Christmas Town

[Nicole]

The bridge below Nessie used to be open during CT and it was really pretty. My understanding is that it was later deemed unsafe, because of the threat of ice.

I really think, given the difference in the impact of the crowds between HOS and CT, that BGW simply needs to open more attractions and manage the sale of cheap tickets.

 

[lazerdoc]

Forecast for Sunday is 70 and partly cloudy. Expect it to be a madhouse again.

It probably will be, but how many more of the $14 tickets could there possibly be? It sounds like everyone who had one went the day after Thanksgiving and this past Sunday.

 

[BGW Family]

Ooops! Forgot to post my Parade pictures. And without further adieu, here they are. Twas a fun day.

Nice float...with a ride that isn't even open during Christmas Town.

 

[GeoUSA]

I had an excellent four hours at the park on Friday during a Twinkle Ticket night, other than Twas letting out into Wild Reserve. The park was dead in several areas, so much that it  was just my group and I in Oktoberfest at one point.

Can confirm. Fri, Dec 4 was my first visit this season and was an excellent day to visit with small crowds. We finished the night with the ice show -- I was only wearing a hoodie and was a bit cold at that point. Otherwise, the weather was very good. I even commented on the drive home how few strollers I noticed. Maybe people are too tired on Friday after the work-week to visit the park? Bedtime for the kiddies is probably a factor too.

I know we are approaching the park being open all week. My next visit is planned for Monday. For Christmas Town weeknights may be the best way to help avoid crowds.

BTW, attendance was light at the last Twas that Night show of the night.

 

[deacfan31]

The bridge below Nessie used to be open during CT and it was really pretty.  My understanding is that it was later deemed unsafe, because of the threat of ice.

I really think, given the difference in the impact of the crowds between HOS and CT, that BGW simply needs to open more attractions and manage the sale of cheap tickets.

They should open Sesame Street/Elmoland, that alone would ease the crowd a lot.

 

[horsesboy]

The park is a mess again tonight stay away if you can.

 

[PrincessArlenasDad]

The park is a mess again tonight stay away if you can.

Of course. Who wouldn't want to celebrate Busch Gardens' Christmas in July?

 

[Zachary]

It's going to be another incredibly heavy day at Christmas Town. Half of the England lot is reserved for buses and traffic is backed up to the route 60 on ramp on the overpass. Anyone coming and planning to use the employee gate should take an alternate route unless you want to sit in overpass traffic.

 

[MAZ]

I had a pretty good time at CT on Friday. I took my StepMom for her first visit to BG since the 80's. We must have done everything right. We saw all the shows we wanted to see, rode a few rides, and we're out of there by 7:30. Crowds were rolling in. Trams were running to BFE. I was glad we got there early and left early. We had a great experience thanks in part to reading this forum and understanding the tendencies of the event. I'll be returning on wed and fri next week. Hoping it's a little colder next week.

 

[Nicole]

The crowds are heavy and growing rapidly, but based on the descriptions I heard last week, I don't think they are as bad as last Sunday.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

Eh, I've seen worse. But TTN only had standing room last showing...

 

[horsesboy]

Two complaints I have on tonight are crowd control and movement. The line TTN was ridiculously long and stretched back to the wolf reserve and took bu close to half the walking path making that area even tighter and harder to move then normal. Also there were no barriers except at the very front of the line and I saw a few people just casually stroll into it and cut because of that.

My other complaint related to this was leaving the park. I was parked over in Scotland and I could not get a tram back to the lot till after 11:20. And there was still a major crowd behind me in line at that time. I know it was a busy night but it's rediculas that close to an hour and a half AFTER the park closed and people were still waiting to get a tram to get to the parking lot. There has to be a better plan or system then what they were using.

 

[Unagi]

My other complaint related to this was leaving the park.  I was parked over in Scotland and I could not get a tram back to the lot till after 11:20.  

OUCH!

Did you know it was gonna take that long to catch the tram to Scotland?

You could've walked to your car there in a much shorter amount of time.

 

[horsesboy]

My other complaint related to this was leaving the park.  I was parked over in Scotland and I could not get a tram back to the lot till after 11:20.  

OUCH!

Did you know it was gonna take that long to catch the tram to Scotland?

You could've walked to your car there in a much shorter amount of time.

I knew it was going to be a long wait when I saw the lines back up to the waves of honor area but I was figuring closer to 30 minutes not that long. Also while I could have tried it would not have done any good as I saw people being turned around by the police at the light cause they didn't want them crossing the road.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

I talked to the tram drivers a few years ago when I still rode the tram and they said on busy nights, they are usually there until 12-1 AM and on late closings(11 PM) when the park is really busy they can be there past 2AM. The trams only hold but so much and can only go but so fast. Also, tons of people were walking over to Scotland/Bavaria when I left the England lot around 10:25, and the police were not restricting them from crossing the street, they actually stopped them so they could help them cross. There's no way they would still send people all the way back after they had already walked that far.

 

[horsesboy]

Also, tons of people were walking over to Scotland/Bavaria when I left the England lot around 10:25, and the police were not restricting them from crossing the street, they actually stopped them so they could help them cross. There's no way they would still send people all the way back after they had already walked that far.

Ok thanks for the info there must have been something else going on with the group I saw it was only a few people but the officer was defiantly pointing back towards the park and arguing with them I just assumed that was true of all the people that were trying.

 

[Nicole]

Regardless, I think the basic point is valid. If the park is going to allow crowds at the levels we have been seeing this CT, they need to have the staff, resources, and plans in place to handle them. They must have known how many cheap tickets they have sold, as well as the effects of warm, dry days on attendance rates.

 

[TrevorBondi]

I'm just spitballing here, but is it possible that next year they'd open more than one coaster to soak up the crowds if they continue to be this large?

 

[Unagi]

Also, tons of people were walking over to Scotland/Bavaria when I left the England lot around 10:25, and the police were not restricting them from crossing the street, they actually stopped them so they could help them cross. There's no way they would still send people all the way back after they had already walked that far.

Ok thanks for the info there must have been something else going on with the group I saw it was only a few people but the officer was defiantly pointing back towards the park and arguing with them I just assumed that was true of all the people that were trying.

I've seen people walk to that lot many times at closing. My guess is what you saw was a massive crowd trying to cross 60 to get to the Scotland/Bavaria lots. If I recall correctly, there are no designated crosswalks to that lot so the cops must assist the people walking to their cars there.

 

[Mushroom]

Regardless, I think the basic point is valid.  If the park is going to allow crowds at the levels we have been seeing this CT, they need to have the staff, resources, and plans in place to handle them.  They must have known how many cheap tickets they have sold, as well as the effects of warm, dry days on attendance rates.

I agree, Nicole. If guests keep experiencing these mad crowds, they're going to associate Christmas Town with that negative experience, and some might not come back. Even if opening more rides and areas cost more for the park at first, I think it will be worth it for the park because it could end up drastically increasing the guest experience. And it doesn't take a genius to know that greater guest satisfaction = more money.