Hi, I don't post often but I read every day and wanted to contribute. So let's get down to it.
First of all, living in Raleigh, NC means that BGW is three hours away. I have a season pass for the first time this year but getting up there is still not always the easiest thing in the world. But even more difficult than getting to the park is having to leave it. I want to live there. I feel happiest when I'm on a roller coaster and while I'm in the park. If my whole family wasn't deeply rooted in good ole Raleighwood then I'd absolutely move to Williamsburg just so I could be near the park.
I was very apprehensive about the retheming in Germany but honestly I thought it was fine. I certainly dislike the cartoonish exterior of the festhaus but otherwise all the changes were just fine.
Holy hell, Mach Tower is ENORMOUS! I had no idea just how huge it was until I saw it in person! I'm going to pee myself when I get to the top of that beast.
I did the Lorikeet Glen for the first time and it was so cool! The birds were so friendly! They jumped right on me!
They've taken away the statue of Archangel Michael in France to put in the Illuminights sign, but I hope once Illuminights is finished the statue will come back. It's my favorite in the park (because my name is Michael and I've always loved that Archangel).
The show in the Abbey Stone Theater left a lot to be desired. I know they feel the need to change the stage and bring in a new show every so many years but the former stage design was really magical and impressive as was the show. The pub show that's there now isn't terrible but it's really short and the one I saw had less than amazing singers. It felt like the show started, they started singing about Dublin, there was the really awesome dance-off between the Americans and the Irish, and then it felt like it was over. I think the show should continue for another fifteen minutes at least.
Granted that Americans are generally overweight, I do want to note that I saw a number of riders asked to get off the coasters because they were too large. And yet these guests didn't look all that big. Aren't there still the special seats for them? It was really sad to see these people asked to get off. And in front of everyone standing there watching was even worse. I felt SO bad for them.
DarKastle had a scene that was blurry and at one point the buggie was stuck facing a wall instead of a screen. What's the deal? Oh, and with all that heavy theming and yet the ride being essentially a Corkscrew Hill/Questor/Europe in the Air type of ride, will they eventually trade out the movie for something different yet keep the theming? Or will they forevermore have what's there now. Not that I dislike it, but it sure is a big ass castle with a lot of wolves everywhere.
Europe in the Air was a llloottt of standing around for nnoottt that much fun. We waited in the tunnel forever (ps, why is there a cave leading to an "airplane"?) then stood in the hall with the blue walls, then stood in the holding room with the movie of that guy taking a long time to say virtually nothing, then stood in the room with the lights on the floor, and only after all that did we make it to the actual ride. And even then it wasn't all that great. Particularly when those two people walking around Stonehenge magically disappear.
Mach Tower was completely enclosed by walls as you all know, I'm sure, and there was a guy standing under an umbrella presumably there to answer questions about the ride. I didn't stop because I have my handy dandy BGWfans forums for all my BGW info needs.
I am *amazed* at how often people will stand in front of a locked gate that has a sign on it that says "EXIT >>>" and try their best to get it open because they don't see the sign or notice the direction everyone else is moving.
I have decided I'm going to marry a guy from Ireland because that accent makes me melt.
The DrachenFire area is completely bulldozed as most of you know, and I sort of expected that to happen with the new ride (and country?) but I was particularly disheartened to see that even some of the trees were torn down.
All in all I had a wonderful time as always. Like I said, I want to live there and I can't get enough of it. Any of you who live near the park and are able to go any time you please should know how lucky you are. But anywho, just wanted to share my trip with you guys. Can't wait to go back soon!
First of all, living in Raleigh, NC means that BGW is three hours away. I have a season pass for the first time this year but getting up there is still not always the easiest thing in the world. But even more difficult than getting to the park is having to leave it. I want to live there. I feel happiest when I'm on a roller coaster and while I'm in the park. If my whole family wasn't deeply rooted in good ole Raleighwood then I'd absolutely move to Williamsburg just so I could be near the park.
I was very apprehensive about the retheming in Germany but honestly I thought it was fine. I certainly dislike the cartoonish exterior of the festhaus but otherwise all the changes were just fine.
Holy hell, Mach Tower is ENORMOUS! I had no idea just how huge it was until I saw it in person! I'm going to pee myself when I get to the top of that beast.
I did the Lorikeet Glen for the first time and it was so cool! The birds were so friendly! They jumped right on me!
They've taken away the statue of Archangel Michael in France to put in the Illuminights sign, but I hope once Illuminights is finished the statue will come back. It's my favorite in the park (because my name is Michael and I've always loved that Archangel).
The show in the Abbey Stone Theater left a lot to be desired. I know they feel the need to change the stage and bring in a new show every so many years but the former stage design was really magical and impressive as was the show. The pub show that's there now isn't terrible but it's really short and the one I saw had less than amazing singers. It felt like the show started, they started singing about Dublin, there was the really awesome dance-off between the Americans and the Irish, and then it felt like it was over. I think the show should continue for another fifteen minutes at least.
Granted that Americans are generally overweight, I do want to note that I saw a number of riders asked to get off the coasters because they were too large. And yet these guests didn't look all that big. Aren't there still the special seats for them? It was really sad to see these people asked to get off. And in front of everyone standing there watching was even worse. I felt SO bad for them.
DarKastle had a scene that was blurry and at one point the buggie was stuck facing a wall instead of a screen. What's the deal? Oh, and with all that heavy theming and yet the ride being essentially a Corkscrew Hill/Questor/Europe in the Air type of ride, will they eventually trade out the movie for something different yet keep the theming? Or will they forevermore have what's there now. Not that I dislike it, but it sure is a big ass castle with a lot of wolves everywhere.
Europe in the Air was a llloottt of standing around for nnoottt that much fun. We waited in the tunnel forever (ps, why is there a cave leading to an "airplane"?) then stood in the hall with the blue walls, then stood in the holding room with the movie of that guy taking a long time to say virtually nothing, then stood in the room with the lights on the floor, and only after all that did we make it to the actual ride. And even then it wasn't all that great. Particularly when those two people walking around Stonehenge magically disappear.
Mach Tower was completely enclosed by walls as you all know, I'm sure, and there was a guy standing under an umbrella presumably there to answer questions about the ride. I didn't stop because I have my handy dandy BGWfans forums for all my BGW info needs.
I am *amazed* at how often people will stand in front of a locked gate that has a sign on it that says "EXIT >>>" and try their best to get it open because they don't see the sign or notice the direction everyone else is moving.
I have decided I'm going to marry a guy from Ireland because that accent makes me melt.
The DrachenFire area is completely bulldozed as most of you know, and I sort of expected that to happen with the new ride (and country?) but I was particularly disheartened to see that even some of the trees were torn down.
All in all I had a wonderful time as always. Like I said, I want to live there and I can't get enough of it. Any of you who live near the park and are able to go any time you please should know how lucky you are. But anywho, just wanted to share my trip with you guys. Can't wait to go back soon!
As a matter of fact, am leaving in 30 minutes to go this weekend!