There's no theme park in or near the Central East Coast as quality as Busch Gardens. For a generation Busch Garden Williamsburg has been a place for friends and family to spend a day making enjoyable memories. The food is the best you'll find at any theme park, the landscaping and scenery is beautiful and definitely gives you a fun feeling of touring the European old countries. Their rides are less numerous than places like Kings Dominion its main competitor (Doswell, VA) which plays a quantity over quality strategy rather than the high quality experiences from the fast and fun rides you'll experience at Busch Gardens which hosts many of my favorite roller coasters. Howl-O-Scream and Christmas Town are amazing every year. If you have visited the park during the summer season it is worth it in every way to try to return for the Fall and Winter events.
Regina P.
I will give them three star because everything were not open but the food in the restaurant were very good. The prices were not high Only thing they need to change is the prices for people to enter in.
Gretchen R.
We're on a family vacation with our 6-year old granddaughter, so Sesame Street is where we're spending a lot of time. Cookie Monster was doing the meeting and greet and brought me to tears. The little boy in front of my granddaughter was deaf and Cookie Monster spent extra time hugging him and letting him feel special. That's an image I'll take away from the trip and remember forever. Thank you for that!
Bleu W.
Not too many options for quality food- especially for food allergies or dietary needs. We enjoyed the tram but that was the high point for us (on intended). An average experience for an amusement park. Nothing to write home about.
Brian W.
I'd like to start off and say I love amusement parks! One of my most favorite activities to do. The park is generally clean so that's a plus. There are tons of activities to do such as ride roller coasters, arcade games, carnival games, eat, get splashed by water, etc. It was a very hot day, probably 2 of the 3 water rides were down, but luckily there are fans blowing at most attractions. The lines are a hit or miss but a majority of rides have nonexistent lines which is awesome! Most of the lines are at hot spots such as the new ride Pantheon (which is highly recommended by the way -- go to the front :) ) The employees look very unhappy and out of all the interactions with employees I had, 1 out of 9 had a smile and actually said something back to me other than ignoring me or giving attitude. There was an instance in which I was waiting in line to get a photo (at Apollos Chariot) and there was only one other person in front of me. We stood there for about 5 minutes and a family who just got off the ride cut in front of us to look at their photo. The employee manning the booth didn't even acknowledge us even though we've been standing in line waiting to be helped (which honestly if you only have 2 people in line it shouldn't have been a problem). He was on his phone during the transaction with the previous customer and he was on his phone during my transaction. I was very unpleased with how the employees were during the visit. I will say the best part of the day was stopping in the candy store to get some fudge. The candy store is always the last place we go before we leave Busch Gardens. It was the only place the employee had a smile and asked how I could be helped! She handed me the fudge and a caramel apple with peanuts and we left the park. Overall the rides are fun and it's family friendly. There are different cultures represented everywhere and tons of food and snacks to try! It can get pretty pricey $$$$ though, so make sure you are prepared for that!
Tracey C.
This place is a lot of fun! There are rides for the adventurous, and lots of sights for the less adventurous, and who can forget the Clydesdales?!!?!
Bob F.
This place is going downhill fast. I spent a lot of money on a two day pass, only to find no tram service and forced to walk from a far parking lot in 95 degree heat. Once in the park I found many of the vendors were closed or understaffed. The beer selection in Germany, which is usually quite good, was cut down to a few crappy domestics as all the other taps had run dry. At these prices, I expect a Disney experience and BGW totally fell short on that.
Anthony C.
No there there for adults unless accompanied by the sprogs. One glorified shopping arcade after another with faux this and faux that. Overly monetized and existentially numbing. Two stars for the trees.
Quawnishia M.
Who doesn't love it here. I wish there were more water featured rides, but I love it anyway. We are going back in September and will go when the sun is going down. At least this way the sun its killing us all day. The food options are way more impressive now then they have ever been. I wish the staff knew more about the promotional things going on in the park. We purchased the meal plan, no one could tell us how to redeem it. I assumed maybe it was too new.
Jeffrey S.
Delicious selection of food, especially at Das Festhaus! Would recommend to friends!
