Busch Gardens vs. Kings Dominion for 6yr old 1 MORE QUESTION

[Trentmom]

Hey Disers

We are taking a year off from Disney and are trying to plan a long weekend somewhere.

We have narrowed it down to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg or Kings Dominion.

We have a 6 yr old boy who likes roller coasters and almost all kinds of rides.

He is 46 inches tall.

It looks like he is too short for a handful of the thrill rides at Busch Gardens, but they do have a kids area.

Then I look at Kings Dominion and see they have a kids area as well.


In looking at both kids area, trying to figure out if they are too babyish for him.

My question is which park do you think is better ride wise for a 6yr old and do you think their kiddie areas were too babyish?

Also, if you took your kid there around same age, did he or she have fun?


Thanks for any and all input

 

[madcam]

I cannot comment on KD as I have never been there. I have been to Busch Gardens (Virginia) twice. Once was with my 9yr old (she was 7 at the time) with her cheerleading squad and once was a year later with my DH and both of my girls (8 & 4 at that time). We love Busch Gardens!! It was one of the most beautiful theme parks I have ever been to. Not quite as awesome as Disney World but what is?? My girls had a blast and there was quite a bit that they could do even outside of the kiddie areas. They also have different "countries", sort of like Epcot. Each country has themed shows and restaurants as well as rides. From what I understand KD has more "thrill" rides and maybe not as "themed". But I could be wrong........regardless, in your shoes, I would definately take my 6 yr old to Busch Gardens!! Have Fun!!!!

 

[java]

Well Kings Dominion vs. BG is like apples and oranges.
Kings Dominion is more like a six flags kind of park and crowd. Busch has more of a magical feel- more disney like(not exactly but still pretty good in it's own way) Plus there is more than just an amusement park in Williamsburg- while KD is just a park. And Best western on site is a dump. AVOID at all costs.

Me I would do BG but my kids would probably choose KD_ lots of rides-scooby doo, spongebob ect. Pure rides- KD wins, Total park experience BG wins.

 

[nmmom95]

Well Kings Dominion vs. BG is like apples and oranges.
Kings Dominion is more like a six flags kind of park and crowd. Busch has more of a magical feel- more disney like(not exactly but still pretty good in it's own way) Plus there is more than just an amusement park in Williamsburg- while KD is just a park. And Best western on site is a dump. AVOID at all costs.

Me I would do BG but my kids would probably choose KD_ lots of rides-scooby doo, spongebob ect. Pure rides- KD wins, Total park experience BG wins.

We went to both a few years ago, when my boys were 4 and 9. I totally agree with the quoted post.

 

[Daisy&Max]

I take my boys to BG all the time and they love the play areas. They have climbing things, water play areas, and some kiddie rides. The newest area has a roller coaster for little ones and some bigger rides for the kids. My youngest is a thrill seeker and is very upset that the Big Bad Wolf is gone. He can't wait until he is big enough to ride the good rides.

Kings Dominion was very disappointing the last time I went. They have more thrill rides but I don't remember them having as much for the younger guys. The food was awful the last time we were there and the staff was less than helpful.

We prefer BG. Have fun whatever you do.

 

[Trentmom]

Thanks for everyone's advice

Seems like Busch Garden is the winner here.

When you are spoiled by Disney World, really hard to go anywhere else

Thanks for the hotel tip. I will avoid The Best Western on Site for sure

 

[Trentmom]

I have one more question.

We are also looking at doing a day of Historical stuff at Colonial WIlliamsburg.

I also see they have things to do at Jamestown and Yorkstown.

Should we check out all 3 areas, or does Colonial Williamsburg have enough to do for one day?

Are all 3 near each other?



I guess that was 2 questions



Thanks

 

[HOGFAN]

Do BG if you also plan on doing Colonial Williamsburg.

The only Pluses that Kings D has over BG is

1. water park ...free

2. Scooby Doo ride that is similar to Buzz Lightyear SpaceRanger Spin

otherwise

very hot(very little trees/shade)

ETA: Very little to do at Yorktown: skip it
Jamestown is very interesting tho

 

[madcam]

We also took the kids to Colonial Williamsburg while we were in VA. They were completely bored. I am a huge history buff and couldn't wait to see it. My kids' were happy to go and they love doing whatever but they really were not into it. It is a huge place with lots to see and guides giving historical accountings of the time period and life in the town and short tours of different buildings but my kids did not love it and got bored fairly quickly. This kind of put a damper on my experience. It was pretty expensive to do with 4 people especially concidering the kids would have had a better time doing something else. I think there is a cheaper entry fee but you can't go in certain parts of Williamsburg unless you have the upgraded ticket. If you have a typical 6yr old boy I would hesitate to take him unless you really want to see it and don't think you will have the chance again. I would love to go back without my kiddos next time!!

 

[Trentmom]

Do BG if you also plan on doing Colonial Williamsburg.

The only Pluses that Kings D has over BG is

1. water park ...free

2. Scooby Doo ride that is similar to Buzz Lightyear SpaceRanger Spin

otherwise

very hot(very little trees/shade)

ETA: Very little to do at Yorktown: skip it
Jamestown is very interesting tho

I think we definitely going to do BG.

