2015 Day 6 - Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Another park day!  After another complimentary breakfast at the hotel we set off at about 9 for our next park, Busch Gardens at Williamsburg.  We arrived in the car park just after 10 and quickly did the sun cream.  The sun was shining, beautiful blue sky and the temperature was due to be about 87 with humidity reasonably high again.  With tickets pre purchased online we headed straight for the turnstiles and bag search, then found the kiosk to exchange for our prepaid fast passes, these were valid once per ride.

With the rides still quiet, and a bit of a false start following the park map, we joined the normal queue entrance for Apollos Chariot, a hyper coaster with a first drop of 210ft and only lap bar restraints.  We were straight on the ride and it was very good, so good we went straight round and on again. The others all went on the ride next to Apollos Chariot, Tempesto.  I chickened out and sat in the shade to watch.  They quite liked it but Keith said it was odd.  There is only one car at a time, which is launched forwards and up, but then rolls back through the station before going forwards again up and into first a large then a smaller loop twisting and turning as it goes (you'll need to look it up online or wait for pics, its hard to explain!)

Apollos Chariot lift hill to left, Tempesto on right

Keith and Sarah had a ride on Tradewind, a spin ride, before we moved on the to the next section of the park, Oktoberfest.

Vetbolten, is a coaster based on the german Autobahn snd the Black Forest.  The first launched part zooms you into a dark indoor section, after a few left and right turns and drops it pauses, then the whole track drops 18ft.  We hadn't warned Sarah about that!  :)  it then launches again out into the woods and pauses on a creaking, grianing bridge before sweeping down into some fast turns hhen back to the station.  Fab ride.

Also in this section was a 3d ride similar to Spiderman at Universal, called Curse of Darkastle.

Next area was Germany, not sure why this was different (actually park is meant to be based on Europe but they obviously couldn't resist putting American flags and things all round the park, quite funny really!).  Another coaster calling, this time Alpengeist, a hanging coaster, agreat ride that didn't disappoint.  We are certainly finding loads of great coasters.

Across a small river and into "France" where we found Griffon.  A large dive coaster like Sheikra in tampa.  Awesome ride.

The next area housed Lorikeets Glen, yeah feeding the birdies!  Armed with 2 pots of nectar we headed in, they didn't seem keen at first, but we did eventually find a couple of interested birds and spent a good 15 mins or more enjoying their antics.

Up until now we had just joined the normal queues, but the park was getting busy so after a few more small animals we carried on to Europe in the Air, a simulator ride that doesn't quite achieve the success of Soarin' but was ok, and used the fast pass.

We decided to reverse our route and reride the coasters using fast passes.  Unfortunately Griffon was experiencing problems so we carried on back to Alpengeist.  Heat was now getting to Sarah and I so we sat this one out and let the boys go ahead.  Next was a ride we had missed on our first round, The Loch Ness Monster.  Verdict on this one wasn't so good, an old corkscrew ride with plenty if head banging - glad I opted out then!

We made our way back to Verbolten where we all had another go.  I really wanted to ride Apollo's Chariot again but really felt I'd done enough, so being bag lady again, I let the others go on.  Unfortunately just before they boarded someone on a previous train had thrown up so the ride was closed while they cleaned it up and sent the cars round empty half a dozen times.  At least they had managed to get out of the blazing sun and into the station to wait.  Eventually they got their turn and returned happy!

Tempesto didn't have a fast pass queue and was half hr wait, so we decided to call it a day.  It was half five and we were struggling to even walk in the heat.

Sarah, Stephen and I decided it was time for a water ride ...

The boys got some drinks and took the tram back to the parking lot and Sarah and I headed for the shops, air con and retail therapy = happy girls. After spending some dollars, we too grabbed some drinks and headed back to the car.

Our hotel was only a few miles away in Williamsburg.  Stephen asked if there was an Applebees anywhere near, a quick google and we found one less than a mile away.   Great choice, superb food and a lovely waitress.

Looking forward to a break from the coasters as we head tomorrow for the Blue Ridge Mountains.


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