Budget Help for a Williamsburg Trip

[dreamalittledream]

We are planning a BUDGET trip this June for a few days in Williamsburg.

I plan to get the Bounce pass as it seems like the best deal going. (unlimited access to Colonial Williamsburg, Bush Gardens and Water Country for 7 days AND kids 5 and under are FREE!!) I don't think we will do any of the night tours but may do a kids day tour once the schedule comes up.

I have the room booked on points so it is free. It includes a fridge and Micro in the room so breakfast is covered.

I am trying to find some budget ideas for food and any other stuff I missed.

Has anyone been there recently and can help me out? If so, where did you eat? are there any "kids eat free" places like Applebee's? What places would you suggest in Colonial Williamsburg itself?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

We are going in July so I've been doing research myself. We went a few years ago and there are two IHOP's nearby, so we plan to go there a few times. They have a kids' menu but I don't think kids eat free.

In the historic area there is a restaurant called Chowning's that is kid friendly. The others look too adult oriented. There is a sandwich shop in the visitors' center.

Let me know what else you find out!

 

[dreamalittledream]

Sounds good. what type of passes are you planning on?

I know there are a ton of chain places but not sure which ones. Maybe I can look up by their sites.

I called BG to see if I needed to make reservations for the places in the park to eat. You don't unless you want to dine W/ Elmo. Been there done that so not this time. I guess we'll have to wing it in the park. I want to eat at the German Hoffbrauhaus when they have a show. I'm not sure how crowded it will be though.

 

[distherapy]

I went to school there. My favorite is "The Cheese Shop" in Merchant's Square (the shopping area of Colonial Williamsburg) - I don't know what their prices are like now, but I ate it as a student, so they weren't crazy. They have a few tables, but it's more fun to get your sandwiches and eat on one of the many benches in the Colonial area.

The other fun places are college hangouts - the delis - Paul's Deli is my favorite. Very reasonable prices. It's on Scotland Street, an easy walk from the Colonial area and it's fun to walk through William and Mary's beautiful campus.

My advice? Hit places like that. Skip the chains where you could be eating anywhere in the country.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I spent most of last night trying to sort through the ticket combos.

Bounce doesn't seem like the best option for us as Water Country not open yet and BG only open on weekends (eg will be one day there it is open.) I was looking at the Flex Pass, but then worry about pinning ourselves down it it's pouring the only day we can do BG.

Does anyone know- do the combo tickets include everything at CW? Their tickets in themselves were confusing. I think it's "everything but the Gov Palace" or "Everything, including Gov Palace, for 2 days.) ???

 

[dreamalittledream]

I spent most of last night trying to sort through the ticket combos.

Bounce doesn't seem like the best option for us as Water Country not open yet and BG only open on weekends (eg will be one day there it is open.) I was looking at the Flex Pass, but then worry about pinning ourselves down it it's pouring the only day we can do BG.

Does anyone know- do the combo tickets include everything at CW? Their tickets in themselves were confusing. I think it's "everything but the Gov Palace" or "Everything, including Gov Palace, for 2 days.) ???

I am no help, they are very confusing. But I did talk to a great guy when I called the main Williamsburg number. He helped with my passes so maybe try there to start. also some of the places to stay have deals for the CW passes. I had a place so it didn't work for me.

 

[dreamalittledream]

I went to school there. My favorite is "The Cheese Shop" in Merchant's Square (the shopping area of Colonial Williamsburg) - I don't know what their prices are like now, but I ate it as a student, so they weren't crazy. They have a few tables, but it's more fun to get your sandwiches and eat on one of the many benches in the Colonial area.

The other fun places are college hangouts - the delis - Paul's Deli is my favorite. Very reasonable prices. It's on Scotland Street, an easy walk from the Colonial area and it's fun to walk through William and Mary's beautiful campus.

My advice? Hit places like that. Skip the chains where you could be eating anywhere in the country.

sound good!

did you go to BG alot when you were there? any advice on the rides? lines? I have a feeling I don't have to plan as much as I do when I go to WDW.

 

[distherapy]

sound good!

did you go to BG alot when you were there? any advice on the rides? lines? I have a feeling I don't have to plan as much as I do when I go to WDW.

We did - often when the park was closed and they had a special function, but I also grew up going to BG and Kings Dominion in Richmond. There's really no comparison planning-wise with WDW...

