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Busch Gardens Williamsburg
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46 reviews for Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Hands down my favorite theme park in the U.S. I have been to countless Six-Flags, Disney World, Kings Dominion, and even the great Cedar Point. Somehow, Busch Gardens Williamsburg captures my heart every single visit. True, they do not have that many roller coasters, but the few they have are in my top 10: Alppengeist, Apollo's Chariot, and the Big Bad Wolf. The food is prepared amazingly as it is absolutely worthwhile to try out the Smoke House joint with mouth-watering ribs and bbq chicken and fries. The funnel cakes are well prepared and the shows are top notch. What really capitalizes my love for this park is the excellent grooming and cleanliness of the entire place. It is by far the most naturally beautiful theme park out there -- not even Disney could compare to this.
A vacation trip combining Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens Williamsburg makes for a wonderful time off from work.
***editor's note: someone has brought to my attention that the Big Bad Wolf shut down last month ... I am very sad right now .. very... sad***
Note: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is weak! Not even close to the tingles I get from Williamsburg.
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I visited Busch Gardens Williamsburg a couple of years ago, making the long drive from DC just to visit this sister park of Busch Gardens in Orlando, one of my favourite parks in the country
BG Williamsburg felt a bit more organised than BG Orlando with the different areas and theming being more obvious. Its landscape feels more rural with some gradients throughout the park, unlike the flat area of BG Orlando
For me, parks stand or fall by their rides. I visited when Griffon hadn't been built yet and this sounds like the premier thrill ride in the park today. However, being an airtime junkie, I loved the super smooth steel Apollo's Chariot and with its 4 abreast seating, queues move quickly on this ride and I got loads of re-rides. For those in search of more visceral inversions, Alpengeist with its 195 feet lift hill and the interlocking double looping Loch Ness Monster will satisfy
I also enjoyed the clever special effects of 3D effects coaster Curse of DarKastle and water ride Escape from Pompeii
Like BG Orlando, there are also animal attractions though the range of animals here isn't as large.
There are the usual shows and theme park food outlets, which are fine
It's quite a way to come and I'm glad I visited. Good to do this teme park while exploring Colonial Williamsburg but its distance means I'm unlikely to return here
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Ended up being treated to a day at the amusement park when I went to the Hampton area for a birthday a while ago. Their deal for VA resident's is great: $50-something dollars for an unlimited pass (that lasted until the first of September this season).
This park is divided into European villages, each with it's own specific theme that includes decorations & food from whatever country it is named after. Lots of variety here, and lots of food to pick from. We fed the 7 members of our group without any argument or problem.
I like this park because it is easy to navigate and above all, clean. I usually dread having to use the bathroom, but at the end of the night I gave in. And if I had known the bathrooms were going to be that clean, I would have gone at least twice before. Ugh. Hahaha.
The rides were great, and though there were lines (of course), they moved quickly. My fave ride was definitely the Griffon, which we got to ride twice since it was almost closing time.
If someone suggests Busch Gardens, I am definitely down.
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I had a lot of fun here. It's been the amusement park of choice within my family for quite some time now. Disney World and Universal Studios was better, and I'm itching to go to Cedar Park, but out of the amusement parks that I don't have to fly to, Busch Gardens has simply been very pleasant.
It's a pretty park and they're really good about keeping the place clean. You walk in and it does give you that European feel. The staff have all seemed friendly and I don't know if it's just the times I went, but the lines weren't ridiculously long.
+ you can get Shock Tops! I like Blue Moons. They have Shock Tops here, which is close enough.
++ The Griffon: Intense. Especially if you get one of the outermost seats.
+++ The Apollo's Chariot: My favorite roller coaster. People say it's not really bad because it only goes up and down, but I think those drops are the most thrilling aspect of roller coasters. Also, there are many series of drops that won't leave you disappointed Feel free to disagree. The Apollo's Chariot has an especially satisfying first drop, where my s.o. lost his favorite hat ever which shows the g-force of the drop pushing you back complete with a long nerve-wracking escalation and an awe-inspiring view of the park/parking lot from the top.
If you have someone in your group who isn't too wild about roller coasters, they have a number of shows and you'll have someone who can watch your stuff while you ride so you can avoid the lockers. ;P If you're going to be there a couple days, I'd suggest to stop by at an arcade to pick up a lot of tokens at a less expensive rate than getting three at a time. You can use the tokens both for the lockers and if you have extra by the end of your trip, you can play around at the arcade too.
I'd also say that the food at Busch Gardens is actually more impressive than what you could get from other amusement parks. From ribs and fried pickles to sausage and sauerkraut, you aren't limited to just burgers and pizza. Ooh, and I always have to get at least one of their vanilla soft-serve sundaes with strawberries per trip. They do it right with lots of ice cream and lots of yummy strawberries. :D So good.
