Chris, Nora, and I were at the meeting place about 10 or 15 min. early and waited to see if anyone else was coming. Right at 7 (give or take a min. or so) it started pouring so Chris left. Right after Chris left, BTT showed up and Nora and I stayed with them till 10:10 or so. Defiantly had a good time. We also, of course, discussed a few rumors that BTT was hearing. Some of which were very... interesting.
Illuminights 2010
- Thread starter FlyerMiles
- Start date
I went on friday and was able to see only a couple of the illuminights shows (ireland and france). For some reason I haven't made it to germany much the last couple times I've been there. I'll see the other ones next time i guess. But I thought it was really good and something that the little ones will definitely love. The fireworks show was really good. My only wish is that they sold those Illuminights pins that all the employees have!
I went to guest relations to suggest they sell them, but the guy made it sound like they were made specifically for the employees. But alot of people collect pins. (like my girlfriend) so I think its safe to say those things would sell. Plus one of the employees I talked to said a lot of people were asking about them.
Did any of you catch the Independence fireworks? They were huge this year. The sky was blanketed with red white and blue stripes end to end for 5 seconds straight. the Finale was about 15 seconds but they probably used at least 200 fireworks in that time. Most fireworks I've ever seen at the same time. The music played in well too.
I went July 1st.. Here is my trip review!
Got there at 1pm the park was PACKED then.. Rode Nessie and went over to europe in the air to see what that was like.. The line took 2 hours from half way inside the cave! The ride i was NOT impressed what so ever! So after that nonsense we messed around rode all the coasters and got some pictures of all the illuminights things and came to the festhaus and sall the band getting readay to do there show inside so they went around the circle and played a tune and I marched in with them
to watch that show... haha ZIGAZACIE ZIGAZACIE OYE OYE OYE! Then went over to see Celtic Fyre which was truley AMAZING! I thought i needed to pay them... it was so great! I really want them to make a CD of its music!! SO then we went to Trappers and ate the food was great buy the ching girl named jeep AKA our cashier there kept thinking I was some celebertie she has seen.. ( Pretty sure she was crazy!) but anyway I talked her into giving me her illuminight flashy name tag thing but she said they "people" wont let her?! I darted to the france parade which was nothing great... i was talking to one of the girl dancers from the parades mom and she said they had been practicing all week but tonight was there "grand opening"?! I LOVED all the lighting in france and the cool lights coming out the windows! I think the rest of the park need lighting like it... Like germeny villiage had NOTHING WHAT SO EVER TO DO WITH ILLUMINIGHTS! Anyways I went to see clocktoberfest after that which was AMAZING!!!! I want to be the chicken one day that pops out! hahaha! but i really want that song from the cuckoo clock too! Which i emailed mr. whoever was in charge of it Pete Dunklenn but he refused to email me back! Anyways There were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many people still there afterdark i beleive it was more than during the day but the "freedom bridge" was PACKED and you chouldnt get by on it unless you punched some people.. haha but i got through.. I barely made it to see the fireworks on the italy bridge! I LOVED THEM and the music was the same like the intro on the site... and I LOVED the skytracking lights that shined up in the sky from every country! i loved illuminghts but it needs ALOT more color!!!
Got there at 1pm the park was PACKED then.. Rode Nessie and went over to europe in the air to see what that was like.. The line took 2 hours from half way inside the cave! The ride i was NOT impressed what so ever! So after that nonsense we messed around rode all the coasters and got some pictures of all the illuminights things and came to the festhaus and sall the band getting readay to do there show inside so they went around the circle and played a tune and I marched in with them
to watch that show... haha ZIGAZACIE ZIGAZACIE OYE OYE OYE! Then went over to see Celtic Fyre which was truley AMAZING! I thought i needed to pay them... it was so great! I really want them to make a CD of its music!! SO then we went to Trappers and ate the food was great buy the ching girl named jeep AKA our cashier there kept thinking I was some celebertie she has seen.. ( Pretty sure she was crazy!) but anyway I talked her into giving me her illuminight flashy name tag thing but she said they "people" wont let her?! I darted to the france parade which was nothing great... i was talking to one of the girl dancers from the parades mom and she said they had been practicing all week but tonight was there "grand opening"?! I LOVED all the lighting in france and the cool lights coming out the windows! I think the rest of the park need lighting like it... Like germeny villiage had NOTHING WHAT SO EVER TO DO WITH ILLUMINIGHTS! Anyways I went to see clocktoberfest after that which was AMAZING!!!! I want to be the chicken one day that pops out! hahaha! but i really want that song from the cuckoo clock too! Which i emailed mr. whoever was in charge of it Pete Dunklenn but he refused to email me back! Anyways There were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many people still there afterdark i beleive it was more than during the day but the "freedom bridge" was PACKED and you chouldnt get by on it unless you punched some people.. haha but i got through.. I barely made it to see the fireworks on the italy bridge! I LOVED THEM and the music was the same like the intro on the site... and I LOVED the skytracking lights that shined up in the sky from every country! i loved illuminghts but it needs ALOT more color!!! Hello - This is my first post, but I've been lurking for some time and I've been going to BG Williamsburg since 1986. So I'm a newbee on this board, but not to Busch Gardens.
