Busch Gardens VA

[klacey1]

Hi, I know this has absolutely nothing to do with Orlando, haha, but I'm desperate!
My friend and I are only 18 but are planning a 2-night Williamsburg, VA trip.

Does anyone know of a super-cheap hotel/motel/b&b/campsite that will let you check in if you're 18 as opposed to 21?

We've had no luck with Super 8, Motel 6, Ramada, etc...we plan to go in 2 weeks, so help ASAP would be SO amazing!

Thanks!

 

[damo]

Why don't you call Choice Hotels and ask them? They have many, many hotels in Williamsburg.

1-877-424-6423

 

[pixeegrl]

Also they will be cheaper in Newport News which is only a 15 min drive away.

 

[roxannex]

Nope. But my first thought was to see if any friends know friends at William and Mary. You could crash on a couch!

 

[macraven]

each state has different laws.

you need to google your question.

most places do not allow 18 yo to sign themselves in a motels/hotels.
the exception is active military can be under 21 to get a room.

 

[happyNCgirl]

We live right outside Williamsburg, VA. Great place, you'll love it. Try this. I know it's cheap. The Governors Inn in Colonial Williamsburg

 

[keishashadow]

beware the motel 6 (worst ever, bloody towel in room for 2 days despite calling housekeeping-i finally kicked it out the door )

friends who frequent the area always stay @ place on other side of williamsburg, Quarterpath Inn. They say it's basic, clean, cheap & quiet in more of a residential area. It was booked solid when we traveled there far in advance.

fyi for good rates on Choice Hotels, if you are a member of SAMs clubs, use their VIP rate...otherwise little league & LPGA as referenced under special codes generally give good rates too

 

[klacey1]

Thanks, Damo/Keishashadow! I ended up going with the Choice Hotels and we found a Quality Inn for about $58 (total with tax) a night.
This will be a fairly new experience for me, since my mom has always worked at hotels and we always get $39-$49 rates at 3-5 star hotels. I've never stayed at a "motel" and neither does my friend.
As far as the William and Mary suggestion, my friend wanted to wander into a random frat house and find people to befriend us and offer up their dorm floors haha. I wasn't too into that suggestion haha.
Now that we have a hotel, I'm open to suggestions! Best rides/restaurants in Busch Gardens??
Here's our itinerary (in case anyone cares hahah)
Friday, May 16th: Leave NY around 6 a.m. According to MapQuest, it says the drive should be 7 and 1/2 hours, but my friend's father said that it only took about 6 when they drove down 5 years ago. So we'll probably get there between 1 and 3:30, with stops for gas and food. We can check into the hotel at 2 and we were thinking of possibly going to Colonial Williamsburg and walking around? Any other nighttime suggestions for two college age girls in Williamsburg??
Saturday, May 17: Busch Gardens is open from 10 to 10. My friend thinks we'll be able to stay at the park for the entire time but I'm building into my itinerary that we'll probably need a break. Lunch is always a good time to leave a park, but I've heard such good things about the food there, so I'd like to stay at the park to eat. Maybe we'll leave for dinner and come back. Anyone know how empty it'll be????
Sunday, May 18: Very open plans. Maybe we'll shop, go to outlet malls...any suggestions?? We'll check out at 11 and drive around. We have nothing pressing at night, so it's okay if we don't leave until 5 or so.
Looking for good restaurant suggestions, and things to do on Friday night/Sunday.
Thanks!!

 

[macraven]

one suggestion: don't take the nightly ghost tour.
it was cheesy and nothing what we thought it would be.

you walk to certain houses and enter them.
a person narrates a "story" and then you leave for the other house.

just wasn't as good as other tours we have taken.


sign up early for any tour or sight you want. they fill up quickly.

and, buy the special 2-3 day pass for williamsburg.
it is worth it.

if you don't, you won't be able to see inside the houses

 

[pixeegrl]

You will want to hit Curse of Dark Kastle. Griffin, Coekscrew Hill first. Then head for Alpengeist, Appolo's Charriot, and Big Bad Wolf....their lines don't get as long as fast. We love to eat in the park! even as locals.

 

[Metro West]

Yes...Definately ride all of the coasters. I miss Draken Fire...I LOVED that coaster!

 

[happyNCgirl]

You will want to hit Curse of Dark Kastle. Griffin, Coekscrew Hill first. Then head for Alpengeist, Appolo's Charriot, and Big Bad Wolf....their lines don't get as long as fast. We love to eat in the park! even as locals.

Did you really like Dark Kastle???? I'm sorry, but DH and I thought that was the worse ride BG ever had. Not at all scary, unless you have a real vivid imagination. As far as Corkscrew Hill, be forwarned, very few have come out of that ride not feeling a bit nauseated. Definatly do the coasters, that is what BG is known for. Apollo's Chariot is the smoothest of the 5. I'd have to say Alpengeist is the roughest. But they are all FUN, FUN, FUN. As far as eating goes, I have to recommend FestHaus. Their German place. It is HUGE, and has a live show of singing and dancing. Excellent food. No matter what you choose to do. HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!