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Going to Virginia Beach I have passed by the exit for Busch Gardens a number of times and never stopped in, I should have done so sooner.
First tip, if you're coming down from the DC area, stop by the Virginia Welcome Center and rest stop outside of Fredericksburg to pick up a coupon for $7 off of your tickets, if you haven't bought them already.
The park itself is gorgeous, rivaling some of the landscaping I have witnessed at Carowinds. Each section is divided up into a different "country" and the buildings reflect the culture of each. There's a number of shops in each country with items that are specific as well, so you can pick up beer steins in Germany, painted masks in Italy, or Celtic items in Ireland, among other things.
One selling point you may hear about at the gate or some of the stores is to buy a $30 eat-all-day wristband. At a number of the restaurants it will get you an entree, side item or dessert, and drink, and it can also be used to just get one of the items noted above. It's really only worth it if you're going to eat at least two meals at the park, and drop in to get free sodas or lemonade in-between. BTW, when it comes to eating, the only restaurant with indoor seating is the Festhaus in Germany, which looks much like a bavarian beer hall. Go there if you want to stay cool during the hot part of the day.
As for the roller coasters themselves, they are well staffed and the staff members do look like they care about their jobs. The lines will get busy for rides, but they do move. I was able to ride all of the roller coasters at least twice in a seven hour period on a busy Saturday afternoon.
The one catch with the park is if you carry things that won't fit in your pocket, you're going to have to leave it with someone who isn't riding the coaster, or rent a locker. Unlike Six Flags parks however, all the lockers are the kind that you can lock and take the key with you until you need to open it again, there is no time limit. Of course, once you open the door, you will have to pay again.
Here's the breakdown of the coasters
Big Bad Wolf: A classic coaster ride, lots of turns, but will not take you upside down. If it is after Labor Day 2009 and you're reading this, you're out of luck as they're retiring it and sending it to that great amusement park in the sky. If you need a substitute, you'll have to go to Cedar Point and ride Iron Dragon
Alpengeist: A fun coaster with lots of twists, turns, and loops, it's similar to other Bollinger and Mabillard designs.
Griffon: Very unique in that its 3 rows that are 10 across. This one will thrill you by holding the car before dropping you down the first lift hil.
Grover's Alpine Express: This is a coaster for the young kids, good way to introduce them to one.
Loch Ness: If you love loops, ride this one.
Apollo's Chariot: If you're not big into lots of thrill elements and just want a coaster that will go fast and you can catch some air, then this is the one to ride.
Overall, I did like this park, and if I was closer, I'd buy a season pass.
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One word. FUN.
I never thought I would ever come here, but now I LOVE it! It's like a mini Disney world with a bit of six flags thrown in. Absolutely cute! The place was extremely clean, the food was pretty good for an amusement park and the rides were awesome! The best ride of course was "Griffon", which by the way was really THAT good that I rode it twice. What I like most about the rides at BG is that they are long as compared to the rides at six flags. I could compare Griffon to Kingda Ka because of their 90 drop, but after you ride the drop on Kingda Ka, the ride is all over. Griffon on the other hand has much more in store afterwards. This is why this is such a great ride. I advise you now...you cannot absolutely leave the park without riding this ride. I almost made the mistake of letting it slip by.
So...would I come back??? HELL F'IN YEAH! This park is so cozy ^_^
I miss it already.
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I've been here maybe about 3-4 times in my lifetime. Each time was a fantastic experience. The staff here are friendly and the theming is neat. This Busch Gardens is the "Europe" park, so each area is themed as a different country. They don't have a million coasters as Six Flags parks, but they're all pretty damn good. The park is home to one of my favorites...Alpengeist. Unfortunately I came the year or two after they ceased operation on Drachen Fire :( and I haven't been there since they've opened Griffon. Another thing I enjoy about this park is that I've never waited more than 30 minutes to wait on a roller coaster...I had to wait about an hour for Darkastle when that opened...but it's not a coaster.
I love this place and highly recommend it to anyone!
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A couple of years ago I went to Busch Gardens in Tampa and immediately knew that if I was given the opportunity I wanted to go the Williamsburg location. Well, seeing as I live only 3 hours away, I made an opportunity. Last weekend we roadtripped so that I could feel like a small child.
Theme parks are all about the rides so here is the break down:
THE BIG BAD WOLF is older than I am which made me a bit nervous. Every time a car leaves the station is says "Are you ready to travel at the speed of fright?" That is beyond cheesy, but that little coaster did go pretty fast. Keep your head back to avoid whiplash. Also pretty short little ones are allowed on it so it's good for the kiddies!
ALPENGEIST was enjoyable, but I really can't remember much about it... I believe it had tons of loops and corkscrews.
ESCAPE FROM POMPEI will just make you sweat more than necessary. While it's nice that they make you incredibly warm (through tons and tons of fire) before splashing you into water, it's mostly just uncomfortable.