The fireworks are very good and the banners all over the park are nice. Those are the only positive comments I can make about Illuminights. For me, it just doesn't live up to the hype. It is in no way a viable replacement for any of the evening ending shows that have been in the The Royale Palace Theatre. I thought the parade was a complete joke.
This isn't Illuminights related, but I'll throw it in. Celtic Fyre is a really good show, but it doesn't have that "I have to keep going back to see it" feel that Emerald Beat had. I've had five Platinum passes for years, but if the recent trend towards lower quality entertainment continues next year, it will be my last.
I'm hanging on to them since I still have them at the old price, but I would really like to see the shows upgraded.
The fireworks are very good and the banners all over the park are nice. Those are the only positive comments I can make about Illuminights. For me, it just doesn't live up to the hype. It is in no way a viable replacement for any of the evening ending shows that have been in the The Royale Palace Theatre. I thought the parade was a complete joke.
This isn't Illuminights related, but I'll throw it in. Celtic Fyre is a really good show, but it doesn't have that "I have to keep going back to see it" feel that Emerald Beat had. I've had five Platinum passes for years, but if the recent trend towards lower quality entertainment continues next year, it will be my last.
I'm hanging on to them since I still have them at the old price, but I would really like to see the shows upgraded.
Thanks for the welcome -
I mentioned that I didn't like the parade. The Cookoo clock - I appreciate the work that went in to it, but a family with teenagers is only going to watch that once or twice. Quite honestly the only one I would stop to watch again would be the one in Italy.
To answer your question, I don't know how to change them, they are probably geared to and suited for a younger audience. My dis-satisfaction is is more in the fact that these appear to have replaced the bigger shows, such as Kinetix(sp?). We still miss the old American Jukebox show. For my family, we would much rather have one or two really good shows that call us back over and over again, than these multiple smaller displays. The fireworks are fantastic, but outside of July 4th, once a year is probably enough.
I accept that we may be in the minority. I guess I just don't like change, unless it's a change I like...
I mentioned that I didn't like the parade. The Cookoo clock - I appreciate the work that went in to it, but a family with teenagers is only going to watch that once or twice. Quite honestly the only one I would stop to watch again would be the one in Italy.
To answer your question, I don't know how to change them, they are probably geared to and suited for a younger audience. My dis-satisfaction is is more in the fact that these appear to have replaced the bigger shows, such as Kinetix(sp?). We still miss the old American Jukebox show. For my family, we would much rather have one or two really good shows that call us back over and over again, than these multiple smaller displays. The fireworks are fantastic, but outside of July 4th, once a year is probably enough.
I accept that we may be in the minority. I guess I just don't like change, unless it's a change I like...
Well, since this is the first year of IllumiNights, I will venture a guess and say this is a trial and error event. The entertainment division is more than likely observing what works and is the most popular. I think that overall it has been a wonderful first try. Busch Gardens has never before tried something like this and I love the fact they testing new waters. The park has needed more family entertainment for years. Truthfully, Howl-O-Scream is really for the older kids and adults anyway. I just wish they sold the blinky light IllumNight pins in the stores!!
IllumiNights seems geared towards everyone, including small children. Personally, I thought most of the performances are cute and enjoyable. The actors are great. I am REALLY proud of Busch Gardens for having the IllumiNights performers come out for a "Farewell and Goodnight" photo op moment when you are leaving the park. This is a great example of providing lasting memories for young children and people of all ages to take photos and keep them in a photo book to remember for a very long time.
Good job BGW! If only you would bring back the cuddly mascots!!
IllumiNights seems geared towards everyone, including small children. Personally, I thought most of the performances are cute and enjoyable. The actors are great. I am REALLY proud of Busch Gardens for having the IllumiNights performers come out for a "Farewell and Goodnight" photo op moment when you are leaving the park. This is a great example of providing lasting memories for young children and people of all ages to take photos and keep them in a photo book to remember for a very long time.
Good job BGW! If only you would bring back the cuddly mascots!!
They had a dragon named Gordon, a fox that looked like Robinhood and some others.
[Fixed your quote. ~Swiftman]
Gordon the Dragon and St. George the Knight (who later became Sir Bumbly) England
Bevo Fox - Hastings??
Buford Beaver - New France
Tallulah Toad - Aquitaine France
There was also Alfie Mouse for a short while- I am guessing Scotland?? Who knows. The characters often roamed from country to country... it got confusing. But technically, there was one character per Hamlet. FYI- Italy had yet to be built at the time.
There was also an Eagle mascot when the park opened.
Gordon was the most popular and was always with the knight who greeted you almost every day at the park.
Bevo Fox (though Hastings) was mostly seen in New France with Buford Beaver.
Here are some photos. (Some have me in them... awww)
Bevo Fox - Hastings??
Buford Beaver - New France
Tallulah Toad - Aquitaine France
There was also Alfie Mouse for a short while- I am guessing Scotland?? Who knows. The characters often roamed from country to country... it got confusing. But technically, there was one character per Hamlet. FYI- Italy had yet to be built at the time.
There was also an Eagle mascot when the park opened.
Gordon was the most popular and was always with the knight who greeted you almost every day at the park.
Bevo Fox (though Hastings) was mostly seen in New France with Buford Beaver.
Here are some photos. (Some have me in them... awww)
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