After visiting Kings Dominion the day before, Sam and I were onto Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW) for even more coasters. We had just grabbed our newest coaster credit of the year in Rapterra, my 423rd credit, and I was hoping that the Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge would also be ready for this trip. It was not, so credit 424 would have to wait.
Still, there were plenty of other coasters that Sam and I were looking forward to riding. She never turns down a chance to get in more rides on Pantheon. As for me, I had missed out on riding Alpengeist in November. I really couldn’t wait to ride my favorite invert again.
Riding Most of the Big Hitters
With so many great rides at BGW I always try to ride all of the park’s major coasters. Tempesto is usually the exception. I can take it or leave it. I’ll ride it if my friends want to, or if someone needs the credit. I just find the trains to be god awful.
I do like InvadR, but when it has a line, I’ll go and ride something else instead. Most times I luck out and come back later in the day to find the line more manageable. Other times we find ourselves elsewhere and don’t make it back over and miss out. While I’d like to ride it, it’s one I am not mad if we do have to miss or cut from the rotation.
This visit, we mostly lucked out. Verbolten ended up being down. I think they are repainting it. And Tempesto we skipped because we wanted a second ride on Pantheon and one on Apollo’s Chariot instead. Plus, I really wanted to ride the train to see what was going on at the Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge site before it got dark.
Alpengeist
Ah, finally! Having to miss out on riding it back in November, this was much needed. Alpengeist has been my favorite B&M Invert since it debuted. I love all the others, but this ride just does it for me more than the rest. I love the setting, it’s large scale, and the fact that it tries to rip your legs off with its intensity. I missed out on Montu a few years ago, but that is the only one in the United States that I wonder if it will be better. Time will tell. I’d like to get back down to Busch Gardens Tampa (BGT) to ride that before long. It better be open when I do!
As always, Alpengeist delivered. I could honestly just sit on this ride and keep going. I’ve done it numerous times and one day, if head back down to BGW alone, I just might go bonkers and get in a few dozen rides. On this day, however, the three we got in were much welcomed.
Pantheon
When it comes to what coaster Sam most wants to ride these days at BGW it is Pantheon. It used to be Alpengeist, but since Pantheon opened, it’s taken over. In the past Sam has struck out with the ride being down and/or running one train with long lines. We wanted to make sure we got in at least a couple rides on it this go around and we did.
We managed to ride Pantheon twice and the airtime felt stronger than I remember. I never felt much force on the outer bank stall, but both rides this visit gave me more forces than usual. That is a welcome change and is one I hope continues to be the case.
Finnegan's Flyer
For a couple of years now Sam would always wait while everyone else would ride Finnegan’s Flyer. The S&S Screamin’ Swing was not her cup of tea, or at least, she didn’t think it would be. I always told her of all the fun airtime the ride provides, which she loves on coasters, but she would always sit it out.
Then Dollywood happened in fall 2024. While there she decided to give their Screamin’ Swing, Barnstormer, a try. She actually liked it and went on to ride it several times with both Jen and I. Since then, she’s been looking forward to finally riding Finnegan’s Flyer.
Finnegan’s Flyer has been my favorite Screamin’ Swing up until this point, although Hersheypark looks poised to challenge that with the upcoming Twizzlers Twisted Gravity this summer. I can’t wait. Back to Finnegan’s though.
I couldn’t wait to see Sam’s reaction to this one. Even though both Finnegan’s and Barnstormer are similar in height, Finnegan’s swing out over the river makes it feel so much bigger. I knew this one would hit different. I just crossed my fingers that it wouldn’t make her have second thoughts. Long story short, it didn’t. Sam loves the ride and I’m sure it will be a regular stop for her now during our BGW visits. Now we just have to ride with Jen and Greg too.
Final Ride Counts
Alpengeist (3)
Apollo’s Chariot (1)
Busch Gardens Railway (1)
DarKoaster (1)
Finnigan’s Flyer (1)
Griffon (1)
InvadR (1)
Loch Ness Monster (1)
Pantheon (2)
The Wolf Will be Ready by My Next Visit
With the Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge seemingly only weeks away from opening, I wanted to get some views of how far along things were. We jumped on Busch Gardens Railway over by Pantheon and took it to the stop by InvadR.
While the grass has yet to grow in, you can tell this ride is very close to debuting to the public. It looked like some work was being done to the station, but everything else looked on point. I’m sure it will be open by the next time I visit. I will be sure to have Sam and Jen along as I know they’ll both be looking forward to having an all-new ride to enjoy at one of our favorite parks.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Photo Gallery - April 14, 2025
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CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): n/a
Sam
Admiral
New Credit(s): n/a