APOLLO'S CHARIOT was fun, but for the person who is usually afraid of coasters. Just up and down, but it's pretty easy to get a posed roller coaster picture on it if that's what you're shooting for. We rocked the front to make it more exciting! No loops or anything.
GRIFFON is the newest coaster and by far the best. Do yourself a favor and wait for the first row, if you don't get that then you'll miss the experience entirely. The biggest downside is that while waiting for it you'll hear the phrase "mythical griffon" more times then you'll ever want to.
LOCH NESS MONSTER was fun, but I can't really remember it... Um... I think its the only coaster we only road once?
Prepare to be absolutely soaked if you ride the ROMAN RAPIDS. Seriously, I was wringing my clothing out afterward, but we had a good time!
Don't bother going to CORK SCREW HILL which is an interactive 4-D ride. The line is freezing and the ride just isn't all that great. We went on it because we couldn't figure out what exactly it was.
I took serious issue with DA VINCI'S CRADLE because it wasn't at all a cradle. In fact it was a carpet - that's what it looked like. Actually, every other time I've seen that ride in any other amusement park it's called something along the line of Magic Carpet Ride. Plus you had to hear over and over "Prepare to be rocked by Da Vinci's Cradle!" Ew..
My favorite of the little rides was the TIDAL WAVE. It just goes around and around in circles, but it never fails to make me laugh really really hard so for that in wins.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The park food isn't terribly priced surprisingly, and we weren't stuck in any awful lines. The longest we had to wait was less than a half hour, but I think that's rare, so don't count on it. All in all, I would highly recommend it!
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I love roller coasters - well except for the normal up and down ones with the bar across your lap - I always feel like I'm going to somehow flip over the lap bar. I love the over-the-shoulder-make-you-weightless-flip-you-5-t imes-and leave you with a headache roller coasters. Alpengeist was my favorite coaster here. The beginning suspense and the drop are the best. As I went here a couple of years ago I don't remember a ton about all of the different rides. Apollo's Chariot was ok - just up and down with maybe one loop. The Big Bad Wolf was a lot of fun as well. I think Griffon was still being constructed so I didn't get to enjoy that one.
Otherwise typical amusement park stuff - expensive food, long waits outside in the heat (though they did have water misters set up in places) and lots of children.
This is more for older generations.. kids wont have as much fun. Take kids to Kings Dominion instead ( plus it's cheaper).
The roller coasters at Busch Gardens are better than KD, but there aren't as many rides. At Busch Gardens you experience food and performances. It's more like something you would find in Orlando. The tickets are pricey though.. over $50 a ticket (unless you're military).
Drive early.. the traffic on the way there is terrible. I-64. 2 lanes. yuck.
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Goddamn I love Busch Gardens. I hadn't been in several years, so when I went last week it was a bit of a homecoming for me. First off, the roller coasters are world class. I personally thought Griffon was very short, but Apollo's Chariot and the rest were as good as ever. Darkastle was good, as was Pompei even though they economized on some of the special effects. They really need to add some more flat rides badly, but I digress.
Call me a sucker, but I actually like the whole cultural experience they try and create (maybe b/c I'm too lazy to go to Europe). The theming is great, as are the shops, and the staff actually gives a shit unlike most amusement parks. The food is also good, even approaching low-end restaurant quality in some cases (which is great considering amusement park food is usually disgusting). One distressing thing I saw was that they scaled back on their branded souvenirs (tshirts, hats, etc.) a noticible amount. INstead, they had generic stuff, going as far to have Billabong pants and shirts for sale. You could also see this in the gardens, which had also been significantly scaled back. To me, this is a sign that the new owners are looking to cut back. I for one hope they don't, as they have one of the world's best amusement parks.
Regardless, this is one amusement park that lives up to the hype. Do not miss it!
i think this is the best theme park I've ever been to.
all their rides are tall, fast, and long...
the best ride of course, is the griffon, which has a 90 degree drop, and it's one of the tallest rides in the world.. it goes 75mph... and the best part is right before you drop, they tease you and have you hanging there for a little bit and let you go.. definitely a thrill!
food is expensive, but really good.. especially the BBQ joint they have there.. they actually smoke the stuff in front of you.,
this park also has wildlife.. love the lorakeet aviary! we also watched the wolves show.. which was awesome.. they also have a bald eagle exhibit.. love it!
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went last weekend, and i have to say the gryphon is the best ride ever. Sorry drachen fire but, this one makes me glad you're gone.
