Williamsburg/Busch Gardens, VA

[jcapizzi]

I hope no one minds me putting this question here, I can't find much info, at least not the kind you can get on this board. Hubby and I will be stopping over for three days before going on to USF/IOA. Since we won't have much time I'd like to have some kind of a game plan (I can't help it, I'm an obsessive planner) particularly for Busch Gardens. We will be there during Howl-o-Scream. Does anyone have any info on what rides to do/where to eat/which countries to see first, etc., etc., etc. Thanks everyone.

 

[grumbada]

This one might get better results in the "Orlando Hotels & Attractions" section.

Hubby and I were there 2 years ago and stayed all day for Howl-o-Scream (which opened in the evening). We had a blast! BG-Williamsburg is recently trying, but not succeeding in its attempts to do as well as Howl-o-Scream does in Tampa. In my humble opinion, some of the scare-houses at Howl-o-scream were even better than some at Halloween Horror Nights at US.

I can't really tell you where to eat there. If I remember correctly, we actually left the park just before it closed and reopened for Howl-o-scream, and went to IHOP across the street and a block or two down for dinner.

If you like roller-coasters, you will love the ones at BG-Tampa. I really wish I could give you more advice on a game plan since you "won't have much time", bu, I can tell you that we went at the end of October and lines were short to non-existent.

Maybe this will help?
http://buschgardens.com/buschgardens/fla/default.aspx

Have a great time!

 

[grumbada]

Whoops, I just realized that your post was in question about game plan concerning BG in Williamsburg not Tampa... That I CAN answer.

I will private message you with a reply later today if that's ok?

 

[jcapizzi]

I'll be here until about 5:00 today so if I miss your reply tonite, I'll pick it up on Monday. Thanks so much for your reply!!!

 

[katz99]

Busch gardens Williamsburg is a wonderful park. If you are into coasters you must do Apollos Chariot, Big Bad Wolf, Alpengeist and Loch Ness Monster. For a good water ride Escape From Pompei was real good and wet. As for food we really didnt eat much in the park, but with drinks if you buy one of the souvenior cups refills are like $2 but they wont offer it you have to ask. There is plenty of shade all around and places to relax. As for the towns to go to it is all personal preference. Get a map when you enter so you will know where you are going.When the park gets a little much there is a walkway that goes to a wildlife sanctuary type thing. When Iwas there it was Jack Hannas Wild Wolves or something. Back in the same area you can see the Anheiser Clydesdale horses, beautiful huge animals. Anything else i can help you with just ask. Water Country USA is also very well worth it.

 

[mjdmom]

I live right down the street in Yorktown, VA, oringially from NJ, Ocean County.

Had a good time during Howl-o-scream last year. They closed down Escape From Pompei last year and turn the building into a Haunted house. Not sure what they will do this year. The dining is really varied. In Ireland the food and Grog is great with a lord of the flies type show and a great ride the fairies. German has a HUGE dance hall with a music show that interacts with the crowd while you eat. Hummels and clocks and nut crackers if you are a collector and just opened a smokehouse restaurant this year with wonderful bar-b-gue. Lots of great coasters and it usuually wins awards every year for it's gardens and surroundings. Take a ride on the train, if it's not to cold then. YOu can also take a ferry ride.

The water park will be closed by then.

mjd

 

[damo]

We're here on vacation from Canada right now. We absolutely LOVED Apollo's Chariot, a hyper coaster. It has a very good capacity so you can ride it just about any time. There is also a single rider's line which allowed us to ride over 20 times in a few day. Alpengeist is another very good inverted coaster. It is best to ride it first thing in the morning as the line builds very quickly. The other two coasters, Big Bad Wolf(suspended) and Loch Ness Monster(above track with two inversions) have about the same half hour or so wait. The 4d show, Haunted Lighthouse is very good. The theatre is huge so don't let the long line outside fool you, you will get in so don't bother lining up until about 15 minutes before the show. Corkscrew Hill, in Ireland, is also a 3d show and is very cute, with moving seats. Everything else you can do at your leisure. The park is absolutely beautiful and we have been very impressed by the quality of the food (ate in Italy and Germany and New France)and the prices. We all would like to come back some day but there are so many other coasters in the world that we still need to ride!!!

 

[BonnieA]

I lived in Williamsburg for 8 years, and I worked at the Anheiser Busch brewery (I moved away about 6 years ago). Busch Gardens is still a favorite of mine. It is a beautiful park, with rolling hills, shade and flowers. Every year it wins the most beautiful theme park award. The first things you want to do when you get to the park is the coasters. After they are done, the rest of the park should be a breeze. If you like Irish Dancers (like riverdance) you will love the show in the Ireland section called Irish Thunder. In fact, all the shows in the park are very professional, and there are a lot of shows. You can go to the park and not go on a single ride but see the shows and you still get your money's worth. They're that good. The food is loosely based on the "land" you are in. In germany they have traditional german foods like sausages, saurkraut, black forest cake. In italy it is pasta. In new france it is barbeque. And the ribs are excellent. Howl-o-scream gets very crowded. I went one year and found out that it was hard to see many of the special events because of the crowds and closing time. If you are already in the park, you don't need special admission to howl-o-scream. After dark the park just turns into howl-o-scream. I will be happy to answer any other questions.