Okay...in reading about, looks like Jamestown might be more interesting

Thank you

We also took the kids to Colonial Williamsburg while we were in VA. They were completely bored. I am a huge history buff and couldn't wait to see it. My kids' were happy to go and they love doing whatever but they really were not into it. It is a huge place with lots to see and guides giving historical accountings of the time period and life in the town and short tours of different buildings but my kids did not love it and got bored fairly quickly. This kind of put a damper on my experience. It was pretty expensive to do with 4 people especially concidering the kids would have had a better time doing something else. I think there is a cheaper entry fee but you can't go in certain parts of Williamsburg unless you have the upgraded ticket. If you have a typical 6yr old boy I would hesitate to take him unless you really want to see it and don't think you will have the chance again. I would love to go back without my kiddos next time!!

I am not really into historical stuff, but thought my ds and DH might enjoy it.

My DS loves to know how things work, how things were made, what things were like in Olden days, et.

My DH and DS watch shows like How is it made, Modern Marvel, Mythbuster, so thought they might be interested in it.

It looked like there were some interactive things to do for kids.

I think for now, maybe we will just purchase cheaper ticket. If my DS seems into it, will buy additional ticket so he can do more

Thanks for your help

I hope you get to go back, so you can enjoy it in the future

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My girls have never been to BG--but we did go to KD for my oldests 6th birthday and she simply LOVED it. Due to her short stature--she probably enjoyed that more than maybe a similar trip to BG. Only b/c she could ride "real" rides as opposed to kiddy rides. They do have this car roller coaster that is kind of crazy. And she is big into scooby doo and loved the scooby doo ride.

BG is closer to Williamsburg though as has been pointed out. My mom preference would be BG. Though I'd just stick with Williamsburg. BG is a beautiful theme park and I like it much better than BG Tampa.

 

[Trentmom]

I tried to quote you Lisa, but the dis is being weird...wont let me stay signed in if I try to quote

Anyway..thanks for your response.

I did think the Scooby Doo ride like Buzz Light year looked like fun.

Glad your daughter had fun at KD. I went there when I was little, but have little to no memory of it.

Think we are going to try BG. It looks beautiful like you and everyone else is saying

Thanks everyone for your help

 

[HOGFAN]

I did want to add that in years past they did have some problems with gangs due to the parks proximity to D.C. Dont know if thats still the case but

 

[Trentmom]

I did want to add that in years past they did have some problems with gangs due to the parks proximity to D.C. Dont know if thats still the case but

Yikes. Hopefully that is not the case now


My husband is a police officer, so he will take care of us if there are any problems for sure

 

[lisaviolet]

You can walk around Colonial Williamsburg without tickets and still enter a few buildings. Just FYI.

Also, there is often a bounce ticket option - good for CW and BG.

BG is very pretty.

I've done both CW and BG quite a few times. We did their Christmas celebration last year.

Have fun - I ADORE Williamsburg.

I like the New Town section of town as well. Love the CS Mexican Place there - California Tortilla.

http://www.newtownwilliamsburg.com/

 

[pepperw23]

i agree with the previous poster that said the two parks are apples and oranges. That being said BG would be your best bet.

 

[Trentmom]

You can walk around Colonial Williamsburg without tickets and still enter a few buildings. Just FYI.

Also, there is often a bounce ticket option - good for CW and BG.

BG is very pretty.

I've done both CW and BG quite a few times. We did their Christmas celebration last year.

Have fun - I ADORE Williamsburg.

I like the New Town section of town as well. Love the CS Mexican Place there - California Tortilla.

http://www.newtownwilliamsburg.com/

I didnt know that. I think I am going to wait on purchasing Colonial Williamsburg tickets until we get there and look around a bit

Thank you for the link.

Newtown looks really nice

 

[Trentmom]

i agree with the previous poster that said the two parks are apples and oranges. That being said BG would be your best bet.

Thank you

It seems to be Busch Gardens is the Majority Winner here.

It is done


We are doing Busch Gardens


Thanks to everyone for being so helpful

 

[Ohiodislover]

Thank you

It seems to be Busch Gardens is the Majority Winner here.

It is done


We are doing Busch Gardens


Thanks to everyone for being so helpful

If u decide to get tickets for colonial williamsburg, be sure to check w/ your hotel for discount tix. 2 different hotels that we have stayed at have offered them.

U will like BG. We were pleasantly surprised how much we liked it. A very well-run park, very clean, and pretty too.

 

[scjo68]

I have gone to both parks more times than I can count, ever since I was a child.

Had season passes to both last year. Haven't been to either yet this season, but hopefully soon....
I know OP has decided to do BG (have fun!) but I wanted to comment on a couple things in case anyone else is intersted.

Re; gangs-There have been some incidents at KD in the past, and they have resulted in higher security at the entrance (they have had metal detectors since long before 9-11). Overall, it is a younger, less family-oriented crowd than BG or WDW, but I can say I've never felt unsafe there with my kids, and no one has ever treated us badly.
KD is not as well maintained as BG, and it saddens me, because KD is the park I grew up in.

I also want to warn parents of Scooby-doo fans that it seems that KD no longer has the licensing rights to Scooby or any Hanna barbera characters, because I am told that all Scooby theming has been removed. The Buzz-like Scooby laser ride has been rethemed to a generic shoot-the-ghost ride and is pretty lame, I understand. Again, this upsets me so much- my ds is a huge Scooby fan- that was his favorite ride. They have rethemed the kids area to Planet Snoopy. We love Peanuts characters, too, but it's not the same...



My kids like BG a lot, too. It is much prettier. The new kids area is Sesame st. themed. The rides themselves remind me of Shamu's happy harbor, at Sea world. There is a seperate kids area themed to dragons that has very young child rides and climbing/ webs.

One neat thing about BG is that they still have a skyride, with three different stations. Can't ride that at KD or WDW anymore. My ds would have ridden the skyride at BG all day.