Williamsburg/Busch Gardens

[irish_trip_mom]

We have a three day weekend next week, and my daughter is competing in an Irish Dance Festival in Williamsburg, so the whole family is going to make a weekend of it. We are going to go to Busch Gardens, and thought about getting an annual pass. DH travels quite often to the Tidewater area for business, and DD will surely be competing in this festival again next year, so we figure we'll definitely make a return trip. Any Williamburg/BG tips or bargains?

 

[Navywifebreezy]

The smokehouse has GREAT BBQ and if you get the sampler (i think) you get beef brisket, chicken and ribs. We got 2 the dh and I split one, and 2 of the kids split the other.
As for anual passes can't help you there we haven't bought once since we got back here last year.
Colonial Williamsburg is free to walk around but to see the skits you have to pay.
Hope you have fun

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Busch Gardens will be PACKED next weekend (and more so every weekend closer to Halloween) because of Howloscream which starts about 6 p.m. every night (Friday and Saturday nights are the worst). It is a lot of fun but be prepared for major crowds as it gets more crowded every year. That being said it's still a lot of fun and they have so many walk through things and the lines move pretty quickly.

I would get an annual pass (especially the one that includes parking) as I believe it's up to $10 or $12 now. Before June and not during spring break is the least crowded time to go of the year and you can get discounted passes to their 1st ever Christmas thing this year with an annual pass.

 

[lurkernj]

When we went this summer, they had an offer on their website for a dining deal, which consisted of two counter service meals that included drink and dessert and two additional beverages for $20. These were in the form of tickets that you could use at any of the countries. We ate at the smokehouse one day and italy another, and both were awesome!! and less than $10 per meal. We purchased two of these deals for the 4 of us and was more than enough food. We used the extra drink coupons to get lemon slushies on our way out.

 

[nancycg56]

We were just up to BG last Friday evening for Howl-O-Scream ~ lots of scary fun!

I think an annual pass would be your best bet ~ although they are re-opening at Thanksgiving for Christmas Town which is not included on any pass, it's a separate admission.

Howl-O-Scream is great ~ it runs from 6 pm to 10 pm and at that time, the rides become walk on. If there are lots of lines during the day, you can buy a Quick Queue pass (I don't know what it costs) to get into the rides quicker ~ much like a fast pass I guess. The map tells you how intense each scary area is and I am a chicken and I wasn't scared Anyway, do the vampire, wolfman, cornfield maze thing after dark as it loses something when it's still light out.

There are lots of food choices ~ we like the BBQ place or Das Festhous. Always lots of seating but the food is a little pricey (like any amusement park).

Some of the stands are closed for the season but there are enough open that if you want a drink or a snack, you'll be fine.

All the rides were open except the water rides (I'm assuming the log flume is closed as I didn't look at it specifically) and the Big Bad Wolf has closed down permanently

Now is a great time to see Colonial Williamsburg, too, since it's not nearly so hot. Try the Cheese Shop in Merchant's Square for a sandwich and there are loads of fast food and chain restaurants on Rte. 60 ~ along with outlets and a huge Yankee Candle store.

You'll have a blast!!!!!

 

[autumnsmommy]

I usually go to the Ristorante della Piazza and get one of the combo plates and split it with my daughter, and they will give you an xtra plate if you ask. The dining certificates seem to vary according to the time of year. I've gotten the 2 meals, 2 extra drinks for 20, and now what is available is 1 meal with 2 sides and a drink for 14.79.
I also avoid the Festhaus food, I do like German food, just not their version of it.

 

[dreamalittledream]

When we went this summer, they had an offer on their website for a dining deal, which consisted of two counter service meals that included drink and dessert and two additional beverages for $20. These were in the form of tickets that you could use at any of the countries. We ate at the smokehouse one day and italy another, and both were awesome!! and less than $10 per meal. We purchased two of these deals for the 4 of us and was more than enough food. We used the extra drink coupons to get lemon slushies on our way out.

