Some people say they no longer are able to rate their favorite coasters
because there are so many good ones out there. But I am too young a
coaster enthusiast not to have a favorite - I am obligated to have one!
Photo courtesy of Theme Park Review |
Alpengeist is simply an amazing inverted coaster. Every
element on this ride is huge! Call me a size queen, but Alpengeist takes every
element, every inversion, with amazing force, speed and height. I loved having
the immelman come first as opposed to the now standard vertical loop. And
the Cobra Roll, my God!!! From the front seat you absolutely could not tell
where it was and when it was coming. And from the backseat, WHOA!!! I
loved the Kumba thing, but the whip you get into the cobra roll is awesome!
It's extremely intense - much tighter than the cobra roll on Raptor, and higher,
too. You simply cannot see it coming! |
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Finally, I loved the *flip-you-this-way*
heartline followed immediately by the *flip-you-that-way* flatline spin. I got (I
think we *all* got) amazing airtime on the heartline on Saturday night. In fact,
everyone in our group unanimously agreed the rides on Alpengeist that night
were sensational! Alpengeist, in my opinion, is one GREAT BIG SURPRISE! |
Photo courtesy of Fred Biedermann
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Photo courtesy of Jeff Tolotti |
Apollo's Chariot. My new number one steel coaster! It makes you feel the way you feel after sex. Ahhhhh, silky
smooth, relaxed, all your tensions and anxiety simply vanish away- what
you're left with is complete and total nirvana. Apollo is airtime in the extreme -
much like Shivering Timbers. Like Alpengeist, I love the way Apollo is very
different from its hyper predecessors. It mixes it's drops and turns in a way
that is unlike any other hyper before it - it makes for a less predictable and
more enjoyable ride. The use of terrain is also a bonus for Apollo. |
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No less
than four drops take you into a ravine, along the edge of a river, skimming
along the surface of the water, and again back into a ravine. It is Cool Whip
smooth - an ultra-lite ride! As for the restraints, I did not like them at first
glance. Then Jeff Tolotti taught me a trick - slide down in your seat as far as
possible then pull the restraint yourself until you see the tip of the red line.
After the ride op has passed, sit back and you'll be rewarded with maximum
space between you and the restraint. He also taught me when to keep my
hands rested against the restraint and when to put my arms up. This kept the
restraint from creeping it's way toward me and allowed me to experience the
full effect of Apollo's airtime extravaganza. Big enthusiasts may be more
confined by the restraint system and therefore not able to enjoy the ride quite
as much. But for me, it was the most freedom I have ever experienced on a
steel coaster. It was like being tossed up on a bedsheet! |
Photo courtesy of Jeff Tolotti
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The lines moved very fast all day. Several local RRCers said it was the most
crowded they'd seen the park, but we never waited longer than 40 minutes all
day. I also appreciated the park allowing those riders who were waiting for the
front to get their frontseat ride, rather than insisting they fill in any empty
seats. They also allowed riders who did not have anyone waiting at the gate to
remain on the coaster for re-rides!
BGW is the most breathtaking, beautiful park I've ever been to. I have never
seen so many tulips in bloom in my life. There were areas that were
completely void of any commercial development - just a stroll through the
park. The place is decorated to within an inch of its life. And every single
coaster is top notch. It's a first-class assault on the senses.
Photo courtesy of Fred Biedermann |
Loch Ness Monster is without a doubt deserving of some kind of coaster
classic status. This ride is incredible! The first drop is a doozy - it's
surprisingly good! And the tunnel! Oh my God! I rode with Chris Lucht, and he
had me look up during the loops - you really get the full effect of the inversion!
I was quite taken with the outside queue area and the huge Loch Ness
Monster shrub that graces the front of the station. The inside of the station is
really cheesy though!
Susan got her first-ever ride on a Mad Mouse. It was only my second. Ted
Ansley insisted we sit up front and look the opposite way of our oncoming
turns. Aaaaaah!!! Wild Maus is a great ride - I'd have been very happy to go
back for more! |
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Big Bad Wolf. Our first ride on Friday was good, but on Saturday Jeff Tolotti
insisted we wait until dark. Woo-hoo!!! BBW at night is........ well, it's another
ride altogether. Super fast, super swings, super scary!!! It's no wonder this
coaster is so popular with the public and enthusiasts alike.
We ate lunch at the Festhaus. Geez, for $5 you get a German sampler plate
with 2 kinds of sausage, red cabbage, hot German potato salad, sauerkraut
and bread. I asked to substitute a bun for the bread so I could make a brat. It
was heavenly. Both Cindy Stout and I indulged in their german chocolate
cake, too. I couldn't finish mine, but Cindy polished hers off and even claimed
she could lick the plate! There was also an amphitheater in the Italy section
that was the most lovely setting for dinner in the park - at night the lighting
scheme was extremely dramatic and beautiful. I nearly died though when Ted
screamed "Let's eat again!" |
Photo courtesy of American Midway
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Of all the areas in Busch Gardens I liked Italy and France the best. The
narrow alleys in those areas exude a sophisticated charm, and the France
alley even had underwear hanging out to dry on a clothesline overhead! At
Banbury Cross we had a *fantastic* made-on-the-spot waffle cone with soft
serve ice cream and fresh sliced strawberries!