 

[pixeegrl]

Did you really like Dark Kastle???? I'm sorry, but DH and I thought that was the worse ride BG ever had. Not at all scary, unless you have a real vivid imagination. As far as Corkscrew Hill, be forwarned, very few have come out of that ride not feeling a bit nauseated. Definatly do the coasters, that is what BG is known for. Apollo's Chariot is the smoothest of the 5. I'd have to say Alpengeist is the roughest. But they are all FUN, FUN, FUN. As far as eating goes, I have to recommend FestHaus. Their German place. It is HUGE, and has a live show of singing and dancing. Excellent food. No matter what you choose to do. HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!

Yes we love Dark Kastle-it's not scary to us_though it can be to some people_ the whole point is to have fun and enjoy the ride elements. Corkscrew hill can be a bit rough, lots of bouncing around -my husband hates it-but everyone else in our family loves it. (Those are both motion simulator rides).Alpengeist is not rough at all to me, it is an inverted coaster with tons of loops. Apollo is just awesome! Griffin is Awesome! Big Bad Wolf is fast and Loch Ness is really rough but is meant to be when you consider what kind of coaster it is. Have fun what ever you decide to ride.

 

[klacey1]

Thanks for the help, everyone!
I've been looking over ride guides and such and have decided that Griffon is a must do for me-- probably not for my scaredy-cat friend! As is Darkastle...what is Corkscrew Hill like? I thought it was just a 3D movie....
I've heard Alpengeist was rough and whip-lash inducing...
Apollo's Chariot, Loch Ness, Escape from Pompei (which reminds me SO much of Journey to Atlantis at Sea World) are also must-dos...
How is the Pirate's ride/show?
What are the best shows to spend time doing? We're not big show or parade people, but Emerald Beat sounds kind of cool.
Also-- best places for food?
Also-- do any of the rides have single-rider lines?

 

[ckay87]

Yes...Definately ride all of the coasters. I miss Draken Fire...I LOVED that coaster!

Seriously??? I am a coaster fanatic, but that one literally injured me. Again, I do not say this as an old fart who can't handle roller coasters....there was something WRONG with that thing! Not to give you a hard time, but you're the first person I heard say that, so that's interesting.

But OMG, I could take a sleeping bag and LIVE on Apollo's Chariot Best coaster ever next to SheiKra (BG, Tampa.)

But OP, you will have lots of fun. I always loved BG, especially at your age.

One tip regarding crowd control - the park is pretty much a simple circle. They open it in ONE direction (to the right) only for the first hour in order to herd everyone one way. After an hour, they open the other direction. At that point, we do a 180 and go back that way. That is where Appolo's Chariot and Pompeii are, so it's a great way to miss those crowds especially.

 

[ckay87]

Thanks for the help, everyone!
I've been looking over ride guides and such and have decided that Griffon is a must do for me-- probably not for my scaredy-cat friend! As is Darkastle...what is Corkscrew Hill like? I thought it was just a 3D movie....
I've heard Alpengeist was rough and whip-lash inducing...
Apollo's Chariot, Loch Ness, Escape from Pompei (which reminds me SO much of Journey to Atlantis at Sea World) are also must-dos...
How is the Pirate's ride/show?
What are the best shows to spend time doing? We're not big show or parade people, but Emerald Beat sounds kind of cool.
Also-- best places for food?
Also-- do any of the rides have single-rider lines?

Corkscrew Hill is a simulator ride/movie...very Universal-Like. The Pirate show (I think this is the one in the big theater in England, right when you enter the park) is just a 3-D (slightly 4-D) movie, but very good. There have always been cool cameo appearances.

Yes! Emerald Beat in Ireland is our favorite show. We also enjoy Das Festhaus. It's soooo relaxing in there - dark and cool. That show hasn't changed one bit since I was 12 (and I'm 38 ) But that's why I love it. That's also the place where we usually end up eating.

 

[Clifton]

I went to BGE last fall and I feel it's beautiful up there. Better then the one here in Tampa, smack in the ghetto.

I wanted to try the new Griffon after doing SheiKra alot so I booked a flight (1st time in 20 years btw) to Newport News (ok area), crashed at the Extended Stay hotel off Jefferson St. for a couple days and enjoyed Busch Gardens. The exits off I-64 are somewhat of a pain but went through with that trusty GPS I got with the rental.

BGE: Very beautiful up there in the middle of the countryside. Plenty of thrills and themes. Get a view of the brewery before plunging 205ft off Griffon. Not much animals besides grey wolves but one of the reason I came up for.

BGA: Bad part it's smack in the ghetto, Doesn't mean the park is. Definetly plenty of thrills and themes I mean the African theme I love the most. Lots of animals.

Overall I love both. BGE I'd love to visit again but BGA, it's only a 30 minute drive and I have a pass. I read alot on the extinct Drachen Fire and maybe they should bring it back, B&M style. You know they originally talked with B&M on Drachen but they were busy dealing BGA on Kumba. So they had Arrow Dynamics do the work. SO, this time they should deal with B&M, and construct Drachen Fire in their design, similar to Kumba. I also heard a rumor of a Hyper coaster for BGA, like Apollo's Chariot in BG Europe, that's just me saying.