Originally Posted By magnet Well, it's been at least fifteen years since I've been to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. While I liked the Loch Ness Monster and the Big Bad Wolf...anyone who has grown accustomed to the level of theming at Walt Disney World will still likely find the theming to be lackluster. When I was there I remember the European theming to be a little more than a joke, consisting mainly of romanticized American notions of what Europe is and was like -- not how it really is. I also didn't care for the fact that the park never lets you forget that to sell you some beer is the company's main purpose. Maybe it's changed for the better over the interim.... I think the preserved portion of colonial Williamsburg is a far better experience than Busch Gardens. You can daily see reenactments and there are many tours of the city by guides "in character." Furthermore, there are a variety of dining experiences that approximate colonial dishes and have some great atmosphere. The shopping is very good too. Hey, you might actually leave knowing something about actual history too. Don't forget to stop by the Williamsburg Pottery too for great shopping. It's much, much more than its name suggests.
Originally Posted By brotherdave Funny, I always thought the theming at Busch Gardens was excellent. Ok, it's not meant to be 'accurate', but more 'thematic'. And I love the natural looking wooded setting that the park is built in. In fact, I found Busch Gardens Europe to be one of the best non-Disney/Universal themed parks in America. Sure it's an 'Americanized' version of Europe, but, so is most of Disney's theming, as well as Universal's. Yes, they remind you that they produce beer everywhere, but Disney doesn't let you forget what they sell either. But you are correct about Colonial Williamsburg. Very beautiful and authentic (for the most part). But, Williamsburg is an historical attraction, not a theme park. So, I hope people do learn something if they visit. Another historical attraction worth visiting in the area is Jamestown Festival Park. Here is an authentic re-creation of the first permanant English colony in America. And you might just learn the true story of Pochontas here (unlike Disney's animated version)! Very worthwhile to visit while in the area!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Sure it's an 'Americanized' version of Europe, but, so is most of Disney's theming>> Yeah, it's no different than the highly romantized version of Marceline, MO that Main Street USA is.
Originally Posted By figment1986 Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is a great non disney theme park, Sure it has coasters but they fit the theming they are suppose to be in. They have enhanced the theme for many areas so it is americanized but not like six flags and still fits the European nations / Canada it is suppose to be, in some cases they fond a way for the coasters to fit in as well.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Sure it has coasters but they fit the theming they are suppose to be in. >> Painted steel does not equal a themed environment.
Originally Posted By dshyates Some people can get over that it is not a "real" trip to Europe. It is an amusement park of the themed variety. And where in our universe do we keep our roller coasters? Amusement parks. It's not a Disney park. It plays by different rules and offers experiences you can't get at any Disney park. And does Anheiser Busch really hock beer more than Mickey does pins and plush. Maybe they should try Disney's tactics. What if the exits of their major rides forced you to walk through bars or just a few taps at the ride photo shops.
Originally Posted By figment1986 <<Painted steel does not equal a themed environment.>> Have you seen the lift for Alpengeist?? its themed to the area, the stations are themed, the coasters are themed to the lands and not just themed and put in any old land. Its not disney, but it does have a different degree than six flags.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Have you seen the lift for Alpengeist?? >> Have you seen the lift for Expedition Everest, the lift for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the trains for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster? Alpengeist, or any Busch Gardens coaster, isn't in the same league.
Originally Posted By brotherdave No, it's not in the same 'league' as Disney. It's a different experience. Yet, many compare Universal's theming to Disney, yet they have exposed coaster structure on their rides too (Dueling Dragons, Incredible Hulk). Come to think of it, The Barnstormer and Primeval Whirl don't have themed coaster lifts and structures either. Busch Gardens still has plenty of theming, especially when compared to other park chains like Six Flags or Cedar Fair. The A-B parks are exceptionally beautiful parks, especially Busch Gardens Europe in Virginia.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << The A-B parks are exceptionally beautiful parks, especially Busch Gardens Europe in Virginia. >> "Exceptionally beautifu.?" I must be visiting a different version of Busch Gardens and Sea World. I think these parks are nice diversions, but nothing "exceptional" about them. Maybe all the Budweiser flowing through guests at BG gives them the "beer goggles" while they're visiting the place.
