Busch Gardens Williamsburg, How disappointed will I be?

[ahake]

Were were able to go to Disney twice last year. 2nd time felt just a little to soon to return, yet I have that feeling in the pit of my stomach I got to get back! So I have decided to take the kids to BG..How much will I be disappointed? I know its not disney or anything like it. Will I get that warm fuzzy feeling? Will I have a similar connection? I just want to find somewhere were we can get a little of that magic back between trips

 

[soonerfan2008]

If you go into it with the attitude of being disappointed, I think you will be. It is a beautiful park (far more so than most Disney parks, unless it is the flower festival time at Epcot) with lots to see and do. The shows are nice. The Curse of Darkastle is a very Disney-esque ride. The coasters are big, most bigger than anything at Disney. The Sesame Street play area is great for little ones, and they have some good food. Really, I think it is a nice little park. Can it compete with the 4 parks that make up Disney World? No, it isn't the same thing.

Get a combo ticket and do Water Country as well. We lived in Williamsburg for 3 years, and we always had great days at both parks (and that is from someone who went to WDW 3 times last year).

 

[GatorMama]

I'm not the avid Disney-goer. I've only been a few times... but BG is nice. We like the atmosphere at the one in Williamsburg more than the one in Tampa. And we LOOOOOVE Apollo Chariot. Seriously- I could ride it all day and be a happy camper. :-D We bought 2 year passes because we really enjoy it, even with a LO. I'm not a fan of the Darkastle ride... it's like SpiderMan and IoA, but the story is kind of cheesey... even in comparison to SpiderMan. I still like the park though. Trappers BBQ is REALLY REALLY good! Like... so good that I know people that use their annual passes just to go to the park and eat lunch there. DS enjoyed the time we were in the Sesame play area as well, though it was very crowded. He LOVED the short show they had while he was in line for one of the rides.

 

[luvmy3]

I was really disappointed in BG, and I wasn't even comparing it to WDW. It was so crowded the day we went, and the lines to get onto the rides were hour to an hour and half wait, which to me weren't worth it. My dd loved the coasters though, which is the reason we went, but my 2 dses who wouldn't go on them didn't like any of the other rides. They kept comparing them to the ones at the Boardwalk in NJ Honestly, even if it wasn't as crowded (we did go during Spring Break) I wouldn't go back. Its a pretty park to walk around in, and the food we ate was good, but I didn't think that or the rides there were really worth the admission price. They were having a special, if you paid full price for a 1-day ticket you could add a second day for free. Unfortunately we only had one day to do the park so we couldn't take advantage of that. But again, I don't think I would have bothered to go back the second day anyway.

ETA, we really liked the animals, especially the wolves and bald eagles.

 

[cvjw]

We are avid Disney people - we spend multiple weeks in Disney per year, and are DVC owners. We went to BG Williamsburg a couple of years ago with DH's entire family and we all loved it. We went the first of June, so all of the local schools weren't out yet, and had the place to ourselves. The kids loved all the rides, and I loved looking at all of the flowers and plants. We all thought it was nicely done. We got combo tickets for Water Country, and the kids had a blast there as well. Both parks have some great rides. I still prefer BG Tampa, simply for the animals. I missed the animals at BG Williamsburg.

 

[kirstenb1]

We love BG and Water Country. Go on a weekday and avoid the crowds. I think it's a beautiful classy park. There are lots of coasters, and plenty of other rides/shows etc. There's plenty for the whole family to do.

 

[klacey1]

BG Williamsburg is absolutely gorgeous. I continually compared it to Disney in terms of ride design, park cleanliness, etc. The different park areas are all well-themed and have amazing gift shops. The Dark Castle ride was really cool-- I enjoyed the Germany and Ireland area the most.
It doesn't give me the sentimental feeling Disney does, but I still love being there and enjoying the park! It's a great, fun, day or two (or three) out.

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

I grew up in VA and had passes to BG for years. It's not Disney, but that said, it is BEAUTIFUL, the thrill rides are awesome and the food is great. Just go in with the attitude of having a good time and you and your family should really enjoy it.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I think a lot of it depends on what you enjoy. I don't ride coasters, thrill rides, or anything that spins. So there is essentially nothing I can ride. The river rapids ride is the only thing I go on at BG, and then only if I am in the mood to get wet. If you enjoy coasters and things then you will enjoy it. You can't ride the little kids rides unless accompanied by a little one for most of them. DD11 is in that in between age where she isn't ready for the big rides but the little rides are too babyish so she only rides a few things with DH and her sister.

The shows are wonderful, but there are only a few. The food is good but nothing outstanding. The park is pretty but I am not into flowers and plants. I go because my family enjoys it and I bring a book or my knitting to do while they are on the rides. But compared to Disney, it is disappointing to me because I can participate in so much with my family there and I can't at most amusement parks.

 

[westcoastwannabe]

If you go on Europe in the Air, it's nothing as good as Soarin, which it's trying to be. Jerky motion, out of focus shots, bad cutaways...fail!

 

[kellydizfan]

We went to BG last year. We compared it to Disney sorry to say. I don't think I will be back anytime soon. I hate to say that as it is a beautiful park. Just not as much to do as Disney. Atmosphere is good. Not a wow for us. The weather in Mid July I think was worse then August in Disney there. The Water Park was packed to the gill with not much room to move. Didn't like that either. It just didn't do it for us. A week is way too long to go for when we were not able to walk Williamsburg due to my DH disability. We didn't have a scooter. He had a hard time walking BG due to the hills, etc. He is not going to Disney this time with us.

