Budget tips, for Colonial Willaimsburg/Bush gardens

[Jajone]

Hello! I actually live in Williamsburg and have done just about everything there is to do in this area. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them!

What time of year will you be here? If it's between May and Labor Day weekend, definitely look into getting Busch Gardens/Water Country/Colonial Williamsburg combo passes. Don't forget that Jamestown and Yorktown are here, too, so you'll probably want to make time for those.

There are plenty of chain restaurants in town that are fairly reasonable - all the normal fast food, Applebee's, Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, IHOP, etc. There are also some local places that are excellent and won't cost you an arm and a leg. There are several pizza/Italian restaurants called Sal's (or some variation of that) that are really good. There are also a few places in in the Colonial area that are worth checking out (Blue Talon Bistro, Aroma's and The Cheese Shop). Google "Williamsburg Area Restaurants," and the first link is a dining guide you may find useful.

As for places to stay, that depends on what you are looking for. There are plenty of hotels and motels - there's a Sleep Inn that I've actually had to stay at before, and it was nice.

In reply to someone else's question, Washington D.C. is about 2.5 hours away.

If we decide to do a day trip to DC, where do I park for the day? Or is there other transportation we should use. We are also considering just getting a hotel for a couple nights in that area too, but if it is significantly cheaper, we would stay in CW and drive.

 

[mom2twinz3]

Thanks.

I am clicking on "rides" for BG and see only 11 rides pop up and many of them my kids aren't even tall enough to go on.

Is it worth it?

We could only go the 2 days they are open as they are closed most or our visit.

What do you think?

Dawn

Dawn,

They have a nice little dragon-themed area with a few kiddie rides and a water play area (though that might not be working yet before Memorial Day). They also have a number of kiddie-type rides in the areas near Italy. There is a Clydesdale Merry-Go-Round near the stables, and other kiddie rides dispersed here and there. Ireland has a neat motion simulator ride similar to Star Wars at Disney Studios.

Not as many rides as some parks have, but it is definitely worth it for families. It truly is a lovely park.

 

[Jajone]

Bumping to keep this active as I am officially planning now. We will have 6 people and want to do also do a few things in the DC area. Would you stay in DC area or drive there for the day?

 

[stahshee]

I called BG and they offer as of today the 7 day flex plan for 82 for a child and 92 for adult.. CW will not offer the tickets until March

 

[Mom21]

Does anyone know about the Platinum pass? We have to go to Va in June for my daughter's competition. For 2 years it is 299 and you get 9 parks including Seaworld, Busch Gardens, Tampa and Aquatica. We live in Florida. That same pass is $429 if bought at Seaworld Florida. Do you have to be a VA resident? Can I buy it there when we go and have it good for 2 years down here also? That is $130 savings each for us.

 

[Rosiekins]

Stay in one of their hotels, You get really cheap tickets to Colonial Williamsburg for your whole stay. Here is something I priced for another person on here looking for a vacation under a certian amount. This is for one of thier Premium Hotels their econonmy hotels are much less. Staying on site gets you a discount on a lot of things so that is always a help.

7 nights at one of their Premium Hotels Williamsburg Lodge 2 queen beds is 1233 (they do have cheaper hotels but I think the premium ones are much nicer)

You can get length of stay tickets for 17.00 for adults and 8.50 for anyone under 17. You must stay in their hotels to get this price (it is much more convenient to stay in their hotel anyway, and they have a slew of Benefits)

7 day (must be used with in 7 days) Busch Garden and Water Country Tickets 69.95 Each

So that is
1233 Hotel
053 Hotel Stay Tickets to Williamsburg
280 Bush Garden, Water Country Tickets
_____
$1566

 

[snoopybabe]

Few questions, we are considering this for either the third week in June or the last week in August. Would you recommend one week being better than the other for any reasons? I am guessing the weather would be similar, how about crowds?

Any info you could give would be appreciated, thanks!

The kids get out of school after June 18th & will be still out of school the last week in August. Weather can be humid. Crowds during the week are generally not bad. Most people head over Water Country during the day & then Busch later. In August they will have their summer nights concerts. They don't have the band listed for the weekend of August 21st but they are included in the admission & that does make the park more crowded. I live in Williamsburg so if you have any questions please feel free to pm me.

 

[fac]

Does anyone know about the Platinum pass? We have to go to Va in June for my daughter's competition. For 2 years it is 299 and you get 9 parks including Seaworld, Busch Gardens, Tampa and Aquatica. We live in Florida. That same pass is $429 if bought at Seaworld Florida. Do you have to be a VA resident? Can I buy it there when we go and have it good for 2 years down here also? That is $130 savings each for us.

you don't have to be VA resident. We bought 4 more than a year ago and were able to use in Florida. When we were in Florida, we did not even have the printed tickets, we only took the computer printouts but it was a pain though, as we had to bring the printouts to the guest service and get the tickets. We eventually went to VA to get the printed tickets and it became easier in Florida.

I think the only difference between getting from VA and Florida is that you are "not" entitled to have the preferred partking in non-VA parks, but we never have the problem though.

 

[Mom21]

you don't have to be VA resident. We bought 4 more than a year ago and were able to use in Florida. When we were in Florida, we did not even have the printed tickets, we only took the computer printouts but it was a pain though, as we had to bring the printouts to the guest service and get the tickets. We eventually went to VA to get the printed tickets and it became easier in Florida.

I think the only different between getting from VA and Florida is that you are "not" entitled to have the preferred partking in non-VA parks, but we never have the problem though.

Thanks. That's what I wanted to know. I won't be going to any Florida park before going to VA. So I can save $260 by getting them in VA when we go and then use them for 2 years in Florida. I don't really care about the preferred parking if I'm saving $260. I can walk......LOL.

 

[mom of four]

Before you buy that package deal for the tickets for Virginia and Florida, look on Sesame Places web site at the Grover Season Tickets. You can buy season pass for sesame place, Bush Gardens (Virginia and Florida), Water Country, Sea World and the new water park (?aquatics) and parking for $142 if purchased by March 1. I think they will mail the tickets, but call and ask first. I hope that help you.

 

[Mom21]

Before you buy that package deal for the tickets for Virginia and Florida, look on Sesame Places web site at the Grover Season Tickets. You can buy season pass for sesame place, Bush Gardens (Virginia and Florida), Water Country, Sea World and the new water park (?aquatics) and parking for $142 if purchased by March 1. I think they will mail the tickets, but call and ask first. I hope that help you.

Would be nice if we would only go this year. We aren't going to VA until end of June and that pass is only good until end of 2010--so 6 months and not sure I will make it back to Orlando in that time frame. The one I am looking at for $299 is good for 2 full years. We'll never likely visit up north anytime soon, so all of the Florida parks for 2 years is a plus for me. Thanks for the idea. Great deal for those only looking to go until the end of this year.