Question for Williamsburg/Busch Gardens experts...

[Belle5]

We are heading to Williamsburg this Sunday and will visit all the area attractions (Jamestown, Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and Water Country) Monday-Friday. Right now our plan is to visit the historical sites in the morning and then mid-afternoon/early evening head to either Water Country (open til 8) or Busch Gardens (open til 9) each night. Is this a terrible plan? Our parking is free with our pass-so don't worry about us paying each time. We want the main focus to be on the historical attractions but then we want to head out and have a different kind of fun at night. Will we find grid-lock at 6 pm at Busch Gardens or Water Country? Is it a huge mistake to do it this way? TIA!

 

[java]

Actually having been I would suggest a day at Colonial Williamsburg. Then Busch gardens day, then try Jamestown/Yorktown stuff with maybe a follow up to Busch. Then a day at water Country(which I've never been to but hear it's great fun)

I understand wanting to make the history the focus. But really knowing they are heading to an amusement park AFTER might make the kids want to know "Is this over yet?" a little too much. I say focus on each for a day. (we actually enjoyed Colonial Williamsburg in the evenings. Eating dinner at the historical places and walking around in the evening!) There is a farmers market on the weekends I believe right near Colonial Williamsburg with some great baked goods too!

And edit to add I'm no expert on Colonial Williamsburg/Busch. We've been several times though and that's what I base my thoughts on. We even went once and stayed at Great Wolf Lodge.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Check out Williamsburg's website--you may want to plan on a full day there at least one day--they have some afternoon and night things you may want to see. And plan on probably 2 visits at least for Williamsburg, there is a lot to see if you want to be able to see most everything.

Jamestown Settlement is a good 1/2 - 3/4 day and the Jamestown National Park is only a few hours worth. Yorktown is also only a few hours/half day. You might also enjoy going to Yorktown Beach for a few hours.

We have been having a lot of late afternoon rain to you may have weather issues in the afternoon/evening. Schools are out here on Tuesday (1/2 day Mon and Tues, graduation on Wed) so you may find Busch and Water Co. much busier at the end of the week. If you like the big rides at Busch you might even want to try to go Mon or Tues at opening. I am not sure if there may be large groups of "Senior Skip" kids there though.

 

[Belle5]

I think we will take your advice and go to Busch Tuesday at opening. We have CW planned for three mornings/early afternoons. We may cut that down to two. We may try to squeeze the Yorktowns and Jamestowns into one day instead of the two we were planning. I don't know though...Most likely CW will now be two days. Busch one day. Jamestown one day. Yorktown one day. Water Country at the end of some days. If we feel we need to be at Water Country at park opening we may go there first on the Yorktown/Jamestown day/days. What do you think?

 

[diskids2]

Water Country gets very crowded and while you may experience some people leaving early....you may want to go "really" late like 5 pm vs. 3 pm.

 

[Belle5]

Water Country gets very crowded and while you may experience some people leaving early....you may want to go "really" late like 5 pm vs. 3 pm.

Good idea!

I think we may employ our WDW schedule and take everyone back to the hotel for a rest (so much heat and humidity will drain us) , have dinner around five and head to WC or Busch around 6.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I think we will take your advice and go to Busch Tuesday at opening. We have CW planned for three mornings/early afternoons. We may cut that down to two. We may try to squeeze the Yorktowns and Jamestowns into one day instead of the two we were planning. I don't know though...Most likely CW will now be two days. Busch one day. Jamestown one day. Yorktown one day. Water Country at the end of some days. If we feel we need to be at Water Country at park opening we may go there first on the Yorktown/Jamestown day/days. What do you think?

I would do Jamestown National Park and Yorktown on one day. And one day for Jamestown Settlement. There is a lot to see and do there. But they close early so you can still head to Water Country and/or Busch those evenings.

Maybe do Busch on Tuesday and then go back and do things you really enjoyed another evening or two. Do you have passes where you can get in all week?

So maybe

1 day Busch
2 days CW ( maybe only 1 1/2 depending on interest and weather)
1 day Jamestown Settlement + something in the evening (Water Country or Busch)
1 day Yorktown/Jamestown Park + something in the evening (Water Country or Busch)

Remember that if you go to Water Country early in the day that water parks are exhausting! The combo of the water activities and the heat may make it so that no one wants to do anything else later in the day. And everything is outside so that makes the weather a factor.


