiday festival filled with the magic of Christmas on Emerald isle. Pull up a stool and warm up at Grogan's Pub with a selection of hearty soups and stews. Stroll across the courtyard to the Abbey Stone Theatre for "Rejoice," a Christmas show that fills the audience with the Christmas spirit through moving imagery, choral harmonies and a full, live orchestra. The little ones can even dine with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Santa's Fireside Feast and have their picture taken with the jolly old elf himself.

In France, explore an ice-filled wonderland with dazzling lights, falling snow and an up-close encounter with live penguins on the Polar Pathway. Then join a down-home Christmas in New France where the sights and smells of a country Christmas will fill the air.

Make sure to visit Santa's Workshop at the North Pole before heading to "The Stocking Stop," the park's newest "KIDsiderate" store. This store features pre-wrapped gifts that children can purchase to surprise their friends and families on Christmas Day. Don't miss a trip to Oktoberfest to view Virginia's tallest light-animated Christmas tree. The culmination of a visit to Christmas Town unfolds in a larger-than-life format with the spectacular light show, "O Tannenbaum." This show features the park's iconic 50-foot Christmas tree with choreographed lights and music that fill guests with Christmas spirit.

Round out the Christmas Town experience with a visit to Italy, the park's newest Christmas wonderland. Gather friends and family around the table while dining on a traditional Italian Christmas dinner and enjoying the park's newest production, "Miracles." Live vocalists and an ensemble of dancers inspire guests to believe that anything is possible.

Busch Gardens is extending its Christmas Town operation through New Year's Eve, concluding with a 10 p.m. fireworks extravaganza on Dec. 31. Christmas Town will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 3 - 10 p.m. starting Nov. 26, and will open daily from Dec. 17 through Dec. 31, excluding Christmas Day. The park will close at 9 p.m. on Nov. 28, Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and on Christmas Eve.

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

Click to download video to your computer or iPod/iPhone

Screamscape sources are sorting through the news articles and permit applications BGW has submitted for the big 2012 coaster project. The new permits call for a new large 26,000 sqft ‘event building’ that will be 80 feet “above the existing grade” along with a themed bridge 95 feet above the grade. The new ride will make use of the former Big Bad Wolf station building as well. The former BBW ravine area will be “flattened” and a balloon test will be held on Dec 8th to show off how the new building and bridge will look from outside the park limits. With a building this big, it seems almost a given that the ride will feature some kind of indoor segment, which would be a nice addition if done well.

link

First I had heard of them flattening the BBW ravine...

Yeah, that's a little disappointing. You'd just think that they would keep that aspect of BBW around, but I guess now that it's gone, it's gone, and who really cares about ruining the natural terrain of that plot of land?

[SKULLYDonkeys give me orgiastic scream!]

I can't believe that the economics of reprofiling the terrain would benefit the park, especially with the river branching out into that area. I guess that if they do indeed reprofile it then they must have decided that area is better used with something place onto it.

[esvadjWhat would donkeys be like on the moon?]

The Big Bad Wolf was a popular ride and a lot of people were upset to see it go. I think the new coaster may be themed around wolves to pay homage to the coaster that was. The queue may go through a wolf habitat much like Manta in Sea World.

I think the ride will be a multiple launched coaster going in and out of darkness with the possibility of storyline similar to Big Bad Wolf, in that you are escaping from a wolf.

I also think the name will have wolf in the title: Wolf's Revenge, Escape from Wolf, Wolf Hunt (?)

Just some thoughts.....

[Skycoastin SteveFive babies drowned in a fire]

^I've already given my theory that it will be Three Little Pigs themed. Das Little Piggehs will be the name. There will be three launches, one for straw, one for sticks, and one for bricks. Before each launch, you hear over speakers, "I'll huff, and PUFF, and BLOWWWWWWW your house in!!!!" And when he says BLOWWWWWWW, that's when it launches.

If I were any more brilliant, I'd be Picaso and da Vinci's love child.