Busch Gardens Williamsburg Member Appreciation Weekend 2023

[AlpenChrist97]

Are you talking about beautification efforts signs? Or they actually maintain? There’s a big difference.

Wasn’t talking about signs specifically, just making a point that US 60 in front of the park is part of their property so if they wanted to they probably could add or maintain signs

 

[horsesboy]

Wasn’t talking about signs specifically, just making a point that US 60 in front of the park is part of their property so if they wanted to they probably could add or maintain signs

The signs are on the public easement and right of way they are owned and controlled by Vdot. The park cannot add to them or maintain them. It is actually a crime to do so even if it's the best attention.

 

[warfelg]

Wasn’t talking about signs specifically, just making a point that US 60 in front of the park is part of their property so if they wanted to they probably could add or maintain signs

To add to what @horsesboy said, yes BGW is responsible for mowing, making sure trees don't block signs, ect. They are not responsible for anything to do with the sign itself.

It's no different than if you owned a corner lot and there was a stop sign on your property. Your responsible for the grass around it, that your trees don't block it, and that no vines climb it. However you are not responsible if wind knocks it down, rust happens, or someone vandalizes it. In my role as a township planner we actually delt with complaints often of "so and so doesn't maintain the children at play sign, there's rust, I've been telling them to replace the post for a year." We'd often be like "this is the first we're hearing of it so we will fix it." The irony was often those people were the same that would then say they don't want government on private property.

The best BGW could do is put up a billboard inside the easement and maintain that, but there could be other restrictions to not doing something like that. The best BGW can do here is go to VDOT with complaints, ask for the change, and offer to pay for it.

 

[Nicole]

I see two possible explanations.

One they either simply compiled a list of the items with the most number of mentions on surveys and presented that list regardless of content.

Two it's something that appears in the survey response often and which Vdot might already have a plan for so by presenting it they think it adds to the image that they actively care and am working on these issues even though they really didn't do anything. (Disclaimer I have no idea if Vdot is actively working on it but I know lighting in that area has come up in JCC board meetings as a citizen concern so it's certainly possible)

For clarity, my comment was rhetorical. I wasn’t looking for an actual explanation.

My assumption is that they posted a huge list of comments to indicate that they are not ignoring customer feedback. Several bullets probably were just filler.

For further clarification, I was also hinting that the focus here on that specific issue is misplaced. @warfelg made a comment (largely for humorous effect, I believe) and it somehow has shifted discussion away from bullets on that slide that are probably much more important. The illumination of a Route 60 sign on I64 hardly seems like the most pressing issue at BGW right now.

Edit: In my opinion, a discussion about the concerns missing from the list is potentially more interesting.

 

[warfelg]

Back to some bullet points (lumping some together) in the Town Hall Q&A:

• The thing on non-riders, how would they monitor that?
• More character Icons like Jack - I'm so on the fence with things like this, like that would be nice but at the same time BGW has never struck me as a park about the characters.
• There's a lot on there about food and there should be. I'm glad that there was a ton of feedback on that, but I'm going to pick on one singular thing with it. The All-Season/All-Year Meal plan. I wonder if any park would ever do a plan that you get something like 20 meals free, then a hefty (basically at cost) discount after that? One thing on there was 'No food trucks' - and I disagree hard with this one, this is a great way (IMO) to let someone who specializes in a certain food come in and do it to allow you (BGW) to focus on making your food offerings better.
• There seems to be a big focus on tons of things that aren't going to be major crowd drawer, but need to be done and will cost a good amount like the bathrooms, increased staffing, more benches, additional lighting, parking availability, self service kiosks, improved phone line, dedicated member lounge**.
• **The dedicated member lounge, based on the way it's talked about here the member side of BGW seems to be a majority of what happens, and I almost feel like the lounge would be one of those "always packed" things where complaints would come once we have one that they need another one.
• Rides/Experiences for guests 50+, I'm just curious because this comes up a lot even on here.....what would we consider enough? Not saying BGW has it but what's the right balance here?
• IMO BGW does a lot of special discount days so these ones of more Military Days, Education Professional days, member only days, more discount tickets etc...we got to have a line somewhere.
• More shows and potential upcharge experiences seem to be a common thread in all three areas. And I agree.
• Again, another laughing to myself one, for all the complaints about getting just more perks that cost the park little to nothing, that was 6 of the points in the enhancements to membership.
• Lastly, the one that made me really laugh hard, "reserve Howl-O-Scream for ages 21+". While I agree it shouldn't be family friendly, this cracks me up because it can feel like tween and teen crowds keeps HOS going at times.

