Busch Gardens in Virginia - Tips Anyone?

[Kirby]

Our itinerary is getting finalized for our trip. We let the girls to some internet research and decide between Busch Gardens and King's Dominion. They decided on BG.

So, all of you that have been there, what kind of tips do you have for us? Places to eat, rides to go to first, etc? We'll only have one day there so anything you can tell us will greatly help.

 

[Mandabella]

Oooh...Busch Gardens Williamsburg is my favorite park outside the Disney ones. I think they are calling is Busch Gardens Europe now... It's been a few years since we've been, we used to be passport holders.

Anyhow, there are several good places to eat. What kind of food are you looking for?

We like eating in Killarney, Ireland. They have a good stew there they serve in a bread bowl. There's also a Beer school that is free to participate in if you like. Also not to miss is the Irish dance in the theatre, if it is still there.

In the New France area, there is is BBQ to eat.

Oktoberfest has the Festhaus, good corned beef sandwiches here. This is completely inside and ACed. Plus, there is show here with traditional German music.

San Marco has some decent Italian fare (for a theme park) along with a show featuring Italian tunes.

As far as rides, I like doing all the coasters, the skyway, the train ride, the 3D simulator thing, escape from pompeii, and the smaller rides in Germany and Italy. As far as a touring plans, it'll depend on what time you get there and how they open the park. Sometimes they only open certain sections at a time so you are forced to go in a certain direction.

Visit the Clydesdales in Heatherdowns, Scotland. They are the symbol of the Anhueser Busch company. Plus, they are just beautiful animals.

 

[Kirby]

Thanks, Mandabella! We're not looking for any particular kind of food, just want to know what's good.

 

[ckay87]

We have been countless times - my favorite place apart from Disney!

Just back last week. I do have one tip and it just occured to me last time. Let's see if I can explain this.

If you get there at opening, as I assume you will, they will herd the crowd in a single direction. Not all areas of the park are open at the same time. Everyone is moved to the right, in the direction of Ireland. Stuff to the left (Italy) opens an hour later. The park is basically one big circle with a shortcut through the middle.

The key is just to keep this in mind and to break away from the crowd ASAP. For example, if you are wanting to ride stuff in Ireland as soon as you get there, so is everybody else and the lines will be as long as they will be all day.

So, either be the first one in the gate (good luck with that ) or try this: Right after entering the park, the Globe Theater is on your left. The first show of the day is about 1/2 hour after park opening (was 10:30 for us.) See that show. You probably won't get back to that area without going out of your way later in the day. Plus, once that show is done, all areas are open. So proceed further into the park and head to the left, toward Italy, basically going against the crowd.

My favorite attraction is Corkscrew Hill! Have a great time!

 

[Kirby]

Great tip ckay87! We hope to get there extra early so we can enter the park right at opening.

 

[HOGFAN]

go eat in Italy. by the outside auditorium. they have a sampler platter that is TOO DIE FOR.

 

[HoneyPooh]

Just got back from a trip to BGE and Water Country on Thursday. The lines are much more manageable in the evening during the week and it isn't so stinking hot. In New France eat at Trappers Smokehouse, everything we ate was yummy except the mac n cheese. DarKastle is really neat. It isn't worth an hour long wait but we waited about 15 or 20 minutes and it was very worth it. In Ireland there is a yummy baked potato that you can get and pick seperate toppings for it.

We had a great time. We would go to WC in the morning and stay until about 2:00 then go back to the hotel to rest and shower. Maybe shop for an hour then eat dinner somewhere and go to BGE for the evening until closing.

Oh, and while you are in town visit the new Yankee Candle store, it's huge and they have some scents I had never seen before!

 

[damo]

The thing I found most useful was the single rider's line at Apollo's Chariot

 

[tiggerlover]

We have resident's passes and were just there last week. ckay87 has some good advice, we always try to go in the opposite direction of the crowds. We usually try to arrive at 11 as opposed to 10 so that everything is open and on the hot days we try to hit Roman Rapids first as you get soaked and it is a nice way to keep cool on a hot day.