 

[distherapy]

Here's the website for Paul's http://www.paulsdelirestaurant.com/

The Holly sub (ordered Hot), is legendary.

Here's info on the Cheese Shop, too - the Combo is my fave (turkey and country ham)
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/williamsburg/D54123.html

If you like great desserts, be sure to go by the Trellis restaurant in Merchant's Square in Colonial Williamsburg. It's a higher end restaurant, but has a great fixed price menu that makes it reasonable. OR you could see about getting dessert to go (I know they used to do this) and pick up some the famous Death by Chocolate.
Check out http://www.thetrellis.com/

 

[distherapy]

Oh - other fun things to do. Sorry for so many posts, but I keep remembering other things.

The Colonial Parkway is lovely and a great place to go for a drive and take a picnic... pick up sandwiches and some drinks and enjoy

http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/60441/

You can also check out Route 5 and the beautiful plantations
http://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?FeatureID=129

There is a ferry to Yorktown that is fun, but I can't find anything on it...

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Forgot to add to the OP- Don't overlook Jamestown and Yorktown (the "active" ones, not the archealogical sites..) We haven't been in 10 years, but we really enjoyed those and want to hit them again..

 

[Dizisfun]

If you are looking for budget places to eat, there is a Golden Corral near Colonial Williamsburg. That's where my DH and I usually end up eating when you go.
We are going in May for a week. I really don't know what we will do for seven days, but the room was the right price, free, Mother-in-law is going and ask us to go. And our tickets into Colonial Williamsburg were Christmas gifts from our kids.
I guess I will do some shopping at The Pottery.

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

For passes we are staying at the Governor's Inn so we get free entrance to the historic area for the length of our stay. I'm getting dicounted tickets for Busch Gardens and Water Country through AAA. You can get them online and print them at home, so you can skip the line at the park ticket booth and go straight to the entrance.

Thanks for the restaurant suggestions.

 

[dreamalittledream]

Hi all,
We just got back from our trip and we had a great time. Let me know if anyone has any questions, I will try to reply.

I found a great deal on food at Bush Gardens. They have a voucher meal deal that is really great. (Busch Gardens Meal Deal on the website under "in park dining")

for $20.00 you get 2 adult entrees, 2 sides (desert or salad) 2 drinks (non-alcholic) and as a bonus 2 more drinks you can use at the soda carts later.
we did great getting a salad and a sampler platters (which were 13-14.00 each) and sharing the food. The sampler platters were huge! Italy had 2 large Manicottis and pasta on one, the place in New France had one with 1/2 rack ribs, 1/4 chicken and brisket. Germany had a few but we had the one with ribs, chicken, sausage and awesome hash browns.
Even if you did not share and got your own meal, most are $8.00-11.00 so it is still a deal.

the kids meal deal is $14.00. 2 kids meals, 2 sides (desert or salad) 2 drinks (non-alcholic) and as a bonus 2 more drinks
a typ kids meal is about 5.99- 6.49 so it is like getting the desert free. It was nice not to have to say no to the kiddos all the time, plus you get that extra drink.

or you could easily split 1 adult meal for 2 kids, some places did not have alot of choices for kids, mostly hotdogs and chicken fingers. Italy only had spaghetti but they did have an adult Chicken Parm which both my girls would have eaten.

we actually did not use all the extra drink vouchers since we are not huge soda drinkers and for some reason they do not give you lids on the cups so it is hard to carry them around. (note to self: bring an empty cup to refill)
You can't use them for bottled beverages.
BUT on the last day we discovered the frozen lemonaide and we were able to use the vouchers then. YUM!

there are snack vouchers also available for 2.99. I bought and used them but probably would not again. They were very limiting. I had a difficult time finding the icecream bars that were valid for the voucher and then they were the same price anyway. Cotton candy was 3.49 and we never found the popcorn.

you must purchase the vouchers online so you have to plan ahead. We ordered them and the hotel printed the email out for us so once we got to the park, we used the self service kiosk and picked up the vouchers. very easy.

 

[aprilgail2]

We are going stop in Williamsburg on our way home from Myrtle Beach July 2nd-4th....I think we are just going to do Colonial Williamsburg while we are there- no clue on how much tickets are or if they even have a 2 day ticket. guess I should start looking as we leave next week LOL.