I have gone to Busch Gardens since I was a kid and have always loved it. I went again as an adult (almost 10 years since my last visit here) on a Thursday in July which was great because there were hardly any lines for attractions. HOWEVER now with a husband who is a larger than average man I think BG should do better about including size limitations to rides on their website (which I looked up before we went to the park and could not find any beyond height minimums). Thankfully my husband was able to do most but we saw other people turned away on several rides. List of rides we tried and if he was able to ride them (my husband is about 6'4.5'' 300lbs 50in chest) - Pantheon (yes but only on one seat in row 4; height limit was close with the posted height max at 6'4") - Griffon (yes but middle seats with the double red strap) - Verbolton (yes) - Alpengeist (yes but only seats with a double red strap; rows 3 and 4) -Apollo's Chariot (yes but very tight and had to move to the left outermost seat?) - Lochness Monster (yes but such little leg room he did not enjoy it) - Tempesto (yes but had to move to the right side seat?) -InvadR (NO) - Escape from Pompeii (yes) - Battering ram (yes) - Skyride/train (yes) If he was any bigger he would not have been able to ride them. Most rides the sensors struggled to stay in the "green" and he had to move seats to find one that did (despite him fitting in the tester seats outside the ride). Row 4 tended to have the larger seat for several of the rides. Other notes: We packed a lunch and left the park to go to our car to eat and then went back in because the food is expensive. Maps are available on the app or on boards periodically (which worked well for us). It was hot but the park offers lots of shade around. We were able to bring in a refillable water bottle or snacks in a small bag despite signs that say no outside food/drink. At every ride we tried you could put a drawstring bag (or smaller) or other loose items to the side EXCEPT the Verbolton they would not let you get in line with a bag larger than a fanny pack.
Sharon W.
It had been years since my last visit to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I printed my tickets for parking and admission online before I went. Note to self, done buy and print your parking until the day of as it has an expiration date. If it expires and was never used, you may not be able to recoup your money. Parking is in tiers, essentially basic, intermediate and VIP. The varying difference is price and proximity to the entrance. Since you're going to be walking around all day anyway, just get the basic parking ($30 as of July 2022 and subject to change). They have people who are supposed to check bags but simply glance and let you by. Keep your print out of your ticket in case you'd like to step out and come back in. Best thing is to wear comfy shoes. I took my own water bottle as I not a fan of the $5 bottle of water. They do offer a military discount at the various eateries so ask and show your ID. This is not widely advertised but is appreciated. In addition, active duty military can register online and be verified through ID.me to gain free entry for themselves and dependents. This incentive is dubbed "Waves of Honor" and has options of this park, Sea World in San Antonio or Orlando. When registering, you may see discounts for an annual membership and the associated "perks". In the summer, they have concerts and firework displays that are a part of your admission price. If you'd like to sit in reserved seating for the concert, you can pay an additional charge online. Be mindful of the bait and switch with the signage for free beer. It's for members and requires a sign up. So if you stay thirsty, do that. Not a lot of chaos exiting the park. Some people even recommend watching the fireworks from the parking lot. They had a decent flow of traffic and it took about 7 mins to get out the park. I can see returning to this park to partake in the new rides and expanding music performances.
Benjamin T.
A beautiful theme park with rides for everybody. Bathrooms were fairly clean and the staff was friendly. The prices around the park are decent however quickquere was expensive during the 4th of July weekend. QQplus was 190$. Because I lift and am tall, I could not ride the coasters with the above the shoulder restraint. Alpengeist and Griffon were no goes. We will be back for sure!
Caren B.
Paid $30 to park, which is normal. Then you usually get a tram from the parking area to the front entrance of the park. Not today...no trams! Had to walk from the parking lot to the park! Really messed up for older people, physically challenged people and families with lots of stuff.
Asa B.
I've been coming here since the 80's. It was a longer drive but worth the trip. Unfortunately this year it was a hot mess. You need to carefully check which rides will be operating because many will not be running. The price for food that were once reasonable are now astronomic. Lunch for 5 was $180. And the quality of the food has degraded badly. Think $20 for a single refillable cup on the day you buy it then $2 each refill. Park management is confused with dirty bathrooms and some venues badly understaffed with other have multiple employees loafing around. Seriously disappointed and not sure what happened here.