 

[robvia]

Agree with everyone. Went this year and plan on going back next year because the park is so beautiful.
There is a new rib place in France that's very popular. Get there at 11am and eat an early lunch because at noon the line goes around the building.
For some reason, most people arrive to the park around 11am, and then decide they want to eat lunch, so eat early to avoid the lines.
The German hall is called Festhaus, located in the back of the park. Lines are a little bit shorter here. You can get a braught dog with a side of cole slaw for about $5, versus paying like $8 for an entire dinner. It's not on the menu as a seperate item, you have to ask for it, and the cashier will know how to ring it up. I'd think about doing the rib place at 11am, then Festhaus later in the afternoon before Howl-O-Scream starts.

 

[grumbada]

But during Howl-o-Scream, it's a whole different story...

Last year, it was unbelievably packed during howl-o-scream... I have NEVER seen BG-Williamsburg that packed before... It even took forever to get parked and to the gate. I can assure you this is not the norm for BG-Williamsburg... But then again, I think there might have been a free admission thing going on for all military at that time.

What they started doing last year is opening up certain scare-zones, mazes, etc, after sunset. That being the case, do all the rides that you really want to do first.

Here's my biggest tips:

Here's the park map!
http://www.buschgardens.com/buschgardens/va/pi_park_map.aspx
Once you enter the gate and are in Banbury Cross, you will have two main directions to go. If you go to the right, you will go towards Ireland... You can actually go through Ireland to get Aquitaine, New France, Rhinefeld. Try to see it as one big circle with loops coming off the ends.


Get to the park as early as possible, skip the upgraded parking unless someone in your group would not be able to get on the tram to take you to the front entrance.

If you decide to go more than one day, you can upgrade your ticket while you are there (hopefully when the lines are low).
http://www.buschgardens.com/buschgardens/va/park_info_home.aspx
http://commerce.4adventure.com/store/

Eat meals any time but the usual time (avoid 11-2, and 5-7).

You can leave the park and come back the same day if you get your hand stamped (which means you can leave and have a picnic in the car to save $$).

Concerning rides, it may be wise to do as many as you like early, either as soon as you get there, or around lunch time while many visitors are eating. Once the lines for the H-o-Scream mazes open (especially the one that was at the Pompeii ride), people start getting in the lines.

Drat, Have to go... More tips to follow.
Hope this helps some?

 

[jcapizzi]

As ususal, you all have been so helpful. You've helped add to the excitement of planning this trip - thanks soooooooo much for all the great advice!!!!!

 

[jcapizzi]

Just remembered one more thing. Is there a hospitality house like there is at SW and BG Tampa - also those free beer samples - any of those???

mjdmom - we just got back from Wildwood Crest, beautiful weekend. How do you like Virginia. Are the beaches similar to our South Jersey?

damo - thank you so very much for taking the time to send me info from your vacation. Hope you are having a wonderful time.


grumbada - thank you for the great web-site. We've decided to get the 2-day bounce ticket with the third day free so we can just go in and out at our leisure.

Thank you all again for all of your help!

 

[robvia]

No Hospitality house like at BGT/SWF, sigh.
There is beer school in Ireland, but that means going thru the show for the samples.
You can get beer all over the park. But they have signs up saying you can't take it out of the area you bought it in.
For example, you buy a beer in Ireland. When you reach the archway leading out, a sign says no alcohol beyond this point.

A bounce back ticket costs $15 and can be bought inside the park after you enter. Go to customer service, to the right, just after the gates. It's what I did for my extra days.

 

[crazzydisneyfan22]

I went to busch gardens less than a year ago. i LOVED corkscrew hill, a 4-D simulator in ireland.. if you like coasters go on all of the big four, if not then big bad wolf and the wild maus are worth a go and they are pretty mild. one of the best things at busch gardens are the shows! see all of them!! the haunted lighthouse was not there when i went but it sounds good! the log flume and rapids are pretty standard but still fun. we enjoyed the restaurant in italy where you could get your food and then eat it while watching the italian opera show.. BG is the same as disney, US, IOA or any other themeparks.. see the biggest and newest rides early (especially since there is no fastpass or express) and do the shows and smaller rides in the afternoon. make sure to go to every country just to see it even if there are no rides you want to go on there. BG's theming is amazing!

enjoy your trip!