Keep an eye on the weather--we have had 60s and 90s in the same week these last few weeks, and lots of rain. We went to Busch on Saturday when it was in the low 70's and very overcast and the longest line was about 20 minutes. The coasters were practically walk on. If you don't mind that kind of weather take advantage of it if it is a gray looking day. I know right now the forcast for Monday is for rain, but it is early so it will change!


Oh, also if you do the amusement parks and are looking for something else in the evening there is a lot of other things to do in Williamsburg. There are little coupon books everywhere you can check out. There is a Go Cart place that might make for a fun evening, and a few mini-golf locations, I think a Ripley's museum and of course lots of shopping!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Water Country gets very crowded and while you may experience some people leaving early....you may want to go "really" late like 5 pm vs. 3 pm.

Yep. You have a lot of locals that go for the day and get home in time for dinner.

 

[Belle5]

Lovetoscrap,

You have been very helpful! If you think of anything else just post it here for me. I think your outline for our week looks very doable! Thanks!

 

[mtemm]

the evening programs at colonial williamsburg are our favorites. well worth the extra tix for us. if you can, you might consider trying to fit one (or more) in.

 

[Belle5]

I know about the evening programs and in February reserved four of them(times eight people). Last week at the request of my DH and sons, I canceled all of them in order to afford the pass change to include Water Country and Busch Gardens. I guess if we like the daytime offerings enough, I can get everyone on the same page as me for next time as far as evening programming goes...

 

[TwingleMum]

Great info thanks for sharing.

 

[mikehn]

We went to water country Memorial day Monday. We had the whole park to ourselves. I mean literally. Its been unseasonably rainy and cool in the mid atlantic area so far this year. Thats the only reason I can think it was deserted.

 

[lovetoscrap]

How old are your kids? Williamsburg has a program that is not very well advertised for elementary aged kids. There is a little shop in the Main/Ticket building where you can rent costumes. I think it costs about $20 for the day. The boys get an old fashioned style shirt and a pack that goes over their shoulder. Hats have to be purchased for sanitary reasons if you want a tri corner hat. Girls get a white dress and get to pick a pretty color ribbon. Those have to be returned by a certain time at the end of the day (You actually pay a deposit and get it back on return)

But the outfit is only part of what they get. When they get their costume they also get a "letter" from one of the CW residents. In this letter the child is asked to help them with some tasks for the day. They are given about 3 or 4 specific locations to go to and something to do at each one. At each of the locations the CW Characters there know to expect the kids in costume (or with a letter-my girls abandoned the dresses about 1/2 way through the day because it was hot!). It gives them a great interaction, more than they would normally get and some neat tasks. My girls got to actually plant some veggies in the CW garden. We meant to go back in a few weeks to see them growing but never got a chance. One task was to go to one location and pick something up and then deliver it to another location down the street.

This program really helps keep the younger kids interested and enjoying what they are doing. My younger one still asks if we can go back and do it again.

Oh, and you have to try the CW bottled lemonaid--I love it!


Jamestown Settlement has a whole lot of hands on and interactive things, but you have make sure you slow down and look for them. If you just rush through you can miss things. My girls have been able to help load and fire a cannon, work on animal hides, scoop out a canoe, help raise the sails on one of the ships among other things. And I hope no one has a fear of chickens! They are everywhere.

Oh, if you have a few hours where you don't want to go to a historical/amusement place and are looking for something free the Yankee Candle Store is good for an hour or two. They have an awesome Christmas room and Santa is usually there. It snows every half hour or so (not sure of the exact interval). There place is huge and sells way more than candles. There is a place where your kids can make their own candles for just a few dollars. A nice inexpensive and air conditioned diversion for a few hours before or after dinner. http://www.yankeecandle.com/cgi-bin...ee+Candle/Visit+a+Flagship+Store/Williamsburg

If I think of anything else I will let you know.

 

[Belle5]

How old are your kids? Williamsburg has a program that is not very well advertised for elementary aged kids. There is a little shop in the Main/Ticket building where you can rent costumes. I think it costs about $20 for the day. The boys get an old fashioned style shirt and a pack that goes over their shoulder. Hats have to be purchased for sanitary reasons if you want a tri corner hat.

My two youngest boys are 11 and 5. I already have costumes for them so I guess we will miss out on the special letter for them. I am going to let each of them choose a hat and gun in Williamsburg to take home as a souvenir.

I will get the lemonade and we are not afraid of chickens!

We are really getting excited for our trip--less than three days before we fly out of here!

Please do let me know if you think of anything else. I had the Yankee Candle store on my list but I didn't know that it was THAT diverting! Wow!