Bush Gardens Williamsburg and Kings Dominion

[tinkerrn]

Just wanted some info about Bush Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia and Kings Dominion in Richmond. It looks pretty nice. Has anyone been there before?
What were the rides like? Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!!!
Amy

 

[NCRedding]

We love BG Williamsburg. I think it has beautiful landscaping, and integrates the themes of the lands very well. Love the coasters. We try to get there every two years, particularly if we can't get to disney.

Haven't been to King's Dominion yet.

 

[tinkerrn]

Thanks!!! I really liked the BGW site. I haven't talked with anyone who has been there before. We were thinking o going to Cedar Point and Kings Island in Ohion, but the ones in Virginia looked much nicer. I am not much of a rollercoaster person, so I think I would like BGW much better than Cedar Point.

 

[Astryd]

Busch Gardens is Great, very nice and clean.


Kings Dominnion, well... lets just say that they have some great coasters, but the lines are long, you do not know what the wait times are and it is dirty and the food is bad.

I am sooooo spoiled by Disney.

 

[Annette_VA]

I live 10 minutes from Kings Dominion, but we have season passes for Busch Gardens (45 minutes away). We just like BG so much better than KD. BG has great themeing, beautiful landscaping & some kick butt roller coasters.

 

[Christine]

I live about an hour from King's Dominion, so we go there more often than Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens, hands down, is the better park; however, my kids REALLY like all the rides at King's Dominion. It's not my favorite park and they have a bunch of very uninterested teenagers working the rides which really takes away from the "vacation" feel of going to a park, but overall, it's not a horrible place. I think they have a very nice area of rides for the younger kids, and lots of good, big coasters for older kids.

 

[jlaspoq]

BGW is a great park - as others have said, it is clean and beautifully landscaped. It has 4 really great coasters (Alpengeist is my favorite) and other fun rides. It has great shows. You can also get a joint ticket for WAter Country USA if you're going when it's warm enough - it is also lots of fun - run by Busch, and also very clean with great theming. And if you really want to make a week of it, you can also do some historical sightseeing in Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown or Yorktown. All of this is very close together. We have season's passes. Happy to answer more questions if you want to PM me. We live about 45 minutes away. Don't know much about hotels though since we're close.

 

[Bashful2]

We love Busch Gardens. The park is very clean, food is good, and there is a lot to do for both thrill-seekers and non-thrill seekers.

Kings Dominion is ok. It's not as clean, but it is fun and they do have a lot of coasters.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Have to agree with everyone else. BGW is a beautiful theme park with great rides and good food. KD is just an amusement park. We can get deeply discounted season passes to KD through his employer and only a slight discount on BGW. We stick with BGW. Love all their coasters but I have to say Apollo's Chariot is my fave. It's the smoothest coaster I've ever been on and the way the seats are designed you feel like you are flying! Wheeeeeee

 

[Astryd]

Love all their coasters but I have to say Apollo's Chariot is my fave. It's the smoothest coaster I've ever been on and the way the seats are designed you feel like you are flying! Wheeeeeee

I very much have to agree with this. THat is the smoothest coaster I have ever gone on.

 

[Christine]

I very much have to agree with this. THat is the smoothest coaster I have ever gone on.

For some reason, that is the very first coaster that induced SEVERE NAUSEA in me!! Even Alpengeist didn't do it.

Ohhh, that first hill was something.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We took the kids to BGW last August.
The park is very nice, landscaped nicely and the restaurants are pretty good.
We saw a couple of shows which were nicely done.
The only complaint we had was lack of shading and misting fans. It was very, very hot when we went. Many of the rides at that time were walk ons, longest wait we had was for Curse of Darkastle. Not really sure the ride was worth a 45 minute wait.
Other than that, it was nice.
The Octoberfest restaurant had a nice show while we were eating.
Stopped in France somewhere and grabbed ice cream, had a sundae in a waffle cone which was yummy.
Park was very clean, restrooms were even clean.
Keep in mind that it is a very hilly park and prepare accordingly. Oh, they let us bring in snacks and water too.
Also have an area by the Clydesdales where you can have your child officially measured, they get a colorcoded wristband so you know which rides they can go on. Thought that was nice!

 

[HOGFAN]

Alpengeist is the best!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We went to Busch Gardens and Water Country last summer for the first time. We enjoyed it a lot and especially enjoyed Water Country--so much fun! BG was nice--I was expecting something on the par as WDW and Universal because I've read such rave reviews and it didn't quite live up to that, but it is a very nice, well shaded, albeit hilly park. I would return for sure.

I was terrified my first time on Apollos Chariot, but I refuse to chicken out in front of my kids and my former weeny 12yo was going on it, so I gave it a try. We did it several times and had a great time.

I haven't been to King's Dominion in years so can't comment on that. Maybe I'll get there this summer. We're planning on going to Cedar Point this summer, which my kids are excited about.

 

[2BigKIdz]

I guess I'll just repeat what others have said. BG is a very nice park, it does not have as many rides as KD but Apollo's Chariot and Alpengesit are simply awesome coasters and what rides they do have are good (except for Curse of Darkastle, BIG waste of time if the line is more than 10-15 minutes!) BG is very clean and attractive with lots of landscaping. The food at the sit-down restaurants is very good. They have some animals also, I have seen the clydesdales, wolves and bald eagles. They have a Jack Hanna area but I have not made it to that yet. Last year BG gave us free bottles of Aquafina while we waited in line for Curse of Darkastle plus a card to receive 10% off food or merchandise, thought that was nice.

Kings Dominion has many more rides than BG, I think of it as a big carnival with better rides, it's that type of atmosphere. The only really edible food there is pizza (which is just okay) and they have Subway and Chik-fil-a now (for alot more $$$ than you would normally spend . The water park is a nice bonus included in the price. It seemed clean and well maintained last summer, but I only went in the lazy river. They have a fairly nice sized children's area. My SIL gets season tickets every year and she and her daughter and daughter's friend go tons of times. They do have a new ride coming this year that looks fun, but it's a coaster.

I'm not really a show person so I can't help you there but each park does have a couple of shows.

We go to both parks, I prefer BG and my husband prefers KD (he the hypersonic coaster).

I have never been to Cedar Point but want to go. We were thinking of taking a trip this spring or summer with our nieces and nephews but that's probably not going to happen.

 

[MsDisney23]

It has been about 10 to 12 years since I have been there, It was very nice and clean. You will have a great time!