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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject: In 2009 Busch Gardens Europe transforms into Christmas Town
Somewhat similar to the Howl-O-Scream park transformation, Busch Gardens Europe has announced that in 2009 they will extend park operations into the holiday season with the opening of "Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration". For this event, the park will transform into a Chrismas themed "winter wonderland" which I assume will present an immersive, traditional, historical & cultural, Christmas experience.
The Press Kit describes it as follows:
"For the first time in the park's 34 year history, visitors will experience all-new attractions, shows and shopping that will fill them with holiday spirit. Guests can look forward to an immersive experience amid more than a million twinkling lights while they explore the best holiday traditions from around the world. Santa Claus will visit the park each evening to hear Christmas wishes from the young and young at heart."
(Considering the Rich history of Christmas and European traditions in the holiday season, this sounds like it should be sweet! It could make a great addition to the Virginia area during the holidays next to the Colonial Williamsburg Grand Illumination.)
"Christmas Town will open at Busch Gardens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4 - 9 p.m. beginning Nov. 27, 2009.
The park will open each evening from Dec. 18-27, 2009, excluding Christmas Day. Some sections of the park will remain closed for the season. Some rides and attractions will be weather dependent."
(In this area around this time, temps are usually around 53 degrees and may vary- it could go as high as above 60 or as low as 32 degrees).
Thanx for the news; sounds like it can get really cold. I bet you can develop some frost on the nose if you go on Chariot or Griffin! _________________ Doug Barnes
Host of the Season Pass Podcast
doug@seasonpasspodcast.com www.seasonpasspodcast.com
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lol! Oh yeah! It'll be interesting to see which rides they will operate on a given day according to those temperatures. I rode Apollo's Chariot one year during the fall and I was freezing even then.
I'll keep my eyes and ears open for any more updates.
Yea, it will be interesting to see what rides are open/closed for temperatures. If I remember correctly, the roller coasters were testing around this time when I worked there, training in the bitter cold was NOT fun! Bottom line, all the rides (even Griffon) have/can run in the freezing temperatures.
Christmas town has started in Busch Gardens today! Yay! The hours have been extended to 3pm to 10pm most days. On their facebook and web pages, Busch Gardens has put up a live camera feed link in front of the Festhaus in Germany. The link is:
So far All of the lands are open except the Italy and Festa Italia Sections. I hear that many lighting displays, and some new shows are there. Also, the ride attractions that will be open are: Griffon (weather permitting) Curse of Darkastle, and Corkscrew Hill.
I'm pretty excited. I hope it's successful. It's certainly long overdue! If I go within the next week of two, I'll send a report of the event.
On Busch Gardens Williamsburg Facebook page, some early reviews are up. So far the biggest problem have been the huge crowds. Busch Gardens eventually had to open the (initially closed) Italy section to allow for more walkways through the park. I assume that they are going to have unexpected situations come up since this is the first time they have started an event like this. I'm sure they will take in the suggestions and work out the kinks as they go along.
That great that there crowds are there. I hoping a good turn out will keep this a success. I hoping some more parks in the area gets into this new venture maybe it could be the next big thing since Halloween nights. It's strange that they kept Italy close. The area has some good midway rides like Tradewinds and the spinning tea cups. You think they would have kept more rides open. Looking forward to your report on Christmas town I want to go to as well. I still think they should have Loch Ness open, but how knows why they are keeping that close.
P.S. glad you like my small trip report on USO. But yeah from what I saw that makes me wonder too about Marvel Island. _________________
Update: Busch Gardens Williamsburg was closed tonight because of the snow that's in the area. They are keeping an eye on weather conditions and will determine the operating schedule tomorrow.
I think it's a good decision given that we aren't used to snow up here and it's probably best for the staff and travelers (especially many locals who aren't used to traveling in snow). Also, I could imagine that it would be hard to climb up and down some of those hills in the park on slippery pavement.
Word is that last night around 6pm there was snow falling when the park (as Christmas town) was in operation. A few visitors on Busch Gardens' facebook page reported the experience as being magical. I kinda wished that I was there to see that happening!
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Bottom line, all the rides (even Griffon) have/can run in the freezing temperatures.
