Year-Round Operations Come to BGW

[Jonesta6]

It's not likely a cut-dry case of aim a few propane heaters at the wheel bogeys and hope for the best, but probably something closer to those rides you referred to had modifications such as different wheels for cold weather, maybe different lubrications (neither are super noticable), etc that were designed for the ride and accounted for before the park started blasting the heat. I'd have to guess that they probably had lower minimums than the BGW rides to begin with as well.

All that to say that I'm not saying BGW couldn't work with their rides manufacturers to lower the minimum recommended run temperatures (doubt they'd risk operating below recommendations), but they'd likely do a cost/benefit study or few before attempting. Keeping in mind, of course, that rides aren't their only core strength and they're only now dipping into year-round operations in the middle of a pandemic so their focus may be on other things for awhile.

 

[Memles]

If there's a day where no coasters are operating, a small number of people who bought tickets to visit the park will complain, and they'll give them passes to come back later in the season, and provided that person spends money on other things in the park—food, merch, etc.—that's not a terrible tradeoff for the park. But a lot of people—especially members—are conditioned by Christmas Town to know that the coasters won't always be running, and will just say it was a chance to see the sights, do some shopping, ride some flats, etc.

I do think that this intermediate period where the pandemic makes indoor theaters unworkable is creating a bigger "impact" when cold weather closes the coasters, but I think when we return to a typical season BGW is more likely to use Entertainment and other "Special Event" ideas like we've seen across these two events to drive attendance than invest money in running coasters that may or may not be serving as a draw at this time of year.

 

[snowman6996]

At the parking booth they actually hand out a flyer explaining how to get comp tickets to come back another day in the event all the coasters are closed due to temperatures.

 

[Gavin]

It's not likely a cut-dry case of aim a few propane heaters at the wheel bogeys and hope for the best...

KD literally does this to Backlot. If you ever go early on a cold morning you would hear and feel the heat rising from under the station.

 

[Jonesta6]

KD literally does this to Backlot. If you ever go early on a cold morning you would hear and feel the heat rising from under the station.

That may be, but couldn't that also indicate the ride has had some modifications (not necessarily noticable changes) or was designed for the heaters to be used?

Even if I'm way wrong (because it's sounding more and more to be the case), the two challenges to opening more rides is the expense of operating more rides and going against manufacturer recommendations (which, tbh, is still a monetary issue but from a different angle).

So... I'd still suspect it'd be a few years at least before more rides could be open in the winter if the park is even interested in going that direction which is questionable.

 

[coasterbill]

They've been a degree or two from opening their coasters so many times this year and if people keep showing up in the winter when everything is closed a lot of them probably won't come back for this event again. This weekend's forecast can change but it's shaping up to be more of the same... 39 degrees with no coasters running but they'd all/mostly all be open at a park like Dollywood or Hershey (again, I'm not expecting Great Adventure, I know they're crazy).

They need to figure something out for next year.

 

[tursiops]

I was excited to hear @BGWnut mention budget increases for winter events next year. For winter weekends I'd like to see a second animal show with cold weather animals either in Royal Palace or San Marco. More animals = better, in my view. Mardi Gras has good bones and will improve with another year of investment. If special winter season shows can happen in theaters that's another big plus!

Obviously the next year or so of investment appears to be planned out, but after this I think it would be smart to add some smaller attractions, especially if a DarKastle replacement isn't possible yet. Maybe more Le Catapult back into the castle in Killarney and put something like a Zamperla Super Air Race or Nebulaz where Le Catapult currently resides. Another option would be closing in Tradewinds.

Theaters reopening and Battle for Eire should help on colder days, even without significant new investment.

 

[BGWnut]

I was excited to hear @BGWnut mention budget increases for winter events next year. For winter weekends I'd like to see a second animal show with cold weather animals either in Royal Palace or San Marco. More animals = better, in my view. Mardi Gras has good bones and will improve with another year of investment. If special winter season shows can happen in theaters that's another big plus!

Obviously the next year or so of investment appears to be planned out, but after this I think it would be smart to add some smaller attractions, especially if a DarKastle replacement isn't possible yet. Maybe more Le Catapult back into the castle in Killarney and put something like a Zamperla Super Air Race or Nebulaz where Le Catapult currently resides. Another option would be closing in Tradewinds.

Theaters reopening and Battle for Eire should help on colder days, even without significant new investment.

I think indoor shows would definitely be on the table next year if they are allowed to use indoor theaters.

 

[bengalsguy601]

More info was added on the St. Patrick's day event on the website. Looks like Apollo's Chariot and Griffin will re-open in march.

But it looks like Alpengeist will not be open.

 

[Murphy]

Amazing photos Rothbury. I would really love the Old Country costumes like what those people wore to make a comeback; then again Virginia heat is an issue. The old costume characters are always neat to see from old photos or footage, it's funny to see the AB eagle wearing a Colonial Williamsburg outfit in a European theme park.

Maybe year round operations could bring these back?

 

[Zachary]

Maybe year round operations could bring these back?

We have an idea for that slated for a front page article soon!

 

[KDcoasterMAN]

More info was added on the St. Patrick's day event on the website. Looks like Apollo's Chariot and Griffin will re-open in march.

But it looks like Alpengeist will not be open.

Was at the park today. They were testing Apollo from 12 to 3. Running hot ?

 

[Celticdog]

I understand that the online BG calendar might still be in "temporary" phase for November and December, however it shows BG being open both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas day. This would be a first for both.

 

[horsesboy]

I understand that the online BG calendar might still be in "temporary" phase for November and December, however it shows BG being open both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas day. This would be a first for both.

I believe they opened Christmas day in 2020.

 

[tursiops]

But they closed Christmas eve if I remember correctly.

 

[horsesboy]

But they closed Christmas eve if I remember correctly.

That waste plan the first year they looked at doing Christmas day operations and then decided not to open Christmas day but I believe that last year they were open for both.

 

[Celticdog]

I believe they opened Christmas day in 2020.

I couldn't remember if they were open on Christmas day. We tried to go Christmas Eve, however Mother Nature decided that heavy rain was necessary.

 

[AlpenChariot]

Can confirm the park was open Christmas Day 2020.

 

[tursiops]

Anyone heard any updates/ rumors on what to expect this winter? I'm guessing we will see Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's again for sure, but not sure about January.

When do they normally post the calendar for the upcoming season?

 

[Icer]

I'd expect (and hope) January to be eventless, as sometimes the normal park is nice to experience periodically. In recent years the normal park was only really going at the start of the season before Food & Wine, but the St Patrick's Day event has turned even March into an event month. I wouldn't mind some time to go to the park without any temporary decorations put anywhere.