Sam, Greg, and I had just left Go-Karts Plus to make our way to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW) for the evening. If you didn’t read the trip report on Go-Karts Plus, be sure to check out, “Summer of Sam – Go-Karts Plus: Hey, It’s a Credit!” With our kiddie coaster credit stop out of the way, it was then time the big rides. Well, some of them…
When BGW decided to open late in the 2020 season, it did so with heavy restrictions. The park is currently operating with limited rides, shopping, and dining and in four hour time blocks – either 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Friday – Sunday) or 5 – 9 p.m. (Wednesday – Sunday). Since we were visited on a Friday, both shifts were an option, but you do have to leave the park if you decide to book both shifts. We picked to do the evening shift so that we could meet up with Chris D. and his daughter, Carrie. The two of them live about an hour away from the park and have booked a reservation for every Friday for the rest of the season.
If you’re thinking that this doesn’t sound worth the trip, especially with our 3.5 hour drive to get to the park, I may have agreed with you until about a week ago. That’s when Chris began explaining how the park was only letting in 1,000 guests per shift and he was getting in three to five rides on everything. My interest piqued. When I shared that with Sam and Greg, they wanted to go. Read all about the lead up and eventual decision to go to BGW in the preview blog, “Busch Gardens Williamsburg – Fingers Crossed for Friday.”
Now, before I get into this day, let me preface this blog layout as it is different than my normal park reports Typically, I go in chronological order through the events of the day. With such limited operations and losing one of our four hours due to a passing thunderstorm, we bounced between several rides like pinballs. So for this blog, I will list the rides, with a ride count tally, and then talk about all the rides we had on that particular ride throughout the evening. It might seem a little messy and jumping all over the place, sort of like a Quentin Tarantino movie. I just think it will be easier than listing every single re-ride over and over again.
Finnegan's Flyer - First & Only Ride on the Day
1 Ride
Upon entering the park and making our way to the park’s open regions and coasters, we came upon Finnegan’s Flyer. There was no line so I asked if anyone wanted to go ahead and give it a quick ride. Greg and Chris joined me while Sam and Carrie watched on. We got some amazing airtime on this flat ride, with Chris saying it was the most he’s ever had on it to date. Sadly, I took no footage before we moved back to the coasters. A fun little start to our day at BGW, nonetheless.
Alpengeist - Sam's New Favorite
4 Rides
Our first coaster of the day ended up being Alpengeist, although our plan was to walk all the way to the back end of the park for Verbolten. We’ll get to that ride in a bit. When we approached Alpengeist, I had to stop for some footage of my favorite inverted coaster and one of my favorite rides, period. Sam and Greg were so excited and were checking out the theming at the ride’s entrance. We said screw it, and jumped on. People were too excited to get a lap on this much anticipated invert.
Sam, Carrie, and I got in a front row ride on the first ride on Alpengeist, but it wouldn’t be our last. Everyone loved it and Chris has been saying it’s been running better than ever. He even proclaimed it surpassed Montu as his favorite invert as of this summer.
The second ride on Alpengeist, I asked Sam if she wanted to try the back seat instead. She said sure and we had one of the most whippy rides on Alpengeist that I can remember. Sam was in awe and loved the experience in the back, exclaiming that Alpengeist is her new favorite roller coaster. I had a feeling that it would be going into the park and I ultimately ended up being correct. Her favorite used to be an invert in Hersheypark’s Great Bear, before being replaced by another Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), Hydra: The Revenge at Dorney Park. Now she was on one of the best B&M inverts around, so I just knew it was going to at least challenge for her top spot.
“I think the back row ride on Alpengeist is one of, if not the greatest and most intense rides I’ve ever had on any coaster,” said Sam.
“Alpengeist is an intense invert with a long, jam-packed, fantastic layout,” Greg added.
Later on in the day we were able to secure two more night rides on this amazing invert. I rode a middle row ride with Greg for the third ride and then got in another front seat ride with Sam and Carrie for our final lap. I know Sam wanted to ride it again and again, but with some of the downtime we faced due to the rain and Verbolten’s operations (more on that below), we wanted to make sure we rode some of the other rides multiple times too.