There's no theme park in or near the Central East Coast as quality as Busch Gardens. For a generation Busch Garden Williamsburg has been a place for friends and family to spend a day making enjoyable memories. The food is the best you'll find at any theme park, the landscaping and scenery is beautiful and definitely gives you a fun feeling of touring the European old countries. Their rides are less numerous than places like Kings Dominion its main competitor (Doswell, VA) which plays a quantity over quality strategy rather than the high quality experiences from the fast and fun rides you'll experience at Busch Gardens which hosts many of my favorite roller coasters. Howl-O-Scream and Christmas Town are amazing every year. If you have visited the park during the summer season it is worth it in every way to try to return for the Fall and Winter events.
I will give them three star because everything were not open but the food in the restaurant were very good. The prices were not high Only thing they need to change is the prices for people to enter in.
We're on a family vacation with our 6-year old granddaughter, so Sesame Street is where we're spending a lot of time. Cookie Monster was doing the meeting and greet and brought me to tears. The little boy in front of my granddaughter was deaf and Cookie Monster spent extra time hugging him and letting him feel special. That's an image I'll take away from the trip and remember forever. Thank you for that!
Not too many options for quality food- especially for food allergies or dietary needs. We enjoyed the tram but that was the high point for us (on intended). An average experience for an amusement park. Nothing to write home about.
I'd like to start off and say I love amusement parks! One of my most favorite activities to do. The park is generally clean so that's a plus. There are tons of activities to do such as ride roller coasters, arcade games, carnival games, eat, get splashed by water, etc. It was a very hot day, probably 2 of the 3 water rides were down, but luckily there are fans blowing at most attractions. The lines are a hit or miss but a majority of rides have nonexistent lines which is awesome! Most of the lines are at hot spots such as the new ride Pantheon (which is highly recommended by the way -- go to the front :) ) The employees look very unhappy and out of all the interactions with employees I had, 1 out of 9 had a smile and actually said something back to me other than ignoring me or giving attitude. There was an instance in which I was waiting in line to get a photo (at Apollos Chariot) and there was only one other person in front of me. We stood there for about 5 minutes and a family who just got off the ride cut in front of us to look at their photo. The employee manning the booth didn't even acknowledge us even though we've been standing in line waiting to be helped (which honestly if you only have 2 people in line it shouldn't have been a problem). He was on his phone during the transaction with the previous customer and he was on his phone during my transaction. I was very unpleased with how the employees were during the visit. I will say the best part of the day was stopping in the candy store to get some fudge. The candy store is always the last place we go before we leave Busch Gardens. It was the only place the employee had a smile and asked how I could be helped! She handed me the fudge and a caramel apple with peanuts and we left the park. Overall the rides are fun and it's family friendly. There are different cultures represented everywhere and tons of food and snacks to try! It can get pretty pricey $$$$ though, so make sure you are prepared for that!
This place is a lot of fun! There are rides for the adventurous, and lots of sights for the less adventurous, and who can forget the Clydesdales?!!?!
This place is going downhill fast. I spent a lot of money on a two day pass, only to find no tram service and forced to walk from a far parking lot in 95 degree heat. Once in the park I found many of the vendors were closed or understaffed. The beer selection in Germany, which is usually quite good, was cut down to a few crappy domestics as all the other taps had run dry. At these prices, I expect a Disney experience and BGW totally fell short on that.
No there there for adults unless accompanied by the sprogs. One glorified shopping arcade after another with faux this and faux that. Overly monetized and existentially numbing. Two stars for the trees.
Who doesn't love it here. I wish there were more water featured rides, but I love it anyway. We are going back in September and will go when the sun is going down. At least this way the sun its killing us all day. The food options are way more impressive now then they have ever been. I wish the staff knew more about the promotional things going on in the park. We purchased the meal plan, no one could tell us how to redeem it. I assumed maybe it was too new.
Delicious selection of food, especially at Das Festhaus! Would recommend to friends!