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7/21/2009
I came here for almost every summer of my childhood, and was my first job. This place, really caters… Read more »
I went here last saturday and I am officially a fan. I am from the west coast and only experienced west coast amusement parks. This was a nice change for me. I love the theme of Europe throughout the park. That is a good idea going to the different countries and experiencing all of the roller-coasters. Surprisingly it wasn't that busy when I went. There were a few waits but not terrible hour long waits. Griffon was my favorite. a 90 degree drop is crazy and so much fun. When you get to the top you just dangle there for a few seconds and then drop. That freaked me out just watching it but I am totally amazed after riding this ride. I would definitely like to go back next time I visit virginia. It is a great tourist spot
This place has some of the best coasters on the east coast hands down. The Griffon is one of the most enjoyable exciting rides! It blows Kingda Ka (Six Flags in NJ) out of the park. This is more than a suitable replacement for the Drachen Fire. Most everything else about the park is exactly as I remember it from my childhood summers. They have added a new baby/small child area with Elmo theme (Sesame Street: Forest of Fun). My two year old niece seemed to enjoy it greatly. They did not have most of the Land of the Dragons area was all but shut down. I think they are going to phase it out in favor of Elmo. They added a new 3-D ride called Curse of DarKastle. It is by far the most entertaining 3-D indoor ride I have gone on. The food is still better than any other amusement park's I have been too. I forgot how many hills they put in the terrain. We heard rumors while in line for the Big Bad Wolf ride that this, its 10 year anniversary, may be its last so if you have never gone stop waiting and go! This makes me sad since it was the first coaster I ever rode and thus it holds a special place in my heart. (I am short it took me a long time to qualify) Anyway even though I have been here 100 times I will go again in a heartbeat.
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Great park.
Besides some pretty decent rides (Gryffon particularly), good food (Best Park food I think I have had), nice children's area, shows, games, etc. the nicest thing about the park is the quality of the people they hire and how well they treat you. Can't remember ever being in a park (includes Disney), where I really felt like the staff was their because they wanted you to enjoy your day. Makes it worth going to again and again.
Let me preface this by saying that I did have a really good time here, and it goes without saying that I'll have a good time at any amusement park that I visit. However, when I'm writing reviews on Yelp, I like to compare places to similar places, meaning that in this case, I'm comparing my experience here to my experiences at other amusement parks. In that regard, BG just doesn't stack up.
I'm a 24-year-old male, I like roller coasters and thrill rides, and I'm used to parks that have a plethora of them (Hershey, Cedar Point, some Six Flags parks, etc). This place doesn't. They have five roller coasters, and in my book, five roller coasters and almost no other thrill rides almost isn't worth the 50 dollar admission price. The roller coasters that they have are great (especially Apollo's Chariot and Griffon), but there just aren't enough of them.
Crowd-wise, I was very pleased; we went on the 4th of July, and the crowds were huge, but the lines for the coasters were very short, ranging from 5 to 20 minutes. My girlfriend's theory was that this place is very family-oriented, especially on a holiday, so most of the people that were jammed into the park were there with smaller kids who couldn't ride the big rides. This reaffirms the suspicion that I developed over the course of the day: this is a fantastic place for families, but for the 18-30 year old thrill-seeking crowd with no kids, there isn't a whole lot that's offered aside from the big 5 coasters.
Despite this, this probably would have been a 3-star review if not for one thing that royally pissed me off. At most parks, they have cubby holes on the platforms of the rides for people to put flip-flops, backpacks, hats, etc. If they don't have cubbies, most parks just let you throw your crap off to the side on the exit platform. BG allowed this to an extent, but they didn't allow backpacks into the line. You had to put them in a locker before entering the line... in other words, if you were carrying a backpack or a bag of any kind, you had to pay a dollar at the start of the line for a locker. When asked why, the lady muttered something about "liability for stolen items" or something to that effect. This is pure horse sh*t in my opinion; it's an excuse for an already-overpriced amusement park to squeeze even more money out of its customers. Overpriced food and games are expected at any park; horrible policies that squeeze customers are not.
Despite the generally negative trend voiced here, I still had a good time; Apollo's Chariot and Griffon alone made this park worth a visit... once. I probably won't be back any time soon. Highly recommended for families; for those of us who like the thrill rides, there are better choices for your money in the region.
A smaller amusement park, but with shorter lines than I am used to waiting in and an interesting layout. I loved the European theme and how far they took the details.
The food was pretty expensive, but there was plenty to choose from and the line was surprisingly short considering we stopped at 12 for lunch and 5 for dinner, both prime times for eating.
The park was awfully hilly though and twisting paths could be confusing if you are not paying attention to where you're going. I did love all the landscaping though and would return here again with a large group for some fun in the sun...
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is easily my favorite theme park. Where else can you pet Clydesdales, ride some of the best roller coasters in the world, and eat a giant plate of grilled meat all in the same place? It's also incredibly clean and well kept. That's a lot more than most theme parks can say, even Disney.
The best time to go is actually toward the end of the season. The weather has mellowed (it can get unbearably hot an humid in July & August) and they kick off Hall-o-scream toward the end of September. It's also the best Halloween theme of any park I've been to that's open that late in the season.
