For what it's worth, the Verbolten Insider tour has been folded into the Roller Coaster Insider tour for the 2014 season. It'll be great to have them all together, but man, the Verbolten tour being $13 for passholders was a crazy good deal, and a really neat thing to see. It's a shame we'll have to drop $80 to see it all now.
The Verbolten tour is only if you're an "observer" (don't go on the top of Griffon). Which is sorta depressing for me. I should be doing the roller coaster tour (participant) sometime before my pass expires. Guess I need to figure out some other way to be able to go behind the scenes for Verbolten without paying for both...
If by some chance you get behind schedule, the tour guides will make every attempt to reimburse you with another option. I sometimes actually hope for a delay because the options are nearly endless. You will most likely be able to get Verbolten as a substitute, but I have even been fortunate enough to see a Howl-O-Scream house.
Anyone know if they run this tour in rain and/or thunderstorms? Do the usual park rules apply? I ask, because I my husband and I are booked for tomorrow, but the forecast gets worse every time I check. I’m not really sure how much I want to be on top of the Griffon in the rain, to be honest.
I would imagine the same rules apply, I believe they will reschedule you if they can't do that tour, but I have no idea. When I did the tour two seasons ago it was a gorgeous April day.
Theme Park Insider just posted an article, "Taking the Coaster Insider Tour at Busch Gardens Williamsburg." It is a good article and shows several photos including an amazingly clean workshop for Nessie. You can reach it using the link above.
I am planning to take the tour sometime this season. Any other forum members interested and want to do this in the near future as a group?
I am planning to take the tour sometime this season. Any other forum members interested and want to do this in the near future as a group?
Darn it! I knew I should have done my review sooner!
It is an amazing tour. I took it this Spring.
It is an amazing tour. I took it this Spring.
The best part was the Griffon... Seriously, for me the best part were the guys in the pit at Nessie. They were terrific, they clearly loved their jobs and her. I asked them if they thouhgt she had a personality, and in unison, they all replied, "YES." aparently she gets grumpy if she does not run everyday, so in the early and late season they will run her on Thursday to make her happy.
I like that.
I like that.
Just to clarify, Observer is doing the entire tour with the exception of walking on top of Griffon. Both the participate and observer ride every roller coaster two times during the tour and then receive quick queue pass to ride each coaster one more time.
TourGuy said:
Have a blast! I keep trying to schedule the coaster insider tour but other things keep coming up. Was considering tomorrow, but...
I'll be doing this tour for the first time on Wednesday. I've been wanting to do this for a about 3-4 years now, but I couldn't do it financially.
The guy right there in that still shot was training during our tour a few months ago. We went during a slow time and they were training 2 other people, I don't know if that's typical or if it was because it was the beginning of the season.
Saturday I will finally experience the Roller Coaster Insider Tour! So excited to experience this on the park's 40th birthday! Here's a pic of me in the park in 1975 or 1976...
Please tell us about the tour, when you are done. It is one of the best in the park, and I am curious if/how it has changed this year.
James and Sarah were excellent guides for the Insider Coaster Tour on Saturday. A write-up is coming but here is a video from Verbolten's control room as they handle a minor "situation." Note the glowing train wheels in the night-vision images. You can also view two of Verbolten's surprise drops in the dark special effect building on the right monitor. I highly recommend this tour.