Restaurantji Recommends
I have gone to Busch Gardens since I was a kid and have always loved it. I went again as an adult (almost 10 years since my last visit here) on a Thursday in July which was great because there were hardly any lines for attractions. HOWEVER now with a husband who is a larger than average man I think BG should do better about including size limitations to rides on their website (which I looked up before we went to the park and could not find any beyond height minimums). Thankfully my husband was able to do most but we saw other people turned away on several rides. List of rides we tried and if he was able to ride them (my husband is about 6'4.5'' 300lbs 50in chest) - Pantheon (yes but only on one seat in row 4; height limit was close with the posted height max at 6'4") - Griffon (yes but middle seats with the double red strap) - Verbolton (yes) - Alpengeist (yes but only seats with a double red strap; rows 3 and 4) -Apollo's Chariot (yes but very tight and had to move to the left outermost seat?) - Lochness Monster (yes but such little leg room he did not enjoy it) - Tempesto (yes but had to move to the right side seat?) -InvadR (NO) - Escape from Pompeii (yes) - Battering ram (yes) - Skyride/train (yes) If he was any bigger he would not have been able to ride them. Most rides the sensors struggled to stay in the "green" and he had to move seats to find one that did (despite him fitting in the tester seats outside the ride). Row 4 tended to have the larger seat for several of the rides. Other notes: We packed a lunch and left the park to go to our car to eat and then went back in because the food is expensive. Maps are available on the app or on boards periodically (which worked well for us). It was hot but the park offers lots of shade around. We were able to bring in a refillable water bottle or snacks in a small bag despite signs that say no outside food/drink. At every ride we tried you could put a drawstring bag (or smaller) or other loose items to the side EXCEPT the Verbolton they would not let you get in line with a bag larger than a fanny pack.
It had been years since my last visit to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I printed my tickets for parking and admission online before I went. Note to self, done buy and print your parking until the day of as it has an expiration date. If it expires and was never used, you may not be able to recoup your money. Parking is in tiers, essentially basic, intermediate and VIP. The varying difference is price and proximity to the entrance. Since you're going to be walking around all day anyway, just get the basic parking ($30 as of July 2022 and subject to change). They have people who are supposed to check bags but simply glance and let you by. Keep your print out of your ticket in case you'd like to step out and come back in. Best thing is to wear comfy shoes. I took my own water bottle as I not a fan of the $5 bottle of water. They do offer a military discount at the various eateries so ask and show your ID. This is not widely advertised but is appreciated. In addition, active duty military can register online and be verified through ID.me to gain free entry for themselves and dependents. This incentive is dubbed "Waves of Honor" and has options of this park, Sea World in San Antonio or Orlando. When registering, you may see discounts for an annual membership and the associated "perks". In the summer, they have concerts and firework displays that are a part of your admission price. If you'd like to sit in reserved seating for the concert, you can pay an additional charge online. Be mindful of the bait and switch with the signage for free beer. It's for members and requires a sign up. So if you stay thirsty, do that. Not a lot of chaos exiting the park. Some people even recommend watching the fireworks from the parking lot. They had a decent flow of traffic and it took about 7 mins to get out the park. I can see returning to this park to partake in the new rides and expanding music performances.
A beautiful theme park with rides for everybody. Bathrooms were fairly clean and the staff was friendly. The prices around the park are decent however quickquere was expensive during the 4th of July weekend. QQplus was 190$. Because I lift and am tall, I could not ride the coasters with the above the shoulder restraint. Alpengeist and Griffon were no goes. We will be back for sure!
Paid $30 to park, which is normal. Then you usually get a tram from the parking area to the front entrance of the park. Not today...no trams! Had to walk from the parking lot to the park! Really messed up for older people, physically challenged people and families with lots of stuff.
I've been coming here since the 80's. It was a longer drive but worth the trip. Unfortunately this year it was a hot mess. You need to carefully check which rides will be operating because many will not be running. The price for food that were once reasonable are now astronomic. Lunch for 5 was $180. And the quality of the food has degraded badly. Think $20 for a single refillable cup on the day you buy it then $2 each refill. Park management is confused with dirty bathrooms and some venues badly understaffed with other have multiple employees loafing around. Seriously disappointed and not sure what happened here.