It's definitely worth at least one trip, no matter how far away you live.
If you live in the DC area and want to spend some time at an amusement park, head down 95 and don't stop at King's Dominion - it's worth the extra time in the car to go all the way to Busch Gardens (uhh don't forget to take the exit to 64!).
Just like Busch Gardens in Tampa, this park is really beautiful and well-kept - there is a Disney-like attention to detail that makes a huge difference compared to other parks. BGE doesn't have the same zoo element going on like Tampa does (except the requisite Clydesdales, along with a few wolves and eagles and a little animal show), but it does have awesome roller coasters.
Alpengeist - great inverted coaster - super awesome theming
Apollo's Chariot - I can't say enough about this ride. It is so smooth and delicious - and the "restraint" is awesomely small, so you can really feel the wind rushing around you.
Griffon - big thrills diving coaster - if you're not riding, it's fun to watch the water spray out from behind it toward the end
Big Bad Wolf - older suspended basket type coaster - great views over the water
Loch Ness Monster - amazing classic coaster - interlocking loops!!
There are a couple of other fun rides - gotta get on that carousel and the swiiiiiiiiiings and the bumper cars - and the DarKastle ride is cheesy but fun.
Other things:
The food is yummy and not terribly overpriced.
There are lots of little shops you can pop into if you need a break from coasters (sissy!).
The shows are sometimes sort of fun and can be a good AC break on a hot summer day.
I love going to this park anytime, but it's extra fun during Halloween - they do a very good job theming the place.
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So... I don't know why, but in the 14 years that we've lived in the DC/Metro area, we have never been to Busch Gardens. This past week, we made the trip and are sure glad we did.
The park is utterly beautiful and we loved the different countries as we made our way about the day. Thrill seekers revel here and while I didn't do the roller coasters (yeah, I know, I'm a wuss), we loved the water rides.
And since I have to relate everything to food, let me just say that Busch Gardens is a great place to eat! Get yourself down to the Smokehouse for some of the best smoked brisket, chicken and ribs you've ever tasted. The generous portions and reasonable prices would make this a draw outside of an amusement park.
We caught several of the shows. Very Cheesy! The domestic pet show was a highlight. Also we enjoyed seeing the Bald Eagles and the Grey Wolves, which could be heard howling from all over the park.
We can't wait to return.
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I danced with a so-called 'German' from Indiana while the band played, ate a German sausages and a chocolate cake platter, rode on some wild roller coasters, and digged their clean and prim parks. Nice and relaxing, and if you're in the area, might as well as get their pass so you can just come here and eat their gigantic platters of food for meals. Oh, did I mention that I danced with a German?
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Let me just first start off by saying, I have a fear of heights, and I don't really like roller coasters! Now you must be saying, "THIS IS ONE CRAZY ASAIN!!! Why would he give this place 5 stars if he is afraid of heights and roller coaster?!!?" Well, it is because, this place really helped me over come my fears of all of that and now, I kinda really love going on roller coasters. Now, I come from California, the land where these theme parks, the only Legoland in all of the US, Disneyland, Sea World, Wild Animal Park, and the San Diego Zoo, are just a small car drive away. I must say, that Busch Gardens VA is by far, one of the most prettiest parks that I have ever been too!!!! (One star for that!!!)
There staff here are so friendly!! (Two stars for that!!) I remember that I came here and I wanted to buy something to remember the trip by so that I could bring back home with me, and the lady that was checking me out at the register asked me if I was apart of the military or had some kind of discount. I told her, "Well, if being from San Diego, CA gets me some kind of discount, then SURE!!!" She laughed and we must have talked for about 5 minutes just about her up coming trip out to California and how she should have visited me! Also, The employees that were working the rides all were so friendly! I've never met anyone so friendly before. I think they must have been doing some kind of English immersion program, because a lot of the employees working at the park that day were from Thailand.
The scenery and animals!!! (Third star goes to that!!!) Wonderful large beautiful trees that greet you when you first walk into the park!!! Also, this place has a few animals shows where they have trained certain animals to do some tricks. Also, they have here, and wild animal endangerment area. I remember seeing 5 white bald eagles here that had lost their will to fly. (All happened because of something that the birds did, but they were alive and walking around, but just couldn't fly) These birds were amazing and bigger than I thought!!! They also had some wolves and I think another type of animals here, but I forgot what it was.
The fourth star goes to their delicious food!!!! Now, as ever theme park has really over priced food, I thought that this park's food was actually nicely priced for what my friends and I had to eat!! We were eating up in the Germany land at the huge sausage and bratwurst place! This HUGE dining hall was full of a buffet type food service that was just delicious and what a great way to get people to eat some meats and then get them some kind of proteins too!!! hahahaha!!!!