 

[Tistal]

Don't go comparing it to Disney. From a gal who grew up on BG (I live about 45 mins away and was about 20 mins away as a kid), I'm admittedly a bit bias. I didn't go to WDW until I was a 20 something, and I couldn't understand why people spent weeks at Disney. Man was I ever surprised on my first visit there

I do love going to BG and Water Country, but I couldn't imagine spending my vacation there. This could very well be because I practically grew up in the parks. Go during the week or a day that it has rained in the morning. This will make the parks substantially less crowded. DO NOT go on holiday weekends. You couldn't pay me to go up there like 4th of July weekend or during spring break.

Obviously, I do love the parks. I still buy seasons passes. Also, eat at Trapper's Smokehouse. I drive up there just for dinner sometimes

 

[ahake]

Thanks everyone! We are driving down from PA. Will be there Aug8-9 (monday-Weds). Thinking we'll probably just do 1.5 days there. I know its not disney (wish it was). Will definitely try the smokehouse!Any other tips for BGW?

 

[WVMomof3]

We just went over Easter, and really enjoyed it. My kids are 13, 10 and 8 and they were happy with all the rides. We spent 1.5 days, and there was no lines either of the days. We got to do all of the rides, I think my 10 year old rode everthing but the kiddie rides, some 2-3 times. The 8 year old was too short for 2 of the coasters and declined the 3rd, but enjoyed the Lochness coaster. The 13 yearold just sat out the teacups and the pirate ship thingy claiming motion sickness. I would have liked to have seen all of the shows, we only made it to the animal one, the Germany one and the Irish Dancers. Overall, a very nice park. Not quite Disney, not Cedar Point, but somewhere in between.

 

[DisneyScraps]

Busch Gardens is a lot different from Disney in a few ways. There is no feeling of "magic" I always miss that. There is no fast pass and unless you pay an additional 35.00 per person (I think that is how much it is I never buy it) you are going to wait a long time for the coasters.

I held a season pass for years but when my DD transitioned from kiddie rides to the bigger stuff I just started to resent that i was spending all that money each year for passes and we would spend half of our day waiting in line. It's not unusual for an hour plus wait for the coasters and during busy summer weekends I have seen it at 2 or more.

It's different that there are not the guidebooks out there to plan that trip. There are not message boards where people talk about every aspect of that park.

It is a gorgeous park, there are plenty of rides for a day. I don't think you need more than that.

The park is smaller or at least it feels that way and there are hills so be prepared for that.

There is no full service restaurant, all the food is line food.

It's not close to Disney but it's a decent substitute.

 

[MomToPirate&Princess]

We love BG. There are more children's ride here than any park I've ever been too. For the more adventurous, they have some really great coasters. There is also an assortment assortment of in between rides that everyone can enjoy. My kids loved the shows too. We went last year 4th of July weekend and didn't think the waits were too long. DS8's favorite were the coasters. DD6 loved eating in the German pavillion and dancing with the performers. The park has a lot of trees so much of it is shady.

 

[edk35]

Busch Gardens is a lot different from Disney in a few ways. There is no feeling of "magic" I always miss that. There is no fast pass and unless you pay an additional 35.00 per person (I think that is how much it is I never buy it) you are going to wait a long time for the coasters.

I held a season pass for years but when my DD transitioned from kiddie rides to the bigger stuff I just started to resent that i was spending all that money each year for passes and we would spend half of our day waiting in line. It's not unusual for an hour plus wait for the coasters and during busy summer weekends I have seen it at 2 or more.

It's different that there are not the guidebooks out there to plan that trip. There are not message boards where people talk about every aspect of that park.

It is a gorgeous park, there are plenty of rides for a day. I don't think you need more than that.

The park is smaller or at least it feels that way and there are hills so be prepared for that.

There is no full service restaurant, all the food is line food.

It's not close to Disney but it's a decent substitute.

I was going to ask about whether they have some FP type perk you could purchase....what is the 35 buck thing? Does it give you unlimited access or once per ride? Thanks

 

[kimmyann]

If you go on Europe in the Air, it's nothing as good as Soarin, which it's trying to be. Jerky motion, out of focus shots, bad cutaways...fail!

Epic Fail! I would rather they put Corkscrew Hill back in.

We have been pass holders for years & when we finally went to WDW, I found myself comparing Magic Kingdom to BG. Idk, it just reminded me of BG in terms of theming I guess. It has won most beautiful park for over 20 years & there is something for everyone. The food at any Busch parks blows away Disney's counter service any day & it is fairly priced. I like the Tampa BG better then the one here because of the animals, but then again, we go to the one here in Williamsburg alot, so I'm just bored with it I think.

Plan it just as you would a Disney park. If you want to ride the rides you have to get there at opening to avoid the lines. They will let you in at 9:30 (front section of the park) & sometimes you can go ahead & knock out the Loch Ness. Saturdays are very crowded, always. Lots of locals have passes, so it keeps the crowds up.

 

[Tistal]

I was going to ask about whether they have some FP type perk you could purchase....what is the 35 buck thing? Does it give you unlimited access or once per ride? Thanks

I've never bought it. When I first saw it I commented about how much of a rip off it was. I have no idea how much it is. Imo, it's not worth it.