Any Busch Gardens Williamsburg Experts Here?

[PSUGuy]

Wifey and I are looking to do a 2 or 3 day trip to Busch Gardens Va next May on our way home from a Myrtle Beach vacation. She's not thrilled with thrill rides (I am), she's looking to 'take in the atmosphere', I'm not sure what atmosphere there is there. This would be early May, it looks to be before their Food&Wine thing so I don't know what, other than rides, there would be for us. We're healthy old f@rts, no mobility issues and wifey would enjoy non-violent rides and of course the shows. What's there, do they offer multi day tix and are there onsite hotels? I looked at their website and I'm more confused than before viewing it.

Thanks,
Bill From PA

 

[shoney]

We love Busch gardens but we also love thrill rides.
It is a beautiful park! The Irish pub show is prob the best theme park show we ever saw. Very well done!!!

There are other shows throughout.

If u like adult beverages plenty of beer and wine throughout! (UBER was so cheap in the area!). Germany has a nice craft beer bar too.

You may want a day there to see the shows and the another day to walk around the historic village.

We are at a really cool restaurant that I highly recommend. http://www.achefskitchen.biz/dinner.html

No onsite hotels that I know of for BG

 

[ccvb]

Food and Wine is only on the weekends so be aware of that. There isn't a hotel onsite unless you count www.kingsmill.com It's a really nice resort and they will shuttle you there. Used to be owned by Anheuser-Busch also. Busch is a beautiful park but I feel it's a one day and you're done. There are some non thrill rides there. Colonial Williamsburg is also nice to walk around. You don't have to buy a ticket to walk the street. There are some great shows at Busch Gardens also. The one in Ireland gets pretty good reviews, shows in the Fest House are good too, Pet show just after ireland is fun.

 

[blana]

Love Busch Gardens. As PP have said, it's a beautiful park, and there are several shows for the "non-thrill riders".
https://buschgardens.com/williamsburg/shows/ We generally get lunch at Das Festhaus around the time of the show there, but its a nice (air-conditioned!) spot for a break any time of the day.

 

[Wishing on a star]

It is a very beautiful and landscaped park...
That alone is very very nice, without any rides.
Some of the International sections have very nice cultural shows.
I remember the Beer Garden and the Italian venues especially. Even though it has been years.
There are also some non-rollercoaster rides and attractions.
I think you both would find the visit well worth it.

We also especially enjoyed Historic Williamsburg. We did the two-night living history presentation.
It was amazing... And, it really meant a lot.
If anyone does this, and if this has not been changed... Pay attention to the very end of the presentation, on the last of the two nights.

 

[kidshop]

There are lots of animals to look at; rescued eagles, wolves (there is a wolf show), aviary with birds to feed, highland cattle, sheep and clydesdales. The pet show is fun and they are all rescued!

The shows are great as mentioned, and many rides are not thrilling but still fun. The skyride, train, boat ride and the new VR ride is cool and you don't really physically move much. We love Busch Gardens! It is gorgeous and very shaded with lush greenery.

 

[PSUGuy]

Thanks for all the info, looks like we're on for early May!

Bill From PA

 

[PollyannaMom]

We went in May years ago, and loved it. It is a really beautiful park! My only addition to what the others said is to bring your allergy meds if you have seasonal pollen issues. There were different plants than we had at home, and DH and I both started to get a sinus headache until we realized what is was.

 

[scjo68]

I go to Busch Gardens very often. It has been named the “most beautiful theme park” for 27 years. It has very pretty landscaping and I find the different areas nicely themed.

I really enjoy the shows.

There are some great coasters, but also plenty of non coasters.

A few things that are different from Disney parks:

Right now there are no metal detectors to enter (there could be by next year, though). However, they do check bags, and they don’t want you to bring food in. You can bring in bottled water. They allow food brought in for small kids though.

If you ride any coasters, or the VR ride, you cannot carry any bag on with you. If your wife isn’t riding, she can hold things if necessary, otherwise riders are required to get a locker.

There is no hotel “on site” that is easy walking distance to the park
(As far as I know) but as ccvb mentioned, Kingsmill is close and has a shuttle. Holiday Inn Express, Courtyard, and Doubletree are right next to the park- have not stayed there but they look nice to me. If you go 10-15 minutes from the park, you have tons of hotel choices.

There is a meal plan that I hear is a great deal- I have never done this, because I never stay all day. But you may want to look into it.

I don’t know that much about actual tickets, since I have annual pass. I do know that depending on the ticket, and how you buy it, you may need to visit a teller window or self-service kiosk when you arrive, or you may be able to go straight to the turnstile. Read the top of your ticket and it will tell you which”zone” to go to on arrival. They try to make it clear, but I know that it causes a lot of confusion.

Have fun!

 

[Sarah'sMomfrom PA]

Mauricio's is also a great Italian restaurant with homemade pasta that was recommended by a local. It is over near Busch Gardens.

 

[ginny65]

We too are considering a stay to enjoy Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg. I saw on another post in addition to this one that Kingsmill is recommended. I like the looks of the resort. It is necessary to rent a car at Richmond airport to enjoy this area? We don't mind taking Uber if we don't want to use the resort's shuttle, but I wasn't sure about getting around anywhere else or traveling roundtrip to the airport. Also, any tips on renting a car would be great!

 

[rotlex]

Our favorite non Disney park. Love the whole Williamsburg area in general. If going in the spring, check out the Busch Gardens fun pass. It's basically a season pass for the early and summer months that usually includes admission to the waterpark if purchased by end of March I think. (roughly the cost of one days admission).

We usually stay at one of two Hampton Inns right in Williamsburg. Very nice hotels, colonial theme, with the typical free breakfast etc. Rates around $100 per night. There is a lot to do in the area including Colonial Williamsburg and a massive Yankee Candle store that has some really cool shopping - includes a North Pole section where it snows indoors, Santa etc.

As far as the park goes, it's fantastic. Gorgeous, good food and a lot of different options. Great for rides, shows, or just strolling about. It deserves the most beautiful theme park award it gets regularly.,

 

[RedAngie]

I'm still upset they removed the Big Bad Wolf suspended roller coaster some years back. That was the best of its genre.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I work at the hospital a mile down the road. There is plenty to see and do without going on the thrill rides. Our favorite is the wolf show. We can stand and watch the wolves in their habitat for hours. You can also see the Clydesdale horses. Plenty of food and drink.

Word of warning, May is not in season. They are weekend only until the 3rd week of May.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

I'm still upset they removed the Big Bad Wolf suspended roller coaster some years back. That was the best of its genre.

I liked the cheesy farewell announcement the ride attendants would recite when the trains came back to the station. "Thanks for travelling at the speed of fright."

It was also great standing on the bridge watching the coaster make its plunge toward the river.

 

[ncc1701]

Since you are thinking about May check The College of William & Mary's website . Hotel rooms could be sparse if you run into Graduation

 

[blana]

Speaking to the Uber side of this, it's about 50 miles from Richmond Airport to Williamsburg, so about an hour of drive time. I haven't used Uber/Lyft there, but that's not a short trip. I'd personally be more comfortable with a rental car. (Doing a quick comp on Uber's site, it looks like a little over $100 round trip just to and from the airport.)

 

[ginny65]

Does anyone have any rental car company recommendations at Richmond and approximate cost?