The fifth and final star goes to the wonderful rides that they have here!! Now, as you read in the beginning, I don't like roller coasters and heights, and that's really all that they have here, besides the two or three water rides that they have. Anyways, the roller coasters were just amazing!!!!
Alpengeist - This feet dangling ride is amazing and reaches a height of 195 feet in air and speeds up to 67 mph. This ride is amazing and at the end of the ride, expect a little "twist" or maybe two!!
Apollo's Chariot - This HIGH rising ride takes the riders down a lovely 210 feet downwards!! You sit in a seat that you kind of have to hope into where your feet dangle just a little bit and all that really holds you in a red waist restraint.
The Big Bad Wolf - I must have gone of this ride about 3 or 4 times!! I loved the little drop that they have here, and this is the first ever dangling roller coaster that I have ever been on!! This ride takes you down a 99 foot drop just grazing the top of the Rhine river. Amazing and easily BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Curse of DarKastle - THIS IS THE MOST FUN RIDE THAT I HAVE EVER BEEN ON!!!! This ride is so easy and simple, but it is just amazing how the people here made this ride so easy. This ride if totally worth the wait!!
Escape from Pompeii - A SMALL AND REALLY SHORT RIDE!!!! This ride would be best on a hot day! When you reach the top of the ride and you get inside the building, you are met with fire, Fire, and FIRE!!
Loch Ness Monster - This double looping roller coaster is amazing and so much fun!!! Reaching 13 stories in the air and containing a 114 foot drop, this roller coaster can reach up to speeds up to 60 mph!!
The Emerald Beat Show - Amazing and so Lovely!!!! I totally felt like an Irishman and wanted to go drink after leaving that show!!!
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The best amusement park in driving distance of Washington DC. I prefer Busch Gardens Tampa, but then, I can't drive there. The rides are top notch, but everything else sorta sucks because it delays me from doing a ride.
I was dragged to see some river dance knockoff which sucked because I could have been on a coaster.
We ate some bbq which sucked because I had to let it digest a little before I could ride a coaster.
We went into a little craft store which sucked because I could have been on a roller coaster.
I really remember all my times there has either the sheer joy of being on a roller coaster, or angry that I was not on a roller coaster.
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Ah, Busch Gardens Williamsburg. If I can't be at a Disney park, I choose you. And that's not even to say it's chopped liver--it's one hell of a great theme park. If memory serves, it's been consistently voted one of the most beautiful theme parks in the U.S., and I will definitely give it that. I've been visiting this park periodically since 1991, and I love it for the variety in attractions, including rollercoasters and shows. In fact, I'll even go ahead and credit Busch Gardens Williamsburg with singlehandedly curing me of my fear of roller coasters. I rode the Loch Ness Monster with my best friend over and over until I became used to, and then addicted to the adrenaline rush. Some newer favorites since then are the Alpengeist and Apollo's Chariot. The Big Bad Wolf is also excellent for anyone who would prefer a tamer coaster.
One of my favorite places to eat is at der Festhaus in the Germany section (the park is divided into different countries) because it's big, cool, and open and features an Oompah band and entertainment that is a rival for my affections alongside the Germany pavilion at Epcot in Walt Disney World.
Clean, pretty, varied, and packed with things to do for both children and adults, I'd recommend this amusement park to anyone visiting the Hampton Roads area.
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Freak yeah! Busch Gardens is by far the best theme park and concept in the US. Don't get me wrong, it does not have the quantity like your Six Flags but definatly the quality. For those who haven't been there its a Six Flags mixed with the Zoo. There are animal exibits in between walking from attraction to attraction. The rides are awesome and intense. The price is no as bad as Disney parks but are more fun IMO. I like the different country themed areas in the Williamsburg location. I like the rides here more than the Tampa location. This one also seemed cleaner, but they both beat any Six Flags or and Disney park.
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What a beautiful theme park! I have traveled through Europe and each of the "countries" within Busch Gardens - accurately conveys the actual feel as if you were really there! Some not to miss rides - The Griffon (its ok to close your eyes), The Big Bad Wolf, The Loch Ness Monster, Escape from Pompei, and the Rapids. Also, it is a nice break to take a train ride, gondola ride and boat ride. The food there is good - we loved the BBQ place. The rest is your typical amusement park food- but with very generous portions. The park is very clean, the shows are fantastic, the staff is extremely sweet and helpful... It was hard dragging me out of there and I am 31 years old! Seriously, you have to go!!!
Make sure you use a coupon before you get your ticket here - http://www.themeparkco...
I'm a thrill seeker. My mom would say that I'm stupid. I can't help that I like FAST things, be it bungie-jumping or sky-diving, count me IN. It probably explains my fascination with roller coasters and amusement parks.
One of my FIRST amusement park experiences was at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. First, it is sponsored by Busch beer and y'all KNOW how much I love beer. Secondly, it has some kick arse roller coasters, including the Lochness Monster. I love the Lochness Monster. It is an OLDIE, but goody!