Originally Posted By brotherdave <a href="http://www.amusementtoday.com/2007gta090507.html" target="_blank">http://www.amusementtoday.com/ 2007gta090507.html</a> Busch Gardens Europe has been voted the 'Most Beautiful Park' and 'Best Landscaping' for the last five years when the voting began. And this is just Amusement Today's survey. Many other publications have designated it as such also, including USA Today. Disney ranks high, but BGE has beaten them every year for landscaping, and for good reason. TREES! Lots and lots of trees make this park very special, not to mention the beautiful gardens located throughout the park. And just for the record, I don't drink beer!
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << TREES! >> Yup, that was one thing I actually noticed about Busch Gardens, lots of old Virginia pine trees left in between all the attractions. The last time I checked, a grove of scrubby pine trees doesn't really equate to landscaping and you would be pretty hard pressed to find gardens in BGE that are anywhere close to what you find in the MK or EPCOT. I've visted BGE. I enjoy the park for what it is, but all the hyperbole about it being some sort of great themed environment or on par with Disney is way overdone and not accurate at all.
Originally Posted By dshyates sport goofy, have you been to BGW, because it is far prettier than BGT or Sea World. They are good solid well run clean, and safe environments far superior to Six Flags the old Paramount parks or even cedar fair.
Originally Posted By pheneix >>>The last time I checked, a grove of scrubby pine trees doesn't really equate to landscaping and you would be pretty hard pressed to find gardens in BGE that are anywhere close to what you find in the MK or EPCOT.<<< You're right, Disney's landscaping does not even come close, save for Epcot during Flower and Garden. Is there actually a debate here about BGW's landscaping? Seriously? BTW, BGW has been voted most beautiful park in the country for the past 17 years, not 5!
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << BGW has been voted most beautiful park in the country for the past 17 years, not 5! >> . . . in the same survey that ranked Kings Island the best "Kids Area" and Six Flags Fiesta Texas the "Best Shows" among many other dubious awards to second rate parks across the country. Do a scan of photos from BGW and see if you seen anything there that resembles something groundbreaking in the world of landscaping. There is nothing remarkable about BGW, regardless of the hyperbole posted by the anti-Disney crowd here.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I don't really think that it has to be groundbreaking to be well recieved. Taking the example from stage shows, we all know how well Steps in Time worked out at DCA, while it was trying to be hip and edgy. I would hardly call The Festival of Fools groundbreaking, but it's one of the most popular shows that I've ever heard of for a theme park. Just because it's new and avant garde doesn't mean that it's better. Something of decent quality set up in a way that you can really escape (the woods really do make me feel like I'm miles away from anything else, in a different way than the calculated gardens at Disney parks ever could, which really gives the park a relaxing feel) can really make the park better than something really good that just doesn't have much appeal. This is one case (I assume there is a lot of it in the survery) where simple and lots of it work really well for a lot of people. Complicated doesn't mean better.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Thre seems to be another semantics argument going on here. IMO, BGE (or BGW if you prefer) is voted as beautiful because of the natural setting. It doesn't matter if it "only trees" and not man-made gardens, it's still a lovely setting. Saying otherwise is rather like arguing that the Grand Canyon is just a hole in the ground and not beautiful.
Originally Posted By brotherdave Well said, trekkeruss. And who says I'm anti Disney? I LOVE Disney theme parks and think that they're quite lovely in the landscape department. But, Busch Gardens Europe, is very beautiful, too. Perhaps if you take your rose colored 'Disney' glasses off, you might find a world of other parks that are equal of praise. A natural wooded setting adds so much to a park-like environment. Also, I don't recall much in the landscaping dept at Disney/MGM studios. So, not all of Disney is perfect in this dept! Theming is one thing, landscaping another. Together, Disney is still the best in my book. But, singled out, BGE is the hands-down winner for me and a lot of other people, as the best in landscaping. (Pheneix, I realize that BGE has been voted as best landscaped park for more than 5 years, but, that's all that Amusement Today's website lists. Thanks for pointing it out, though!)
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Saying otherwise is rather like arguing that the Grand Canyon is just a hole in the ground and not beautiful >> I've never heard anyone compare Tidewater Virginia to the Grand Canyon. Who knew there were such natural wonders to behold on the James River!
