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Author TR: Busch Gardens Europe/Griffon 5/23/07
ABR
Posts: 277
Registered: 3/22/2003

Rank: Silver Critic
5/23/2007 11:04:18 PM
Although Timberman has posted an excellent report on Griffon's media day, I thought you all might enjoy hearing about it on a "normal" day (I say "normal" because it hasn't "officially" opened yet)

First off, I already did a detailed trip report on this park a couple months ago, so I won't go into too much detail (other than Griffon, of course), so all I will say is that the park was very quiet, BBW, LNM, and AC were all walk ons.

Now onto Griffon. The entrance is really cool, a bridge over the termination of the first drop (the on ride photo camera is also mounted on the bottom of the bridge.) There is a single rider line that is open during peak times (not today!). Now, this next part might cause some upsets while at the park, but during busy times (like during the first part of the morning today), the boarding is handeled what I like to call "Walt Disney style" where there will be an employee at the entrance to the station, that will ask how many are in your group, and then direct you to row 1, 2, or 3. There are a couple signs in the quene area stating this, and the signs also state that all rows provide an equal view due to the way the trains are tiered, but the front is the best. I got directed to row one by this employee on my first ride (darn my luck ), and I had the 2nd seat from the end, all I can say about that is WOW, that provided a great experience, and should certainly be experienced by everyone, although it may be a little difficult for those who can only visit on weekends. But essentially, the two end seats on either side of the front row . As stated above, the trains are tiered, they are built "stadium seating style", meaning row 2 is a little higher than row 1 and row 3 is a little higher than row 2.

I guess I should comment on the actual ride now. The thrills start before the trains even leave the station. You board them in a somewhat similar fashion to Apollo's Chariot, but just before the train leaves, they lower and remove the floors, a big suprise for some!

This ride gets you up there pretty fast, and upon getting to the top of the lift hill, you have a great view of the James River (I think that's the James River anyway) and then you turn the corner for a birds eye view of... the brewery. The train brakes, you are facing straight down, and 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, release. The only other thing I will comment on is the water splash. The splash almost has to be caused by something on the very rear of the train, behind the 3rd row, either that or it is an effect. All the times I was in the third row, the first two rows did NOTHING in the water. And when I turned my head after leaving the water splash, there was still water splashing in a forward motion. Back to the [rather small] station where you head up the stairs, over the track, down the stairs into the photo area, and back in line .

All around an excellent day to get my "Griff" on (as the ride operator would say), only about a 15 minute wait during most of the day, except for until around noonish, since everyone entering the park was heading to Griffon.

Keep that in mind, Griffon will be pretty crowded in the beginning of the day, since it is a 10:00 attraction (Apollo opens at 10:30, and Big Bad Wolf opens at 11, further more everyone passes it on their way to Alpengeist first thing, one of the other 2 major 10:00 attractions), plus as already stated, when they open the ireland gates, everyone heads there, so if you see long lines at 11:00, don't dispair (I did though), just give everyone time to get into the back areas of the park.
larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002

Rank: Platinum Critic
5/24/2007 12:49:32 PM
Thanks for the update. Knowing that Alpie and Griffon are the only two rides to open at 10AM is helpful. I'll be there (with the crowds) this Sunday 5/27 to get my Griff on. I'll be at KD on Staurday, also.
ABR
Posts: 277
Registered: 3/22/2003

Rank: Silver Critic
5/24/2007 7:29:13 PM
Loch Ness Monster also opens at 10:00, which is right there where you enter.
This is the way Busch Gardnes seems to handle their openings, you may want to have a map of the park in front of you for reference while reading this. They start letting people into the park, into england only, at around 9:30 (I'm guessing here, it was open by the time I got there at 9:50). There will be a rope up in England BEFORE you get to the 4 way intersection where you can go straight to Lochness (and continue on across the river to Land of the dragons, which opens at 11), left to Italy (which has another rope that doesn't get dropped until 10:30), or right to Ireland. This rope gets dropped at about 9:55. There will be a gate at the Ireland Bridge, that will open at 10:00, at which time you can enter Ireland, all attractions will be open, and you can continue around to France/New France and go on Griffon or Alpengeist as well as any other attractions in those areas (with the exception of the skyride and the train, which open at 11)

Italy (Escape from Pompei) and Fiesta Italia (Rapids ride and Apollo's Chariot) open at 10:30, and Germany/Oktoberfest (DarKastle, Big Bad Wolf) will open at 11:00. And Germany is roped/gated off until 11, so if you got off Alpengeist and want to do Apollo's Chariot before 11, you will need to head back towards the entrance of the park.

If you arrive at 10 (or even a little before), I'd still reccomend doing Griffon first. I am not a runner (you see these people without fail at the opening of every amusement park every day, they run as fast as they can to be first on their favorite attraction), and I was at the opening of the Ireland Gate, I just walked fast to Griffon, and was on the 2nd train. You just have to think logically. There are 30 people per train, if 100 people get there before you, don't worry about it, you will be on train #4, and if they are operating 2 trains (they always will be operating 2 or 3), that's less than a 10 minute wait. It may seem like hoards of people running by you and beating you there, but the ride can handle it. It's where 1,000 people get there before you when you need to start worrying
Furthermore, if you can't make it at 10, don't forget about the single rider line, it should be open on weekends, it's well worth splitting up your group for a much shorter wait. Have fun!
Timberman
Posts: 845
Registered: 9/21/2004

Rank: Gold Critic
5/24/2007 9:47:12 PM
Nice trip report, ABR. I thought the park looked great when I was there, and I'm looking forward to returning one of these days to experience the rest of it and redeem my still-unused snack voucher. The assigned seating on Griffon is a bummer, but at least it will help keep the lines moving.
larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002

Rank: Platinum Critic
5/24/2007 10:57:36 PM
thanks for the tips ABR - When I last went to BGE, AC opened at 10 and I got about 8 rides in without waiting
Timberman
Posts: 845
Registered: 9/21/2004

Rank: Gold Critic
5/25/2007 10:20:57 PM
Quote:
larrygator said:
I'll be there (with the crowds) this Sunday 5/27 to get my Griff on. I'll be at KD on Staurday, also.


We were actually thinking of a KD trip for Sunday. Looks like we'll just miss you.

thare
Posts: 276
Registered: 5/16/2007

Rank: Silver Critic
6/2/2007 4:33:18 PM
Thanks for the tip on riding Griffon. I will be sure to remember this when I am there this summer.

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"Whenever I go on a ride, I'm always thinking of what's wrong with the thing and how it can be improved." - Walt Disney
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