Oh and this park has the only roller coaster that has ever brought me to tears and close to peeing in my pants: Apollo's Chariot. I thought that I was going to die of a heart attack. I almost passed out...and then, ended up riding it two more times...
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This place is really great. It has something for absolutely everyone. It has the best roller coasters and even if you're not into that, you can walk around and pet the clydesdales or try some of their great food. Being Irish, having a simulated place like their Ireland is really awesome. I have a lot of fond memories of this place from younger years and I've been able to make more memories each year I've gone. The ticket prices are totally worth it. The only reason I'm giving it four stars is that Haloscream this year was a total dissapointment and that was a big deal for me. They no longer have scary people walking around and they no longer have the haunted train ride, instead it's a light show for little kids. They did however get more haunted houses to go through. Great place!
If you've been to Busch Gardens Williamsburg at least once or more, you already know how great the park is - clean, shady and wooded, and the rides are awesome!
If you've not been, read the other reviews to learn more. For now, I just want to say GET YER BUTTS there for HOWL-O-SCREAM!
http://www.howl-o-scre...
Howl-O-Scream happens at 6pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, now thru October 28th, 2007 (the last day for the season).
We went on a Friday recently, spending the day enjoying the rides and great food. This is important - Friday is MUCH LESS CROWDED than Saturday! The local kids are still in school, and there were very short lines for rides. But around 4-5pm or so, the local kids with season passes started showing up. So, Fri night was quite a bit busier, but still better than Saturday by far! We heard from other guests at our hotel, how awfully crowded Sat was.
We were really looking forward to 6pm and the start of Howl-O-Scream. We were not disappointed! There are at least 3 or 4 haunted woods areas. They transformed the old Drakkenfire building into a cool haunted house (NeverAfter). But our favorite haunted building was Curse of Pompeii - housed underneath their water ride, Escape from Pompeii, which is closed for the season. The whole park is heavily decorated for Halloween, with lots of creepy looking things hanging in trees, along the paths, and the employees roam the park in scary costumes.
As the evening got darker, even the customers were getting into the spirit of things with lots of flashing/blinking accessories. You are not allowed to wear a costume into the park, tho.
While one of my favorite older coasters is The Big Bad Wolf, it was not as fun in the dark as I thought it would be. There are no lights, and if you know the ride (swinging side to side under the track), a lot of the fun is lost in the dark. Very disappointing... sooo... be sure to ride BBW during the day for the best experience.
Finally, let me add that their newest coaster, The Griffon, is awesome! We rode it twice. And be sure NOT to miss checking out Curse of DarKastle in Germany. It's a 4-D ride experience that was very thrilling, entertaining, and realistic with a "Wow" factor of 11. We went in twice.
Check out the howl-o-scream link above for Busch Gardens version of their evenings.
Also, for a very detailed and funny review of the whole affair, with pix, check out:
http://www.i-mockery.c...
Keep Yelping!
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Definitely the best "Theme Park" I've ever been to! The park is clean, it's easy to navigate through and the rides are just indescribable! It's definitely a great place for families or for those without kids (like me!). The Griffon was their newest attraction at the time of my visit and it was so much fun! I'm either getting old or roller coasters are becoming scarier! Other notable rides include the Alpengeist (a runaway ski lift), Loch Ness Monster, and Apollo's Chariot (remember when a goose left a bloody mark on Fabio's face?).
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Busch Gardens Williamsburg is one of my all time favorite amusement parks. They have scary rollercoasters, 4D shows, musical concerts, great food options and to top it all off, the entire park has TONS of shade. That is a huge plus for me!!
I am sure that its self explanatory that Anheuser-Busch is the official beer for this park but I do have to mention it because they sponsor a cool attraction called beer school. Located in the Brewmasters Room, this is a neat experience that you can't miss.
Tickets can be pricey running about $70 a person but its definitely worth it if you haven't been and you love amusement parks.
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This is one of the top-tier US theme parks. Ride selection is unique and varied, operations are swift and friendly. Above all, the theming and overall experience is on-par, maybe better than what you'd find at many Disney parks. Food is also great by theme park standards. If you're into coasters and/or parks this park is worth a trip every few years or so no matter how far you have to travel.
The gold standard for amusement parks. Busch Gardens easily blows away all the parks I went to as a kid: Six Flags, Dorney, Hershey...they don't compare. The difference is the little touches BG has that make your visit more pleasant which most parks don't even think about. There's lots of shade and fans everywhere. Beverages are more pricey than at a grocery store, but not exorbitant. The shows, crappy as they are, are a nice break from the rides and an excuse to get to some air conditioning. The animal exhibits are nice, you get to see wolves, bald eagles, and falcons up close, and if you go to the aviary you can get the lorikeets to walk all over you. The park provides lockers to leave your stuff in while you're on a ride, which I prefer to cubby holes. Granted, you have to pay for the locker each time you open it, so what we did was leave our stuff there, go on a few rides, and then take it out. If you kept some cash for food in your pocket you could conceivably leave your stuff there all day.
