OT: Colonial Williamsburg

[Disney Mommy 3]

I was planning a last minute trip to WDW for Oct/Nov, but all the rooms I want are booked I know--you can't really do a last minute(even if it is 3 months off)anymore. So, I think we may have to wait for Jan 09 or May 09. Anyway,, I have been seeing some really cool stuff for Williamsburg (sp?). Have any of you ever gone? I went to the website, but it's a bit disjointed-I may just have to order their guide book or something. Can ya'll tell me anything about it? What do you really need to be prepared about? My kids are 12,9, and 5. Are they gonna even like this? They are so hoping for a Disney trip-but I canNOT justify a $6 or $700 a night room- we just can't do it.
Any way-just wanted to get some info that is gonna be helpful-I don't know anybody personally who's gone, so I don't know anything about it-just what's on the website.

Give me the dirt--good and bad- I wanna know everything that's gonna make or break this vacation. TIA!!!

 

[DisneyBrat]

The Ramada 1776 is nice.. Have you tried that hotel in Williamsburg?

 

[eduk8r26]

We went about 4 years ago. We stayed at the Col. Waller Inn, which is a motel, but had a separate bedroom with its own TV and a living room and small kitchenette. We really liked it. Go to gowilliamsburg.com and you can find all kinds of info regarding packages, tickets, hotels, etc. We stayed 4 days and did Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and Water Country. I loved all of it and the kids would really enjoy Colonial Williamsburg.

 

[jlstwinmommy]

I went to the College of William and Mary, so I spent 4 years in Williamsburg. I take my family for a 3 day trip usually once a year or so. We like to do the summer because then we can buy the combined ticket that includes Busch Gardens, Water Country and Colonial Williamsburg. My kids do like the kids activities they have in Colonial Williamsburg. We went over July 4th one year and they had a mock militia drill for the kids where they gave everyone a large stick and taught them to march like the militia. They kids thought that was great.

Usually, you should be able to find a place to stay during the fall except around Grand Illumination (which is in December). Where are you trying to stay? There are tons of nice hotels in Williamsburg now. My parents own a timeshare there and also own property where they plan to build their retirement home (they fell in love with the place while I was going to school there). They are there several times a year and say the only times they have real trouble finding a place to stay is during Grand Illumination or during graduation week (in May).

Joanne
mom to Christopher (10), Joshua and Katelyn (4)

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I haven't actually tried to get a room yet-was waiting to see what ya'll would tell me!! I don't know anything about C.W. and don't even know how many days we'll need-or if we should go here & somewhere else. Thanks!!

 

[jlstwinmommy]

If you go to Colonial Williamsburg in the fall, you can also check out Jamestown and Yorktown. Those are close by and neat to see as well. I would think that your two older children would enjoy it more than the younger one because it will bring their history lessons to life. I know my 10 year old likes being able to see and feel what life was like during the American Revolution times. Our visit last year made him more interested during the school year when that topic came up.

 

[DisneyBrat]

I personally don't care for Williamsburg that much. I live 45 minutes from there. We had season passes last year to Busch Gardens. A long weekend trip would be great to see the historic downtown area and tour the houses and shops. There is a cost for that tour. Busch Gardens is a great park but not my favorite because of the terrain its very "hilly" lots of up hill down hill to get from place to place. Their shows and rides are AWESOME and that is why the terrain is overlooked for what you get in the park. Williamsburg has outlets and a pottery therefore lots of people go shopping while vacationing or like us to go explore the shops. If I had to travel very far to go somewhere Colonial Williamsburg would not be my destination of choice. I like a little history not ALOT of it

Good Luck
Lew

 

[MichelleinMaine]

We went to Williamsburg several years ago. We had a big group and opted not to do CW because of $$. We went instead to Yorktown and Jamestown- they were wonderful! Lots of hands on activities for the kids (we had ones from toddlers on up to middle school) and very reasonably priced!)

 

[BebopBaloo]

My family and I absolutely love Williamsburg. We have season passes to Busch Gardens, which is a great theme park. If you have roller coaster fans in your family they will be more than pleased. If you don't have roller coaster fans it is still a great park to visit. It has been voted the most beautiful park in the nation for many years. Lots of good food too.
As for Colonial Williamsburg, I can never get enough. It is easily done in one day, but I really enjoy history and think it's pretty fun to walk the same streets as the men and women who founded our country. As others have mentioned, Jamestown and Yorktown are very close.

Our DD is only almost 2yrs, but she pretty much enjoys going everywhere. I know a lot of older kids though who enjoy the theme parks and I had fun as a child going to Williamsburg and participating in the reenactments. There are always people dressed in time era garb and are eager to carry on converstaions with you. It's really quite entertaining.

Hope that helps some. Oh, & if you like NC style BBQ, Pierce's BBQ is a must

 

[3mickeymom]

My family has enjoyed Colonial williamsburg on two seperate trips. They enjoy visiting historic sites like Williamsburg and Jamestown but we also went to Water Country and Busch Gardens. We had a three attraction pass. we did not shop at the outlets. i have three boys and shopping is not what they like to do. If possible, I would recommend visiting when you could enjoy the water park. My kids had a blast there. My vote would be for a summer trip. Good Luck finding lodging. Maybe something will open up or perhaps you could stay a little further away and travel to williamsbug.

 

[Janet Hill]

Busch Gardens last operating day for the season is the last Sunday of October. It's a great park for Halloween. If you want to go earlier, Water Country is open the first two weekends of Sept.

Agree with other posters Yorktowne and Jamestown are great for the kids. Another popular attraction for my kids is the ferry (and it's free). The trip across the river takes long enough that you can get out of your car and enjoy the scenary.

That time of year, you could probably find a timeshare to rent cheap. There are lots of nice timeshare resorts in Williamsburg.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

we just stayed at kings creek plantation. It is literally next door to the water park. And only 2-3 miles from BG. We rented through resort rentals international.

eta
we also went on a tall ship in Norfolk , all of us liked it ranging in age from 2-40. Then we went to VA beach for an all u can eat seafood buffet.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

Hope that helps some. Oh, & if you like NC style BBQ, Pierce's BBQ is a must

I agree also about Pierce's pit bbq. Awesome. I love their cole slaw.

 

[Lisa P.]

I'd agree w/pp, Janet. Summertime is pretty hot in Williamsburg and autumn is a beautiful time to be there, IMO. Visit Busch Gardens on the weekend. Many of the timeshare resorts in the area have indoor pools and lots of family-friendly activities. Definitely check the Marketplace at TUG for owner rentals of their timeshare weeks. Redweek is also a good place to find them. Another for Yorktown and Jamestown for the kids. And many people really enjoy the above mentioned Jamestown ferry to Surry, with lunch on the other side.

You may wander the streets of Colonial Williamsburg without paying admission but the real fun of it is the tours, interpreted demonstrations and interactive gatherings - only available to those with a pass. Go for a couple hours one day and see if you have the interest in returning with paid admission. When our kids were young, a walk-thru was enough. When they were all above middle school age, we spent many half-days there, with a pass and we ALL loved it, especially some of the family programs at night, by lantern with demonstrations and legend-telling. DH and I are not huge history buffs but we do look forward to returning again, now that our kids are grown.