Griffon - Almost Became Sam's Newer Favorite
3 Rides
Since Griffon was the first coaster that we passed entering the park, we could have jumped on it first. It was Chris’ suggestion that we do Verbolten first since it was all the way at the back end of the park. On top of that, I could tell Sam wanted to warm up to her first dive coaster credit after some laps on the other rides. I figured as much. Still, we stopped and I shot some footage of the ride as we passed it by.
Our first ride on Griffon came as the sun had little shine left in our day. With it behind all the clouds, it was practically a night ride at that point. We boarded the third row because it was wide open. Plus, I figured it would have the least amount of overhang for the dive, which would be good for Sam’s first experience.
Riding Griffon for the first time, or any dive coaster for the first time actually, Sam and Greg loved it. The floater airtime on the dive, along with all the smooth transitions made this ride a hit with the both of them. We went right back into the queue again, but this time, jumped in line for the front row.
Sam and Greg loved the front so much more, noticing the difference when hanging over the first drop. I told them the back has barely any hang, especially compared to the front. They definitely agreed with me after that front row ride.
“The first drop on Griffon was no joke,” Sam explained. “Even if I didn’t have my hands up…”
After squeezing out one last ride on Alpengeist and then InvadR before park closing, we ran over to Griffon only minutes before the park closed. We got in line for the front again, but were told we’d have to just jump on one of the two other rows since the train that was loading would be the last. Since Greg needed the larger seat on the ride, however, and none were open on the train with their social distancing, the ride op told us, he’d do one more train for us. What a guy! They even let a few girls, who were in the front row of the returning train, jump into another row for a quick re-ride without having to walk out and back around. As Greg would say, “Love to see it.” What a way to end the night – a night ride on Griffon.
“Griffon has a first drop like no other. If you want to feel like you’re flying, it’s the ride for you,” said Greg.
InvadR - Front Row Rocks!
2 Rides
BGW’s lone wood coaster was our second coaster of the day and one we rode twice overall. Our initial ride came after Alpengeist and having our hearts broken by Verbolten the first time. Again, we’ll get to Verbolten soon. Anyhow, we decided upon heading back from Verbolten to ride Alpengeist the second time and then make our way over to InvadR and and Griffon. We did InvadR first and rode toward the back of the ride. They were seating people for this ride, filling in the back to the front first. This will come into play on our second ride here shortly.
We waited no more than five minutes to board our train and be on our way. While not my favorite Great Coasters International (GCI) coaster, or my favorite coaster at BGW, I am always up for getting at least one ride on InvadR whenever I visit BGW. Luckily, with the limits placed on guests being in the park, this ride had no wait at all. Chris has said that this can be one of the coasters that gets a bit of a line due to the every other row seating for social distancing and having such short trains to begin with. On this day, it was not the case.
“InvadR is a great GCI that doesn’t get enough credit,” said Greg.
Now, for our second ride on InvadR, which was our second to last ride of the day. As I said, they were assigning rows, filling in from back to front, so people would not have to pass one another. Well, we walked up and the front row was the only row open. The rest of the train was filled. We had five people, so we all couldn’t fit on this train. I wanted Sam to ride the front row, however, so I said we can split up. We moved into the station and entered the front row with instruction from a female ride op.
A couple in third row, who was in their mid to late 30’s, I’d assume, began grumbling how they wanted the front row and how stupid it is that they couldn’t it, but we could. They began bitching about it and the ride staff had to keep telling the female to put her mask up during her rant.
When the train began clanking up the lift hill the couple began asking questions directed at the female ride op who let us into the station. She says she can’t hear them with her head set in. So they begin screaming at her and talking to her like she’s dumb. No question about their tone, although they claimed otherwise.
Well, the ride op flipped out on them, telling them if they keep acting up, they won’t ride. The couple shouted back again and again, acting like spoiled children. All the ride ops jumped on the couple telling them to calm down, or exit the ride.
When the next train pulled in, the couple sat down. I told Sam, I was going to offer them the front seat at the very start, but when they flipped on the female ride op, I said, “Oh, hell no!” I wasn’t giving them crap for that little display.
Naturally, with people like them, it wasn’t over. The ride ops checked lap bars and we were about ready to depart. That’s when the woman began complaining again and how she now she wants off the ride. They pop the restraint and she storms off the ride, telling her man to come with her. He says no, since he didn’t ride anything all day. He stays on and quiets down.