Photo courtesy of Fred Biedermann |
On a sad note - we stopped behind Festhaus and looked at Drachen Fire.
What a great looking coaster just wasting away for no good reason. While we
were there several people also walked over not knowing the ride was closed,
and they, too, seemed disappointed. Busch Gardens needs to do something
about this situation. It's ridiculous to let a big investment like that just waste
away because some stupid fool said it was too rough and decided to sue the
park. |
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We also rode Escape From Pompeii. Jeff was delighted that all of the effects
were on! This is an absolutely spectacular looking attraction from any angle,
but especially looking at it from the far end straightaway. Wow, what
incredible theming! As for the ride itself, it was awesome - falling timbers and
one statue that made me jump, incredible heat, followed by an excellent
plunge (note Susan and I came away the wettest of the bunch). |
Photo courtesy of Fred Biedermann
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Jeff insisted we do "Pirates." I did not realize this was an interactive 3D
attraction until after the effects began. Once I realized what we were in for, I
kept bracing myself for things coming at me or hitting my leg. I was NOT
prepared for anything coming at me from behind!!! When those bats started
flying around and something hit the back of my head I must have screamed
and jumped out of my skin because both Jeff and Ted started laughing at me,
and I started laughing out of embarrassment!!
When we arrived at the park, Chris Lucht surprised Susan and I with a pair of
buttons he made! It is a picture of us on the Georgia Cyclone and the words
"Mark and Susan 2000" inscribed at the bottom. Chris is one of the nicest
guys I've ever met!
Our group consisted, at all or various times, of the following RRCers:
Mark and Susan
CoasterSue and Rich
Cindy Stout
Chris Lucht
Chris Hartman
Ted Ansley
Dale
Tim Vaughn "MtPelePele"
Jeff Tolotti "SFOG Viper"
"Mr. C" Micheal Carmon
CoasterDan
We also saw JanisGM at PKD on Sunday. This was my first time meeting
Chris Hartman, Dale, Tim Vaughn and Michael Carmon. All were extremely
nice, easy to talk to and fun to hang out with! I don't think Chris Hartman had
ever met any RRCers before and he easily fit right in with everyone. Cindy
cracked all of us up when she assumed her "linejumper guard" position - no
one would dare try to get past that impervious stance! Jeff amazed everyone
with his uncanny ability to pick *just* the right seats. Let's face it, the man
knows his coasters! He also instructed Susan to meet with him for "the
seminar" before riding Outer Limits at PKD, and it was much appreciated!
Speaking of Outer Limits, we approached PKD with some apprehension Friday
morning. Our season passes did not arrive in the mail in time, and we had
absolutely no proof we had even purchased them. They were purchased by a
friend Who is ALso a member of This newsgroup and therefore shall remain
anonymous since it WAs sureLy a misTake he feels bad about. Anyway,
the park gave us complimentary passes to the park on both Friday and
Sunday! Color me impressed!
Volcano was down. Both days. Color me pissed!
On Sunday the park was absolutely dead. It was rainy and somewhat cold, so
people stayed away in droves. This allowed us to ride The Grizzly over and
over and over without getting off! I know everyone prefers the backseat of this
coaster, but I got amazing airtime in nearly every seat coming off the hill before
the tunnel and INSIDE the tunnel. I mean this was stand up airtime! The
Grizzly is a great coaster in the rain and the ride ops got everyone to whoop it
up. Chris Lucht seemed a bit bummed by the dreary weather at first, but I
think his rides on Grizzly and Hurler changed all that.
Photo courtesy of Fred Biedermann |
The Hurler. Oh my Lord. On Friday everyone said the one at Carowinds was
much better. On Sunday, in a light rain, may God have mercy on your soul for
ever thinking such a thing! We got three rides in a row just before we had to
leave for the airport. In the front seat I was STANDING STRAIGHT UP!! I
mean, this was stand up, scream your bloody head off airtime! Fortunately
Susan was a man about it and took the left seat in order to spare my still
tender ribs. The Hurler is one bad mutha...shut yo' mouth! I'm only talkin'
'bout Hurler! And we can dig it! DAMN RIGHT! |
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We also got rerides on Rebel Yell and even Scooby Doo! Rebel Yell
backwards, in the third seat has a fantastic mix of floater ejector airtime.
Rebel Yell's new white paint job is also a sight to see! Jeff thought it was *too*
white but I'm not as picky as him and I liked it a lot. |
Photo courtesy of Fred Biedermann
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We had a fantastic weekend with everyone! This was our only scheduled visit
to Virginia this year, but I think we *have* to find a way to come back before
the season ends. BGW is too special for words. Everyone said it was the
most beautiful theme park in America and they were right. But who knew it would also be home to
my NEW NUMBER ONE STEEL COASTER!!
Mark-
Member of the "A" Team