We got these too and they were an awesome deal but I don't see them listed on the site anymore. I just see the single meals which may be worth it anyway of you are buying a combo platter. Each location has one and I think(?) they were about 11-12.00. DH and I shared one with a side at 3 places, Germany, France and Italy.
The way the vouchers printed from the kiosk had the meal and the drink seperate so I guess you could save it for later and get a slushie.

The snack cert was not a deal for us, it didn't save alot and the locations that honored the snack vouchers were too hard to find. We got Cotton Candy one day but it was only 3.50. After searching for almost and hour I was told the the icecream was a bar from the gift shop which cost about 3.00.

 

[KirstenB]

This is so obvious, but here goes. We eat lunch at BG, but the portions are so big, we usually skip dinner. Then, as soon as we're in the car, heading home, we're suddenly starving and thirsty!

I always pack a cooler of juice, water, soda, and then some snacks for the car.

 

[Marymom]

We always got the 2 year passes because it allowed you entrance to all the parks and we could visit Sea World and Busch Gardens in Florida. It would also allow you admittance into Water Country USA for those hot summer months. It might be worth the extra cost to you.

Mary Conrad

 

[ssawka]

The only thing that I would be a bit leary of with the annual / 2 year pass is the fact that Busch Entertainment is set to be sold. I'm assuming that the new owner would honor current passes, but you may want to ask.

 

[englishteacha]

We went to BG this summer and spent 2 evenings and one full day there. It's such a nice park. You can definitely share meals. We got the meal deal tickets mentioned above and split a meal at Das Festhaus (ribs and chicken with sides and a dessert, which was a delicious meal), and a combo platter meal in Italy. We didn't much care for the food in Italy. If we lived closer we would have season passes, so if you think you'll be going back a couple of times it might be worthwhile. This past summer they had a deal for VA residents that was $60ish for a season pass.

 

[leslie826]

I second the 2 year pass - after the 2 years is up it is month-to-month. We have had ours about 5 years and LOVE it. We go to BG, Water Country, and Sesame Place in PA several times each year. Parking is included at all the parks. Last year we took a trip to Florida and spent the week doing BG Tampa, Sea World, and Aquatica. It was so nice to have all the tickets paid for already. What a super cheap vacay. Oh and also you get 10% off food and merchandise with your pass too. It adds up!

As for Williamsburg, we never buy the tix for Colonial Wburg. You can park at Merchant's square and just walk around. Our favorite restaurants in the burg are Food for Thought, Pierce's Pitt BBQ, and Peking. In BG itself, the smokehouse is fabulous.

Have a great trip!

 

[SandrA9810]

If you plan to come to Florida in the next two years, go for the platinum pass, it's cheaper that way, and it'll give you some options outside of Disney. Plus you can do the monthly payments, which is like 8-9$ a month per person. But it's twice that much here in Florida. So get it while you're there.

I don't think Blackstone is going to change the ticketing, well at least honor what people already have. And there's nothing on the website to indicate any changes.

 

[mom2twinz3]

We absolutely adore Busch Gardens Williamsburg, one of our favorite parks.

I would love to have season passes there myself, so if you think you will use them, I vote to go for it!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I don't think Blackstone is going to change the ticketing, well at least honor what people already have. And there's nothing on the website to indicate any changes.

I agree. And who knows in the future, if Blackstone does buy them, you may be able to get an annual pass to BG's, Water Country, Aquatica, Sea World, Sesame Place, AND the Universal parks.

 

[mtomlin66]

We have a three day weekend next week, and my daughter is competing in an Irish Dance Festival in Williamsburg, so the whole family is going to make a weekend of it. We are going to go to Busch Gardens, and thought about getting an annual pass. DH travels quite often to the Tidewater area for business, and DD will surely be competing in this festival again next year, so we figure we'll definitely make a return trip. Any Williamburg/BG tips or bargains?

Are you talking about the weekend of the 16th?

 

[kcromley]

there used to be a Colonial Williamsburg, BG and Water Country pass good for unlimited admission for a week plus free parking for under 100 dollars. you may wish to consider that-my children greatly preferred CW, but you may wish to explore all three places. lots of condo-style places to stay in the area and many family dining options.