We ride the entire ride and he’s having a great time behind us, screaming, and sounding quite positive for a change. Then we pull back into the loading station and he’s like, “I love wood coasters. I love them more in the front,” and so on and so on.
As the train parks, he’s quiet again. He gets up, walks off, and then starts talking about the ride ops are all going to get what’s coming to them descending down the ramp. Tough guy from a distance and probably just showing off for his girl since he was back around her. What a chump and what an embarrassing ordeal. I wonder how much crap he got for not getting off the ride with her. They were both clowns. Maybe they can employ them for the clown themed haunts they do in October?
As we waited for Greg, Chris, and Carrie to return, I asked one of the ride ops if they get people who act up like those two did a lot. Sadly, he said yes, and on a daily basis too. I told them they did a good job and not to let stupid people get to them. Greg, Chris, and Carrie all told the female op on the other side of the station the same thing. She apologized for us having to be there when that all happened, but Greg told her she handled that well.
Thankfully, this whole ordeal did not last any longer than it did. We were worried we might not have enough time to get in that one final ride on Griffon that I mentioned above. We cut it close, but as you already know, we made it.
Verbolten - 0 for 3
0 Rides
With Chris suggesting we head to Verbolten first, we probably should have. As much as we loved getting on Alpengeist first, we never got to ride Verbolten once. After leaving Alpengeist, we made our way back to the coaster that sits on Big Bad Wolf’s former location. As we approached, we saw a number of people all walking toward us. They told us that Verbolten had just went down. Chris said the week prior it was down for about an hour too.
Later on in the day, we tried to nab Verbolten again. This time, it was after the storm passed through and we had gotten in rides on the rest of the coasters. We entered the line and made it all the way up to the point you see in the photo above. That’s when the alert went off for the ride experiencing technical difficulties. We said screw it and waited. About 15 minutes later, we decided to go ahead and ride some other rides again and try to come back one last time before we left. Losing that hour due to the rain made us not want to sit in line and lose more of our limited time at the park.
With about 30 minutes left on the night we tried one last time for Verbolten. The queue line was chained off, so it looks liked they had just decided to close the ride, or were unable to get things running. We were bummed for Sam and Greg as both were looking forward to getting this ride credit and experiencing their first drop track element. It will have to wait for a return visit.
Sal's by Victor - Becoming a Post-BGW Tradition
After leaving the park, I had told Sam and Greg that we were going to stop at an Italian restaurant that James, our friend, John, and I found one evening leaving BGW years ago. It’s called Sal’s by Victor and is about 15 minutes outside the park. Elaina and I also stopped last year after our trip in 2019. The food is awesome and the restaurant offers quite the selection too. Check out their menu and reviews at www.salsbyvictor.com.
Having worked in one of Maryland’s most well-known Italian restaurants for 24 years up until July of this year, I’ve always enjoyed getting some Italian food when out doing my amusement park trips. I love trying other place’s pizza, pasta, subs, and desserts, but I am in no way a food critic. I’m too picky. Still, Sal’s by Victor is a great choice if you’re headed to BGW or are in the Williamsburg area. Sam and Greg also enjoyed the food too and said it was a great choice for a place to eat. It’s becoming a little tradition for my BGW visits to head to Sal’s by Victor after leaving the park. I can’t see that changing as long as they’re open when we get out of the park.
Back to Busch Gardens Again?
Speaking of return trips, while we were at the park, we saw Apollo’s Chariot testing while on the lift hill of Alpengeist. I think it’s safe to say they wouldn’t be testing it this late in the year unless there were plans to open it for a future event this season. If they open it, Tempesto, and Loch Ness, Sam and Greg want to go back. I guess that means we might not be done with BGW this year. For the summer though, that looks to be the case. Only a few days left before the end of the Summer of Sam. This will probably have been the last trip of the summer long event.
If they do indeed open up those rides and you are headed down to BGW, let me know. We could get in lots of rides with the limited capacity. There will be plenty of room on the rides and…
You can be my my wingman anytime! (Top Gun, 1986)
Patrick
CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): n/a
Sam
Commander
New Credit(s): Alpengeist, Griffon, InvadR
Greg
Ensign
New Credit(s): Alpengeist, Griffon, InvadR
Chris D.
Ensign
New Credit(s): n/a
Carrie
Ensign
New Credit(s): n/a
