BGW 10/4 (Power Outage)

After spending the night in Richmond Friday, we drove on over to BGW. We arrived at the park at 9:45. As soon as we got through the gates we headed straight for Apollo.

We got on in about 3 or 4 trains. This thing never fails to amaze me. Great floater air down the first drop, and all the hills. I don't know if this used to be here or not, but now on the back of every car there are these things that measure the G's. It was pretty cool watching them. I think the most it said was about 4 or so.

We then backtracked to Alpengiest. Yet again another short line. Got on in the 5th row in 4 trains. Good ride, but it seems to get rougher every time I ride it. Gotta love the theming.

Took a ride on Wilde Maus on our way over to Big Bad Wolf. Wilde Maus was running no trims in the hairpins, but they made up for it on the bottom half of the ride... ouch! Every brake run in the bottom was completely stopping every car.

Big Bad Wolf had a walk on, so we took a spin. I love the swinging on this thing. Only one headbang on this run. We only rode once because we wanted to go have some lunch in Italy.

This is where things started getting interesting. My friend and I decided to ride Escape from Pompeii on our way over there. It was not to our surprise a walk on, and we took the 4th row. Everything was fine until we took the last turn and were about to drop. All the sudden, we stopped at the top. I thought we were just waiting on the other train to get out of our block or something until the lights went out and the doors shut. We were stuck in total darkness at the top of the ride. After about 10 minutes, a ride attendant came up to us and said that something went wrong with the track and that we were e-stopped. About another 10 minutes later, a ride supervisor told us that they had lost power in all of the park and that they we be evacuating us as soon as maintenence arrived. Maintenence arrived about 20 minutes later and had flashlights and began to take us off row by row. They then took us through a door and down the emergency stairs. After being in the dark for 40 minutes, we were off. The supervisor said to give him our last name and that when the ride reopened we would get a free ride.

All of the employees knew nothing about when power would be back or what happened. So we got our hand stamped and ate lunch, then came back around 3:15 or so. They said that they were on auxillary power at the moment, and that they had just started letting people in the park, and that all rides should be up and running by 4:15. So, we went back near Apollo and rode some flats, then the power went out again. It was only for about 5 minutes though. Then as I was in the middle of a DDR game, it goes out again, this time for about 20 minutes. The small rides reopened and we got some more rides in on some flats. We went around the park looking for a coaster that was open, but none were. At about 5:30, the park announced that due to insufficient power, they would be closing at 6:30. Great, I thought, there goes Howl-O-Scream. So we left at 6:15 and recieved comlimentary tickets to use within a year.

All in all, it was a fun and frustrating day at Busch Gardens. The staff was very apologetic and nice, and the free tickets were a bonus. I can't wait until my next trip to BGW.

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hypersonicxlc said:

I don't know if this used to be here or not, but now on the back of every car there are these things that measure the G's.

Hmmmmmm, this must be new this year. It certainly wasn't there last year! I think it's pretty cool.

I'm glad they gave you all complimentary passes to come back...that was good customer service.

When you were on Pompeii were the doors already open, or did they open before the drop? I like it better when the room fills up with the steam and then the doors open.

Great TR!

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The doors on Pompeii were already open.. I haven't ridden it before when they are closed. That does sound cooler.

hypersonicxlc said:

"All of the employees knew nothing about when power would be back or what happened."

Most employees really couldn't tell you when the power was coming back on. If anything, the general manager would know if (s)he chooses to call electric companies and whatnot to see what the problem is. It's kind of like when guests at Cedar Point would ask me when the rain was going to stop. I'unno.

"Then as I was in the middle of a DDR game, it goes out again, this time for about 20 minutes."

Right in the middle of a DDR game?! I'd be furious. Mostly because I spent money on it and hoped to finish with my usual C or D. :p

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2003 Raptor Rides: 246
Raptor Rules the Sky!
*** This post was edited by haux 10/5/2003 4:07:47 PM ***

I don't remember seeing those G force measurers when I was there earlier this season.

They had one of those "G force measure-ers" on Alpengiest on the back of car 4 when I rode back in 2002. There was not one on Apollo though.

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-Parker My Coaster Count
www.SFMWZone.com

Sounds like another chain has problems paying their electric bills. SFWoA can't go a few weeks without a power outage.

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I am not who you think I am.

Due to a power outage Saturday, October 4, 2003, Busch Gardens Williamsburg will be closed from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Busch Gardens Williamsburg will reopen Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003 at 10 a.m. All rides, shows and attractions, including Howl-O-Scream will be open. We look forward to hosting you and your family. Thank you for your understanding.

Read this on Busch Gardens Website. Go to it and a pop up comes up about it. Whats weird is my girlfriend said she read this on Thursday. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM Intresting!
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http://coastertrackrecord.tripod.com/

I too was at BGW on Saturday Oct 4, having driven 7 hrs, and only had Saturday as my only day to go to the park, I was pretty bummed about the situation. It was funny that even though the staff couldn't answer anything that was going on, I heard so many answers from park guests.