By Josh Brown
Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg announced Friday that it will debut a "Sesame Street"-themed expansion in the spring in a bid to attract more children and families to the park.
The new section, with a European-style "Sesame Street" setting, will feature four rides for children, including a small roller coaster and a log flume. It also will have play spaces for children, including water play areas.
The announcement of the new additions comes less than a month after Anheuser-Busch, which owns the theme park, announced it had accepted a $52 billion takeover bid from Belgian brewer InBev. To help finance the deal, InBev said it would sell Anheuser's noncore assets, which analysts say include its theme parks.
"The Sesame attraction is just another example of the commitment Busch Gardens has to this community," John Reilly, the park's general manager, said in an interview.
Earlier this year, the theme park submitted to James City County preliminary plans for a six-building expansion.
Reilly said discussions for the expansion began with Sesame Workshop, the company behind the TV show, in 2006. Busch Entertainment Corp. reached a deal that year with the company to bring "Sesame Street"-themed attractions to its theme parks.
"I think the addition of the characters and a family-friendly atmosphere, they really make for a natural partnership," Reilly said.
It's been 14 years since Busch Gardens introduced its last children's attraction - "Land of the Dragons" - at the Williamsburg park.
The park addition won't be the first "Sesame Street" attraction at a Busch theme park. The company owns Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa., which opened in 1980, and there are already "Sesame Street"-attractions at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla., and San Diego.
"The response to the Sesame attractions has been very strong," Reilly said.
As part of the Williamsburg park expansion, the 900-seat Globe Theatre in the England section of the park will show a "4-D" movie featuring "Sesame Street" characters.
Reilly said several of the rides, including the roller coaster, would allow adults to ride with children.
Construction on the new section is set to begin next week.
Josh Brown, (757) 446-2318, josh.brown@pilotonline.com
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Sesame Street addition
BGE has been needing a true kiddie "area" for a while. I know that it has Land Of Dragons already but that can only entertain kids but so long until they want to go do something else. For anyone who thinks this is a bad idea because we need more coasters, that's just immaturity. We already have 5 roller coasters... 3 in the top 20 in the U.S. So stop complaining.
Good deal
Our kids love the children rides at Sea World. The little coaster for kids they have is just right for them. We sit there, and they run around going on it over and over.
They really need a bit more for young kids. Land of Dragons is far to small and compact.
Now if they could just make the park more level so don't have all the up and down hills!
As a former BG employee
That's what I'm referring to. I think Sesame Street is a great addition (yes, I grew up on it). It's just, whoever takes over the park (InBev doesn't want non-beer assets) better live up to the high standards. That's what I'm worried about.
Sesame Place
It is not too far from me. Even with the kids theme, there is something for everyone. Adults can get into the high net climbing and tube crawling with their kids. Sounds like a good idea, it might cut down on people cutting into long coaster lines citing "child care priviledge," whatever that is. As I read it, if you have a small child, one of the adults can get head of line, then swap with the other parent, who then gets head of the line. Supposed to prevent a parent waiting with a child 30 minutes while the other rides. Not sure I agree with that, so hopefully this will prevent the line cutting.
Yes
I grew up at BG, but with 2 kids under 5-years old we have not bothered to go. We were waiting for them to get bigger. Maybe now we can go next year and everyone will have fun. Looking forward to it.
And folks, I agree with bs83109: stop drinking the bug juice and live a little.
Better to go to...
Kings Dominion!!!
Boo, my idea of a fun day at
Boo, my idea of a fun day at Busch Gardens is not tripping over kids everywhere. Same reason we do not book cruises when school is out.
All of these people commenting on all of these stories are....
drinking H A T E R A D E ...
GREAT IDEA!!
Coming from the north, we have been to Hershey park MANY times! I have gone there with my wife and 2 small kids, I have gone there with family and cousins and aunts and uncles, I have gone there with my nieces and nephews. The BEST thing they ever did was in 2007 when they built a kids "play area" with water toys and dry play areas. Now, Hershey caters to families with young kids and they went a step further to make it more family friendly!! My 4 year old LOVES the rides. Heck when our daughter was 3 months old, we brought her on the "family" log flume. They have a few rides for families that hand held infants can even go on! Its GREAT!! If BG gets more like Hershey and caters to families with young kids, the place will be AWESOME!! Remember its families that spend the money and keep places like this open.. Make them family friendly!!
Great!!
As a lover of roller coasters (the bigger the better) and a mother of two (a toddler and one on the way), I am excited that there is going to be a Sesame Place area in BG. I love the coasters, but there isn't a ton of stuff for little kids...under 4 or so. I think this is great...the best of both worlds...I can have fun with my kids AND ride the big kids rides while grandma and grandma watches the baby!!
You pessimists are hilarious
Before you make comments - make sure you're informed. "Sesame Place" in Pennsylvania has been around for a few decades and guess who owns it - yes, Anheuser Busch! Go to sesameplace.com to check it out. We just came from Penn. last month going to Hershey's Chocolate World, Crayola Factory, Dutchwonderland and Sesame Place. Sesame Place was definitely the highlight! Come on, as a kid - YOU LOVED SESAME STREET. My two young kids (5 and 2) lit up when Elmo, Ernie, Bert, etc. were walking around and gave them hugs and took pictures with them. There's a parade at the end of everyday which is cool too. If you have young kids Sesame Place is a place you must definitely visit! Busch Gardens has a very small area for kids. The addition to Busch Gardens will EASILY increase attendance.
Awesome
You naysayers must not have any kids. BG has plenty of rollercoasters. I think it is awesome that they will have more geared to kids. Not everyone is a coaster person. Grandparents love to take the kids and simply watch them have fun. I just hope the quality of the park won't change with the sale of Anheiseur Busch.
Sesame Street??
How does Sesame Street fit in with the "European Theme"?
Busch Gardens
I love Busch Gardens. As a mother of five and a grandmother of 6, my kids and grandkids have never complained about the terrain. Neither do my husband and I. It is a beautiful, shady park. My only complaint is that they don't have enough roller coasers. We love to ride them. Griffon is absolutely fantastic. They need more like it. Adding Sesame Street is fine, just add more thrill rides.
Non coaster rider but still want to have fun
I am not a roller coaster rider so every trip there involves a whole lot of time waiting next to the coasters for the rest of my group. I wish they'd instead find something to keep me and all those others like me entertained. For every bored non-coaster rider in each group and family is a no vote for the park each time it's suggested. There are only so many times you can watch the shows and after that it's twiddle your thumb time. As a parent I pay, I drive, I get double vote. A something for everyone park is needed, not a new kiddie section. Face it, the terrain it too much for little legs anyway and they get tired half way through the day and everyone in the little kids group goes home.
No not sesame street!
Why Sesame Street??? They already have a kids area. They need more coasters, not Sesame Street!!!! Bad news.....
Won't be the Same
With InBev taking over A-B and selling off Busch Gardens, things won't be the same :'(