AdventureExpresser Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Took the camper and went to Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion this past weekend with two friends from work, that have never been to either place. Actually just got home an hour ago. We went to Busch Gardens on Sunday, actually hit the traffic going into the parking lot about a mile from the entrance and it was bumper to bumper, by the time we got into the parking lot into a spot and caught a tram over to the entrance we had wasted an hour, I did find out that the park was filled to capacity this day and it had something to do with it being the last days for Virginia residents to use their special passports. Once inside the park, we headed to Escape from Pompeii, with a 20 minute wait, love the effects for this ride, must have been alot of weight in the boat, got wetter than ever have before. After that headed for the Loch Ness Monster, 45 minute wait here. Still a great ride, just wish the trains could meet in the loops again, but I know never again. After this headed for the shows, Pet Shenanigans and Emerald Beat, this was the best for us for the whole day, we are all animal lovers and their Irish Dance show is absolutely top notch. After this onto Griffon, where the two lines were so confusing between regular line and the fast que that we stood in the wrong line for 10 minutes before we figured it out, then had to go to the normal line for another hour and fifteen minutes, very slow at getting this thing loaded and unloaded today. We took the second row because of the long lines, and isn't as good of an experience as the front, of course the kid in front of me threw something from the ride as they held us at the top, so they kept everyone on the ride at the end while they scolded him. After this waited in line for 10 minutes for an ice cream but was worth it, I think BG has the best food for an amusement park, especially at the outdoor italian ampitheater restaurant, which we waited in line 30 minutes for dinner. After Griffon onto Curse of Darkastle, walked past the log flume, every que was full and the line started back up the hill, and Alpengeist was an hour and 30 minute wait, so passed it on for Curse, and waited there for an hour, but the girls that went with me, loved this more than anything we had done so far. After that had to head for the Wolf, and show off my Save the Wolf shirt I bought from Screamscape, turned out the shirt was a hit, but waited one hour and 45 minutes. All ques full and backed down the bridge going over into Italy. Got the very back seat, this has been my favorite seat since I have been riding it back in 1984. An employee let me know in the park that there can never be more than five coasters in the park, is this a Busch thing or a city ordinance. So far this was the best ride of the day, brought back lots of memories. Onto The Cradle next, one of my favorite flats but was closed, so disappointed, had to wait 25 minutes for the battering ram. Headed to Apollos Chariot next waited an hour but by far the best coaster in the park, rode in the back, and my friends absolutely loved it, by this time, it was closing time, and I have to say this was the worst day I have ever had at BG trying to get rides in, the later it got, the busier it got, to the point it was shoulder to shoulder croweded, and I honestly was afraid when the train gates caught us because it was dangerous both sides packed and coming right at each other, I felt sorry for people with young kids it would have been nothing but a worry if they were going to get trampled by the crowds. All in all still my favorite park, when it comes to a WELL Rounded experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 I would not believe the five coasters thing. Many times employees repeat things they have been told and honestly believe, that simply are not the case. This is almost certainly one of those things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamondback FOF Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Nevermind on my original comment. But, nice trip report. I also doubt the five coaster thing, but I don't know too much. Can we also expect a trip report about the Kings Dominion part later? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureExpresser Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share Posted September 10, 2009 The next day took the camper to Camp Wilderness next to Kings Dominion, this was Labor Day. I could already tell when we took the bus over to the park, it was going to be a much better day, because the parking lot was barely full. Headed straight for the Berserker first and absolutely scared my two friends to death, I loved it, always have loved it. Went to Dominator next , this was my first time ever to ride this one, and it was a walkon except for the front seat, so we waited on it, was worth it, was an awesome experience, I just wish it would have slowed us down a little more when we got to the corkscrews toward the end of the ride so you could enjoy them a little more, it slung us threw them so fast, you couldn't really focus on what was going on, still great. Headed for The Crypt next, and by far still wonderful, can't believe the music and the effects are still in operation, that makes for one awesome ride, and we did seven complete revolutions, loved it, loved it loved it. Onto the Volcano, longest line in the park, but was only a fifteen minute wait so we did it in the back, did it in the middle, did it in the front, three times in a row, the blast off is what makes this ride, and my friends couldn't quit talking about how much they loved it. Headed to the Avalanche, and they had never done bobsleds before, and for such a small ride, couldn't believe the effect it had on them, we had to do that ride I believe around eight times, they LOVED IT. Onto the Anaconda, every row was a walkon, Front, Front Front, six times. Shockwave was next, brings back so many fond memories of the King Cobra, but I notice as I get older it is harder for me to get in and out of this restraint system, but still a great ride in the back. Headed to Drop Tower after this, this thing wastes no time in getting you to the top and there is only a second to get your thought together before "click" and your going back down, Great ride, was a walkon, we did it I believe about four times. Americana makes a very nice addition to the Grove. Rebel Yell was running one side and It was ROUGH, The paint on looked horrible on it, looked like someone had dumped gallons of paint thinner all over the ride.. The girls with me had never been on a mouse coaster either so Riccochet was a total winner also, did it four times. The El Dorado was a fun ride, but I prefer a fast rainbow over it. Onto the Grizzly, I think this coaster proves you don't have to be big to pack a punch, this is one wild coaster and one of my favorites. When my friends seen the Eagles, It was, "Oh I LOVE these , we have to do these" so needless to say we did them alot, and I could have down them all night because we were having a blast on them. As the night drew to a close, we did alot of sweets eating and shopping, and checked out all the info on the Intimidator, this is going to be a great addition to such a wonderful park, A Giga coaster and before Kings Island gets one, so I will be there alot next year. The only downfall for the day was watching an employee that must have been off, get four 32 ounce cups and push his way into the dipping dots booth and filling those cups up for his friends this really ticked me off after all the money I paid out to this park, so of course I went and complained, because if they are passing them out for free, then they could pass them my way also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI Kevin Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Um haven't they had more than 5 before with Drachen Fire/ Wild Maus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureExpresser Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share Posted September 10, 2009 Um haven't they had more than 5 before with Drachen Fire/ Wild Maus? Drachen Fire was gone before Apollos Chariot ever came along if I remember right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 They actually have SIX NOW: http://www.rcdb.com/4548.htm And they did during the times that Drachen Fire and Wild Maus respectively operated. Good catch! And no, Drachen Fire (closed July 1999, destroyed 2002) still operated when Apollo's Chariot opened (March 27, 1999). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI Kevin Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Oh woops I forgot about Grover's Alpine Express. I didn't ride it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureExpresser Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share Posted September 10, 2009 I forgot to say that when the employees told me this they put the word five Major coasters in their text Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureExpresser Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share Posted September 10, 2009 I wish if Blackstone were going to buy the parks, they could put some kind of stop on dismantling the Wolf , I still think it is awesome ride even after 25 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 And yet, they HAVE had six major coasters in the past: In early 1999, for example, they had Alpengeist, Apollo's Chariot, Big Bad Wolf, Loch Ness Monster, Drachen Fire and Wild Maus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureExpresser Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share Posted September 10, 2009 Well then they lied to me, but for whatever reason, we are losing the best suspended coaster of our time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Totally agree. I doubt they lied, they were just misinformed. They meant well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureExpresser Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share Posted September 10, 2009 I still think they are taking it out because it will make room for a new area because right now the only walk way to it would be back by the festhaus and that is just too far out of the way this way there can be numerous entrances into a new area, and they were wanting to lead us to believe eventually it will be a flying coaster added. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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