What worries me about BGW.....

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IndyRacingNut

IndyRacingNut

Apr 9, 2013
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....Is that the bean counters will end up successfully lobbying to make the park look/feel/taste more like that, um, unsavory cousin of a theme park to the north of Richmond.

What would you rather have? A theme park where you pay more to get in, but doesnt end up being a state fair-like environment, or would you rather just have a million thrill rides and no theming or anything else that makes a park stand out from the dozen Six Flags-type amusement parks?
 
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What would you rather have? A theme park where you pay more to get in, but doesnt end up being a state fair-like environment, or would you rather just have a million thrill rides and no theming or anything else that makes a park stand out from the dozen Six Flags-type amusement parks?
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I'd rather have both, a theme park that provides great theming and atmosphere with quality attractions and an amusement park that focuses on thrilling and unique rides.

The cool think about VA is that the theme parks provide both ends of the spectrum. BGW with its fantastic landscaping, theming, and world class coasters plus KD and its countless, often unique rides (like 'em or not) and attractions. A lot of places, you'd have to travel hours to get to any park, so VA's lucky enough to have two parks at opposite ends of the spectrum to balance things out.

A park that can combine the two into one (for a reasonable price that doesn't sound like a ripoff - yes I'm looking at you Orlando parks :dodgy:) would be absolutely perfect for me.
 
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KD is pretty world class to the rest of the world... just saying(for years now). Right behind SFMM and Cedar Point.
 
You can hate Kings Dominion all you want, but Busch Gardens needs it more than most people think. KD keeps the delinquents away, and for that reason alone, I think they deserve some credit.
 
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^
Choir groups and buses...EVERYWHERE!!! England lot was packed with buses. Couldn't get my preferred parking. CK angry. You not like me when I'm angry.
 
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^^^ Oh My gosh!!! They were everywhere. I didn't get preferred either Chickenking. However I met these 3 teenagers in line for Verbolten, and they were from Tennessee. There were 2 girls 1 boy and one girl was with(you know what I mean when I say "with") the boy, and we were talking in line. They've never ridden it, and I kind've hooked up with the other girl and we rode together very fun she had no idea what was coming next. It was very funny, and that ride was the first time I got the "Spirit" of the forest, it was a very fun night.
 
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Alpenghöst said:
You can hate Kings Dominion all you want, but Busch Gardens needs it more than most people think. KD keeps the delinquents away, and for that reason alone, I think they deserve some credit.
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This is the reason why I do not dare to burn down KD :p They aren't good for anything but keeping the rude delinquent crowds away which can typically range from ages 15 to 25; just saying.

I saw the England lot so full of busses I was so shocked, I had never seen so many busses in one place oh my gosh! I talked to one group that said they had a 15 hour drive back home! 15 hours on a bus! That is a long time. So I guess BGW's market is further than just VA and the few surrounding states.
 
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There was some choir awards show going on in the whatchamacallit theater in France. coming in the employee entrance I was told England lot for buses only on Saturday. Im sure it has happened before, but I have never seen it this way. Literally full of buses!! Does Busch publish these special group/award day visits somewhere? It sure would be nice to know so I dont get blindsided like that again in the future.
There was also some awards thing going on in the theater in England on Friday afternoon. No Pirates 4D that day.
 
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What time do they start answering the phones at BG so I can call ahead the next day I go & find out this sort of thing? I'd be interested to know myself....
 
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School trip season runs generally from about Spring Break to around Memorial Day weekend with a few stragglers up through the end of June. School trips will overrun the park on Saturday as every weekend is pretty much awards ceremony, cheerleading, band competition, senior trip weekend. You'll see a few groups on Friday and Sunday though.

YMCA, family reunion, church group season takes over from there through late-July, but those groups aren't nearly as bad as the school trips are.

- Generally you should avoid nice Saturdays during the season (or any time other than hot season/bad weather days). This pretty much works for other theme parks up and down the coast too as they draw school trips in droves around this time. I hear Central Florida is pretty bad around this time.
 
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Somebody on the Facebook page mentioned the school groups on Saturday. It would be nice if Busch Gardens had put some sort of announcement about the school groups coming.

I'm planning to come up on May 31 which is the first Saturday for the Food & Wine Festival. Do you think any school groups will be there then?
 
Since the 31st is on a Friday, you should be pretty good, school groups or not. Since that Saturday is after Memorial weekend, you shouldn't have to worry too much about school groups anyway, although they'll definitely be around. It'll still be busy though. You won't have to worry about obnoxious kids, but you WILL have to worry about obnoxious people in general.

Once again keep in mind - AVOID THE PARK ON SATURDAYS!!! The park doesn't have to make an announcement when it's common theme park sense to avoid Saturdays unless you have absolutely no other option or you're visiting during a particularly slow period.

Also keep in mind - band trip season lasts until around July 4th weekend. You will not be able to avoid school trips if you visit in the springtime otherwise. Going on a slower day will help you deal with your problems easier so stick with those.
 
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netdvn said:
School trip season runs generally from about Spring Break to around Memorial Day weekend with a few stragglers up through the end of June. School trips will overrun the park on Saturday as every weekend is pretty much awards ceremony, cheerleading, band competition, senior trip weekend. You'll see a few groups on Friday and Sunday though.

YMCA, family reunion, church group season takes over from there through late-July, but those groups aren't nearly as bad as the school trips are.

- Generally you should avoid nice Saturdays during the season (or any time other than hot season/bad weather days). This pretty much works for other theme parks up and down the coast too as they draw school trips in droves around this time. I hear Central Florida is pretty bad around this time.
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Just to add to the scope of this -

I have met groups visiting the park during Spring Saturdays from as far north as Long Island and Massachusetts, as far south from Alabama and northern Florida, and as far west from Kentucky and Indiana. Geographically this covers the entire eastern seaboard, a good portion of the deep south, and a small portion of the midwest. That shows you the how busy the park can get when they are drawing in groups from all these states.
 
Ugh.. school groups. I hated going in school groups when I WAS IN the "said" school group. You always had to be paired up with a group and most of the time you had no control of who you were set to "run around the park with."

I was always stuck with loud mouths and jerks. It was so embarrassing. Not to mention that the one time I went to Universal Studios in High School the group I was with didn't want to see the Ghostbusters and therefore I was never able to see the show. Yes. I still hold a grudge.

Also, I was the kid who memorized the map of Six Flags before the school trip so I could immediately "maximize" my coaster experience without having to waste time looking at a map for directions. I just wanted to drop off the baggage of "groups" and just go with my one or two closest friends and be normal teens enjoying the park without all the "posturing" of stupid teen boys and mean girls.
 
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I thought May 31 was Saturday. I'll be going on June 1 or 2 then. I doubt that I could get off work on that Friday.
 
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