I have to disagree about the food in Italy, we thought it was the worst food in the park, but I guess it is all about personal choice. Our favs are the Festhaus in Germany and Trapper's Smokehouse in New France. Have been meaning to try the Irish Stew in Ireland as it is served in a bread bowl, but have not gotten around to it. I would also recommend buying the refillable mug (or bringing one from years past) as once they are empty the refills are under $2.00. Usually we get one and the three of us share, we have been using the same refillable mug for three summers.

The Pet Shennanigan's show is really cute, kids and adults alike enjoy it. There is also a new show this summer, I think it is called Kenetix, we didn't get to see it last week as we left too early, but when we go back next month it is on our to-do list.

Another great suggestion made by damo, if you are a group of four you could split into two's and use the single/two's line, it moves a lot quicker. I am not sure what rides they have this for, but I do know they have it at Roman Rapids for sure and I have been told the option is available at a couple of other places.

Have a great time!

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Everyone's already pretty much given all the advice there is to give...but I just wanted to say have a great time at BG! The one in Williamsburg is my favorite theme park outside of Disney. It's so pretty and clean with pretty cool rides and shows.

If you like 4D shows try Corkscrew Hill in Ireland and I also love the Irish Thunder steps show there.

Alpengeist is my favorite roller coaster there if you like those.

We enjoyed the food in Germany the best too, btw.

Have fun!

 

[Kirby]

I'm not a coaster rider so the single rider line will come in handy for my DH and the girls.

 

[Pugsley]

Since there are some BGW experts here…

Does anyone have an opinion on the Fourth of July fireworks display in the park? We’ll be there this weekend and they do them all weekend. I’m torn because if we stay for the fireworks we’ll need to arrive at the park in the afternoon since there’s no way we’ll be able to stay there all day. But I really don’t like to wait in lines so I’d like to be there when the park opens. If only our hotel was closer, we could go back and take a nap midday and return later.

Also, I’m hearing that the longest lines will probably be at DarKastle so if we get there at opening time I’d like to start there if possible. Does anyone know whether that ride opens when the park opens? Also, since it’s on the opposite side of the park from thee entrance would it make sense to take the train there when we enter the park?

 

[ckay87]

Oh and will someone please tell ME what DarkKastle is? My kids were major CHICKENS and would not ride it. They are not scared of rides in general, but were creeped by this one. But I am so curious and couldn't figure out exactly what the ride does, know what I mean?

 

[ckay87]

Great tip ckay87! We hope to get there extra early so we can enter the park right at opening.

One more thing you might want to know, then. They do let you in the gate before opening. And people DO enter very early. We had a 10:00 opening and got in the gate at 9:30. You just then congregate around the England area til they open the rest of the park. I did not enjoy this stampede strategy and preferred to hang back. But if you're just there for the day, every hour counts, I guess.

Have fun!

 

[Pugsley]

Oh and will someone please tell ME what DarkKastle is? My kids were major CHICKENS and would not ride it. They are not scared of rides in general, but were creeped by this one. But I am so curious and couldn't figure out exactly what the ride does, know what I mean?

Here's what I read on epinions:
Curse of DarKastle is the newest attraction at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. This 4D attraction is well designed and offers riders a great time for experiencing realistic “haunted” situations. In a secluded spooky-looking castle, the attraction tells the story of a previous prince gone bad. He attempts to haunt the castle but is soon restrained when others force him to stop.

The attraction requires 4D glasses (which are handed out when on line) to enjoy. Unlike Disney’s Haunted Mansion, large screens are used to depict the different scenes. One sits in a car that seats ten to enjoy the Curse of DarKastle. The car sometimes moves at rapid speeds and often slows down too. Now that I think about it, one can relate the ride to Universal’s Spiderman.

 

[LBAK]

Wear comfy shoes, lots of hills! We were tired climbing them all day!

 

[Kirby]

Darkcastle sounds cool! My tip sheet that I am making for our trip has grown to two pages!

 

[melanie18]

BUMPING...we're going on July 9th & I'm eager for more tips!

 

[Annette_VA]

The thing I found most useful was the single rider's line at Apollo's Chariot

The single rider line at Apollo's Chariot is no more

 

[Kirby]

I have been seeing all the flooding that has been happening in that part of the country. I looked on weather.com and there is rain forecast all days but two in the 10 day forecast. I know that we don't leave for two more weeks but if this keeps up we may be changing our plans and heading somewhere else. I hope not though, we are so looking forward to our trip!