Best rides: The Griffon (starts with a 200+ foot 90 degree drop--SIT IN THE FRONT ROW) and Apollo's Chariot. I think these are the two newest coasters, and they're really smooth and fun. Escape From Pompeii is great too, with some awesome fire effects and a big, watery drop at the end. I was soaked from head to toe so make sure you're wearing clothes that will dry quickly.
OK: Alpengeist and the Loch Ness Monster. These are older and rougher, so sit in the front for a smoother ride.
Worst: Corkscrew Hill (unless you like being strapped in a seat and shaken--this is not a coaster, it's a simulation) and the Pirates show at the Globe Theater in England (just really really bad). Don't waste your time with either of these.
Also: THANK YOU ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN. On a beautiful 85 degree Saturday in June we never spent more than 20 minutes on line. There were a couple of coasters that we didn't spend any time on line. We were expecting huge crowds and long lines, but thanks to $4 a gallon gas (or some really great planning on the part of Busch Gardens) it really wasn't mobbed. We managed to hit all the coasters at least twice by the afternoon. Awesome.
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Busch Gardens was the first real exposure I had to the modern theme park. Well, King's Dominion was on the map at the time, too, but was a little too far to drive for a 14 year old. Growing up in the Tidewater area of Virginia BG was a right of passage for me and my classmates, and it fueled my love of coasters and theme parks.
Infact, the summer I was 14 I found a joint on Nessy and my friends and I smoked it in the car in the parking lot. That night we walked around the park and admired the twinkling lights through the trees and rode the coasters under a starry sky-it was one of the best nights of my life.
Anyway-
The park's Loch Ness Monser coaster was one of the first of the modern giant tubular designed steel coasters and I remember when it was built it caused a sensation. It still holds up well, offering a thrilling first drop and the world's first set of intertlocking loops.
The park is gorgeous and wins award after award each year for cleanliness. For several years it has won the highly coveted Most Beautiful Park award from the Theme Park http://Insider.com website (take THAT, Disney!).
Park planners have wisely built new attractions only every few years to ensure a quality attraction that blends in well with the terrain. The real stand out attractions include Apollo's Chariot (my first hyper), Alpeingeist ( a real monster of an inverted coaster with the highest inverted loop in the country), The Big Bad Wolf (a real hair raising suspended coaster with swinging cars that roars through a deserted German village), and The Curse of Darkcastle (an indoor dark ride similar to Spiderman at Universal).
The food is way above the crap at most parks and the hilly terrain is simply gorgeous in the fall. There is a serious attempt at attention to detail in the rides and landscaping. It's not Disney but it does heads and shoulders above Six Flags or Cedar Fair.
I took Poodle last summer and he wasn't impressed. I was crushed! So I smoked a joint and relived that wonderful summer of my 14th year when life was as simple as speedy coaster on a hot summer night.
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Love BG. The BBQ place in the Louisiana area is great. I can ride the Griffon and the Alpengeist all day. The yearly free ticket for military members is great too.
The park was smaller than I imagined.
The food was really good. They had way more than just your average hot dogs and pizza. Yummmmm... Baby back ribs, pasta, etc.
Overall experience wasn't as fun as the commercials make it out to be. Boo.
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I went there too many times, because most of my friends still love it. I lost my love for the Busch Gardens when they added so many tacky activities and raised way too much on the prices. You will need to expect to spend about $100 to $150 for YOURSELF to enjoy at this park ($60-70 for a ticket, $3 for a bottle of water, $15 for a small lunch, $15 for merely two games, and god knows what else).
Besides the insanely prices, it is a very beautiful park as it is filled with plenty of the trees (yay for the shades), the waters, the animals, and all that jazz. It does have some great OLDER rides that I still love to ride after a millionth time. Try the BIg Bad Wolf roller coaster!!
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I love this place.
I can go back to this place again and again, it is always fun for me there.
Besides all the rides, the place is set up in various "countries" and everything in that country follows the theme- i.e. in "Italy" everything has an Italian flair to it etc.
The rides are top notch, the food is good for an amusement park and you can even see the Budweiser Clydesdale's.
A great day out for the family and if you are lucky, you can troll the web and sometimes find some decent discount tickets.
I absolutely LOVE this park. I remember my parents taking me here as a kid, and my love for it through the years and the many return trips has remained strong! I LOVE the different country sections, the music, the layout, the food, the shows... this place has it all! The park is beautiful, and just a great break from normal life. I remember during an 8th grade trip here we rode the Loch Ness Monster 29 times in a row!!! This is one of my favorite places (of any kind) in the world!!!!!
