Busch Gardens Williamsburg?

[Kathy Jetson]

Thankyou for the info

[mommylovespoly]

I am going back this Saturday for the day with my 7 year old-- so I will scope stuff for you! Ask me anything!

Yes-- they DO have Sesame St characters in the park, but only at the meal and in the Sesame Land area. That area gets very crowded very fast. We always go there first thing so that my daughter can ride everything once or twice and we can get out of there before it gets really crowded. There is a great splash zone play area there, too-- and she likes to do that after riding, so she can "walk off" being wet! That area also has a really nice family restroom, but it is not very big.

There is a Dragon themed kids area as well but the rides skew younger. A brave 6 might not like them-- and the water area is definitely smaller. We don't spend much time there since DD turned 6 and got taller. It does have a fun tree-top playrgound to check out.

My daughter LOVES the Oktoberfest for lunch, because they sell hot dogs AND pizza there (I personally hate their pizza, but DD likes it.) AND they have a crowd participation show with dancing and traditional Oktoberfest stuff. Its fun and the AC is super cold in there.

You *can* bring in bottled water. Here is what we do: pack a lunch bag-sized cooler with small frozen water bottles and stuff it in a backpack. Bag check has always allowed us thru with this despite the no cooler rule.

We noticed that the food and beverage prices seem about 10-20% higher this season. With our passholder discount (10%) lunch for 3 is around $30 before beer. Yes: they sell beer, and it is awesome: always really really cold!

We have not done the character meal so I can't say much about it, but in general their food is pretty good. Except for the pizza, which has always been nasty in our opinions (really really sweet sauce and grainy cheese!) Everything else has always been quite good, and we really like the Smokehouse, Grogan's, and Oktoberfest the best. Any time there is a turkey sandwich on the menu it is nice thick roast turkey breast meat-- not deli meat! There is an awesome ice cream place in France BUT if the line is out the door: skip it. A line out the door there = at least 30 minutes. Not worth it even though it is awesome hand scooped ice cream with awesome fresh strawberry topping available...

As to Colonial Williamsburg-- my daughter likes the general ambiance of the place, and she has enjoyed meeting "characters"-- costumed intrepreters who will talk to you in character as a resident of Williamsburg of the 1770s. We ate in Shield's Tavern and she absolutely loved it-- the basement was dark and cool and felt exciting and old fashioned to her, and they had great intrepreters there discussing tavern life (yes: age appropriate!) We have also eaten in Christiana Campbell's Tavern when she was smaller and she REALLY loved that because the innkeeper (Christiana Campbell herself) was there and spent a lot of time talking to her.

In Merchant's Square, a contemporary shopping area adjacent to the Colonial Area, there is a famous restaurant called The Trellis. Trellis is famous for chocolate desserts, the "Death by Chocolate" dessert was invented by the chef there. In the afternoons they have a "dessert and champagne" menu and we ALWAYS do that for a break from the colonial action-- I have a glass of champagne, she has some milk, and we split a BIG awesome dessert sitting on their lovely terrace.

There is also a candy shop, a toy store, a book store, and a Baskin Robbins there in Merchant's Square.

One don't miss is the Bruton Parish Church-- it is gorgeous and has a really interesting graveyard. My daughter finds the interesting gravestones fascinating.

Also must-see is the Governor's Palace-- the lobby is "decorated" with the Governor's guards' weapons: very impressive. And the gardens are extensive and very kid friendly to run around.

have fun!

[Kathy Jetson]

Hi! We just got back from Busch gardens thankyou all for the help. We had a great time. We did 3 days at Busch Gardens and 1 day at Water Country USA. I have to say how clean BG was there were cms coming out of nowhere all over the park with brooms picking up trash as soon as someone droped some. The ONLY trash I saw the whole time we were there was when they were sweeping it up! ALL of the cms were very friendly and seemed to like thier jobs. Water Country USA was beautiful and also spotless! I would recommend these parks to anyone!

[NJGIRL]

Hi! We just got back from Busch gardens thankyou all for the help. We had a great time. We did 3 days at Busch Gardens and 1 day at Water Country USA. I have to say how clean BG was there were cms coming out of nowhere all over the park with brooms picking up trash as soon as someone droped some. The ONLY trash I saw the whole time we were there was when they were sweeping it up! ALL of the cms were very friendly and seemed to like thier jobs. Water Country USA was beautiful and also spotless! I would recommend these parks to anyone!

Glad you had a good time. If I remember correctly Busch Gardens in Williamsburg has been voted "Most Beautiful Theme Park" for many years (can't remember the exact number, maybe 10??) in a row.