 

[Celticdog]

They should and it’s likely possible but in the end VDOTs got to be the one to do it. Like I said, that’s my more “how the sausage is made” laugh.

This is not necessarily a true statement. Busch Gardens local civil engineer is VHB. They have an office in Williamsburg. VHB can create a lighting and signage plan for review and approval by VDOT. Once approved by VDOT and James City County, then the signs and lights may be altered, modified, and /or improved at BG expense.

To add to what @horsesboy said, yes BGW is responsible for mowing, making sure trees don't block signs, ect. They are not responsible for anything to do with the sign itself.

It's no different than if you owned a corner lot and there was a stop sign on your property. Your responsible for the grass around it, that your trees don't block it, and that no vines climb it. However you are not responsible if wind knocks it down, rust happens, or someone vandalizes it. In my role as a township planner we actually delt with complaints often of "so and so doesn't maintain the children at play sign, there's rust, I've been telling them to replace the post for a year." We'd often be like "this is the first we're hearing of it so we will fix it." The irony was often those people were the same that would then say they don't want government on private property.

The best BGW could do is put up a billboard inside the easement and maintain that, but there could be other restrictions to not doing something like that. The best BGW can do here is go to VDOT with complaints, ask for the change, and offer to pay for it.

Many HOAs and private businesses have maintenance agreements with VDOT for the purpose of maintaining the lighting and signage within the right-of-way. Often times times the signs may be custom in size and location as well as the lighting. Changes cannot be made without an approved plan.

Some street lighting is actually a Dominion Energy program. It can create its own complications.

The takeaway: If BG wants to modify the signs or lights they can choose to initiate the improvements at their expense.

 

[warfelg]

This is not necessarily a true statement. Busch Gardens local civil engineer is VHB. They have an office in Williamsburg. VHB can create a lighting and signage plan for review and approval by VDOT. Once approved by VDOT and James City County, then the signs and lights may be altered, modified, and /or improved at BG expense.



Many HOAs and private businesses have maintenance agreements with VDOT for the purpose of maintaining the lighting and signage within the right-of-way. Often times times the signs may be custom in size and location as well as the lighting. Changes cannot be made without an approved plan.

Some street lighting is actually a Dominion Energy program. It can create its won complications.

The takeaway: If BG wants to modify the signs or lights they can choose to initiate the improvements at their expense.

I mean major disclaimer that every township, county, and DOT operates really differently with these things. I only worked in PA and have experience with PennDOT who was really inflexible about this stuff.

However the same basic things stand true and is valid that BGW may not be in 100% control of this, and more would be on VDOT (mostly VDOT) to ensure its legal for the roadways.

The HOA thing can be tricky, is it private roads that a DOT has little to do with all of that other than the signage fitting the laws. In other cases of public streets the HOA can do little about what the DOT wants.

As for the bolded, yes I said that, but it’s still no guarantee. In the end, as with all road signage, the state DOT is really going to effect what could happen in the end.

 

[EdK]

Rides/Experiences for guests 50+, I'm just curious because this comes up a lot even on here.....what would we consider enough? Not saying BGW has it but what's the right balance here?

Since I'm in that age group I agree they could use more rides for that demographic. I'm thinking a clone of Kingda ka, I305 or better yet, Iron Gwazi. It would be nice if you have to show your AARP card to be able to ride. Help keep the lines short for us old timers who have a hard time standing for a long period of time and lack patience. Or at least give us our own quick queue.

 

[Ken]

In regards to "self-service kiosk at the England parking lot"- there are two self-service kiosks embedded into the wall immediately to the right of the zone D entrance gate. Those are the kiosks I use when parking in the England lot. It would make sense to me that whoever gave that feedback would be unaware of this kiosk location, as it is not out of the way when entering the park from the England lot.

That was totally me. Everything the park issues says to go up to Zone B to use the kiosks. I didn’t know you could use those two by the turnstiles for redeeming rewards and guest tickets. Thank you! It bugged me because going up the hill to use the kiosk negates the benefit of the preferred parking. Frankly, those benefits should just be loaded onto your account and accessible by scanning your phone or pass card.