Sorry about the delay in publishing this trip report from our June 5, 2023 visit to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW). I have been working six days a week this month and fell behind on practically everything. I did publish my review and POV for DarKoaster in recent weeks, so I hope you’ve had a chance to check out both of those. If not, I have embedded the POV below. Please give it a watch and if you’d be so kind to give it a like, comment, share the video, or subscribe to the channel, it would be much appreciated.
As for this June 5 trip to BGW, Greg, his friend Tim, my friend Eric, and I made our way down to meet up with Chris for several hours. Chris had plans later that evening, but he still wanted to come hang out with us for a bit. It’s always great to catch up with Chris and I hope one day soon he’ll be able to head up this way to visit some parks.
New Credits for Everyone (Except Chris)
With the addition of DarKoaster, everyone in our group, except for Chris, would be claiming at least one new coaster credit this visit. Chris was invited to attend DarKoaster’s Media Day event a few weeks prior, but he was looking forward to getting in another lap on the park’s newest attraction. Eric, with only one prior visit to the park, still needed to ride a few of the park’s coasters, including Griffon. Greg had yet to claim Pantheon, having not visited BGW since it opened last year. And if I remember correctly, I think Tim still needed a ride on InvadR to complete the park. I, of course, needed DarKoaster.
By the end of our day we had made a stop at every major coaster, getting in at least one ride on each. Several rides we managed to grab a few rides while in the area. Lines throughout the day were mostly short, with the exception of DarKoaster. Here’s a highlight of some of those rides.
DarKoaster
Since I did a separate review for DarKoaster, I’m not going into length details here. After waiting well over an hour, we were able to get in our one ride on this new Intamin straddle coaster. This was my first experience with an Intamin straddle, but by the looks of it, Sea World and Busch Gardens parks are investing heavily into this model. I’m curious to see if other parks do the same.
I will say this ride surprised me in many ways, especially with the launches. Some of the laterals pulled on my body more than I anticipated too. It is by no means an intense ride, however. This is a family ride and a great addition to the park. My only complaints come from an overall lack of storytelling and theming. While both do exist, I feel the building’s previous ride, Curse of DarKastle, did it better in every way.
Pantheon
You can’t go to BGW and not get in a few laps on Pantheon, especially when it is a station wait. Tim and Eric got in three rides, Chris and Greg did one, and I did two. I would have done a third lap too, but I wanted to spend some time with my new camera while in the area. My aim, pun intended, was to capture this coaster up close and personal with a zoom lens. While I like a lot of the photos I’ve taken with my previous camera and cellphone thus far, my new camera equipment would allow me to get a few angles I’ve never been able to shoot before. Be sure to check those photos out in the gallery below.
As for the ride, it was the usual airtime and hangtime filled experience that I’ve come to expect. The outer-banked turn, however, seemed to have a little more ejector than I’m used to. Last year that element was all floater airtime. On this June 5 visit, I felt a little bit of ejector mixed in. Has anyone else noticed this?
InvadR
Hot take: InvadR is becoming a better ride in recent years. I never disliked the ride, but never found it to be anything special until last year. Last year the trains felt like they rode faster, the laterals pulled tighter, and at several points, there was several fun airtime pops that felt more forceful than ever. Here in 2023, all those things are still true.
In the past I wouldn’t be upset if we skipped InvadR. With it’s low capacity and ability to fill up its queue, I was always content to just ride something else. Moving forward, I think I’ll be making sure I get in at least one lap, if not more.
Alpengeist
There’s no way I can visit BGW and not ride this sentimental favorite. Ever since its debut, I’ve loved this ride. Its theming, its pacing, its elements, and especially its intensity are all things I adore about Alpengeist. One of these days I need to spend a few hours marathoning it. On this day, however, we only had time for one ride and I went straight to the back.
All those elements I just named did their usual things and did them with the intensity I’ve come to expect. I still wish the park would do something about the mid-course brake run. Obviously, I’d love for it to not hit at all, but I’d settle for them lessening its impact. Those brakes grab the train pretty hard. It doesn’t cause me any discomfort, but I always hear people moan or groan from the sudden slowdown.
Final Ride Counts
Alpengeist (1: Eric, Greg, Patrick)
Apollo’s Chariot (4: Greg, Tim, 1: Eric, Patrick)
DarKoaster (1)
Griffon (1: Eric, Greg, Patrick)
Escape From Pompeii (1: Eric, Greg, Patrick)
InvadR (1: Eric, Greg, Patrick)
Verbolten (1)
Pantheon (3: Eric, Tim, 2: Patrick, 1: Chris D., Greg)
Skyride (1: Eric, Greg, Patrick)
Tempesto (1: Eric, Greg, Patrick, Tim)
Major Pin Haul
One thing I knew heading to the park on June 5 was that I would be adding a bunch of new pins to my BGW collection. I didn’t know how many, but I figured it would be at least a dozen. Well, it ended up being two dozen. I visited every shop we came across and in each and every one, I found a pin or two that I didn’t see somewhere else. I found eight Alpengeist pins alone and to be honest, I’m not even sure if I have them all. I grabbed all the coaster pins I didn’t have, along with trading a Wildcat’s Revenge pin to Chris for a DarKoaster Member pin. I’m glad he was able to grab one of those for me on Media Day. I didn’t see a single one for sale at the park during our visit.
Ready to Return
I am always up for a return trip to BGW. The only thing I hate about visiting is the long 3.5 hour drive down through Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. I say 3.5 hours like there is ever a time where it’s not longer due to traffic. So yeah, usually a 3.5 hour plus drive.
Oh well, I hope to get back down to the park one of these days with Sam. She was supposed to join us for this trip, but ended up starting her new job a couple weeks earlier than she planned. I’m happy for her and can’t wait to get back out to a park to celebrate. Perhaps introducing her to DarKoaster would be a way to do it?
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Photo Gallery - June 5, 2023
If you would like to use any of the images in the gallery above for your commercial and/or non-commercial projects, feel free to do so. I ask that you credit We Were Inverted whenever they’re used. I also ask that you do not alter the image or remove the watermarks. If you need any images/video resized or without the watermarks, please contact me directly.
CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): DarKoaster
Greg
Admiral
New Credit(s): DarKoaster, Pantheon
Eric
Lieutenant
New Credit(s): DarKoaster, Griffon, InvadR, Tempesto
Chris D.
Ensign
New Credit(s): n/a
